Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

Chapter 253: Good Brother, How Was My Imported Tea?

“Ahem…”

Han Lie gave a tactical dry cough, suppressing the laughter threatening to bubble up. He kept his expression schooled into the dignity befitting his new station. “Excuse me, is Captain Zhuo Hongyi present?”

“Yes! Yes, Elder Han!” A female disciple practically vibrated with excitement, her cheeks flushed. “Senior Sister Zhuo and Senior Sister Qin are right inside!”

“Excellent. Thank you.”

Han Lie strode into the reception room. Before he could even take a seat, Zhuo Hongyi and Qin Lan hurried out, their faces lighting up with a mixture of relief and delight as they ushered him in.

“Look at you,” Zhuo Hongyi teased as they settled down. “Ever since you ascended to the Elder Council, getting an audience with you is harder than meeting the Sect Leader himself.”

“Nonsense!” Han Lie waved a hand dismissively. “I’ve just been… adjusting. The Grand Elder has been keeping me on a short leash, teaching me the ropes. The moment I had a sliver of free time, I came straight to you.”

Qin Lan smiled gently, her gaze soft. “We understand, Han Lie. Your responsibilities are different now. We’re just happy you haven’t forgotten your old friends.”

“Senior Sister Qin, how could you say that?” Han Lie said with mock solemnity. “I could forget my own name before I forgot the two of you.”

“Alright, alright, enough flattery.” Zhuo Hongyi’s smile warmed the room like a spring breeze. She leaned forward slightly, her demeanor shifting to something more serious. “Actually… can we ask you something?”

“Hmm? Speak your mind, Little Qingqing.”

Zhuo Hongyi blushed slightly at the nickname but pressed on. “It’s about… the new Hall Master for the Overlord Hall. It’s been over a week. The Elder Council must be swimming in applications by now, right?”

“Can you give us a hint?” Qin Lan added, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Does the Council have a favorite?”

For both women, this was uncharted territory. In a sect of 100,000 disciples, Hall Master positions were usually hereditary or groomed decades in advance. A vacancy like this—open to application—was a miracle. And miraculously, they were actually qualified.

“Haha, you’re sharp.” Han Lie leaned back, channeling a bit of Chi Lian’s imperious arrogance. “I won’t lie to you. Before coming here, I was with Grand Elder Chi Lian reviewing every single application.”

He paused for dramatic effect. “We discussed them at length. And the result…”

“The result?!” Both women leaned in, breathless.

“Guess.” Han Lie crossed his arms, his eyes dancing with mischief.

“How could we possibly guess?” Zhuo Hongyi groaned. Then, channeling a bit of Xiao Qingge’s energy, she batted her eyelashes. “Come on, Good Brother~ Don’t be mean.”

“Yes, yes!” Qin Lan nodded vigorously.

“Ahem. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you,” Han Lie sighed, looking pained. “It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“The Grand Elder gave me strict orders. Strict orders. No leaks.” Han Lie shook his head gravely. “I want to tell you, truly. But my position is difficult. And lately… I don’t know why, but my shoulders have been so stiff. My legs are sore. Just exhausted.”

He stretched his arms, wincing theatrically.

Zhuo Hongyi and Qin Lan exchanged a look. They tried to hold it in, but the corners of their mouths twitched.

If they couldn’t read between those lines, they deserved to fail. He was practically begging for it.

Without a word, Zhuo Hongyi moved behind Han Lie and began massaging his shoulders, her fingers digging into the muscle with expert precision. Qin Lan knelt before him, her hands working the tension out of his thighs.

“Good Brother,” Zhuo Hongyi purred, her voice dripping with honey, “just tell us. We promise not to tell a soul. Please?”

“Yes,” Qin Lan added, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Don’t you trust us?”

“It’s not about trust,” Han Lie said, closing his eyes in bliss. “It’s about… cough… the weather. It’s so dry today. My throat is parched. I really shouldn’t speak too much, or I might die of thirst.”

The two women nearly choked on their laughter. Die of thirst? Really?

Qin Lan reacted first. She grabbed a porcelain cup of hot tea from the table. “If you’re thirsty, Elder Han, allow me.”

She held the cup to his lips.

Han Lie took a sip, then frowned. “Hmm. Strange. This tea… it doesn’t seem very thirst-quenching when served this way.”

Qin Lan’s eyes flashed with understanding.

She took a sip of the tea, holding the warm liquid in her mouth. Then, she leaned forward, cupped Han Lie’s face, and pressed her lips to his.

She fed him the tea slowly, mouth-to-mouth.

When she pulled back, she wiped a stray drop from her lip. “How about now? Feeling better?”

“Mmm.” Han Lie smacked his lips, savoring the taste. “Much better. Senior Sister Qin’s Imported Tea is truly top-tier.”

He turned his gaze upward, looking at Zhuo Hongyi upside down. “But I wonder… how is Little Qingqing’s brew?”

“Pfft…” Zhuo Hongyi giggled, her icy facade completely shattered.

She signaled Qin Lan to step aside. Following the same procedure, she took a mouthful of tea, spun the chair around, and straddled Han Lie’s lap. She lowered her head and kissed him deeply, the warm tea flowing between them as their tongues tangled.

It was intimate, erotic, and utterly shameless.

When the cup was empty, Zhuo Hongyi pulled back, her face flushed. “Good Brother,” she whispered, forcing her voice into a sickly-sweet whine that made her shudder internally, “how was my Imported Tea?”

Gods, that was disgusting, she thought. How does Xiao Qingge do this without vomiting?

“Good. Very good.” Han Lie grinned like a cat who got the cream. “My throat feels miraculously healed.”

“So…” Zhuo Hongyi traced a finger down his chest. “About the new Hall Master…?”

“Right, that.” Han Lie shrugged, as if it were a trivial matter. “Grand Elder Chi Lian has already selected the candidate. The vote is just a formality.”

“It’s already decided?” The women froze, anxiety spiking.

“Who is it?” Qin Lan asked, her grip on his leg tightening.

“Ah.” Han Lie put a finger to his lips. “I can’t say it here. Walls have ears, you know.”

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“But… if we went to Little Qingqing’s private residence… I might be persuaded to spill the secret. What do you say?”

……….