Chapter 4: A Maid with More Than Ten Wisps of Age Qi

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Indescribably noble?

An Le took a deep breath. For Constable Huang to describe it in such a manner… it was definitely not ordinary.

But how could his sketch attract such a benefactor to ask for a painting?

Sketching techniques were indeed rare and precious in this era. They used lines to outline the figures. It was very different from the drawing techniques of ink and painting, but it was more realistic.

However, no matter what, he was just an ordinary artist. How could he be an indescribably noble benefactor who personally asked for a painting?

There were good and bad things about being chosen by a benefactor. After all, An Le knew nothing about the so-called benefactor’s temper.

If An Le had not awakened the light screen that could absorb the Age Qi, he might have really planned to take a gamble and get to know the benefactor. Perhaps his future path would be easier.

But now, he could awaken the Dao Fruit by absorbing the Age Qi and silently grow stronger.

There was no need to take this risk.

Huang Xian understood An Le’s fear and thoughts when he saw An Le frowning and looking puzzled.

“Young Master An, don’t worry. With the benefactor’s status, they won’t make things difficult for Young Master An. In fact, that benefactor bought Young Master An’s painting by chance and felt that it was novel, so they asked me to find the painter to invite him to paint.”

“In fact, Young Master An is not the only artist invited by the benefactor…”

“It’s still unknown if Young Master An will be able to get a spot to paint for the benefactor.”

“However, I can guarantee that this benefactor is kind. Even if Young Master An is not chosen, you will definitely not be in any danger or life-threatening danger. You can even get the carriage fare arranged by the benefactor.”

Huang Xian said.

An Le immediately perked up. “May I ask Constable Huang, this fare…”

“At least ten taels of silver.” Huang Xian smiled. “If you’re chosen to paint, the labor fee will be at least ten times more than the transportation fee.”

“Constable Huang, it doesn’t matter if I get to paint or not. I mainly admire the benefactor’s elegance.” An Le said seriously.

Of course, An Le did not only care about money. The main reason was that Huang Xian had already said so. If An Le did not go, it would be embarrassing for Huang Xian. At that time, even before offending the benefactor, he would first offend Huang Xian. The gains would not make up for the losses.

Huang Xian was the constable of the Black Office. The Black Office… was a government office that specialized in managing cultivators. Some cultivators who committed crimes were captured by the constables of the Black Office.

If he offended such a person, An Le would definitely not be able to live in peace in the future.

Now, he could take advantage of the situation. In any case, even if he was not chosen, the other party had promised him enough money.

“Hahaha, Young Master An, you don’t have to prepare anything. The benefactor has everything you need, so Young Master An… please.”

Huang Xian stood up with a saber in one hand and waved the other outside the inn in a sending-off posture.

An Le turned sideways and cupped his hands politely. “Constable Huang, please go ahead.”

Then, the two of them left the inn one after another and stepped onto the lively street of Lin’an Prefecture.

…

The long streets of Lin’an were very lively. After the spring rain, the sunlight was clear. The scholars who were hiding at home came out one after another to bathe in the sunlight and breathe the fresh air after the rain. They also bought some trinkets and snacks from the street vendors.

Huang Xian did not speak much. After leaving the inn, he brought An Le along and stepped on the slightly muddy limestone street. After a while, the number of pedestrians on the road gradually decreased because the place they arrived at was no longer a place that ordinary people could step into.

An Le’s gaze was quickly attracted to a mansion in the distance.

The mansion was made of limestone walls that stretched endlessly. Branches extended between the gray tiles on the walls. The greenery was in a hurry. There was no stone statue in front of the door. Instead, there was a stone tablet jade shop. It was dignified with a hint of nobility.

Behind the vermilion door, there was the Eight Treasures Heavy Eaves Waterdrop Heavenly Wave Pavilion. There was burning incense and smoke curling out.

“Young Master An, now you know that I’m not lying, right?”

Huang Xian looked at An Le, who was staring at the mansion in a daze, and teased.

“This building and this stone tablet jade workshop are the hallmarks. This Eight Treasures Heavy Eaves Waterdrop Heavenly Wave Pavilion was bestowed by His Majesty. It is enshrined with golden books and iron vouchers that can exempt you from the crime of nine deaths! All the civil and military officials in the imperial court have to dismount from their horses and walk past this stone tablet jade workshop. Young Master An, do you think the Heavenly Wave Lin Residence is noble?”

Huang Xian was filled with respect, but there was also sadness and complicated emotions in his respect.

“Heavenly Wave Lin Residence…” An Le muttered.

“The entire Heavenly Wave Lin Residence is loyal to the court. The founder of the Heavenly Wave Lin Residence, Old Minister Lin, was even a peerless cultivator. With a golden saber, he killed the foreign races until they were terrified. He was called Invincible Lin, and together with the sons of the Lin family, they were all extremely talented. They rushed to the battlefield and made a name for themselves.”

“Back then, when Emperor Yuan Meng broke through to the Saint Realm and came with the pressure of an army, the imperial court decided to move the capital south. The Old Minister held a golden saber to cover the Emperor’s retreat and fought eight kings of foreign races. In the end, he killed three kings and died in battle. Everyone knows his loyalty and righteousness!”

Huang Xian took a deep breath, his voice trembling.

An Le glanced sideways. It was obvious that Constable Huang had a relationship with the Lin family.

Huang Xian calmed himself down and did not say anything else. He walked to the tightly shut door of the Lin Residence and knocked on it. The vermilion door slowly opened, and a young girl with a fire stick tied to her waist rushed out.

“Constable Huang, have you found that strange artist?” The girl asked in surprise.

“Miss Zhuifeng, this is the artist you asked me to find, Young Master An.” Huang Xian pointed at An Le, who was standing at the foot of the stairs.

The young girl named Zhuifeng turned around and her eyes lit up when she saw An Le’s handsome face.

An Le looked at Miss Zhuifeng with excitement in his eyes.

How could the current An Le reject this young miss who had more than ten wisps of Age Qi?

This girl’s age was almost the same as An Le’s first victim, Fairy Yun Rou.

It could be determined that their cultivation levels were similar.

“What a handsome artist. I’ve seen a bunch of old men and smelly scholars. This young master is really handsome.” The girl grinned.

“I’m An Le, from Chongzhou. Greetings, Miss Zhuifeng.” An Le cupped his hands.

“If you draw well, we’ll see each other every day.” Miss Zhuifeng pursed her lips and smiled. She raised a finger and hooked it at An Le. “I’m just a maidservant in the residence, you don’t have to be so polite. Come with me, handsome artist.”

An Le was stunned. Just a maidservant… had a cultivation level that was not inferior to Fairy Yun Rou?

Were all maidservants so powerful nowadays?

“Young Master An, paint well and strive to be chosen. I’ll return to the Black Office first. Miss Zhuifeng, if there’s anything else you need me to do, feel free to instruct me. I’ll take my leave first.” Constable Huang smiled and cupped his fists before leaving quickly.

An Le bade Constable Huang farewell and followed Miss Zhuifeng into the residence.

Upon entering the manor, An Le could see the Eight Treasures Heavy Eaves Waterdrop Heavenly Wave Pavilion at a close distance. He could even vaguely hear the chanting of scriptures coming from the building, making it even more majestic.

“Young Master An’s painting was bought by Ninth Sister. Ninth Sister saw that the woman in the painting was lifelike and seemed to be real, so she had an idea and asked Young Master to paint for her.”

Miss Zhuifeng said as she led the way.

“Young Master An, have you just started cultivating? You can’t even suppress the fluctuations of spiritual energy in your body.”

Suddenly, Miss Zhuifeng took a step back and looked at An Le curiously.

“I just completed the Qi Drawing Enlightenment yesterday,” An Le said with a smile without any shame. At the same time, he quietly extracted a wisp of Age Qi from Miss Zhuifeng.

Gray Age Qi lingered in front of his eyes and slowly seeped into his body. An Le felt that it was a pity. Without the Golden Age Qi, it was difficult to condense the Dao Fruit.

Previously, he had also absorbed three times from Fairy Yun Rou before he could absorb the Golden Age Qi. An Le was not in a hurry. If he could not absorb it once, he would just absorb it a few more times.

However, An Le had a reason to stand out among the many painters and stay behind to paint.

After all, it was not easy to find a high-quality resource these days.

An Le subconsciously wanted to take another puff.

However, as soon as this thought appeared, the Age Qi column on the screen jumped again.

It was actually from Miss Zhuifeng…

He absorbed another wisp of Age Qi!