“I still wanted more tea,” William muttered as he followed Su Qinglian as she let them to the exit.

“We can always return,” Mei Lingxi consoled him, “Perhaps try a different tea.”

“Will Senior Brother be accompanying you when you return?” Su Qinglian suddenly asked.

“Ah, no,” William replied awkwardly, “Your… Senior Brother was just congratulating me on my entrance into the Inner Court. This was only a one time thing.”

“I see,” Su Qinglian visibly brightened, “He has always been too kind. But I must inform you that enjoying the tea here will not be easy. Each cup of the Crimson Flame Lotus tea will cost you a thousand points.”

William’s eyes widened in shock before he glanced at Mei Lingxi. She wasn’t in a better state. It looked like he wouldn't be able to enjoy the tea here unless someone treated him.

He recalled the absence of disciples around the teahouse compared to the other eateries around it, and he now knew why that was the case. Every sect point could be exchanged for one qi stone. That meant each cup of the tea he drank cost a thousand qi stones, or ten spirit stones.

Ridiculous. Incomprehensible. And many other similar words to express what he felt.

Drinking that tea was like eating a steak covered with gold leaf. That was the closest comparison William could think of, and it disgusted him. A hideous waste of points.

He could buy the spirit boat Ren Bo used to have. The one that had been destroyed.

Unless there was some side benefit he was missing, other than the negative emotions burned away.

“Excuse me? Why? Is there a reason the tea costs a thousand points?”

“Reason?” Su Qinglian stopped and turned to him, offended by his question, “The tea leaves are taken from a lotus that must have survived in an environment that is worse than the interior of an active volcano!”

William stared at her blankly, “And? What can the tea do?”

Su Qinglian looked to be moments away from strangling him. She was obviously passionate about brewing tea, including the origin of its ingredients.

“For ones such as you, it can only help stabilize the mind temporarily to promote logical thoughts. For more powerful cultivators, it can help them find realizations in the Dao or breakthroughs. However, it is highly unlikely to happen. The tea is usually ordered for its delicious taste.”

He narrowed his eyes skeptically. Stabilizing his mind, he agreed with, but promoting logical thoughts? Not so much. More like it removed his filter. It seemed to have a similar effect on Mei Lingxi, but she had the sense to mostly keep her mouth shut.

Still, he liked it. Maybe not something he would drink in the presence of someone that could crush him like an ant, not again, but he liked it enough.

Also, Su Qinglian was clearly lying about the effects of the Crimson Jade Lotus Tea. Her dislike of Mei Lingxi was probably the cause, which meant there was no reason to converse further.

“Thank you,” William said with a nod before she started leading them to the entrance again.

He gave Mei Lingxi a look when Su Qinglian’s back was turned to him. She understood what he was trying to say since she looked apologetic.

“Here you are, honored guests,” Su Qinglian turned at the entrance and gave them another practiced smile, “I hope to see you again!”

They left the teahouse and heard the door shut behind them almost immediately. Elder Yu was waiting for them.

“That’s rare to see,” Elder Yu commented, “Patrons who leave this teahouse do so with smiles.”

“It was good, but Sister Lingxi’s advice backfired on us.”

Mei Lingxi didn’t deny it and nodded solemnly. “I prevented Young Master from having another ten spirit stone cup of tea.”

“Not just that,” William corrected, “You also prevented yourself from having another cup.”

“That is also true.”

Elder Yu chuckled, “I’m happy to see you both in high spirits after what happened.”

“Ah, right. Zheng Tao,” William nodded with a strained smile, “The moment he went on that path, there was nothing he could do to be redeemed in my eyes, Elder Yu. I would prefer not to occupy any part of my mind with him. It would be a disservice to me.”

Elder Yu stared at him in surprise, “A mature way of dealing with this.”

He shrugged, not feeling that it was anything worth discussing.

“I bear some responsibility for putting you in contact with Zheng Tao,” Elder Yu continued, “I have to admit this blindsided me just like it did with everyone who knew the boy. There were no signs of him showing any dissatisfaction with the sect.”

“There was no harm in the end, Elder Yu.”

“That’s false,” Elder Yu frowned, “It might not be anything irreversible or even significant, but I assigned Zheng Tao to teach you the foundations. Everything will need to be checked.”

“I already assumed that,” William nodded, “Which disciple will help me with this?”

“Attendant Mei would have been an option if the other Elders agreed, which I know they will not, so I will have to take care of this personally.”

“… I don’t want to waste your time, Elder Yu.” William really didn’t. It was also that she seemed to be doing this as an apology. It wasn't necessary.

“You wouldn’t be. I was recently promoted to an Inner Court Elder. I am responsible for testing possible new entrants, and you happen to be exactly that.”

“You did?”

“Congratulations, Elder Yu!”

“Er, yes,” William quickly added when Mei Lingxi congratulated her instead of being surprised like he had been, “I’m happy for you, Elder Yu!”

“Hm,” Elder Yu eyed him in a way that made him feel like he only had two brain cells to rub together. Silently telling him that it was ridiculous to doubt that she would get the promotion. “Thank you. Both of you. A simple test is the best way to see what you have been misled with. We can work from there.”

“Oh,” William nodded before it hit him, “You don’t mean a written test, do you?”

“What else?” Elder Yu asked, bemused, “It’s not like you can punch something and discover deficiencies in your knowledge. Or did you think the heavenly dragons would descend and solve all your problems?”

He flushed, remembering the secondhand embarrassment on Elder Yu’s face when he yelled out Force Multiplier’s original name.

Fury of the Five Heavenly Dragons.

William shuddered. The only thing it did was bring out Elder Yu’s fury.

“I must admit I’m lost,” Mei Lingxi said as she stared at his red face.

“Perhaps I shall reveal it later,” Elder Yu spared William, then immediately threatened him, “Maybe if Wei Liang cannot pass the written test by the end of the day.”

The idea of Mei Lingxi knowing something that made Elder Yu feel embarrassed for him didn’t sound ideal. He wouldn’t want anyone to know, but that especially applied to Mei Lingxi. It could be something she would save for use many, many times in the future.

There were also other reasons, but he didn't acknowledge them.

“There’s no way I’ll fail, Elder Yu,” William announced seriously.

“We’ll see. Follow, I’ll lead you back to the Outer Court. We have bothered these disciples enough for today.”

It was then that he realized that all the Inner Disciples were giving Elder Yu a wide berth, creating an odd bubble absent of people other than the three of them.

A stark difference with how the Grand Elder was treated. Of course, that man was practically undercover, and Elder Yu was not.