As he stepped onto the second floor, Lan Rui immediately sensed a faint layer of spiritual energy covering the entire area.
The second floor was different from the first. Though the decorations remained the same, the tables were positioned with a gap of about a dozen meters between them. Beneath each table, faint engravings could be seen on the floor.
"It's an array!" He was astonished.
Just as he was about to inspect the markings beneath a nearby table, Sister Wei's voice called out.
"Xiao Lan, come here and sit."
Snapping out of his thoughts, he walked straight to where she was seated. A young girl approached them with a warm smile, asking the same question he had been asked downstairs.
After the young girl left, a moment of silence settled between them once more. Shortly after, a pot of tea and a plate of assorted delicacies arrived.
Lan Rui picked up the teapot and poured a cup for Sister Wei before filling his own. This time, the rich fragrance of the tea spread throughout the entire floor. It was completely different from the one he had drunk earlier. Just as he was about to take a sip, Sister Wei broke the silence.
"It's spirit tea. Drink it. It's good for you and can help stabilize your foundation if consumed regularly."
Spirit tea!
Even for Immortal Family disciples, spirit tea was considered a luxury. The price of first-rank spirit tea leaves ranged from four hundred to five hundred spirit stones per kilogram, depending on the type.
Without hesitation, Lan Rui took the teacup and drank it all in one go. Immediately, a warm energy spread throughout his body before settling in his dantian.
"Good tea." His expression brightened.
After a few moments, Sister Wei spoke again.
"I know you have a lot to ask, Xiao Lan. Speak your mind."
He hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice.
"Sister Wei, how did we get to sit on the second floor? I've never seen anyone else go up here."
"The teahouse actually has four floors. The first floor is for loose cultivators and serves as a place for gathering information.
"The second floor, where we are now, is for exclusive customers and those with connections. The third floor is reserved for Foundation Establishment True Cultivators. As for the fourth floor, I don't know the exact requirements, but rumors say it is reserved for the Supreme Elder of the Cloud Sword Sect."
"Which one are you, Sister Wei?" Lan Rui suddenly interrupted.
"I'm both," she said with a smile.
He frowned slightly, but before he could ask further, she pulled out a silver token from her storage bag and continued.
"I am a guest herbalist for the Li Family, which also makes me an exclusive customer of the Willow Leaf Teahouse. This token grants me access."
Herbalists were one of the hundred cultivation arts. To outsiders, they might seem no different from ordinary spirit farmers, but high-level cultivators treated them with respect.
As experts in handling all kinds of herbs and spirit plants, herbalists were also responsible for appraising rare herbs found in secret realms or ancient ruins. Even alchemists, renowned as one of the most prestigious professions, would lower their pride when seeking a herbalist's advice on handling delicate materials.
"I didn't show this earlier because I always stop by here after finishing my work. The staff here are familiar with me and allow me to pass without question."
Another brief silence followed before Lan Rui finally asked, "If you're skilled enough to be a guest herbalist for one of the three Immortal Families, you shouldn't be living in the outer market as a mid-grade Qi Refining Realm cultivator.
With your status, you could afford a residence in the inner area. Why haven't you moved?"
Sister Wei chuckled. "You're quite sharp. The Xiao Lan I knew before wasn't like this."
His heart trembled slightly at her words, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Well, after what you went through, it makes sense that you've changed." She nodded and continued, "I am at the late stage of Qi Refining, precisely the 7th layer. The Li Family has already prepared a residence for me within their compound, and they even gifted me a house in the inner market. As for why I'm still here… it's because of you."
Lan Rui frowned. "Me?"
She nodded. "You remind me of my little brother. Many people know I'm a widow, but they don't know that I was once born into nobility in the mortal world."
A distant look filled her eyes as she continued. "My little brother was just like you a kind-hearted and naive boy, believing the world was full of kindness and peace. But that belief cost him his life. He trusted a stranger too easily… and he died because of it."
A cold glint flashed in her eyes. "When I learned the truth, I slaughtered the ones responsible. I killed their entire family and burned their estate to the ground."
Her voice carried no remorse, only quiet resolve. "After that, I walked away, determined to start anew. It was during my travels that I discovered my spirit root and embarked on the path of cultivation."
"I wandered from place to place, market to market, until fate led me here. My original plan was to stay for only a few months before continuing my journey. But then, I met you."
"You greeted me with innocent eyes, just like my little brother once did. At first, I thought it was just a passing memory. But as time went on, I became more and more attached to you… so much so that I was reluctant to leave."
"I was afraid that if I left, you would end up dead, just like him."
Lan Rui sat in silence, his emotions in turmoil. He had never known why Sister Wei had taken an interest in him. But now, he understood.
She continued, "I know you want to ask about that night. Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators undergo a transformation in their divine sense when they break through. We can perceive up to fifty meters around us."
"Your house is barely a dozen meters from mine. The moment I sensed someone trying to break in, I rushed over. But by the time I arrived, you had already killed the intruder."
"At first, I was worried. But after seeing you survive, I was relieved that I hadn't interfered. That night, you finally broke out of your cocoon. You shattered that naive belief of yours."
Lan Rui clenched his fists. He had never realized how much she had been watching over him. Now, he finally understood how the previous owner had survived for so long despite his ignorance. He had a hidden guardian protect him from a far.
Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "Sister Wei… thank you."
She smiled. "Now, I see it in your eyes,you're not the same boy as you are before. You don't need my protection anymore."
"I will be moving to the inner market soon. I plan to attempt my breakthrough to the next layer, and it will be easier there with the denser spiritual energy."
"You should move as well. The market is becoming more unstable by the day."
Lan Rui nodded. He had been considering it, but now, her words made him realize the urgency. He needs to think it over again later.
.....