Teahouse Banquet

As a newcomer, Manager Lin didn’t dare put Su Qing in the upscale second floor to serve VIPs. Instead, she was assigned to the open first-floor hall, hosting less prestigious guests.

The hall was airy, with decorative screens that did little to block the sharp senses of cultivators.

Su Qing quickly grasped the situation: someone had reserved the tea house for a small freshman welcome party.

“Small” was relative—with 2,000 freshmen, the tea house’s 200-seat capacity, even at full use, was modest.

Haha, what a fancy welcome party. Guess who wasn’t invited?

At the entrance, Su Qing called out, “Two honored guests, this way please—welcome, welcome! Seats available in the southeast corner, two tea sets needed!”

She soon understood why the young apprentice guzzled leftover tea so expertly.

It was chaos—utter chaos. The serving room was packed, barely room to move. Despite the tea house’s grand private rooms, there wasn’t even a tiny staff break area.

With a big venue, tons of guests, and few staff, every server was swamped. Orders came nonstop, everyone demanding more tasks.

“Go tell Master Wang, table four’s snack platter—guest doesn’t want spring buds, swap for silver bean sprouts!”

“Silver bean sprouts? Got it. Wait, check if the water’s boiling. If it is, tell the tea brewer they can scald the tea!”

“Water’s boiling? I’m on it. Oh, ask Auntie Li if the tea goes in one ceramic pot or eight small silver ones for self-serving.”

“One ceramic pot’s fine. They’re in the hall, who’s that fussy? Grab a fine-spout pot from the warehouse!” @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

The work felt like a video game—each NPC triggered a new, urgent quest.

Su Qing wished for eight legs to scale walls.

Her legs felt thinner from running, her mouth parched.

Worse, the bathroom and water were far. She had to sneak to the kitchen for a quick sip.

Even in that brief pause, countless voices called her.

Throat dry, Su Qing gave up caring and chugged leftover tea like the apprentice.

Other workers glanced over, unfazed—clearly the norm. Everyone turned a blind eye.

By the end of the welcome party, Su Qing was stuffed with spiritual tea and gossip.

The event was hosted by the Guan Clan, led by their direct heir, Guan Jiayu. As a top-tier family, they invited other prominent clans—Qi, Que, Song, Wen from the plains, and even the Tang Clan from the western continent.

The Tang Clan controlled vast western lands, plus hundreds of island and secret realms. Though remote and recently risen, not yet among the top-tier clans, they were undeniably the leading up-and-comer.

No wonder Tang Yueling was so mad when Tianning rebuffed her—it might’ve carried deeper implications.

But it wasn’t clear-cut.

Tang Yueling’s fiery personality matched her red robes—she loved and hated fiercely, not the type to judge solely by status. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have saved Su Qing from the Sword Tomb cliff.

Another tidbit: the Guan Clan was recruiting freshmen for the Orchid-Bamboo Society. On the surface, it was a cultured group for admiring orchids and bamboo, but it was essentially a student council with real influence in the Sword Sect.

Su Qing knew of other groups—secondhand item exchange, journalism club, confession wall—now this. From their memberships, she sensed rivalries brewing.

It felt like stepping into a political drama.

“Hey, server, quit daydreaming! Tell the staff to clear tables—don’t you want to clock out?”

The mention of clocking out snapped Su Qing to action, rushing to the serving room.

Today, she was a server in a political drama.

Thankfully, she was on the first floor, avoiding any run-ins with the Qi Clan upstairs.

Being illiterate had its perks.

—

The tea house’s second floor was indeed the most luxurious.

What Su Qing didn’t know was that the guests there were treated to something extraordinary.

Due to the high-profile guests, Lin unveiled the *Spring Invitation Tea Scroll*. When infused with spiritual qi, it transformed into a secret realm—a lush garden with mist, vibrant growth, and serene beauty.

Guests sipped tea and composed poetry, utterly at ease.

Qi Libei burst in, his robe edges fluttering as if carrying the main peak’s fierce winds, refusing to settle.

His disruption made Qi Lifeng, calmly sipping tea, raise his eyes. Holding a white jade cup lid, he said with mild displeasure, “Late is one thing, but why the rush?”

Unfazed by his brother’s tone, Qi Libei grinned excitedly. “I saw her.”

His refined, noble features twisted into a bloodthirsty smile. “She’s on the first floor.”

Using “her” as a pronoun carried an unspoken taboo, a shared understanding.

Uncommon.

Qi Lifeng reacted, setting down his cup, his expression darkening. “The Guan Clan invited her?”

“No,” Qi Libei scoffed. “She’s working here.”

The idea seemed amusing, even choking Qi Lifeng briefly.

He hadn’t expected the girl who so deftly tripped them up to be in such a lowly role.

Qi Lifeng said, “Since Miss Tianning hasn’t taken a stand, don’t act childish and target her.”

Qi Libei’s brows furrowed, retorting, “If Miss Tianning hasn’t spoken, I can do what I want! Would she fall out with me over this? We grew up together!”

Qi Lifeng glanced around, lowering his voice. “Abei, watch yourself. We’re not kids anymore.” @Infinite Good Reads, Only at Jinjiang Literature City

Qi Liwei, just escaping a gaggle of giggling girls, overheard.

She grabbed Qi Libei, sitting beside him. Wanting to scold but seeing his resistance, she softened. “Abei, as long as our hearts stay true to childhood, the Young Master’s care for us won’t change. But Miss Tianning means something else to him. Let’s not anger her, okay?”

Qi Libei grunted reluctantly.

Inside, he thought: As long as she doesn’t know it’s me, what could Tianning do? He doubted she’d turn on him for someone she barely knew.

How could he sit idly while that woman lived freely?

—

The tea house paid weekly.

Today, Thursday, was the last workday. Su Qing started Tuesday, working two days, eight hours total. At 15 seeds per hour, that’s 120 seeds.

Lin settled up promptly. Su Qing would’ve taken any tip—she’d earned it, half-dead from exhaustion.

But counting, it was exactly 120 seeds—no more, no less.

Classic stingy Lin.

With the 60 seeds from meal delivery, she’d earned 180 seeds in two days—a step closer to her 500-spirit-stone sword. She could buy a centimeter of it!

She was amazing!

Another Lingpass message: Xu Jiuxing said the hot meals energized everyone, shedding extra layers of skin, boosting refinement.

For Saturday, Sunday, and next Monday to Thursday, if Su Qing was free, they’d like her to keep delivering. Their month-long intensive training meant, if she could handle it, they’d stick with her.

Su Qing agreed instantly.

Closing her Lingpass, she saw the apprentice chugging leftover tea again. She couldn’t help but say, “You’re drinking that? Not scared of another stomachache?”

Gulping, he replied, “The outhouse was sweltering. Squatting numbed my legs, hurt my butt—what a misery.”

“Then why drink?”

“Why not?” Setting down the pot, he said calmly, “My stomach’s not from the tea. Someone slipped me a laxative.”

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