An Artist Was in Danger Too

"Da Linzi's here! How about we go out for drinks tonight?"

"Da Linzi, come on, these are meat buns your sister-in-law steamed this morning. Thin skin, plenty of meat, damn delicious. Have a taste."

"Brother Zhong, I practice the Iron Mountain Skill too. Come, let me give you a few pointers."

Early that morning, the moment Zhong Lin entered the yamen, the constables and runners crowded around him one after another. Some brought him buns, some brought him baked flatbreads, and some even wanted to instruct him in martial arts.

His popularity was unbelievably good. Anyone unaware of the truth might have thought he was the son of some lord in the yamen!

In truth, this had only started three days ago. Before that, Zhong Lin had merely been a complete nobody.

The position of yamen artist was more of an affiliation, an outside hire. A greeting when they met was already courtesy enough; the more arrogant ones would not even spare him a glance.

Then, one time, the yamen organized an outing at the Warm Wind Tower—the very brothel where Zhong Lin had failed to complete his first drawing.

A brothel only looked at one thing: silver. Though the people of the yamen were not short on money, they were not rich enough to throw around thousands at the Warm Fragrance Brothel. Coming here to drink and watch songs and dances was enough. If they truly could not hold back, they could go to the Heavenly Fragrance Brothel on the next street, where it was cheaper. Failing that, there were always some secret back-alley establishments.

Zhong Lin, as an outside hire, had been dragged along as well and placed in a corner.

By coincidence, Zhong Lin met the maid Xiao Xue there. He was then invited to Yan Luo Girl's room—and, crucially, did not return all night.

The next day, Zhong Lin's name spread throughout the entire yamen. One had to know that becoming Yan Luo Girl's guest behind the curtains required at least twenty taels of silver, and even then, one might not get in.

Soon afterward, everyone learned that Zhong Lin had not spent a single coin to get in. Yan Luo Girl had even paid him instead—and, most importantly, he had enjoyed an entire night for free.

What was this?

This was fucking immortality!

At first, it was nothing much. Everyone knew Zhong Lin's painting skills were extraordinary, that the people he painted seemed as if they could come alive. Plenty of people usually came to ask him for paintings, so they merely assumed Yan Luo Girl had sought him out for a portrait too.

But who could have known that Zhong Lin went again the next day—and even brought Old Zhou from the yamen with him, that old constable with one foot already in the coffin.

According to Old Zhou after he returned, he had spent the entire night enjoying himself at the Warm Fragrance Brothel. The key was that he had not paid either.

That was fucking explosive. In an instant, the entire yamen knew that the artist Zhong Lin possessed a divine skill for freeloading at brothels. Not only could he visit whores without paying, he could even bring someone along without either of them paying.

Zhong Lin smiled broadly as he returned the greetings of the enthusiastic crowd one by one. But when he reached Chi Yan's side, the smile on his face instantly faded somewhat.

"Brother Chi, morning!"

As though nothing had happened, Chi Yan still smiled warmly. "It is rather early. Head Xue is back. He's waiting for you inside."

Zhong Lin froze at those words. Head Xue? Waiting for me?

Zhong Lin was immensely curious about this Chief Constable who had reached Qi and Blood Realm Rank 6, but since joining the yamen, he had never once seen the man. He had heard that Xue Zheng had gone to the Prefecture City on business, yet he had not expected him to suddenly return today and ask to see him.

Zhong Lin did not dare delay. He nodded. "I'll go at once."

Ignoring Chi Yan, Zhong Lin strode into the main hall. On the Grand Preceptor's Chairs set side by side on either side sat one man each. The man on the left was County Commandant Du, whom Zhong Lin knew. The man on the right was a man in his thirties, dressed in a black cloud-patterned uniform. His face was stern, his eyes sharp, and a deep sword scar ran across his brow, making those who saw him instinctively feel awe.

If nothing unexpected happened, this should be the Chief Constable Xue Zheng everyone had spoken of.

Behind Xue Zheng stood a familiar figure—none other than the "Lao Fang" who had nearly scared Zhong Lin into pissing himself that day.

Zhong Lin stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute. "Greetings, County Commandant. Greetings, Chief Constable."

County Commandant Du said nothing, continuing to sip his tea at an unhurried pace.

Chief Constable Xue Zheng, however, set down his teacup and gave Zhong Lin a thorough look. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.

"You are Zhong Lin?"

"I am."

"Did you draw this portrait?"

The "Lao Fang" at the side obediently displayed the portrait in his hand. It was none other than the river-and-lake bandit Dan Wenlong.

"Yes."

"It is well drawn. I thought an artist with such skill would be an old master. I did not expect you to be so young," Chief Constable Xue Zheng said.

"You flatter me, Chief Constable."

"It is no flattery. You deserve it. I heard you can paint based on descriptions from others?"

"Yes. Does the Chief Constable have an order for me?" Zhong Lin asked.

"Draw a portrait for me."

Chief Constable Xue Zheng waved his hand. Only then did Zhong Lin notice that brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and other tools had long been prepared at the side.

"Yes."

Zhong Lin naturally walked over and sat down. Was this not his proper work?

"This man is around thirty years old, male, with gaunt cheeks and long, narrow eyes..."

As Chief Constable Xue Zheng spoke, the image of a middle-aged man took shape in Zhong Lin's mind.

A short while later, Zhong Lin picked up his brush. In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, the image in his mind had leapt onto the paper. The man had long, narrow brows and eyes, his gaze vicious and razor-sharp. A scar ran down his cheek, cutting from the center of his brow all the way to his chin.

Zhong Lin blew on the painting, drying the ink.

The instant Chief Constable Xue Zheng saw it, he too was briefly stunned. Then he praised, "It truly looks alive, every detail captured with meticulous precision. Not bad."

"As long as the Chief Constable is satisfied."

"Mm. Oh, right—Dan Wenlong escaped. Be more careful these days."

Xue Zheng lifted his teacup and took a sip, speaking in an eerily calm tone.

What?

Zhong Lin abruptly raised his head to look at the Chief Constable, his face full of astonishment.

"You may leave."

"Yes."

When Zhong Lin walked out of the main hall, his face was dark. In his heart, he cursed that "Lao Fang" without end.

What a useless piece of trash. With so many people hunting him down, they had still let Dan Wenlong escape.

Logically speaking, Dan Wenlong's escape had nothing to do with Zhong Lin. But the problem was that Dan Wenlong's portrait had been drawn by Zhong Lin—and drawn so accurately.

Why did Zhong Lin think he had joined the yamen so easily?

Because the previous artist had been retaliated against by a fugitive. The man had found his way to his home and wiped out his entire family.

Though an artist merely painted pictures, those criminals did not care about that. Some lunatics really would come to take revenge on the artist.

There had even been cases before of people taking revenge on executioners.

No one could guarantee that Dan Wenlong did not have something loose in his head, or that he would not seek revenge on the artist. That was why the Chief Constable had merely reminded Zhong Lin to be careful—there had been such cases before, after all.

"Fuck, what kind of bullshit is this?"

Zhong Lin cursed inwardly, then turned and headed for the records room. He needed to first get a clear grasp of Dan Wenlong's background.