Besides painting bamboo, can Miss An paint anything else?

The morning breeze, carrying the unique coolness of spring, brushed against An Le's face. After finishing the soy pudding sold at a small stall by the alley entrance, he strolled leisurely, bathed in the spring breeze, reading a book as he headed towards West Lake.

Water sparkles brightly on a clear day, and the misty mountain colors are also wondrous.

West Lake on a rainy day and a sunny day offered two different kinds of scenery. As sunlight peeked through the clouds, it illuminated the lake, making the surface shimmer like golden sand sifting through one's fingers.

Along the embankment, scholars and poets gathered as usual. Flower boats swayed on the lake, like tender blades of grass, stirring the soft emotions in the hearts of these literati.

An Le walked to the edge of the embankment, gazing at the lapping lake water, feeling quite pleased.

He strolled and read, waiting for the arrival of the top courtesan, the Female Sword Immortal, on the flower boat in the center of the lake. However, he hadn't seen Fairy Yun Rou for several days, and An Le wasn't sure if he would see her today.

Still, coming to West Lake every day to read or enjoy the scenery held its own unique charm.

However, the atmosphere along the embankment today was somewhat different from the usual.

Scholars and poets were gathered together, whispering to each other, their eyes filled with gossip.

"Have you all heard about the Great Master An who won the Minor Sacred Token at Sixth Mountain yesterday?!"

"As we study at the Academy of Literature, how could we not know of Great Master An? His ink bamboo paintings, so different from the bamboo paintings of past artists, are truly astonishing and dazzling."

"I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a copied ink bamboo painting that circulated from the Academy of Literature. The interplay of dark and light ink was truly ingenious."

The scholars and poets spoke with great enthusiasm, referring to him as "Great Master An" with every other sentence.

After listening for a while, An Le finally realized that this "Great Master An"... was himself.

Intrigued, An Le stopped walking and joined the crowd by the embankment, listening to the scholars' praises. Occasionally, he would chime in with a comment, offering some analysis of the ink bamboo painting.

"Has this fellow brother also seen the ink bamboo painting?"

A scholar, astonished by An Le's sharp critique, cupped his hands in a salute.

An Le returned the bow with humility, "I've had the good fortune to see it a few times."

"Oh? Is brother also studying at the Academy of Literature?" Many scholars asked curiously, as An Le appeared unfamiliar to them.

"Not exactly. I work as a painter at the Lin Manor, painting for the young masters of the Lin Manor in my spare time."

An Le replied with a smile. He had indeed never attended the Academy of Literature.

Many scholars were quite interested and began conversing with An Le. After chatting for a while, since Fairy Yun Rou had not appeared again today, An Le took his leave and headed to the Lin Manor for work.

Despite winning the Minor Sacred Token, despite his painting astonishing Lin'an.

None of this had significantly changed his life. He would still go to work at the Lin Manor, still study diligently, and prepare for the Spring Imperial Examination.

An Le stepped on the bluestone path, with Green Mountain and Ink Pool tucked at his waist, disappearing along the long embankment.

Many scholars withdrew their gazes, finding An Le an interesting person. They recognized that he came to West Lake every day to watch the women on the flower boats.

Suddenly, a scholar from the Academy of Literature exclaimed.

Looking in the direction An Le had departed, his eyes showed a hint of excitement.

"As far as I know, the Lin Manor was looking for a painter some time ago, and Great Master An stood out from the crowd, joining the Lin Manor as a painter..."

"You guys, could this brother we just spoke with be Great Master An?"

The scholars and poets were stunned. They repeatedly looked in the direction An Le had left, and then burst into laughter, finding the idea utterly absurd and laughable. "What kind of person is Great Master An, to come to West Lake every day to watch the courtesans on the flower boats?"

"How could someone as refined as Great Master An associate with commoners like us?"

Laughter erupted along the embankment.

An Le was unaware of what had happened by West Lake after he left. Even if he had known, he would have merely smiled.

Following the bustling streets, basking in the warm spring sun, he stepped onto Quiet Street, passing the Stone Tablet Jade Workshop, which commanded all civil and military officials to dismount. Then, he saw the Lin Manor's distinctive eight-treasure double-eaved Tianbo Tower.

The door was opened, as always, by the shy maidservant Liu Xiang. Seeing the handsome and alluring An Le, Liu Xiang pursed her lips, her face full of shyness.

Yesterday, An Le had suppressed many geniuses at Sixth Mountain to obtain the Minor Sacred Token. After Lin Zhuifeng returned to the manor, she had been boasting about it incessantly, so most people in the manor were aware of An Le's deeds.

Now, seeing An Le, amplified by his accomplishments, Liu Xiang felt that Young Master An was like an immortal descended from heaven, as radiant as jade.

An Le smiled gently and, led by Liu Xiang, entered the Lin Manor.

An Le had originally intended to see Madam Hua and inquire about the Minor Saint Ranking. However, Liu Xiang informed him that Madam Hua had not yet returned to the manor, so An Le went directly to the Training Hall.

"Great Master An."

Lin Zhuifeng and Lin Qingyin greeted An Le with smiles and playful teasing.

An Le heard them and couldn't help but wave his hand, "I wouldn't dare to be called 'Great Master'."

Inside the Training Hall, the young masters of the Lin Manor were all dressed in sturdy attire, their spirits high. They looked as if they were about to go out, yet also as if they were specifically waiting for An Le.

Yesterday, they had naturally also gone to Sixth Mountain, hoping to try their luck at becoming Mountain Guardians, but they had unexpectedly witnessed the demeanor of An Le, a painter they knew from the Lin Manor.

The eighth young master, Lin Ye, eagerly approached. "Great Master An, you're finally here! Your ink bamboo paintings are now famous throughout Lin'an. Not only the Academy of Literature, but many people in the Temple of Martial Arts are also praising them."

"We are about to go to the Temple of Martial Arts for the Spring Martial Examination. After the examination, many of us will be heading to the Canglang River to reforge the former glory of the Lin Manor."

"I specifically stayed today to meet Great Master An."

The young masters of the Lin Manor around him also smiled.

An Le had gotten familiar with everyone, and there was less formality between them. The Lin Manor young masters, who seemed difficult to get along with, were actually quite approachable.

"I promised Madam Hua that I would paint for all of you young masters. The painting isn't finished yet, and there's still plenty of time."

An Le said earnestly.

He was going to the border, his life or death unknown, but An Le hoped they would return safely.

Everyone chuckled lightly and continued their conversation.

During a lull in the conversation, An Le drew Time Qi from the young masters.

Each person still provided three strands, and he could draw from five people, totaling fifteen strands.

As for Eighth Master Lin Ye, after this, An Le had completely drained him; he had no more Time Qi left.

These young masters of the Lin Manor could no longer sustain An Le's absorption for much longer.

With a total of fifteen strands of Time Qi, An Le didn't hesitate this time. He chose to divide it into three portions, evenly reinforcing the Dao Fruits that needed Time Qi.

As for cultivation methods, the Five禽 Body Tempering Technique and the Sword Waterfall Diagram had already received significant reinforcement, so they didn't need any more for the time being.

After the reinforcement, An Le felt a slight tremor in his mind, and his body seemed to have undergone some subtle changes.

The improvement wasn't obvious, but it was gradually transforming An Le.

The Lin Manor young masters chatted with An Le for a while longer. When the time was nearly up, they left the Lin Manor together and headed for the Temple of Martial Arts. Lin Zhuifeng also had to participate in the Temple of Martial Arts' martial examination, so only Ninth Sister Lin Qingyin and An Le remained alone.

Of course, it wasn't entirely alone; there were still attendants from the manor waiting in the distance, ready for orders.

The two of them arrived at the Tianbo Water Pavilion and sat in a secluded pavilion.

The spring breeze blew, stirring ripples across the surface of the pond.

"Master, are you teaching painting today?"

Lin Qingyin asked softly.

An Le smiled, "Today I'll teach you still life sketching."

Then, he asked the maid Liu Xiang for an apple, placed it on a table deliberately arranged with wrinkled cloth, and taught Lin Qingyin how to control and depict light and shadow when drawing an apple and fabric with sketching.

Lin Qingyin learned diligently, and An Le taught with equal seriousness.

The rustling sound of the charcoal pencil on the paper was like the chirping of cicadas in summer, bringing a sense of peace to the heart.

Suddenly, on the white jade arch bridge over the water, Madam Hua's personal maid, Xi Xiang, walked gracefully.

"Young Master An, Ninth Miss."

Xi Xiang bowed.

"Madam just received a message. If Young Master An is at the manor, you can go see Fourth Master. Madam has asked Fourth Master to inform you about the Minor Saint Ranking."

Upon hearing this, An Le immediately cupped his hands in return, "Thank you for Madam's concern."

"Master, you should go. I can paint alone in the hall. After I'm done, I'll have you critique it tomorrow," Lin Qingyin said with a gentle smile as she stood up.

An Le nodded without hesitation, bowed to Lin Qingyin, and left with Xi Xiang towards Qingfeng Courtyard.

Before they even entered the courtyard, they could hear the neighing of horses from outside.

"Fourth Master lived in the Yuan Meng Empire for a long time and adopted their customs. He really likes raising and training horses. I heard he keeps a Daoli Horse in his courtyard; it runs like black lightning and has a fierce temper,"

Xi Xiang said softly, then knocked on the door of Qingfeng Courtyard.

"Fourth Master, Madam asked me to bring Young Master An to see you," Xi Xiang said.

"Enter." A faint voice came from within the courtyard, and the door opened with a gentle mental push.

Qingfeng Courtyard was surprisingly vast, with a small pasture inside. Lin Fourth Master, dressed in a scholar's robe, had a table in front of him with Xuan paper spread out.

Lin Fourth Master frowned, his face etched with worry, as he painted the Daoli Horse lazily basking in the warm spring sun in the pasture.

Upon seeing An Le, Lin Fourth Master nodded slightly and chuckled, "After our last meeting, I have to call you Great Master now."

An Le waved his hand, "I wouldn't dare. Fourth Master can just call me An Le."

Lin Fourth Master seemed to recall something, his eyes brightening as he looked at An Le, "I want to paint my Daoli, but my drawing skills are poor…"

"Great Master An, besides painting bamboo, can you paint other things?"

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