The Charismatic Charlie Wade

Charlie caught sight of Maria’s charming yet resistant expression.
He leaned in, urging, “I’ve managed to gather these, and it’d be a shame if you didn’t get a taste. Plus, you’re the only one who
truly understands the essence of the Pu’er mother. Your intuition will guide you.”
After a moment, he added, “You’ve got to take a bite to know!”
With those words, he pushed a leaf to Maria’s lips and took another for himself. “Come on,” he pressed, “let’s savor it together.”
Maria found herself unable to resist his insistence. She cast him a fleeting glance before conceding, “Alright, I’ll give it a try.” As
her words trailed off, she gently parted her lips, letting them close around the tender green leaf.
Seeing her take the bite, Charlie followed suit, chewing with a sense of assurance.
He had assumed this thing would carry the pleasant aroma of tea, expecting a good flavor. Yet, the reality surpassed his
imagination, the moment the leaf met his palate, a burst of rich, pure energy enveloped his senses!
A single bite was enough to rejuvenate his spirit!
Although the energy content wasn’t substantial, its purity was extraordinary. And what’s more, this was unprocessed, fresh tea. It
seemed the plant itself held reiki, a phenomenon Charlie had never before encountered.
Maria, too, felt the peculiar nature of this tea. As she chewed, it wasn’t astringent or bitter, but rather slightly sweet. The most
astonishing part was the refreshing, comforting sensation it provided. She had tasted countless teas throughout her life,
especially those produced by the Mother of Pu’er. Yet, she had never encountered a tea as miraculous as this.
Baffled, she turned to Charlie, her eyes filled with wonder. “Young master, why does this tea possess such remarkable effects?
It’s as if a single taste erases all fatigue instantly! I recall that the tea from Pu’er mother never had this effect...”
Charlie’s expression grew solemn. “That’s because this leaf contains reiki.”
“Reiki?!” Maria exclaimed, incredulous. “How can that be? I heard from my father that certain herbs can be used to craft spiritual
elixirs. But these materials must be combined and processed by experts to manifest reiki. This leaf has just sprouted; how could
it hold reiki?”
Charlie replied, “Perhaps this is why Pu’er mother failed to transcend her calamity and instead underwent rebirth after
confronting the thunder’s wrath. It’s an experiential transformation, similar to the concept of immortals we discussed earlier.

Maybe Pu’er mother has truly become a plant-based immortal.”
With a wistful smile, he continued, “Apart from Pu’er mother, I’ve never encountered a plant inherently infused with reiki.”
Maria’s excitement was palpable. “I doubt she’s following the path of an immortal. After all, she lacked reiki initially. Now, just as
she’s sprouting, she exhibits aura. Immortals suggest limited room for growth and a lack of qualitative shifts in strength.”
Charlie inquired, “What’s her current state, then?”
Maria shook her head. “I can’t say for certain. But I sense that she’s more like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, undergoing a
qualitative leap. When she endured the catastrophe three centuries ago, she must have left behind a thread of life, waiting these
years. And now, after that tempest and lightning, she’s received a blessing akin to a weathered dragon’s!”
A furrow creased Maria’s brow. “What baffles me is how she managed to evade heavenly judgment and survive under the
celestial thunder, how she secured that lifeline.”
Uninterested in the specifics, Charlie gazed at the seedling before him. “If we nurture her properly, once she grows into a
substantial tree, imagine the potential. Merely plucking and ingesting a few leaves daily could make you an unparalleled master.”
Maria voiced her astonishment, “Master, are you planning to take her away?”
“Absolutely!” Charlie declared. “Leaving her here would be unwise. If she falls into the wrong hands or is mishandled by an
inexperienced individual, it would be a waste.”
Maria hesitated. “But... she’s been here for millennia. This is her origin...”
Charlie waved his hand dismissively. “No, she’s been here for ten thousand years, failing the calamity each time. This locale is
unsuitable for her growth. Just as a person shouldn’t stumble in the same pit twice, a tree shouldn’t endure multiple failures. She
must change surroundings and receive proper care.”
Maria inquired, “Where do you believe she’d thrive?”
Charlie contemplated. “I reckon the upper courtyard of your Zilian Mountain Villa could work. Or, we might relocate her to the
edge of your hot spring, but that hinges on your expertise in nurturing Pu’er tea trees.”
Maria instinctively responded, “Pu’er tea trees thrive in the Southern province’s climate. Altitude, sunlight, temperature, and
humidity there are ideal. Aurous Hill’s winters are too harsh for them.”

Charlie smirked. “She isn’t a standard Pu’er tea, she’s Pu’er mother. Having weathered the catastrophe, she now possesses
Reiki, making her exceptionally adaptable. Your other courtyard, secluded and undisturbed, is an ideal spot. She won’t attract
attention unless she grows too tall in a few years. If that happens, we’ll consider relocating her.”
Charlie continued, “And if she struggles with Aurous Hill’s climate, we could construct a greenhouse simulating these conditions.”
Quietly, Maria ventured, “Master, do you intend to harvest her leaves daily?”
Charlie didn’t flinch from the truth. “Certainly, isn’t that the purpose of nurturing tea trees? Just as an apple tree is grown to bear
fruit, a tea tree is cultivated for its leaves. Once she’s taller, I can’t simply let her remain as an ornamental plant.”
Maria couldn’t refute the logic behind his straightforward words.
After a pause, she mustered her request. “If you do take her away, master, I have a condition. Will you consider it?”
Charlie grinned. “Lay it out...”
With utmost seriousness, Maria stipulated, “My request is that you refrain from plucking her leaves until they grow denser, until
she matures. What do you say?”
Charlie nodded eagerly. “No problem. I admit her leaves are pure, though not in abundance. For effects comparable to elixirs, I’d
have to harvest more. But for now, let’s focus on her growth.”
Maria sighed in relief. “It’s feasible to transplant her, as long as her roots aren’t harmed. Extra soil will prevent stress. But the
journey might affect her delicacy. Despite being Pu’er mother, she’s freshly emerged.”
Charlie assented, “So, let’s stay here. I’ll arrange a plane at Banna’s airport. We’ll dig her out, and fly directly to Aurous Hill once
it’s done.”
Concerned, Maria inquired, “And Morgana? She’s likely in Shiwan Mountain now.”
Charlie waved her concern aside. “She can wait. We’ll let her go for now. After she’s left, we’ll review her path and pinpoint her
location in Shiwan Mountain.”