NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Locusts
Chen Mu never expected that he'd get entangled in a family annihilation case just by painting a portrait.
What terrified him even more was that the Wang family had been exterminated.
That was a major family that had been entrenched in Qingshan County for decades.
Staring at the headless portrait, thousands of thoughts whirled in Chen Mu's mind.
"Come with me," said Lu, the head of law enforcement, as he turned to take Chen Mu to the back hall.
The county magistrate had ordered that Chen Mu should not be let go, so Lu could only lock him up for the time being.
Pity arose in Lu's heart.
Getting thrown into jail was easy, but getting out was difficult.
The Wang family's extermination was a vicious case, and the pressure on the county magistrate and magistrate was immense.
It wouldn't be surprising if they ended up looking for a scapegoat to bear the blame.
This scholar, who had become entangled with the Wang family... Lu dared not think further.
"Wait!" Chen Mu called out to stop Lu.
He had no family or friends in his previous life and was all alone.
If he were locked up, with no one to come for him, he really would be at the mercy of fate.
"The portrait I painted was of a complete person. The disappearance of the head must mean that someone deliberately mystified it, using a special method to erase the head," Chen Mu said gravely.
His Second Rank painting skill had bestowed him with an extensive knowledge base.
Gazing at the headless portrait, a paint formula began to emerge in his mind.
He moved closer to the portrait and discreetly sniffed at it. Amidst the thick fragrance of ink, a faintly pleasant scent drifted from the paper, reinforcing Chen Mu's conviction.
"You can't prove it," said Lu.
"There is a way!" Chen Mu insisted, staring intently at Lu.
"This portrait is a memorial for the Wang family patriarch. The paper and pigments are exquisite, and combined with my skill of painting with force through the paper, it should preserve its color for decades," Chen Mu confidently bluffed.
In reality, the solution that could erase ink and paint was not completely effective, as there was residue left.
Of course, he couldn't directly tell the other party about the solution.
That would also increase his suspicion.
"Just let the mounting master open up the painting from the middle, and you will definitely find residual pigments. It's enough to prove that I painted a complete portrait!"
"Wait here," said Lu, taking the portrait out of the main hall.
In the County Government Office, all six departments' clerks were scholars, and many veteran clerks knew the craft of mounting.
...
Half an hour later, in the back hall of the County Government Office.
"This makes it impossible to blame it on evil spirits," Magistrate Du said worriedly as he stared at the lifelike portrait.
Evil spirits killing people wouldn't erase the head from a portrait.
Clearly, it was the work of thieves, trying to create an illusion.
"It seems that the scholar really was just at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Lu.
"Hmm, he's also quite talented," Magistrate Du now had the leisure to observe the portrait.
The three-dimensional life-like effect of the portrait was a revelation to him.
He had never seen such a style of painting before.
"If the portraits on the wanted notices were as realistic as this one, there wouldn't be any thieves we couldn't catch," Magistrate Du thought, intrigued: "I'm actually interested in meeting this scholar now."
"The Evil-Repelling Mirror didn't react?" Du asked for confirmation again.
"No," came the reply.
"Let's go meet this scholar," said Magistrate Du with composed assurance.
...
"Young Master Chen is greatly talented; your painting skills have truly broadened my horizons," Magistrate Du said as he emerged from the back hall, full of praise.
"This is our magistrate of the county," Lu introduced from the side.
Chen Mu bowed and saluted: "I've seen Magistrate Du."
He had already gathered information from his predecessor's memories.
He knew that the magistrate was equivalent to a company's vice president, second in command in Qingshan County Government Office, mainly responsible for public security within the jurisdiction.
The Wang family's annihilation case fell within his responsibility.
"I, the magistrate, have ascertained that the Wang family's case has nothing to do with you. You were merely at the wrong place at the wrong time. You can return home in peace shortly," declared Magistrate Du with a wave of his hand.
"Thank you, Magistrate!" Chen Mu sighed with relief.
"Given Young Master Chen's lifelike painting skills, if you could assist the County Government Office in creating portraits of wanted individuals, it would greatly improve public security in our county. I wonder if Young Master Chen..." Magistrate Du said lightly.
"No problem," Chen Mu agreed promptly.
He had no choice but to agree.
County Magistrate Du nodded with satisfaction and then casually asked, "Young Master Chen, you could see that someone deliberately erased the portrait, but do you have any understanding of this special technique?"
Understanding? Not only do I understand, but I also know how to prepare that solution!
But I couldn't say that.
Chen Mu pretended to be deep in thought, then after a long while, shook his head with a bitter smile, "My late father once mentioned this method of removing paint, but it was also just hearsay; I'm not clear on the specifics."
County Magistrate Du nodded. He hadn't really expected a poor scholar to know these secret techniques.
Just as he was about to dismiss his guest, he heard Chen Mu suddenly say, "It's said that the Brilliant Painting Workshop in the east of the city gathers the top painters of Qingshan County; perhaps someone there might know something."
The corner of Chief Constable Lu's mouth twitched violently as he stood by.
"Brilliant Painting Workshop?!" County Magistrate Du's eyes lit up immediately, "Chief Constable Lu, take your men and bring back the painters from the Brilliant Painting Workshop right away."
Chief Constable Lu turned his head and glanced at Chen Mu, who was smiling innocently as if it had nothing to do with him, and his eyelid couldn't help but twitch.
This scholar really knew how to hold a grudge.
…
Ping'an Square, Chen Family Estate.
Chen Mu sat at the square table in the living room in silence, his expression fluctuating uncertainly.
First, he was cornered at his door by people sent by Master Yan.
If Chief Constable Lu hadn't arrived in time, a severe beating would have been inevitable.
Then he was dragged to the County Government Office, implicated in a family annihilation tragedy.
Although he had been released now, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be caught again.
In a major family annihilation case, if it couldn't be solved, the County Government Office would surely find a scapegoat for the sake of their achievements.
He, a poor scholar with ties to the case, was the perfect candidate!
"I have no control over it!" Chen Mu sighed.
Today's experience brought him to a clear realization.
This was no longer the stable and prosperous country of his previous life; it was a chaotic ancient world.
He had to learn to protect himself!
"Practicing martial arts in a short period isn't feasible, but I need to find something for self-defense."
Chen Mu immediately thought of Lime Powder.
This substance was cheap and plentiful; a surprise attack could achieve miraculous results.
He resolved to prepare some for himself later.
"I also need to master some power."
He had no understanding of the martial arts in this world, and he dared not practice them recklessly, so he could only recall from his prior life's memories.
In his previous life, information was abundant; he knew a bit about various fighting skills, yet they were all unorganized.
After thinking for a long while, a vague memory surfaced in his mind.
He seemed to have read about a training method for the Natural Sect's Flying Locust Stone.
The Flying Locust Stone was nothing but the small rocks that were readily available everywhere.
They were easy to obtain and simple to practice with, and steadily improving accuracy and striking power would naturally enhance their potency.
Chen Mu immediately went to the yard to collect small stones.
Then he propped up a wooden basin used for washing his face against the wall.
Standing five paces away, he threw the stones into the wooden basin.
After all twenty-odd stones in his hand landed in the basin, Chen Mu picked up the stones and retreated to a distance of six paces from the basin and continued throwing.
Once he started throwing from a distance of eight meters, finally some stones fell outside the basin.
Chen Mu didn't continue to increase the distance, but persisted in practicing from that position.
He kept throwing until his arm became sore and his throwing strength weakened, then a sudden insight appeared in his mind.
The throwing technique subconsciously adjusted, and his movements became somewhat more effortless and light.
Chen Mu's mind stirred.
The gray wall materialized before his eyes.
Writing: 1043/10000/Second Rank;
Drawing: 157/10000/Second Rank;
Throwing: 26/10000/First Rank;
Chen Mu took a deep breath.
What came next was the phase he was familiar with.
Practice.