Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Elder Tan Nan promptly reminded Xu Xingguang: ”If you’re not willing, you can refuse. Director Ming Feng is an understanding senior; he wouldn’t force anyone.”

Ming Feng: ”...”

Elder Tan Nan’s praise left Ming Feng with nothing to say.

The support from Elder Tan Nan warmed Xu Xingguang’s heart. ”Granny Nan, I’d also like to have a private chat with Lord Ming Feng, is that okay?”

Ming Feng’s eyes lit up.

Though feeling uneasy, Elder Tan Nan thought that Xu Xingguang wasn’t a naïve girl and wouldn’t be taken advantage of by Director Ming Feng, so she nodded in agreement. ”Alright, go ahead and chat.”

She added, ”I’ll wait for you in the hall.”

Only then did she leave.

After Elder Tan Nan left, Ming Feng remarked, ”Your teacher is very kind to you.”

”I’m an intern from the Infected Zone and have faced some criticism due to my background. My teacher is just concerned about me.” Xu Xingguang glanced at the sofa in the VIP room, ”Lord Ming Feng, let’s sit and talk.”

”Alright.”

Ming Feng habitually sat on the host’s sofa, and only after he was seated did Xu Xingguang walk over to the tea table by the window and start brewing tea.

The brewing method for Black Eagle Tea was somewhat unique; the tea leaves first needed to be soaked in ice water before being placed in boiling water. After boiling for three minutes, the leaves were picked out and returned to ice water for soaking.

After two minutes, the tea leaves were filtered and placed in a cup, with each cup containing just two to three leaves.

Finally, the Black Eagle Tea water was poured into the cup.

The ideal state of brewing Black Eagle Tea was ten leaves making three cups of tea, with the water in the cups perfectly balanced to not exceed or fall short of a single drop.

In the Ancient Xia Country era, Black Eagle Tea was the Imperial Tea. Few had the privilege of drinking it during that time, let alone now, in this era of scarce resources.

Today, very few people knew how to brew Black Eagle Tea, and even Ming Feng only learnt the steps after studying Ancient Xia Country culture and viewing precious historical recordings.

Ming Feng watched in silence as Xu Xingguang brewed the tea; the more he watched, the more astonished he became.

Her method was exactly the same as the one in the videos from Ancient Xia Country!

He asked in surprise, ”I see that Miss Xu’s tea brewing techniques are very professional. Could Miss Xu also be a seasoned researcher of the Ancient Xia Country culture?”

”Not quite seasoned,” Xu Xingguang replied with a faint smile, ”I haven’t brewed this tea in a long time, so I’m a bit out of practice.”

Xu Xingguang poured the brewed tea into the cup so perfectly that when the last drop fell, the water level in the third cup was precisely balanced.

Ming Feng was genuinely impressed by Xu Xingguang’s skill.

Xu Xingguang handed one cup of Black Eagle Tea to Ming Feng, took another to Elder Tan Nan in the hall, and returned to the VIP room, lifting her own cup to sit across from Ming Feng.

As soon as Ming Feng sipped the Black Eagle Tea, its exquisite taste enchanted him; he was reluctant to finish it.

Fingering the cup, he observed Xu Xingguang through the rising steam, and momentarily forgot where to start. He took another small sip and said, ”I have received the National Guardian Dagger and must thank Miss Xu for the generous gift.”

Xu Xingguang smiled gently, ”I only learned about the Emperor Exhibition Hall after arriving in the Divine Martial Realm. It seems the National Guardian Dagger has found its rightful place.”

Xu Xingguang said she only discovered the Emperor Exhibition Hall after reaching the Divine Martial Realm.

But Dongfang Yi previously claimed that the National Guardian Dagger was given to her with an order from her country’s president to be sent to the Emperor Exhibition Hall.

Dongfang Yi would not lie.

It seems Dongfang Yi’s story was just a cover-up, a lie crafted by Xu Xingguang.

The rightful owner of this dagger was none other than the young girl in front of him, shrouded in mystery.

Ming Feng was a bit shocked.

How did the National Guardian Dagger, which had disappeared with Marshal Lin, end up in Xu Xingguang’s possession?

Why?

Ming Feng had dedicated his life to studying Ancient Xia Country history and could recite the biographies of all the famous historical figures from memory. Marshal Lin, as the National Marshal of the Ancient Xia Country, and as their Empress, was a historical figure cherished by researchers, second only to the Divine Hidden Emperor.

Ming Feng knew her life story in detail.

To what extent?

So thoroughly that he could recount Marshal Lin’s entire life story, word for word, without missing a single detail.