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"a tea ceremony?"
Hyun Jong, who was reading the letter, simply hummed as if in deep thought. It wasn't a rare occasion, back in the day there'd often be gatherings like these conducted, under the context of strengthening the bonds between sects. After Mt.Hua had been kicked out of the 10 great sects, this invitation just brought bitter memories.
"The tang family suggested it?"
"we should prepare for it immediately then"
.
.
.
And so that's how they ended up here.
Preparing for the tea ceremony.
It was suspicious that Chung Myung seemed to have straightened up after hearing the words 'tea ceremony '.
He was practically aging, right before their eyes, his face contorted with worry, Yoon Jong could've sworn he saw wrinkles.
Nevertheless in perfect Chung Myung fashion he said he'll prepare them for it...They should've known something was bound to go wrong if Chung Myung's in charge.
whack
"Oh my sahyung, your feet is peeking from behind"
"Shoulders! Your shoulders should be straight"
"My Dongryongie should know basic sitting posture, shouldn't he?"
whack whack whack
"Receive it with your right hand! Right!!!"
"Oi, the tea isn't going to run away, take your time, enjoy the flavour!"
Even so, wasn't Chung Myung the type of person to drink scalding hot tea in a gulp?
"Aishhhh you'll disgrace the name of Mt.Hua with this behaviour"
Damn you, demon.
They couldn't even raise their heads above 90 degrees or else they'd be whacked with a stick. Who would've thought Chung Myung to be so orthodox in following tea party rules.
For someone who never really believed in veneration or filial piety, he sure was adamant on teaching them how to receive tea from a host older than them.
"Fold your index and the middle finger halfway, like this and tap twice to thank the tea master.”
'I can see the ancestors-'
Good luck...
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Surprisingly Jo gul was whacked the least, claiming he often attended such ceremonies as a child courtesy of being a merchant's son and even more surprisingly Baek cheon got whacked the most. Direct courtesy of having been influenced by Chung Myung himself.
Why had he bothered to fight back by using a feint (it involved trying to splash Chung Myung with tea)?
They couldn't say, after all they were expected to do this 'training' after morning training with no promise of food if they messed up...it was hell.
But they survived.
Barely.
The reason they couldn't retaliate was because Chung Myung showed both them and the elders a 'demo' of how the tea ceremony is conducted and the general 'do this, avoid that' talk.
Heck, HE hosted a demo himself.
Said, they should watch how it's conducted usually.
He talked with so much confidence; how did he have such knowledge on tea anyway?
His motion fluid as he took his seat, sat down in perfect posture and poured the hot water into all their cups, then putting the tea leaves, he offered them a smell of the leaves. It was an odd smell, old yet refreshing, it smelled like tree bark. He laughed, telling them it meant it's cheap quality tea.
They thought it smelt good though.
He basically did everything for them, emptied their cups, brewed the tea, all they had to do was receive it and they weren't even capable of that. It was like an art form. They found themselves hypnotised looking at Chung Myung do everything with such practised ease from the way he motioned the cup to stir the tea to the way he drank it.
They had so many questions, why he poured the drink over the animal ceramic into a tray, why he threw away the first ever batch of tea, why he looked a little wistful while pouring them a cup.
They didn't find the right time to ask.
Too busy watching on in awe of his skill.
"The key is to be pleased and honoured at being invited."
Was Chung Myung talking? They couldn't really hear him.
The demon was capable of being elegant it seemed, the 5 swords- jaws slacked looked at Chung Myung thoroughly feeling bamboozled while the elders looked on with pride.
The 5 swords, having known him the longest were not about to be fooled by Chung Myung's hoax and how could they, the Chung Myung who jumped in the air to catch a piece of jerky, was teaching them manners?
What bullshit!
But the scene unfolding before them said otherwise.
"God is really cruel" They all thought collectively.
There was also so much unnecessary information packed in his long lectures...they were the ones being hosted so why is he teaching them to host one too!? The info is appreciated; it really is but why are they taking turns hosting as well when they can barely receive it properly!
"Remember, they'll pour hot water to your cups...You don't drink that, it's to warm the cups. Do not under any circumstance reach out to drink it."
"Why would the cup need to be warm? That just seems like a waste of time if you ask me.."
"It's done in case you want to smell the tea leaves; the scent comes out when the cup’s warm. So, you know that it's good tea."
"Then what's with these small animal creatures..."
"Ah, those are your pets, you have to pour over them to avoid spillage."
"but why-"and so jo gul was whacked by some unknown force(read: Yu Iseol). No seriously, why ask all these questions when it's time for breakfast, it'll all vanish before they reach the dining room.
.
.
.
"Why does he even know so much about tea?"
"Wouldn't it make sense if he were more knowledgeable about alcohol."
"Before this I've never even seen him drink tea. Now he's some type of expert on it???"
"Guys I think he was from a noble family but then ran away to live as a beggar. Did you notice him stiffening up at the mention of the ceremony at first? It's totally some imprinted psychological trauma." The others hummed, considering it.
"It sort of lines up...but he could also be the son of a tea merchant."
"With his shrewd, calculative approach to business I wouldn't doubt it!"
And so, they spent their last minutes talking about Chung Myung's unusual tea knowledge before being caught by the subject of their misery.
.
.
.
Then there was this final test too, he hosted it, even wore the clothes, talked like how a host would even...It was the scariest he's been.
It wasn't that bad but then he- he had smiled when he poured them tea-smiled…
And then he respectfully-wait RESPECTFULLY!?
They thought the heavens would burst before Chung Myung actually treated them with something in semblance to respect.
Now that it was happening, they couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Baek Cheon seemed to enjoy it a little too much.
Thankfully, they did great, they didn't forget how to receive the cups, they smelt the tea before drinking it and quietly sipped it, enjoying the flavour and when the flavour of the tea started to become weak they knew it was time to leave, got up bowed and thanked the host, Chung Myung for the invitation.
"you guys, did well."
Hearing those words, they felt relieved, Chung Myung had said they'd done well. Wow they've grown in the art of teaism.
Chung Myung puffed out his chest, huffing and laughing to himself.
"hohoho, I really managed to do it." Hey now, wasn't it him that turned them into brutish ruffians?
Bonus: during the tea ceremony he scolded the others as well.
The day of the tea ceremony arrived, and it wasn't the type of tea ceremony that Chung Myung had in mind...
It was more so a gathering where they drink tea and get to know each other...
What bullshit? He went through all of that for this? For some measly picnic?
It was just a regular drinking party but a bit more civilised with tea instead of alcohol.
That day the Tang estate was turned into an institution.
Chung Myung ended up becoming the host once again and showed everyone a real Tea ceremony.
"Heck, if you just wanted a get-together you could've just said so old man!"
"ah, but isn't it more formal this way"
"formal? FORMAL? JUST CLUE ME IN NEXT TIME I DECIDE TO WASTE MY TIME"
Nevertheless they had a good time watching him host. A bit too much of a good time. (Tang Gunak gave him tang clan robes to be the mock host kekeke.)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"But sahyung-" a boy not that small from the man in front of him whined. Kicking at the pebbles near him. How he made his frame look tinier than it actually is Chung Mun doesn’t know but it isn't helping him at all. How can one scold this kicked puppy.
"no buts, last time was a disaster, you won't be coming with me ever again." Surprisingly keeping his resolve intact, he managed to be firm with Chung Myung.
"tch, it wasn't even entirely my fault, those bastards-ahem Sajaes set me up, they tipped my cup!" The imagery of kicked puppy Chung Myung vanished as soon as the words left his mouth.
Why had Chung Mun bothered again?
"IM NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SPILLAGE, IM TAKING ABOUT HOW U REPLACED TEA WITH ALCOHOL YA DAMN BRAT!" Chung Mun grabbed him and furiously rubbed his head, smiling but he was irritated.
"Ehehe tea tastes like piss anyways."
"How would you know that?"
A beat of silence.
"Sahyung please, let me come with you, or they'll make me go into seclusion again" Hearing him plead again Chung mun felt pricked, he knew Chung Myung hated the seclusion cave...
"Myung-ah you know I can't do that; the decisions have been made. Until you reflect and make amends somehow." He grabbed his cheeks, pinching it fondly. The action seemed to have calmed Chung Myung down, just a little.
"Hmph" Chung Myung pushed Chung Mun’s hand away, and stared at him, waiting for head pats or perhaps hoping for sweets.
Sadly Chung Mun did not understand." Now go train, I need to prepare the others for this upcoming tea ceremony" Chung Myung made a face. As if to say ‘you should only be allowed to make time for me and not anyone else.’ a rather cute gesture if he said it outright than -
"Blegh- I hate you old fart!" -this. He stuck out his tongue and ran away. How very classic.
"Cmere you!" Despite Chung Myung behaving like well Chung Myung, Chung Mun the saint that he is said it with no real offense, he’d seen the boy grow up, no words would ever make him hate Chung Myung.
.
.
.
"tch, those stupid weak bastards setting me up, dumb Sahyung for scolding me and those old bums preventing me from going to this..." Chung Myung as usual had skipped training. Jumping from one branch to another, a particular hobby he developed after seeing monkeys lazying on trees.
"damn them all" Indeed. Damn them all.
"Hm?" From his view, he could see into the hall where his Sahyung would be teaching the others of the tea ceremony.
"hehe, i can see everything from here" He peeked in through webbed flower designs of the window.
Chung Myung ducked a little, trying to keep his position upright on the sloped roof. If he lost footing he’d get caught. Peering inside he saw-
"-so you have to extend your hand and take the cup in this way."
"augh, Sahyung's lecture again. Wait…I know! if I can learn everything from here in secret then they'll be amazed when I do it next time!" Chung Myung’s eyes glowed with newfound knowledge, obviously he’d grown a third eye with this revelation.
"hehe, I’m such a genius, how is my brain this good?" Chung Myung just kept patting himself on the back. Self-praise when no one else does it huh…
'for some reason I feel something ominous’
As if Chung Mun’s 6th sense awakened, (he sensed Chung Myung’s mischief) he looked around visibly distressed.
‘Huh? What's that peeking out?' Bingo. From the upper window, he could see the idiot’s hair peeking out…
"Pfft-"
"Ah Chung Mun Sahyung is something wrong?"
"Nope, no nothing at all." Chung Mun coughed into his robes a little and answered to the other disciple. Wordlessly he'd repeat the process over and over, making sure that a certain someone paid attention.
'cute bastard, make sure to pay attention, ok?'
the shift doesn't go unnoticed, Sahyung's smiling fondly. Chung Myung's feeling giddy too.