Chapter 120: The Whole City Drank Tea, and the Flower Girl Mistook Reality for a Dream

Dusk City.

Sunlight, like gold leaf, scattered across the stone pavement; street vendors' calls rose and fell in a cheerful tone he had never heard before.

The streets teemed with people, nearly every face bearing a radiant smile.

Xia Xia Mingyu reined in his horse, staring dumbfounded at the scene before him.

This city felt far happier and more harmonious than when he first arrived.

Even on Blue Star, he had never seen a city where all its citizens looked so utterly content.

It just felt... strange.

"My Lord, what's wrong?"

Boge, riding a brown horse behind him, asked as Xia Xia Mingyu halted.

"Boge, don't you think the citizens of Dusk City seem overly happy?" Xia Xia Mingyu said.

"They do seem much happier than when we first came, but isn't that a good thing? It shows Lady Rosa's governance has improved." Boge looked puzzled.

"That's true, but I still feel something's off," Xia Xia Mingyu murmured, stroking his chin in thought.

Then he suddenly noticed—every passing citizen carried a faint scent of tea.

That scent was familiar—it was Dusk Tea.

"So the reason everyone looks so happy is because of Dusk Tea?"

"But that tea only shows memories of the past... Even if it brings joy, this scene—everyone genuinely happy—is absurd!"

"And at one copper sol per serving, it's still expensive for commoners. They might try it once, but no one could drink it daily."

Xia Xia Mingyu's brow tightened. A terrible premonition settled over him.

"Let's go ask someone."

Xia Xia Mingyu dismounted and walked toward a roadside stall.

"Freshly baked wheat cakes—one copper coin each, worth every bit!"

Mac was loudly hawking golden wheat cakes when he noticed a handsome young man in a black top hat approaching slowly.

"My Lord, long time no see! Would you like a wheat cake? Free of charge."

Recognizing the youth as the nobleman who had come with Anna before, Mac immediately plucked the most tempting cake from his pile and offered it with both hands.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm not here to buy cakes—I'd like to ask you about something." Xia Xia Mingyu said.

"You've come to the right man. I've sold wheat cakes in Dusk City for over a decade—I know every rumor, every whisper."

Mac puffed out his chest, proud.

"I've been away from Dusk City for about a week. Why does everyone I see now look so happy?" Xia Xia Mingyu asked.

"My Lord, you don't know—during this time, Lord Ekcus of the Dusk Guild has pushed Dusk Tea relentlessly. Many citizens bought tea leaves to try."

"And once they drank it—oh, it was incredible! Those who drank it saw their deepest desires unfold in tea-scented illusions, fulfilling dreams they could never achieve in reality. It swept through the city overnight."

"That's why their faces are smiling—they've realized dreams they could never have: becoming nobles, marrying their beloved, growing rich."

Mac sighed, as if haunted by a dream of his own.

"Wait—Dusk Tea only shows memories. How can it create illusions?"

Xia Xia Mingyu stiffened as if struck by lightning, pressing urgently.

He had a dreadful feeling—tea that induced illusions on Blue Star was nearly indistinguishable from a drug.

It was only one unknown addictive property away from being one.

"Ah, My Lord, I don't know—I've never drunk Dusk Tea myself. I've wanted to try many times, but I'd rather stay beside my wife and bake her cakes than chase false dreams."

Mac waved his hand, indicating he had no answer.

"If you truly want to learn more about Dusk Tea, perhaps you should ask Anna."

Seeing the youth's anxious expression, Mac added thoughtfully.

"... You're not telling me Anna has been drinking Dusk Tea too?"

"More than that! She drinks several cups a day now—and she's stopped selling flowers entirely. If she keeps this up, she'll be ruined soon!"

"Sigh—she's abandoned her real dreams for tea-induced illusions. When you see her, you must scold her properly!"

Mac chuckled bitterly, his brow furrowed with deep worry for Anna's condition.

Xia Xia Mingyu fell silent for a moment, then leapt onto his black horse in a flash.

Clip-clop.

Without explaining to Boge, he spurred the black horse toward Anna's house at full speed.

Before a small cottage.

Knock-knock.

"Anna, are you there? It's Spark—I've come to visit you!"

Xia Xia Mingyu banged on the door, shouting.

"Black Flash!"

After long silence, Xia Xia Mingyu channeled magic, forming a fist wrapped in black flame-clouds and smashing it into the wooden door.

Boom!

The already dilapidated door shattered into splinters under the force.

Xia Xia Mingyu burst inside, scanning the room.

Soon, drawn by the thick scent of tea, he found Anna's bedroom.

The girl lay half-naked on the disheveled bed, her eyes glazed, her pale face flushed unnaturally.

Her thin linen nightgown had ridden up to her waist, revealing her snowy navel; the collar's tie had come undone, exposing a generous swell of flesh.

On the nightstand sat half a cup of steaming tea, wisps of heat rising from it.

"A gentleman does not look."

Though frantic, Xia Xia Mingyu removed his outer robe and draped it over her exposed body.

"Anna, wake up—it's me!"

Xia Xia Mingyu gently tapped her soft cheek, trying to rouse her.

"My Lord Spark~"

Anna's eyes were hazy, her pink lips trembling as she whispered, faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Are you here to have me serve you tonight?"

"Then love me, hold me, kiss me~"

She reached out with her porcelain arms, trying to wrap them around his neck and offer a kiss sweet enough to choke on.

"Wake up, damn it!"

"Freeze, water."

Xia Xia Mingyu shoved her arms away, black magic surging from his fingertips as he swiftly traced and overlapped two runes.

A ball of bone-chilling water splashed onto her face, drenching her chestnut hair.

The cold jolted her—she shuddered instinctively, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, her glazed eyes slowly clearing.

"You're finally awake, Anna," Xia Xia Mingyu asked, voice heavy with worry.

Looking into the dark-eyed youth's anxious face, Anna realized—this was not a dream. This was reality.

That meant she had just, in reality, begged Spark like a heat-crazed cat.

Her pale cheeks flushed crimson—visible, rapid—as a rosy blush shot from her neck to her ears.

In that instant, she wished she had never been born into this world.

(End of Chapter)