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

Chapter 274: Chapter 171: It’s Done

At the moment, Zheng Xiu just figured Xie Luohe had excellent hearing.

’The ”Sound of All Things”? What a load of crap. Anyone can talk big.’

Still, Zheng Xiu had to admit he was impressed. She could hear his whispers with Chu Chengfeng from that far away. ’Is she some kind of Sharp-Eared?’

Just as Zheng Xiu was about to press her for more details,

Xie Luohe seemed uninterested and didn’t want to talk about it.

She looked to be in a bad mood.

People always say that moody individuals are hard to get along with.

But Zheng Xiu found Xie Luohe quite easy to get along with.

Because she was angry far more often than she was happy.

As long as you didn’t provoke her for no reason, you were fine.

For now, Zheng Xiu only had a vague idea of how to rescue Feng Bei, but he hadn’t figured out a concrete plan.

Cracking the mysteries of the Cannibal Painting was perhaps his only hope now.

To crack the Cannibal Painting, he would ultimately have to start with the Path Mystic Skill. At the same time, he needed to delve deeper into Gongsun Mo’s memories, follow in his footsteps, and figure out why he had created such a terrifying painting.

What was it all for?

Perhaps that was the true key to unlocking the Cannibal Painting.

To put it bluntly: motive.

Having used the Prisoner Path several times to travel between the two realms in his spirit form, Zheng Xiu knew that time inside the Cannibal Painting was nearly frozen, completely different from its passage in the outside world. This allowed him to practice his skills within the painting with peace of mind.

His life-and-death training with the Treasure King in Baili Village had made Zheng Xiu realize one thing: this cycle of Reincarnation wasn’t entirely without its benefits.

Even if his experiences in the Ghostly Realm were reset back to the beginning with every ”cycle,” ”restart,” or ”reload,” the experience he accumulated through each loop would remain, becoming his own.

The desperate struggles in Baili Village had given Zheng Xiu willpower far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Faced with his current situation, he wasn’t the least bit flustered.

Gradually, Zheng Xiu felt his understanding and skill in Danqing improving with each daily task he completed.

Although this meager improvement was only a tiny bit each day, Zheng Xiu could clearly feel himself taking one solid step after another, moving steadily forward on the Painter Path.

He could feel it.

Xie Luohe might have mocked Zheng Xiu for overestimating himself and wanting to conquer the world for that Chu fellow, but as she was telling him to get lost, she casually tossed out two scrolls of the Four Seasons Map.

”Returning this to its rightful owner.”

Xie Luohe said coolly, then entered her house.

Just as the door to the small wooden cabin was about to close, Zheng Xiu blurted out.

”Have you considered putting up some couplets by the door? It would not only add a festive touch but also change things up a bit. Otherwise, this house looks exactly the same as Feng Bei’s home from your last li—”

DING!

”Scram.”

A long arrow shot through the door, passed under Zheng Xiu’s arm, and vanished.

Zheng Xiu hurriedly stuffed the two scrolls of the Four Seasons Map into his robes and swallowed the last of his words.

’She’s rattled.’

Zheng Xiu walked down the mountain path, feeling utterly pleased with himself, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

After two months together, Zheng Xiu had gradually figured out where Xie Luohe’s boundaries were.

Zheng Xiu never pushed it too far.

Just right.

At some point, Zheng Xiu had stopped using the rope ladder.

Xie Luohe had tacitly allowed it.

Zheng Xiu returned to his room, shut the door tight, and unrolled the two scrolls to study them.

It wasn’t until evening, when the room grew dim and Xiaotao came to deliver his meal, thoughtfully lighting an oil lamp for him, that Zheng Xiu finally stretched and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Seeing that her young master seemed to have a sore back, Xiaotao moved up behind him and began to silently knead his shoulders with her Skillful Hands.

Her technique was perfect.

Zheng Xiu closed his eyes, enjoying the massage.

”Young Master, did you paint these?”

”No.” Zheng Xiu shook his head with a smile.

As Xiaotao continued her massage, her small hands paused. She frowned and asked, puzzled, ”But I distinctly remember these paintings are the Mistress’s treasure. She’d always sneak them out at night to look at them by lamplight. How could the Mistress bear to give them to you, Young Master?”

”Xie—”

Zheng Xiu’s eyes widened at her words. He’d only gotten one word out when he abruptly remembered Xie Luohe’s ”Sharp-Eared” ability and quickly changed his tune. ”What’s there to bear or not to bear? The Big Leader may seem harsh, but she has a heart of gold. She’s a good person, very magnanimous—not petty at all. Besides, these were my grandfather’s works to begin with.”

”But the Big Leader isn’t ’harsh-faced’ at all,” Xiaotao muttered under her breath. ”She’s beautiful. I’m so envious.”

’Idiot!’ Zheng Xiu wanted to slap himself. He’d carelessly used the wrong words. He shouldn’t have started with a negative before building her up. ’When you’re dealing with someone who’s Sharp-Eared, you have to lay the praise on thick from the start.’

”By the way.”

Zheng Xiu had been staring at the two Four Seasons Map scrolls all day without finding a single clue. He asked casually, ”Xiaotao, what do you think of these paintings?”

”I think you paint a hundred times better than this, Young Master.”

”Honesty is a virtue.”

Xiaotao pouted. ”But I’m not lying! You paint a thousand times better than these!”

Zheng Xiu knew Xiaotao didn’t have an eye for art.

She was only saying it to flatter him, so he just smiled and didn’t press the issue.

Xiaotao asked why he was so preoccupied with the two paintings.

Zheng Xiu smiled. ”Legend says there’s a heaven-sized secret hidden within this set of Four Seasons Map scrolls.”

”A heaven-sized secret?” Xiaotao’s eyes lit up, but she quickly covered her ears. ”Am I allowed to hear this?”

”It’s fine.”

Ever since he found out about Xie Luohe’s Sharp-Eared ability, Zheng Xiu had become more cautious with his words, not daring to say just anything that came to mind.

In any case, he hadn’t found the secret himself, and it was possible the only one who knew it, the National Preceptor, was already dead.

Xiaotao continued to knead his shoulders as they chatted. Zheng Xiu told her a few short stories, and soon it was late into the night.