Chapter 231 Success in Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting
About half an hour later, Chen Yi returned to the Xiao family.
As he stepped off the carriage, he noticed that Wang Lixing and the others' brows had relaxed, unlike in the morning and yesterday.
Chen Yi glanced around, guessed what was going on, and simply smiled and greeted them before heading straight to Chunhe Garden.
Faintly, one could hear Liu Si'er and Wang Lixing talking behind them.
"The price of grain has risen again today; one shi of fine grain costs 1.8 liang."
"However, the Marquis has already decided not to buy grain, but to borrow it."
"Borrow? From whom?"
"Guangyue Prefecture".
"The Duke of Gan?"
"Who else could it be but him?"
"That's a good idea. We can borrow grain to tide us over, and then make up for it when the price of grain drops."
"However, this matter can only be decided after the Marquis writes to the Duke of Gan, which will probably take a few more days..."
Borrow food?
Chen Yi was secretly pleased; the old man had finally shown some wit.
It's obvious that someone in Shu Prefecture is setting a trap for the Xiao family. Whether he accepts it or not, there will be trouble afterward.
They either had to fight to the death with the people behind the grain store, or they had to find a way to raise money.
But things were different when the old master went to the Duke of Guangyue Prefecture.
Whether the price of grain in Shu Prefecture rises or falls, it will not affect the Xiao family in the slightest, nor will it be subject to anyone's control or manipulation.
The most ingenious part is that the old man didn't buy it, but borrowed it.
He still had a large sum of money in his hands.
In this way, the Xiao family can both attack and defend, and will be able to hold out for longer.
As for whether the Duke of Gan will lend grain...
Chen Yi pondered for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face.
"Whether he lends the money or not, it won't be the worst outcome."
A friend in need is a friend indeed; it's better than being stabbed in the back when you face a major disaster later.
Just.
Such information would be more effective if kept secret.
Back in Chunhe Garden.
Chen Yi looked around and, seeing that no one was moving around in the garden, listened intently.
The sound of Pei Guanli practicing martial arts techniques echoed from within the bamboo grove, "I must protect my brother-in-law, next time for sure, for sure..."
Chen Yi was speechless; this girl was obsessed.
Since what happened on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, Pei Guanli has been practicing martial arts even more diligently than before.
Chen Yi would hear similar words from time to time, and he understood that Tiger Girl was really scared.
His gaze then turned to Jiaxingyuan.
Faintly, Xiao Wan'er's laughter could be heard, "...Remember to bring a rope, so it's easier to measure."
"Bring several notebooks with paper, pens, and other essentials."
"It might rain tomorrow, so bring a couple more clothes... Xiaodie, remember to prepare some for your second son-in-law too."
"Also, since Wu Ge isn't going this time, someone needs to look after him in the manor. Xiao Die and Ting Yun, I'll trouble you two to stay here."
"Yes, Miss..."
Hearing this, Chen Yi hung the oil-paper umbrella under the eaves to dry, thinking to himself:
Xiao Wan'er is indeed very concerned about the Medical Academy; she has made so many preparations just for choosing a location.
In contrast, he was quite relaxed.
Looking at the fresh and natural spring lotus garden after the rain, Chen Yi smiled:
"It's not that there's nothing to do."
Now he lacks one of the four arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, except for painting.
It's time to complete it.
Thinking about it, Chen Yi went to the study, spread out a sheet of pine paper, mixed the ink, and began to write and draw.
Don't say it.
Once he has mastered calligraphy, it will also benefit his studies in painting.
At the very least, his brushwork is very skillful; with a few strokes, a painting begins to take shape.
However, brushwork is one thing, but the essence of painting ultimately depends on painting skills, techniques, and suitable pigments, etc.
So in the end, he only drew an outline.
Chen Yi looked at the withered tree branches in front of him, which resembled those in a mass grave, and couldn't help but grin.
"I actually wanted to draw a picture of pine and cypress trees."
Fortunately, it was still a painting, so after he wrote the title and signature, two lines of golden characters floated before his eyes.
[Successfully completed ink painting training; Level: Beginner]
[Artistic Skill: Beginner 0/1 (Points can be added)]
Chen Yi glanced at it and directly consumed 11 points of opportunity to raise his painting skills to the minor completion level.
The profound mysteries of the basics and minor achievements of painting suddenly surfaced in his mind.
After a quick glance, he spread out a new sheet of cloud and pine paper, practicing the brushstrokes of ink painting while absorbing the mysteries of the art.
Painting and calligraphy do indeed have many things in common.
Aside from the emphasis on blank space and artistic conception, the only difference lies in the form and brushwork used in the presentation.
Just like Wei Qing's weight is upright and grand, his running script emphasizes naturalness and freehand style.
Ink painting emphasizes meaning over exact likeness, but it is difficult to depict detailed features in a freehand style.
Having grasped this point, Chen Yi's progress in ink painting techniques was remarkably rapid.
In just over an hour, his ink painting skills improved from the beginner level to the proficient level.
Regardless of his skill level, he has at least mastered the techniques for painting various shades of black and gray in ink wash painting.
Chen Yi looked at the paintings on the thirteen sheets of paper in front of him, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"Now I have achieved mastery in calligraphy, great success in chess, and minor success in music and painting."
"Although there are different levels of skill, I have indeed achieved something in the four arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
Just then, Xiaodie peeked in, and when she saw him, her face lit up with joy.
"Son-in-law, when did you get back?"
Chen Yi snapped out of his reverie, calmly putting away the cloud and pine paper on the table, especially the first few drawings, and replied, "It's been some time."
After hiding several paintings in his sleeve, he beckoned to Xiaodie: "Come and see how well your son-in-law has painted."
Upon hearing this, Xiaodie walked over, looking curiously at the table while smiling and saying, "The painting by the young master is certainly very good."
However, when she saw those paintings, a look of doubt appeared on her face.
"Young master, are all these paintings of the same scene?"
Just like a child who loves bright colors, she couldn't see any difference between the dark mountains and the gray rivers.
Chen Yi's smile froze for a moment, and he silently put away several paintings, keeping only the best one and throwing the rest into the wastebasket.
“You’re right, they’re all the same scenery… so there’s no need to keep so many.”
Xiaodie didn't notice anything unusual about him, but she thought of one thing and asked:
"Young Master, did Miss Guanli ask you to paint this morning before you started?"
"I guess so."
Chen Yi gave a perfunctory reply, then asked her to help tidy up the table, and inquired, "Is everything tidied up at Jiaxing Garden?"
"Yes, Miss brought a lot of things with her this time, and she also told me to bring you a few more clothes."
Xiaodie looked a little disappointed and said, "However, Xiaodie can't go with you this time."
"The young lady instructed me to stay and look after Young Master Wu Ge."
Chen Yi had heard about it, and after tidying up the table, he smiled and said:
"We're not going there for leisure; we have serious business to attend to."
"When I have some free time in a few days, your son-in-law will take you on an autumn outing."
Although the scenery in autumn is not as bright as in spring and summer, it has the advantage of pleasant weather.
Take a walk around and explore; you'll naturally discover a unique charm.
Xiaodie lowered her head shyly and said, "Young master, you can take Xiaodie with you wherever you go."
"It's fine for sightseeing or for business."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi pinched her cheek and pulled it a couple of times, saying, "I was just worried about tiring you out."
"Ouch, young master, it hurts..."
Let's exchange a few jokes.
When Xiao Wuge returned, Chen Yi asked Xiao Die to prepare dinner.
During the meal, Xiao Wuge naturally recounted his experiences at the martial arts arena, his eyes sparkling with excitement, clearly showing his strong interest in martial arts.
Chen Yi simply agreed without saying anything more.
In his view, Xiao Wuge would have many benefits from having martial arts skills when he went to Jinling in the future.
It's better than letting him be a hostage for ten years, living like a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, never leaving his home.
As usual, Pei Guanli showed off her martial arts skills, patting her chest and saying, "Tomorrow, I'll teach you a powerful palm technique."
"real?"
"Of course it's true. Ask your brother-in-law if my palm technique is powerful or not."
Seeing Chen Yi nod, Xiao Wuge quickly said, "Sister Guanli, I want to learn!"
"Don't worry, I've got it covered. It's all because Sister Wan'er and her husband didn't take us along..."
Chen Yi chuckled to himself.
Pei Guanli originally wanted to go with them to the Xiao family's fiefdom outside the city, but because she was worried about missing the letter or visitors from the mountain tribe, she had to stay in Chunhe Garden.
Furthermore, Chen Yi was also worried that the Five Poisons Sect would come to Shuzhou again, so he persuaded Tiger Girl to give up her idea.
Fortunately, with Xiao Die and Xie Tingyun in the manor, Pei Guanli's teaching of martial arts to Xiao Wuge shouldn't cause any trouble.
We've had dinner.
The four of them took their own rest.
As dusk approached, before Xiao Wuge, Xiao Die, Pei Guanli, and the others had fallen asleep, Chen Yi changed into a black robe and quietly left Chunhe Garden.
He wandered along the streets and alleys, and arrived at the East Market in just 15 minutes.
It was just past 7:40 PM, and with the rain having stopped and the sky clear, the moon and stars shone brightly in the night sky, and there were many travelers on the road.
Most of them were ordinary people who came to the East Market to see what was going on.
They crowded around the street performers in small groups, shouting "Bravo!" every now and then.
Fortunately, there were many martial arts practitioners dressed in linen clothes, so Chen Yi's attire of black clothes and a bamboo hat was not too conspicuous.
He glanced at the crowded streets of the East Market, then at the few grain shops not far away, and frowned slightly.
"If the barbarians were to riot here, wouldn't it cause even greater unrest?"
He pondered for a moment.
Chen Yi decided to play it by ear.
But after waiting for nearly half an hour, he still hadn't seen any of the barbarian slaves appear, and he couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.
Just then, a cry of alarm came from deep within the East Market: "Barbarian, murder!"
"Help! The barbarians have rioted!"
"Damn it, these barbarians actually dared to burn down the grain depot's warehouse!?"
Faintly, Chen Yi could also hear some roars and sounds of fighting.
His eyes narrowed, and he scanned the surroundings. Seeing that no one had noticed him yet, he silently moved deeper into the area.
You made a mistake.
He made a mistake.
The riot by the barbarians did not take place at the grain store, but at the grain store's warehouse!
After passing through three alleys, Chen Yi saw flames shooting into the sky and billowing black smoke billowing in the distance.
In the dim light, he could still see several tall and strong figures fighting with more than a dozen guards dressed in gray linen clothes.
It's better to say something than to say it.
Those barbarian tribes were indeed blessed with natural advantages.
Although their fighting style lacks any particular technique, their strong physique alone allows them to rival martial artists at the lower three ranks.
Furthermore, they seemed impervious to pain, allowing themselves to be slashed and beaten with knives and sticks.
Not only did they not retreat an inch, but they also charged fiercely in all directions.
Chen Yi sized up the barbarians and recognized them as the barbarian slaves who had been locked in cages during the day.
One of the relatively thin barbarian slaves was easy to identify.
Even amidst such fierce fighting, several tall barbarian slaves were still protecting him.
In the intervals, the barbarian slaves would turn around and shout something at the thin barbarian slave.
Upon seeing this, Chen Yi frowned slightly, a hint of doubt arising in his mind.
"How did these barbarian slaves escape?"
"Furthermore, after they escaped, why didn't they leave quietly instead of making such a commotion?"
By this time, more and more people had noticed this area and were heading this way.
Among them were yamen runners responsible for guarding the East Market, as well as many skilled martial artists.
Under these circumstances, the behavior of those barbarian slaves is somewhat suspicious.
Just as Chen Yi was wondering, a flute melody suddenly rang out.
The flute music was strange, shrill, and rapid, like a small boat bobbing up and down in a turbulent stream, on the verge of capsizing at any moment.
Upon hearing the flute music, Chen Yi's true energy instantly circulated throughout his body.
From the Yintang acupoint and the Qihai acupoint, spiritual energy flowed out from the four divine positions, blocking his ears.
"This is... the sonic attack technique of the Illusionary Sound Sect?"
Chen Yiming realized what was happening and immediately went to the rooftop next to him to find the source of the flute music.
But before he could find the person who had made the move from the shadows, he saw that the guards of the grain depot in the distance were all standing still, letting the barbarian slaves kill them.
"Mind manipulation?"
Seeing this, Chen Yi was certain that the person who made the move must be a heretic from the Illusionary Sound Sect.
No wonder these barbarian slaves were able to escape; it turns out they really did have someone to help them.
As he pondered this, he scanned his surroundings, his gaze mostly fixed on the eastern part of the East Market—a dark and sparsely populated area.
And those barbarian slaves, now free from obstacles, also fled in that direction.
However, since the officials had already arrived, one of the barbarian servants voluntarily stayed behind.
He faced the constables without turning his head and shouted, "Gasule, Gou—"
"Damn barbarians, how dare they act so presumptuously in the territory of my Great Wei?"
"Kill him!"
"Chase!"
Ignoring the chaos nearby, Chen Yi flashed after Man Nu'er.
As he leaped and tumbled, he picked up a guard's longsword, disappeared into the shadows, and followed Man Nu'er at a distance.
Not long after.
Chen Yi then saw a figure completely shrouded in black appear diagonally in front of him, staring at him with a sinister gaze.
"Sir, please mind your own business!"
Chen Yi stopped, glanced at the barbarian slave running away, lowered his hat slightly, and asked:
"People from the Illusionary Sound Sect?"
As he spoke, he glanced at her again with his Qi-gazing technique and frowned secretly.
Is he just a seventh-grade martial artist?
"Since you know the name of my Illusionary Sound Sect, you'd better leave, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
"You're welcome?"
Chen Yi smiled and shook his head, then walked towards him with his long sword.
Although his steps appeared slow, he had actually used the Meteor Butterfly Step and arrived in front of the man in black in the blink of an eye.
A single slash—a flash of cold light.
A blade of light, like a bolt of lightning, slashed straight down—its intent as sharp as frost.
Before the blade even arrived, a chilling aura had already enveloped an area of ten feet in radius.
"Dacheng Dao of Swordsmanship?!"
The man in black widened his eyes and hurriedly raised his flute to block.
But it was too late.
As the blade flashed, the flute was cleaved in two, and his arm was also severed along with it.
"Ah—you!?"
Before the man in black could make any further moves, Chen Yi pressed his long sword against his throat, silencing him as he finished speaking.
The man in black immediately broke out in a cold sweat, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, you...I am..."
"I have no idea what grudge I have against you, and I hope you will show mercy..."
Chen Yi slightly raised his eyes, revealing only a section of his chin, and asked calmly:
"I'm curious, why are you helping those barbarian slaves?"
The man in black hurriedly said, "It's because of the reward money from Mingyue Tower... Please, please don't be offended, I have no dealings with the barbarians."
He thought Chen Yi was a person who hated barbarians, and begged for mercy repeatedly.
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. "People from Mingyue Tower?"
"Isn't Black Fang dead?"
"I dare not hide it from you, I received the mission in Xizhou... no, no, not Shuzhou."
"Do you know how those barbarian slaves escaped, and why they burned the grain?"
"They are... someone knocked out those bandits from Vaishsa Kingdom, which is how they escaped."
"After that, after that they... ah!"
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Yi saw his eyes suddenly pop out.
No, not only his eyes, but also his mouth, nose and ears were gushing blood.
In less than three breaths, the man in black was dead.
Chen Yi frowned and glanced at him, then looked around.
Once he was sure there was no movement around him, he used his Qi-gazing technique to investigate the man in black.
Wisps of black energy spread throughout his meridians.
Especially the heart and head, shrouded in black mist, were as deep as ink, as if two large holes had been ripped into those areas.
"It's not poison, nor is it a Gu worm, yet it can harm people from a distance..."
"Is it a curse from the Vajrasattva kingdom?"
"Did someone cast a curse on him beforehand?"
Chen Yi had long heard that the martial arts practitioners in Vaishsa Kingdom used very strange techniques, and he had also heard rumors about black magic.
I never expected to see you here.
This reminded him of the Vaishsa man who had once manipulated his predecessor to elope.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi's eyes turned cold, and he immediately transformed into a black shadow, quickly chasing after those barbarian slaves.
He searched all the way to the East Gate, but he never saw any more of those barbarian slaves.
Even the footprints and bloodstains have disappeared.
It's as if someone hid them away in a very short time.
Undeterred, Chen Yi slowly searched along the path he had come from.
"It can be confirmed that the people who took these barbarians did not leave the city, otherwise I would have seen it."
Chen Yi thought to himself, then looked around and said, "Strange."
"Given their status as barbarian slaves, they will inevitably try to return to the barbarian tribe after escaping."
"With such a good opportunity, why didn't they leave?"
Chen Yi had no idea, so he didn't dwell on it and instead tried to figure out where the barbarian slaves might be hiding.
"Going north from here leads to the Quchi Pond, and taking the waterway is a good option for leaving Shu Prefecture."
"South...that is, east of the brothel alley."
“It’s a place where mountain tribes, Vaishsa people, and people from other places often live. It’s a mixed bunch, so it’s a good place to hide.”
However, it was clear that Chen Yi preferred Quchi in the north of the city.
Just as he was about to look for the source of the sound, he heard a soft footstep behind him.
Then a lazy voice came: "You, I'm talking to you, the one with the knife."
"Turn around slowly, so your Uncle Liu can see which expert with a knife is it."
Chen Yi was slightly taken aback. Liu Lang?
How did he end up here?
(End of this chapter)
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