Inner Demons

Chapter 67: The Old Fisherman Angling

After the sound of hoofbeats faded into the distance, Li Yunxin leaped onto a branch again and peered into the distance.

He saw the black horse carrying two people galloping along the long street. Not long after, several fast horses came from a distance, their riders dressed as constables, presumably tracking them.

However, looking at their speed, they were far behind the black horse and probably wouldn't catch up. Ying Jueran already possessed the skill of a first-rate master; although he was no match for Li Yunxin's full spiritual energy, he could use his internal energy to rush out of the city gate with ease—

Meng'e should be safe.

Li Yunxin didn't know why that psychopath took Meng'e with him, but it seemed he meant no harm.

He had initially thought him a fanatic, but it turned out he was quite adaptable—no wonder. A mere fanatic probably wouldn't have survived until now.

He let him go simply for a thought, or for amusement.

Like casually scattering an interesting seed, eager to see what it would eventually grow into.

He watched for a while, then turned his head and saw someone else arrive at the entrance of Dragon King Temple.

He leaped down from the tree branches, gave a few instructions to the Cat Demon, and exited through the small back door of the Qiao Family.Upon stepping out, he smelled the distinctive scent of burnt firecrackers, and red paper confetti littered the ground.

Yin Pingzhi stood at the entrance, his hand on his waist saber, conversing with several women. Several idle men also gathered nearby, but they were timid and dared not speak, yet were reluctant to leave. They seemed eager to make an impression on a prominent figure like Head Constable Yin, hoping that perhaps one day they might get some easy jobs.

Old Daoist Liu stood to the side, stroking his beard with a reserved air. All his previous anxiety was gone, replaced by a radiant complexion, as if he had temporarily forgotten the worries of last night.

It made sense, of course—the Head Constable himself had come to their door. The charges were surely completely cleared.

From now on, the Dragon King Temple, "personally visited by the Head Constable," would surely see even more incense offerings—and naturally, more money from incense.

Li Yunxin walked through the crowd, entering the door with a perfectly natural expression, like a truly unremarkable Daoist disciple, and went straight to the back courtyard. He sat at a stone table among the bamboo for a while, and then Head Constable Yin and the old Daoist also came in.

In just one night, Head Constable Yin seemed to have figured things out. Seeing Li Yunxin again, all his arrogance, anxiety, or fear had vanished. Instead, he greeted him like an old acquaintance of equal standing, bowing as he walked: "You truly have excellent methods. If you wanted Meng'e, you only had to say so, and I would have sent him out—why go to such great lengths and kill people?"

Li Yunxin observed Yin Pingzhi's expression with interest, then lowered his eyes: "Black Saber is not my man. I don't have such great divine powers."

This truth, to Yin Pingzhi, sounded like a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion. If an ordinary young man said this, Yin Pingzhi would readily believe him. But when this person said it...

He truly dared not believe it.

So he changed the subject: "What you say is what it is. But there's good news today. Both of you are Artificers—have you heard of 'Painting of the Old Fisherman Angling'?"

Li Yunxin's finger twitched slightly.

Are you kidding me? Of course, he had heard of it.

This painting was very famous in the secular world. Most of the extant precious paintings were made by ancient Painting Daoists, or by Painting Daoists currently worshipped by the Grotto-heaven School.

However, this "Painting of the Old Fisherman Angling" was created by a Manifestation Realm Artificer from Jinghua.

Secular Manifestation Realm Artificers naturally couldn't compare to professional Painting Daoists. But this didn't prevent some high-level secular Artificers from occasionally finding inspiration and creating extremely excellent paintings.

For example, that Artificer, whose Daoist name was Daomeizi. He was formerly a Royal Artificer. After enjoying a life of luxury and wealth, he retired to his hometown, taking pleasure in teaching and spreading the Dao.

On a drizzly spring day, the old Artificer, cloaked in a straw raincoat, floated on a small boat on the river, fishing, and drank some wine. Feeling utterly content, he thought about his past life and his current situation, giving rise to a feeling of "no regrets in life, nothing more to seek."

So, after returning home that day, he created the "Painting of the Old Fisherman Angling."

It is said that once the painting was completed, it filled the room with brilliant light—it became a precious masterpiece.

Not only was it a treasure for mortals, but it was also a treasure for cultivators—it could be used to comprehend the Delusion Heart Tribulation.

This Daomeizi had created the most satisfying work of his life, with no regrets, and should have been even happier. Unfortunately, that day he drank wine, and was exposed to wind and rain, returning home with a cold. His condition worsened, and he soon passed away.

However, the painting was eventually passed down.

Old Daoist Liu heard of this painting, his eyebrows raised, and excitement overflowed from his expression: "Of course I've heard of it—Master Daomeizi's posthumous work?!"

"Precisely," Yin Pingzhi said with a smile. "Master Daomeizi had descendants. And now his direct grandson... hmm, he is also an Artificer, reportedly a Grand Artificer of the Intent Realm, and he has come to Weicheng. He's brought that 'Painting of the Old Fisherman Angling' with him."

"That... is... Master Pei Juezi?" Old Daoist Liu said this, subconsciously glancing at Li Yunxin.

He knew Li Yunxin had great powers and was very strong in some aspects. However, in the Dao of Painting, although the old Daoist also knew Brother Xin was far more skilled than himself, he didn't know exactly how much more skilled.

Because the Water Cloud Strength Li Yunxin taught him was mainly for tempering the Spiritual Soul and body.

Li Yunxin didn't say, so the old Daoist didn't know—he was now cultivating the most authentic and core Celestial Heart Orthodox Law. Old Daoist Hunyuanzi, at this moment, was indeed a proper cultivator, not a secular wild Taoist priest.

But for Old Daoist Liu...

He had never met the Painting Daoists from the Grotto-heavens or the Schools.

He didn't even know of their existence.

In his perception, Artificers were just those in the secular world. Following the realms of Daoist Orthodoxy and Sword Sect, they were also divided into five levels from high to low: "Mysterious-True-Transformation-Illusory-Conceptual." However, the five realms of Artificers could never be compared to the five realms of proper cultivators.

At least in this "world," there had never appeared an Artificer above the Manifestation Realm—in Old Daoist Liu's mind, that was probably indeed impossible.

However, on this point, he had guessed correctly.

Secular Artificers, without guidance, even if they were born prodigies and cultivated to the Manifestation Realm themselves, but were unaware of the need to find a "Dao Heart," how could they possibly break through to the True Realm?

So at this moment, Old Daoist Liu also wasn't sure how Brother Xin compared to Pei Juezi, the direct grandson of Master Daomeizi. Although he was somewhat unconvinced in his heart, he still couldn't help but feel that Brother Xin...

Should be inferior to him.

The direct grandson of a Royal Artificer, knowledgeable and well-fed from a young age, with countless famous paintings collected in his family... Even if Brother Xin came from a prestigious family, how could he compare?

Old Daoist Liu couldn't help but worry. He knew Li Yunxin was arrogant and proud—now that Yin Pingzhi had come to say this, Brother Xin might inevitably be displeased with him...

To his surprise, Li Yunxin smiled: "Oh? Mr. Yin came to visit today just to talk about this? What's going on, is this Master Pei Juezi traveling the world to broaden his horizons, and just happened to come to Weicheng to hold a treasure appraisal conference?"