36:

Xiao Feng was feeling a bit nervous as he poured the now less shimmering green pudina chai into two cups, still having an entire cup’s worth leftover for Lianhua by the time he was done.

It hurts my heart to admit it, but pudina chai was pretty niche even back home. Alchemist Jun might be disappointed this time around, He thought, admittedly a bit dejected about it.

He could only sell chai to the people if they liked the taste and considering that the very nature of cultivation seemed to encourage a utilitarian economy, his opening pitch had to pack a punch.

Maybe I can add it later on if both Alchemist Jun and Lianhua don’t like it. Perhaps as a connoisseur’s special, something for the Elders to break bread over and feel smug about its perceived cost and exclusivity, Xiao Feng considered, unsure what their reaction would be when they realized that the most common of spiritual plants served as the core of his pudina chai.

I’m getting ahead of myself, Xiao Feng shook his head, before getting up and this time, taking the warm cups of pudina chai to Alchemist Jun’s table. Sure, he was at the center of a whirlwind of rumors that continued to get wilder everytime he checked but if people were going to spy on his every move, then he might as well use it to his advantage and get some advertising in.

Inviting her to a cramped alchemy vault also wasn’t a move he intended to repeat.

On the other hand, Alchemist Jun’s expression brightened up at his approach, her gaze tracking the two cups of warm chai with clear anticipation.

He placed one cup on her table.

“Oh,” Alchemist Jun chirped in surprise as she took in the hue of the pudina chai. “This looks quite different,” She observed, the curiosity reflected on her visage not an unpleasant one.

The hue of the pudina chai had retained some of the original shimmering green, but it was inevitable for the bi-horn milk to diffuse that effect. The end result was a healthy green instead of a sickly one, much to Xiao Feng’s relief.

While appearances weren’t everything, a beverage had to look appetizing to some extent if Xiao Feng wished to sell it.

“I used a different plant this time as the base,” Xiao Feng explained. “As I explained earlier, I need to bring costs down if I want to sell chai and turn a profit. This is my first attempt,” He candidly revealed to her.

“Well, may I taste it?” Alchemist Jun politely asked.

“Of course. Oh, but wait,” Xiao Feng hurriedly added. “Can you bring your cup closer to mine?” He asked.

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Alchemist Jun took the odd request in stride, raising her cup towards Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng grinned and clinked the lip of his cup with with Alchemist Jun’s before saying, “Cheers!”

“Cheers?” She repeated, the question in her tone evident.

“It’s something we used to say before drinking. A toast of sorts,” Xiao Feng explained.

“A toast to whom?” Alchemist Jun asked.

“To uhh, life I suppose? For letting us sample this warm cup of chai on a slightly chilly day,” Xiao Feng replied, making up an answer on the spot.

“Cheers, then” Alchemist Jun smiled at him, before clicking her cup back. Only then did she take a sip of the pudina chai followed by Xiao Feng.

Alchemist Jun blinked.

She took a second sip.

She blinked twice this time.

As Xiao Feng felt the chai flow down his gullet, he understood what Alchemist Jun was going through.

The pudina chai that he had brewed had been warmed, yet it felt like a refreshingly cool, sweet liquid was tantalizing his taste buds with something it was not supposed to be. Xiao Feng felt like he had just gotten done taking a bath after a long day out under the sun, the Water Qi suffusing his dantian so soft and gentle.

He could not stop himself from taking another sip, before exhaling. Placing the cup of chai on the table, Xiao Feng cupped his right hand before his mouth and exhaled again, noticing that his breath had taken on a minty aroma.

“Wow,” Alchemist Jun muttered in awe. “This is so invigorating,” She complimented without reservation.

“Isn’t it?” Xiao Feng replied, his own enthusiasm leaking into his tone. It wasn’t necessarily his own preparation that had led to such wonderful results, but he supposed that there was a reason why the Moonlit Dew plant was so successful in luring in the Jade-Plumed Swallows to spread its seeds.

“I liked the Masala Chai you brewed earlier but I can see myself drinking this more frequently. I can tell that there’s some firedust in there to balance the mintiness, but this pudina chai of yours is like the first breeze of spring— cool but not cold, comfortable for it is not too warm nor chilly and energizing,” Alchemist Jun offered her honest critique, giving Xiao Feng exactly what he’d asked for.

“That’s so heartening to hear,” Xiao Feng replied, his tone pleasantly surprised. What was a niche drink on earth found itself new legs on Sephari, due to the magical nature of the ingredients he was using.

“Oh, uh, also thank you for letting me sample this,” Alchemist Jun replied with a slight blush coloring her cheeks, as she decided to drop the pretenses a little.

“No, no, the pleasure is all mine. Your feedback is worth it’s weight in gold taels, Alchemist Jun,” Xiao Feng thanked before offering her a quick bow.

“Well, I’ll be happy to offer more feedback as long as you find it valuable,” Alchemist Jun gingerly replied, as if she were no longer sure if she was overstepping the bounds of what she thought professional or if she even cared any longer.

“Naturally,” Xiao Feng cheerfully replied.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to give you in return this time around. But if you ever run into queries while researching spiritual herbs, do feel free to ask. I might not be as distinguished as Senior Alchemist Lianhua, but it might be easier to learn some topics from someone who isn’t a genius,” Alchemist Jun offered, her tone soft and gentle as she revealed that she had looked into Xiao Feng’s rather unique identity within the alchemy division.

“Thank you, Alchemist Jun. I will be sure to take you up on that," Xiao Feng replied, wondering why her expression looked nervous before he left.