Beyond words in nobility?
An Le drew a deep breath. For Captain Huang to describe someone that way... they were certainly no ordinary person.
But how could one of his sketches attract such a noble person to commission a painting?
Sketching was indeed rare and novel in this era. It used lines to outline a person's image, vastly different from ink-wash paintings, yet far more lifelike.
But no matter what, he was merely an ordinary painter. How could he be worthy of a noble person personally seeking him out for a painting?
Being favored by a noble person had its benefits and drawbacks. After all, An Le knew nothing of the temperaments of these so-called noble people.
Had An Le not awakened the light screen that could absorb Time Qi, he might truly have intended to take a gamble and make the acquaintance of this noble person. Perhaps his path ahead would have become easier.
But now, he could awaken Dao Fruits by absorbing Time Qi, quietly growing stronger.
There was no need to wade into such a risk.
Seeing An Le furrow his brow, looking puzzled and even somewhat inclined to retreat, Huang Xian understood his concerns and thoughts.
"Young Master An, rest assured. Given that noble person's status, they would never make things difficult for you. In truth, that person happened to purchase one of your paintings and found it novel, so they asked Huang to find its painter and invite him to paint."
"In truth, Young Master An is not the only painter invited by that noble person..."
"Whether Young Master An can obtain the chance to paint for that person remains uncertain."
"But Huang can guarantee that this noble person is kind in conduct. Even if Young Master An is not chosen, there will absolutely be no danger to your life. You may even receive the travel expenses arranged by that person."
Huang Xian said.
An Le immediately perked up. "May I ask, Captain Huang, these travel expenses..."
"Starting at ten taels of silver." Huang Xian smiled. "If you are chosen to paint, the payment for your work will be at least ten times the travel expenses."
"Captain Huang, whether I paint or not is of little consequence. An merely admires the noble person's bearing."
An Le said solemnly.
Of course, An Le was not looking solely at the silver. Mainly, since Huang Xian had put it that way, if An Le still refused to go, he would be slighting Huang Xian. He might not offend the noble person, only to offend Huang Xian instead—truly losing more than he gained.
Huang Xian was a Black Office captain. The Black Office... was a Yamen specifically responsible for matters involving cultivators. Cultivators who committed crimes were all apprehended by Black Office constables.
Offending such a person meant An Le would absolutely have no peace in the future.
This was the perfect chance to go with the current. Even if he was not selected, the other party was offering more than enough silver.
"Hahaha, Young Master An need not prepare anything. That noble person has everything you need. So, Young Master An... please."
Huang Xian rose to his feet, one hand resting on his blade as the other swept toward the inn's entrance in a gesture of invitation.
An Le turned sideways and cupped his hands in salute, polite and courteous. "Captain Huang, after you."
The two then left the inn one after another and stepped onto the bustling long streets of Lin'an Prefecture.
Lin'an's long streets were exceptionally lively. After being washed by a spring rain, sunlight spread everywhere. Scholars who had been cooped up at home emerged one after another, bathing in the sun and breathing in the fresh air after the rain. Along the way, they bought little trinkets from roadside vendors and ate small snacks.
Huang Xian was not much of a talker. After leaving the inn, he led An Le onward, their feet treading the slightly muddy bluestone streets. Before long, there were fewer and fewer pedestrians, for they had reached a place ordinary people could not enter.
An Le's gaze was soon drawn to an estate in the distance.
Its walls were built from bluestone and stretched as far as the eye could see. Branches extended between the gray tiles atop the walls, verdant greenery rushing into view. No stone lions or xiezhi beasts stood before its gates; instead, there stood a Stone Tablet Jade Workshop, its majesty carrying a touch of nobility.
Behind the vermilion gates stood a towering Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tianbo Tower, from within which clear incense smoke curled upward.
"Young Master An, now you know Huang was not lying when he said this place was beyond words in nobility, yes?"
Huang Xian looked at An Le, who was staring at the estate as though stunned, and teased him with a smile.
"This tower and this Stone Tablet Jade Workshop are its emblems. This Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tianbo Tower was bestowed by His Majesty. Within it is enshrined a Golden Book Iron Certificate, which can pardon nine capital crimes! Every civil and military official of the court must dismount when passing this Stone Tablet Jade Workshop. Young Master An, tell me, is this Tianbo Lin Manor noble or not?"
Huang Xian's face was full of reverence, but beneath that reverence lay sorrow and complicated emotions.
"Tianbo Lin Manor..." An Le murmured.
"Tianbo Lin Manor is a house full of loyal martyrs. Old Duke Lin, who founded the manor, was an unparalleled cultivator. With a single Golden Blade, he slaughtered foreign clans until they trembled in fear, earning the name Lin Invincible. The Lin family's sons were all extraordinarily gifted as well. They rushed to the battlefield and carved out illustrious reputations."
"Back then, the Yuan Meng Emperor broke through into the Saint Realm and arrived with a great army pressing down with overwhelming force. The court decided to move the capital south. Old Duke Ling wielded his Golden Blade to cover His Majesty's retreat, fighting eight foreign-clan king-generals in a bloody battle. In the end, he slew three kings before dying in battle. His loyal heart and righteous courage are known to all!"
Huang Xian drew a deep breath, his voice trembling.
An Le glanced sideways. Clearly, this Captain Huang must have some connection to the Lin family.
Huang Xian calmed his emotions and said nothing more. He walked to the tightly shut gates of Lin Manor and knocked. The vermilion gates slowly opened, and a young girl with a fire poker tied at her waist rushed out like a whirlwind.
"Captain Huang, have you found that painter whose style is so bizarre?" the girl asked in delight.
"Girl Zhuifeng, this is the painter you asked Huang to find—Young Master An." Huang Xian pointed at An Le, who stood beneath the steps.
The girl named Zhuifeng turned her head to look. Seeing An Le's refined and handsome features, her eyes could not help but light up.
As An Le looked at Girl Zhuifeng, excitement surged endlessly in his eyes as well.
How could the Current An Le possibly refuse a girl carrying more than a dozen strands of Time Qi all over her body?
This girl's Time Qi was scarcely inferior to that of Fairy Yun Rou, the first person An Le had absorbed from.
It could be judged that their cultivation levels were likely comparable.
"What a handsome painter. I've seen enough old fogies and sour-smelling scholars—this young master is truly fine-featured." The girl grinned.
"My name is An Le, and I am from Chong Prefecture. Greetings, Girl Zhuifeng." An Le cupped his hands in salute.
"If you paint well, we'll see each other every day from now on." Girl Zhuifeng pursed her lips in a smile and crooked a finger at An Le. "I'm merely a maidservant of the manor, so there is no need for such courtesy. Come with me, handsome painter."
An Le froze for a moment. Merely a maidservant... yet she possessed cultivation no weaker than Fairy Yun Rou's?
Were even maidservants competing this fiercely nowadays?
"Young Master An, paint well and strive to be selected. Huang will return to the Yamen first. If Girl Zhuifeng has any other matters for Huang to handle, feel free to command me. Huang will take his leave." Captain Huang smiled and cupped his hands. With that, he quickly departed.
After bidding Captain Huang farewell, An Le followed Girl Zhuifeng into the estate.
The moment he entered, An Le saw the Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tianbo Tower from up close. Faintly, he could even hear chanting scriptures coming from within, making it seem all the more majestic.
"Your painting was purchased by Ninth Sister. Seeing that the woman in it was vivid and lifelike, as though real, Ninth Sister conceived the idea of inviting you here to paint."
Girl Zhuifeng spoke as she led the way.
"Young Master An, did you just begin cultivating? The spiritual energy on your body is still fluctuating and spilling out beyond your control."
Suddenly, Girl Zhuifeng took a step back and looked at An Le curiously.
"I completed Qi Initiation only yesterday." An Le did not feel embarrassed in the slightest. He smiled as he spoke, while discreetly drawing a strand of Time Qi from Girl Zhuifeng.
Gray Time Qi hovered before his eyes before slowly entering his body. An Le felt slightly regretful. It was not Golden Time Qi, so it could not condense a Dao Fruit.
He had also absorbed three times from Fairy Yun Rou before obtaining Golden Time Qi. An Le was in no hurry. If once did not work, he could simply absorb a few more times.
However, An Le now had a reason to stand out among the many painters and remain here to paint.
After all, in this day and age, finding a high-quality girl from whom he could shear wool was no easy matter.
An Le subconsciously wanted to absorb another strand.
Yet the moment the thought arose, the Time Qi section on the light screen jumped again.
He had actually, without realizing it, drawn another strand of Time Qi from Girl Zhuifeng...
Before you continue