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Da Lei’s gaze immediately turned towards Fang Qingyu.

The gentleness and respect on his face faded like a retreating tide, leaving only a sense of calmness.

He nodded slightly, his tone returning to its usual calm:

"You’ve arrived."

"Mm."

Fang Qingyu responded calmly with a single word.

"Lady Nvba, please follow me."

Next, Da Lei once again faced Jiang Wei, a gentle smile returning to his face, and he gestured invitingly.

Fang Qingyu silently followed beside Jiang Wei.

The three of them proceeded along the corridor that seemed to float in the clouds.

At the end of the corridor was a circular archway, carved entirely from smooth green jade, with a simple yet ancient design.

Da Lei stopped in front of the door.

His palm gently pressed a discreet indentation on the door.

The jade door silently slid open, releasing an enchanting aroma of tea.

Inside was a tea room arranged with exceptional elegance.

The space wasn’t extensive, yet remarkably open and bright, with vast floor-to-ceiling windows outside where clouds billowed, and the city lay spread beneath.

The furnishings were simple: a table, several mats, and an archaic bronze incense burner steadily puffing out blue smoke.

The most striking feature was the enormous wall entirely occupied by a treasure shelf.

Upon it, hundreds of tea sets of various shapes and made from different materials were arrayed intricately.

Evidently, this City Lord was a meticulous tea enthusiast.

"Lady Nvba, please take the seat of honor."

Da Lei guided Jiang Wei to the main mat facing the windows.

He then proceeded to the dominant position at the tea table, elegantly and skillfully warming cups, tossing tea, and pouring water.

The moment boiling water flowed into the Yixing clay teapot.

The fragrant tea aroma instantly soared and filled the entire space.

Fang Qingyu seated himself on the mat below Jiang Wei.

He watched Da Lei’s smooth movements with calm eyes.

Da Lei poured the rinse water from the first brew into the tea tray mildly.

He didn’t look at Fang Qingyu.

His gaze remained warmly fixed on Jiang Wei.

"Lady Nvba’s presence today, may I ask if there is any command?"

Da Lei’s voice was low and respectful.

His deep eyes studied Jiang Wei.

As if no matter what Jiang Wei requested, even if it was asking him to die, he would execute the command without hesitation.

Jiang Wei’s clear red eyes blinked slightly, hesitating to answer immediately.

She instinctively turned her gaze to Fang Qingyu beside her.

Fang Qingyu understood, meeting Da Lei’s gentle gaze, which was directed solely at Jiang Wei, and spoke calmly, breaking the silence within the tea room:

"City Lord, might you have in your collection some extremely rare, otherworldly Life Ghost core material? Or materials from the most precious parts of Primordial Strange Beasts mentioned in ancient legends?" Fang Qingyu’s voice was steady, his gaze directly meeting Da Lei’s, "Something akin to the Red Python Scale of the friend snake."

Da Lei’s hand, holding the teapot, paused slightly in mid-air.

The scalding tea traced a graceful arc, precisely filling the simple green jade cup in front of Jiang Wei to seventy percent, no more, no less.

He didn’t look at Fang Qingyu, but a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Did Old Man Hong tell you?"

Fang Qingyu remained silent.

Neither confirming nor denying.

His gaze remained calmly directed at Da Lei’s profile.

In the presence of such existence, any excessive disguise seemed foolish.

Silence itself was an answer.

Da Lei respectfully presented the filled green jade cup to Jiang Wei with both hands.

Only then did he pick up another distinctly styled, sharply contoured dark ceramic cup, and poured another serving.

He didn’t immediately hand it to Fang Qingyu.

He held that dark ceramic cup in his palm, his fingertips gently stroking the warm arc of the cup’s wall.

He lifted his eyes, for the first time directing his gaze, enriched with the depth of time, towards Fang Qingyu’s face, carrying a hint of intrigue.

"Even if you don’t say it, I know it’s him."

Da Lei chuckled lightly.

Afterward, he paused, watching Fang Qingyu, his eyes growing somewhat meaningful.

"I indeed have it." Da Lei’s voice was definite, dispelling the last bit of uncertainty in Fang Qingyu’s heart.

Fang Qingyu’s heartbeat uncontrollably skipped a beat.

As expected!

However, Da Lei changed his tune, still not appearing ready to hand over the cup.

He leaned forward slightly, gazing at Fang Qingyu through the swirling tea fragrance:

"But why should I give it to you?"

Fang Qingyu’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

Yes, what for?

Da Lei owed him nothing.

He even revealed himself and drove away the Celestial Punishment Association members, in some way doing him a favor.

Fortunately, after seeing Fang Qingyu fall into thought.

Da Lei didn’t continue to embarrass Fang Qingyu; instead, a faint admiration flickered in his eyes.

The playful expression on his face faded.

Finally, he gently placed the warm dark ceramic tea cup on the tea tray before Fang Qingyu.

"Unless." Da Lei’s voice remained calm, "You do something for me."

"What is it?"

Fang Qingyu returned from his thoughts and asked softly.

Da Lei didn’t answer right away.

He took a leisurely sip from his tea cup, but his gaze turned to the quietly seated Jiang Wei at the main position.

His eyes suddenly grew incredibly gentle, like spring water melting ice.

"Lady Nvba." Da Lei’s voice carried a nearly pleading reverence, "Could you please step outside the tea room momentarily?"

Jiang Wei’s clear red eyes shifted between Da Lei and Fang Qingyu.

She trusted Da Lei wouldn’t harm Fang Qingyu.

She also believed Fang Qingyu could handle it.

"Alright."

Jiang Wei responded crisply.

Gracefully standing, her fiery red hair carved a graceful line behind her as she walked towards the jade archway, her figure disappearing beyond the door.