Female Novel
Chapter 5492
Charlie caught sight of Maria’s charming yet resistant expression.
He leaned in, urging, “I’ve managed to gather these, and it’d be a shame if you didn’t get a taste. Plus,you’re the only one who truly understands the essence of the Pu’er mother. Your intuition will guideyou.”
After a moment, he added, “You’ve got to take a bite to know!”
With those words, he pushed a leaf to Maria’s lips and took another for himself. “Come on,” hepressed, “let’s savor it together.”
Maria found herself unable to resist his insistence. She cast him a fleeting glance before conceding,“Alright, I’ll give it a try.” As her words trailed off, she gently parted her lips, letting them close aroundthe tender green leaf.
Seeing her take the bite, Charlie followed suit, chewing with a sense of assurance.
He had assumed this thing would carry the pleasant aroma of tea, expecting a good flavor. Yet, thereality surpassed his imagination, the moment the leaf met his palate, a burst of rich, pure energyenveloped his senses!
A single bite was enough to rejuvenate his spirit!
Although the energy content wasn’t substantial, its purity was extraordinary. And what’s more, this wasunprocessed, fresh tea. It seemed the plant itself held reiki, a phenomenon Charlie had never beforeencountered.
Maria, too, felt the peculiar nature of this tea. As she chewed, it wasn’t astringent or bitter, but ratherslightly sweet. The most astonishing part was the refreshing, comforting sensation it provided. She had
tasted countless teas throughout her life, especially those produced by the Mother of Pu’er. Yet, shehad never encountered a tea as miraculous as this.
Baffled, she turned to Charlie, her eyes filled with wonder. “Young master, why does this tea possesssuch remarkable effects? It’s as if a single taste erases all fatigue instantly! I recall that the tea fromPu’er mother never had this effect…”
Charlie’s expression grew solemn. “That’s because this leaf contains reiki.”
“Reiki?!” Maria exclaimed, incredulous. “How can that be? I heard from my father that certain herbs canbe used to craft spiritual elixirs. But these materials must be combined and processed by experts tomanifest reiki. This leaf has just sprouted; how could it hold reiki?”
Charlie replied, “Perhaps this is why Pu’er mother failed to transcend her calamity and insteadunderwent rebirth after confronting the thunder’s wrath. It’s an experiential transformation, similar to theconcept of immortals we discussed earlier. Maybe Pu’er mother has truly become a plant-basedimmortal.”
With a wistful smile, he continued, “Apart from Pu’er mother, I’ve never encountered a plant inherentlyinfused with reiki.”
Maria’s excitement was palpable. “I doubt she’s following the path of an immortal. After all, she lackedreiki initially. Now, just as she’s sprouting, she exhibits aura. Immortals suggest limited room for growthand a lack of qualitative shifts in strength.”
Charlie inquired, “What’s her current state, then?”
Maria shook her head. “I can’t say for certain. But I sense that she’s more like a phoenix reborn fromthe ashes, undergoing a qualitative leap. When she endured the catastrophe three centuries ago, she
must have left behind a thread of life, waiting these years. And now, after that tempest and lightning,she’s received a blessing akin to a weathered dragon’s!”
A furrow creased Maria’s brow. “What baffles me is how she managed to evade heavenly judgmentand survive under the celestial thunder, how she secured that lifeline.”
Uninterested in the specifics, Charlie gazed at the seedling before him. “If we nurture her properly,once she grows into a substantial tree, imagine the potential. Merely plucking and ingesting a fewleaves daily could make you an unparalleled master.”
Maria voiced her astonishment, “Master, are you planning to take her away?”
“Absolutely!” Charlie declared. “Leaving her here would be unwise. If she falls into the wrong hands oris mishandled by an inexperienced individual, it would be a waste.”
Maria hesitated. “But… she’s been here for millennia. This is her origin…”
Charlie waved his hand dismissively. “No, she’s been here for ten thousand years, failing the calamityeach time. This locale is unsuitable for her growth. Just as a person shouldn’t stumble in the same pittwice, a tree shouldn’t endure multiple failures. She must change surroundings and receive propercare.”
Maria inquired, “Where do you believe she’d thrive?”
Charlie contemplated. “I reckon the upper courtyard of your Zilian Mountain Villa could work. Or, wemight relocate her to the edge of your hot spring, but that hinges on your expertise in nurturing Pu’ertea trees.”
Maria instinctively responded, “Pu’er tea trees thrive in the Southern province’s climate. Altitude,sunlight, temperature, and humidity there are ideal. Aurous Hill’s winters are too harsh for them.”
Charlie smirked. “She isn’t a standard Pu’er tea, she’s Pu’er mother. Having weathered thecatastrophe, she now possesses Reiki, making her exceptionally adaptable. Your other courtyard,secluded and undisturbed, is an ideal spot. She won’t attract attention unless she grows too tall in afew years. If that happens, we’ll consider relocating her.”
Charlie continued, “And if she struggles with Aurous Hill’s climate, we could construct a greenhousesimulating these conditions.”
Quietly, Maria ventured, “Master, do you intend to harvest her leaves daily?”
Charlie didn’t flinch from the truth. “Certainly, isn’t that the purpose of nurturing tea trees? Just as anapple tree is grown to bear fruit, a tea tree is cultivated for its leaves. Once she’s taller, I can’t simply lether remain as an ornamental plant.”
Maria couldn’t refute the logic behind his straightforward words.
After a pause, she mustered her request. “If you do take her away, master, I have a condition. Will youconsider it?”
Charlie grinned. “Lay it out…”
With utmost seriousness, Maria stipulated, “My request is that you refrain from plucking her leaves untilthey grow denser, until she matures. What do you say?”
Charlie nodded eagerly. “No problem. I admit her leaves are pure, though not in abundance. For effectscomparable to elixirs, I’d have to harvest more. But for now, let’s focus on her growth.”novelbin
Maria sighed in relief. “It’s feasible to transplant her, as long as her roots aren’t harmed. Extra soil willprevent stress. But the journey might affect her delicacy. Despite being Pu’er mother, she’s freshlyemerged.”
Charlie assented, “So, let’s stay here. I’ll arrange a plane at Banna’s airport. We’ll dig her out, and flydirectly to Aurous Hill once it’s done.”
Concerned, Maria inquired, “And Morgana? She’s likely in Shiwan Mountain now.”
Charlie waved her concern aside. “She can wait. We’ll let her go for now. After she’s left, we’ll reviewher path and pinpoint her location in Shiwan Mountain.”