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Chapter 232 Changing Tea
Huanghua Temple, rear hall.

The fragrance of sandalwood rose gently from the bronze incense burner, filling the elegant and simple hall. The Tai Chi Bagua diagram hanging on the wall appeared even more mysterious in the rising smoke. A middle-aged Taoist priest, dressed in a blue robe with cloud patterns, sat cross-legged on a futon. Three long strands of his beard hung down to his chest, and his eyes were slightly closed, as if he had transcended worldly concerns and was immersed in the mysteries of Taoism.

The tranquility was abruptly shattered.

A series of hurried, chaotic footsteps, filled with suppressed panic and grievance, approached from afar, accompanied by the intermittent sobs and choked cries of women. The sound, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, instantly shattered the tranquility of the inner hall.

"Brother!"

"Senior brother, help me!"

Accompanied by a tearful cry, the plain curtain leading to the inner room was suddenly thrown open, and seven figures stumbled in. They were none other than the seven junior sisters of the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, the spider demons of the Spider Cave.

They were in a sorry state, their hair disheveled like straw, a few strands of wet black hair clinging to their pale cheeks, their eyes red-rimmed. They still carried the warm fragrance and damp, cold air unique to the Cleansing Spring. Upon seeing their senior brother sitting cross-legged, they were like drowning people finally grabbing onto a piece of driftwood, unable to hold on any longer. With a few thuds, they all knelt down and burst into tears.

"Senior brother! You must stand up for us sisters!"

"Senior brother! We've been bullied terribly, waaaaah!"

The cries were heart-wrenching, filled with endless shame, anger, and fear.

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance quickly replaced by astonishment and displeasure. His brow furrowed as he looked at his junior sisters, disheveled and tearful, his expression darkening, his voice carrying a hint of reprimanding authority.

"What's all this panic? What kind of behavior is this? Explain yourself slowly." He gestured for them to stand up.

The eldest spider demon, her eyes brimming with tears, raised her voice, which trembled and distorted with extreme shame and indignation.
"Senior brother, today my sisters and I are bathing in the Cleansing Spring..."

She had barely begun to speak when the unbearable scene flashed before her eyes, filling her with shame and indignation. She choked back tears and could barely continue. A slightly more impulsive junior sister immediately chimed in, her voice trembling with sobs and deep-seated hatred.

"Two vicious little thieves appeared out of nowhere. One looked like a little monk, but he transformed into a ferocious eagle and, taking us by surprise, stole all our clothes. We were so hurt... so hurt..."

She covered her face with her hands, and her words were drowned out by more intense sobs, her body trembling violently with humiliation.

Another junior sister also raised her head, her eyes burning with anger and tears of humiliation, pointing into the void as if her enemy were right before her.
"And there's another one, a little scoundrel in red. He's even more despicable. He actually transformed into a slippery silver fish and toyed with us in the water. Waaah... Senior brother, this humiliation is worse than death. Please, you must avenge us!"

Her words were like the mournful cry of a cuckoo, each word a tearful lament.

"Wow!"

After listening to his junior sisters' tearful accusations, the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord's face instantly turned from astonishment to ashen, and a surge of rage rose from his body.

He suddenly stood up, his wide robe sleeves whipping around, knocking over the tea set on the table beside him. The exquisite porcelain cups and teapots shattered on the ground with a piercing sound, and tea splashed onto the floor.

"Outrageous!" A thunderous shout rang out in the silent back room, causing dust to fall from the beams.

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord's beard and hair bristled, his eyes flashing with a cold light, like two poisoned blades. He swept over his weeping junior sisters on the ground, and a chilling killing intent spread out.

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how could such a lewd, rude, and despicable person exist? To dare to insult the disciples of my Yellow Flower Temple is to insult my Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord! I swear I will not follow the path until this grudge is avenged!"

His chest heaved violently as he forcefully suppressed the urge to charge out. Taking a few deep breaths, he managed to temporarily quell his surging anger and addressed his still-shaken junior sisters in a deep voice:
"Don't be afraid! Go to the back hall and rest peacefully to calm your nerves. If those foolish thieves dare to come looking for us... Hmph!" He sneered, his killing intent chilling, "I will make sure they never return, their souls scattered. I will wash away this humiliation for you!"

Hearing their senior brother's promise, the seven sisters felt reassured. Sobbing, they helped each other up, bowed deeply to the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, and then, leaning on each other, retreated unsteadily into the deeper, more secluded part of the inner hall.

As the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord watched them disappear behind the curtain, the anger on his face slowly subsided, replaced by a calm and composed expression. With another flick of his sleeve, the broken porcelain and leftover tea on the ground vanished without a trace, as if swept away by an invisible hand, leaving the ground spotless once more.

He straightened his slightly disheveled blue Taoist robe, smoothing out the wrinkles, and then raised his hand to adjust the Taoist crown on his head. His face regained its ethereal and otherworldly expression. However, deep within his dark brown eyes, a trace of cold calculation and murderous intent lurked like a venomous snake.

Huanghua Temple in front.

As the auspicious clouds dispersed, Chen Guangrui, Pleiades Star Lord, Nezha, and Tang Sheng gracefully landed on the clean bluestone steps in front of the temple.

The moment he landed, Pleiades Star Lord almost instinctively raised his hands and solemnly adjusted the seven-inch-tall golden pheasant crown on his head, a symbol of his status.

He stepped forward, spoke in a clear and resonant voice, carrying the unique majesty of a celestial official, which echoed faintly through the valley.

"May I ask if the abbot is here? Marshal Chen of the Heavenly Court, having been ordered by the Great Heavenly Venerable to descend to the mortal realm to inspect the demonic forces in all directions, has come to pay his respects upon passing by your temple."

Chen Guangrui originally planned to visit quietly, but Pleiades's words made it seem like he was giving advance notice.

A moment after the sound faded, the two heavy temple doors creaked open slowly. The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, dressed in a blue cloud-patterned Taoist robe, appeared behind the doors with a warm yet solemn smile on his face.

His gaze was sharp as lightning, sweeping over the crowd without making a sound.

"Amitabha." The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord bowed respectfully, his posture humble and his voice gentle and clear. "So it is Marshal Tianpeng and the Star Official from the Upper Realm who have graced my humble abode with their presence. It is an honor to have you here. And these two celestial children are also extraordinary. I have failed to greet you properly. My apologies. My abode is simple and humble. Please come inside and have some tea to talk with me."

He stepped aside and led the four people into the temple.

Passing through the front courtyard, one enters the main hall. The interior is elegantly and simply furnished, with a huge Tai Chi Bagua diagram hanging on the central wall, exuding a mysterious aura. In a corner, a wisp of smoke curls from a bronze incense burner, the sandalwood fragrance calming the mind. A large, antique sandalwood table sits in the center, flanked by several round-backed chairs of the same material.

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord personally led the way, inviting Chen Guangrui to sit in the head seat, with Nezha and Tang Sheng on his left and right respectively. The Pleiades Star Lord stood half a step behind Chen Guangrui, his posture upright like a pine tree, his official robes crisp, his tall crown dignified, his eyes fixed straight ahead, perfectly displaying the demeanor of a celestial official.

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord moved swiftly yet elegantly. He took out a set of simple and elegant purple clay teaware, and picked up a copper kettle from a small red clay stove beside him, the spout of which was emitting wisps of steam.

He scalded the cups and warmed the teapots with fluid, graceful movements. He personally took the tea leaves from a jade box; their color was a vibrant, glossy green, exuding a subtle, spiritual quality. Boiling water was poured into the purple clay teapot, and an elegant, refined, and refreshing aroma instantly filled the room.

"This is a tea bud picked by this humble Taoist from a thousand-year-old tea tree in the mountains. I personally roasted it. Although I dare not compare it to the heavenly celestial tea and fine wine, it is enough to cleanse the mind and express my heartfelt sentiments. Please enjoy it, esteemed immortals."

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, with a beaming smile and humble demeanor, personally poured the clear, emerald-green tea into the cups before the four. The Pleiades Star Lord gracefully raised his own teacup, brought it to his nose, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply, a perfectly measured expression of bliss on his face.

"The fragrance is like a secluded orchid in a valley, refreshing the heart and cleansing away worldly thoughts. The Taoist priest has excellent skills; this tea truly captures the essence of nature."

He took a small sip, his movements meticulous, his official robe sleeves remaining perfectly still, exuding composure.

Nezha sat in the armchair, his feet tapping impatiently on the ground, making a soft pattering sound. He picked up his teacup, looked at the clear, emerald-green tea inside, pursed his lips, blew on the steam haphazardly, and then casually put the teacup back on the table, clearly having no interest in such leisurely formalities.

Tang Sheng imitated the adults, carefully holding up a teacup bigger than his face with both hands, pouting his little mouth and blowing hard a few times. When he saw it was tea, he grinned but didn't drink any more.

Chen Guangrui also picked up his teacup, calmly looking at the emerald green tea in the cup, appreciating the warm luster of the tea soup reflecting the light and the rising steam, but did not drink it immediately.

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord greeted Chen Guangrui with a warm smile.
"The presence of the Marshal is a great honor to my humble abode. I am deeply grateful. May I ask where the Marshal intends to go on this inspection tour? If there is anything I, a humble man from the mountains, can do to serve you, please speak freely, and I will do my utmost."

Chen Guangrui put down his teacup, his tone calm and unwavering.

"You're too kind, Daoist Master. We are here on the orders of the Great Heavenly Venerable to patrol the four directions and cleanse the demonic atmosphere. We have heard that this place is beautiful and full of spiritual energy, so we have come to bother you for a while, to rest our feet and appreciate the charm of this place of Daoist cultivation."

He then naturally changed the subject, "I just wonder if there is any unrest in the surrounding mountains and rivers? If there are demons causing trouble and disturbing the local area, we can do our part to help the Taoist priest and uphold justice."

The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord stroked his long beard, his smile widening, and was about to reply. Just as the host and guest were chatting happily and in a harmonious atmosphere, a knocking sound came from the back hall. The Taoist priest apologized and got up to go to the back hall.

He had just stepped into the back hall when the seven spider demons surrounded him.
"It's them!"

"Senior brother, it's this group of people!!"

The eldest spider demon, who was in charge, cried out,

"Senior brother! It's them! It's this gang of thieves! At the Cleansing Spring, it was them who transformed into a damned eagle and stole all our clothes!"

Another spider demon rushed forward, pointing at Tang Sheng's bald head, her voice filled with sobs and boundless hatred, "And that little beast, he transformed into a disgusting silver fish, in the water... in the water, he attacked us... Waaah... Senior brother, this is such a disgrace, it's intolerable! Quickly, quickly capture them, tear them to pieces, and avenge us sisters!"

"boom!"

Like a powder keg that had been ignited, the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord sprang up from his seat. The carefully maintained air of otherworldly elegance and the warm smile on his face instantly crumbled and shattered, replaced by a thick layer of frost and a violent killing intent.

His eyes were sharp as knives.

"Very well, what I've been searching for has come to me without any effort. I was just looking high and low for you despicable thieves, and you've delivered yourselves to my door to die. Distinguished guests! Your behavior is worse than that of beasts, outrageous, and intolerable to the laws of heaven. Today, you will not leave my Huanghua Temple alive."

Several breaths passed before the Taoist priest managed to suppress his surging killing intent. He took a deep breath, his smile returning to his face, and went back to the front hall, sitting down in his seat.

"Please excuse my rudeness, everyone. The disciple in the back hall was a bit abrupt and impolite just now."

His gaze swept over the teacups in front of Chen Guangrui, Nezha, and Tang Sheng, and he forced an extremely stiff and cold smile. "Please have another cup of tea to clear your mind. This tea is best for calming the mind and spirit..."

As he spoke, he picked up the still-scalding copper kettle from the small red clay stove beside him. The expression on his face seemed to have returned to calm.

He walked slowly towards the three of them and personally refilled their water. His movements seemed steady, yet, just as the spout was precisely aimed at Chen Guangrui's teacup, and the scalding water was about to flow in,

His movements paused for an extremely subtle and brief moment.

The wide, blue robe sleeves brushed past the area below the spout as if unintentionally concealing something.

In that split second, his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, touched the inside of the spout with incredible speed and concealment.

A strange, colorless, odorless, formless, and intangible aura, like the most cunning venomous snake, instantly dissolved into the scalding hot tea, vanishing without a trace. The entire process was as swift as a ghost; unless one was completely focused and watching his every subtle movement intently, it would be impossible to detect.

Chen Guangrui's gaze remained calmly fixed on the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord's movements as he refilled the cup, as if he were merely admiring the arc of the water falling into the cup, or perhaps simply feeling the rising steam. When the Taoist respectfully and steadily placed the freshly poured tea in front of him, Chen Guangrui did not immediately touch it.

He slowly picked up the cup of tea.

His gaze, however, shifted from the rippling blue tea to the Pleiades Star Lord standing beside him, striving to maintain his composure. Chen Guangrui's voice was flat and emotionless, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself:

"Star Official".

The Pleiades Constellation Official immediately bowed slightly, his voice steady: "Marshal."

Chen Guangrui's gaze returned to the teacup in his hand, and he slowly spoke.
"We are here on the orders of the Great Heavenly Venerable to descend to the mortal realm to subdue demons. What if we are careless and perish in the mortal world..."

He paused deliberately, raised his gaze, and swept it once more over the face of the Pleiades Constellation Official, who was trying hard to remain calm.
"What will the Heavenly Court say? Will they say that the demons in the mortal realm were too powerful and ferocious, and that we were caught off guard, unable to defeat them, and that our unfortunate deaths were understandable?"

Pleiades Constellation Lord's heart sank, but his speech was steady, even carrying a perfectly timed hint of reassurance.

"Marshal, you are joking. You are highly skilled and powerful, and you are also blessed by the Great Heavenly Venerable. You are blessed with boundless fortune. This mission will surely wipe out the evil forces, cleanse the world, uphold the might of Heaven, and return safely to report back to Heaven! How could such an unexpected event have occurred? Marshal, please do not mention such ominous words again, lest you disturb the morale of the army."

Chen Guangrui nodded, as if agreeing with him, her tone remaining calm.
"Yes, the star official is right. I was overthinking it."

His tone was as natural as if he were chatting casually, discussing a trivial matter.

"However, the tea in front of the Star Official and the Taoist Priest is clear and bright, with a translucent green color. It seems to look better than the one in my hand..."

He steadily handed the teacup to the Pleiades star lord, his movements calm and resolute.
How about we switch places?

(End of this chapter)