Chapter 32 - Banished To The Shadow Realm
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The fat self-proclaimed tea connoisseur had been scouring throughout Hua Town in search of a hidden gem that had good tea, he was left disappointed but just when he passed by the 5th Street, he was attracted to the signboard of the Celestial Teahouse.
He parked his car nearby and walked into a quiet teahouse with no music, no customers, only a single dashing young man and a pretty waitress passing their time with boredom.
The tea connoisseur then sat down and looked at the price of tea and was sure he either had found a treasure or a scam.
To him, a man that dabbled in the pharmaceutical industry, was not short of money.
5 Bio-Cores was a small price to pay if he could really find something he liked.
But when Xia Qiu informed him nicely that he could only drink half a pot worth of it before he bought it, he was furious.
“I’m paying 5 Bio-Cores just to drink half? Are you playing with me?!”
“Dog, I said only half, if you want to explode and die, suit yourself.”
It seemed that Xia Qiu liked dogs, as she addressed them as fluffy four-legged creatures every time she had a personality switch.
The man freaked out and his fats on his body jiggled from being given a shock by the terrible service, but he slowly mused.
‘Normally, In Hua Country’s culture, the more terrible the service, the better their food is! I know, I should just listen to her as she should know what’s going on! Furthermore, there’s only a single item on their menu, shouldn’t be too bad anyways.’
He did a cleared his throat and said pretentiously,
“Ahem! I think I will follow this young lady’s instructions, I would like a pot please!”
“Ok, pay up now or later?”
“U-uh I can pay now, thank you.”
The fat man then handed his Bio-Cores over to the waitress and patiently waited for his pot of tea.
And that was when the System issued its 5th Mission.
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“Boss! I really enjoyed your tea and its benefits! I can understand why your waitress warned me from drinking more than half a pot. I’m filled with gratitude! May I ask for the Boss' respectable name?”
The fat man had walked to the cashier counter to strike a conversation with Li Qu as he thought that a young man managing a teashop with tea like that would certainly be amazing in some form of way.
“When one seeks to know one’s name, is it not polite to first introduce yourself?”
Li Qu said gracefully, the fat man then did a gentleman's bow and proceeded to introduce himself.
“Apologies for the impoliteness, I’m Paul Chan, Director of the New Yolk’s Salvation Hospital, may I politely ask for your name?”
“Li Qu, owner of Celestial Teahouse.”
A short but direct reply was heard from Li Qu as he looked at Paul Chan.
Wearing rimless circular spectacles with a standard white formal shirt with big sweat patches on it, black pants and shoes that looked like they were barely holding on due to him being so fat.
Paul Chan had a face that would make one feel that he was a kind uncle that would listen to your troubles.
“Sir, can I ask how you made the tea? Apologies in advance if it’s something I shouldn't ask.”
Paul Chan was curious, in fact, anyone would be curious about the process of the tea-making, but Li Qu’s previous customers were too scared of him to even ask anything slightly offensive.
“It is nothing secretive, just some simple ingredients that you cannot find on Earth mixed together.”
As if sensing Li Qu’s disinterest to continue the conversation, Paul Chan, a person that had excellent social interaction skills, took the cue to initiate his departure.
“That’s simply amazing, Boss Li! Ah, I just remembered I had a meeting to attend, I'll definitely be your regular customer from here onwards! Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Alright, you are excused.”
Li Qu replied nonchalantly, but Paul Chan, who wanted to leave paused for a slight moment and sweated hard, but he continued walking quickly towards the exit.
‘Who says ‘You are excused’?! It’s just a perfunctory statement, you aren’t supposed to reply with that!’
Li Qu then faced his waitress and beckoned for her to come over.
“Sup’ Young Master Li? Wanna treat me to some food?”
“No, be serious. I will now impart you the teachings of the ‘Tea Heart’.”
“Tea Heart? What’s that?”
Xia Qiu confusedly asked, she had a faint feeling that she would be forced to do more work, her instincts were warning her to not continue the conversation.
Li Qu told her about his motive and explained.
“The Tea Heart is essential in order to brew teas that I will continue to sell in the future. I will pass on some of my comprehension about it and send you somewhere for you to train. Do not worry, time passes slowly in that place as compared to Earth.”
“Woah woah woah, hold on a minute! What do you mean send me somewhere? You just want to laze and not brew tea right?!”
“Ahem, it is not what you think. I believe you have a huge talent in learning the ways of the tea. Now, are you ready to experience your first closed door seclusion?”
It seems like women’s sixth senses were scarily accurate. Xia Qiu had an internal meeting discussing her choices, but she soon sighed as she could find no way out.
“Alright… But how long would it take and what should I do?”
“Let me explain. Time in that place compared to Earth is 100:1, meaning 100 hours inside would only be equal to 1 hour on Earth. I will now convey my comprehensions of the Tea Heart to you, once I do that, I will immediately send you in to learn it.”
Li Qu then pointed his fingers on Xia Qiu’s forehead and transmitted his comprehension with a set time delay.
The moment Xia Qiu enters the mini pocket realm, it will unlock and Li Qu’s understanding of the Tea Heart will flood into her mind, but not so much that it will cause her brain to go into overload.
“Remember, when you are inside, close your eyes and focus on comprehending it, you will obtain the Tea Heart the moment you understand the profound meanings of it. I have written the recipe for the Gold Spirit Tea for you, there are a lot of ingredients inside to let you experiment.”
Li Qu reminded his waitress and he prompted his System with his thoughts.
‘System, send Xia Qiu into the mini pocket realm.’
[...]
[Detected that Host has 700 hours worth of the 100:1 mini pocket realm, how many hours would Host like to use?]
‘Is it possible to send her out only after she fully comprehends the Tea Heart?’
[...Configuring trigger conditions…]
[...Host, it is possible, the condition has been set.]
[Would Host send Employee: Xia Qiu into the mini pocket realm now? Yes/No]
Li Qu then prompted Xia Qiu to get ready.
“Ok, Young Master Li! I’m set, bring it on!”
[Employee: Xia Qiu has been banished to the Shadow Realm.]
‘Banished to the what Realm?’
Li Qu was confused but firm when he heard the word ‘banished’.
[Host, it was meant to be a joke.]
“...”
As the System replied, it sucked Xia Qiu into the mini pocket realm as she began her first seclusion.
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