I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 229: Chapter 156: Silhouette

The face reflected on the water’s surface was his own—Zheng Xiu’s face.

Not Gongsun Mo’s!

”I’m Gongsun Mo? My alt? Huh? How is that possible... Hahaha!”

The initial shock gave way to amusement, and Zheng Xiu clutched his stomach, roaring with laughter.

His laughter died.

Zheng Xiu shook his head, his expression turning grave. ”This is impossible.”

Impossible.

Zheng Xiu had one rule when creating his alts: whether or not they were Human was up for debate, but they at least had to be part of the Zheng Family.

Zheng Shan, Zheng Er, Zheng Baimei.

That was his principle.

And a principle couldn’t just be broken on a whim.

Zheng Xiu quickly dismissed the absurd notion and turned to other possibilities.

He recalled the moment he had unleashed the Heaven and Earth Sword Intent. He had been in his Incarnation of Zheng Baimei, caught in a Life and Death Struggle. At that moment, his original Human Soul had also left his body.

Zheng Xiu pulled open his shirt to check his chest. There was no hole.

He splashed hot water on his face, washing away the last of his hangover.

Beside the door stood a bamboo basket, inside which a row of painting scrolls was neatly secured with cloth strips. Tucked away in the basket was also an exquisite brocade box. He opened it to find an expensive set of Art Supplies, complete with brushes, inksticks, and a Jade Inkstone.

There were six brushes in total, made from a variety of fine hairs: wolf, mouse, purple sable, a special blend, ox-ear, and a three-seven mix.

Each brush was engraved with a different design: leaf veins, a landscape, flowers, a white bird, a long snake, and cloud patterns.

”So... so professional.”

Zheng Xiu sighed in awe.

These were clearly ”Gongsun Mo’s” personal effects. It was obvious at a glance. While other men carried swords and sabers, Gongsun Mo traveled with a stack of paper and brushes. No wonder that arrogant Young Master from the Baili Escort Agency had immediately pegged him as a ”Poor Scholar.”

But Zheng Xiu could tell with a single look that, judging by this set alone, this Gongsun Mo was anything but ”poor.” In fact, he likely came from a family of some means. To say nothing of the Jade Inkstone carved from top-grade dark jadeite, or the delicately engraved inkstick, just that single ”Leaf-Vein Ox-Ear” brush—from its craftsmanship, it was probably not a product of the current dynasty. It was very likely an antique.

Zheng Xiu stared in silence for a long while.

He walked over as if compelled, carefully taking out a roll of Xuan paper and spreading it across the desk.

Zheng Xiu rolled up his sleeves and meticulously began grinding the inkstick on the Jade Inkstone, adding clear water to adjust the Ink’s concentration. His movements were slow, but it was clear he was practiced. Though it took some time, the resulting ink was perfectly mixed, its rich, layered tones visible even on the resilient hairs of the brush.

Dipping the brush into the ink, Zheng Xiu held back his sleeve with one hand and lifted the brush with the other.

He held the pose for a long time.

Zheng Xiu froze, snapping back to himself. ’Wait a minute.’ He might carry the title of ”Mighty Painter” and walk the Painter Path, but he was keenly aware of how shallow his own skills were; he’d only managed to glimpse the Path by freeloading off Feng Bei. And yet, he had just performed that entire sequence of actions as smoothly as flowing water.

Before he lifted the brush, the white sheet was just paper. But the moment he did, he suddenly felt as if it had transformed into a bottomless lake, its mysteries unfathomable, its surface unable to reflect his own heart. This jarring feeling of being Gongsun Mo and yet not being him made Zheng Xiu freeze, brush poised in the air, unable to begin.

It was like at the market, when he’d wanted to fight back. His mind was willing, but his body couldn’t keep up, so he couldn’t retaliate.

Now, it was the exact opposite. His deoxyribonucleic acid was moving on its own. His body was ready, but his mind couldn’t keep up with Gongsun Mo’s, so he couldn’t put brush to paper.

’That’s right.’

Zheng Xiu looked at the scholar’s four treasures, these sacred tools of a Painter, and his heart surged with warmth.

His Incarnation, Zheng Shan, walked a genuine Painter Path, one he had truly earned.

And now, by a stroke of fate, he could experience the memories of the legendary ”Ghost Painter,” Gongsun Mo, from a first-person perspective.

He could personally experience Gongsun Mo’s understanding of the Painter Path.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

’What a coincidence!’

’It’s a blessing in disguise!’

This was a golden opportunity to rapidly improve his painting skills and raise his artistic realm.

’I wonder if Feng Bei and Ruchen are trapped in the same predicament?’

If he was using his own face within ”Gongsun Mo’s memories,” then they shouldn’t have much trouble recognizing him. The only worry was... what if he wasn’t?

As for explaining the relationship between ”Zheng Shan” and ”Zheng Xiu” after being recognized, that wasn’t a challenge for Master Zheng, who was an expert at juggling multiple identities.

’I lost weight,’ ’I’ve been through a lot,’ ’It’s an illusion,’ ’None of it is real,’ ’It was an accident,’ ’I couldn’t help myself’—Zheng Xiu could rattle off such excuses with ease. No need to overthink it.

Zheng Xiu gradually began to sort out his thoughts.

If he approached this with the mindset of clearing a Ghostly Realm... this particular ”World in the Painting” was a strange Ghostly Realm with no hints, no narration, and no telling if it would reset upon failure. But, as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Zheng Xiu set two ”missions” for himself.

First, follow in Gongsun Mo’s footsteps to find Feng Bei and Ruchen, and find a way to Crack the World in the Painting.

Second, use the Ghost Painter Gongsun Mo’s understanding of the ”Painter” to delve deeper into the Path.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

”Younger Brother Gongsun! Are you done fiddling around in there?”

Zheng Xiu had lost track of how long he’d been in the room. Chu Chengfeng was back to hurry him along.

”Hah...”

The Painter let out a long sigh, set down his brush, and called out that he’d be right there. He washed the Art Supplies in the basin, put them away neatly, and slung the basket onto his back.

The premium room Zheng Xiu occupied was the most secluded one, tucked away at the very end of the second-floor hallway. When he pushed the door open, Chu Chengfeng was waiting. With a longsword strapped to his back and a pendant hanging from his waist, he grinned and slung an arm around Zheng Xiu’s shoulders. ”Younger Brother Gongsun, how about a few more cups for the hair of the dog?”

Zheng Xiu’s eyes widened. In his head, Xiaozheng was cursing up a storm, but on his face, the young Gongsun Mo could only muster a pained smile. ”Brother Chu, please don’t joke around. You know full well what my alcohol tolerance is. If I were to have a few more cups with you, I fear I wouldn’t be able to continue our journey north today.”