A Human Face

As he spoke, Lin Zhishui glanced at the desk and other furnishings in the shop. Nothing had changed since he left; everything was still in place. Apparently, the visitor had not caused much trouble. He smiled and said, "Ms. Han, sorry for the trouble of watching the shop for me."

"No trouble at all. It was my honor."

Han Suxin hurriedly added, "Besides, I didn't really help much. Even without me here, the treasures you left in the shop would surely have been enough to intimidate him."

Lin Zhishui froze slightly.

That... sounded a little odd, didn't it?

Did she mean the calligraphy and paintings he left in the shop were enough to win over Cheng Qiyue's family?

Well... that was possible. With so many exquisite calligraphy pieces hanging together, complemented by evocative ink paintings, the visual effect had to be impressive.

Even if they didn't know much about appreciating calligraphy, they were still Old Master Cheng's descendants. After years of exposure, they ought to have some eye for it.

Hmm. Put that way, it probably, possibly, just about made sense... right?

Still, something felt a little strange. He gave a modest smile and said, "Sometimes, rather than wasting words, it's better to let your abilities speak for themselves."

"You're right." Han Suxin nodded in agreement.

No wonder Senior Lin had told her not to worry when he left, urging her to relax instead of getting nervous.

Now it was clear that he had indeed prepared a contingency.

The two supreme treasures on which he had left traces of ink beforehand-the Azure Sun Ruler and the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin-were more than enough to deal with an ordinary cultivator like her, even without anyone controlling them.

Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she could not help asking, "Does that mean you had already foreseen what just happened before you left, Mr. Lin?"

Lin Zhishui was a little baffled.

Foreseen what the hell?

Wasn't this obsessive fan taking her blind adoration a little too far? Did she think he was Zhuge Liang, able to predict everything?

Still, he had expected Cheng Qiyue's family to come calling. He simply had not expected them so soon. The girl had promised to keep it secret, yet she had not even lasted a day. Her lips were far too loose.

So he shook his head slightly and told the truth. "I merely made a few preparations beforehand. Who can truly foresee everything that happens in this world?"

"Preparations beforehand..."

Hearing Senior Lin's "modest words," Han Suxin fell into thought.

Sure enough, Senior Lin had anticipated everything that happened today.

Now that she carefully thought back over it, she noticed several clues.

For example, after washing his brush that morning, Senior Lin had not emptied all the ink from the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin. The traces he seemingly left by accident had actually supplied it with spiritual power.

Then, while writing "Steadfast" for her, he had seemingly touched the Azure Sun Ruler with a drop of ink by mistake. That had been another piece of preparation.

The calligraphy and painting shop appeared fragile, but when the male cultivator from the Cheng Family fought her and was about to destroy it, the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin had resolved the crisis at just the right moment.

When the Outer Demon descended, "Steadfast" had also displayed power beyond imagination. The great supernatural ability concealed deep within the calligraphy, powerful enough to suppress heaven and earth and freeze all things, had flown out of its own accord precisely when the Outer Demon descended, suppressing him on the spot.

Even the Azure Sun Ruler and the Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin had risen simultaneously to kill the Outer Demon, as though it had all been planned.

With so many coincidences, how could she fail to guess?

Considering the calligraphy alone, if it had merely been intended to heal her Divine Soul injuries, "Steadfast" would only have needed to display its most basic effect.

Yet it contained a supernatural ability so mighty that her current cultivation could not activate it, and that ability had proved useful at the critical moment of the Outer Demon's descent. That alone revealed quite a lot.

Senior Lin must have foreseen the Outer Demon's descent!

What appeared to be careless gestures had actually been calculated at every step.

How terrifying was his power of foresight?

Han Suxin had long heard myths and legends about mighty immortals.

Their powers of foresight were terrifying. They could look five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future, holding both within their grasp. Even if they could not see every detail, they could discern the broader course of events!

Senior Lin's exquisitely calculated arrangements suddenly made her feel... perhaps those legends were not empty tales after all.

The more deeply she considered it, the more terrifying Senior Lin seemed. His arrangements left no trace, as though they had formed naturally. With such astonishing foresight, no wonder he could stand above the clouds as a player moving the pieces.

But... with his gift for calculation, what upheaval was he stirring by opening a calligraphy and painting shop in the mortal world?

Presumably, she was merely one of his pieces...

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Han Suxin remain silent, seemingly weighed down by worries, Lin Zhishui could not help asking in confusion.

Han Suxin abruptly snapped out of her thoughts. Gathering herself, she sighed. "I was merely wondering where I should go from here, and how I might take control of my destiny... For a moment, I felt a little melancholy."

Lin Zhishui was rather speechless.

Even that load of nonsense he'd just spouted could send her into deep thought?

These artsy types who liked to play at profundity loved pondering time-wasting philosophical questions. Not practical at all.

Still, she was a customer. He had to play along a little and cater to her tastes to win her over.

"Destiny is like a series of games. Heaven and earth are the board, and all living beings are the pieces. Each piece has equal standing, but when it enters the game and where it is placed determine its value... Without deciding victory or defeat, there is no way to survive."

Lin Zhishui shook his head with a smile and looked into Han Suxin's eyes, trying to make his gaze convey thirty percent detachment, thirty percent melancholy, and forty percent resolve.

See that? The pie chart in my eyes?

Combine that with this seemingly profound and reasonable nonsense... Tremble, you old-school, philosophy-loving artsy type!

As Han Suxin looked at Lin Zhishui, her heart jolted.

Had he seen through her thoughts and used these words to remind her?

Sure enough, Senior Lin really was plotting something. Giving calligraphy pieces to cultivators like this was part of setting up his "game," too.

And if a piece like her wanted to survive this perilous game, she had to help Senior Lin win...

Heaven and earth were a game board. Senior Lin might be a player, but wasn't he also a piece struggling beneath the greatest player of all, "destiny"?

For a moment, she felt she understood the complex emotions in Senior Lin's eyes.

Han Suxin drew a deep breath. Her heart suddenly felt heavy, but fighting spirit welled up within her as well. She said solemnly, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I will do my utmost."

The corner of Lin Zhishui's mouth twitched slightly, but he maintained his smile and nodded.

She really was calling him Senior now. Was this obsessive fan planning to study calligraphy under him?

Still, addressing people as seniors and juniors was normal enough in calligraphy circles.

"Oh, Senior Lin."

Han Suxin suddenly said, "Before that man from the Cheng Family left, he said he would come tomorrow to... admit his mistake and offer you an apology."

She had intended to say "confess his crime," but on second thought, that cultivator from the Cheng Family had not committed any grave offense. Why make it sound so serious and influence Senior Lin's judgment?

Besides, a vague suspicion lingered in her mind, but she did not dare voice it.

Perhaps even the unexpected descent of the Outer Demon had been part of Senior Lin's calculations?

After all, Senior Lin had summoned that delivery worker by placing an order. The man had happened to witness her magical battle with the Cheng Family cultivator, which had drawn the Outer Demon here. It was simply too much of a coincidence.

"Admit his mistake? What on earth?"

Taken aback, Lin Zhishui could not suppress a hint of a smile. "What do you think he did wrong?"

Had this obsessive fan planted some strange ideas in the man's head and convinced him to apologize?

Nicely done!

"Well..."

Han Suxin hesitated. Was Senior Lin testing her sense of right and wrong?

She said cautiously, "First, he entered your calligraphy and painting shop without permission and showed you no respect. But ignorance is no crime, so he can't be blamed entirely. Second, he didn't know that everything in this shop belonged to you and intended to take back the portion that originally belonged to the Cheng Family. But after I stopped him, he recognized his mistake, which is why he plans to come tomorrow and humbly beg your forgiveness."

She believed everything she said was factual. She had shown him a little favoritism, but her conscience was clear.

More importantly, before leaving, that Cheng Family cultivator had said, "I'll go back and put my affairs in order. Whether I live or die, don't let this affect the Cheng Family." Those words had made her realize he was not some evil practitioner who seized whatever he wanted, and she had felt sympathy for him.

"Just those two things?" Lin Zhishui asked.

"Uh... he nearly demolished your shop..." Han Suxin added.

After hearing her explanation, Lin Zhishui inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Anyone whose child had been conned out of over a hundred thousand just to buy a calligraphy piece by someone with no real reputation would probably be furious.

What was barging in compared to that? Wanting back the hundred-odd thousand that originally belonged to their family was perfectly normal, too.

As for demolishing his shop... that was a little violent, but understandable.

Still, it sounded as though Han Suxin had already resolved the situation. What had she told him? Had she talked Lin Zhishui up as some great calligrapher or reclusive master?

Or had she helped through her own connections or influence?

The latter was more likely.

Lin Zhishui's gaze warmed as he looked at Han Suxin. He smiled and said, "It's only a little room. Even demolishing it wouldn't be a big deal. You needn't worry too much about it. Still, thank you."

"I only contributed a tiny, insignificant amount of help."

Han Suxin spoke hurriedly, inwardly sighing. Senior Lin truly was broad-minded, kind, and generous.

An insignificant amount of help, huh... She really knew how to talk.

Lin Zhishui coughed softly and said, "The replacement delivery will probably take a while. Would you like something to eat?"

"Well... no, thank you. I'll take my leave." Han Suxin shuddered instinctively and hurriedly declined.

She was rather sensitive to the word "delivery" now. The first Outer Demon descent she had ever triggered had been because of that mortal delivery worker. Without the calligraphy Senior Lin had bestowed on her, she would probably have become the Outer Demon's food.

"As you like."

Lin Zhishui did not insist. The woman clearly had money and might not be accustomed to such a cheap breakfast, so he let her leave.

After Han Suxin left, he grew bored waiting for his delivery. Suddenly, he remembered that while writing for her earlier, his brush tip had accidentally touched the Bluestone Paperweight holding down the paper.

If he remembered correctly, it had left a spot of ink.

He had not had time to wipe it off before rushing home to buy electricity.

Lin Zhishui went behind the desk and picked up the ordinary-looking Bluestone Paperweight, feeling a little puzzled.

The Bluestone Paperweight was spotless, without so much as a speck of ink.

Had Han Suxin wiped it clean for him?

Lin Zhishui smiled. This female fan was quite considerate.

He glanced at his beloved brush resting on the brush stand beside it. Although he had washed it that morning, he had dipped it in ink again to write "Steadfast," and the ink on its tip was already somewhat dry.

He picked up the brush, took the gray iron basin from the doorway, and went to the restroom to fill it halfway with water before returning to the entrance to wash his brush.

"Huh?"

For some reason, Lin Zhishui felt that the water in the gray iron basin looked a little green, faintly tinged with a deep, dark shade.

He did not dwell on it. He would wash his brush first, anyway.

After he finished washing the brush, even the black ink water in the basin seemed faintly green. He shook his head slightly and poured it into the ring of soil around the pine tree beside the shop.

Then he set down the iron basin and turned back into the shop with his brush.

As he turned away, however, he did not see the faintly green ink water rapidly seep into the soil and disappear, as though it had been absorbed.

At the same time, the sturdy pine tree suddenly trembled slightly. The cracked bark on its trunk slowly began to twist, its numerous fissures shifting continuously before finally settling.

And the cracks in the bark now looked like... a human face.