The next morning, Su Yue woke up earlier than the sun — which was saying something, because Chen Yu usually woke at dawn to pick tea leaves. She lay in her starwood bed, staring at the water-clear window, and pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
I'm actually here, she thought, a wide grin spreading across her face. I'm living in the master's tea house. I'm his maid — his divine apprentice in disguise.
She jumped out of bed, pulled on her blue robe, and rushed to the main room of the tea house. Chen Yu was already there, sitting on the porch, brewing tea and scratching Xiao Mao behind the ears. He looked up when he heard her, and smiled.
"Morning!" he said. "I made you some hot water for washing up. Breakfast is rice porridge and pickled vegetables — I made extra for you."
Su Yue's eyes filled with tears. He made extra breakfast just for me, she thought, fumbling for her notebook. This is the Dao of Generosity — he gives without expecting anything in return. I must write this down immediately.
"Thank you, Master Chen!" she said, bowing so deeply she nearly knocked over the water basin.
"Just Chen Yu is fine," he said, confused by her formality. She's really polite for someone who's been homeless, he thought. I should make sure she feels comfortable here.
After breakfast, Chen Yu handed her a bucket of water, a rag, and a broom. "First task of the day," he said, pointing to the porch floor. "Give this a good sweep and wipe down. The mist makes it damp, and sometimes dirt gets tracked in."
Su Yue took the broom with trembling hands. He's giving me my first lesson in the Dao! she thought. Sweeping the floor… what profound wisdom is hidden in this task?
She started sweeping, moving the broom in slow, deliberate strokes — just like she'd seen Chen Yu sweep before. As she did, she focused on the movement, on the way the dirt gathered in a pile, on the sound of the broom against the wood.
Ah! she realized, her eyes widening. This is the Dao of Purity! By sweeping away dirt, I'm sweeping away the impurities in my own heart and cultivation base! Every stroke is a purification ritual!
She swept even more carefully, making sure not to miss a single speck of dirt. When she was done, she wiped down the floor with the rag, using the same slow, steady movements. The wood gleamed so brightly, she could see her reflection in it.
Chen Yu walked out to check her work, and his eyes widened. "Wow," he said. "That's… really clean. I've never seen the floor that shiny before. Great job!"
Su Yue beamed with pride. He praised me! she thought. My understanding of the Dao of Purity has been recognized by the master himself!
"Thank you, Master — I mean, Chen Yu," she said, correcting herself quickly. "I just… focused on the task. Like you do."
Chen Yu nodded, thinking she was just being humble. She's a natural at cleaning, he thought. I'm lucky I found her.
Next, he handed her a stack of clay cups and bowls — the ones they'd used for breakfast. "Now, washing dishes," he said. "Use warm water and this soap I made from tea leaves — it's gentle on the clay and makes everything smell nice."
Su Yue took the stack, her mind racing. Washing dishes… what lesson is here? she wondered, carrying the cups to the stream beside the tea house.
She filled the basin with warm water, added the tea leaf soap, and started washing the first cup. As her hands touched the clay, she felt a faint pulse of qi — the same pure, divine qi that filled everything in the tea house.
Oh! she realized, nearly dropping the cup. These cups are infused with the master's aura! By washing them, I'm touching his qi directly — it's like meditating with a divine artifact! Every cup I wash refines my meridians!
She washed each cup with the utmost care, running her fingers over the calligraphy, making sure every spot was clean. When she was done, she arranged them on the drying rack in a perfect line — just like Chen Yu did.
Liu Feng and Zhang Wei walked up just then, carrying a bag of fresh tea leaves they'd picked from the mountain (they'd started picking extra to "help" the master, even though Chen Yu had told them he had enough). When they saw the clean cups, their eyes widened.
"Did you do that?" Zhang Wei asked, whispering.
Su Yue nodded, grinning. "The master taught me the Dao of Washing Dishes," she whispered back. "Every cup is a chance to refine my cultivation. I can already feel my meridians opening wider!"
Liu Feng stared at the cups, then at Su Yue. "Wow," he said, scribbling in his notebook. "The master has given her another profound lesson. I need to start washing dishes more often."
As the morning went on, Su Yue tackled more tasks — tending to the tea garden, wiping down the tables, even helping Chen Yu chop vegetables for lunch. Every single thing she did, she turned into a Daoist practice:
- Tending to the tea plants became "the Dao of Nurturing," where she learned to help life grow without controlling it.
- Wiping down the tables became "the Dao of Clarity," where she learned to clear away distractions and focus on what matters.
- Chopping vegetables became "the Dao of Precision," where she learned to move with perfect accuracy and purpose.
Chen Yu watched her work, amused by her enthusiasm. She's really throwing herself into this, he thought. I've never seen anyone so excited to chop bitter melon.
Just as Su Yue was finishing up the last of the chopping, a group of three townspeople walked up the dirt path — Old Madam Li, the blacksmith Mr. Wang, and the baker Auntie Chen. They'd come to buy tea, as they did every week.
"Chen Yu! My boy!" Old Madam Li called out, waving. "How's the tea garden doing? And who's this pretty young lady?"
Su Yue straightened up, her heart racing. The master's mortal friends are here, she thought. Do they know his secret? Are they also hidden cultivators?
"This is Su Yue," Chen Yu said, smiling. "She's my new maid — I found her camping in the canyon, so I offered her a place to stay."
Old Madam Li's face softened. "Oh, you poor thing," she said, walking over to Su Yue and patting her hand. "Camping in the woods all alone — that must have been terrible. But you're safe here with Chen Yu — he's the kindest boy in the valley."
Su Yue blinked, confused. Terrible? she thought. Camping in the master's divine canyon was the greatest experience of my life! But… she's a mortal. She can't sense the qi. She thinks I was suffering.
She forced a smile. "Thank you, ma'am. I'm very grateful to Chen Yu for taking me in."
Mr. Wang looked around the tea house, his eyes wide. "Wow, Chen Yu — this place has never looked so clean. Su Yue is doing a great job!"
Chen Yu nodded. "She's amazing — the floor is so clean you can see your reflection in it. I might have to hire her permanently."
Su Yue nearly fainted. Permanently? she thought, scrambling for her notebook. The master wants me to stay forever! This is the greatest gift a cultivator could ever receive!
As the townspeople bought their tea and chatted with Chen Yu, Su Yue stood off to the side, watching. She saw the way Chen Yu laughed with them, the way he asked about their families, the way he gave Old Madam Li an extra bag of tea because he knew her grandson liked it.
This is the true Dao, she wrote in her notebook. The master doesn't just practice it in solitude — he shares it with others. He uses his power to bring joy to mortals, without ever letting them know who he really is. That's the ultimate form of enlightenment.
When the townspeople left, Chen Yu turned to Su Yue. "You did great today," he said. "Want to take a break? I just brewed a pot of new cloud mist tea — I think you're ready to learn how to make it yourself."
Su Yue's eyes went wide with excitement. He's going to teach me the divine tea-brewing method! she thought. My life is complete.
"Yes!" she said, a little too loudly. "I'd love that, Chen Yu."
As they sat on the porch, Xiao Mao curled up between them, Chen Yu picked up the Divine Refining Teapot and started explaining the steps — how to heat the water to the perfect temperature, how to measure the leaves, how to pour the water in a slow, circular motion.
Su Yue listened carefully, committing every word to memory. She watched his hands move, the way he held the teapot, the way he poured the tea so it filled each cup evenly.
Every movement is a prayer, she thought. Every drop is a blessing. I will spend the rest of my life learning this art.
Chen Yu, meanwhile, was just happy to have someone to share his tea with. He had no idea that his new maid was writing down every word he said as if it were a sacred scripture, or that she thought his tea-brewing was a divine practice that could raise a cultivator's realm. He just knew that he'd found a good friend, and that the tea house was a little brighter with her around.
"Okay," he said, handing her the teapot. "Your turn."
Su Yue took it with trembling hands, her heart racing. This is it, she thought. My first attempt at brewing the master's divine tea. I must not fail.