Piercing Through the Years

Duan Rong set up his easel and, with practiced ease, ground the ink and mixed the pigments. Before long, he threw himself into his labor...

After finishing three paintings, Duan Rong was astonished to discover that his painting speed had improved.

At this rate, he could finish all ten people in less than an hour.

Duan Rong deliberately slowed down at once!

He did not want to paint that many!

He wanted to let the bullets fly a little longer.

Only hunger marketing would let him sell at a premium!

As Duan Rong worked on his fifth painting, two delicate-featured Brocade-Clad Young Masters suddenly approached and silently went to the end of the line.

Duan Rong had just been about to stop them and tell them to come back tomorrow when he suddenly noticed the two Servant Boys at the end of the line rise and give up their places to them.

"So those two Servant Boys were holding spots!" Duan Rong's eyes lit up, and the doubt that had lingered in his heart when he first arrived was finally dispelled.

Near the end of Shen Hour, with You Hour about to begin, Duan Rong finally handed the last painting to a delicate-featured young master.

Duan Rong glanced toward Flower Shadow House across the street. Its doors had only just opened, and in the dusk, two lit lanterns had just been hung outside its entrance.

Duan Rong smiled faintly. The timing was just right!

Just as Duan Rong was about to pack up and leave, he suddenly caught a waft of delicate fragrance.

His heart stirred. He looked up and found that, at some unknown time, Hu Huanhuan had already come over, the hem of her skirt swaying lightly. "Mister Duan, could you paint one for me?"

Hearing this, Duan Rong smiled and set up the folded easel again. "Sister Hu's presence is the greatest praise for me! How could I dare refuse?"

Though half of Duan Rong's words were glib flattery, the other half came from his heart. Though Hu Huanhuan was a woman, she possessed a strength as fierce as thunder and lightning; even he felt somewhat intimidated when he saw her.

Hu Huanhuan could not help smiling. After meeting him twice, she had found that this painter named Duan Rong had a quick mind and a witty tongue. He was quite the little pistachio.

"You flatter me, sir. In truth, there is no need to praise me so extravagantly. I am merely an old courtesan, past my prime and unwanted by anyone. To use the words of those bastards, I'm an old Brothel Harlot who runs a brothel!"

Duan Rong froze slightly. He had not expected Hu Huanhuan to be so forthright. Hearing her say this only deepened his admiration for her.

"I am not offering empty praise. In my eyes, Sister Hu is Xiangu County's foremost entrepreneur! Is Flower Shadow House, renowned throughout the prefecture and counties, not proof enough?"

As he spoke, Duan Rong looked toward Flower Shadow House across the street.

Flower Shadow House had already opened its doors. Red lanterns shone brightly, gauze-covered windows glimmered, and distant sweet music drifted over with a hidden fragrance. Which passerby would not have their heart and soul stirred by it?

And as Duan Rong had said, Flower Shadow House truly was Xiangu County's largest taxpayer!

When Hu Huanhuan heard the three words "entrepreneur," her heart trembled faintly.

In her youth, Hu Huanhuan had also been a Prefecture City Courtesan. If she had truly wanted to marry, how could no one have wanted her? It was simply because she did not wish to depend on those foul men who disgusted her that she had returned to Xiangu County and poured her heart and soul into establishing Flower Shadow House!

Yet those thoughts had long since been drowned beneath the dust of the mortal world, until even she herself had nearly forgotten them. How could others possibly see through them?

And yet today, the fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth before her had laid them bare in a single sentence!

"Sir, your insight is exceptional. You are not one to drift with the vulgar current!"

As they spoke, Duan Rong had already begun applying ink to the paper.

Duan Rong gazed intently at Hu Huanhuan!

The former Prefecture City Courtesan possessed features naturally brimming with charm—sword-like brows, a jade nose, and an innate air of romantic grace!

But time treated all alike, howling past without mercy, and Hu Huanhuan had only grown more burdened by toil.

Her skin had lost its former luster, something even the finest powder and rouge could not conceal!

The crow's feet at the corners of her eyes and lips no longer rosy both spoke of her vanished youth!

Yet through all this, Duan Rong saw the Hu Huanhuan of years past!

A clever smile, radiant eyes!

With every frown and smile, she could ensnare souls and steal spirits—the Prefecture City Courtesan who had once sent countless Young Swordsmen tumbling head over heels. She had crossed through the dusty years and stood once more before Duan Rong!

Duan Rong's heart trembled faintly, and he became utterly absorbed as his brush fell.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the painting was complete!

Duan Rong removed the painting and handed it to Hu Huanhuan!

Hu Huanhuan took it, and the sight struck her to the heart!

Duan Rong looked at Hu Huanhuan, standing there with the painting in her hands as though turned to stone, and smiled faintly.

After two days of practical painting, his skills had become increasingly polished.

Hu Huanhuan's portrait was proof that he had pushed his artistic style another small step forward.

Duan Rong did not disturb the petrified Hu Huanhuan. He packed up his things, turned into a walking display rack, and left.

Only after a long while did Hu Huanhuan raise her head. Duan Rong was already gone from beneath the Old Locust Tree.

Hu Huanhuan sighed softly, and a trace of loneliness appeared in her eyes.

She gently rolled up the painting and returned to Flower Shadow House...

The courtesans welcoming guests at the entrance of Flower Shadow House had been chattering noisily, but the moment they saw Hu Huanhuan approach, they immediately stood properly with their heads bowed like quails.

Hu Huanhuan returned to her room and sat before the Low Table. She spread the painting upon it and looked at it for a while longer...

Her gaze upon the figure in the painting was filled with deep emotion!

After a long while, Hu Huanhuan suddenly raised her head and looked toward the corner beside the head of her bed. There sat a chest, one of the trunks she had brought from the prefectural city.

Hu Huanhuan rose and walked gracefully to the chest. Gathering the hem of her skirt, she crouched down.

She opened the trunk and searched through it for a while.

At last, she drew out a scroll of painting from the very bottom!

No one knew when it had been painted, but it had already yellowed slightly with age.

Hu Huanhuan used her slender, nimble fingers to untie the red silk cord binding the scroll. With a gentle unfurling, she opened the painting!

In it, a Maiden stood by a lake watching the fish swim. Her eyes were bright, her teeth pearly, her brows dark as ink. Especially when she smiled, she seemed like a spring breeze brushing past...

Hu Huanhuan stared at the figure in the painting, slightly dazed.

It had been far too long since she had looked at this painting.

"Twenty years..." Hu Huanhuan murmured, and two streams of clear tears rolled down her cheeks without her noticing.

Hu Huanhuan moved with lotus-like steps and placed this painting on the Low Table beside the one Duan Rong had painted!

Though the backgrounds of the two paintings differed, the two women in them seemed to be the same person!

They had crossed through the dust of the years and reunited in another way!

For a moment, Hu Huanhuan's eyes blurred with tears.

She seemed to see light flashing in Duan Rong's star-bright eyes upon his dark, square face!

That light seemed to contain a power capable of piercing through the years!

Duan Rong returned to Yuan Shun Escort Agency. He first went to the dormitory to put away his things, then ate in the dining hall of the Middle Courtyard before heading straight to the Martial Arts Field.

He had gotten up late today and already delayed his training by two hours. He had to work harder tonight.

Duan Rong arrived at the Martial Arts Field and, in that familiar corner, sank his waist, straightened his back, and assumed his stance.

He stood there until Chou Hour!

When Duan Rong expelled a stream of white breath from his mouth, everything around him was silent. Only the stars filling the sky flickered with cold light.

After ending his practice and rising, Duan Rong felt refreshed from head to toe!

He returned to the dormitory courtyard, washed himself by the well, then slipped naked beneath his blanket!

The moment his head hit the bed, he fell into a dead sleep.

He slept dreamlessly through the night!