Under Su Xiaoliu's careful arrangement, the old temple at the foot of the mountain in the capital city had a new look and was renamed Wulin Teahouse.
The scorching sun shone brightly, and the sky was cloudless.
Su Xiaoliu propped her chin and stared out of the window, lost in thought.
The white - haired old man was right. Since the teahouse opened, many people dressed like wandering martial artists would stop by to take a rest every day.
At first, there were just a few of them, but as days went by, the number of visitors increased daily.
In the corner, a group of people were chatting animatedly.
"The treasure of this Pingshan Conference is not the Celestial - Bestowed Sword. Elder Cang himself said so!" A short - haired man with a copper - green broadsword hanging from his waist held a teacup and said mysteriously.
The others were all intrigued. A man who looked like a merchant fanned his hat and leaned forward, asking, "Not the Celestial - Bestowed Sword? Then what could it be?"
Another bald man in a black jacket accidentally knocked over his teacup. While quickly righting it, he chimed in, "In my opinion, it's most likely still the Celestial - Bestowed Sword. Even though Cang Nanyan said it wasn't, he might be bluffing. Everyone knows that people have placed bets on the treasure of the Pingshan Conference. If it doesn't turn out as expected, he'll be the one profiting!"
The others shook their heads and sighed.
A young man who looked like a scholar waved his fan and shook his head, saying, "That's not right. Elder Cang never does things for money."
Immediately, the others looked at the bald man and shook their heads disdainfully.
"I'm more interested in the most beautiful woman in the martial world. Who do you think she'll be?" A middle - aged man in a gray Taoist robe, holding a banner, said with a lecherous smile.
Hearing this, everyone laughed at him.
"Daoist Gong, you really never change your ways..."
The man in the gray Taoist robe ignored them and continued, "This beauty is even more pleasing to the eye than the treasure. If it's Cang Luoyao from Elder Cang's family, it would truly live up to the reputation..."
At the mention of the most beautiful woman in the martial world, the people at the next table also became interested.
A gaunt man in a tattered and knotted jacket was puffing on a long tobacco pipe while watching them. "Forget about that sickly beauty. I heard that this year's most beautiful woman in the martial world is a Miss Yun. I really want to see her."
The scholar waved his fan, looked at the gaunt man, and smiled. "Yun. It's a good surname for a beauty."
...
The most beautiful woman in the martial world?
Su Xiaoliu sat up straight. After listening for a while, all her interest was focused on this so - called most beautiful woman in the martial world.
She had long heard that there were many beauties in the martial world. Just how beautiful could the most beautiful one be?
At the door, a magnificent carriage slowly came to a stop.
Su Xiaoliu's attention was drawn to it.
First, an old man who looked like a butler got out. He walked to the carriage respectfully and stood there. The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a handsome young man in a blue - and - white long robe jumped out.
The man had a high - bridged nose and a pair of clear eyes. His fair skin was set off by a pair of red lips with a charming smile. His black hair was tied up high but not coiled. There was a jade ornament in the shape of a dragon hanging from his waist. He casually crossed his arms in front of his chest, wore long boots, and scanned the inside with his beautiful eyes. He met Su Xiaoliu's gaze. For a moment, he raised his eyebrows, his eyes lingered behind her, and then his smile grew wider as he walked in.
Su Xiaoliu was stunned for a moment and stood up. Just as she turned around, she saw Situ Qianyue, who had somehow come to her side, holding a teapot and looking out with an inscrutable expression.
"Go make some tea. Don't just stand there," Su Xiaoliu whispered as she gently pushed him.
Situ Qianyue looked down at her, the corner of his lips curving up. He nodded and obediently turned to make tea.
When Su Xiaoliu looked back, the handsome blue - robed man had already found an empty seat and sat down. The butler - like old man stood beside him, and somehow a cute young boy about seven or eight years old, with red lips and white teeth, holding a sword, had followed him.
The boy was dressed in a white brocade robe. His delicate face was so beautiful that one might mistake him for a girl at first glance. He hugged the sword in his arms, found a small stool beside the blue - robed man, and climbed onto it with difficulty.
Su Xiaoliu walked over, looked at them, and asked, "What would you like?"
The blue - robed man looked up at her and suddenly smiled brightly. He leaned back against the wall and said in a pleasant voice, "Just a pot of tea."
Just a pot of tea?
Su Xiaoliu frowned imperceptibly. She raised the corner of her mouth and smiled. "We also have some side dishes and wine. Don't you want to order something else?"
The blue - robed man stared at her for a while and then smiled. "Just a pot of tea is fine."
Judging from his appearance, he should be from a wealthy family. Why didn't he order more? How stingy!
Su Xiaoliu glanced at him, nodded, and turned to leave.
"Wait a minute," the voice of the blue - robed man came from behind.
Su Xiaoliu turned around with a glint in her eyes. She saw him smiling brightly at her and saying, "Make it warm." Then he waved his hand and leaned back against the wall again.
Su Xiaoliu's face stiffened for a moment. She turned around expressionlessly and walked forward.
Su Xiaoliu was still sitting at the table in a daze. Situ Qianyue was making tea in the back. All the tables were full, and the old temple was filled with the sound of people talking.
Suddenly, the blue - robed man sitting beside them paused with the teacup in his hand. He looked up and waved at Su Xiaoliu.
Su Xiaoliu stood up and walked over. Situ Qianyue, who was making tea behind, looked up at her.
When Su Xiaoliu reached them, the blue - robed man smiled and pointed at the teacup. "Beauty, there's a bug in it."
The old man beside him frowned, and his already unfriendly face was now full of anger.
The young boy, who had been holding the teacup and sniffing it with his head down, suddenly stopped and didn't dare to drink anymore.
"A bug?" Su Xiaoliu frowned. She looked down and sure enough, there was a medium - sized flying bug lying in the cup.
Su Xiaoliu picked up the chopsticks on the table, carefully fished out the bug, and then pushed the teacup back. "It's okay now."
Everyone at the table was stunned by her actions.
The young boy looked at the blue - robed man and whispered, "Star Lord, let's get a new pot."
Star Lord?
This title seemed familiar...
The blue - robed man stared at Su Xiaoliu for a while and then suddenly smiled maliciously. "There's a bug in the tea. That's the teahouse's fault. Go get us a new pot, and we won't pursue it."
Get a new pot?
Su Xiaoliu looked down at him and smiled. "It's already good that we can provide tea. A bug won't kill anyone. Besides, the bug was drowned in the water and didn't even come back for revenge. You almost drank its body. Shouldn't you drink this whole pot of tea to atone for your sin?"
Hearing this, the young boy put down the teacup in his hands and retched a few times.
"Ridiculous!" The old man sitting beside them couldn't hold back anymore. He slapped the table hard, his serious face full of anger. "How dare you offend the Star Lord, you girl?"
Su Xiaoliu always respected the elderly. She held back her anger and said nothing. Su Xiaoliu disliked waste the most. She had never wasted a single coin when she was in the Su family, and even now, she couldn't stand it when she saw others wasting.
The blue - robed man glanced at her. Seeing that she looked a bit wronged, he quickly winked at the old man beside him.
He looked at Su Xiaoliu and smiled. "Alright, we'll keep this pot of tea. And get two servings of pastries for my attendant."
Suddenly, a pleasant voice came from behind, tinged with a bit of annoyance.
"Haven't you had enough fun flirting with my wife?"
Su Xiaoliu turned around and saw Situ Qianyue walking over with two servings of pastries. His extremely beautiful face showed no emotion.
The blue - robed man was stunned for a moment, sat up straight, and said with a smile, "I just took a few extra looks. I wasn't flirting."
Situ Qianyue gave him a half - smile look.
The young boy reached out and grabbed a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth. After swallowing a few times, he looked up at the two of them, tugged on the blue - robed man's sleeve, and said, looking up, "Star Lord, do you know each other?"
"No," they said in unison.
Su Xiaoliu paused for a moment and said, "If there's nothing else, we'll leave first." Then she reached out to pull Situ Qianyue back.
"Wait a minute," the voice of the blue - robed man came from behind.
Su Xiaoliu looked back.
"Did you put the bug in on purpose?" The blue - robed man's red lips curled up in a charming smile.
Situ Qianyue looked back at him indifferently and said nothing.
"You..." Su Xiaoliu was a bit angry and stopped in her tracks.
Situ Qianyue took her hand and said with a gentle smile, "Wife, let's go."
Su Xiaoliu turned around angrily and walked away.