Meanwhile, Qin Wei's roam continued as usual.
After filling his stomach with skewers, fried dumplings, and spiced flatbread, Qin Wei finally wandered toward a nearby teahouse nestled at the corner of a quiet street. The sign read "Verdant Moon Pavilion."
Roulan followed without a word like a silent bodyguard.
He picked a window seat on the second floor overlooking the busy street below.
The city noises muffled themselves behind the papered walls and the drifting steam of jasmine tea.
A young tea maiden placed a carved wooden tray on the table and gently poured the pale green liquid into porcelain cups.
Qin Wei leaned back, feeling the warmth seep through the ceramic cup into his palm. He looked at Roulan, who remained standing behind him like a statue.
He patted the cushioned bench beside him. "Come, sit down and have tea with me."
She blinked, clearly hesitant. "It's alright. I'm fine standing."
Qin Wei chuckled. "I know you're not my servant, or my subordinate. You're basically the master of Moonvilla now. So consider this tea a humble thank-you for this morning's exercise. I feel like it did help me a bit."
Roulan glanced at the tray again. Fresh fruit slices, delicate almond cakes, and dried plum snacks. Then at him.
He raised his brows and smiled with a nod.
After a moment, she relented, sitting, though not beside him, but at a side angle with a clear line of sight to the stairs and windows in a way she can protect him from any ambush. After that earlier incident, she wouldn't be surprised if someone were following them in secret and ambushed the young master. Hence, she had to be vigilant at all times.
She picked up her teacup and sipped quietly. For a long while, they simply listened to the faint rustle of tea leaves and distant city sounds.
Finally, she broke the silence with a soft tone, but in curiosity, "I didn't expect young master to have multiple elemental affinities."
Qin Wei didn't flinch. He gave a casual shrug and replied. "It's something I was born with. Just like I was able to use external Qi, my body constitution allows me to wield multiple elements."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her cup. "But you didn't receive any Qi infusion from me today. Yet you used techniques rapidly."
Qin Wei had expected that question. He set his cup down with a faint clink.
Then, very seriously, he said: "My special body constitution can also store Qi absorbed from… well, intimate exchanges. It remains usable for hours after the act."
Roulan nearly choked. She coughed into her cup, putting it down hastily.
"What?" she sputtered, wide-eyed.
Qin Wei looked at her innocently. "What? You asked."
Her expression was unreadable for a moment. Then, she averted her gaze. "You mean… You mean…" As she stuttered a bit, Qin shrugged, "to put it plainly, every time I have s*x with someone, I can absorb their Qi in raw form and store it for like a day."
Roulan's blushed. "You really are shameless."
Qin Wei leaned back with a small grin. "Why else do you think I used to have so many tongfang maids?"
Roulan stiffened, cup halfway to her mouth. For a moment, she actually considered the possibility. His tone wasn't exactly joking. Her brows creased.
"You didn't bring any personal maids with you when you came here. You haven't visited any brothels either. So then…" Her eyes narrowed. "Who did you sleep with?" Her tone suddenly turned a bit chilly.
Qin Wei tilted his head, "Why? Are you jealous? Or…" Giving a pause, he smiled mischievously as he stared into her eyes. "Do you have a relationship with one of them?"
Her face flushed immediately beet red, not just with embarrassment, but with a prickling anger. "That's not the point!" she hissed. "None of those maids were allowed to share your bed. They had duties. They were trusted by the young lady to serve the household, not fool ar.."
She slammed her cup lightly onto the tray. "If I find out who betrayed that trust, I'll skin them alive!"
Qin Wei's grin widened as he leaned back lazily. "Which is exactly why I'm not telling you their names."
Roulan snorted. "Tch. There are only ten of them, and none of them are martial artists. It's easy enough to torture the truth out of them."
He raised an eyebrow, amused. "But what if I'm lying?"
She paused.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the table. "What if I just said all that to mess with you? Wouldn't that make you the cruel woman who hurt her own colleagues for nothing?"
Her mouth opened to respond, but no words came out. Her eyes flared, flickering with frustration, but she bit her tongue.
Qin Wei chuckled, genuinely enjoying the way she fumed in silence. She looked ready to throw a pastry at him. "You're cute when you're angry, you know."
"You…!" She clenched her fists, glaring at him. "Stop messing with me…"
He waved her off with a laugh. "Relax. I didn't actually sleep around with anyone. Though…" He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "That thought did cross my mind a few times."
Roulan glared harder, but he ignored her, finishing the last of his tea in one gulp.
"So," she said flatly, "if not through your body constitution or maids, what method did you use?"
Qin Wei stood up, brushing off his robe. "Ah, the third route."
"Which is?" she asked, now genuinely curious.
He smiled, eyes glinting playfully. "Sorry. That's a secret."
He gave a little shrug. "Besides, you're not my servant, are you? I don't owe you an explanation."
Roulan stared at him. Her lips pressed into a tight line.
After a long pause, she looked away and muttered softly under her breath, "I knew it. You're still holding a grudge."
Qin Wei pretended not to hear that. In reality, it was just BS he crafted in order to keep the secret of his system and the extent of Xielun Yan's powers.
After leaving the tea house, Qin Wei continued to wander through the market, arms behind his back and expression relaxed.
Roulan followed a step behind, her presence steady as always, eyes flicking around with a practiced vigilance.
The sun had dipped low. Stalls bustled with traders. But up ahead, a crowd had gathered at the far corner of the square, so tightly packed that it seemed half the city was trying to squeeze into one spot.
Qin Wei raised a brow. "What's with the rush? Was someone handing out free stuff or something?"
Roulan tilted her head, scanning the group. "No, It's because of Master Wei Zhuyan."
"Who?"
"A renowned talisman master. Unlike ordinary ones used for warding off ghosts or evil spirits, his talismans are imbued with elemental energy. Fire, water, wind, and practical ones for field use. Most martial artists buy them for wilderness travel."
Qin Wei frowned thoughtfully. "Elemental talismans? Like what?"
Roulan gestured with her hand. "Water talismans for creating clean water. Fire talismans to light campfires or even to start controlled burns. Very useful. And he sells them cheap."
"How cheap?"
"Twenty taels for water, thirty for fire."
Qin Wei froze mid-step. "Thirty taels? For a single-use fire talisman?"
Roulan looked at him, puzzled by his tone. "That's considered cheap. Most elemental talismans sell for at least twice that, especially when made by certified crafters. And if you venture into the wilderness, you will understand how blessed to have fire and water talismans if you don't have a sorcerer with you. As Master Wei only opens his shop once a week, martial artists naturally doesn't want to lose out."
But Qin Wei wasn't listening anymore.
He turned toward the crowd, his mind racing in calculations. "Thirty taels? I only get 200 taels of monthly allowance. If I can bring out those sealing techniques, in the form of talismans…" His eyes lit up as he whispered, "I just found a gold mine."
Roulan narrowed her eyes at him. "What is he planning again?"