Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Natural Charm, Budding Saint

Chu Ming nodded, and the two entered inside.

Behind the building, there was a secluded courtyard. Chu Ming sat at the stone table, with The Medicine Maniac standing respectfully beside him.

Jiaang Jing came in with tea, her face veil still removed, and after placing down the tea, she bowed and left.

"Yao Qi." Chu Ming’s voice was calm.

"I am here," The Medicine Maniac had already assumed a proper stance.

"Jingyan County, San Gou Village, follow the Three Creeks River south, to the White River mouth, then three miles east, there’s a cave there, and inside is someone. Bring him here and cultivate him by your side," Chu Ming mentioned his first objective for this trip.

The things he mentioned, he would certainly do.

When he left, he had Shen Yi waiting in the cave for news. Now that he had found out who’s behind the blood cloth, it was time to bring the person back.

"Yes," The Medicine Maniac answered respectfully.

"There’s another thing I want to ask," Chu Ming said, turning his teacup.

"Benefactor, please speak."

"Do you know where there is an Artifact Refining Master?"

"An Artifact Refining Master?" The Medicine Maniac paused, "Does the benefactor want to refine weapons?"

"Sort of."

"Those who can be called masters, there are a few in Xirong County, but they don’t really count as true masters," The Medicine Maniac’s eyes flickered, "The only true master in the entire Xirong County is only one."

"Where?"

"Right in the County City," The Medicine Maniac spoke in a peculiar tone, "But this person is not easy to approach."

"Quite a quirky temperament."

"In what way?"

"She refines artifacts for people, but doesn’t take silver...only takes calligraphy and paintings, and they must be Tang Bai’s."

"..."

...

Leaving the Treasure Medicine Tower, Chu Ming did not directly seek the master The Medicine Maniac mentioned.

First, he found a street in the east city, a street with many iron forge shops. The so-called pseudo-masters The Medicine Maniac mentioned were on this street as well.

Walking slowly on the street, the Sword Gourd Spirit spread out, and he observed the situation in all the ten-plus iron forge shops on the street.

The constant ’clanging’ of iron striking was endless; each iron forge shop was bustling with people, both ordinary folks and Martial Artists.

After observing each one, all thirteen iron forge shops were engaged in the work of forging, including those few pseudo-masters.

After about a quarter of an hour, Chu Ming left the street, slightly disappointed.

The Medicine Maniac was right; these people weren’t truly masters.

The strongest pseudo-master was at Strong Bone Realm Perfection, but his forging skills were not up to Chu Ming’s current Artifact Refining level.

From all the observation, he had learned almost nothing new.

"I can only look for the true master The Medicine Maniac mentioned..."

...

Xirong County, east city, at the end of a secluded street.

Here was an iron forge shop, a three-story building, entirely black and red, resembling a giant melting furnace, it could be described as a spectacle.

With such magnificent build, this iron forge shop ought to be crowded.

But contrary to that, the street was desolate; no one passed by the shop for half a day.

Not only were passers-by absent, but those few who entered the street would also seem to avoid the iron forge shop from afar.

At this moment, a person was lying at the entrance of the iron forge.

Lying on a bamboo bed, under a sunshade bamboo umbrella, just quietly lying like that.

The night breeze in late autumn was cold, but the noon sun was still scorching.

The sunlight shifted, bypassing the sunshade bamboo umbrella, directly shining on the person, the red robe reflecting blinding white light.

Noon... blazing sun... iron forge... bamboo bed... red robe...

Combining these elements was too bizarre, how could ordinary people dare to come close?

In the teahouse at the other end of the street, Chu Ming’s brows slightly furrowed.

He had been sitting here for more than two hours, observing this red-robed master.

But the other person just lay at the door, no one went to refine artifacts, and the person seemed not to intend to refine them either.

After checking the time, he placed down some broken silver, left the teahouse, and headed towards the iron forge.

He wore a black conical hat, walking steadily, quick yet not hurried.

As he got near the iron forge entrance, the red robe remained still as if deeply asleep.

"Master Hoong Ying," Chu Ming called out in a deep voice.

Hoong Ying, as The Medicine Maniac had mentioned, was the Artifact Refining Master.

The person on the bamboo bed remained motionless.

"I have brought Mr. Tang Bai’s calligraphy and paintings," Chu Ming spoke directly.

Creaaak—

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a faint noise from the bamboo bed. Following that, the red robe slowly turned, a few strands of black hair like tangled threads, obscured the face.

"Take it out and let me see," it was a woman’s indifferent voice.

The hidden deep-street Artifact Refining Master was a woman.

"Please take a look, master," Chu Ming removed the painting scroll from his back and slowly unfolded it.

A landscape painting emerged under the scorching sun.

"Oh?" The red-robed woman, upon seeing the painting, appeared as though she had discovered a treasure.

In a flash, the red robe shaded the sun; there seemed to be cranes dancing, movements magnificent yet not elegant.

Hoong Ying stood up, quietly standing before the painting scroll.

Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, concealing her visage, but couldn’t hide her burning gaze.

"Come in and speak,"

Hoong Ying took the painting scroll, led Chu Ming into the iron forge.

The shop was sparsely furnished; on the rows of iron racks, there were hardly two weapons to be seen.

"What weapon do you wish to refine?"

Hoong Ying brushed back her black hair, revealing a fair face.

A face that was mature, sharp, and beautiful all at once.

Chu Ming was slightly taken aback, then quickly subdued any change in his expression.

The Medicine Maniac had told him the Artifact Refining Master was a woman, a woman with a peculiar temperament.

But he hadn’t expected her to be such an extraordinary woman.

He restrained the change in his expression, cupped his hands in a salute: "I did not come to refine weapons."

"Came to waste my time, did you?"

Just as with a lively iron forge being desolate, a woman with such allure also had an unexpectedly blunt manner of speaking.

"..."

Perhaps ’extraordinary’ wasn’t quite the right term.

Chu Ming maintained his gesture of cupped hands: "I wish to learn the Artifact Refining Technique from Master Hoong Ying."

"You want to learn artifact refining?"

Hoong Ying glanced at the painting scroll, then looked Chu Ming over from top to bottom.

"Yes," Chu Ming’s expression remained steady.

"One painting isn’t enough; you need to provide ten or eight more," Hoong Ying looked at Chu Ming, half-smiling.

Paint more?

Chu Ming’s expression changed slightly.

It was discovered.

This painting is not a true work by Tang Bai, but rather a forgery he created.

Although he had a lot of silver at hand, true works by Mr. Tang Bai were rarely sold.

In a hurry, he thought to imitate one himself.

With his current painting skills, he was completely capable of making a perfect copy; he couldn’t understand how Master Hoong Ying detected it.

Hoong Ying circled around Chu Ming, her red robe trailing on the ground, slowly turning.

"You used a disguise." She spoke again: "Tang Bai never takes someone like you, a Martial World Martial Artist."

What does this mean?

Chu Ming’s heart stirred slightly.

Did she mistake him for Tang Bai’s disciple?

Seeing Chu Ming still silent, Liuu Mei frowned slightly and said: "Your painting skills are high, and you have well inherited Tang Bai’s style."

"Tang Bai must be very gratified to have a disciple like you."

Indeed, she mistook him for a disciple.

Seizing the opportunity, Chu Ming clasped his hands and said: "Master, I am willing to paint ten more pieces."

"Do you really want to learn artifact refining?" Upon hearing this, Hoong Ying’s eyes shone even brighter, "Interesting, interesting, Tang Bai’s prized disciple comes to me for refining..."

"If I teach you refining, won’t Tang Bai cast you out?" Hoong Ying’s gaze returned to the scroll.

"Please teach me, Master Hoong Ying." Chu Ming did not give a direct answer.

"Alright!" Hoong Ying looked at Chu Ming’s solemn stance, and smiled brightly, "No need for ten pieces. Help me copy one piece, and I’ll teach you refining."

"Come with me."

Without waiting for Chu Ming to nod, Hoong Ying dragged her red robe and stepped through a door.

Chu Ming paused for a moment and followed.

Unlike the chilly atmosphere outside, behind the door was an air of scholarly fragrance.

The relatively short corridor was lined with calligraphy and painting.

Looking around, each piece was an authentic work, true works by Mr. Tang Bai.

It seemed that this Master Hoong Ying truly loved them.

"Come in."

Upon reaching the end of the corridor, Hoong Ying opened a door and entered the room.

Chu Ming followed suit and his expression changed once again.

The room contained even more calligraphy and paintings, some mounted on the walls, others scattered haphazardly on the ground.

Upon closer inspection, the mounted ones were true works, while those scattered on the ground...

Were imitations, with average technique.

"If you can copy this painting, I’ll teach you refining." Hoong Ying retrieved a scroll protected by a dark red wooden frame.

Fixing his gaze on it, Chu Ming was instantly drawn to the content of the scroll.

With feet on rainbow light, white robes fluttering, the sword pointing to the sky.

"This is..."

As if struck by lightning, Chu Ming froze in place, eyes filled with a sharp brilliance.

It was a painting yet not a painting, like being there personally.

In a certain moment, he felt as though he was the man in the painting.

Looking proudly at the sky, overlooking the earth.

With a grand heroic spirit, ready to open the Celestial Gate with one sword, soaring in the Nine Heavens.

He suddenly understood why Master Hoong Ying could instantly distinguish his imitation.

Painting skill... Artistic conception...

Is a painting merely a painting?

In the Sea of Consciousness, above Book collection Lake, a transparent scroll condensed and took shape.

A painting yet not a painting, intention yet not intention.

Buzz—

The Sea of Consciousness fluctuated, the scroll formed from the lake water flew high, quickly expanded, directly covering the illuminated area of the Sea of Consciousness.

The Sea of Consciousness now contained the sky, the scroll contained the sky.

At the same time, on the panel.

[Calligraphy and Painting: Natural Charm]

[Progress: 1/100]

"Calligraphy and painting, have broken through."

Not only a breakthrough in painting skill, but also a realization in artistic charm.

Through [Calligraphy and Painting], he realized a new ability.

"How about it, can you copy it?" Hoong Ying’s voice sounded beside his ear.

His Heart Spirit exited the Sea of Consciousness, Chu Ming clasped his hands toward Hoong Ying: "I can."

"You can?" Hoong Ying’s Liuu Mei frowned slightly, "Let me say first, you must copy it to my satisfaction."

"Alright."

Alright?

Hoong Ying looked at the calm Chu Ming, her Liuu Mei furrowing more clearly.

This painting is an authentic Tang Bai work, a unique authentic piece, even Tang Bai himself couldn’t possibly create a second authentic piece of it.

She didn’t understand why the person before her was so confident in copying it to her satisfaction.

"Go ahead and paint."

Hoong Ying’s eyes flowed, looked at Chu Ming a few times, then walked to the table, her red robe swiped across, clearing a space on the cluttered table.

"The pen, ink, and paper are beside you, take what you need." She pointed to the wooden rack beside the table.

Chu Ming nodded and took a seat, spreading out the paper and holding the brush to ink.

Hoong Ying sat to the side, sipping tea and watching.

The brush moved along lines, lines formed surfaces.

From the endless sky, to feet on clouds, and then a white robe slicing the sky.

Hoong Ying went from initial doubt to casual observation, from heaviness to shock.

Her emotions flowed with the brush.

When the silver sword pointed to the sky, Hoong Ying’s right hand holding the tea seemed fixed in place.

"He’s really painted it..."

Chu Ming painted it effortlessly.

He lowered his eyes to the painting beneath the brush, feeling his heart surge.

On the panel.

[Calligraphy and Painting: Natural Charm]

[Progress: 77/100]

"Painting as mirror, mirror follows heart..."

Suddenly, it seemed as if there was white brilliance overflowing around him.

Hmm?

Hoong Ying, who was supposed to be stunned, suddenly fixed her eyes on Chu Ming, staring intensely.

What was the gentle white radiance akin to noon in a cold cave?

Why did she feel a sense of...a sense of reverence toward this person?!