Chapter 418 — Peerless in Brush and Ink
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
The people of Yincan Village were a crowd battered beyond recognition, wounded in both soul and body, and all of them were more or less embittered against the world.
"I can paint as well. I can paint what I saw in the heavens."
Zai Fu said, "But my painting is not as good as the Deaf Elder's. Shen'er, give me a few days, and I will paint those formations for you to see."
Shen Mu was astonished.
Zai Fu was huge and coarse, powerful and mighty, vigorous as a bull demon reborn, his face covered in a beard so thick and flourishing that when he scraped it with the Butcher's Knife sparks flew in a string.
And such a rough fellow was peerless in both poetry and painting, and was honored as the Heaven Blade besides.
The Deaf Elder was not surprised. "In our village, the one with the least culture is the Blind Elder. Zai Fu's poetry and painting are first-rate; it is only that he did not put his whole heart into them, or he too would have gone down in history."
Shen Mu looked at the Blind Elder, and saw that the Blind Elder's eyes were glaring bright at the Deaf Elder.
For the next two days Zai Fu shut himself in his room, painting without pause. Shen Mu did not disturb him. Si Yunxiang got in touch with the Young Patriarch and reported, "The Patriarch has gone to the Western Lands and is hurrying back."
Shen Mu was surprised: "The Patriarch has gone to the Western Lands — could he be meeting an old flame?"
Just then a voice came: "Imperial Preceptor Jingping requests an audience with the Human Sovereign!"
Shen Mu turned and looked toward the voice, then laughed heartily: "Why so formal, Heavenly King? Just say you have come to see the Cult Master! Calling him Human Sovereign is far too distant!"
Si Yunxiang was filled with admiration: "That thick skin of the Cult Master's — I could never hope to match it."