"Ordinary tea leaves can be consumed in a year, but this one requires nine years. This shows that it's special and needs to be soaked for a longer period of time in order to make its fragrance more pure and lasting. However, you only took three breaths to finish steeping all of the tea leaves after boiling them. Due to how fast you were, the fragrance of the Nine Years Spring wasn't fully brought out, resulting in your first failure! "
"Nine Year Spring is grown in a humid place, so there is a lot of moisture in the tea leaves. Before steeping, it needs to be washed with light salt water in order to activate the veins of the leaves, allowing the tea leaves to release a better fragrance. Not only did you not wash it, you even dry-soaked it. Not only did it affect the taste, it even caused Nine Year Spring to drop a grade. This is a second failure!"
"Before brewing the tea, it's not a problem to heat up the tea set. However, it's a pity that I overestimated my skills and placed the tea leaves into the tea set before heating it up completely. Furthermore, the tea leaves are still in their normal state, causing the heat to dissipate, greatly reducing the effect. This is the third failure!"
…
"Fallen leaves return to their roots. When it comes to dividing the tea, it should be done within three breaths to ensure that each cup tastes the same. But you dragged it out for seven breaths. The difference between the first cup of tea and the fifth cup of tea is nearly a grade apart in terms of taste. You can test it. The first cup reached Level Four, and the last cup is at most Level Three. It's the same pot of tea, but there are two different flavors. The seventeenth failure! "
Zhang Xuan did not stop and pointed out seventeen mistakes in a row. He looked at Tian Long again with a face full of sympathy. "A good Returning to the Root of the Fallen Leaves Technique, a good Nine Years Spring Tea, has been soaked like this by you. Isn't it bullsh * t?"
"You … you …"
Tian Long's face was pale as if he had seen a ghost.
He wanted to retort, but he couldn't utter a single word.
He had just learned this technique, so it was normal for him to have many flaws. Logically speaking, it was not a big deal, but how did the other party see through it?
Didn't he not know how to make tea?
After all, what the other party said was exactly the same as what his grandfather had taught him. In fact, it was even more!
Grandpa had only mentioned four or five places, but he had mentioned seventeen places in one go …
Could it be that his research on the tea ceremony was even better than his grandfather's?
How was this possible?
He was not the only one who had gone mad. The entire hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone looked at Zhang Xuan as if they were looking at a monster.
This was especially so for Lu Xun. His eyes were about to pop out of his sockets, and he was on the verge of going insane.
It was just a moment ago that he was able to point out the technique that the other party used and the quality of the tea, and he was already feeling proud of himself. Yet … not only was the other party able to see through all of that, he was even able to point out the flaws in the brewing of the tea and the flaws in his technique …
Instantly, he felt as if his face had been ruthlessly slapped by someone. It was burning hot and felt like it was about to be torn apart.
What was going on?
To be able to say so much in one go and have such a deep understanding of Nine Years of Spring, are you a f * cking tea seller?
"Elder Tian, am I right?"
Paying no heed to the astonishment of the crowd, Zhang Xuan chuckled softly as he looked at Elder Tian.
A Tea Master brewing tea is similar to a cultivator practicing a fist technique. A book can be compiled to record the flaws of a Tea Master. This Tian Long did not provoke him, nor could he be bothered with him. Thus, Tian Long gave him a way out of this embarrassing situation. From the very start, Tian Long had been looking for trouble with him and even helped Lu Xun.
Of course, this was also because Zhang Xuan had gone easy on the other party. He had only pointed out a portion of the flaws in the Way of Tea. If Zhang Xuan were to point out all of them, this fellow would probably end up in the same state as Apothecary Bai Ming back then. The conviction that he had built up over the years would crumble, resulting in him being unable to advance any further in the Way of Tea.
"What you said …"
Honestly speaking, he wasn't sure whether the other party was right or not, but he was certain that the other half was correct.
Furthermore, as for the other half that he didn't know, regardless of whether it was the attribute of the tea leaves or the brewing technique, there shouldn't be any problems.
Just by looking at the brewing of tea, the other party was able to point out so many problems?
Is he the Way of Tea master or am I?
Elder Tian looked as though he had seen a ghost. After hesitating for a long moment, he said, "Everything is correct!"
"Everything is correct?"
"Miss Zhang is correct?"
Upon hearing his judgment, a commotion broke out in the hall.
This was especially so for Huang Yu and Bai Xun. They stared at one another, and they could see the frenzy in the other's eyes.
On the way here, Miss Zhang had been asking about the Way of Tea. She was a complete noob, so it was impossible for her to know what the Way of Tea was … She was still worried that she would lose to Lu Xun. Never in her dreams did she expect such an outcome to occur.
Brother, can you not play with my heart like that?
If you are so knowledgeable about the Way of Tea, why are you feigning ignorance?
"He must be doing it on purpose …"
Recalling how she was still explaining the four levels of the Way of Tea to him out of goodwill, Huang Yu couldn't help but spurt blood. That fellow was probably laughing at her ignorance in his heart …
"It seems like … Master Zhang was like that before he started painting as well …"
Just as she was cursing in her heart, Bai Xun's confused voice sounded by her ears.
Hearing those words, Huang Yu also recalled it.
It seemed like … this Master Zhang was like an idiot before he started painting as well, knowing nothing at all. Yet … after reading a few books and drawing a few strokes, he was able to create a painting of the fifth level …
What was wrong with this fellow?
How could there be such a weird person in the world?
Placing his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan returned to his seat and looked at Elder Tian impassively. "Since everything is correct, do you think I have passed your test?"
"Wait a moment!"
Before Elder Tian could say anything, Wang Chao suddenly stood up and said, "Elder Tian's question is: Between Zhang Xuan and Brother Lu, whoever is able to say what technique was used and what level of tea fragrance is at will be the victor! Brother Lu spoke of the 【Root of the Fallen Leaves】 technique and said that the tea fragrance is at the fourth level. His answer was impeccable and pertinent to the question! As for Miss Zhang, despite saying so much, she didn't reveal the most crucial point. Speaking of which, she gave the wrong answer. I think that Brother Lu should be the victor. "
"Indeed. Just because Brother Lu didn't say the latter part doesn't mean that he doesn't know how to do it. He just answered the question correctly." Tian Long's eyes lit up and he gritted his teeth.
If this fellow were to win and become Liu Shi's apprentice, wouldn't he be with Huang Yu every single day? What does that have to do with me?
Thus, I mustn't allow him to succeed!
Furthermore, he was scolded as though he was a grandson. How can I let go of such a good opportunity?
"…"
Hearing the other party's words, Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
He thought that he was shameless enough, but to think that these two fellows were even more shameless than him.
Didn't answer the question correctly?
Speaking of which, he did answer the question incorrectly, just that …
"Lu laoshi's first answer has already revealed the answer. If Miss Zhang didn't say so, are you going to repeat his answer?" Huang Yu couldn't hold it in any longer and stood up.
You must be joking!
You have already said the answer, so how are the others supposed to reply?
If you say that it's the same as yours, they will definitely say that you are repeating it. If you say that it's different, they will say that you didn't answer the question correctly …
You are already a star teacher, can you at least be more shameless?
"Alright, stop arguing."
Seeing that both sides were getting angry, Elder Tian waved his hands. "I was careless in coming up with this question, so let's forget about it."
"Forget about it?"
Zhang Xuan looked over. He knew that the other party was helping Lu Xun.
He couldn't be blamed. He was a loner and he didn't even know who this Elder Tian was. Naturally, the other party would help Lu Xun, who he was more familiar with.
"Tian laoshi …"
Hearing those words, Liu Ling frowned.
Isn't this favoritism a little too blatant!
"Alright, you don't have to say anymore. It's my carelessness. Let's just come up with another question. There's no need to argue here." Interrupting Liu Shi's words, Elder Tian said calmly.
"Yes!" Since his teacher had already said so, Liu Ling didn't dare to refute him. Thus, he could only look at Zhang Xuan apologetically.
"I was careless in the Way of Tea test. However, I can tell that the both of you are well-versed in the Way of Tea. If we were to fight to the death, it would only harm the harmony between the two of you. How about this, other than the Way of Tea, I have some knowledge in painting as well. Furthermore, it just so happens that I have obtained a painting. With just a single glance, I was stunned by it. Since the both of you are teachers, you should have some understanding of painting as well. Why don't I take it out for you to appraise? Whoever is more accurate will be the victor … "
After a moment of hesitation, Elder Tian stroked his beard and said.
"Painting test?"
Hearing the other party's words, Zhang Xuan was taken aback. He nearly burst into laughter.
If it were any other test, he might have to browse through the books in the Library of Heaven's Path and study them bit by bit. However, painting … was completely unnecessary!
To be able to produce a painting of the fifth level, one has already reached the level of a grandmaster painter, comparable to a 2-star painter. Are you sure that … Lu Xun will be able to defeat me?
However, after giving it some thought, Zhang Xuan came to a realization. Through the previous incident, Elder Tian could tell that Zhang Xuan was well-versed in the Way of Tea. If they were to compete, Lu Xun would lose as well.
Since the both of them were acquainted with one another, Elder Tian naturally knew that Lu Xun's family was well-versed in the Way of Tea. His father, Lu Chen, was an official master painter.
Thus, he came up with a painting test.
This was equivalent to comparing Lu Xun's strengths with his.
However, it was a pity that he didn't expect that … even Lu Xun's father, Master Lu Chen, would have to address him respectfully as a master.
"May I know if the both of you have any objections?"
After which, Elder Tian turned to look at Lu Xun.
"Elder Tian's arrangement is something that Lu Xun wouldn't dare to object to."
Lu Xun clasped his fist, looking as though an obedient child. However, he was actually overjoyed.
Even though Tian Long had said that Zhang Xuan could possibly be a master painter, he thought that it was a lie and didn't pay it much heed.
Furthermore, compared to the Way of Tea, he was much more proficient in painting.
Mo Chenzi, Yuanyu, his father, Lu Chen, and the other master painters flashed through his mind. The books that he had learned since he was young flashed through his mind, and a confident look appeared on his face.
What a joke! He had only dabbled in the Way of Tea, but painting was a family heirloom.
As long as the other party wasn't a master painter, it was impossible for him to defeat him.
Lu Xun had absolute confidence in himself.
"What about Miss Zhang?"
Seeing him agree to it, Elder Tian nodded his head and turned to look at Zhang Xuan.
"I … agree as well!" Zhang Xuan nodded his head.
"Competing in the appreciation of painting?"
The three master teachers, Huang Yu, Bai Xun, and the others stared at one another in shock.
A moment later, they turned to look at Lu Xun with pity in their eyes.
The Way of Tea wasn't a huge blow to them. After all, they weren't professionals, so they didn't feel disheartened even if they lost. However, if they were to compete in painting …
This fellow would probably cry himself to death.
Sigh, what a pitiful child.
Honestly speaking, Lu Xun, you really found the wrong person to compete in painting …
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