Elder Viper's slitted yellow eyes glinted. "A pragmatic philosophy. Unorthodox for someone of Orthodox sect elder of a sword sect, but highly effective for surviving the poison valleys. The Azure Dragon Sect values pragmatism over pride!"
"I value comfort over everything," Ji'an corrected, reaching into her cooling box. "You look parched, Elder. Care for a chilled plum? I fermented them in a mild ginger-wine solution. It clears the throat."
Elder Viper paused.
In the orthodox world, accepting food from an unknown cultivator, especially one from a rival sect, was a massive taboo due to the risk of assassination via ingested poisons.
But the old man looked at the perfectly chilled, dark purple plum resting in Ji'an's palm. He smelled the faint, incredibly soothing aroma of ginger and aged wine.
