Chapter 203: You've Picked the Wrong Person

"Ordinary tea leaves can be consumed after a year, but this one requires nine years, which shows its特殊性. It needs to be steeped longer to make the fragrance purer and more enduring. Yet you, after pouring boiling water over it, finished steeping all the leaves in less than three breaths. The time was too fast, causing the fragrance of Nine Springs Spring to not fully develop. That's the first failure!"

"Nine Springs Spring grows in damp places, so the leaves contain much moisture. Before steeping, they need to be rinsed with light salt water to activate the leaf veins and allow the leaves to better release their fragrance. Not only did you not rinse them, but you also steeped them dry, which not only affected the taste but also forcibly downgraded Nine Springs Spring by one grade. That's the second failure!"

"Before brewing tea, heating the tea set is fine, but unfortunately, you overdid showing off your skill. You put in the leaves before the set was thoroughly heated, and they were in their ordinary state, causing heat loss and greatly reducing the effect. That's the third failure!"

…

"Falling Leaves Return to the Roots: when finally distributing the tea, it should be finished within three breaths to ensure each cup has the same flavor. Yet you dragged it out to seven full breaths. The difference between the first cup and the fifth cup you poured last is nearly a grade in taste. You can test it: the first cup reaches fourth grade, while the last cup is at most third grade. The same pot of tea, but two different flavors. That's the seventeenth failure!"

Zhang Xuan paused, having listed seventeen errors in a row. He looked at Tian Long again, his face full of sympathy: "A perfectly good Falling Leaves Return to the Roots technique and fine Nine Springs Spring leaves, and you brewed them like this. If that's not 'crap,' what is?"

"You… you…"

Tian Long's face turned pale, as if he had seen a ghost.

He wanted to retort but couldn't utter a word.

He had just learned this technique, so it was normal to have many flaws. In principle, they were minor, but how had the other party noticed them?

Didn't he know nothing about tea ceremony?

After all, what the other said matched his grandfather's criticisms exactly, and even added more!

His grandfather had only pointed out four or five flaws, but he had listed seventeen in one breath…

Could it be that his understanding of tea ceremony surpassed even his grandfather's?

How was that possible?

Not only was he going crazy, but the entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone looked at Zhang Xuan as if he were a monster.

Especially Lu Xun, whose eyes were nearly popping out of his head, on the verge of madness.

He had just pointed out the technique the other used and the grade of the tea's fragrance, feeling very proud and accomplished. But then… the other not only saw those things but also pointed out all the problems in brewing and the technical mistakes, clearly and thoroughly…

Suddenly, he felt as if his face had been slapped hard, burning and nearly torn apart.

What was going on?

To list so many things in one breath and be so familiar with Nine Springs Spring—were you a tea seller or what?

"Elder Tian, am I correct?"

Ignoring the crowd's shock, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and looked at Elder Tian in the middle.

Brewing tea for a tea ceremony master is like a martial artist practicing boxing—it can generate books that record flaws. If this Tian Long hadn't provoked him, he wouldn't have bothered. But since he started causing trouble from the beginning and even helped Lu Xun, then sorry.

Of course, he had held back and only mentioned a portion of the flaws. If he had listed them all, this guy would probably have collapsed like Bai Ming the alchemist back then, his years of firm belief shattered, making it impossible for him to improve further in tea ceremony.

"What you said…"

To be honest, nearly half of what the other said, he didn't know if it was correct, but the rest he could confirm was 100% right.

Moreover, the half he didn't know, based on the properties of the tea leaves and the brewing technique, should be without any problem.

Just by watching the brewing once, he could point out so many problems?

Was he the tea ceremony master, or was I?

Elder Tian looked as if he had seen a ghost, hesitated for a long time, and said: "All correct."

"All correct?"

"Teacher Zhang got it right?"

Hearing his judgment, the hall erupted in uproar.

Especially Huang Yu and Bai Xun, who exchanged glances, each seeing madness in the other's eyes.

On the way here, Teacher Zhang kept asking about tea ceremony, knowing nothing at all—he definitely didn't know what tea ceremony was… Just now, they were worried he would lose to Lu Xun for sure, but never dreamed this would happen.

Bro, can you not play with our hearts like this?

Since you're so proficient in tea ceremony, why pretend to know nothing?

"He must have done it on purpose…"

Remembering how she had kindly sent him a voice transmission explaining the four realms of tea ceremony, Huang Yu felt like vomiting blood. This guy was probably laughing at her ignorance inside…

"It seems… Master Zhang was like this before painting too…"

Just as she was cursing inwardly, Bai Xun's confused voice came to her ears.

Hearing this, Huang Yu suddenly remembered too.

It seemed… before painting, this Master Zhang also looked like an idiot, knowing nothing. But then… after reading a book and casually painting a few strokes, he could even produce a fifth-realm painting…

What was up with this guy?

How could there be such a strange person in the world?

"Since it's all correct, have I passed your test?" Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back, returned to his seat, and looked over calmly.

"Hold on!"

Before Elder Tian could speak, Wang Chao across from him suddenly stood up: "Just now, Elder Tian's question was: between Zhang Xuan and Brother Lu, whoever could say what technique was used and what grade the tea fragrance reached would win. Brother Lu said the 'Falling Leaves Return to the Roots' technique and that the tea fragrance was fourth grade, answering accurately and fitting the question! As for Teacher Zhang, he said so much but missed the most crucial point. Strictly speaking, his answer was wrong. I think Brother Lu should win."

"Right, Brother Lu didn't say the rest, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know. He just answered the question correctly." Tian Long's eyes lit up, and he gritted his teeth.

If this guy really won and became Teacher Liu's apprentice, wouldn't he be with Huang Yu every day? What chance would he have?

So he absolutely couldn't let that happen!

And having just been scolded like a grandson, how could he miss such a good opportunity?

…

Hearing their argument, Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He thought he was shameless enough, but these two were even more shameless than him.

Answering beside the point?

Strictly speaking, he had indeed answered beside the point, but…

"Teacher Lu answered first and already gave the answer. If Teacher Zhang didn't say what he did, would he have to repeat his answer?" Huang Yu couldn't hold back anymore and stood up.

Are you kidding?

You already gave the answer, how is the next person supposed to answer?

If he says the same, you'll say it's a repetition; if he says something different, you'll say it's beside the point…

You're both star teachers—can you have some decency?

"Alright, stop arguing."

Seeing the two sides getting heated, Elder Tian waved his hand: "This question was a bit careless on my part. Let's drop it."

"Drop it?"

Zhang Xuan looked over, knowing that the other was clearly favoring Lu Xun.

That was understandable. He was alone, and before today, he didn't even know who this Elder Tian was, so of course the other would help the more familiar Lu Xun.

"Teacher Tian…"

Hearing this, Liu Ling frowned.

This favoritism was too blatant!

"Alright, don't say anymore. It was my oversight. I'll set another question, no need to dwell on this." Elder Tian interrupted Teacher Liu, speaking calmly.

"Yes." Since his teacher said so, Liu Ling didn't dare to object and could only look at Zhang Xuan apologetically.

"The tea ceremony test just now was my oversight. However, I've seen that both of you are very proficient in tea ceremony. If we really fight to the death, it would harm our harmony. How about this: besides tea ceremony, I also have some knowledge of calligraphy and painting. And I just obtained a painting that I found breathtaking at first glance. Both of you are teachers, so you must know something about calligraphy and painting. Why don't I take it out and let you two appraise it? Whoever's analysis is more accurate wins…"

After a moment's hesitation, Elder Tian stroked his beard.

"Testing calligraphy and painting?"

Hearing this, Zhang Xuan was startled and almost laughed out loud.

If it were anything else, he might have to find books in the library and learn bit by bit, but calligraphy and painting… no need at all!

Being able to paint a fifth-realm painting already put him at the level of a calligraphy and painting master, comparable to a two-star calligrapher. Are you sure… Lu Xun can beat me in this?

But thinking about it, he understood. From what just happened, the other must have seen that he was very proficient in tea ceremony. If they continued, Lu Xun would lose again.

Since they knew each other, they naturally knew that Lu Xun came from a family of scholars, and his father Lu Chen was a formal calligraphy and painting master. Growing up immersed in it, his understanding of calligraphy and painting would surely surpass tea ceremony.

So he directly switched to testing calligraphy and painting.

That way, he was pitting Lu Xun's strength against him.

Unfortunately, he didn't expect… even Lu Xun's father, Master Lu Chen, would address him as 'Master' when meeting him.

"Do either of you have any objections?"

After speaking, Elder Tian looked over.

"Elder Tian's arrangement, Lu Xun naturally has no objections."

Lu Xun cupped his fists, acting like a good child, but inside he was overjoyed.

Although Tian Long had said Zhang Xuan might be a calligraphy and painting master, he thought it was a lie and didn't take it seriously.

Moreover, compared to tea ceremony, he was definitely much more proficient in calligraphy and painting.

Mo Chenzi, Yuan Yu, his father Lu Chen, and many other calligraphy and painting masters flashed through his mind, along with many books he had studied since childhood. His face immediately showed confidence.

No kidding, he had only dabbled in tea ceremony, but calligraphy and painting were his family heritage.

As long as the other wasn't a calligraphy and painting master, it was impossible for him to win.

Lu Xun had absolute confidence in this.

"And Teacher Zhang?"

Seeing his agreement, Elder Tian nodded and looked at Zhang Xuan.

"I… also agree." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Comparing calligraphy and painting appraisal?"

The Third Master, Huang Yu, Bai Xun, and others in the know exchanged glances.

After a moment, they all looked at Lu Xun with pity.

The tea ceremony test just now might not have been a blow, since it wasn't his specialty, and failure wouldn't discourage him. But compared to calligraphy and painting…

This kid would probably cry himself to death later.

Ah, poor child.

To be honest, Lu Xun, in competing in calligraphy and painting, you've really picked the wrong person…