Yue Xueyan’s cold and usually calm face showed a slight change – her fingers twitched, as if resisting the urge to immediately grab one.
After all, she was a tea lover.
And Peach Oolong? That name alone was already calling out to her.
While Yue Xueyan headed straight for the glass-door refrigerator, Hua Feixue walked to the shelves where the bags of Original Salted Potato Chip were neatly stacked.
She tilted her head slightly as she examined the packaging. It was another type of strange container she had never seen before – smooth and shiny, with a bright design that made it stand out.
She picked one up.
Shff…
She paused. There was something moving inside. Curious, she gave it a gentle shake.
Crinkle crinkle.
There was a sound. Like… little pieces inside.
“Potato Chip…” Hua Feixue murmured, reading the unfamiliar words on the bag.
“Salted?”
She didn’t know what a potato was. But salt? That she knew well. So this must be a salty food?
Still curious, she turned her head toward the counter.
“Boss Hao, what’s a potato chip?”
Hao, who was wiping the counter, looked up and chuckled.
’Looks like the cultivation world really doesn’t have potatoes, huh?
He nodded and leaned forward a little.
“A potato is a kind of vegetable. It grows under the ground, like a root.”
“As for a chip.” he added, tapping the air with his fingers.
“It just means something sliced very thin. So a potato chip is a thin slice of that underground vegetable. We fry it in oil until it becomes crispy. Then we add salt or other flavors on top.”
Hua Feixue’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Oh! So it’s like ginseng – also grows underground.”
“But instead of boiling it into soup, you slice it thin and fry it?”
Hao gave a nod. “Something like that.”
Hua Feixue looked at the bag again and wondered if it might give her some sort of effect like ginseng. Then her gaze dropped to the small price tag.
“Five spirit crystals?”
Her brows twitched.
This was the most expensive item in the whole store so far!
She let out a small sigh and placed a hand over her storage ring. “My poor money… we haven’t even gone out to hunt yet.”
Hua Feixue glanced at Yue Xueyan, who was already clutching a can of Peach Oolong Tea with both hands.
“We’ve been coming here every single day.”
“At this rate, the store’s going to bleed me dry.”
But even as she said that, she didn’t put the chip bag back. In fact, she carefully held it tighter.
Hua Feixue walked over to Yue Xueyan, her eyes full of silent pleading. She held up the bag of Original Salted Potato Chips like a poor child showing her last hope.
“Senior Sister…” Hua Feixue whispered.
Yue Xueyan already understood. Of course she did.
She glanced at the bag, then at her junior sister’s sparkling eyes. A soft sigh escaped her lips. She raised a finger and gave Hua Feixue a light flick on the forehead.
“Just this once.”
Hua Feixue beamed with joy. Without any shame, she threw her arms around Yue Xueyan’s waist and gave her a quick hug.
“Thank you, Senior Sister! You’re the best! Your kindness is as deep as the ocean!”
Yue Xueyan’s face didn’t change at all. But the way her finger lightly tapped the side of the Peach Oolong Tea can gave her away. She was clearly in a good mood.
The two girls picked out their items.
Each of them bought a cup of instant noodles – one Spicy Beef-Flavored, the other Spicy Chicken-Flavored.
Hua Feixue added a Lime Fizz and the Original Salted Potato Chips to her haul.
Yue Xueyan, on the other hand, held only the Peach Oolong Tea, treating it like a treasure.
The total came to 15 crystals.
After paying, the two girls quietly made their way to their favorite corner, where they always sat. They placed their purchases on the table, both eager to dig into their food.
While the instant noodles began to cook, Hua Feixue couldn’t hold back her excitement.
She quickly swiped her hand over the bag of Original Salted Potato Chips, her fingers turning as sharp as ice.
With a clean slice, she opened the bag effortlessly.
On the other side of the table, Yue Xueyan was already reaching for the can of Peach Oolong Tea. She took a slow, deliberate sip.
’Hm.’
Unlike the overly sweet teas she usually drank, this one was smooth, with just the right balance of sweetness and bitterness.
It wasn’t as sharp as cola or as tangy as Lime Fizz.
’Peach Oolong Tea wins.’
The more she drank, the more she appreciated its subtle richness, which was refreshing in a way those other drinks never could be.
It wasn’t overpowering – it had a natural elegance, and with every sip, she found herself savoring its distinct taste more.
’Clean.’
The taste was refreshing, soothing even, and she couldn’t help but smile. There was something about it that made her feel centered, as if it had found some kind of harmony within her.
After finishing the whole can, she blinked and shook her head slightly, surprised at herself. She hadn’t even noticed how quickly she had drunk it all.
’Gone already?’
The feeling of balance became clearer now. She felt the tea’s calming effects, as if it had stabilized her internal qi, smoothing out any chaotic imbalances.
Her body felt lighter, as if the lingering tensions within her had all been eased away.
Yue Xueyan immediately understood its purpose. For cultivators with unstable qi or body cultivators who constantly pushed their limits, this tea was perfect.
It would help them stay grounded, maintaining balance within themselves.
As for herself, she didn’t need it as much. But she enjoyed it. Especially the taste.
’Not bad.’ she bopped in approval.
Yue Xueyan shifted her gaze.
Her junior sister was in the middle of a full-on assault against the bag of Original Salted Potato Chips.
Hua Feixue stuck her hand inside the bag like a rabbit diving into its burrow. She pulled out a few thin, golden slices and tossed them into her mouth in one motion.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Yue Xueyan blinked.
There were visible crumbs clinging to the corner of Hua Feixue’s lips.
’Is it that good?’
Yue Xueyan was seriously considering if she should’ve gotten one.