This Hedonistic Young Master

Chapter 14: How to Impress a Moonlit Beauty: Step One, Steam Buns

Tian Hao and Lin Mei sat there in the garden, eating the buns and talking about cultivation, life in the sect, and their frustrations.

Their conversation flowed easily, punctuated with laughter and the occasional snide remark. Tian Hao shared stories of his own fragmented memories of his mishaps in the sect—how he'd once attempted a formation technique and ended up blowing up a whole row of training dummies, or how Elder Hua constantly seemed to have it out for him, always assigning him tasks like sweeping the dusty halls. Lin Mei couldn't help but snicker at the absurdity, shaking her head as Tian Hao mimicked Elder Hua's stern expressions.

"I swear, she just waits for me to make a mistake," Tian Hao said, his eyes wide in mock terror as he spoke in a stern voice, "Tian Hao, this is not the behavior of a proper disciple!"

Lin Mei laughed, covering her mouth. "She does sound like that. I think she's just frustrated that she can't get you to fall in line like everyone else."

"Oh, trust me," Tian Hao said, waving a half-eaten bun, "I've tried, but it just doesn't fit me. I mean, why suffer if you can cultivate through... well, comfort?"

Lin Mei shook her head, a smile still lingering on her lips. "You're really something. Most people here think power comes through hardship, discipline, and sacrifice."

Tian Hao grinned, leaning back as he gave her a conspiratorial look. "You know, sometimes I wonder if I'm really a cultivator who drinks too much, or a drunk who occasionally cultivates... it's all very Zhuangzi if you ask me." He gave a small chuckle, his tone laced with self-deprecation, and Lin Mei couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head.

"They're not wrong though," Tian Hao said with a shrug. "But that's one way of doing it. Who says there's only one way?" He looked at her, his eyes sincere. "Maybe you can find your own way, too. It doesn't have to be exactly like mine, but it doesn't have to be all suffering either."

Lin Mei considered his words, her gaze growing distant for a moment. "It's hard to break away from what everyone expects," she admitted. She paused, then gave him a sidelong glance, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "I like studying formations, you know? The intricacy, the way everything has a purpose and fits together. Maybe that's why I'm so reluctant to step outside the rules—formations only work when everything is in its proper place. Sometimes, though, it feels like the rules are set in stone."

Tian Hao nodded. "Tell me about it. But think about this, Mei Mei—stones can break, and when they do, sometimes you find something more valuable hidden inside." He gave her a grin, raising his bun in a mock toast. "To breaking stones, huh?"

Lin Mei clinked her bun against his, her expression softening as she smiled. "To breaking stones," she echoed, a small spark of determination glimmering in her eyes.

"Alright, Mei Mei," Tian Hao said, giving her a confident smile. "I'm going to teach you the Restful Lotus Bloom technique. It's pretty simple, but it's different from what you're used to. Instead of forcing energy, you let it flow naturally by focusing on something pleasant—something that makes you feel at peace."

Lin Mei raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "You're saying this technique works just like that?"

Tian Hao nodded, the grin never leaving his face. "Trust me, it works. You just have to let go of all the rigid rules for a bit. Think of it like... enjoying a good cup of tea. You don't chug it down, right? You savor it, you enjoy it, and that's how the energy flows better."

She stared at him for a moment, clearly unconvinced. "You realize this is cultivation we're talking about, not some leisure activity, right? It's not supposed to be about... comfort."