The apprentice's wild side appeared to have been replaced by newfound humility and respect. The sorcerers were shocked by the turn of events — even more so than they were at Baiyi's tea trick — as Baiyi had not used any magic, this time. All the powerful host did was ask the apprentice to look into his teacup; that was all it took for the apprentice to do a one-eighty. When did it become this easy to change a person's temperament?
Hoping to find answers, the sorcerers looked into their teacups. There was nothing in them but their beverage, so they turned back their attention to the apprentice, seeking an explanation.
[1] And honestly, it’s STILL compelling to modern humans when viewing the world as planets and stars and galaxies. Have you ever heard of the Overview Effect? It’s some cognitive shift reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts when viewing Earth. It’s really quite something when you notice just how damn tiny our home is, how fragile and alone, hanging in the void, protected by such a thin film that it’s like you could blow it away with one puff. As a child, I’ve wanted to see Earth from outer space, and thought I wouldn’t mind just dying cold and oxygen-less in space if that is the last thing I see.