Watching her portrait being carried away, Hei Mudan froze in place. It was very difficult for her to part with her portrait right now, as she hadn't yet carefully examined it.
Niu You Dao's hands were smudged with charcoal, so he went to wash them. When he came out of the washroom, he saw Hei Mudan still standing in the same spot.
He smiled and said, "It seems you liked the portrait."
He himself liked how he had depicted Hei Mudan. And now, judging by her reaction, he was certain that he had done a good job.
Hei Mudan now looked at him with affection.
"Lord Dao, is this truly me?"
Niu You Dao: "You are in the portrait. If not you, then who? A bear or me?"
Hei Mudan understood everything clearly. She walked over and took the wine the attendant had brought. She poured it into a glass and offered it to Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao drank it, then seriously asked:
"If I didn't give it to you, but sold it instead. Would you take it for a hundred thousand gold coins?"
Hei Mudan was astonished. She nodded, then shook her head:
"I couldn't pay a hundred thousand gold coins. However, if I had a lot of money, I would buy it."
Yuan Fang twisted his mouth. Hei Mudan was most likely buttering him up. The painting was certainly good, but who would pay a hundred thousand for it? Ten gold coins, perhaps, but not a hundred thousand!
Having said that, Hei Mudan immediately asked with doubt:
"Lord Dao, do you wish to earn money through paintings?"
"Through paintings?" Niu You Dao laughed.
If paintings could change the minds of Yuan Gang and Yuan Fang. If paintings could resolve the hatred with the Song Family. If paintings could solve all the problems of this world, then Niu You Dao wouldn't mind taking up painting.
When a person paints with interest, they can create beautiful and engaging works. But when they do it for profit, the portraits or paintings will be stripped of their grace and enchanting power.
Shaking his head, he said, "I do not sell art!"
The attendant, as soon as he left the room, immediately approached the counter manager, holding the painting in his hands.
"Manager, take a look."
"What is it?" The manager looked at the unfurled portrait with doubt, and then was also dumbfounded.
"Is this Hei Mudan?"
He immediately recognized who was depicted in the portrait. However, it was no ordinary portrait, but one executed in an extraordinary style.
"That's right." The attendant nodded.
The manager took the portrait and looked at it, then clicked his tongue and added:
"What kind of art is this? Who painted it?"
"From room 2B, that young master painted it for Hei Mudan. When I brought the wine, I saw him finishing it himself. He used a piece of charcoal..." The attendant revealed everything to the manager. After speaking, the attendant asked with a hint of doubt:
"Perhaps this new style of painting should be shown to those above?"
The manager's eyes gleamed. He rolled up the portrait and said:
"Don't rush to frame the painting. Stay here, and I'll go see the manager."
"Understood!" The attendant nodded his head.
The manager took the portrait and headed towards the inn's mansion...
Huang En Gui and his fellow disciple wandered in the park, searching for their target. They knew the counter manager had Niu You Dao's room number, but he wouldn't tell them. Going around knocking on every room was also not an option, so all they could do was walk in the park and look for him.
They wandered for quite a while but still didn't see Niu You Dao. They already thought Niu You Dao had left for the city again, so they were about to go out into the courtyard and wait by the doors.
Suddenly, Cui Yuan stopped Huang En Gui and pointed in one direction.
Huang En Gui looked that way and noticed through the park's trees how Lei Zong Kang exited a room on the upper floor and entered the adjacent one.
"Let's go find him." Huang En Gui said.
Cui Yuan held him back:
"Brother, maybe we should wait. Won't we scare him away?"
Huang En Gui looked at that room:
"Since they are now under his command, that fellow wouldn't enter Niu You Dao's room without knocking. We'll go in right now and find out everything from him."
Cui Yuan nodded his head.
The two men left the garden and headed to the upper floor of the opposite building. As they walked, they constantly looked around.
Gradually and carefully, they approached Lei Zong Kang's room, and there was no one around. Huang En Gui suddenly entered, followed by Cui Yuan. They immediately closed the door from the inside.
Inside the room, Lei Zong Kang stood before the window, looking out at the street. He pondered. Today, Lord Dao did not seem like a particularly knowledgeable person to him. How could such a person have connections then?
Yesterday, they had rented two more rooms, and he had gotten a single room for himself. Duan Hu and Wu San Liang had settled in together. After all, he couldn't share a room with Hei Mudan. Such behavior was not proper for him. They had just been discussing Niu You Dao, wondering if anyone was truly backing him. However, the two men still believed Hei Mudan. They had been together for so many years and endured many trials.
Lei Zong Kang had initially thought of persuading Duan Hu and Wu San Liang to talk Hei Mudan out of this venture. However, he failed. They believed in Hei Mudan.
Since Wu San Liang and Duan Hu did not agree, he did not press the matter.
It wasn't that he didn't believe Hei Mudan, it was simply too great a risk for them. And while there was still time, it would be better to leave.
But then someone suddenly entered. He thought it was Duan Hu and Wu San Liang. Only when he turned his head did he immediately freeze.
Huang En Gui put a finger to his lips, signaling him not to shout. He maintained a safe distance, showing that he had no malicious intentions. Then he quietly said:
"Lei Zong Kang, calm down. We came to the inn not to cause a commotion."
Lei Zong Kang said incredulously:
"Mr. Huang and Mr. Cui, to what do I owe this visit?"
Huang En Gui: "Nothing much. We just wanted to ask something."
Seeing that the other party guaranteed his safety, Lei Zong Kang still did not dare approach them:
"Mr. Huang, speak your mind."
Huang En Gui: "I heard you found a reliable master?"
Upon hearing this, Lei Zong Kang immediately smiled bitterly:
"That's all a mistake. People outside have been talking nonsense to you. You shouldn't believe it."
Huang En Gui: "What is that man's name?"
Lei Zong Kang didn't know what was happening. However, he thought it wasn't that important:
"Huangdi Dao!"
"Huangdi Dao... Dao..." Huang En Gui murmured softly and exchanged glances with Cui Yuan. Then he asked again, "Do you know which sect he's from?"
Lei Zong Kang shook his head: "I don't know! Mr. Huang, I'm not deceiving you. We know nothing about his past."
Huang En Gui exchanged glances with Cui Yuan, then slowly walked up to Lei Zong Kang and brazenly sat on a chair.
"Are you inviting trouble, daring to oppose the Liuxiang Sect?"
Lei Zong Kang was astonished:
"Mr. Huang, what are you saying? When have we ever disrespected the Liuxiang Sect? Where have we erred?"
Huang En Gui: "Are you sure you don't know him? Or are you pretending?"
Lei Zong Kang suspected something:
"We truly don't know. Mr. Huang, do you have something to say?"
"This man is not Huangdi Dao at all. That's a false name. His true name is Niu You Dao. He is a disciple who abandoned the Supreme Purity Sect of the Yan Kingdom. He killed the envoy of the Yan Kingdom..." Huang En Gui began to recount everything, starting from when Niu You Dao killed Song Yang Qing. He primarily portrayed Niu You Dao in a bad light.
"Since you are following him, doesn't that mean you are opposing us?"
Lei Zong Kang felt fear in his heart. Is this Lord Dao truly as they say he is? They definitely shouldn't offend the Liuxiang Sect.
"We truly didn't know this. In fact, we have nothing to do with him..." He now had no intention of following Niu You Dao:
"Mr. Huang, don't worry. I will tell Hei Mudan later, and we will sever all ties with him. We would not dare to oppose the Liuxiang Sect!"
Huang En Gui sneered: "Do you think you can involve yourself in this matter whenever you like and exit it whenever you please? Haven't you considered what a grave matter the killing of the Yan Kingdom's envoy is? Even a mere prince severed all ties with him. Are you truly not afraid of death?!"
Lei Zong Kang felt cold sweat breaking out on his body.
"Mr. Huang..."
Huang En Gui waved his hand, interrupting him:
"Since I've found you, there's no need to worry so much. We have no enmity with you. Furthermore, you didn't know him. There is no fault of yours here. However, this matter has now taken a turn, and it cannot simply be left at that."
Lei Zong Kang cupped his hands and said:
"Mr. Huang, I hope you will guide me onto the right path."
Huang En Gui calmly said:
"You know the rules of Zhaixing City. We cannot touch the Yaoyue Inn's guests. But we must also not scare him away. Understood?"
Lei Zong Kang froze. So they wanted him to spy. He immediately nodded his head:
"Mr. Huang, rest assured. I will immediately inform my comrades. We will keep an eye on him for the Liuxiang Sect!"
Huang En Gui waved his hand:
"Since Hei Mudan got involved with him, it's unknown what dirty tricks he used against her. This man is dangerous. He can see a part and deduce the whole, and we don't need any surprises. For now, don't tell Hei Mudan or the others. The fewer people who know, the better. Don't worry, your efforts won't be in vain. I will later ask the masters to vouch for you. After that, everything will depend on your luck."
***
End of chapter.