Morning sunlight streamed through the doors and windows, dispelling the dimness inside. Clear, gently warming light fell on the landscape painted on the screen, lending its mountains and waters a touch of vitality.
Standing behind the desk, Lin Zhishui glanced at Han Suxin, who stood quietly beside him, and casually asked, "Do you know how to grind ink?"
"Yes," Han Suxin said at once.
"Then you can grind the ink," Lin Zhishui said with a smile.
"It would be my honor."
At his words, Han Suxin nodded slightly in excitement and stepped forward. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the inkstick, poured in a little water, and began grinding the ink with practiced ease.
Grinding ink took skill. The ink could be neither too thick nor too thin, so the pressure could not be too light or too heavy, or it might turn out coarse and uneven. Too little pressure and too slow a pace wasted time and left the ink floating; too much pressure and too fast a pace made it coarse and frothy, with no luster to its color.
She also understood that this senior favored simplicity and a return to the ordinary, so naturally, she would not use magic power to help.
Thus, Han Suxin relied on technique alone, grinding with measured, varying pressure.
She was tranquil by nature and fairly well versed in calligraphy. Merely grinding ink was, of course, no challenge for her.
Most importantly, there were probably only a handful of people in the entire cultivation world fortunate enough to grind ink for an immortal master of this caliber. How could she use magic power just to save time?
Watching her, Lin Zhishui felt a little gratified as he picked up a craft knife to cut the paper.
As the saying went, with a beauty in red sleeves beside him and delicate hands grinding ink, a scholar set brush to paper and let his spirit soar.
This was probably the ultimate dream of anyone who loved calligraphy.
Unfortunately, this particular beauty was not beautiful enough.
Still, Han Suxin had a very good bearing. She would do.
Before long, Lin Zhishui had cut off a length of rice paper. He set the excess aside and held it down with a paperweight.
But there was nothing left to weigh down the piece he had cut.
Lin Zhishui looked around without finding any suitable little object to hold the paper down. Then he opened a drawer and spotted the bluestone ruler-shaped paperweight Old Master Cheng had given him. He had never used it.
Previously, he had thought the ruler looked too plain, even a little shabby, and detracted from the air of a master calligrapher, so he had stuffed it into the drawer and never used it.
There was no harm in using it now.
After all, he had come to understand that as long as his calligraphy was good, these customers would not care how young he was or how ordinary his clothes were!
How could a master calligrapher be judged by appearances alone?
He owed this confidence and composure to the shop's customers. They were so courteous and respectful that it had started going to his head.
No wonder some internet celebrities got full of themselves. Their fans really knew how to heap on the praise.
"Mr. Lin, the ink is ready." Han Suxin set the inkstick aside, then pushed the inkstone a little closer to him.
"Mm."
Lin Zhishui nodded slightly. Standing behind the desk, he picked up his favorite brush and slowly soaked its bristles in the inkstone. "Since I'm giving you a single word, I should naturally choose one that suits you."
After a moment's thought, he said, "Your conduct is impeccable, with nothing that needs correcting. You are merely a little hasty in how you approach things. In that respect, there is common ground with the art of calligraphy. You must become 'steadfast' before you can move forward with greater stability."
Han Suxin froze for a moment.
Before dawn that morning, she had eagerly come to wait near the calligraphy shop for Lin Zhishui. Only after he had been inside for a little while had she pretended to have just arrived.
It seemed Senior Lin had noticed her long ago.
And she had indeed rushed along her cultivation path, leaving her foundations unstable. That was why she had failed to break through all these years.
Senior Lin truly was an immortal master. With just a few simple words, he had pointed out her flaws, striking almost directly at their heart!
Han Suxin lowered her head in shame. "Thank you for your guidance. I will be sure to keep it firmly in mind."
Lin Zhishui nodded slowly, but inwardly he thought, This female fan really knows how to suck up. She even agrees with that? I honestly couldn't find anything wrong with her, so I just threw out some vague, all-purpose advice she couldn't argue with...
Without saying anything more, he gripped the brush and set it to paper, its strokes sweeping like dragons and serpents.
The ink flowed like drifting clouds and running water, the brush tip turning through countless twists. Soon, a large character appeared on the rice paper-
Steadfast!
"This word, 'steadfast,' is my gift to you."
Lin Zhishui spoke slowly, racking his brains for phrases that suited a traditional, literary air. "May you remain unruffled in all things, as firm as Mount Tai. Always keep your state of mind steady. Only then will you have a chance to walk the great Dao that leads to the heavens."
The great Dao!
Senior Lin actually thinks that if I can become steady, I might one day walk the great Dao of immortals and gods?
Although Han Suxin knew these words were most likely meant as encouragement, they still sent emotion surging through her. A thousand things she wanted to say caught in her throat, and she could only bend deeply at the waist in a formal bow.
Lin Zhishui smiled and nodded, gladly accepting her bow.
It was not that he thought himself especially important or his help particularly great. It was mainly that every previous customer who had received his calligraphy as a gift had given him the same formal bow. Since everyone else did it, he could hardly treat her differently.
"Once I've added the inscription and the ink has dried, you can put this piece away."
As he spoke, Lin Zhishui added two lines of inscription at the lower left of the large character.
-At the request of Miss Han Suxin
-Inscribed by Lin Zhishui at He Mingxuan, Summer of the Gengzi Year
Then Han Suxin saw that, just as last time, the Dao Resonance in "Steadfast" began to shift slowly, drawing inward and concealing itself. Only she could draw out the Dao Resonance within, which was effectively the same as its recognizing her as its master.
However, this single-word calligraphy seemed different from the pieces bearing lines of poetry. Its Dao Resonance was too singular to help with comprehending the Dao; it seemed to have another purpose.
"By the way, how is your injury?" Lin Zhishui set down the brush and asked with concern.
His Little Snake seemed to have pinched some private part of Ms. Han yesterday. Her face had gone white from the pain. Perhaps it had even left a bruise?
"It's nothing serious." Han Suxin shook her head slightly.
Although damage caused by a shock to the soul was difficult to heal, it would recover with time.
"That's good." Lin Zhishui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Whether she was merely being polite or really was fine, all that mattered was that she did not ask him to cover her medical bills.
After being busy for so long, he felt a little hungry. He had not eaten breakfast yet, so he said, "It looks like the ink will take a little longer to dry. Have you had breakfast? Would you like to eat together?"
Han Suxin did not dare decline. She nodded. "Then thank you for your hospitality, Senior."
Lin Zhishui took out his phone and quickly ordered breakfast delivery for two. "There's a breakfast place nearby with pretty good crab roe buns. Their soy milk is fresh too. You can give it a try."
"Whatever you decide is fine." Han Suxin nodded, not daring to make any further requests.
Still, Senior Lin was clearly an immortal who stood high above the clouds, yet he could lower himself to enjoy the simple pleasures of mortal life. That was truly rare. He even kept up with the times and knew his way around a phone and all those apps. He really was extraordinary.
After placing the order, Lin Zhishui saw that the delivery rider was on his way. He was about to chat a little more when his phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the caller ID. It was his Little Snake.
He answered, and She Xilu's slightly stammering voice came from the other end. "The... the electricity meter's run out of credit... what should I do..."
The electricity meter had run out of credit?
Lin Zhishui was taken aback.
Right, it had been a while since he had topped it up.
With She Xilu's social anxiety, asking her to go to the power company's service office alone to buy electricity would be far too much for her.
So Lin Zhishui could only say helplessly, "Wait a moment. I'll come home now."
After ending the call, Lin Zhishui turned to Han Suxin. "Something's come up at home, so I need to go back for a bit. Sorry for the trouble, but could you watch the shop for me? When the food arrives, you can eat first. Just leave me a portion."
"Ah?"
Han Suxin paused, then glanced worriedly toward the space behind the screen. "But the calligraphy and paintings in your shop are so precious. If I'm the only one here..."
"It's fine. Don't worry." Lin Zhishui gently shook his head.
They were only some calligraphy and paintings. If they were stolen, so be it. At worst, he could make them again. Besides, his shop was tucked away in such a secluded alley. What thief would come here?
Han Suxin took a deep breath. "Then please go ahead. I'll be sure to watch over it for you."
"No need to be nervous. Just relax."
Lin Zhishui smiled slightly, then turned and left.
Before you continue