Meanwhile, at the plaza in the middle of the monastery, Samuel followed the old man and the little girl into the tower. Walking through the door, he saw a spiral staircase made entirely of wood in the middle, reaching to the top of the tower. A circular staircase surrounded the corridor with various rooms all around. Lumistone lamps carved in the shape of lanterns hung along the pain walls of the corridor, illuminating the corridor.

The old man walked up the staircase without a word. Samuel followed. Sounds of footsteps on the surface of the wood rang out, filling the entire tower. After walking up three levels, the old man suddenly turned to the side, walking into the corridor.

Unlike the bottom floors, the corridor on this floor had lanterns burning oil within them instead of lumistones, with a pleasant smell emanating out as it burned in silence. The walls, on the other hand, were full of cracks.

Samuel couldn’t help but worry. However, he shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t say anything. This high-priest probably already knows of it. If this tower were to break, I don’t think I would be so unlucky that it’d happen as soon as I step in. Also, if I say anything, I might—Damn, that’s a big one! J-just what made it?!’

While walking, Samuel’s eyes landed on a particular crack with a width larger than his arm, with the other side of the wall visible through it. A faint charred smell tingled his nose.

Through the crack, the sight of charred walls entered Samuel’s sight. His expression changed several times as he walked closer to the crack. The jarring smell permeating his nostrils grew denser. Yet, he didn’t pay it any heed.

Instead, his eyes grew wider with every step. More and more of the scene within unveiled itself. The floor of the room on the other side appeared as if it were a bar of chocolate melted from the middle before solidifying back, making artificial stalactites which hung down the ceiling on the floor below.

Reaching his hand out, Samuel was about to touch the crack when a voice broke him out of his stupor, “Little friend, I’d advise you to step back. It’s not a good thing to touch anything without even a thought in an unfamiliar place. Let alone do it without knowing the other party’s intentions.”

Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Samuel replied, “Old man, it’s just that… I don’t feel that you’ll do anything to harm me or anything like that. So, I didn’t really think about it. Sorry if it felt rude.”

With a glimmer of interest appearing in his dull eyes, the high-priest gave Samuel a deep look before saying, “Don’t think too much about it. It’s just your hands would’ve gotten dirty. It’s not worth it. And don’t make it sound so distant. You can call me Uncle Mo.”

Samuel nodded, “Alright, Uncle…” Feeling something wrong, Samuel changed the appellation, “Grandpa Mo.”

The old man squinted his eyes, asking, “Do I really look that old?”

Samuel opened and closed his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, remained silent.

Looking at the troubled kid, the old man laughed, “That’s alright, I suppose. You call Zhu your uncle and calling me uncle as well will put that little brat on the same level as me. He’ll get unruly if it were to happen.”

Samuel in response chortled, feeling relaxed.

After two more closed doors, the old man stopped in front of a room. Turning his head to the side, he bent down to the level of the girl to his side before asking, “Little Mei, would you like to join me and that big brother for some tea?”

The little girl hesitated before replying, “Grandpa, I’m tired. I’ll go rest.”

While getting up, the old man asked, “Will you go back on your own or should I walk you to your room?”

The little girl replied, “I’ll go back.”

Without waiting for a word, the little girl turned and left, disappearing into the room to the side.

After watching her close the door behind her, the old man opened the door in front of him, gesturing to Samuel, “Little guest, sorry for the delay. How about we get started with our little chat with a little tea?”

Samuel nodded before walking in.

Inside, he saw a wooden table and two chairs surrounded by shelves full of various jars. In one conspicuous corner of one shelf was a tea-set, complete with brewing apparatus.

The old man gestured to Samuel to take a seat.

Samuel followed his gesture and took a seat while the old man brought the tea-set. Next, he walked up to one of the shelves before picking out a jar. Opening it, he sniffed it briefly before nodding.

Next, he walked up to the table before sitting next to Samuel before starting to brew the tea.

All of a sudden, a faint fragrance filled the room. Sniffing, Samuel looked around for the source to find several leaves in the old man’s hand.

Before he could ask, the old man said, “They smell nice, don’t they?’

Samuel nodded. Inside, he couldn’t help but think,’Why do I feel like this old man can read my thoughts? Wouldn’t that mean if I think something wrong, he would instantly start beating me and throw me out?’

The old man chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I can’t read what goes in your head. It’s just predicting through the subconscious actions you make.”

Starting to feel a bit unwell, Samuel sat there in silence. With nothing else worth noting in this room, the old man’s act of brewing the tea naturally drew his eyes. His actions looked crude and hasty on the surface, yet contained a certain unexplainable elegance to them.

As Samuel focused more and more, the world in his vision began twisting. A headache shot through his head, breaking him out of his stupor as it forced him to close his eyes.

While rubbing his eyelids, Samuel heard the old man’s voice. “Seems you’re tired. I suppose the journey here must be tiresome. Well, the tea’s ready. You should have some to relax yourself.”

The old man poured a cup of tea before passing it over.

Picking up the teacup, Samuel opened his eyes, observing the clear brew with a tint of red inside. Warmth permeated through the teacup, warming Samuel’s palm. Bringing the cup closer, Samuel took a sniff. A mellow smell filled his nose, making him nod in appreciation. Closing his eyes, he took a sip.

His eyes shot open in just an instant as he took another sip, emptying a third of his cup in one go. A mellow taste complementing the tea’s smell washed across his tongue.

However, his eyes revealed his focus to be elsewhere. The next moment, he gulped down the tea in his mouth. Tears appeared in the orders of his eyes as he broke into a fit of coughs. Looking at the old man calmly sitting there sipping tea, he couldn’t help standing up while raging, “Old man! Why—*Cough!* Why would you—*Cough!* do this?! *Cough* *Cough*”

The next moment, his face turned pale as he felt his insides churning. His legs turned soft, causing him to fall to the floor, coughing incessantly.

At the side, the old man looked at Samuel while shaking his head, muttering, “Little friend, just earlier I warned you to not touch anything without even a thought in an unfamiliar place, let alone do it without knowing the other side’s intentions. Did you forget it already? If you act like that, this old man will feel bad.”

Finishing his sentence, the old man continued drinking while paying no need to the coughing kid on the floor as if he didn’t exist.