Outside a small shop stood a man cloaked in black, his face also covered by a black mask, revealing only a pair of eyes.
If he were to remove the mask, someone would recognize him as none other than Linyan, the prodigy of the Lin family who had once lost his cultivation but was now rising again.
At this moment, he stood excitedly outside, waiting for the bookstore to open.
He wasn’t worried that his attire might attract attention because many around him dressed the same way.
In fact, this had become their symbol—a fan uniform in support of the great Teacher Chunqiu.
“Teacher Chunqiu’s new book is finally coming out. I’ve waited for this day for so long, I didn’t even dare to go to the bathroom.”
“Yeah, every night before bed, I have to keep my hand outside the blanket.”
“It’s truly a blessing for Qinghong City to have Teacher Chunqiu!”
“Right! Every time I re-examine Teacher Chunqiu’s illustrations, I feel something new. Even though nothing is exposed, it’s irresistibly enticing! Completely different from those blunt and vulgar flashy works!”
While waiting for the bookstore to open, several black-clad fans had gathered and started chatting, with Linyan nodding along in agreement.
He couldn’t help but recall the day he first encountered Master Chunqiu’s illustrations:
Because his cultivation had regressed, his fiancée took the opportunity to break off the engagement.
Filled with anger, he made a Three-Year Pact with a harsh vow, though deep down he knew with his current state, defeat was inevitable after three years.
On that day, unwilling to train, he wandered into a bookstore in a daze.
There, he saw a few people wrapped up head to toe buying a book.
Perhaps noticing his disheveled state, one of them bought an extra copy and handed it to him.
“Brother, I don’t know what you’ve been through, but life has no insurmountable obstacles. If you’re really tired, just take a look at this. Sometimes, life needs a little indulgence!”
After saying that, the fully covered group left.
Linyan looked down at the book pressed into his arms.
The cover was blank, except for two characters: Chunqiu.
He flipped it open and his eyes widened instantly.
“This… this kind of shameful…”
He quickly shut the book, his face burning red, and raised it as if to throw it away.
But in the end, he retracted his arm, unsure why, and tucked the book into his embrace before heading home.
He had planned to hide the book somewhere secret and never open it again, but the images from the book haunted his mind.
Unable to resist, he took out Chunqiu and began to look through it.
Ah, the shapes, ah, the shadows—it was as if they were real, yet not quite human.
There was a unique beauty to them.
For a long moment, Linyan couldn’t find the words to describe it.
After much thought, only two words came to mind—art!
In this world that valued mood over form, Baifeng’s sketches were like firecrackers stuck in cow dung, delivering a shocking and refreshing bath of enticing images.
Linyan had seen such books before.
When he was young, he found several in his father’s room, but none were as exquisite as this one.
Compared to this book, his father’s collection was nothing but trash!
After reading it, his heart remained unsettled for a long time.
***
The next day before dawn, he rushed to the bookstore.
Since then, he gained a new hobby and once again looked forward to tomorrow.
Faced again with ridicule from others and his stagnant cultivation, he rarely felt anger or resentment.
He had to keep reading Teacher Chunqiu’s illustrations; no minor setback could bring him down!
He particularly liked a phrase Teacher Chunqiu once said in an interview—
“What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger!”
Although that interview was about his previous books being banned and forced to change pen names, Linyan felt the words fit him perfectly.
To be a little vain, it was as if the phrase was tailor-made for him.
It was thanks to Teacher Chunqiu’s works that he had emerged from that low point in life.
“The door’s open, everyone charge!!”
A shout pulled Linyan out of his memories.
He quickly lifted his head and darted forward with the agility of an eel, reaching the front of the crowd in the blink of an eye.
“The signed edition of Teacher Chunqiu’s new book is mine!”
“Damn, too slow!”
“Damn him, tomorrow I’ll learn better movement skills and see who dares to challenge me next time!”
“Friend, wait! I’m willing to pay double!”
“Triple from me!”
But Linyan ignored them all, quickly paid, and once again used his agility to rush out of the chaotic crowd.
On the way back, the elderly man inside the ring hesitated, struggling to understand why Linyan wasn’t cultivating in the sect and was instead out fighting for a book about the Imperial Uncle.
“Um, disciple, you can’t be too indulgent. You’re young now, but you can’t—”
“Don’t worry, Shifu, I know what I’m doing!”
Linyan glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, then ripped off his mask and removed his cloak.
“I just really love Teacher Chunqiu’s art. Every stroke shows the spirit of perseverance Teacher Chunqiu embodies.”
The old man opened his mouth, thinking, What kind of perseverance can you see in those enticing pictures?
Had his disciple spent too long absorbing spiritual energy while asleep and developed psychological issues?
No matter, it’s just a fondness for those pictures, not some strange obsession.
Let him be.
[Fortune Value +1]
Baifeng put down his brush, frowning slightly—Again!
Over the past year, system prompts kept popping up from time to time.
Although each only added a point or two, the frequency was relentless!
His fortune value had already exceeded one hundred, currently sitting at 114!
He carefully reviewed the past few years’ events and confirmed he hadn’t encountered the Child of Fortune.
If anything was different, it was that his younger sister had joined the Tianjian Sect.
Could the fortune value be coming from her?
Forget it, no need to overthink.
Today was the new book release; he could relax a bit and listen to some music.
Baifeng changed clothes, swapping his simple cyan robe for the flashy attire favored by playboys.
Holding a fan and wearing a carefree smile, he looked every bit the ordinary spoiled heir.
Going to listen to music required this outfit, so he could blend in with the other playboys without standing out.
Carefully sneaking out the back gate of the Bai family’s estate, Baifeng strode away with a ruthless gait.
Except for lacking a follower, he was the perfect image of a playboy.
Should I get a follower?
A playboy without one seems a bit conspicuous.
Baifeng pondered this but couldn’t find anyone willing to play along for now.
Forget it, he’d find a chance later.
“Huh?”
Baifeng suddenly frowned—today his luck was really bad.
He had run into the Child of Fortune on the street.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t notice him.
If he had known, he would’ve stayed home all day.