Madam Yao studied Rui's face, searching for any hint of weakness or uncertainty.
"Very well." Madam Yao led them back through the labyrinthine corridors of the Veiled Sanctum.
The tea chamber was a stark contrast to the oppressive weight of the Forbidden Archives.
The room was sparse yet elegant—a single low table surrounded by cushions, with ancient calligraphy scrolls adorning the walls.
Madam Yao moved with practiced precision, her silver-streaked hair gleaming as she prepared a rare blend of tea.
The leaves, deep crimson with golden veins, released a fragrance that seemed to clear the mind upon first breath.
"This is Clarity Root," she explained, pouring the steaming liquid into delicate bone-white cups.
"Harvested once every century from the deepest part of the Blood Forest. It grounds the spirit when truths become... overwhelming."
Rui's hands trembled as she accepted the cup, ripples disturbing the amber surface.
