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nChapter 13: Silence at Painting Viewing

nThe nobility of Zhushan District had already arrived in front of Fire Virtue Hall and took their seats in front of the table with incense and offerings. However, the first row at the front was empty.

nJust like in past years, these seats were left for Old Master Feng and his children. For most people of Zhushan District, their land would only prosper if the Feng Family prospered.

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nFeng Qinghan was young. So, while he was well-known in Zhushan District, he held no official post. After greeting the important people who had arrived, he stood silently at the side.

nThe streets were unusually crowded and the people moved like the tide. They would only part when the procession carrying the kitchen god or the shamans was passing through, and close in once they had passed.

nIt was a long journey to get to the Fire Virtue Hall for the people living in far away places.

nFeng Qinghan’s eyes suddenly narrowed slightly. A tinge of murderousness appeared on his young face.

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nHe looked at the faraway roofs, a white cloud was rushing over at a rapid pace.

nWhen the people in the crowd in front of Fire Virtue Hall witnessed this phenomenon, gasps rose in waves.

nTwo figures could be discerned in the white cloud. This brought to life the legends of the sword immortals who could fly on cloud and mist.

nFeng Futang took a deep breath. As the most effective and competent steward of the Feng Family, he was more composed than Feng Qinghan. He did not have the anticipatory feelings that Feng Qinghan did. He was only slightly anxious.

nXue Wangxu landed in the field.

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nThere were naturally cultivators among the important people seated. They all felt the vast primal energies of the universe contained in the cloud.

nThis kind of presence was heaven to the earth that represented their cultivation. Each person’s heart trembled. No one dared to speak. Complete silence reigned over the field.

nThis silence spread outwards. Even the crowd around Fire Virtue Hall had significantly quieted.

nFeng Qinghan knew of the level this white-haired and white-bearded old man had reached. But he felt no fear, a dark smile crept on the corners of his mouth.

nHis gaze landed on Ding Ning, who was behind Xue Wangxu.

nDing Ning stood with his usual calm behind Xue Wangxu. He perceptively sensed Feng Qinghan’s malicious gaze. While he did not know Feng Qinghan’s status, he had already guessed a certain possibility.

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nHe didn’t even look back at Feng Qinghan. He just shook his head slightly.

nFeng Futang went forward and bowed respectfully to Xue Wangxu. He said, “Cave Master Xue Wangxu had a change of heart and came to watch?”

nXue Wangxu turned to look at Ding Ning and then at Feng Futang. He smiled faintly. “Yesterday, he said I was fake. Today, you and I should not be so pretentious.”

nFeng Futang’s expression froze slightly. “Today, we are worshipping Her Highness the Empress’ calligraphy and painting. On an occasion like this … I fear it is not suitable?” he said softly.

n“I will naturally enliven things for the people of Zhushan District after revering Her Highness’ calligraphy and painting.” Xue Wangxu said peacefully.

nFeng Futang took a deep breath. He did not say anything else, and made a motion of invitation. He said, “If so, Cave Master Xue, please be seated.”

n“I have sat for a long time. I will stand.” Xue Wangxu said coolly.

nFeng Futang retreated respectfully, in silence.

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nSince there was no more need for pretence, everyone ignored Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning.

nThrough Feng Futang’s attitude towards Xue Wangxu, those seated elites of Zhushan District, vaguely discerned that Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning were not here to cheer. They were here to avenge. Disdain surfaced in their eyes.

nIn their view, the Feng Family would not be daunted. All they needed to do was watch how these two outsiders would end up.

nAfter circumnavigating around, the kitchen god statue was first seated..Then the parade of jumping shamans danced even more energetically around the kitchen god statue and the tables full of tributes.

nAt the moment the offerings were all placed, the crowd outside cheered. A sedan, with grandly embroidered curtains, was leading the procession. But no one sat inside the sedan. There was just a tablet of jade with a silk painting scroll in the middle.

nThe Feng family members walked behind this sedan. Feng Qianzhuo, dressed in simple clean robes, walked at the front.

nThe people on the two sides of the path were clearly in awe of Feng Qianzhuo. Many even knelt and kow-towed to him.

nLooking at the scene, Ding Ning’s demeanour was very calm, like a stone in the tide.

nXue Wangxu couldn’t help shaking his head. “It seems that he is good to the Zheng people here.”

nIn an aloof tone similar to Zhangsun Qianxue’s usual style, Ding Ning said , “If he really is good to others, when Ba Mountain Sword Field was overrun by the army, he should have died along with his senior sect brothers.”

nXue Wangxu looked worriedly at him and said, “It is not good to know too many stories.”

nDing Ning said, “Regardless of whether it is the stories or the present, some truths will not change. This is why I like Senior Sect Brother Zhang Yi and not Senior Sect Brother Su Qin.”

nXue Wangxu stilled slightly and expressed admiration. “You are right. Even if Zhang Yi is extremely sentimental and nagging, he does care for his fellow disciples … sometimes, it is hard to say what is right or wrong, but we have to first consider moral integrity.”

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nFeng Qianzhuo walked to the incense table.

nThis entire time, he didn’t even glance at Xue Wangxu. Despite the respectful cheer surrounding him, he showed no arrogance. He was incomparably deferential, as though the sedan in front of him didn’t carry the empress’ painting scroll but the empress herself.

nHe was the first to burn incense and then he started to speak. Unlike previous years, the focus of his speech was the empress’ painting scroll.

nHe spoke of the generosity of the empress, how much care she had for Zhushan District, and how the empress had made a painting scroll with auspicious meaning for the Kitchen God Festival to pray on behalf of all the people of Zhushan District.

nThe speech and the repetitive “Her Highness” and “the empress” turned Ding Ning’s downturned and calm face frosty.

nHe did not express his thoughts to avoid worrying Xue Wangxu too much.

nIf the most noble woman of the Qin Empire was really so magnanimous and loving towards the Zheng people, why hadn’t she stood up and said something when the Country of Zheng was destroyed and countless Zheng people died in hard labor and forced migration?

nIn those times, she had appeared even more callous than the Qin people because she did not want others to unnecessarily connect her to the Zheng people.

nIf this was her remorse and atonement for her callousness in the past, when she would consider other past events and her outrageous callousness, would she feel any regret?

nThe temple festival quickly reached its peak.

nAs the people of Zhushan District thunderously roared “Long Live the Empress”, Feng Qianzhuo solemnly bowed to the scroll and then retrieved it. He walked to the kitchen god statue and untied the gold thread holding the scroll closed.

nAll sounds quickly disappeared and the field quieted. Everyone waited with bated breath to see what the empress had drawn.

nDing Ning also wanted to know. So he took a deep breath and slowly raised his head.

nFeng Qianzhuo’s hands were unusually steady as the painting scroll slowly unravelled in his hand.

nGasps of disbelief sounded.

nMany people of Zhushan District started to tremble in terror and some were on the verge of tears.

nThe scroll that Feng Qianzhuo unfurled was completely white. An unusual kind of white that exuded inscribable coldness and brought bitter cold snow to the mind.

nThe empress had bestowed a painting but the scroll was empty with only the intent of bitter cold. What did this mean?

nHad Zhushan District erred and the empress was warning them with this painting?

nYet in a flash, many people’s eyes widened.

nA majestic and vast presence suddenly flowed out of the bitterly cold scroll.

nSuddenly, flux of primal energies of the universe that only cultivators could feel appeared in front of this scroll. Those were seal lines formed with mental power.

nThreads of red appeared from the blank scroll.

nAs the bright red surfaced on the cold desolate snow, a blooming red plum flower took form.

nThe moment the red plum blossom appeared on the scroll, threads of red fire energy appeared in the air in front of the scroll. The flames rose up and formed countless red flowers in the air, warming the Fire Virtue Hall.

n“The bitter cold disappears, the red plums bloom … this is sweetness after bitterness!”

nSomeone shouted from within the crowd.

nThe terror and anxiousness of the Zhushan District people disappeared. They looked at the flame flowers with respect and gratitude.

nThis kind of scene and magnificence was a miracle to them.

n“The empress has a higher realm than me.”

nFeeling the invisible seal lines and gentle primal energies of the universe in the air, Xue Wangxu said with gravity and respect, “I fear she is only lacking a breakthrough into realm eight.”

nDing Ning paled slightly. Under the reflection of the falling bright red flowers, he appeared to have a feverish flush.

nFeng Qianzhuo’s gaze finally landed on Xue Wangxu.

nAt such an age, what couldn’t he understand? Did he still want to hold onto his anger after seeing such a painting today?

nHe could not understand Xue Wangxu’s way of thinking and shook his head.

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