"Little fellow, what are you drawing?"
Standing behind Wu Daozi was a young man in Confucian robes, his skin smooth and fair, his eyes as pure as an infant's.
"Huh? You're..."
Startled, Wu Daozi backed away two steps. "How did you get in?"
"I wanted to find your teacher, but he doesn't seem to be here." The young man smiled. "Your comics-yes, they're comics, aren't they? What are they about?"
"You're looking for my teacher?" Thoughts raced through Wu Daozi's mind, and he immediately realized that the young man before him might be a powerful expert.
And probably one without ill intentions, or things would not have unfolded this way.
Still, Wu Daozi did not let his guard down. He silently reminded himself not to reveal the slightest bit of information about Lin Ke, and to find an opportunity to call outside for help.
So Wu Daozi said, "I'm drawing the people I met today."
He would talk about what he had drawn, dragging things out as much as possible until someone noticed what was happening here.
Then, whether the person before him meant well or ill, he would be able to get away.
"Oh? Tell me." The young man seemed not to notice the wariness in Wu Daozi's eyes, instead showing keen interest.
"They're the people I met in the shop today."
When it came to drawing, Wu Daozi was not nearly as shy as he looked.
"For example, this man is a wealthy merchant with a vast fortune. He was born into an ordinary family, but made money through his tailoring skills. Eventually, he opened a chain of shops across Great Wei. Once he'd saved enough money, he had a wife and children..."
Wu Daozi began telling the story.
The young man listened quietly, his gaze lingering on