Chapter Four: The Maid Possessing Over a Dozen Strands of Temporal Aura

Unfathomable nobility? An Le took a deep breath; for Head Constable Huang to describe someone in such terms... this was no ordinary person. Yet how could a mere sketch attract such a distinguished patron to request a portrait? Indeed, the sketching technique was rare in this era—uncommon and novel—its lines delineating the subject far differently from the traditional ink-and-wash style, offering greater realism. Still, he was but a simple painter; how could his art warrant the personal request of a personage of such exalted status?

To be noticed by someone of rank was a double-edged sword. An Le knew nothing of such people's temperaments. Had he not awakened the curtain of light that allowed him to siphon the aura of years, perhaps he would have considered seizing the opportunity—befriending a noble might smooth his path ahead. But now, through absorbing the years' aura, he could quietly awaken his Dao fruit and grow stronger in secret. There was no need to risk such entanglement.

Seeing An Le's furrowed brow and apparent confusion, even some hint of retreat, Huang Xian immediately understood his apprehension and thoughts.

"Master An, rest assured—by virtue of the patron's status, you will not be troubled. In fact, the noble only happened upon your work by chance, found it intriguing, and thus asked me to seek out the artist and invite him to paint."

"To be honest, you are not the only painter to be invited..."

"Whether you will be chosen to paint for the patron is still uncertain."

"But I can guarantee, this noble conducts affairs with kindness—even if you are not selected, there is no threat or danger whatsoever; you will even receive a travel stipend arranged by the patron."

Huang Xian spoke.

An Le's spirit lifted at once. "May I ask, Head Constable Huang, about this stipend..."

"It starts at ten taels of silver," Huang Xian replied with a smile. "If you are chosen to paint, your fee will be at least ten times that."

"Head Constable Huang, whether I paint or not is secondary; I mainly admire the noble's grace," An Le said earnestly.

Of course, it wasn't entirely about the money. With Huang Xian speaking thus, if An Le refused to go, he would offend Huang Xian instead of the noble—a loss rather than a gain.

Huang Xian was a head constable of the Black Bureau—a branch dedicated to managing cultivators and apprehending those who broke the law. To offend such a man would make An Le's future anything but peaceful.

It was best to go along with the tide. Even if not chosen, the silver offered was generous.

"Hahaha, Master An, you need not prepare anything; whatever you require is already provided by the patron. Please, Master An..."

Huang Xian rose, one hand on his sword, the other gesturing to the inn's door in a gesture of invitation.

An Le turned sideways, clasped his hands in salute, and replied politely, "Head Constable Huang, after you."

Then, the two left the inn in succession, stepping onto the bustling main street of Lin'an Prefecture.

...

...

Lin'an's main street was lively, cleansed by a spring rain; the sunlight shone gently. Scholars, having been cooped up indoors, now emerged to bask in the sun, breathe in the fresh air, and buy trinkets and snacks from street vendors.

Huang Xian spoke little. After leaving the inn, he led An Le along the slightly muddy bluestone street. Soon, the crowd thinned, for they had reached an area inaccessible to ordinary folk.

An Le's gaze was drawn to a distant mansion.

Its walls were built of blue stone, stretching endlessly. Branches sprawled between the gray tiles, a rush of green. Instead of stone lions, a jade stele stood before the gate, imposing yet noble.

Beyond the vermilion doors towered a pavilion with double eaves, incense smoke curling within.

"Master An, do you now see that my words of 'unfathomable nobility' were not a lie?" Huang Xian teased, seeing An Le's stupefied gaze fixed on the mansion.

"This pavilion and jade stele are its marks. The Heavenly Wave Pavilion, bestowed by the Emperor himself, houses golden books and iron warrants—granting exemption from the nine capital crimes! All civil and military officials must dismount when passing this stele. Master An, tell me, is the Lin family of Heavenly Wave Mansion not noble?"

Huang Xian's tone brimmed with reverence, tinged with sadness and complexity.

"Heavenly Wave Lin Mansion..." An Le murmured.

"The Lin family, loyal and heroic to the last. The patriarch, Old Lord Lin, was a peerless cultivator. With a golden blade, he terrified foreign tribes, earning the name Lin the Invincible. His sons, all prodigies, took to the battlefield and earned great fame."

"When the Mongol emperor broke through to the sacred realm and advanced with his armies, the court decided to move the capital south. Old Lord Lin stayed behind with his golden blade to cover the Emperor's retreat, fighting eight enemy kings. He slew three before falling in battle—his loyalty and courage renowned to all!"

Huang Xian drew a trembling breath, his voice quivering.

An Le glanced sideways; evidently, Head Constable Huang had some connection to the Lin family.

Huang Xian composed himself, said no more, and approached the tightly shut gate. He knocked, and the vermilion doors slowly opened. Out rushed a spirited young girl, a fire poker tied at her waist.

"Head Constable Huang, did you find that artist with the strange painting style?" the girl exclaimed joyfully.

"Miss Windchaser, this is the painter you asked me to find—Master An," Huang Xian gestured to An Le standing at the foot of the steps.

The girl called Windchaser turned to look. Seeing An Le's handsome features, her eyes lit up.

And An Le, gazing at Miss Windchaser, felt excitement surge in his heart.

How could he resist a girl who radiated over a dozen strands of the years' aura? Her aura was nearly equal to that of Fairy Yun Rou, his first target.

It could be inferred that their cultivation levels were similar.

"What a handsome painter! After seeing so many old geezers and musty scholars, this young lord is truly refined," the girl grinned.

"I am An Le of Chongzhou, honored to meet Miss Windchaser," An Le saluted.

"If you paint well, we'll see each other every day," Windchaser smiled, raising a finger and beckoning him. "I'm but a maid of the house; no need for ceremony. Follow me, handsome painter."

An Le was startled. Just a maid... yet her cultivation rivaled Fairy Yun Rou's?

Are maids now so competitive?

"Master An, do your best to paint and strive to be chosen. I'll return to the bureau. If Miss Windchaser needs anything else, just call for me. Farewell," Huang Xian smiled, clasped his fists in farewell, and quickly departed.

An Le bade him goodbye and followed Windchaser into the mansion.

Once inside, An Le saw the Heavenly Wave Pavilion up close, where the sound of recited scripture echoed faintly, its majesty even greater.

"Your painting was purchased by Ninth Sister. She found the woman in the picture lifelike and wished to invite you to paint," Windchaser explained as she led the way.

"Master An, have you just begun cultivating? Your spiritual energy is hard to suppress; it's leaking out," Windchaser suddenly stepped back, eyeing him curiously.

"I only completed my initial Qi induction yesterday," An Le replied without embarrassment, smiling as he discreetly drew a strand of the years' aura from her.

Gray aura swirled before him, slowly entering his body. He felt a slight regret—it wasn't golden, so he couldn't condense his Dao fruit.

Previously, he'd drawn three times from Fairy Yun Rou before obtaining golden aura, so An Le wasn't worried. If it didn't work once, he'd do it again.

But now, he had a reason to stand out among the painters and remain here to paint.

After all, in these times, finding a high-quality girl whose aura could be tapped was no easy feat.

An Le instinctively wanted to draw another strand.

Unexpectedly, the curtain's years' aura column flickered again.

He had, without realizing it, drawn a second strand from Windchaser!