After a noisy day, Luciel didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He tossed the red-hot stone into the large bathtub, heating the water just enough for a bath, then ushered the two girls in.

After a full day of running around, their bodies were covered in dust and sweat.

"The idea has to be reversed slowly." Luciel shook his head.

If you have the ability to live better, why not use it?

"While there's time, might as well fry the tea."

Luciel glanced toward the bathroom, ignoring the bunny-eared girl's protests from inside.

He hung a clean steel pot over the fire, tossing in the young leaves and tender sprouts the bunny girl had picked earlier.

"Activate—Mimicry: Scaly Hardening."

With his ability, Luciel flipped the stir-fried tea leaves. He skipped a few steps, but in essence, it was just stir-fried green tea.

"We also need to twist the leaves." Luciel remembered how a teammate in the army, who loved tea, once explained the process.

Thanks to his strengthened memory, everything from his past could now be recalled with clarity, like flipping through pages of a book.

"Alright, that's enough." Luciel shook the pot, eyeing the tea leaves that had transformed.

He spread them out on a wooden board to cool.

Just then, the bathroom door opened. The two freshly washed girls stepped out, looking entirely different.

Mino wore a long, simple white dress. The cut was strange, but it gave her a youthful and lively charm.

Liyue, pale and graceful, with her long white hair and cool temperament, looked like a flower blooming in the snow. Dressed in a long gown, she carried a classical elegance, giving off the aura of a cold but gentle elder sister.

"You two look great." Luciel gave a thumbs-up.

"I'll go back to my room." Liyue lowered her head shyly, clutching her old clothes in her small hands as she moved toward the new room they had built during the day.

"Wait a moment…"

Luciel stopped her, his voice gentle. "That room doesn't have a bed yet. Tonight, you'll still sleep in mine."

"No, I'll manage." Liyue shook her head stubbornly. She had been used to sleeping in the wild—having a roof alone was already a luxury.

"Then at least share a cup of tea." Luciel didn't press her further. He brewed a bowl of tea for each of the girls.

The moment the leaves unfurled in the wooden bowls, faint green specks of light glowed on their surface. Under the water's refraction, they looked just like stars scattered across the night sky.

"So beautiful…" Mino's blue eyes sparkled with fascination.

"It really is." Even Liyue's cool expression softened.

No one could refuse such beauty.

"Come on, taste it." Luciel urged.

"Okay." Mino carefully sipped.

"W-wow!" She swallowed and scrunched up her face. "It's so bitter!"

"What?"

But then her eyes widened. "It… it's sweet now! And my head feels clear!"

"Tea is meant to be bitter first, then sweet." Luciel chuckled at her shifting expressions, like a Peking opera mask changing faces.

"Hehe…" Mino giggled sheepishly.

"It's good," Liyue said softly after tasting, her eyes closed to savor the lingering flavor. "The sweetness lasts long… and it refreshes the mind. This must be top-grade tea."

Luciel's eyes lit up. "Then how many beast spars do you think a single cup could fetch?"

Xinghui Tea Tree produced plenty of leaves. If sold, it could become a specialty trade item.

"I don't know," Liyue admitted. She had only heard of tea, never truly experienced it. Without Luciel, she might never have tasted it at all.

"Seems I'll need to find someone who understands tea—and has plenty of spars."

Liyue thought for a moment, then cautioned softly, "Some big people will definitely like it. But… don't sell too much at once."

"I know." Luciel looked at the few leaves remaining on the board.

Mino also noticed. Embarrassed, she whispered, "Did we drink too much?"

"No." Luciel smiled. "High-end goods should naturally be sold at a high price."

Or perhaps… better kept for themselves.

"High-end goods?" Liyue frowned slightly, not quite following.

"Tea isn't only made from buds and young leaves." Luciel grinned. "Even ordinary leaves can be used, though the taste is worse."

"You still want to pick more?" Mino's blue eyes lit up with excitement.

"Of course. I'll leave that job to you."

"I'll go now!" Mino jumped up eagerly and dashed toward the door.

"Don't you want to stop her? It's the middle of the night," Liyue said, watching her disappear.

"She'll be back soon." Luciel chuckled.

He took a sip from Mino's unfinished tea. Truly, it was better than any he'd drunk on Earth.

At that moment, he decided: ten times the normal price—or it wouldn't be worth selling.

"…" Liyue blinked in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

Not ten seconds later—

"Luciel, come quick!"

Mino's excited voice rang out before she even reached the door. "The tea tree is glowing—it's so beautiful!"

"I know." Luciel smiled faintly.

"How could you know? Come out and see!" Mino grabbed his arm, tugging him outside.

"Alright, alright." Luciel's black eyes shimmered as he stood, patting Liyue on the shoulder as he passed.

"…?" After a pause, Liyue followed.

What she saw made her freeze in place.

The Xinghui Tea Tree shone with a soft green radiance. Each leaf glimmered with dots of light, dazzling like a galaxy.

"It's beautiful," Liyue whispered in awe.

"Like a starry night," Luciel murmured.

"I don't want to pluck them now…" Mino hugged her ears, reluctant to disturb the sight.

"Then wait until tomorrow." Luciel flicked her rabbit ears lightly.

"Hey! Don't touch them!" Mino pouted, covering them with her hands.

"Besides, you wouldn't see much in the dark anyway. The glow only lasts twice a day—once in the day, once at night."

"Hehe… I forgot." Mino scratched her head in embarrassment.

"Come inside. It's cold." Luciel turned back toward the house. "I still need to bathe."

"Luciel, what picture do I want?"

"Go fetch it yourself."

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