The brush-washing basin

The next day.

Early in the morning, the sun rose in the east.

Standing at the entrance to his calligraphy and painting shop, Lin Zhishui stretched beneath the clear blue sky, savoring the cool morning air. It looked like another pleasant day.

He didn't seem to have anything on the agenda today, so he might as well practice ink painting.

His calligraphy was at a master's level. Even without his beloved brush, he could still be considered an expert calligrapher.

As for ink painting, however, he had only been learning for a few months and could only claim a modest degree of skill. Even with his brush, he excelled only at techniques involving variations in ink tones, and still had plenty of room for improvement.

Still, calligraphy and painting shared common ground, so with his level of skill, he was improving quickly.

Lin Zhishui turned and opened the shop door, set his shoulder bag on the table, and took out his brush case. He opened it and was just about to take out the brush when he paused.

The bristles of his beloved brush were made from the hair of some unknown animal, pure white without a single blemish.

Now, however, traces of ink were visible on them.

"Strange... I definitely washed it clean yesterday. How did it get ink on it again?"

Lin Zhishui found it rather odd.

He treasured this brush and always washed it carefully and thoroughly after every use.

Yet something peculiar often happened: whenever he went a while without looking at it, ink would seep onto the bristles from somewhere, and the ink was exceptionally dark.

He guessed that perhaps the brush handle was hollow, so ink seeped into it whenever he washed the brush, then leaked back out over time.

Or perhaps there was actually a block of solid ink hidden inside the handle?

Still, Lin Zhishui couldn't possibly dismantle his beloved brush to investigate on the strength of that guess. That would spell the end of his career as a master calligrapher.

This happened so often that he was already used to it. He couldn't be bothered to dwell on it and simply decided to wash the brush again.

First, he carried a small table outside and placed it in front of the shop. Then he went into the bathroom, took a drab gray iron basin from beneath the sink, and filled it a little over halfway with water. Only then did he carry it outside and set it on the small table.

Next, he brought over a stool, took his beloved brush, and gently swished it in the iron basin, carefully cleaning the bristles.

Although the iron basin looked drab and unremarkable, it was very convenient for washing brushes.

An S-shaped metal divider split its interior into two sections, like the Supreme Ultimate's Two Principles diagram. Both sections could hold water, so he could wash the brush in one, then rinse it again with clean water in the other, without the trouble of changing the water.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen that deadpan fellow in ages."

As Lin Zhishui washed his brush in the iron basin, the sight of it brought its giver to mind, and before he knew it, he was thinking of that customer.

The middle-aged customer, who had introduced himself as "a certain Lu," had a sharp, imposing air, very straight eyebrows, and an unsmiling expression like a corpse's face. He seemed difficult to approach, but when he saw Lin Zhishui's calligraphy and paintings, he was no different from any other customer: inevitably, he froze on the spot.

After spending 86,400 yuan on a piece of calligraphy bearing the lines "Flowers fill the hall, intoxicating three thousand guests; One Sword Chills Fourteen Provinces," the customer surnamed Lu seemed to notice that Lin Zhishui had no container for washing his brush, and thoughtfully gave him this iron basin.

Although the customer surnamed Lu had kept up his usual silent, aloof act when he brought the basin, Lin Zhishui could tell at a glance that this fellow... was a real softie beneath that prickly exterior.

Beneath that seemingly cold exterior, he was actually quite considerate and warmhearted.

It wasn't anything precious anyway, just a drab gray iron basin, so Lin Zhishui had readily accepted it.

It wasn't particularly attractive, but it was highly practical. With the way it was constructed, never mind washing brushes-it could even be used for a divided hot pot.

Before long, the water in the gray iron basin was pitch-black on one side and clear on the other. The distinct separation perfectly formed a complete Supreme Ultimate Two Principles diagram.

That fellow certainly lived up to his love of traditional culture. Even his brush-washing basin was so carefully designed.

Lin Zhishui silently admired it and was about to rinse the brush a second time when a pleasant female voice, gentle yet respectful, came from behind him:

"Good morning, Mr. Lin."

He turned to look and saw a tall, long-haired woman in a brown business suit standing nearby. She had an approachable air and was looking at him respectfully.

"Ah, Ms. Han. You're here quite early," Lin Zhishui said with a smile.

It was Han Suxin, whom he had only met yesterday.

Yesterday, he had agreed to give her a piece of calligraphy and told her to come pick it up. He hadn't expected her to arrive so early, though. She was rather eager-it seemed she truly couldn't wait.

"I wouldn't dare keep you waiting, so I came a little early," Han Suxin said at once.

"All right."

Lin Zhishui glanced at her with a smile and said, "I'm still washing my brush. Give me a moment."

"Please carry on. Don't mind me." Han Suxin inclined her head slightly, not daring to hurry him at all. She simply stood quietly beside him and watched Lin Zhishui wash his brush.

As expected of an Immortals and Gods powerhouse living in seclusion among mortals, he could disguise his every action to look exactly like theirs. She had observed him yesterday as well. Senior Lin had neither flown through the skies nor traveled beneath the earth, nor had he used any legendary teleportation powers. He had simply walked and ridden in vehicles like a mortal, without the slightest impatience, appearing entirely unhurried.

Perhaps it was because his lifespan was so long, enduring as long as heaven and earth, that he didn't mind wasting this little bit of time.

Even when washing his brush, he didn't use magic power for convenience. Instead, he cleaned it slowly and meticulously.

Perhaps... this was the legendary return to simplicity.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Han Suxin froze. She stared fixedly at the gray iron basin Lin Zhishui was using to wash his brush, studying the sharply divided yin-yang symbol within it. Uncontainable shock gradually filled her eyes.

This...

This basin... no way... could this basin be that supreme treasure?

In the cultivation world, certain Magic Treasures and extraordinary objects could be called "supreme treasures." Every one possessed inconceivable powers, approaching those of immortals and gods.

She had seen clear pictures and information on all the widely known supreme treasures.

Yet the design of the gray iron basin before her was identical to that of the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin, one of the ten supreme treasures of the Infinite Heaven Dao Lineage!

Was it merely a replica that looked similar?

Or... was this the genuine article?

Han Suxin couldn't help asking, "Mr. Lin, your basin has quite an unusual design. May I ask where you got it?"

"Oh, this basin? An old customer surnamed Lu gave it to me," Lin Zhishui said casually. "He may seem cold on the surface, but he's actually very considerate and warmhearted."

Surnamed Lu? Cold?

Hearing that, Han Suxin was now completely certain.

According to rumors in the cultivation world, the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin was a Magic Treasure Sword Immortal Lu carried with him. However, a sword immortal could break myriad techniques with a single sword, so Sword Immortal Lu was rarely seen using other Magic Treasures.

It seemed Sword Immortal Lu had given Senior Lin the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin to repay his kindness in bestowing that calligraphy.

"What is it? Do you know him?"

Lin Zhishui glanced at Han Suxin. These people were all enthusiasts of traditional culture. They might belong to the same circle, so it would be perfectly normal for them to know each other.

"Not really. I've merely heard of him," Han Suxin said, shaking her head.

That was the lofty Sword Immortal Lu, a peerless master who had saved all living beings beneath heaven many years ago. He could practically be called an idol of the cultivation world. She had never even met him.

Lin Zhishui didn't mind and simply said, "It was thoughtful of him. This basin really is convenient for washing brushes."

For a moment, Han Suxin was at a loss for words.

Such a precious supreme treasure, used merely to wash a brush?

Then again, Senior Lin was an Immortals and Gods powerhouse, after all. In his eyes, a supreme treasure was little different from a toy.

Moreover, when she activated her spiritual awareness and examined it closely, she discovered that the ink in the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin was actually highly concentrated spiritual energy that had nearly taken physical form. Presumably, it had come from the magic power Senior Lin infused into his writing.

The ink used for such wondrous, precious calligraphy ought to be like this.

"Done."

Having finished washing his brush, Lin Zhishui picked up the drab gray iron basin and poured all the inky water into the ring of soil around the pine tree beside the shop entrance.

He didn't know whether ink could be used to water a tree, but once, he had accidentally knocked over the basin and spilled inky water into the soil around the nearby pine. A few days later, he discovered that not only had the tree suffered no ill effects, it was actually growing better.

So ever since then, he had washed his brush outside the entrance and used the inky water to water the tree afterward. It was more convenient, too.

This pine tree... truly is blessed, to be able to enjoy such spiritual liquid.

Seeing this, Han Suxin couldn't help marveling to herself.