Yes, right. Tea. The way Huaisang greeted him was like any other day they needed to converse outside of the meetings that the sect leaders held. It was painfully familiar and nostalgic, actually. And bittersweet.

"It is my understanding that the devices they give us allow us to understand others speaking in a different language," Cheng started. "But it's not likely very polite to ask if someone else has them on hand or not." They were seated with Cheng requesting a private booth for them.

They had lots to talk about, some more on Cheng's side, possibly, then on Huaisang's. Once tea and cakes were ordered, he turned to watch Huaisang for a moment. "I take it you have reunited with Mingjue? You're back in the Unclean Realm, then?" Did Huaisang find the room that used to be his? Had it been scrubbed or preserved? Those questions Cheng wasn't certain he should ask.