Chapter Fifty-One: Bamboo Building Tea Tasting

  "Sir, is there something wrong with my face?" Although it was because Song Qing had been staring at her face and lost his manners, the blue-clothed woman didn't get angry, but instead lightly laughed and said.

  "Ah, I was suddenly taken aback." Song Qingchu woke up with a start, shook his head, bowed and apologized, "It's just that when I saw the young lady's beautiful face, I felt as if it were a rare orchid in a secluded valley, and for a moment, my spirit was captivated. Please forgive me for my rudeness."

  "It's all right, young master, no need to be so polite." The woman in green shook her head, indicating that Song Qing didn't have to be so courteous. "In the depths of the mountains, it's often months before we see a single person, and tonight is a rare visit from you, truly an unexpected delight."

  "Hehe, I didn't expect to have the good fortune of meeting a young lady while lodging in the deep mountains at night. Hearing that exquisite zither sound is truly not a wasted trip." Song Qing Shu said with a smile.

  "Please sit down, young master. In the depths of the mountains, there's nothing to offer but a cup of clear tea." The woman in green poured a cup of clear tea for Song Qing and said, "Here you are!"

  "Thank you!" Song Qing Shu didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the teacup and lightly sipped a small mouthful. A bitter taste suddenly filled his taste buds, and he slightly furrowed his brow. Song Qing Shu drank another mouthful, feeling it was different from before, the previous bitterness seemed to turn sweet. By the time he finished the third mouthful, Song Qing Shu only felt the fragrance lingering between his lips and teeth, and couldn't help but close his eyes to savor it carefully.

  Song Qing Shu was originally an ordinary person who never liked drinking tea, only loving carbonated beverages. Even now, he doesn't like drinking tea. Today, for the sake of a beauty, he didn't want to leave a bad impression in front of her, so he drank it. However, he didn't expect that from this small cup of tea, he could taste three flavors. He often heard people say that tea is like life, but at that time, Song Qing Shu didn't understand and ridiculed it. Now, he felt it. The first sip of tea was bitter, reminding him of the setbacks he encountered after graduating from university in his past life, as well as the difficulties of practicing martial arts in this life. The emotions back then were extremely similar to this sip of tea.

  By the second sip of tea, it has transformed into a sweet and pleasant taste, which is quite similar to my own experience. Since I quit my job and started my own company in my previous life, everything has become very smooth. Now, as I practice martial arts, every time I make a breakthrough, the joy is indescribable.

  Three sips to finish, leaving only a faint aftertaste. Doesn't it imply that the world's splendor has faded away, and simplicity is true? Although I still can't fully grasp this meaning now, Song Qingyu's state of mind has become much more tranquil at this moment. The repressed emotions in her heart seem to have weakened as well. It's as if she has become like this mountain valley - empty, refined, and serene.

  When Song Qing opened his eyes, he saw a woman in green clothes smiling at him.

  "Lord, how are you?"

  "After living for over a decade, it wasn't until today that I finally understood what it means to truly appreciate tea." Song Qing Shu shook his head and said.

  "To be honest, what I used to call drinking tea was actually just gulping it down. Today, I didn't want to lose face in front of the girl, but unexpectedly, I actually savored the tea and found that it's like life itself. It really is 'with intention, flowers don't bloom; without intention, willows grow into shade'."

  Song Qingxue is not afraid of self-detonation, if she doesn't understand something, then she just doesn't understand it, there's nothing embarrassing about that.

  "Oh, the art of tea has been passed down for ages. Ordinary people can't taste anything after one or two times, but you have a high level of enlightenment, young master! After just one cup, you understood what it means to say that 'tea is like life'. Would you be willing to tell me about it?" The woman in green clothing said with a smile, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.

  "What?" Song Qing was choked for a moment and smiled wryly, "You're joking, miss."

  "Nowadays, there are only the two of us in this mountain valley, so what's the harm in saying it? Let's just consider it a way to dispel boredom." The woman in green clothing said with a light smile.

  "Since you put it that way, I have no choice but to give in. If there's anything wrong, please feel free to correct me." Song Qing Shu shook his head and sighed.

  Song Qingxu thought for a moment before speaking, "In the Tang Dynasty, Liu Zhenliang explicitly stated in 'The Ten Virtues of Drinking Tea': 'Tea can be used to practice the Tao, and tea can be used to cultivate elegant intentions.'"

  "The ancients savored tea, emphasizing the beauty of five realms: tea leaves, water, fire timing, tea utensils and environment, while also incorporating emotional conditions to seek the ultimate enjoyment of 'flavor' and 'mind'."

  "At the same time, drinking tea also emphasizes the spirit of tea ceremony and tea morality, that is, "frugality, beauty, harmony, and respect"."

  Drinking tea must also follow certain rules. In the Tang Dynasty, there were nine difficulties to overcome: creation, distinction, utensils, fire, water, roasting, grinding, brewing and drinking. In the Song Dynasty, there were three points and three non-points for tasting tea. The "three points" refer to new tea, sweet springs, and clean utensils as one; good weather as one; and elegant, refined, and compatible guests as one. Conversely, these are called "three non-points".

  "I once saw a sentence that seemed to capture the essence of tea, which is 'steep a pot of three mountains and five peaks, spanning thousands of years, with the fragrance of creation and nurturing, light up a stick of incense that calms the mind and spirit with the scent of sandalwood', with three or five good friends, sitting and discussing the Tao, this life is enough, this is just my personal opinion, please forgive me, young lady."

  Song Qing rummaged through his memory, recalling all the knowledge about tea he had accumulated over the years, and then spoke it out loud, finally letting out a long sigh.

  Song Qing didn't notice that when he was speaking, a strange expression flashed in the eyes of the woman in green.

  "I didn't expect you to have such a profound understanding of the art of tea, I'm ashamed as a woman." The green-robed woman smiled and said, "Let's brew a pot of San Shan Wu Yue's ancient and eternal fragrance, which has been nurtured by the essence of heaven and earth. Light up an incense stick that calms the mind and spirit with its mysterious and Buddhist aroma." With three or five good friends, sitting and discussing the Tao, this life is fulfilling enough. Your words are indeed wonderfully mysterious, revealing the essence of tea in one sentence.

  "The young lady is overpraising me, I'm just knowledgeable and well-read." Song Qing Shu smiled wryly and shook his head, "I'm showing off my skills in front of you, making a fool of myself."

  The woman in blue clothes shook her head and didn't say anything else. Instead, she asked, "May I ask the young master's surname and given name?"

  "In the lower Wu Dang, Song Qing Shu." Song Qing Shu cupped his hands and said. When introducing himself, he added the two words "Wu Dang" in front because he saw the long sword on the table of the woman in green clothes, and at the same time felt that the woman's power was not weaker than that of his own masters. Although he didn't know why the woman was not famous in Jianghu, since they were fellow practitioners, it was natural to report their family name.

  "Is that Song Qing Shu?" The woman in green clothing looked surprised, clearly not expecting Song Qing Shu to appear here. "I didn't expect the young master to be Song Qing Shu, the third generation's first disciple of Wudang Sect, Song Xiaoxia. I apologize for my rudeness."

  "Hmph, but it's just relying on Master Taishi's reputation." Song Qing Shu shook his head and said.