The river mist clung to the lane in the early light, softening the shapes of carts and shop signs. Lin Xun stood in the doorway of the Emerald Leaf Teahouse, sweeping petals from the step. The sign above him swayed gently, the carved characters catching the first hints of gold from the rising sun.
It had been years since the shop had opened on two mornings in a row. He could almost imagine his grandfather beside him, arms folded, nodding in approval… almost. The thought brought a faint ache, but also a quiet steadiness. He wanted the kettles to sing again. He wanted the shop to feel alive.
Inside, the kettle already simmered, sending a thin plume of steam curling upward. Lin Xun moved through the morning tasks with an unhurried rhythm. Wipe the counter. Lay out the fresh leaves he had sorted the night before. Check the brazier's coals. Arrange the cups so they caught the soft light from the window. Each small task was a promise to himself that this place would stay open.
The warmth in his core from the day before pulsed faintly, like it was waiting.
The bell above the door rang.
A boy in an outer disciple's robe hurried in, bowing so quickly he nearly lost his balance. His voice came out in a rush. "Senior, I heard your tea can help with cultivation… I have a competition today, and my forms keep falling apart in the second step of the river cut."
Lin Xun studied him. His hands trembled when he adjusted his belt. There was tension in his shoulders, and his eyes shifted constantly, as if he could not focus on a single point for long.
"Sit by the window," Lin Xun said. "Tell me about the movement you are struggling with."
The boy hesitated, then explained. A fluid strike meant to turn defense into attack, a moment where stance and breathing had to align perfectly. His words tumbled over each other, as if speaking of the form made it slip further from his grasp.
Lin Xun chose Moonlight Dew for clarity, adding three thin leaves of River Thread for fluidity. The kettle's quiet bubble turned to a low boil, and the scent of the leaves began to lift into the air. Fresh, cool, and sharp. He poured slowly, letting the water flow in smooth circles before capping the pot to steep. The room filled with the fragrance, light and clean.
He set the cup before the boy, who held it like something fragile. A cautious sip, then a longer one… the tension in his shoulders eased. He closed his eyes for a long breath, then stood and moved to the open space near the door. He went through the form once, slowly, then again with more speed. The change was immediate — his stance flowed into the next step without the jarring pause that had been there before.
He bowed again, deeper this time. "Thank you, senior… truly."
As he left, Lin Xun felt the warmth in his core deepen, just slightly. Not a rush, more like a trickle joining the pool. Still, the change was real.
---
The morning brought a steady stream of customers. An old mason came in for something to ease the ache in his knees. Lin Xun brewed Iron Root with a touch of Cloud Mist, and the man left walking more easily, muttering that he might come back tomorrow. A young woman asked for a blend to sharpen her memory for an exam. She left with a small packet wrapped in paper and bowed twice before stepping outside. Each time, the feedback came… gentle, but building.
Midmorning passed, and the shop was quiet again. Lin Xun used the lull to polish the kettle until it shone in the light. He found himself glancing at the door, half expecting someone particular to walk through.
The bell rang.
Shen Lan stepped inside as though she belonged there. She took the same table by the window, resting her sword within easy reach. Her eyes swept over the room once before settling on him. Lin Xun brought the kettle without asking for her order.
"You came back," he said.
"I said I would," she replied. "Besides… that tea yesterday was unlike anything I have tasted."
He brewed Moonflower Oolong again, watching her as the steam curled upward. "It was not the tea alone," he said. "You were ready to break through."
Her gaze lifted to meet his. "Perhaps… but something in it cleared the last stone from the path."
When she drank, that faint ripple of Qi stirred in the air again, subtle yet undeniable. She set the cup down with care, her expression a shade softer.
"You are not just a tea seller," she said.
"I am today," he replied.
A brief curve touched her lips, almost a smile. "My name is Shen Lan. I travel between sect territories, taking work where it comes. Your tea may be worth more than you realize, Lin Xun."
She stayed for a while, sipping in silence, then left without ceremony. Still, the air felt different after she was gone, as if her presence lingered.
---
By midafternoon, a group of travelers stopped in. Their boots were caked with dust, and their clothes were the worn layers of people who had been on the road for weeks. They ordered a pot of something to restore energy, and Lin Xun prepared a blend of Mountain Breath with a pinch of smoked bark. The fragrance was rich and grounding. They left refreshed and left a small pouch of dried berries as payment, saying they had no coin but would gladly bring more trade goods next time.
The warmth in his core grew steadily, but it was not just the tea that made him aware of it now. He could sense when a customer was about to break through, even before they sipped. It was like seeing the faint shimmer of a river current beneath the surface.
---
Late in the day, the door opened again. A man in dark blue robes entered. His hair was bound with a bronze clasp, and the Heavenly Jade Sect seal was stitched into his sleeve. The sight hit Lin Xun like a pebble dropped into still water, sending ripples through his calm.
The man sat without greeting. "I have heard of your tea. I wish to try it."
Lin Xun kept his voice even. "What effect do you seek?"
"To refine my Qi channels for a breakthrough," the man said.
Lin Xun selected Flowing Spring Brew, blending Jade Spring White with a trace of crystal dew collected before sunrise. The scent was light and sharp, like fresh rain on stone. He poured carefully and set the cup down.
The man drank in silence, then stood abruptly. A faint glow of Qi traced along his meridians. His eyes narrowed, as though weighing a thought. "Interesting," he murmured.
He placed a coin heavier than silver on the table and left without another word.
Lin Xun watched him go. The warmth in his core had grown again, steady and certain. But the man's presence left a question that would not settle… had he come by chance, or was the sect already watching?
---
After closing, Lin Xun barred the door and sat at the counter with his own cup of tea. The warmth inside him felt more like an ember now than a spark. If he focused, he could sense its quiet pulse, like a second heartbeat. Not enough to make him a cultivator yet… but it was growing.
He thought of Shen Lan's words. His tea was worth more than he realized. In the cultivation world, that meant opportunity… and danger. The shop was open again, and word was spreading. Tomorrow, he would light the kettle at dawn. And whatever came through the door, he would face it.