Kyrian remained silent for a few seconds.
The taste of the tea still lingered in his mouth, gentle, slightly sweet, with a herbal note he couldn't identify.
The Qi contained within it continued to circulate slowly through his meridians, warming his body in a comforting manner, like a stream of warm water on a cold day.
He felt the two cores respond subtly to the tea's energy. It wasn't a strong reaction, but it was real. The liquid was somehow nourishing his meridians in a way that few pills could achieve.
Then, finally, he answered.
"Extraordinary."
The man sitting across from him remained still for an instant.
Then... he smiled.
It wasn't the lazy or indifferent smile he had displayed until then, that casual smile of someone who didn't care about anything.
It was a genuine smile. Small. Sincere.
As though he had heard exactly the answer he had been hoping for.
