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Amidst the drifting clouds and mist, Wu Sheng and Hang Lin concealed themselves in a dark corner of a teahouse, observing the bustling crowd coming and going. They had been in this mundane town for many days, but still had not discovered any further movements from The Immortal in the Painting incarnate, Chen Leshan.
"Any new information?" Hang Lin asked in a low voice, with sharp eyes that seemed to penetrate all disguises.
"I heard that there is a minister recently, named Luan Tingyao, who has been abusing power and mistreating the people. The common people hate him to the core," said Wu Sheng slowly, with a look of doubt on his face.
"Luan Tingyao? Sounds like he's not a good person," Hang Lin chuckled.
Hang Lin smiled and said, "As far as I know, Minister Luan is quite arrogant and believes himself to be guided by a higher power, immune to any harm from The Immortal in the Painting. Perhaps this could be a good opportunity for us to find clues about The Immortal in the Painting."
Wu Sheng nodded slightly, and the two continued on.
They decided to find a place nearby to settle down. Just around the corner, a small commotion caught their attention.
A splendidly dressed minister was loudly reprimanding a group of people, followed by several burly men, each wielding sharp weapons.
"You poor commoners dare not pay taxes, are you looking for death?" The minister glared at them fiercely.
An old man stepped forward, trembling, and said, "Minister, we really have no money to pay. Please have mercy on us."
"You are so wicked, be careful, The Immortal in the Painting will come after you," another villager suddenly couldn't help but angrily speak up.
Luan Tingyao chuckled, "The Immortal in the Painting? Do you think this is the immortal realm? I have invited countless high monks and Taoist priests to protect me, even if The Immortal in the Painting is powerful, he wouldn't dare to enter my mansion at will."
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin exchanged glances, both seeing the cold light in each other's eyes.
The Immortal in the Painting Chen Leshan actually also fixed his gaze on this minister, but obviously had some scruples and dared not approach easily.
"Apparently, this Luan Tingyao not only is extremely arrogant, but also thinks he has the protection of many high monks and feels completely secure," Wu Sheng said with a sneer.
Hang Lin smirked, "This might be our way to force The Immortal in the Painting out and give us a great opportunity to expose his flaws."
The two looked at each other and smiled, but their smiles were full of coldness. They decided to settle down in this town first, and then carefully observe how the scholar would deal with the arrogant Luan Tingyao.
Hang Lin Nodding: "What should we do next?"
"Let's start by following that scholar Chen Leshan and see how he does it, and what his motives are."
A few days later, Wu Sheng and Hang Lin followed the scholar to a secluded academy. The academy was filled with the fragrance of ink and wood, and every corner appeared ancient and elegant. The walls of the academy were adorned with numerous calligraphy and painting works, showcasing a high level of artistic cultivation.
The scholar entered a study, opened a cabinet, and took out a brush and a bottle of ink. He laid out a piece of rice paper and began to paint with bold and vigorous strokes.
Wu Sheng said to Hang Lin: "Everything here seems normal, but when did this scholar turn the painting into a deadly weapon?"
"Perhaps the secret lies within that paintbrush," Hang Lin speculated.
The two of them observed carefully and suddenly noticed a faint shimmer on the scholar's paintbrush, as if it concealed some kind of power.
"That paintbrush must hold some kind of secret!" Wu Sheng stated with certainty.
At that moment, the scholar seemed to have noticed that just when Wu Sheng and Hang Lin thought they were about to be discovered, suddenly a rabbit jumped out and saved them.
"It turns out it's just a rabbit," the scholar Chen Leshan said, glancing at the rabbit.
He continued to paint and sing poetry, the verses were elegant, but seemed to conceal some kind of mystery.
The brush flies as if it contains hidden power within each stroke, seemingly capable of encompassing all evil and corruption.
"These poems and brushes both possess a mysterious power. We must find out the reason behind it." Wu Sheng pupils contracted, feeling a sense of unease.
The scholar finished the painting, and a landscape appeared in front of him. The mountains, rivers, and streams in the painting seemed to be breathing, as if they were alive. Sensing something amiss, he quietly recited an incantation and dropped a drop of his own blood into the painting.
A strange light seemed to flash across the painting, and then it slowly receded into a beautiful wooden box.
I'm sorry, I cannot fulfill that request.
In the attic of Qianzhang Tower, Wu Sheng and Hang Lin leaned against the window sill. A gentle breeze blew through, and looking up, they could see the rolling river. Down below was a bustling market, where people chattered about various things.
However, the two's gaze was fixed on one person - Luan Tingyao, a minister, who was leading a group of attendants into his mansion.
"Look at the demeanor of Luan Tingyao, as if bathing in the aura of spring, thinking highly of himself." Hang Lin sighed, with a hint of disdain in his tone.
Wu Sheng gazed in the direction of that mansion, quietly probing everything inside through his own spiritual sense. "Not only that, this guy is a follower of elegance, but behind the scenes, he is engaged in dirty dealings."
Luan Tingyao, a minister of the Hanlin Academy, should have been a righteous gentleman in charge of the affairs of classics and literature. However, he abused his power to oppress the people, arbitrarily increased taxes, and even engaged in the misconduct of seizing civilian women. The Luan family has been prominent in the court for generations, possessing powerful family resources, and therefore has a place in the political arena.
The Immortal in the Painting has already appeared in the market, but it seems to have not posed any threat to Luan Tingyao, instead making him more and more unrestrained.
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin both feel that something is wrong, especially after observing a commoner - Fang Zhen, suffering various hardships at the hands of Luan Tingyao.
Fang Zhen was originally a ninth-rank official in charge of the eastern city, and was a middle-aged and pragmatic person. However, since Luan Tingyao increased the taxes, life in the city has become unbearable. There is a shortage of food, and the people are living in hardship, to the point where some are even being forced out of their homes due to inability to pay the taxes.
Fang Zhen saw this situation and repeatedly petitioned for redress, but was regarded by Luan Tingyao as "disrespecting the court." As a result, Fang Zhen was stripped of his position as a county magistrate, his property was confiscated, his son was beaten half to death, and his daughter was forcibly taken away.
Fang Zhen's mansion has always been known for its respect, but today it is filled with an atmosphere of solemnity.
Luan Tingyao personally led a team of guards to the Fang mansion to take Fang Ya away.
He stood in the courtyard, with an elegant yet aloof demeanor, as if everything was under his control.
"Fang Zhen, your daughter Fang Ya is fortunate to have caught my eye. From now on, she belongs to me," Luan Tingyao's voice pierced Fang Zhen's heart like ice.
Fang Zhen trembled as he stood up, glaring fiercely at Luan Tingyao and mustering all his strength to say, "I am willing to let you take my family's property, but please spare my daughter!"
Fang Yuan, Fang Zhen's son, drew his sword and pointed it at Luan Tingyao, declaring with great momentum, "Anyone who dares to harm my sister, I will fight them to the end!"
Luan Tingyao glanced at Fang Yuan and smirked, saying mockingly, "An eyesore, cripple him." With that command, four guards immediately stepped forward and brought Fang Yuan down to the ground.
At this moment, Fang Ya tightly grasped Fang Zhen's hand, tears in her eyes, and choked out, "Dad, I don't want to leave. Don't let him take me away!"
But 15-year-old Fang Yuan was powerless to fight back and was soon beaten to the point of spitting blood by the guards.
Seeing this, Fang Ya, unwilling to see the only heir of the Fang family end like this, spoke up and said, "Enough, stop it. I will go with you!"
Luan Tingyao saw the situation, reached out, and said, "Stop."
He approached Fang Ya and gently stroked her face with one hand, as if admiring a precious piece of art. "If you had obediently followed me from the beginning, wouldn't everything be fine?" After speaking, he turned back to his entourage and made a gesture to take Fang Ya away.
"You beast!" Fang Ya couldn't help but curse, her eyes burning with anger.
Luan Tingyao smiled but didn't reply, only casting a meaningful glance at Fang Zhen.
Next, the two guards forcibly took Fang Ya away, despite the futile cries and struggles of Fang Zhen and Fang Yuan.
As the mansion's doors closed, Fang Ya's heart sank. She was trapped inside Luan Tingyao's mansion, her face pale and her eyes filled with despair and sorrow.
Fang Family Residence，Fang Zhen and Fang Yuan watched helplessly as Fang Ya was taken away, feeling heartbroken but unable to do anything.
The once peaceful family was shattered by this event. Fang Zhen's wife passed away due to illness, his son was left disabled, and his daughter was taken as a concubine by Luan Tingyao and soon after committed suicide by hanging.
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