Yan Shouyun's heart stirred. Given the ghastly state of his painting, he was already grateful that the old man hadn't mocked him, yet the man could even comment on its supposed divine essence.
His intuition told him that the old man before him was no ordinary person.
As for the man asking whether Yan Shouyun knew how to paint, that was hardly surprising. Anyone who wasn't blind could tell.
Those thoughts flashed through his mind, and Yan Shouyun could only answer awkwardly.
"You're right, sir. I'm not much of a painter."
Several worshippers nearby who had watched Yan Shouyun paint chimed in with a laugh.
"Indeed, we can tell!" "Of all the things you could copy! Go paint cats and dogs instead. Desecrate a god and you'll bring bad luck down on yourself!"
Yan Shouyun smiled without replying. When he first arrived in the Capital City, he really did seem to suffer one misfortune after another, but now it appeared his luck had turned and an opportunity had arrived.
Whatever the others said, only the old man leaning against the doorway refrained from mocking Yan Shouyun. He kept his eyes on the painting, watching him set down his brush and straighten the paper.
By now, there seemed to be no other worshippers in the hall. It grew quiet inside, and the old man spoke again.
"May I take another look at your painting?"
Yan Shouyun hurriedly picked up the painting and rose. He stepped closer to the old man and offered it with both hands.
The old man reached out with a constantly trembling hand and accepted the painting. The paper shook violently in his grasp, yet his physical condition seemed to do nothing to disturb his concentration as he studied it closely.
"You truly don't understand painting, yet you've