They arrived at a private room on the third floor, where Cheng Xiaofan immediately noticed Meng Xizi preparing tea.
Tea blending was the art of combining precious teas with milk, honey, osmanthus, or other beverages to drink, somewhat akin to mixing cocktails.
The practice of tea blending had existed since ancient times in China.
In the private room, besides Meng Xizi,
all the others were fully armed special police officers.
"Your Excellency, you've arrived!"
Upon seeing Cheng Xiaofan, Meng Xizi scurried over to greet him.
According to the information Cheng Xiaofan possessed, tea blending didn't seem to be a popular custom in the island nation.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, "Old Meng, when did you learn to blend tea?"
Meng Xizi beamed, "I just learned it from Chef Huang Hongyuan."
"He even praised my tea blending skills."
Cheng Xiaofan smiled, "You've worked hard!"
Meng Xizi replied with a smile, "It's my duty, my duty!"
He brought the freshly blended tea to Cheng Xiaofan.
"Your Excellency, please try it and tell me how it tastes!"
"If there's anything unsatisfactory, please enlighten me!"
His attitude was
extremely sincere.
It made Cheng Xiaofan feel a bit awkward.
He didn't seem like the king of an island nation at all,
but rather like a tea blending attendant.
Cheng Xiaofan had no choice but to lift the cup and take a shallow sip.
As the tea entered his mouth, fragrance filled it.
The tea blending had been perfected to the extreme.
It seemed Meng Xizi had truly put in effort to learn tea blending.
He couldn't help but nod.
"Excellent, the taste is superb!"
Upon receiving Cheng Xiaofan's praise,
Meng Xizi's eyebrows nearly flew up with joy.
He exclaimed with unconcealed delight, "Thank you for your commendation, Your Excellency!"
Then, he had Lorien and Fanny bring out several plates of pastries.
Seeing this, Cheng Xiaofan shook his head.
He laughed, "Old Meng, if I had known this,
I wouldn't have eaten dinner.
I would have rushed here directly for tea!"
He could tell at a glance that Meng Xizi and the others
had not even had dinner, having rushed here long ago.
After all, there were two evil spirits at night
who intended to seek revenge on Cheng Xiaofan.
Meng Xizi was extremely anxious and had no appetite for dinner.
In fact, Cheng Xiaofan understood his feelings.
He added, "Old Meng, I was quite full when I arrived.
You all eat, don't mind me!"
Meng Xizi was also ravenous.
He beckoned to Lorien and Fanny, as well as the special police officers,
"Your Excellency has spoken, everyone eat!"
With his command, everyone gathered around and began to eat.
Watching them devour their food,
Cheng Xiaofan felt a tinge of bitterness in his heart.
This sudden doomsday virus
had truly put these people through a lot.
Meng Xizi, in particular, had visibly lost weight these past few days.
He looked much older.
After they finished eating,
Cheng Xiaofan said, "Old Meng, have those special police officers who are ambushing in the surroundings
withdraw. Their watch here is useless.
There will be heavy rain and lightning tonight; don't let them get hurt by accident."
Meng Xizi asked in astonishment, "Heavy rain and lightning tonight?"
"The weather forecast said it would be clear for the next two days."
Cheng Xiaofan laughed heartily, "Old Meng,
even if your island nation's weather forecasts are accurate,
they might not work when they reach me!"
Meng Xizi suddenly slapped his forehead, remembering that Cheng Xiaofan
could summon the wind and rain and control the lightning from the heavens.
He quickly said with a smile, "Oh, I understand now. It was my oversight!"
"Since the special police officers ambushing around
are of no use, let's have them withdraw."
He immediately instructed a special police officer nearby,
"Make a call and tell them to return."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The special police officer immediately made a call,
"By order of Your Excellency and His Majesty the King,
there is nothing for you to do here. You may all withdraw!"
In a blink of an eye,
the special police officers who had been ambushing around
emerged and immediately withdrew.
As for the special police officers inside the teahouse, Cheng Xiaofan said nothing more.
After all, with Meng Xizi present, they had a responsibility to protect him and could not easily leave.
"Your Excellency, please have some tea!"
Meng Xizi personally blended another cup of tea for Cheng Xiaofan.
He said, "Normally, I don't drink this kind of tea,
but now I realize how delicious this blended tea truly is.
After I retire, I plan to open a Chinese tea blending house in the capital!"
Cheng Xiaofan laughed, "Yes, that's a good idea.
If I have the chance to visit in the future,
I will definitely patronize your tea blending house!"
What was initially a casual remark,
Meng Xizi took to heart.
He said excitedly, "That's wonderful! With Your Excellency's patronage,
my tea blending house will surely be a hit!"
"That would be better than any advertising!"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, "What, Old Meng, are you really planning to open a tea blending house?"
Meng Xizi nodded with a serious expression.
He sighed, "Being a king is too difficult!
After this doomsday virus is completely over,
I truly want to step down!"
They drank tea and chatted,
and before they knew it, the night had deepened.
Cheng Xiaofan gazed at the night sky outside the window,
and said thoughtfully, "If I'm not mistaken,
those two evil spirits will be making their move soon!"
...
"Luòluò, when do we depart?"
In a cave in the desolate outskirts of the capital, Hui Mi asked Luòluò.
Luòluò walked out of the cave and looked up at the starry night sky.
"Let's depart shortly.
I can sense that Cheng Xiaofan
is at a teahouse across the street from the State Guest House Plaza, having tea with the King of the island nation."
Hui Mi let out a sinister cold laugh.
He nodded and said, "Clearly, this Cheng Xiaofan knows we're coming for him.
He's waiting for us to show up!"
Luòluò chuckled,
"This brat, relying on his martial skills,
thinks he can defeat us when we arrive!"
"This brat is arrogant, underestimating us, the two great protectors!"
"When we get there, we'll let him witness the power of the protectors by Xuan Sui's side!"
Hui Mi laughed smugly, "Yes, I'm starting to feel itchy all over!
From prehistory until now, I've really wanted to kill a capable human
and drink his blood to replenish my nutrients!"
"I feel so parched!"
Luòluò said with a smile, "I wonder if this surnamed Cheng is worthy of us drinking his blood!
For us, the blood of a high-level human cultivator
is an absolute heavenly treasure!"
Hui Mi, hearing this, became impatient. "Luòluò, enough talk. It's almost time, let's go!"