Morning light spilled over the tiled roofs, catching on the faint curls of steam that drifted from the Emerald Leaf Teahouse. Lin Xun stood behind the counter, his sleeves neatly tied back, fingers working in steady rhythm as he bound bundles of fresh green leaves with thin silk thread. The air inside was warm and fragrant, the scent of boiling water carrying hints of roasted oolong, mountain herbs, and the sharper freshness of newly picked buds.
It had been only two days since he reopened, yet the lane outside already felt changed. Passersby slowed as they reached his door. Some paused to sniff at the faint sweetness drifting on the breeze, while others leaned toward companions, speaking in hushed voices about a tea that could help a cultivator break through a bottleneck.
Lin Xun knew better than to believe in instant security. Rumors were like drifting petals... they could land gently and take root, or they could scatter before touching the ground. Still, the fact that people were talking at all meant something had shifted.
The bell over the door gave a soft chime.
A young woman in plain grey robes stepped inside, glancing around the teahouse with the uncertainty of someone unused to such places. Her hair was tied back, though a loose strand had slipped forward to brush her cheek. She approached the counter slowly, her gaze flicking to the rows of jars before returning to him.
"My uncle said you might have a tea that helps with focus," she murmured. "I… am preparing for my Foundation test."
Lin Xun studied her a moment. The nervous twist of her fingers and the way her eyes dropped to the floor spoke more clearly than her voice. She was afraid to fail, and even more afraid of being told she would.
"Sit by the wall," he said gently. "We will see what can be done."
She obeyed without protest, perching on the edge of the nearest chair.
From the shelves, Lin Xun selected Bright Lotus for clarity, pairing it with a measure of Dawn Mist to awaken her mind without shaking her calm. As the water met the leaves, the aroma rose slowly, light but persistent, carrying the faint sweetness of summer rain. He let the infusion settle before pouring, then placed the cup before her.
The first sip drew a small breath from her lips. Her shoulders eased, and she closed her eyes, holding the cup as though it contained something more than tea. By the time she finished, the tightness in her posture had softened. She left with steadier steps, offering a quiet bow before disappearing into the sunlit lane.
Lin Xun felt a faint ripple in his core... the subtle stir of his growing pool of Qi. It was stronger than yesterday. Small gains, but steady ones.
---
Not long after, the bell rang again.
This time, it was a merchant in pale blue robes. He carried himself with the smooth confidence of someone used to closing deals before the other party knew there had been a choice. His smile was broad, his voice warm.
"Lin Xun, yes? I hear your teahouse is attracting attention. Such a thing is good for business… and for the guild."
Lin Xun poured plain tea for himself, setting the cup aside without drinking. "We are still small. There is little here to interest the guild."
The merchant's smile did not waver. "Small shops grow. When they grow without guild blessing, difficulties have a way of appearing."
He placed a thick, scented card on the counter. "Think on it. We will speak again."
The scent of sandalwood lingered after he left, heavy in the air. Lin Xun slipped the card into a drawer without looking at it.
---
By midday, the lane outside was busy. A pair of elderly neighbors came for jasmine, lingering over their cups to talk about the weather. Two cultivators in light armor ordered nothing more than plain green tea, drinking in silence while their eyes flicked toward the shelves as though committing the jar labels to memory.
A young man carrying a basket of pears stopped in for chrysanthemum, then left one of the fruits on the counter as thanks. Lin Xun accepted it with a nod, adding the pear to a bowl on the shelf. Every interaction, no matter how small, was another thread weaving into the teahouse's growing presence.
Shen Lan arrived not long after, her sword resting casually against her shoulder. She set it against the wall as she took her usual seat.
"You have more customers today," she said.
"Word travels," Lin Xun replied.
Her gaze shifted toward the open door. "Not always to the right ears."
Following her glance, he spotted a man across the street. His apron was stained with old tea leaves, his eyes sharp and calculating. Without a word, the man turned and walked away.
"Another teahouse?" Lin Xun asked.
"Perhaps. Or someone who wishes they owned yours," Shen Lan said. She sipped her tea and set the cup down with care. "Tea may be peaceful, but the hands that serve it need not be."
---
The bell rang again in the late afternoon, this time accompanied by raised voices from the lane. A boy stumbled inside clutching a cracked porcelain jar, his face pale.
A man followed close behind, his cheeks flushed with anger. "That jar is mine!"
The boy shook his head desperately. "I paid for it, you saw me—"
Lin Xun stepped forward, his tone calm. "Enough. Breathe, both of you."
The man's gaze darted to the shelves of the shop. "So you are the one they talk about. Selling miracle brews."
"We sell tea," Lin Xun said. "Miracles belong to the heavens."
The boy's voice trembled. "Please… I have to face my sect's trial tonight. I am not ready."
Lin Xun took the jar from him, examining the leaves inside. They were poor quality, old and dry, but he could work with them. He added a measure from his own store, blending the dull scent with the sharp brightness of spring-picked silverleaf. When the water poured, the aroma changed at once... lively, focused, carrying the promise of strength.
The boy drank quickly. His breathing steadied, and a faint shimmer of Qi traced along his arms. His eyes widened. "Thank you… thank you!" He bowed deeply before running out into the evening light.
The man who had followed him hesitated, then left without a word.
---
As the day drew to a close, the shop quieted. Lin Xun lit the last stick of incense and closed the shutters, leaving only the warm glow of the lantern over the counter. He poured a cup for himself, letting the scent rise toward him before taking a slow sip.
The warmth in his core pulsed steadily, stronger than it had the day before. He could feel faint threads reaching outward — the subtle connections formed when someone drank tea infused with his intent. But there were other threads as well, thinner and colder, pulling in directions he could not yet see.
The merchant with his smooth words. The rival across the street. The cultivators who drank in silence. All of them were part of the scent now spreading beyond these walls.
The tea would bring customers. The tea would bring power. But the tea would also bring trouble.
He sat for a while longer, listening to the soft crackle of the cooling kettle. Outside, the lane was quiet, the day's noise replaced by the distant hum of the city at rest.
Finally, he blew out the lantern, the shop settling into darkness. In the stillness, he whispered to the empty air.
"Let it come."
---