Chapter 72 - 71: Leaving a Picture

Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Leaving a Picture

At the docks.

Zeng Anmin’s lips curled into an odd smile. He looked at Bai Ziqing and asked, "How does it feel? Is everyone looking at you?"

Bai Ziqing’s expression remained exceptionally calm as he observed the passing pedestrians out of the corner of his eye. Everyone was staring at him with a gaze he had never seen before.

"Indeed they are..." Bai Ziqing barely moved his lips, transmitting his voice directly to Zeng Anmin.

This was what Zeng Anmin had taught him: a master like him had to be a man of few words. Even when forced into a situation where he had to speak, he must keep his mouth shut to maintain his cool demeanor.

This happened to coincide with his own philosophy, making him regard Zeng Anmin as a kindred spirit.

"Told you so," Zeng Anmin chuckled, escorting Bai Ziqing onto the longboat. "Ziqing, who knows when we’ll see each other again after today. If fate allows, I’ll definitely visit you in the Capital City." With that, Zeng Anmin offered a polite bow.

Bai Ziqing kept his indifferent expression, giving a slight nod as he privately transmitted back, "Don’t worry, Quan Fu, I’ll definitely return to Liangjiang Commandery to find you if I get the chance. If you ever run into trouble in the Capital City, don’t forget to mention the name of Bai Ziqing, the Capital’s Number One Sword.

"Regarding the Confucian Gentleman’s Six Arts, the only thing I can help you with is Archery.

"This technique is a secret of the Bai Mansion in the Capital City. You absolutely must not leak it to outsiders.

"It’s a Martial Skill method. Since you practice Confucian Cultivation, you can only use it as a reference. Don’t force yourself to practice it, or you’ll risk your body exploding from the power!"

After speaking, he gently pulled an Illustrated Catalog from his robes. With a flick of his finger, the catalog slowly floated through the air and landed in Zeng Anmin’s hand.

Bai Ziqing wasn’t an idiot. He knew Zeng Anmin was a Confucian Cultivator and couldn’t practice Martial Art, which was why he felt completely safe giving him this technique.

This display of skill drew gasps of amazement from the surrounding crowd.

"This man... is so formidable!"

"Did you see that? Such a thick booklet, and with just a flick... it flew?"

"He must be an Immortal!"

"..."

Hearing the murmurs, both explicit and hushed, Bai Ziqing found it genuinely difficult to suppress the corners of his mouth. He hurriedly turned around, his flowing, permed blond hair swirling with the motion, and slowly walked into the ship’s cabin.

"Have a safe trip, my great friend!" Zeng Anmin called out, feeling genuinely moved.

During his few days in Liangjiang Commandery, Bai Ziqing had followed him around daily just to learn his hair dyeing and perming techniques. Over this period, Bai Ziqing not only threw money around to buy him countless gifts, but also shared many secrets of the Capital City. He even promised that if Zeng Anmin ever visited the Capital City, he would introduce him to his younger sister from the Bai family, known as the "Number One Beauty in the World."

"What an amazing guy!" Zeng Anmin thought. "And he even gave me such a precious gift before leaving!"

He watched the gradually departing ship until it disappeared from sight before slowly looking down at the Arrow Skill Illustrated Catalog in his hand.

Three highly evocative characters caught his eye: Falling Jade Disc.

A very poetic name.

Zeng Anmin’s eyes flickered with a trace of contemplation. "This Archery method is divided into nine stances, corresponding to each Realm of the Ninth Grade of Martial Art," he noted.

Although he didn’t know what rank this Martial Skill was, the Bai family’s ancestor, Bai Wudi, was renowned for having peerless Arrow Skill in the world. It shouldn’t be too bad.

Zeng Anmin tucked it safely into his robes, keeping it close to his chest. He would study it carefully once he got home.

"Dachun!" Zeng Anmin shouted as he turned around.

"Young Master!" Qi Dachun, covered entirely in bandages that left only one of his wise eyes exposed, limped over with the horses and respectfully approached Zeng Anmin.

"Let’s return to the mansion!" Zeng Anmin ordered with a wave of his hand, leading Dachun toward the Governor’s Mansion.

In today’s Liangjiang Commandery, his old man controlled everything with one hand. Ever since King Jiang had been executed, the number of daily guests at their home had noticeably increased. However, his old man refused to see any of them, staying in the Government Office every day to handle official business.

"Young Master, a guest has arrived," a servant respectfully reported just as Zeng Anmin stepped into the mansion.

"Didn’t my dad say he’s refusing all guests?" Zeng Anmin frowned, his gaze sweeping over the servant’s face. It had been some time since he entered the Observation Department as the Left Chief Clerk, and he had naturally developed an air of authority.

Feeling the oppressive aura radiating from the young master, the servant’s heart sank. With a bitter expression, he hastily explained, "This guest is here to see you."

"Me?" Zeng Anmin blinked. "Who is it?"

"Quan Fu, it’s me." A remarkably gentle voice rang out, drawing everyone’s attention. Zeng Anmin looked up to see Qin Wanyue standing not far away, a smile on her face.

Her eyes were not particularly large, but they sparkled with a charm as pure as the first snow. She emanated a serene aura that seemed capable of repelling all the noise of the world. Tranquil, gentle, and fragrant. It was an indescribable, quiet grace hidden deep within her soul that inadvertently exuded the very scent of life.

"Uh..." Zeng Anmin could never have imagined that the person seeking him out was Qin Shoucheng’s only daughter. "Why is she here?" he wondered.

"Ah, it’s Ms. Wanyue." Somewhat perplexed, Zeng Anmin offered her a polite bow from a distance. "May I ask what brings you here?"

Qin Wanyue kept her smile as she walked over with elegant steps, her maid in green trailing behind her. She offered Zeng Anmin a graceful curtsy and asked, "There is some coursework that has been puzzling me endlessly, and I wanted to ask you for guidance, Quan Fu. Would that be alright?"

"Haha, of course. Shall we head to the main hall first?" Zeng Anmin instantly became impeccably polite, acting like a refined and cultured young master. He wore a natural smile, and even his walking posture became strictly proper.

Qin Wanyue was Qin Shoucheng’s only daughter. Over this long period, Zeng Anmin had naturally sensed how much his father valued Qin Shoucheng. The dean of Shuidu Academy was undoubtedly one of his father’s more significant political resources.

He knew that in his past life, the Donglin faction of the late Ming Dynasty had all originated from Jiangnan. If his father were to enter the royal court and become prime minister one day, there would be countless officials in the Capital City who had graduated from Shuidu Academy. If managed well, they could absolutely become a strategic weapon for his father in the imperial court.

Watching from the side, Dachun looked rather bewildered. "Wait... the young master isn’t usually like this, is he?" he thought.

"Hehe." Qin Wanyue naturally felt the spring-breeze-like warmth radiating from Zeng Anmin. Her smile was incredibly pure as she gave a gentle nod and followed him toward the main hall.

Once the two took their seats, Zeng Anmin instructed the servants, "Brew some tea!" specifically adding, "The finest Lushan Cloud Mist."

A moment later, the tea sets were arranged one by one by the servants. Zeng Anmin, with a pure gaze, looked at Qin Wanyue and spoke in an extremely soft voice, "Whatever confusion you have, Ms. Qin, you may ask me. If I don’t know the answer either, I will seek my father’s guidance and then relay it to you."

Hearing this, Dachun, standing by the side, looked even more bewildered. He raised his head and blinked his wise eyes.

"Wait... this sounds so familiar," he wondered. "Where exactly have I heard this before?"

Upon hearing this, a look of flattering surprise flashed across Qin Wanyue’s autumn-water-like eyes. She felt a deep sense of respect in Zeng Anmin’s words. Not to mention, Zeng Anmin was the Governor’s only son, and he possessed Cultivation at the Sixth Grade Gentleman Realm. In that fleeting moment, she almost saw her own father’s reflection in Zeng Anmin...

A strange feeling began to well up from the bottom of her heart.