Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Selling Paintings? That’s Poem Money!

The girl’s gaze lingered briefly on Chu Ming, then turned to the scholar Liang Yuan: ”This painting, is it also the young master’s copy?”

The level of this fourth painting was clearly above the previous three. Though it still copied Mr. Tang Bai’s landscape, its details showed personal understanding. It shouldn’t be the work of a mere scholar...

Of course, this was something she wouldn’t say out loud.

Ning Hao and Liang Yuan only glanced at it, immediately understanding why the girl was so surprised.

The technique and atmosphere of this last painting were already beginning to escape the boundaries of the original landscape.

A flash of shock crossed deep within their eyes.

This Junior Brother Chu could only copy yesterday, but today he had already painted something original atop the copying...

Did he really just start to learn calligraphy and painting?

The girl saw the lack of emotion on Liang Yuan’s face, and assumed the fourth painting was his work.

She chuckled softly: ”This painting’s handling of detail is distinctive, but it feels a bit like gilding the lily...”

Before her words settled, Liang Yuan, still in scholar guise, spoke quietly: ”This painting is not mine. It is my young master’s work, and he asked me to copy it.”

”Oh?” The girl’s eyes sparkled instantly, and her beautiful gaze finally, justifiably, landed on Chu Ming: ”On closer look, it’s not gilding the lily after all—mountains are mountains, then not mountains, then mountains again. The young master’s technique far surpasses the little scholar’s.”

Are you sure that’s what you meant to say?

Just now, young master; now, the little scholar?

This girl isn’t judging the paintings—she’s judging faces!

After returning, I must learn disguise technique properly!

Liang Yuan’s mouth opened slightly; if it weren’t for having to play the scholar, he would’ve definitely argued back.

Ning Hao, seeing Liang Yuan’s dejected look, could only find it amusing inside.

At that moment, both had the same thought—next time, let me play the scholar.

No—let Brother Chu disguise me as a scholar!

Their own disguise skills couldn’t achieve the same effect.

Chu Ming, dressed as a scholar, looked utterly calm: ”How many silver taels for this painting?”

”This painting...” The girl, seeing Chu Ming finally speak to her, showed a shy maiden’s flush: ”If it’s painted by the young master, then six taels of silver.”

If? What’s with that?

Does it have to be this deliberate?

Liang Yuan pursed his lips.

So, if I painted the same one, it’d be worth less?

”Six taels...” Chu Ming looked thoughtful.

”Then seven,” the girl smiled sweetly, ”could the young master leave his name?”

”...Six taels.” Chu Ming didn’t want to waste words.

”Leave your name and you’ll get another tael...” The girl’s cheeks reddened.

The scholar before her looked just like the one in the peach blossom scroll hanging on the wall...

”No need, just the money.” Chu Ming didn’t want to waste time.

The girl had nothing more to say, merely kept her gentle smile as she drew out the silver from beneath the counter: ”Young master, the first three copied paintings are fifteen taels, the last one is six taels, a total of twenty-one.”

Twenty-one taels!

Liang Yuan, hearing the amount, felt his eyes flicker relentlessly.

Ning Hao, born to a wealthy family and no stranger to gold, still felt his heartbeat quicken at the sight of twenty-one taels of silver.

As they say, distant water can’t quench a nearby thirst; Mr. Shen’s recent meal left him dry. Seeing these twenty-odd taels, Yunqi Courtyard’s earnings looked very inviting indeed.

Right, Brother Chu is with Yunqi Courtyard; we’re all one group here...

”Mm.” Chu Ming took the silver, face impassive, and turned to leave, with the rough-looking Ning Hao and scholar Liang Yuan trailing behind.

The girl looked at Chu Ming’s back, her beautiful eyes sparkling again, cherry-red lips moved as if yearning to speak.

Just as Chu Ming reached the door, several people approached head-on.

At the front was a young man in brocade, jade coronet on his head, with a cold-faced middle-aged man at his side, followed by several armed guards.

The youth held his chin high, his face icy. He merely swept a glance at Chu Ming’s group before leading the guards inside.

The middle-aged man and guards stared coldly at Chu Ming and the others until they brushed past.

Yet, in that instant after passing, the rough-looking Ning Hao frowned slightly, as if recognizing the youth.

At the same time, Chu Ming’s eyes flashed coldly.

The youth—he knew him.

Second son of the Chu Family, the original master’s second brother, Chu Yu.

He actually ran into him here.

Chu Ming remained expressionless, activating Sword Gourd Spirit.

Chu Yu’s aura was much like Ning Hao and Liang Yuan’s, just another ordinary youth. But the guards Chu Yu brought were all martial artists of considerable strength, at least having condensed four or five streams of Qi and Blood Power.

As for the cold and aloof middle-aged man...

This man also appeared in the original master’s memories: Wu Tian, housekeeper to that lady of the Chu Mansion, his prowess matched martial artists who had condensed six or seven streams of Qi and Blood Power.

And!

This Wu Housekeeper carried the same scent of blood evil as Qin Gui and the tea stall owner!

The Chu Family absolutely had ties to the Blood Evil Sect.

He betrayed no sign of abnormality, and the three left Rain Paint Tower without pause.

”Brother Chu, off to see Mr. Tang Bai’s True Map of Mountains and Rivers?” Liang Yuan whispered.

Ning Hao’s eyes turned odd as he looked at Chu Ming, his mouth moving like he wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowing it.

”Is it far from here?” Chu Ming asked in a low voice.

”Not far, just ahead.” Liang Yuan pointed down the street.

”Alright, let’s go.”

Chu Ming nodded slightly; the three walked along the street.

He certainly wasn’t leaving so easily.

After Sword Gourd Spirit reached Great Success, his observation range had greatly increased. While it still couldn’t cover all of Painting Workshop Street, it was more than enough for a block or two.

As long as the distance wasn’t far, he could track Chu Yu and Wu Tian by catching their aura.

They’d barely taken a few steps before stopping in front of a building.

Looking closely, it was a kind of ’exhibition’ gallery.

”Brother Chu, entry is one and a half taels of silver per person...” Liang Yuan smiled, fingers rubbing inside his sleeve.

”Alright,” Chu Ming didn’t hesitate, straight out six taels of silver, ”two taels for the entry, the other four for Senior Brother Liang’s painting money.”

With three people, paying for entry definitely shouldn’t be done by the scholar himself.

”I’ll pay.” Before Liang Yuan could move, the rough-guy Ning Hao snatched the silver, ”Young master, whatever you need, just let me do it.”

He was too strapped, honestly—even a tael mattered, or he’d never last till next month.

”You?!” Liang Yuan’s hand, holding the money, hung mid-air, his expression less than happy. ”Give me back my painting payment!”

”What painting payment? That’s for selling poetry!”

”Fine, fine, the Ningx Family young master fighting a low-class scholar for silver...”

”...”

The three paid the entry fee and entered the gallery.

The gallery displayed many paintings; Chu Ming scanned and saw at least a hundred.

”Brother Chu, the gallery has one hundred and twenty authentic works, but only Mr. Tang Bai’s True Map of Mountains and Rivers truly counts as a master’s work; it’s ranked first. Then there are two more, painted by Xirong County’s Qi Shi, and two by our Baiyuan County Magistrate.”

Speaking of the Baiyuan County magistrate, Liang Yuan’s eyes changed noticeably—much like Ning Hao’s reverence when meeting Shen Yu.