Chapter 356 — The Old Man Sells Paintings for a Living

He was not entirely certain. There were a few demon-clan scholars in the Grand Academy as well; compared with other sects, the Grand Academy was remarkably free of convention in taking in disciples — so long as one passed the Academy's trials, one could become an academy scholar.

Thus there were many women in the Grand Academy too, nearly half its number. After leaving the Academy, these women often took office in one place or another, and many of them entered the army and became generals.

Yet judging by the books behind this cute little girl, stacked so neatly and squarely, not a corner out of place, it was exactly Snowfox's usual way.

And yet Snowfox could not read a single character; she would never carry a stack of books wherever she went. That was not the little fox demon's style.

The little girl had not seen him. She parted ways with the other scholars, and instead of heading toward the Divine Power Residence, she went down the mountain. Shen Mu waited a while outside the Array Primes Hall; no one came out.

"Yuxiu said Ling'er was attending a lecture at the Array Primes Hall. She is not in the hall, so it must be that little girl from just now. She has taken human form?"

Shen Mu was taken aback. "King Meiluo of the Desolate Wastes truly deserves death — Ling'er is so small, and he wants to take her as his bride and make her the lady of his stronghold."

He walked down the mountain, puzzled at heart. "If it is Ling'er, and she is not going back to the Divine Power Residence, where would she go?"

He quietly followed. The little girl with three tails came bouncing and skipping all the way down to the foot of the mountain, then suddenly cried "Ow!" and fell flat on the ground. She crawled forward two steps on hands and feet, wagged her three tails, and only then climbed up, took two testing steps, and with another "Ow!" pitched face-down again.

Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry. Then he saw the little girl glance around; finding no one about, she went racing forward on all fours, on tiptoe, her little hands and feet barely touching the ground, still bouncing along, her three tails swaying to and fro, looking thoroughly pleased and proud.

She must have taken human form only recently and was not yet used to walking on two legs; that was why she sometimes tripped when she walked like a person.

In her transformed shape she looked like a little girl, yet running on all fours she was nimbler than on two legs.

Snowfox left the Grand Academy and headed into the city, but with so many people about she stood up again, bouncing and skipping, her three tails twitching behind her to keep her balance.

Thump.

Shen Mu saw the little girl plant her face in the ground once more, only her three tails sticking up; then the tails twitched, gave a shudder, and drooped.

"Being human is no fun at all..."

Grumbling, the little girl picked herself up, stole around an old tree, and out from the other side of the tree trotted a snow-white little fox, which shot forward in a flash, dragging three long, furry tails.

This time she was much faster. Before long she reached the capital's Curio Garden, and along the way she bought some wine and dishes, wrapped them up, and weighed out some fruit.

The Curio Garden was a market of old goods, selling antiques and relics; there were rare treasures for sale, and Yuan soldiers as well, and there were also down-and-out scholars selling calligraphy, paintings, ancient books and the like.

"Has Ling'er come here to sell books?"

Shen Mu was doubtful; but then he saw Snowfox reach the Curio Garden and turn back into the little three-tailed girl, threading carefully among the passersby, carrying her books on a spell as she walked deeper into the market.

When she reached the street of calligraphy and paintings, the little girl breathed a sigh of relief, looked this way and that, and then her eyes suddenly lit up; she ran toward a stall on the ground.

Behind the stall was a down-and-out old scholar, his face all beard, squatting in the corner with both hands tucked into his sleeves, head bowed, saying not a word — and showing two bright-silver, iron-forged ears.

Behind him hung several pieces of calligraphy and painting, and on the stall before him lay a few scrolls, the four corners of the mat weighted down with stones against the wind.

"Grandpa Deaf, have you sold any paintings?"

Snowfox came behind the stall, set down the wine, the dishes and the fruit, and asked the old man.

The Deaf Elder hurriedly fell to eating, and without raising his head said, "I have not met anyone who knows their worth. You came at just the right time — I was nearly starved to death."

"Grandpa Deaf, you should go sell your paintings in front of the Imperial Preceptor Jingping's residence. The Imperial Preceptor would surely pay a high price for them."

As she said this, Snowfox suddenly remembered something, and said ruefully, "The Imperial Preceptor Jingping has no money either. His wife gave birth, a son; he sent Old Fu to bring the young master an invitation, and since the young master was not home, I went. The Imperial Preceptor was not home either, and the celebration feast was very shabby, thin and watery. Mother and child were so starved they had gone sallow; they said the Imperial Preceptor had gone to war, the treasury had little money, and so the Imperial Preceptor donated his own savings. My heart softened and I wrapped up a big red packet for his lady, and then she clung to me saying she wanted her son to acknowledge the young master as his godfather... Later the Emperor heard of it, and the palace skimped and saved to scrape together some money, and only then could mother and child fill their bellies."

The Deaf Elder said, "The gentleman stands firm in poverty; the petty man in poverty runs wild. The Imperial Preceptor Jingping is truly a kindred spirit of mine."

Snowfox pursed her lips.

The Deaf Elder took out some sheets of paper and said, "I have written some characters in dotted outlines. You need only trace them."

The little girl spread the paper on the ground and was about to lift the brush and dip it in ink, when the Deaf Elder said hastily, "Do not use ink. Just write along the dotted lines with the brush — that way you can do it several more times. Let me look at these books of yours first; I will explain them to you in a while."

Snowfox knelt on the ground, tracing the Deaf Elder's characters, very earnest.

"I want to buy a painting."

Hearing that voice, Snowfox was startled and delighted; she looked up quickly and saw a youth standing before the stall.

"Young Master!"

The little girl sprang up and flung herself into Shen Mu's arms. No sooner had he caught her than the little girl became a white fox again, slipped out of his arms and curled around his neck.

She had leapt up too hastily and knocked over the Deaf Elder's ink, blackening several sheets of paper. The Deaf Elder hurried to tidy up and grumbled, "Ling'er, you are too mischievous. Those sheets cost money too, and now they are soiled..."

"Grandpa Deaf!"

Shen Mu laughed heartily and, without a word of explanation, hoisted the Deaf Elder up and squeezed him hard. The Deaf Elder, somewhat unused to it, broke free and said flatly, "So you have come."

"Grandpa Steward has come too!" Shen Mu said excitedly.

The Deaf Elder's face darkened. He snorted, "He has run out as well? Is he come to laugh at me?"

Shen Mu knew how proud he was, and said with a smile, "The Steward is at the Grand Academy now. Grandpa Deaf, pack up your stall and come with me to the Academy."

The Deaf Elder shook his head. "I can live well enough selling paintings; I do not need you to keep me. In another two months people will begin laying in New Year goods — I will paint door gods, and they will surely sell."