Chapter 269 — The Beauty in the Painting

My arm is going numb.

" "Almost. " Shen Mu was nearly finished, but he withheld the final stroke.

First he took out his seal and stamped it on the painting, then took up the brush again to add the last stroke, and said with a smile: "Done.

" Ling Yuxiu came over to look at his painting. The figure in it was somewhat shy; clearly the blush of shame that had welled up from her heart had been caught by Shen Mu. "It looks so much like me.

" Ling Yuxiu exclaimed in admiration, then asked curiously: "Why did you stamp the seal before painting the last stroke? " Shen Mu explained: "My painting skill is too good.

Had I painted the last stroke first, you would have walked down out of the painting and run off.

This seal is also called an impression; look, the design on the seal is not my name, but a sealing rune.

" Ling Yuxiu leaned in to look at the seal, and the two drew close together. Shen Mu's gaze shifted to the girl's face. Her skin was fair with a faint rosy glow, her eyes bright, and as she turned sideways to study the seal earnestly, her white slender neck was very moving. Her utter seriousness made his heart beat fast.

"It really is a sealing rune! " Ling Yuxiu was astonished, and asked curiously: "If I wipe this seal away, can the me in the painting really walk down? " Shen Mu nodded: "I used the soul-endowment method. One spark of spiritual communion endows a divine soul. But I have only succeeded once, and I do not know whether it will work this time.

Still, best to keep it pinned down with the seal, lest you run off.

" Ling Yuxiu gave him a shy glance and hastily rolled up the painting: "This painting is mine. You are not allowed to snatch it!

Oh, I nearly forgot the real business. Father summons you to the palace, saying he wants your wounds examined. I ran into the eunuch carrying the decree and snatched the errand from him.

" Shen Mu straightened his clothes: "Will you come with me? " "Of course! We have not met for many days, and I have things I want to say to you too. " The boy and girl walked out of the room.

Dragon Qilin raised his head: "Sect Master, I will watch the gate.

I will absolutely let no one in.

" "I know. " Shen Mu said: "Behave well, and at the New Year I will not put you on the table.

Also, practice more.

Look at the green ox, all muscle and sinew. How could you ever beat him? " The two walked out of the Scholars' Lodge.

Along the way, many scholars greeted them with smiles on their faces, though there was a certain fear in their eyes; clearly they had heard that Shen Mu was the demon sect master of the Nether Demon Cult, a creature cruel by nature, who had cut off Ling Yuxia's head in the emperor's very presence, truly a villain of the deepest dye. Outside the Scholars' Lodge, Libationer Bashan came striding over, two scholars following behind him: one was Wei Yong, the other Yue Qinghong. The two had advanced greatly in cultivation; clearly they had trained under Libationer Bashan for some time and reaped much benefit. Behind the two of them followed a great green ox of immense vigor, walking on two legs, all lumps of muscle, smoke and fire snorting from its nostrils, fierce and malevolent, a peony held in its mouth. Libationer Bashan stopped and laughed: "Sect Master Shen, are you two young lovebirds eloping?

" "We are not! " Ling Yuxiu said, puffing with anger: "Teacher Bashan, do not talk nonsense. Father has summoned him to the palace! " Libationer Bashan laughed heartily, then said to Shen Mu: "I just ran into that fellow Banggongcuo of the Man-Di Kingdom.

The boy has turned very strange. He recognizes me, but he does not seem to be the Banggongcuo he was before. " Shen Mu nodded: "I felt the same.

Banggongcuo no longer recognizes me; it is as though he had been swapped for another man. " "His abilities are very strong, no worse than yours," said Libationer Bashan.

Shen Mu's eyes flickered, and he said doubtfully: "No worse than mine?

I am very strong.

" Libationer Bashan glared at him: "His Six Realms Divine Treasury is about to break through its wall, and I sensed that some fearsome power seems to lurk within him. You may not be able to beat him! Has this barbarian had some other fortuitous encounter?

It does not feel like a fortuitous encounter; it feels more like a ghost has taken possession of him. .

.

Go see the emperor first; I will come find you afterward.

" Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu arrived at the palace, where they found the emperor and the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping, and beside them an ugly man whose face was covered in lumps, in the middle of examining the wounds of the two of them. Shen Mu walked in. Emperor Yanfeng raised his head and broke into a smile: "The Grand Master of the Palace has arrived. " The man whose face was all lumps looked toward Shen Mu and split his mouth wide, like a great toad turned spirit, his smile like a weeping: "Junior brother, is our venerable master well? " Shen Mu halted, putting out a hand to shield Ling Yuxiu: "Little Poison King?

"