The Youth Rises, Transforming into a Fierce Tiger

"Captain Huang?" An Le looked at Huang Xian, who was hurrying over with his body draped in spring rain, and was slightly startled.

The other party was clearly in a rush and hadn't come specifically to greet him.

"Young Master An, I just went to the inn but didn't find you. The attendant told me you'd headed toward West Lake, so I came looking for you."

Captain Huang said with a chuckle.

After speaking, he clasped his hands and smiled broadly: "First, let me congratulate Young Master An on being selected by Lin Manor to paint commemorative portraits for the young masters of Lin Manor who are about to set off on campaign."

"I was merely fortunate enough to have Madam Hua and Old Madam take a liking to my paintings, which gave me the chance to stay at Lin Manor and paint."

"I also have to thank Captain Huang for bringing me into Lin Manor."

An Le held his oil-paper umbrella, slightly bowing as he expressed his thanks.

"Ah, it was just a small favor. Besides, it was Ninth Girl who asked me to find Young Master An in the first place. I was just a guide, hahaha."

Captain Huang was in a good mood after receiving An Le's thanks and laughed.

"May I ask what business Captain Huang has with me?" An Le inquired.

"Right, to the point. I do have a favor to ask of Young Master An. Your paintings are known for their realism, and I'd like to commission one."

Captain Huang said seriously.

"A painting?"

An Le was puzzled. "A painting of whom?"

Captain Huang wiped his face, shaking off some spring rain, and said, "Young Master An, to be honest, I'm asking for this painting on my own behalf. It's for a suspect the Black Office is pursuing."

"The suspect has no definite appearance, but some people have given verbal descriptions. I'd like you to paint the suspect's likeness based on those descriptions. Your paintings are famed for their realism, so perhaps you can restore more of the suspect's features."

Hearing this, An Le understood. So it was a wanted poster.

This wasn't too difficult. Even if he got it wrong, it wouldn't matter much, since there was no true likeness of the suspect to begin with.

But if there were characteristic descriptions, An Le was confident he could capture seventy to eighty percent of the likeness, making the pursuit much easier.

An Le didn't refuse. Captain Huang had done him a favor, and he agreed to this request.

"Then after I leave Lin Manor today, I'll go straight to the Black Office to find Captain Huang, and we can do the painting then."

An Le said with a smile.

Seeing An Le agree so readily, Captain Huang felt delighted in his heart, thinking this youth was someone worth dealing with.

"Hm? Young Master An, have you succeeded in Opening Qi and Blood?" Captain Huang noticed the restrained yet present Qi and Blood in An Le's body and asked in shock.

He remembered An Le saying he had only just begun his cultivation initiation, yet after just one day, he had already stepped into the first realm of body forging.

This talent was monstrous!

"Yesterday, Madam Hua gifted me a cultivation manual, and I used it to step into the first realm."

An Le couldn't help but smile. The joy of a breakthrough was greater when shared with someone.

"It seems Young Master An was just slow to start. Once you truly began cultivating, your talent is excellent. What a pity you started late." Captain Huang felt a deep regret.

The two chatted for a while longer, and An Le casually took the last wisp of Time Qi from Captain Huang's body.

Having received An Le's promise, Captain Huang still had official duties to attend to, so he took his leave.

In Lin'an Prefecture, where the spring rain stretched on endlessly, among the crisscrossing alleys, the high towers with eaves reflecting the sun, and the pedestrians in straw cloaks holding umbrellas.

An Le held his oil-paper umbrella and began to walk.

Stepping through the trickling rainwater, he gradually moved deeper into the quiet long street.

"An Le, from Chong Prefecture. Last autumn, he passed the township exam in Chong Prefecture, became a Juren scholar, and came to Lin'an. Skilled in poetry and painting. Has never begun cultivation initiation, no body forging training, not a cultivator."

On the side of the long street, a tall restaurant stood with six eaves and double roofs, intricately carved and luxuriously decorated. Its name was the Drunken Dragon Pavilion.

Lin'an Prefecture had three famous towers: Wanghu Tower, Lin Hua Pavilion, and the Drunken Dragon Pavilion.

The Drunken Dragon Pavilion, being close to the depths of the long street and adjacent to many noble residences, had thriving business. Its patrons were all distinguished, and its food and wine were of the highest quality, hence its steep prices.

Rumor had it that the Drunken Dragon Pavilion had connections to the palace, and one could even drink the imperial brews, Rose Dew and Drunken Flowing Clouds.

Liu Qingyan had spent a fortune to reserve a window seat on the third floor of the Drunken Dragon Pavilion. On the table were a plate of braised pork head, a dish of stir-fried beef, and a bottle of the imperial wine, Drunken Flowing Clouds.

Before Liu Qingyan lay the information on An Le.

"This youth is actually a Juren scholar? I'm supposed to break a Juren scholar's hands? I..."

Liu Qingyan's face darkened, his mood incredibly complicated.

He had thought this youth was just an ordinary painter with no special background, never expecting him to be a young Juren scholar.

"But thankfully, this kid isn't a cultivator, so it's much easier to handle."

"Mr. Luo also promised me that once I finish the dirty work, he'll arrange for me to leave Lin'an Prefecture safely. I... have no choice."

Liu Qingyan sighed. In the struggles of the nobility, even the slightest ripple could sweep people like him along against their will.

This was clearly setting Liu Qingyan up to take the blame, but could he refuse?

If he refused, he'd likely die even faster than that youth.

He lifted the blue-and-white teacup, squinted, and took a sip of the fine wine Drunken Flowing Clouds—one sip, and five taels of silver were gone.

He picked up two or three pieces of beef, chewing as he glanced out the window.

From this spot, he had a clear view of Quiet Street Entrance.

To reach Lin Manor, one had to pass through Quiet Street Entrance. The street got its name because it sat at the dividing line between the mansions of nobles and the bustling main thoroughfare.

Commoners and street vendors dared not enter Quiet Street, afraid of disturbing the nobles.

And the nobles themselves rarely walked there on ordinary days.

This stretch of road was sparsely populated—the perfect ambush point.

"Young Master An, blame yourself for stealing this old man's chance and disrupting the noble's plans..."

"What a pity, those hands that could paint so well."

Liu Qingyan shook his head, thinking of An Le's hands—the ones that could sketch lifelike portraits—about to be broken, and a flicker of satisfaction rose in his heart. He downed two more cups of Drunken Flowing Clouds.

As a painter who monopolized the business of painting the girls and Flower Queens on the Flower Boats, Liu Qingyan naturally had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Besides his excellent skill, he had also colluded with gangs and kept a few thugs on hand.

Many painters who tried to compete with him had suffered—either their hands were broken, or they were tied to rocks and sunk in the lake. No matter how glamorous a city appeared, there were always dirty rats scurrying through its shadows. Liu Qingyan himself was a dirty rat cloaked in the guise of a master.

The noble had sought him out and made him choose: repay five hundred Primordial Spirit Treasures, or break An Le's painting hands.

For Liu Qingyan, there wasn't much choice to make.

Of course, he'd return to his old ways and break An Le's hands!

Even if it might offend Lin Manor, with Young Master Qin backing him, his safety was assured.

He wolfed down the beef in his mouth, lifted his wine cup, and cast a sidelong glance at the quiet, cold street. Amid the endless spring rain, a figure appeared holding an umbrella.

A man in blue robes carried an Oil-Paper Umbrella, like a large flower blooming in the spring rain, strolling leisurely forward.

"Entering Lin Manor to paint, cozying up to them—this youth is riding high on spring breezes."

"But soon, sorrow will come."

Liu Qingyan narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing through them, and drained the cup of Drunken Flowing Clouds in one gulp.

With a sharp crack, he slammed the cup onto the table, squinting through the drizzling rain to watch the show on Quiet Street.

An Le held his umbrella as the rain, oily and thick, gathered into streams flowing through the cracks between the bluestones.

The surroundings grew quieter, pedestrians fading away, cut off from noise and clamor. Deep in Quiet Street lay the mansions of the nobles, who loved silence, so no commotion could approach.

His blue robes fluttered, the edges dampened slightly by the spring rain.

As he walked, An Le was pondering how to allocate the three strands of Time Qi he had just absorbed.

The Cultivation Genius Dao Fruit had been enhanced with three strands, slightly improving An Le's cultivation talent.

Additionally, the Five Beasts Body Tempering Technique and the Sword Waterfall Diagram could also be infused with Time Qi—neither had been enhanced yet. As for the Sword Dancer Dao Fruit, it too remained untouched.

There were too many things to upgrade.

He couldn't help but sigh softly—still too little Time Qi.

Today, entering Lin Manor, he would definitely gather more Time Qi.

But Madam Hua's Time Qi couldn't be plundered again; one harvest left her weak for a whole day—too wasteful an opportunity.

Hmm?!

Lost in thought about how to distribute the Time Qi, An Le suddenly froze.

A trace of Spiritual power, cultivated through Entering Stillness, sent a warning through his heart!

He whipped his head around.

In a deserted alley off Quiet Street, three burly men in short jackets, their mouths and noses covered with triangular cloths of various colors, grinned at him menacingly.

Breaking the hands of a frail painter was second nature to these habitual thugs Liu Qingyan kept.

They loved hearing the screams of those self-righteous literati.

"You're An Le?"

The leader, a man with a red triangular cloth over his face, spoke.

"Someone's bought your hands. Be smart and stick them out so we can break 'em—save yourself a beating."

As the man spoke, he charged out of the alley.

The drifting spring rain shattered against his body, faintly forming a misty, human-shaped haze!

In just a few strides, he was at An Le's side.

A massive fist swung out, using the opening stance of the common Zhao Ancestor Long Fist. Though lacking blood qi enhancement, the form was executed with precision. He looked forward to seeing the terrified, despairing face beneath the oil-paper umbrella, and the screams that would soon follow.

Yet.

Beneath the oil-paper umbrella, the youth furrowed his brows, watching the burly man approaching with a red cloth covering his mouth, and tilted his head.

Five Beasts Fierce Tiger Thirteen Forms!

Blood qi surged, strength born from within!

It was as if a tiger's roar echoed through the mountain forest!

The fine spring rain on the youth's body burst into a mist of powder!

The burly man felt as though the frail young scholar before him had suddenly transformed into a striped fierce tiger!