Chapter 28: Being an Artist is Also Dangerous

Chapter 28 – 28: Being an Artist is Also Dangerous

“Big Lin is here, shall we go out for a drink tonight?”

“Big Lin, come, these are meat buns your sister-in-law steamed this morning, thin skin, lots of meat, absolutely delicious, try them.”

“Brother Zhong, I’m also practicing the ‘Iron Mountain Skill’, let me give you some pointers.”

Zhong Lin had just walked into the Government Office early in the morning, when all the government officials and constables gathered around him. Some were offering buns, some offering roast cakes, and others wanted to give him martial arts tips.

His popularity was unbelievably good, one would think he was the son of some high official in the government office!

In fact, this situation only began three days ago. Zhong Lin used to be almost invisible.

The status of a government office artist was more of an attachment, considered an outside staff. Just exchanging greetings was plenty, while the more arrogant wouldn’t even acknowledge you.

Until once when the government office organized an event, and the location was the Nuafeng Building, which incidentally was the place where Zhong Lin first unsuccessfully tried to paint a brothel.

The only thing brothels care about is Silver. While these people in the government office weren’t short on Silver, they weren’t wealthy enough to spend extravagantly at the Nuoxiang Building. They would just drink and watch performances, if they couldn’t resist they could go to the cheaper Tianxiang Building on another street, or some other shady places.

Zhong Lin, as an outside staff, was also dragged along and arranged in a corner.

Coincidentally, Zhong Lin met the maid Xiaoxue there, and was invited to Miss Yanluo’s room, the key point being he didn’t return all night.

The next day, Zhong Lin’s name spread all over the government office. It was known that to become an intimate guest of Miss Yanluo, at least twenty taels of Silver were needed, and even that wasn’t guaranteed.

Everyone soon learned that Zhong Lin didn’t spend a penny to enter, Miss Yanluo even gave him Silver, and he enjoyed a free night.

What is this?

This is freaking Immortal-level stuff!

Normally, this wouldn’t matter. Everybody knew Zhong Lin had Transcendent artistic skills, his portraits seemed alive, and he usually had many people begging for paintings. They thought Miss Yanluo simply wanted a painting too.

But no one expected Zhong Lin to go back the next day, and this time he brought Old Zhou from the government office, that old constable half foot in the grave.

According to Old Zhou, he had a great time at the Nuoxiang Building all night, without paying a penny.

This was explosive news. Instantly, the whole government office knew that artist Zhong Lin had mad free stuff skills, could visit a brothel without paying, and could even take others along for a free ride.

Zhong Lin smiled at the enthusiastic crowd, reciprocating each greeting, but as he approached Chi Yan, his smile faded slightly.

“Good morning, Brother Chi!”

Chi Yan, as if nothing had happened, greeted him with a bright smile, “It is quite early, Head Xue is back, he’s waiting for you inside!”

Zhong Lin was stunned at the words, Head Xue? Waiting for me?

Zhong Lin was also very curious about this Sixth Grade Qi Blood Realm Chief Constable since joining the government office but had never seen him. It was said he had gone to the county for business and unexpectedly returned today and wanted to see him.

Zhong Lin dared not delay and nodded, “I’ll go right away.”

Ignoring Chi Yan, Zhong Lin stepped into the hall, where two Taishi Chairs were arranged side by side, with one person seated on each side. The person on the left was County Magistrate Du, whom Zhong Lin was familiar with, and the person on the right was a man in his thirties, dressed in black cloud clothing, with a stern face and sharp eyes, a significant Sword Trace on his brow, provoking involuntary awe.

Undoubtedly, this should be the Chief Constable Xue Zheng everyone talked about.

Behind Xue Zheng stood a figure familiar to Zhong Lin, none other than “Old Fang,” who nearly scared him to death that day.

Zhong Lin stepped forward, cupped his hands, and greeted, “Greetings, County Magistrate, greetings, Chief Constable.”

County Magistrate Du didn’t speak, continuing to leisurely sip his tea.

It was the Chief Constable Xue Zheng who put down his teacup to scrutinize Zhong Lin, with a flash of surprise in his eyes.

“Are you Zhong Lin?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Did you paint this picture?”

“Old Fang” next to him consciously displayed the portrait in his hand, prominently showing the notorious bandit Dan Wenlong.

“Yes.”

“Well done. I thought a painter with such skills would be an old craftsman. Didn’t expect you to be so young,” said Chief Constable Xue Zheng.

“The Chief Constable flatters me.”

“It’s not flattery; you deserve it. I heard you can paint based on others’ descriptions?”

“Yes, does the Chief Constable have any instructions?” Zhong Lin inquired.

“Paint a picture for me.”

Chief Constable Xue Zheng waved his hand, and Zhong Lin noticed that the tools of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were already prepared beside him.

“Certainly.”

Zhong Lin naturally went over and sat down. After all, this was his job!

“This person is about thirty years old, male, with a thin face and narrow eyes…”

As Chief Constable Xue Zheng described, the image of a middle-aged man appeared in Zhong Lin’s mind.

After a moment, Zhong Lin picked up the brush, and after only a short time, the image in his mind jumped onto the paper. The man had long, narrow eyes, fierce and sharp, and a scar running from the brow down to the chin on his cheek.

Zhong Lin blew on the painting to dry the ink.

Chief Constable Xue Zheng paused at the sight of the painting, then praised, “Truly lifelike and detailed, well done.”

“Glad the Chief Constable is satisfied.”

“Yes, by the way, Dan Wenlong has escaped, be cautious for a while.”

Xue Zheng took a sip of tea and said calmly.

What?

Zhong Lin abruptly looked up at the Chief Constable, his face full of astonishment.

“Dismissed!”

“Understood.”

When Zhong Lin left the hall, his face was gloomy, and in his mind, he kept cursing “Old Fang.”

What a useless person! So many people chasing, yet that Dan Wenlong still slipped away.

Technically, Dan Wenlong’s escape had nothing to do with Zhong Lin, but the issue was that the portrait of Dan Wenlong was painted by Zhong Lin, and it was so accurate.

Do you think it was so easy for Zhong Lin to join the government office?

Because the previous artist was retaliated against and annihilated by a fugitive invading his home.

Though the artist just painted, those criminals don’t care—it happened before that an executioner was targeted.

No one could guarantee if Dan Wenlong was insane enough to retaliate against the artist, that’s why Chief Constable just reminded Zhong Lin to be cautious given past incidents.

“Damn it, what a mess!”

Angrily cursing, Zhong Lin turned towards the Archives Room to learn more about Dan Wenlong’s background.

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