194 A cup of Tea

"Daoist Ryuu please wait a moment.", a voice stopped Ryuu on his tracks he was greeted with the sight of both Lucius and Agrippa.

Ryuu gave a small bow as he cupped his hands as he greeted them, "Greetings Seniors how may I help you?"

Agrippa: "I heard what has happened and as such I rushed back as quickly as possible, are alright?"

Ryuu: "Yes sir I am fine, just a little bit annoyed at everything."

Lucius: "Daoist Ryuu did you managed to find anything form them?"

Ryuu sighed while he spoke putting up an irate expression as he lied to them, "No Senior they committed suicide before I could interrogate them, they seemed to have ingested some sort of poisonous pills that were with them."

Agrippa pursed his lips in deep thought as he replied, "Such a shame but fret not we will try our best to uncover the plot, also we will be tightening the security even more around."

Lucius: "I think you should go and rest Daoist Ryuu for now, we will see you in the morning."

With that as Ryuu made his way towards the kitchen adjacent to the room allocated to his team and him, he was greeted by his teammates, "Daoist Ryuu, are you alright? There was so much commotion outside."

Ryuu: "Yup I am alright but you should not have left our room, let us return back to our room where I will explain everything that has happened recently, but before that let me make some tea it was quite hectic day for me and I need a cup or two, maybe even a whole tea pot for myself, oh and do you two need some."

Ryuu made his way towards the pantry where he searched for some tea leaves and milk.

Ryuu: "Oh an One horned Dragon Cow's milk nice, and this is…", he took out a sealed jar with a label 'Dawn Tea', "Hmmm, I hope it tastes nice."

Ryuu unsealed the jar as he sniffed inside as he frowned, "Who is the nincompoop who stocks up our pantry that person should be fired he placed this at the place where is it marked as 'milk tea', this tea is suitable for brewing plain tea only, tch."

He quickly closed the jar's lid as he placed it back but not before scratching of the milk part from the label.

Alhma: "Daoist Ryuu there is some scones and biscuits over there if you want too.", she spoke hesitatingly as she watched an irritating Ryuu who had begun leaking some killing intent.

Ryuu nodded as he started heating a pot full of water on a stove others as the twins watched him silently, as Ryuu took out a mortar and pestle as he powdered a few cloves, cardamom and a stick of cinnamon into fine dust.

Ryuu checked the temperature and found it to be around 190F, he quickly poured the entire content of the pot which amount to be more than a liter which was followed by the powdered spices as well as a few tea leaves.

He found a tray from the pantry as he carried the tea pot, a milk pot and a bowl full of sugar cubes and a few spoons, three cups and trio of matching tea plates, he turned towards the duo as he spoke, "I hope you do not mind breaking something to accompany with the tea."

The duo quickly grabbed a few boxes of various types of biscuits and scones before making their way towards Ryuu who was waiting by the door Alliyah closed the door of the pantry as the trio entered their room as Ryuu placed the tray he was carrying on an empty table.

Ryuu waited for a couple of minutes before he poured the piping hot liquid on three cups before pouring milk in it followed by a couple of cubes of sugar before using his spoon to stir it while a frown marred his face, the duo glanced at each other as they followed suit.

Alhma: "Daoist Ryuu if I may ask, why are you mixing milk with your tea?"

Ryuu shrugged as he spoke, "It is different type of tea which can be used with milk and it tastes nice at least I find it nice, why don't you try it you might take a liking to it."

With the twins followed Ryuu's example as they made their tea in a similar manner, after taking a sip they found it rather enjoyable and after a few minutes of silence Ryuu began speaking, "When did you two realize there was something amiss."

Aliyah, "Actually a few minutes before we met you we were actually meditating then some commotion drew our attention as such we left the room to investigate and we came across you. So Daoist brother Ryuu do you know what has happened?"

Ryuu: "Well nothing much rather than someone tried to assassinate me."

Alhma who was drinking her tea chocked and spit it out in an unlady like manner, while her sister gawked at Ryuu as she questioned him, "When, how and by whom?"

Ryuu: "I was resting inside the infirmary when it happened there were three of them one killed and other two got captured, the person who killed tried to burn me alive with the remaining assassins but my barrier protected me before I killed him as for the other two I tried to interrogate them but they both committed suicide, as such who they were working for I have no clue."

Alhma: "May be enemies of your family?"

Ryuu shook his head as he spoke, "I do not think it is possible my being here is known to many and they will never betray us and as for any enemy well if they wanted me dead they would have send someone stronger not some Void Immortal level cultivators."

They spend the entire night chatting with each other as they shared small stories about themselves causing a bit of trust and friendship bloomed among them.

As the dawn broke the trio got freshened up before they indulge in debate about alchemy, the twins were able to learn a great deal from Ryuu who helped them a lot.

Soon a luck knock brought their attention as Ryuu went and opened the door, he was greeted with a familiar visage of Frozen Flames and Frozen Sky with Lu Wu standing behind them.

Ryuu gave a short bow as he greeted them, "Good Morning Seniors."

Both Frozen Flames and Frozen Sky acknowledged his greeting as they spoke, "Good morning Ryuu."

Frozen Flames: "How is your health today, Ryuu? You were injured greatly yesterday."

Ryuu smiled as he invited them into room while replying to them, "I am fine Senior as you can see that I am perfectly healed up."

Lu Wu: "Brother Ryuu did you know a few shops outside of this place had been destroyed because of fire not only that the road adjacent seemed to be as if it has melted and there is also a house which had collapsed and people are still removing the rubbles to search for their possession."

Ryuu sighed as he spoke, "So yesterday's fire was not snuffed out fast enough."

Frozen Sky asked curiously, "Junior, do you know what happened outside this place yesterday."

Ryuu then began speaking tiredly, "Well yesterday I was resting at the infirmary when someone decided to send a get well soon gift in the form of....."

Meanwhile at a different place,

"What do you mean they failed I am paying such a huge amount of money yet you are clearly sending some incompetent fools for the job, if you cannot finish the job I will have to search for someone else then, I will give you one more chance now get out of my sight.", a figure hidden in the dark left as the speaker grumbled loudly in a mocking tone, "We are the best as such our hiring cost is greater, best my foot even a nutless brain dead monkey could do a better job, hmp."