I Can Devour Spirits

Duan Rong, having eaten and drunk his fill, prepared to return to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency for a short rest before beginning his stance training.

But just as he reached the entrance of the escort agency, he was stopped by Ma Wentao, who smiled and said, ”Escort Master Duan, there is an invitation for you.”

”An invitation? From where?” Duan Rong asked.

”Ancient Moon Studio.”

Duan Rong’s heart stirred as he accepted the invitation and opened it. It turned out to be from Tang Wanhong, the shopkeeper of Ancient Moon Studio, inviting him over to appraise an ancient painting.

It was said to be an appraisal, but in truth, it was to have him take a look.

Thirty taels a time; for Duan Rong a few months ago, this would have been a considerable amount of silver coins. But now Duan Rong had little regard for this sum of silver.

However, Duan Rong decided to go since it was previously agreed upon, and he did not want to go back on his word. Moreover, Ancient Moon Studio seemed to have some connections with Shen Yanliu, whom he couldn’t afford to offend.

Duan Rong gathered the invitation and asked, ”When was this invitation delivered?”

”Not long ago, about a quarter of an hour,” Ma Wentao replied.

Duan Rong tucked the invitation into his sleeve, turned his steps, and headed towards the Antique Street.

Duan Rong hadn’t come here for a few months, but the vendors still recognized him at a glance and affectionately called out his nickname ”Touch Once,” greeting him warmly.

Duan Rong merely responded with a sheepish smile and quickly walked past.

Duan Rong slipped into Ancient Moon Studio, where the clerk, Guan Kui, was gently dusting the counter with a feather duster.

When Guan Kui saw Duan Rong, he was momentarily stunned, hesitating to recognize him.

Duan Rong’s features hadn’t changed, but he was much more robust and taller than a few months ago, wearing the attire of an Escort Master, with a completely different aura!

”What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me?” Duan Rong said with a smile.

Guan Kui, coming back to his senses, replied awkwardly, ”Mr. Duan’s stature has grown considerably, and his demeanor has changed as well. Forgive my untrained eye for nearly not recognizing you.”

Duan Rong smiled and said, ”It’s not your fault; I should have visited more often. Where is Shopkeeper Tang?”

While asking, Duan Rong’s eyes swept around.

Guan Kui replied, ”Shopkeeper Tang is in the back hall. He instructed that when Mr. Duan arrives, he should proceed directly inside.”

Duan Rong nodded and strode through the front hall, lifted the heavy curtain, and slipped inside.

This back hall was originally a place for antique trade discussions. As Duan Rong stepped in, he saw Tang Wanhong standing in front of a few cases, smiling at him.

On those cases, an eight-foot-wide painting was already spread out.

Tang Wanhong, seeing Duan Rong, said, ”Mr. Duan, truly a gentleman’s rapid transformation! I almost didn’t dare recognize you.”

Duan Rong sighed inwardly. After all, he was a shopkeeper; the same words sounded more cultured coming from him than from a clerk.

Duan Rong smiled and said, ”I’ve just grown a bit taller, hardly a swift transformation, Shopkeeper Tang, you flatter me!”

”Please have a seat, Mr. Duan!” Tang Wanhong said, gesturing to a seat.

Duan Rong took a seat in front of the cases, and Tang Wanhong placed a cup of tea by his side. Duan Rong took a sip and went straight to the point, ”Shopkeeper Tang, is this painting here the one mentioned in your invitation?”

Tang Wanhong replied solemnly, ”Indeed. Mr. Duan, this painting is the ’Pine Wind in Myriad Valleys’.”

”It’s the work of Master Juran. Master Juran was a reclusive wandering monk, and only two of his paintings have been passed down in the world; this is one of them.”

Tang Wanhong said, gazing at the eight-foot-wide painting on the case, a hint of infatuation in his eyes, ”I believe this painting is undoubtedly genuine, but since it is precious, for the sake of precaution, I need to trouble Mr. Duan to take a look so that I can be at ease.”

Duan Rong laughed and said, ”Shopkeeper Tang’s eyesight is undoubtedly excellent. If I were to take a look, wouldn’t that be like gilding the lily?”

Tang Wanhong replied, ”Mr. Duan, don’t joke like that. If you’re gilding, then I must be manure.”

With these words, the two of them laughed.

Duan Rong stood up in front of the cases and looked at the painting. He himself had painted for two months and now had some preliminary understanding of the essence and techniques of painting.

Therefore, at a glance, Duan Rong felt as though his soul was about to leave his body.

Tang Wanhong, seeing Duan Rong’s expression, knew that he was as shocked by the painting’s mental realm as he was and said, ”The grandeur of the ink and the substantial aura, even if a copyist captures the form, they cannot capture the gods. Thus, I am certain it’s a genuine piece.”

Duan Rong suppressed his inner tremor and lightly placed his hand on the edge of the painting, secretly commanding, ”Read Artifact Spirit.”

Artifact: Pine Wind in Myriad Valleys

Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Eight

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level Eight (Unfulfilled)

Devouring Effect: Danqing Brush Level Seven, Powerful Penetration Level Four, Communicate with Celestial Being Basic Level.

Seeing the data appear before him, Duan Rong was almost certain that the painting was genuine. Just the devouring effect, particularly the Communicate with Celestial Being Basic Level, was beyond what any imitator could reproduce.

Duan Rong lifted his head, looking brightly at Tang Wanhong, and said, ”Shopkeeper Tang can rest assured this painting is undoubtedly authentic.”

Tang Wanhong, seeing Duan Rong’s bright eyes and confident tone, finally put his last doubts to rest and laughed, ”Mr. Duan, your words have set my mind at ease.”

The two of them chatted for a while longer, and then Tang Wanhong took out a silver note worth fifty taels as Duan Rong’s carriage fee.

Duan Rong accepted the silver note and suddenly noticed two used teacups at the end of the case, their lids placed at an angle, indicating they had been drunk from.

Duan Rong’s heart stirred, thinking: Besides Tang Wanhong, there must be another person in this back hall.

Duan Rong’s Divine Sense suddenly spread outward, and he immediately discovered a person quietly seated behind a nearby screen, holding a copper piece.

As Duan Rong’s Divine Sense swept over that person, his breath hitched slightly. The person seated behind the screen was none other than Shen Yanliu, the County Magistrate of Xianggu County.

Duan Rong was startled in his heart but remained expressionless, politely bidding farewell to Tang Wanhong before exiting the back hall.

As soon as Duan Rong left the back hall, Shen Yanliu walked out slowly, looking at Tang Wanhong, and said, ”This person appears quite young. Is he really an expert in antiques?”

Tang Wanhong looked at Shen Yanliu with respect and said, ”Seated Lord! This young Mr. Duan, although young, should have a profound family background. His expertise in antiques far surpasses mine.”

”Really?” Shen Yanliu was somewhat surprised. He had already recognized Duan Rong through the slits of the screen.

From the time Ma Chunmin had invited Duan Rong to a banquet, he had been suspicious. A simple escort master having such remarkable painting skills, able to cause paper to be in demand at the street side?

However, it now seemed that this Duan Rong must be the scion of a fallen noble family, with art skills and antiquity knowledge passed down from his household.

Duan Rong exited Ancient Moon Studio with a somber expression. Walking quickly, he squatted by a stall near the entrance, pretending to examine the antiques. But the moment he squatted down, his Divine Sense again expanded outward.

With Duan Rong at the center, within a hundred-meter radius, everything came under his purview.

Duan Rong focused his Divine Sense on the rear hall of Ancient Moon Studio, clearly ”seeing” Shen Yanliu and Tang Wanhong sitting and conversing there.