Shao Zhen had begun thinking of leaving. He wanted to finish what he had promised Chen Han as soon as possible, so he went to find her in the temple's rear courtyard and explained why.
"Miss Chen, I promised to paint two more portraits for you. If it's convenient, I'd like to finish them soon. If you have any particular requests, or any clothes you especially like, feel free to tell me or put them on so I can take a look!"
Chen Han, who was scraping wax from the many candle stands in a side hall with a scraper, stopped what she was doing and smiled at Shao Zhen.
"Mr. Shao, you've misunderstood. When I asked you to paint two more portraits, I didn't mean more portraits of me!"
Shao Zhen frowned. Now that Mr. Yi had left, he, too, was starting to miss home after being away for so long. His home might be shabby, but it was home all the same. There were also some paintings there that still needed finishing, and he now felt more confident about them.
"Painting other people is fine, too. Just have them come over soon!"
"All right. I won't keep you waiting long, Mr. Shao!"
That evening, after dinner, Chen Han brought a large wooden basin into the rear courtyard's kitchen. It held water, and in the water were a small gray snake and a small silver fish.
Qi Zhongbin smiled as soon as he saw the basin, while Shao Zhen was astonished after hearing Chen Han's explanation.
"What? Paint them?"
"That's right, them. They may look like an ordinary snake and fish, Mr. Shao, but they have already developed spiritual awareness. A painting from you would benefit their cultivation enormously!"
They've developed spiritual awareness?
Shao Zhen approached the basin. Watching