My dream connects to three thousand years later.

Chapter 204: Calligraphy, Painting, and Literature – Three Perfections!
Second District.

The Jinshi Villa, a residential area for the wealthy.

Chu Zhu, carrying fruit, knocked on the gate of a courtyard.

He had already said goodbye to Lu Muxue and Hai Mingyue... It must be said that although Lu Muxue was a bit simple-minded, she was just too honest, not stupid...

After things had developed to this point, she thought about it carefully afterwards and completely saw through Hai Mingyue's true "intentions".

Facing her eldest daughter who had deceived her, Lu Muxue, consumed by rage at the betrayal, clashed head-on with Hai Mingyue—a clash of titans! The smell of gunpowder filled the air…

Chu Zhu naturally slipped away. These two women had nothing to do with him! Yet they started arguing, and every now and then they'd nag him, asking him to be their judge... Why would he stay and eat?
And... there's one more very important thing he wants to test!
"Here she comes, here she comes!" The middle-aged woman in an apron jogged over. When she saw Chu Zhu, she was stunned for a moment, then recognized her and her face lit up with joy. "It's, it's Xiao Zhu! Come in quickly... Mr. Xu was talking about you yesterday."

"Oh dear, why are you coming to my door with gifts! Mr. Xu said you should just make yourself at home here..."

Although she accepted the fruit, the woman's face still held a mixture of reproach and affection.

Chu Zhu listened gently to the woman's words. She chattered on and on, leading the way while recounting recent events. From herself to Mr. Xu… until she stopped, he finally asked, "Is the teacher awake now?"

"Yes, you know that Mr. Xu is quite old now... but he wakes up early! He's practicing calligraphy and painting in the backyard."

The backyard.

There was a huge pool, but it had been blackened by ink. The ground was covered with sparse weeds and no rare flowers, making it seem quite ordinary.

An elderly man, dressed in a white martial arts uniform with white hair and beard, was solemnly wielding his brush. Chu Zhu stopped the woman from moving forward, nodded slightly to her, and silently walked behind the old man, watching quietly.

A young boy, an old man, an ink pond, weeds, and splashed ink paintings... all combine to form a magnificent blueprint.

The older woman watched for a while, captivated by the poetic scene. Finally, she nodded with satisfaction and joy, and silently withdrew.

Time passes bit by bit.

at last.

The old man made the final stroke.

"...Oh dear, this won't do! My old bones..." Only now did the old man realize what was happening. He subconsciously touched his lumbar spine, feeling the throbbing pain, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. He braced himself against the table, just about to sit down, and then...

A warm hand pressed against his waist. "Teacher, recently... I've learned some acupuncture techniques!"

Memory technique copying, activated!

It worked instantly. The old man's pupils contracted, and he felt his back pain disappear, just like the moment he woke up that morning.

After a brief silence, the old man turned his head, looked Chu Zhu up and down, and finally stared intently at the sweat beading on Chu Zhu's forehead and the fleeting weariness in his eyes. After a brief silence, the surprise in his eyes faded, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

"Little Bamboo, it's been a long time!"

This old man was Chu Zhu's traditional Chinese painting teacher, and also a master of traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, and literature in the Great Qian Dynasty... In his youth, he was hired as a traditional Chinese painting instructor by the former emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty. He was only one step away from being called a painting sage or calligraphy sage... by the deceased Xu Zihong!

In the gazebo in the backyard.

"Your move was amazing!" Xu Zihong rubbed his lumbar spine, praising it highly. He casually poured Chu Zhu a cup of tea: "Little Zhu, why did you suddenly think of coming to see this old man? Did something happen again..."

After a brief pause, Xu Zihong casually said, "I heard you've recently joined the government system... Hmm, but with your rank, you're probably being suppressed. Old Lu is really something! I happen to be meeting with Governor Su this afternoon, would you like to come along?"

Chu Zhu couldn't help but feel touched. Xu Zihong couldn't possibly have made an appointment with Su Zhizheng that afternoon; he knew all too well how stubborn he, as a traditional Chinese painting teacher, was...

If he truly enjoyed associating with officials, he wouldn't still be in the capital. Therefore, the only explanation is that he wants to use Chu Zhu and his reputation as leverage to get a meeting with Governor Su.

"There's no need for that! Taking some time to reflect now will be beneficial for faster promotion in the future," Chu Zhu said softly, although in reality, he didn't want to get too deeply involved in the official system.

As long as we maintain the "one city, two systems" approach and preserve a certain degree of autonomy, that's fine! As for rank, it's still the same point: it's completely unimportant to him.

"Then why did you come to me? Just to treat this old man's ailments?" Xu Zihong asked curiously, then rubbed his waist. "But I really have to say, your skills... are truly amazing! I was wondering why you didn't continue painting back then... did you go and study medicine?"

"However, I've been quite curious since just now..." Xu Zihong hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "You said it's acupuncture therapy, so where are the needles?"

"..." Chu Zhu's expression remained unchanged, but she was actually thinking about whether she should go and buy some needles later.

"So," Xu Zihong winked, looking rather like a mischievous old man, "the truth is, you're actually a kung fu master! The internal energy you circulated helped soothe this old man's bones, didn't it? Hahahaha... you still want to hide it from me!"

Ah... this, this, is that right? Okay, this is right! Chu Zhu nodded silently, inwardly thinking, no wonder he had to use kung fu as a cover-up... kung fu really is versatile in these situations!

"Teacher, actually... I have another request!" Chu Zhu sat up straight, looking directly into Xu Zihong's eyes, and revealed her true purpose: "My kung fu has reached a special stage! I need... your help so that my traditional Chinese painting skills can reach the world's top level..."

"...Wait a minute, kung fu, traditional Chinese painting? My help?!" Xu Zihong was dumbfounded. How could so many words be put into one sentence?
What skills can help improve one's Chinese painting skills?

"So, your opinion is..." Chu Zhu lowered his eyes, unable to say anything more. Going any further, even using martial arts as a cover... it wouldn't be enough!
Xu Zihong looked at Chu Zhu deeply, and after a long period of contemplation, said, "Little Zhu, you were the disciple I chose to close my doors! Although you left resolutely back then... in my heart, I still believe that to this day!"

"If my old bones can help you improve, although I don't understand the specific logic behind it... I'm willing!"

(End of this chapter)