Lan Tian scanned the menu skeptically. They had found their way to the Heavenly Wok upon reaching the city of Last Stop —a peculiar twist of fate considering it marked only the initial juncture in their journey towards the northern frontier.

He and Senior Disciple Yu had entered the restaurant on a whim, just as it was opening for the evening. Lan Tian had been amused by the lively performance of the staff, who danced and sang outside, proclaiming the wondrous dishes that lay within.

Now, he and Yu Yuan sat in a cozy booth, deciding what to order.

“And what is ‘Immortal nectar soup’ exactly?” Lan Tian questioned the mortal servant waiting on them. The man stood confidently, unfazed by the presence of two powerful cultivators.

“Will I become an immortal by drinking it?” he couldn’t help but add a touch of wry humour to his tone.

“As the Young Master is no doubt aware, the road to immortality is long and winding. We at the Heavenly Wok would be honoured if this humble dish were helpful on your journey.”

Lan Tian raised one brow. The names of the dishes were absurdly extravagant. Almost a third had the prefix ‘Heavenly’ tacked on, and the rest were no better.

“And I suppose the 'Five-Elements Dragon Soup' is made from real dragons, too.”

“The Young Master humbles us with his wisdom” he bowed.

Lan Tian squinted at the man.

“Then, we will start with a pot of Heavenly Barley Tea.” Lan Tian smiled.

“Certainly, Master Cultivator” the man bowed again and retreated.

Lan Tian let out a sigh “Do you believe this place, Fishballs?” he asked his friend, seated across from him “How can anyone fall for this?” He tossed the menu on the table between them.

“Young Master, do not be so quick to dismiss this place. Look around us, it is yet early, but already I see groups from 3 prominent sects of Last Stop.”

Indeed, when Lan Tian looked around, he saw that the other patrons of the restaurant wore cultivator’s robes, though he didn’t recognize their sects. He looked back to the menu.

“Well, the prices are certainly high enough!”

“Indeed.”

Just then, the servant returned with the tea, deftly placing down the tray, and pouring them each a cup.

“If you require anything else, please let this servant know” The man bowed and took a few steps back, lingering close enough that he could be easily called upon if they had need of him.

Lan Tian raised the cup to his nose, taking a sniff. It certainly smelled good, but he wasn’t sure it had quite earned the title of ‘heavenly’. He glanced to Yu Yuan and noticed the man had yet to touch his cup.

“Fishballs? You ok?”

Yu Yuan’s eyes were fixed on the tea set, and his voice shook as he replied “Young Master… do you not recognize what lies before you?”

“No…” He grimaced. “...I guess it’s some good tea?” His friend could get... passionate when it came to tea.

“Lan Tian, my friend. You have eyes, but do not recognize Mount Tai. This tea set is a true marvel.”

“Oh here we go again… Can’t we just enjoy tea like normal people?” Lan Tian joked, but his friend was deaf to the comment.

“This tea set is a gateway to another realm, a portal to a timeless world where worries melt away” *

“Ohhh-kay. I’ll bite. Let’s hear it then. Why is this particular tea set so amazing?”

“First, look at the teapot. It's made from authentic Yixing clay! its porous nature absorbs the essence of the tea over time. Every brew in this pot tells a story, as if it's whispering ancient secrets into our cups.” Yu Yuan explained.

“I just want my tea, not a history lesson from the pot.” Lan Tian muttered, but Yu Yuan continued, oblivious to his comment.

“And these cups! Each one is hand-painted with intricate landscapes, depicting mystical mountains and flowing rivers. When you sip from them, you become one with nature itself! It's like meditation in liquid form!”

“Ah yes, the mountains and rivers in the teacup. That's exactly what I was hoping for when I ordered tea.” Lan Tian deadpanned.

“And this,” Yu Yuan continued softly, as he gently caressed the tray “This is spirit Bamboo. See how the intricate grain patterns resemble the intertwining branches of a grove? Do you not feel the aether resonate with tranquillity? It is said that the Tea God himself used such a tray when breaking through to the spiritual realm!”

“The Tea God? When did he ascend?” Lan Tian shook his head with a bemused smile “You’ve really outdone yourself this time, Fishballs”

“No, listen! The records may be patchy, but they do exist. The Dao of Tea is a path rarely trod, but it is experiences like this that reaffirm my belief-”

“Look, Yu Yuan, I appreciate your passion, but let's not get carried away. Can we just drink our tea?

Yu Yuan paused, then chuckled. “You’re right, Young Master. Sometimes I do get carried away. Let’s forget the Tea Gods and enjoy the tea.” he raised his cup “To a safe journey!”

“A safe journey.” Lan Tian replied with a weary smile.​