Chapter 43: You Should Apologize to Me

Night fell on Duan Tian Peak.

"Master, where did you get this foot-washing basin?"

"A friend gave it to me."

"Oh... and the tea leaves?"

"He gave me those too."

---

Luo Xing handed the teacup to Ye Li, then glanced at the snow-white jade feet soaking in the red-patterned jade basin.

The basin was made of ink-black jade with deep red crack-like veins running through it, accentuating the delicate beauty of Ye Li's fair, tender feet...

A doubt crept into Luo Xing's mind—was he reading a fake book?

How could Ye Li have so many friends?

The last two didn't count—they were just former acquaintances who came to dig up dirt on her. But this time...

Sending both spiritual artifacts and spiritual tea...

He wouldn't dwell on the artifact—it was only a low-grade spiritual item anyway—but this tea...

Not long ago, he had finally maxed out the [Tea Art] skill to level 10. Instead of reinforcing it, he had unlocked another skill: [Scent Recognition: 0/10].

Though he still didn't know how to gain experience for this skill, it allowed him to distinguish good tea from bad, even if he had no idea what this particular tea was called...

Through [Scent Recognition], he determined that this tea was no ordinary spiritual tea like the calming blend. Moreover...

He cast a sidelong glance at the dozen jade jars on the nearby cabinet...

He gave this many at once?

Which friend of hers was so generous?

Ye Li accepted the teacup, pursed her rosy lips, and gently blew across the surface to part the floating leaves. She took a sip...

Delicious...

...[Tea Art: 2/10]*

While sipping her tea, she slowly lifted her snow-white, delicate foot from the basin. Luo Xing dutifully knelt on one knee and placed this artistic, exquisite little foot on his thigh.

Senior Technician No. 28, Little Luo, is honored to serve you!

"You've been quite attentive lately, haven't you?" Ye Li smiled as she enjoyed Luo Xing's service. "What's the matter? Need your master's help with something?"

"Your disciple simply wishes to honor you," Luo Xing replied, applying steady pressure to the arch of Ye Li's foot. "After all, you've done so much for me. I can't do much in return right now, so I'll repay you however I can, to show my gratitude."

...[Massage Lv.1: 1/20]*

...[Touch Dao: 9/10]*

Hearing Luo Xing's words, Ye Li smiled and took another sip of tea, eyes downcast.

She wasn't sure if the boy was being sincere or merely humoring her. Still...

She liked this version of Luo Xing...

Meanwhile, on the other side, Luo Xing kept repeating a mantra in his mind...

'It's not a jade foot... it's not a jade foot...'

'It's a pig's trotter... a pig's trotter...'

Ever since returning from the valley that day, Luo Xing had been deeply worried that he might have triggered some peculiar fetish or developed certain feelings for Ye Li.

He could allow himself to have all sorts of fantasies about Ye Li in his dreams, but never in reality. He couldn't accept that...

Are you kidding?

Developing feelings for Ye Li? That wasn't just asking for a quick death—it was begging for a miserable life!

And so, the genius Luo Xing came up with a brilliant solution...

Desensitization therapy!

As the saying goes, "If you massage feet on the Way of the Foot for ten years, every foot you see will look like a pig's trotter!"

Luo Xing believed that the more contact he had with Ye Li, the more he massaged her feet, the sooner he would grow tired of it. Eventually, not even if Ye Li used her feet to... ahem... he would remain unshaken!

That was his plan, anyway. As for how effective it would be... only he would know.

"How did your sword practice go today?"

While Luo Xing focused on the massage, Ye Li suddenly asked out of the blue.

"Uh... fine... decent..."

'I just got 'killed' a few hundred times or so...'

Hearing the guilt in Luo Xing's tone, Ye Li smiled but said nothing. She simply took another sip of hot tea.

---

Meanwhile, at Wanyi Peak.

"AAAAH! Sect Master! I can't go on!"

Inside the great hall, Jun Wujin lay sprawled on the ground, sobbing his heart out, snot and tears everywhere. "She took everything! Everything! She didn't leave me a single tea leaf!"

Even the Blazing Sun Spring Basin, which he had barely gotten his hands on, had been taken away along with the rest.

"Looking at you like this, anyone would think my junior sister stole your wife instead of your tea," Bai Li Qin Mo said, looking down at Jun Wujin, who was gasping for air between sobs at his feet. "Don't you think you deserve this? You know my junior sister is..."

He paused, glanced around, then lowered his voice: "My junior sister holds grudges. Why do you have to go provoke her?"

And then you come crying to me?

As if I can discipline my own junior sister...

What gave you that illusion?

"Wahhh... she did it on purpose... she definitely did it on purpose..." Jun Wujin wailed between sobs. "She's just bullying people! Isn't she supposed to only like drinking?! Wahhh..."

The moment she arrived at Xian Yun Peak, she emptied out all the spiritual tea he had painstakingly gathered. She even took the Blazing Sun Spring Basin along with it.

What the hell?

This isn't right!

Ye Li, aren't you supposed to only like drinking?!

Since when do you go after tea leaves too?

Listening to Jun Wujin's lament, Bai Li Qin Mo also found it a bit strange...

When did his junior sister suddenly develop a taste for tea?

But this doubt only lingered for a moment before he let it go...

After all, Ye Li had never been reasonable. She did whatever she wanted. Even if she suddenly took a liking to some man—though that was unlikely—he wouldn't find it strange.

"Alright, stop wailing." Bai Li Qin Mo waved his hand. "If she likes tea, just stop drinking it yourself. You prefer alcohol anyway."

"Sect Master! You're going too far!" Jun Wujin shouted through tears. "You can't shield her just because she's your junior sister!"

You'll lose me like this!

Bai Li Qin Mo glanced at Jun Wujin. "First of all, this isn't shielding—this is called survival. Second..."

With a casual wave of his hand, the Sect Master's token drifted before Jun Wujin.

"If you want to leave, I won't stop you. Take this token straight to the Deacon Hall."

Jun Wujin was speechless.

"Ahaha... Sect Master, you're too much..." The old man with the red nose laughed awkwardly. "I... I was just talking..."

"Tch." Bai Li Qin Mo sneered. "I know you too well. If you really wanted to leave, you'd have done it long ago. Why wait until now?"

He might not know others, but Jun Wujin...

Hmph.

In the past, he was obsessed with alcohol—he would stop at nothing to get his hands on fine wines and brewing ingredients, making enemies everywhere. If not for the protection of the Xuantian Sect's name, he would have been torn apart long ago.

Staying in the Xuantian Sect meant Ye Li would steal his things at worst. Leaving it? The consequences would be far more severe than theft...

Jun Wujin returned the Sect Master's token to Bai Li Qin Mo. "What if she comes for my alcohol next time?"

"Then you should reflect on yourself," Bai Li Qin Mo said, taking back the token with a glare. "Why does my junior sister only rob you and no one else!"

"Well... could you give me some compensation this time..."

"Get lost! You provoked my junior sister yourself, and you have the nerve to ask me for compensation?!"

"Even a few spirit stones would help, I..."

"How about I give you the Sect Master position instead?"

"Then you should at least apologize to me..."

"I told you to get lost!"