Stranger Danger

“My appearance surprised you, didn’t it?” Duanmu Longhua smiled at the trio.

“We wouldn’t dare!” Yao Jingce and the young woman replied in a hurry.

“It’s fine. Everyone who saw me the first time reacted more or less the same way, so I’ve gotten used to it.” Duanmu Longhua giggled. “Anyway, you should already know my name. I am Duanmu Longhua. What about you three?”

“This junior is Yue Hongmian. A pleasure to meet you, Lord Duanmu.”

“This student is Yao Jingce. A pleasure to meet you, Lord Duanmu.”

“This junior is Joyless Ye. A pleasure to meet you, Lord Duanmu.”

They all introduced themselves to Duanmu Longhua and saluted her.

“Yue Hongjin, Yao Jingce, Joyless Ye. You all have excellent names.” Duanmu Longhua waved. “Well, don’t just stand there. Please, take a seat.”

“Thank you, Lord Duanmu,” The trio responded and obeyed her command.

After everyone was seated, Duanmu Longhua jumped straight to the point, “I’m sure you already know why I called you here, so I shan’t waste anyone’s time. Are you interested in joining my Goddess City? You have my word that I will treat you fairly.”

“I—Yes!” Yue Hongmian replied immediately after Duanmu Longhua finished. She was so excited that her face was red.

Yao Jingce rose to his feet and gave Duanmu Longhua a cordial bow. “I apologize, senior, but I was just passing through Goddess City. I am most honored to receive the blessing of the goddess, but my life’s goal is to serve my country. Therefore, I cannot join the Goddess City. I hope you can forgive me.”

“It’s no trouble. Everyone has different ambitions after all.” Duanmu Longhua waved away his apology before looking at Ye Qing. “And what about you?”

“I must apologize as well. I am an independent soul who prefers to live free and unfettered. I have no choice but to turn down your offer,” Ye Qing answered with a clasped fist.

“You can live a free and unfettered life even after you join my Goddess City. Besides, isn’t it cool and refreshing to stay under a big tree? Why don’t you give it some more thought?”

Ye Qing was going to reply, but Duanmu Longhua pushed on, “No need to give me your answer immediately. Please, take your time to consider.”

It was at this moment a female attendant stepped into the room with a tea jar. She poured everyone a cup of tea.

The tea water was pure and clear when it flowed out of the jar, but it turned red as blood after it rested several breaths inside the cups.

Right after that, the tea water boiled up on its own and released puffs of steam. At the same time, an indescribably fragrant scent spread across the room.

The sweet aroma caused Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian to swallow despite themselves. The urge to drink the tea tickled at their throats.

“This is one of Goddess City’s many specialties, the red plum tea. Brewed using red plum flowers, it is red as blood, fragrant like plum, rich in aroma, and leaves behind a lingering aftertaste that you would not soon forget. It is rare everywhere but my Goddess City. Please, give it a taste!”

After she introduced the tea, Duanmu Longhua immediately picked up her cup and took a sip. A look of bliss quickly spread across her features.

“Thank you, Lord Duanmu!” Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian temporarily pushed down the desire in their hearts and thanked her.

“You’re welcome, but you really should drink the red plum tea sooner than later. It won’t taste nearly as good after it’s gotten cold,” Duanmu Longhua replied while taking another sip of tea.

Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian would be drinking the tea already if not for the sake of courtesy. Since the host herself was urging them to try, they stopped hesitating and picked up their cups excitedly.

Neither of them noticed the strange glint that just flashed through Duanmu Longhua’s eyes.

Right before their lips would touch the teacup, a sudden pain erupted from their wrists. Caught completely off guard, Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian accidentally let go of their cups and spilled its contents all across the floor.

Confused and panicking, the duo hurried to apologize to Duanmu Longhua only to notice that the city lord was looking straight at Ye Qing. Her eyes were narrowed slightly as she asked, “What is the meaning of this, warrior Ye?”

Brushing his fingers against the teacup, Ye Qing responded with a smile that did not reach the eye, “That’s my question, Lord Duanmu. What are you doing?”

“I don’t understand, warrior Ye. I do not mind you rejecting my offer of tea, but you went so far as to ruin your fellows’ tea as well. Had I done something to displease you?” Duanmu Longhua asked in a stern, intimidating voice. The cuteness and innocence she displayed earlier were nowhere to be found.

Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian wheeled around to stare at Ye Qing. It was only now they realized that Ye Qing was the one who interrupted them earlier. But why was he doing this? Why had he stopped them from drinking the tea?

“You have indeed displeased me, Lord Duanmu,” Ye Qing answered casually as if he couldn’t feel the pressure rolling out of Duanmu Longhua. “In fact, I am extremely displeased with you.”

“Oh? And what did I do to earn such displeasure from you?” Duanmu Long put her chin on her fist and asked curiously.

“Everything.” Ye Qing began, “You’re trying to recruit us into Goddess City, aren’t you? So where is your sincerity? I’m not asking you to floor me with a vault of gold and jewelry, but at the very least, I was expecting a feast. Instead, all you gave us is a cup of tea. Are you serious right now? Just how stingy can you be?”

Cold sweat poured down Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian’s foreheads when they heard this. Unbelievable! His head grew three sizes, no, ten sizes just because a goddess blessed him!

Ye Qing continued as if he couldn’t hear their thoughts, “Setting aside the fact that I’m extremely dissatisfied with your service, I suppose that some tea is still better than no tea at all. But what the hell is this swill you’re serving us? This is something no human should ever drink, no?”

“Oh? And why do you say that?” Duanmu Longhua asked, “I drank it, didn’t I?”

“Well, I’m not you. I can’t stop you if you insist on drinking pig slop.” Ye Qing smirked.

“You dare!” The armless old man who had guided them to the palace and was standing guard this whole time flew into a rage when he heard this, his Trueman aura washed out like a thunder wave. He was just about to attack Ye Qing when Duanmu Longhua raised a hand to stop him.

Seemingly unconcerned with the fact that Ye Qing had just insulted her deeply, she asked, “I don’t understand, warrior. Why are you calling my red plum tea pig slop?”

“Because it’s filled with bugs, of course!” Ye Qing shrugged.

“Bugs?” Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian exclaimed at the same time. Once again, it was Yao Jingce who reacted first and cried out in shock, “Are you saying that this tea is tampered with, warrior?!”

“Of course it is. I can even tell you what it’s tampered with. The Unawakened Bugs.”

“The Unawakened Bug is a Phenomenon-class Stranger. So small that it is comparable to a speck of dust, it is an aquatic creature that can only live inside liquid. If it leaves the body of water it resides in, then it will immediately die and dissolve into nothing.”

“Despite living in water, the Unawakened Bug loves heat and fears the cold. It turns red when it makes contact with high temperature, and it melts and turns invisible in water. At the same time, it releases an exceedingly fragrant aroma that is irresistible to both humans and animals.”

Ye Qing swirled his cup of “tea” as he continued, “If a victim were to consume the Unawakened Bug, they would feel extremely sleepy at best, or fall into an unwakeable slumber at worst; one that is no different from death. Hence the name.”

“Am I right, Lord Duanmu?”

“Your explanation is correct, but where is your evidence? You are aware that baseless slander comes with a hefty price, right?” Duanmu Longhua asked.

“You want evidence? That’s simple.”

Cold air suddenly seeped into the cup Ye Qing was holding and drained away its heat. The red tea slowly turned transparent, and countless dust-sized bugs popped into view for all to see.

“I told you, didn’t I? The Unawakened Bug loves heat and hates the cold. Given a low enough temperature, it would immediately reveal its true form.”

Ye Qing raised his cup so that Yao Jingce and Yue Hongmian could get a good, long look. Yao Jingce subconsciously stepped away from Ye Qing and turned as pale as a ghost, whereas Yue Hongmian covered her mouth and began dry heaving.

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