Above the source of Tao

In the tavern, diners come and go in a hurry.

The drunk monk, with the help of his companions, paid the bill and staggered away. From time to time, more diners would enter the tavern, run errands to the owner again, order a pot of old wine and a few dishes of tavern dishes. The monks sitting together repeated the conversation not long ago. Most of the diners were discussing how the Hundred Sects Conference would be opened and how the winner would be chosen. However, what they were most concerned about was not which sect had a gifted monk, or which sect's cave had a few young female disciples with stunning looks who would appear here for others to feast their eyes on.

What they care most about is the winner of this competition. There are several places, and who will get it? It is rumored that the reward this time is different from the past. It is said that a monk from the Return to One Realm will come and explain to these lost monks how to break through the realm and how to obtain it. They can all contact the powerful monks in the Return to One Realm. Except for the Damin Dynasty, no one else can be so generous as to invite an unattainable monk who stands in the clouds. Most monks are still eager to see which monk can come to Wangliang Town.

Those sect masters knew that this was impossible. Not to mention that there were cultivators in the Return to One Realm, even if there were, how could they dare to come out into the world? How could the Heavenly Dao allow them to appear in the world? It was just groundless talk. They just hoped that the sect of Jiaosheng could get some rich resources, and they would be satisfied. The cultivators of the mountain and wild cultivators and the cultivators of the small sects did not understand, but they would not be so foolish.

The old man drank tea, sitting in a secluded corner, listening to the diners chatting with a smile on his face. He looked around and saw that the tavern was full of wandering cultivators without a master. They sat in groups of three or two, telling their own interesting stories.

He had been wearing a Huarong hat before, and no one knew when he took it off. His long hair was scattered on his shoulders, and his white beard fluttered, like a god. Although his temperament was not obvious, one could still see his extraordinary temperament. He sat in a corner, inconspicuous, but he could attract a second look from the monks who entered the tavern. But only one look, and then he turned to look for other tables, because this duke of the Damin Dynasty was leaning over to pick the filth in his nose, rolling it into a black ball between his fingers, and flicking it casually into the air. It landed steadily on the ground, and was stepped on by other diners and left with the wind.

As a duke, he didn't like drinking alcohol, but only loved hot tea. Lin Chong had excellent hearing, and everything the two women talked about in the backyard entered his ears. He murmured, "It turns out that the little girl has returned to the town."

Lin Chong placed one hand on the dining table and fumbled around in his sleeves with the other hand. He took out a few Yuan crystals and put them next to the teapot. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared.

The Qiushui sisters in the backyard were still discussing Yun Changan, and they didn't notice that an old man had appeared behind them. Lin Chong patted Qiushui's left shoulder and his deep voice exploded in her ears, "Ladies, who was that person you were talking about just now?"

Lin Chong asked even though he knew the answer.

Qiu Shui felt as if she was facing a formidable enemy. Someone appeared behind her, but she was unaware of it. She pulled Qiu Yue back several steps and stretched out her hand to draw the sword, but Lin Chong pointed his finger at her, and the sword returned to its sheath, and she could not move.

The aura around Lin Chong lingered around him, and an endless pressure of death was spreading to the surroundings. Then he slowly spoke, "I am not a bad person. I just heard that you two were talking about a little guy. I came here to ask about it on a whim. I hope you will forgive me for disturbing your leisure time."

Qiu Shui breathed a sigh of relief, but his vigilance dropped to his stomach. In an instant, he took a breath of foul air, which was blocked in his throat.

He didn't come for her, but only for Yun Chang'an who lived in the three-story building.

She didn't know when Yun Chang'an had offended such a cultivator. The pressure brought by his every move was beyond words. She only thought in her heart that as long as she made any unusual move, she would be killed at any time by this smiling old man.

Qiuyue also felt the old man's momentum, like a surging sea wave, coming straight at her, causing her body to stiffen unconsciously. Every time she moved, the breath of death came closer.

Qiu Shui patted Qiu Yue's shoulder and looked at the old man. He felt that he looked familiar. He didn't know where he had seen him before. Then he pointed to the stone table in front of him and said, "Since you want to ask, I think we should sit down and have a good talk. You should let me know your background."

Lin Chong thought about it, then waved his hand to disperse the surrounding pressure. He was too disdainful to use pressure to defeat a few young cultivators. He had no ill intentions and just wanted to know where Yun Changan was. He sat down steadily in the east, made a gesture of invitation, and regarded himself as the host, while the two women looked like guests.

After the two girls sat down, Lin Chong took out a painting scroll with a smile on his face. It was the one he held in front of the shabby thatched cottage in Xiulin Mountain that day. The person in the painting was a painter from the palace who came and drew Yun Chang'an according to Su Tao's description. It was very similar, just like Yun Chang'an standing in front of him. The painter compared and drew one by one. The expression on the painting was also as handsome as Yun Chang'an, without any difference.

This portrait is so lifelike that the painter must be a master painter. The materials used are very particular. The black ink used in the grinding is only found in Xinyang. There is a sect in King Damin's city. It is called the Water Painting Ink Sect. Many famous painters have come out of this sect. From choosing the paper, grinding the ink and choosing the water, to painting, every step is very strict in choosing the materials. The best ones are selected. All the canvases from the Water Painting Ink Sect have never been leaked, and others can't find them at all.

The monks from the Ink Painting School have been staying in the school since childhood and being taught as disciples. Not many of them can become masters, and even fewer can have such painting skills.

A portrait, half of Yuanjing Mountain.

How rich was this person? Just to find someone, he found a painter in ink and wash painting, just to draw a portrait of that person. The portrait was not mounted in any way, just a page of Wuxuan paper, folded up casually.

Qiu Shui looked at it carefully and knew at a glance that the person in the portrait was carrying a long sword and a wine gourd on his waist. Who else could it be but Yun Chang'an?

Qiu Shui was a little at a loss. The identity of the old man in front of her was unknown. If she told the truth, Yun Chang'an would be in danger. If she didn't tell the truth, this old man with a calm face was most likely an elder from the ruling family of the Damin Dynasty. She couldn't see through his cultivation level, so his identity couldn't be said to be too bad. At least he was the chief guest of the sect, and at worst he was an elder in charge of the sect.

How could these two girls resist?

The old man in front of him still had a smile on his face, stroking his beard, waiting for good news. Qiu Shui calmed his mind, hesitated for a while, and then clasped his fists in return, "I wonder what you want to find the person in the portrait for?"

Lin Chong stopped what he was doing and said in a serious tone, "Don't bother with that. If you want to trick me, just tell me whether you were talking about this little guy just now. I have no ill intentions. This little guy even took something from me. I waited for a long time, but he never came to find me. I had no choice but to come and find him myself."

Qiu Shui understood in his heart, as expected, Yun Changan took the old master's things, and now his enemies came to find him. I really don't know why he is so bold as to do such a ridiculous thing, "May I ask..."

As soon as he spoke, Lin Chong stretched out his hand and pointed at the center of Yun Chang'an's brow on the portrait. He felt that the two girls were still unwilling to speak out, so he fumbled for something from his sleeves and spoke at the same time, "Two girls, look carefully. Is this the person in the painting? If this is the person we were talking about just now, please tell us the truth. If you want some reward, here are some Yuanzhu crystal coins, just take them."

A storage bag appeared in Lin Chong's other hand at some point. He weighed it in his hand and it seemed very heavy.

The hand holding the storage bag threw it casually, and it landed steadily in the center of the stone table. At the same time, he slowly unfolded the scroll, revealing Yun Changan's entire body. He held a long sword in his hand, full of heroism, standing in the sky, looking like a proud monk.

Qiu Shui still couldn't suppress his inner restlessness. What a big deal!

He just casually spends a few hundred Yuanzhu crystal coins. It's a lie to say that he is not from Xinyang Region. If he can afford half of Yuanjing Mountain, how can he not have power?

If Yun Chang'an really stole the old master's things and someone came to find him, it would be his misfortune, but she would never allow it to implicate her own clansmen. The Qiu Shui Tavern was named after her, and she was a member of the Qiu family in Liulizhou, so she knew the difference between right and wrong.

Normally, she couldn't get used to seeing some mountain cultivators doing those low-level activities of robbing and looting under the name of robbing the rich to help the poor. Although she recognized Yun Changan in her heart and thought he had good taste, she had only met him once and didn't have a deep friendship with him. But she couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, senior, what did this man steal from you? If I meet him, I will help you get it back."

Lin Chong held the painting with one hand and couldn't help feeling a little surprised. It seemed that she had misunderstood and was not coveting Yuan Jing, but wanted to deliberately conceal Yun Changan's whereabouts.

Lin Chong then laughed and said, "Girl, what are you thinking about? I have told you several times that I have no ill intentions. You are from the Qiu family of Liulizhou, right? I did not say that this little guy stole my things and deliberately came to chase him. I gave him a token and asked him to do a small favor. You also know that the Hundred Sects Conference is about to start. If he doesn't agree to my request, it will be difficult to deal with it. So if you know his whereabouts, please call him down and meet me."

After staring for a long time and not finding any problems, Qiu Shui breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that she was wrong. It was not Yun Changan who stole, but the old man had a request for him.

Gradually, she became interested. It was unreasonable for an elder from a sect to personally bend over and ask for help from a young cultivator. But she didn't have time to think about it. Qiuyue beside her even dispersed her fear and said with a smile: "Yun Changan is in the small building behind you. If you want to see him, I will call him out."

The lump in Qiushui's throat was about to fall back into her stomach, and she wanted to continue asking for more details, but Qiuyue volunteered and hurriedly turned around and ran towards the small building. Qiushui wanted to reach out to stop her, but he was unable to speak, so he had to follow her.

Lin Chong was calm and composed. He put away the portrait of Yun Chang'an carved on Wuxuan paper on the stone table, rolled it up gently and leisurely, and placed it neatly, as if it was a treasured thing that he dared not damage in the slightest.

It was no wonder that Lin Chong was so careful. When Su Tao ordered the painter in the palace to draw this picture, he happened to see the painting scene in the palace in the town. The more Su Tao tried to cover it up, the more curious Lin Chong became. After repeated questioning, he learned that the painter in the palace was actually drawing a man. Su Tao was already guilty, and could not resist his threats, so she told him everything honestly. Everything in the secret realm was passed to Lin Chong's ears without missing a word.

Lin Chong was curious and took the portrait away. Before leaving, he made a bet with Su Tao. The content of the bet is unknown. It is only known that Lin Chong took the portrait, looked around in the town, and finally left the town from the north gate. Su Tao was worried and happy, and stayed in the palace anxiously.

After Lin Chong put away the portrait, he gently pushed the bag of Yuanzhu crystal coins on the stone table towards Qiu Shui.

Seeing that Qiu Shui had no intention of accepting it, Lin Chong still felt that it was not enough, so he said bluntly: "Since you have informed me of the news, you should accept the money. Don't worry, I will never cause you any trouble, nor will I tamper with the money. If you feel that it is not enough, you can ask for more. I will choose a day to have someone collect the full amount and then give it to you."

Qiu Shui waved his hands hurriedly and shook his head, "No, old sir, you are too polite. Although I don't know what grudge you have with Yun Chang'an, we didn't help you in any way. We shouldn't accept this bag of money. I am afraid. After all, Yun Chang'an is a friend my sister just met. If he really has a taboo and takes his anger out on others, it will be difficult to deal with the situation. I am caught in the middle and it is not intentional to inquire about your identity. I was a little abrupt just now. I hope you don't blame me."

While Qiu Shui was speaking, the pair of white and beautiful jade hands, with the help of some Qi skills, pushed the bag in front of Lin Chong without touching it.