Starting the Job, Learning to Paint, and the Carriage by the Road

He started his cultivation initiation at eighteen—it could be said his talent was quite poor.

Handing over a top-tier Spirit Refinement Method like the "Sword Waterfall Diagram" to An Le was practically a waste, because he might not even be able to cultivate past the third diagram.

But Madam Hua was wrong.

As soon as she stepped out of Tianbo Tower, she sensed the restless breeze in the air. The youth sat upright in the main hall of the waterside pavilion, eyes closed, his breath long, fine, and still.

With Madam Hua's cultivation in Spirit Refinement, she could naturally tell that An Le had completed Entering Stillness!

The First Realm of Spirit Refining, Entering Stillness...

An Le had grasped it this quickly?

How long had it been? From the moment Madam Hua ascended Tianbo Tower to meet briefly with the Old Madam until now, barely three quarters of an hour had passed, and the youth had already entered stillness?

Such talent... was absolutely not ordinary!

Even she had taken two quarters of an hour to enter stillness back then.

"This youth... has such talent in Spirit Refinement? A late bloomer?"

Madam Hua's eyes gleamed, curiosity and a fondness for talent rising in her heart.

"Pity, he started far too late. If it had been sooner... perhaps I could have pinned hopes on this youth contending for the top spot in the Palace Examination and winning back my husband's 'Calm the Waves.'"

His Majesty had set Calm the Waves as the prize for the Palace Examination, which was clearly a subtle signal to the court officials.

That Calm the Waves was plainly prepared for Lin Manor. For Lin Manor to obtain it, they could not remain aloof or continue their neutrality—unless someone equally neutral, a dazzling figure who could stun everyone at the Palace Examination, emerged.

But such a figure... was impossibly hard to find.

Madam Hua did not pin her hopes on finding someone like that. She had promised the Old Madam she would hold back, but if she couldn't, then she wouldn't. At worst... she would return to her master and never set foot in the mortal world again.

Madam Hua sighed softly.

Entering stillness in three quarters of an hour was a mark of exceptional talent on the path of Spirit Refinement. Passing the "Sword Waterfall Diagram" to An Le would not be a waste.

Of course, entering stillness was only the start. After it came Embryonic Breathing, Transcending Worldliness, Primordial Spirit—each step a difficult hurdle.

Madam Hua gathered her thoughts and returned to the main hall of the waterside pavilion.

An Le withdrew from his state of stillness. He felt as though the world had become clearer, and a power seemed to stir restlessly within him.

"That is Spiritual power. Young Master An has just entered stillness, so his Spiritual power is still weak. From now on, meditate diligently every day to temper your spirit. In time, you will be able to control Spiritual power and wield extraordinary means."

Madam Hua said softly.

Entered stillness?

Lin Qingyin and Lin Zhuifeng looked over in surprise. They had only been feeding the fish for a short while, and An Le had already entered stillness?

With talent like that, why hadn't he been able to start cultivation initiation before?

"Young Master An, were you just fooling around before? Three quarters of an hour to enter stillness—why couldn't you get initiated?" Lin Zhuifeng, blunt as always, stared at An Le with a puzzled look.

An Le was momentarily at a loss for words, then said seriously, "Girl Zhuifeng, who would treat cultivation initiation as a joke? Cultivation should begin early; starting young naturally brings greater benefits."

"Could it be that I deliberately started late? What would I gain from that?"

Hearing this, Lin Zhuifeng found it reasonable.

After all, no one would foolishly hold themselves back. That meant this handsome painter truly had excellent talent in Spirit Refinement—pity he started too late, lagging far behind others, with limited potential.

Lin Zhuifeng sighed, looking at the youth's handsome face. She felt sorry for him—what cruel twists of fate. Such a good-looking person, why was his luck so poor?

Lin Qingyin also noticed and felt a touch of regret.

"It's fine. Young Master An passed the provincial exam at eighteen, showing even greater talent in scholarship. In the future, he can ascend to the court and worry over the realm—his life will not be ordinary."

Lin Qingyin said softly.

Hearing this, An Le smiled and clasped his hands to Lin Qingyin. "Thank you for your blessing, Ninth Girl."

Lin Qingyin covered her mouth with a smile and nodded quietly in acknowledgment.

Zhuifeng and Ninth Sister could be said to be two extremes—one boisterous and carefree, the other gentle and refined.

"Alright. Young Master An does have talent in Spirit Refinement. If you have any questions while visualizing the 'Sword Waterfall Diagram' in the future, you may come to me." Madam Hua, having taken a liking to his talent, spoke.

An Le's face lit up with joy. "This humble student thanks Madam Hua."

Madam Hua's words made him understand that the Old Madam had likely approved of his painting and agreed to let him stay at Lin Manor to paint for the young masters.

"The Old Madam greatly admires your painting and has agreed to let you stay. Young Master An, let's discuss your labor fee. From now on, for each painting you do for the young masters, the fee will be ten Primordial Spirit Treasures. How does that sound?"

Madam Hua asked.

An Le's heart shook violently, and he barely managed to keep his expression under control.

One Primordial Spirit Treasure could be exchanged for ten taels of gold, worth three hundred taels of silver!

That meant one painting was worth three thousand taels of silver?!

The Lin Manor was truly wealthy!

"Each time you paint for the young masters, the quality must not fall too far below this piece. That's the ugly truth said upfront—ten Primordial Spirit Treasures aren't so easy to earn." Madam Hua said flatly.

An Le clasped his hands solemnly. "An Le will do his utmost. If the quality falls short of this trial painting, I will take no payment."

Madam Hua's expression softened, and she ordered her maid to fetch a money pouch. "Here are ten Primordial Spirit Treasures as a deposit. Young Master An may come to Lin Manor tomorrow to paint."

Hearing this, An Le's face lit up with joy as he took the pouch, the crisp clinking of the treasures within reaching his ears.

"Thank you, Madam." An Le's gratitude was genuine. He had little silver on him, needing to earn even his lodging on the spot, so these ten Primordial Spirit Treasures solved an immediate problem.

Madam Hua sat in her chair, sipping tea with a slight nod. "Zhuifeng, see Young Master An out."

"Got it." Lin Zhuifeng grinned.

She and An Le crossed the small white jade bridge, strolled along the edge of the Great Pond, and headed out of the manor.

Lin Qingyin stood still for a moment, then suddenly looked at Madam Hua. "First Madam, Ninth Sister would like to ask Young Master An about this sketching technique."

Madam Hua paused, glanced at Ninth Girl with fondness, and said indulgently, "If you want to learn, then learn. Go ask Young Master An."

Lin Qingyin bowed, then hurried off with quick, short steps to catch up with An Le and Lin Zhuifeng.

The Tianbo Water Pavilion fell quiet once more.

Madam Hua slowly unfurled the sketch, gazing at her own likeness in the painting, a melancholy rising in her eyes that mirrored the figure within.

"Husband, your blade... This Concubine will retrieve it with all her might, even if she must shatter bones and ashes."

"Your blade belongs back at Tianbo Tower."

Outside Lin Manor.

An Le clasped his hands in farewell to Lin Zhuifeng. Girl Zhuifeng, with a fire poker tucked at her waist, waved a hand.

"Young Master An, no need for such formality. From now on, we're on the same side. Take care of yourself, and if there's anything you don't understand about the 'Five Animals Body Tempering Technique,' feel free to ask me—I've studied it for a while before."

Lin Zhuifeng laughed heartily.

Hearing this, a smile spread across An Le's face. "Then I'll be troubling you often. I hope Girl Zhuifeng won't find it annoying."

"Not at all, not at all. You're good-looking, so I won't get tired of it." Lin Zhuifeng was blunt.

So this is what a face-fanatic's directness looks like?

"Then I'll take my leave."

An Le said, then turned to go.

But a call came from behind: "Young Master An, please wait a moment."

An Le paused, looked back in confusion, and saw Lin Qingyin trotting out.

"What business does Ninth Girl have?" An Le asked, puzzled.

"Young Master An, Ninth Sister is very interested in your sketching technique. Could I ask you to teach me? To learn this sketching method?"

Lin Qingyin inquired.

An Le thought it was something serious, but it turned out she just wanted to learn sketching—no problem at all.

Sketching was the foundation of painting, and teaching it wasn't troublesome.

A smile glimmered in his eyes. "Since Ninth Girl wants to learn, I'll naturally teach earnestly. Ninth Girl, Girl Zhuifeng, see you tomorrow."

With that, An Le turned and walked away with ease.

"Young Master An just agreed?" Lin Qingyin stared at his retreating figure, momentarily stunned, not expecting him to consent so readily.

"Ninth Sister, are you sure you want to learn painting, or are you just after Young Master An's good looks?"

Lin Zhuifeng grew interested too, hooking her arm around Ninth Sister's slender one and muttering quietly, but before Ninth Sister's cheeks could flush with anger, she quickly changed the subject.

"This sketching is pretty interesting—it looks just like the real thing. Maybe I'll join in tomorrow and learn too."

"Lin Zhuifeng! If you tease me again, I'll tell Second Uncle, and you'll be in for it! As for learning to paint, you're only interested in martial arts. You couldn't stick with poetry or calligraphy for even an hour."

The two girls leaned in, whispering and laughing, as they returned to the manor.

Lin Manor was located deep on a long street near the imperial city. The area was sparsely populated, with only high-ranking officials passing through.

The Stone Tablet Jade Workshop in front of Lin Manor was a symbol of the manor's status. Officials passing by had to dismount from their horses, which meant fewer and fewer officials came that way.

An Le left Lin Manor and stepped onto the Bluestone Slab Road, his mood quite good.

On the Path of Cultivation, Madam Hua had lit a green lamp for him and even gifted him two manuals—the "Five Animals Body Tempering Technique" and the "Sword Waterfall Diagram." This harvest could be said to exceed expectations.

Moreover, beyond that, he had earned the right to paint for the Lin Manor's young masters, which amounted to a stable, high-income job.

At least during his time preparing for exams in Lin'an Prefecture, he wouldn't have to worry about money.

He could devote himself fully to studying and cultivation.

An Le walked cheerfully toward the bustling main street.

A luxurious carriage was parked by the roadside. The horse pulling it had glossy brown fur, a broad back, and extremely defined muscle lines—a fine, noble steed.

An Le glanced over, inwardly praising the horse's elegance, then his gaze shifted to the carriage.

At the carriage's carved and beast-engraved window, a refined man rested his palm against the silk sunshade curtain, his eyes meeting An Le's.

Meeting An Le's gaze, the man offered a gentle smile, then released his hand, letting the curtain fall and breaking their line of sight.

An Le withdrew his gaze and exhaled a breath, a deep sense of regret settling in his heart.

Because, in his eyes, this refined man bore at least twenty or thirty strands of Time Qi—though fewer than Madam Hua, still more than Girl Zhuifeng and Fairy Yun Rou.

Unfortunately, his ability to draw Time Qi had been spent on Madam Hua, leaving him utterly drained and still. It would take a full night's rest to recover; otherwise, he would surely have plucked a strand!

With a sigh, An Le lingered no longer. His green-clad figure gradually blurred at the end of the long street, melting into the growing crowd.

Inside the carriage.

The refined man, dressed in splendid brocade, lounged lazily against the carriage wall. Before him sat a sandalwood table with two cups of steaming tea.

"What a fine youth. That boy's gaze... how strange, how intriguing." The man picked up a cup, swirling it gently, murmuring as if to himself.

Then his movements stilled, and his eyes slid to the figure seated across from him as he spoke flatly.

"Liu Qingyan, Master Liu, have some tea."