The Maid with Over a Dozen Strands of Time Qi

Truly noble beyond words?

An Le took a deep breath. For Captain Huang to describe someone like that... they were no ordinary person.

But how could a simple sketch of his attract such a noble patron seeking a painting?

Sketching was indeed rare in this era, a novelty. Using lines to outline a human figure was vastly different from ink-wash painting, but far more realistic.

Still, no matter how you looked at it, he was just an ordinary painter. How could he warrant a noble of such stature personally requesting his work?

Being noticed by a noble could be good or bad. After all, An Le knew nothing of this so-called noble's temperament.

If An Le hadn't awakened the Light Screen capable of absorbing Time Qi, he might have actually considered taking the gamble—getting to know a noble could pave an easier road ahead.

But now, he could absorb Time Qi, awaken Dao Fruits, and grow stronger in silence.

There was no need to court such risk.

Seeing An Le furrow his brows, looking puzzled and even somewhat hesitant, Huang Xian understood his concerns and thoughts.

"Young Master An, rest assured. With the noble's status, they would never make things difficult for you. In truth, the noble happened to acquire one of your paintings by chance, found it novel, and asked me to find the artist and invite them to paint."

"In fact, the noble has invited more painters than just you, Young Master An..."

"Whether you'll earn the right to paint for the noble remains uncertain."

"But I can guarantee this: the noble is kind in conduct. Even if you aren't selected, there will be no danger or threat to your life. You'll even receive travel expenses arranged by the noble."

Huang Xian explained.

An Le's spirits lifted. "May I ask, Captain Huang, these travel expenses..."

"At least ten taels of silver." Huang Xian smiled. "If you're chosen to paint, the labor fee will be at least ten times that."

"Captain Huang, whether I paint or not doesn't matter. I mainly admire the noble's bearing."

An Le said earnestly.

Of course, An Le wasn't entirely after the silver. Since Huang Xian had put it that way, if An Le still refused, he'd be slighting Huang Xian's face. Offending Captain Huang instead of the noble would be a greater loss.

Huang Xian was a constable of the Black Yamen—the government office that handled matters concerning cultivators. Any cultivator who broke the law was apprehended by Black Yamen constables.

Offending someone like that would make An Le's future anything but peaceful.

So going along with this was the smart move. Even if he wasn't chosen, the silver they offered was more than enough.

"Hahaha, Young Master An, there's no need to prepare anything. Whatever you need, the noble has it. So, Young Master An... please."

Huang Xian stood up, one hand resting on his blade, the other gesturing toward the inn's exit in a farewell posture.

An Le turned sideways, cupped his hands in a respectful bow. "Captain Huang, after you."

Then the two left the inn one after another, stepping onto the bustling long street of Lin'an Prefecture.

Lin'an's long street was lively. After a spring rain washed through, the sunlight was gentle and clear. Scholars who had been cooped up at home emerged one after another, basking in the sun, breathing the fresh post-rain air, buying trinkets from street vendors, and snacking on small treats.

Huang Xian was a man of few words. After leaving the inn, he led An Le forward, treading the slightly muddy bluestone streets. Before long, the passersby thinned out, as they had arrived at a place ordinary people couldn't tread.

An Le's gaze was soon drawn to a distant mansion.

The mansion's walls were built of bluestone, stretching endlessly. Between the gray roof tiles, branches crept out, lush with green. Instead of stone lions or mythical beasts at the gate, there stood a Stone Tablet Jade Workshop—imposing yet carrying a hint of nobility.

Beyond the vermilion gate rose an Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tower, from which wisps of incense smoke curled upward.

"Young Master An, now you see that what I said about 'truly noble beyond words' wasn't false, was it?"

Huang Xian teased, watching An Le stare at the mansion as if dumbstruck.

"This tower and this Stone Tablet Jade Workshop are the marks. This Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tianbo Tower was bestowed by His Majesty. Inside, it enshrines the Golden Book Iron Certificate, which can pardon nine capital crimes! Every civil and military official passing this Stone Tablet Jade Workshop must dismount and walk. Young Master An, tell me—is this Tianbo Lin Manor noble or not?"

Huang Xian spoke with reverence, and in that reverence was also sorrow and complex emotion.

"Tianbo Lin Manor..." An Le murmured.

"Tianbo Lin Manor—a household of loyal martyrs. Its founder, Old Duke Lin, was a peerless cultivator. With a single Golden Blade, he struck terror into foreign tribes, earning the name Lin Invincible. All the sons of the Lin family were gifted prodigies, charging onto battlefields and carving out fearsome reputations."

"When the Yuan Meng Emperor broke through to the Saint realm and bore down with his army, the court decided to move the capital south. Old Duke Lin held the rear for His Majesty with his Golden Blade, fighting eight foreign kings and generals in a bloody battle. He slew three kings before falling in combat—his loyalty and valor known to all!"

Huang Xian took a deep breath, his voice trembling.

An Le glanced sideways. Clearly, Captain Huang had some connection to the Lin family.

Huang Xian steadied his emotions and said no more. He walked to the closed gate of the Lin Manor and knocked. The vermilion door creaked open slowly, and a young girl with a fire poker tied at her waist burst out in a flurry.

"Captain Huang, did you find that painter with the strange style?" the girl asked excitedly.

"Girl Zhuifeng, this is the painter you asked me to find—Young Master An." Huang Xian pointed to An Le standing at the foot of the steps.

The girl named Zhuifeng turned to look. Seeing An Le's refined features, her eyes lit up.

And An Le, looking at this Girl Zhuifeng, felt excitement surging in his heart.

How could the Current An Le possibly refuse a girl carrying over a dozen strands of Time Qi?

This girl's Time Qi was nearly on par with Fairy Yun Rou, his first absorption target.

It could be judged that the two were roughly equal in cultivation.

"What a handsome painter. I'm used to seeing a bunch of old geezers and sour scholars, but this young master is truly fine-featured." The girl grinned.

"I am An Le, from Chong Prefecture. Greetings, Girl Zhuifeng." An Le cupped his hands in a bow.

"If you paint well, we can see each other every day from now on." Girl Zhuifeng pursed her lips in a smile, then raised a finger and crooked it at An Le. "I'm just a maid in the manor, no need for such formalities. Follow me, handsome painter."

An Le was taken aback. Just a maid... and she had cultivation no weaker than Fairy Yun Rou?

Were maids really this competitive these days?

"Young Master An, paint well and strive to be chosen. I'll head back to the yamen now. Girl Zhuifeng, if there's anything else you need me to do, just say the word. I take my leave." Captain Huang smiled, clasped his fists, and quickly departed.

An Le bid farewell to Captain Huang and followed Girl Zhuifeng into the manor.

Once inside, An Le saw the Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tianbo Tower up close. Faintly, he could even hear the sound of sutra chanting coming from within the tower, its majesty even more pronounced.

"Ninth Sister purchased Young Master An's painting. Seeing the woman in the painting so lifelike, as if real, she took a liking to it and invited you here to paint."

Girl Zhuifeng spoke as she led the way.

"Young Master An has just started cultivating? The spiritual energy on you is spilling and fluctuating uncontrollably."

Suddenly, Girl Zhuifeng stepped back and glanced at An Le with curiosity.

"I just completed my Qi Initiation yesterday." An Le wasn't embarrassed and smiled as he spoke, while subtly drawing a strand of Time Qi from Girl Zhuifeng.

Grey Time Qi swirled before his eyes and slowly seeped into his body. An Le felt a slight regret—it wasn't Golden Time Qi, so he couldn't condense a Dao Fruit.

Earlier, with Fairy Yun Rou, he'd had to absorb three times before getting Golden Time Qi. An Le wasn't in a hurry, though. If one try didn't work, he'd just do it a few more times.

Still, An Le had found a reason to stand out among the many painters and stay to paint.

After all, these days, finding a high-quality girl to leech from wasn't easy.

An Le instinctively wanted to draw another strand.

But as the thought arose, the Time Qi column on the Light Screen jumped again.

He had accidentally drawn another strand of Time Qi from Girl Zhuifeng...