Three days had passed since Su Yue first stumbled upon The Quiet Leaf tea house, and she hadn't left the canyon.
She'd set up a small camp in a grove of trees a quarter-mile from the tea house — far enough that she wouldn't disturb Chen Yu's peace, but close enough that she could watch his daily routines. She'd brought a simple tent, a small cooking pot, and her sword — but she'd barely touched any of it. Most of her time was spent hiding behind trees or sitting on a rock, watching Chen Yu go about his mortal life with wide, awe-struck eyes.
Liu Feng and Zhang Wei had come to visit twice, and they'd found her there both times — scribbling furiously in a new notebook she'd bought from the town, her face lit up like a child on festival day.
"What did he do today?" Zhang Wei had asked her on the second visit, his own eyes shining with excitement.
"He was mending his roof," Su Yue had whispered, her voice full of wonder. "He'd climbed up on a ladder, and when a tile slipped, he caught it with one hand — not by grabbing it, but by letting it fall into his palm like it was floating. That's the Dao of Gravity! He's mastered the very force that holds the world together, and he uses it to catch roof tiles!"
That morning, Su Yue was hiding behind a large pine tree, watching Chen Yu tend to his tea garden. He was weeding between the plants, his movements slow and steady. Every time he pulled a weed, he'd set it aside in a small pile — a pile that was arranged in a perfect spiral.
The Spiral of Renewal, Su Yue thought, scribbling in her notebook. A legendary formation that purifies the land and makes plants grow stronger. He's weeding his garden and creating a formation that could revitalize an entire sect's spiritual farm!
Xiao Mao was sitting on the edge of the garden, watching Chen Yu work. Every time a butterfly came near, she'd swat at it with her paw — but she never caught any. Instead, she'd let them fly away, her green eyes following their path.
He's teaching the demon tiger compassion, Su Yue wrote. Even the most powerful beasts can learn to spare the weak. What a profound lesson!
Chen Yu finished weeding and stood up, wiping sweat from his brow. He looked around the canyon, and his eyes fell on the grove where Su Yue was camping. He'd seen smoke rising from there for three days, and he'd noticed the same blue-robed lady watching him from a distance. He'd thought at first she was just a traveler resting before moving on — but three days was a long time to camp in the woods, especially with no sign of a horse or any supplies beyond a small tent.
She must be homeless, Chen Yu thought, his heart softening. Wandering the mountains with nowhere to go. That's why she watches me — she's lonely, or maybe she's hungry.
He walked back to the tea house and made a pot of tea, then packed a plate of rice cakes and some pickled vegetables. He called Xiao Mao, who jumped onto his shoulder, and walked toward the grove.
Su Yue, who'd been so focused on writing that she didn't notice him approaching, nearly dropped her notebook when she saw him walking toward her. He's coming to me! she thought, her hands shaking. The master is coming to teach me directly! I must be worthy!
She stood up quickly, bowing deeply — so deeply she nearly fell over. "Master Chen!" she said, her voice a little too loud. "I'm sorry for hiding — I didn't want to disturb your peace!"
Chen Yu smiled, holding out the plate and teapot. "No need to bow. I brought you some tea and rice cakes. I saw you camping here, and I thought you might be hungry."
Su Yue stared at the plate, her eyes wide. He brought me food himself, she thought, tears welling up in her eyes. This isn't just rice cakes — this is food blessed by a god! It will refine my cultivation more than any elixir!
"Thank you, Master," she said, taking the plate with trembling hands. "This is… this is an honor."
Chen Yu sat down on a nearby rock, Xiao Mao jumping onto his lap. "So," he said, trying to make small talk. "How long have you been wandering?"
"Three years," Su Yue said, taking a tiny bite of rice cake (she didn't want to waste a single crumb of the blessed food). "I left the Moonwater Sect to seek insights into the Dao."
She left her sect to wander, Chen Yu thought, his pity growing. That must mean she had nowhere else to go. Maybe she was cast out, or maybe her family is gone.
He looked at her small tent, then at her simple robes. "You know," he said, hesitating for a moment. "I've been thinking. The tea house gets busy sometimes — especially when the town holds its monthly market. I could use some help with cleaning, washing dishes, and tending to the garden. And… well, you don't seem to have anywhere to stay."
Su Yue froze. He's offering me a place to stay? To work with him? she thought, her mind going blank. This isn't just a job — this is a divine apprenticeship! He's chosen me to learn from him directly! I'm the luckiest cultivator in the realm!
"I… I don't know what to say," she stammered, her face bright red with excitement. "I… I'd be honored! I'll do anything — clean, cook, tend to the garden, whatever you need!"
Chen Yu smiled, relieved. "That's great! You can stay in the small room at the back of the tea house — it's empty now, just needs a little cleaning. I'll even pay you — not much, just enough to buy clothes and food from the town."
He's paying me to learn from him? Su Yue thought, nearly fainting. He's so humble, he doesn't want me to feel like I'm in his debt! This is the true mark of a master!
"I don't need money," she said quickly. "Just being here… just being able to help you… that's payment enough!"
Chen Yu nodded, thinking she was just being polite. Homeless people are often like that — too proud to take money, he thought. I'll make sure she has everything she needs anyway.
"Well, come on then," he said, standing up. "Let's go clean out your room. And after that, I'll teach you how to brew cloud mist tea — it's a little trickier than rain tea, but Old Madam Li says I'm a good teacher."
Su Yue followed him back to the tea house, her legs feeling like they were made of cotton. He's going to teach me to brew his divine tea, she thought, scribbling a quick note in her notebook before shoving it in her pocket. Today is the greatest day of my life. I'll never, ever leave this place.
Inside the tea house, Chen Yu led her to the small back room — a simple space with a bed, a table, and a window that looked out at the canyon. "It's not much," he said, apologetically. "But it's dry, and it's quiet."
Su Yue looked around, her eyes wide. The bed frame was made of the same starwood as his spoon, the table was carved with the same constellation pattern, and the window glass was so clear it looked like it was made of solid water. Every single thing in this room is a legendary treasure, she realized. He's giving me a room full of artifacts that sects would wage war over — and he thinks it's just a simple place to sleep.
"This is perfect," she said, her voice full of emotion. "It's… it's the most beautiful room I've ever seen."
Chen Yu smiled, happy to have helped. He had no idea that the woman he'd just hired as a maid was a Core Formation cultivator from a prestigious sect, or that she thought he was a hidden god teaching her the secrets of the Dao. He just knew that he'd helped someone who needed it, and that was enough.
"Great," he said. "Now, let's get to work. First, we'll clean this room. Then, tea brewing lessons. And maybe later, I'll teach you how to chop bitter melon into flower shapes — it makes the soup look nicer."
Su Yue nodded vigorously, rolling up her sleeves. He's going to teach me the Pattern of Blooming Bitterness, she thought, her heart racing. My cultivation will skyrocket. I'll become the strongest cultivator in the realm — all because a god took pity on me and offered me a job as his maid.
Chen Yu, meanwhile, was thinking about what Old Madam Li had said about Su Yue. She's a nice girl, he thought. A little quiet, but hardworking. I'm glad I could help her. Now, where did I put that broom?