Chapter 7

I never expected that this slightly blue琉璃珠 (琉璃珠 is a type of glass bead, but I will keep it as is for cultural context) would be the very reason Jon came from Earth to this world! At this moment, Anger's heart was filled with more curiosity and complexity than just amazement and surprise.

Naturally, he was curious about such an extraordinary item. But more so, he felt a complex mix of emotions. If not for the琉璃珠, his mentor wouldn't have ended up in his current state, perhaps living a happy life with his wife and daughter on Earth.

However, deep down, a voice in Anger's heart whispered: If not for the琉璃珠, he would never have met a learned person like his mentor; without his mentor's guidance, he might have become a spoiled brat, living a life of mediocrity, devoid of any sense of purpose, value, or understanding of the world.

Anger's tumultuous thoughts were unknown to Jon. Jon played with the琉璃珠 in his palm, then extended his nearly withered hand, struggling to place the琉璃珠 back into Anger's hand.

"Since I've already discarded it, I've given it up. You found it, which means it has a connection with you. Keep the Eye of the Heavens... I'm almost in the grave, but you are still young. Who knows, you might have a chance to go to Earth." Jon smiled and shook his head, not believing the possibility himself, but he insisted, "If you ever go to Earth, I hope you can bring my ashes back to Huaxia and bury them under the mistletoe tree in my hometown in Jiangdong..."

...

The night was thick with fog. Anger, propping his cheek, stayed by Jon's side until he fell asleep, then rubbed his sore arm and left.

His mentor's condition was deteriorating, and it was uncertain how long he could hold on. Even if Anger was reluctant, what could he do if, as his mentor said, the Gaia consciousness wanted him to die? Now, the only thing he could do was to stay by his mentor's side, making the most of the time they had left, and show him the utmost respect and care.

As he left the small courtyard, the moonlight illuminated the ground. Anger, dressed in a thin shirt and a fur-lined cloak embroidered with the family crest, cast a long shadow under the moonlight. He walked slowly toward the central castle of the estate.

In the castle's grand hall, a group of elegantly dressed dancers twirled in colorful skirts, following the music played by the musicians. The expensive candles, made from deep-sea fish oil, were lit by the maids, illuminating the hall as if it were daytime.

The hall was filled with pleasant scents: the aroma of wine, the richness of cheese, and the subtle fragrance of flowers and tea.

When Anger entered, he saw a lively and festive scene.

Leon, holding a glass of red wine, stood in the center of the crowd, laughing and talking loudly with several unfamiliar faces.

Those must be the representatives from the Montagne family, he thought.

As Anger quietly observed the newcomers, Leon noticed him and happily pulled him to the center of the crowd, introducing him to the others.

The man standing at the front, dressed in a very gentlemanly manner, had emerald green eyes, dark brown hair, and sharp features, giving him an overall aura like a drawn sword.

"Anger, you came just in time. Let me introduce you to Lord Eaton, the front-line guardian of the Montagne family," Leon said.

Anger greeted them with grace, the manners of a nobleman deeply ingrained in him, every movement exuding elegance and nobility.

"These two are Allen and Aileen, Lord Eaton's children."

Allen looked to be around fourteen, about the same age as Anger. His features were still developing, and he was chubby and cute. He inherited his father's green eyes and brown hair, but his curly, unbound hair gave him a youthful look.

Aileen, though younger, appeared more mature than Allen; her figure was gradually becoming fuller, and the elegant noblewoman's dress made her look like a young princess, exuding youthful charm.

As Anger observed the others, they were also observing him.

Anger's appearance was the standard of beauty in the empire: golden hair, blue eyes, fair skin that wasn't sickly, and every feature was perfect, making him a stunning sight. Specifically, when Anger smiled and greeted Allen and Aileen, Aileen's face immediately turned red, and she hid behind Allen, using the excuse of holding a tray.

This little girl...

Eaton chuckled inwardly, but he was also surprised by Anger's appearance. He never expected the unremarkable old Pat to have such handsome sons.

After a round of compliments, Leon, noticing Eaton's frequent glances, said, "Since it's a tea party, we can't just drink wine. Tea is the main event."

With that, Leon clapped his hands, signaling the dancers to stop, and led everyone to the tea room.

At that moment, the main door of the hall creaked open slowly.

The sound of rain outside was steady, and only then did everyone realize it was pouring.

A mysterious figure, completely covered in a black robe, slowly walked in.

Leon frowned and said in a low voice, "Sir, you are..."

Before he could finish, Lord Eaton and Allen and Aileen quickly stepped forward, respectfully surrounding the newcomer.

"Lord Pat, this is my father, Maro Montagne," Eaton introduced. "Father is a big fan of light tea and heard about the special tea today, so he came along. However, he had some business on the way and arrived a bit late."

Leon responded with an "Oh" to show understanding, then greeted Maro with even more enthusiasm.

Anger, however, glanced at Maro's shoes, his eyes slightly narrowing... Maro's shoes were typical soft suede, with the edges caked with damp mud, especially the red mud that caught Anger's attention.

The soil in Grul Town was mostly yellow and black. Red soil was found in only one place within a hundred miles... Pat's tea garden.

To pay such close attention to the tea garden, even braving the rain to visit before the tea party?

It seemed that the person who inquired about the morning dew after the rain was this old man, Maro. However, Anger still didn't understand what was so special about the morning dew. It was bitter, with only a slight sweetness aftertaste, and besides his mentor, this was the first person to show interest in it.

Anger didn't expose Maro's actions, but his face stiffened slightly. The Montagne family was powerful, and they, a small rural noble family, couldn't possibly stand against them. He could only hope that today's tea party would satisfy them.

Maro, with his hood down, looked like an ordinary old man. He had a long white beard, a warm smile, and a kind demeanor.

Leon immediately had the head maid, Mana, bring out all the tea and pastries prepared for the day. Next to the pastries were several intricately carved porcelain teapots.

"These teapots contain all the varieties of tea produced in our estate," Leon explained as Mana lifted the lids one by one.

The first lid was opened, and a rich floral aroma accompanied a faint white mist rising.

"This is Ice Honey Flower Tea, made from the petals of the unique Moon Honey Tree in Pat's estate. It's not made with milk but with melted snow water. The taste is sweet but not cloying, and it's refreshingly cool." Leon sighed, "Unfortunately, it's now the long winter. If it were the height of summer, it would be even more refreshing."

After the Montagne family tasted the tea, only Aileen enjoyed it enough to drink a few more sips, while the others only took a small taste. The old man in the black robe, Maro, sniffed it and set it aside.

The second teapot contained milk tea, but it was different from the popular milk tea in the empire, with a unique flavor.

"It's called Lemon Milk Tea, made with a sour fruit called Summer Lemon, fermented milk, and blue leaves," Leon explained, pointing to Anger, "My brother loves this tea and drinks several large cups every day, secretly not wanting others to know. Ha ha ha."

Anger rolled his eyes at Leon in his mind but maintained a smile on his face.

"Does Pat like it too?" Aileen's eyes lit up with hope as she took the porcelain cup from Mana and drank it in large gulps.

After drinking, a thin layer of milk film clung to her lips. Aileen closed her eyes, savoring the pleasant milky aroma, slightly sour but delicious!

"Delicious!" Aileen exclaimed, "Better than the flower tea!"

Hearing Aileen's words, her brother Allen also took the cup and drank it in one go. Allen smacked his lips, his eyes narrowed to slits, and he nodded in agreement, strongly supporting his sister's taste.

Lord Eaton smiled at his two children but didn't drink the milk tea, having already guessed from Leon's words that it was prepared for Allen and Aileen.

Maro, doting on his two grandchildren, pushed his cup of milk tea to Aileen.

As Mana continued to open the lids of several teapots, the types of tea were mostly milk tea and flower tea. Maro showed little interest, except for the two green tea varieties that Jon loved, which he tasted slightly. However, even after tasting, he still seemed uninterested.

Anger's gaze turned to the last teapot, which contained the last of the three teas that his mentor, Jon, loved the most, and the only tea plant he brought from Earth—Morning Dew After the Rain.