Chapter 42: Out of Harm’s Way

In his past life, the first job that Yan Liqiang had earned money from was as an artist . He had grown up in an orphanage back then and began learning how to draw on his own when he was eight years old . As it happened, there was a teacher in the orphanage who knew how to draw, so they instructed him in practicing still life drawings as well as portraits . After going through five years worth of blood, sweat, and tears, Yan Liqiang was finally capable of carrying a canvas on his back, setting up a booth at the park or the streetsides to earn money from drawing portraits of people . He started doing this when he was thirteen years old . Drawing one portrait would earn him 20 yuan .

On the year he turned fifteen, while he was setting up shop in the park one weekend morning, he caught sight of an old man, who had come to do his morning exercise, fainting by the roadside . He didn’t hesitate to call an ambulance, sending the old man to the hospital . As the saying goes, ‘one good turn deserves another’ . Afterwards, once the old man regained consciousness, the old man did not wrong him . Instead, after finding out that Yan Liqiang knew how to draw, he taught him how to draw portraits accurately in accordance to another person’s description . That old man turned out to be a criminal sketch artist for the provincial public security department and was a first-class expert in that field . Yan Liqiang learned from the old man for a few years, and received all his teachings . He managed to gain a solid grasp of his techniques in that area and even surpassed the teacher as a result . Later on, the old man had even wanted to recommend Yan Liqiang to work in the public security department as a criminal sketch artist too . But Yan Liqiang was in the prime of his youth at the time; he still had a lot of dreams and goals to achieve in the future so he wasn’t satisfied with a stable and peaceful occupation which would earn him a couple of thousand yuan a month for a lifetime . Thus, he chose not to work at the public security department and had instead, chosen the more difficult path of making a living with more opportunities .

Yan Liqiang himself never expected that the skills he’d learned in his past life could be put to use here .

To be the only one in the world with such a skill, with no others bearing the same skillset—it was an ability that would naturally have everyone on their feet once it was exhibited .

This was because the painters and artists of this world were accustomed to ink and wash forms of painting . Ink and wash painting paid particular attention to the artistic mood and vividness of the subject . It was the kind of state and comprehension which could only be grasped intuitively—to be sensed but not to be expressed in words . All ink and wash paintings had the artist’s personality drawn into it . It was an exhibition of the painter’s inner world . Even though line-drawing techniques existed in ink and wash painting, portraits drawn using brushes were completely incomparable to Yan Liqiang’s type of portraits . After all, he had especially trained himself to reach the standards of a criminal sketch artist in his past life .

The portrait drawn by a criminal sketch artist didn’t pay attention to vividness, artistic mood or any form of spiritual comprehension and experience . Instead, it was all about accuracy! To be able to draw the portrait to attain the quality of a photograph as well as to accurately and unmistakably reveal the appearances of the suspect—that was the highest realm that could be attained!

"Liqiang, when did you learn how to do this?" Qian Su stared at Yan Liqiang in amazement . "You were actually able to use a charcoal core to draw out such a realistic appearance of a man based on just a description . Such a skill is simply marvelous!"

Standing at the side, Lu Peien remained silent . He took the wooden board from Yan Liqiang’s hands and studied it carefully in his grasp . As he looked at the painting in hand, he shot a look of wonder at Yan Liqiang . "Clever! Wonderful! Marvelous! Such a skill has never been seen before . It’s unheard of…"

The surrounding crowd also moved closer . Every single one of them was all struck dumb when they saw the portrait drawn by Yan Liqiang .

"It looks like him! The resemblance is uncanny! The person in the painting almost looks alive…" Zhou Yong felt such respect for Yan Liqiang’s painting on the wooden board that he was practically prostrating himself with admiration . A martial warrior like Zhou Yong didn’t have anything more elegant to say than ‘alive!’ . This was already the best praise he could think of .

"Uncle Qian, I myself am unsure when I learned this . Perhaps this skill was taught to me in my dreams…" said Yan Liqiang calmly . Since he had already used this excuse before, what harm was there in using it again?

Last time, Yan Liqiang had explained that he’d learned the method to save the kid from within a dream, but people like Qian Su and Lu Peien wouldn’t normally accept such a claim at face value . It was merely because they didn’t want to delve further since they thought Yan Liqiang must have encountered it by chance or by coincidence . But now, after Yan Liqiang explained that he’d learned this drawing skill from his dreams as well, both Qian Su and Lu Peien exchanged speechless glances with each other as they started to question their earlier decision . Could it be that Yan Liqiang was truly able to meet a deity in his dreams and was bestowed with this opportunity? Otherwise, how could such unimaginable painting skills that had never appeared in this world, emerge from a young man who had never held a painting brush before?

Lu Peien muttered dubiously to himself for a moment before he spoke to Yan Liqiang, "The perpetrator is vicious and merciless, and his methods are savage . He’s definitely not a good man . Now that we know what he looks like, how about I bring this painting to Huanglong County’s Law Enforcement Office and check the pictures of major wanted criminals to see if any of them share similar features to this one? It will make it easier for us to verify the perpetrator's identity as well as issue a document to capture and arrest the criminal . . . "

"Why is there a need to go to Huanglong County? Isn’t there one in Qinghe County…?" Yan Liqiang was caught off-guard .

Lu Peien glanced at Qian Su, who in turn, gazed at Zhou Tiezhu who held a look of resentment on his face . "After master was met with this mishap yesterday, I went to the county’s Law Enforcement Office to report the case to the authorities, but the officer of the county’s Law Enforcement Office said this was a business dispute between the Yan Clan and the customer . So this wasn’t considered a ‘case’ and therefore nothing they’d be concerned with . He wanted us to resolve it on our own . I was so angry that I ended up arguing with them . Those officers even said that if we’re going to stir up trouble, they would instead investigate our Yan Clan’s workshop for making such a low-quality horseshoe that it broke the horse’s leg, that they’d demand we pay the compensation fee to the other man before they tried looking for him…"

Previously, Yan Liqiang was in a hurry to go home, so Zhou Tiezhu barely had time to explain everything in detail to him .

Yan Liqiang hadn’t expected such a thing as ‘no case-filing’ would also exist in this world . In his past life, only the officials would spout such words, causing a large number of people to have nobody to turn to for their injustices and with nowhere to go to cleanse away the hatred in their hearts . Just these two words alone had unknowingly covered up countless hidden crimes and filth, allowing innumerable demons and monsters colluding together to run amuck in the world without any scruples . Even if a person were killed, or an underaged girl raped, should you, the victim’s family, try to file a case, then as long as the official said ‘no case-filing’, even if the perpetrator was devoid of conscience and was worse than a dog, it wasn’t considered as breaking the law . Regardless of how major the injustice was, that was still wrecking havoc without reason . The so-called ‘truth and justice’, ‘law and sanctity’, the feelings of the people, they were nothing but a joke before these two light words .

A dark situation had befallen him, the most unjust since he’d arrived; his father had almost been hacked to death by some man, and yet the Law Enforcement Office stood on the perpetrator's side without budging and had instead chosen to fling bogus accusations at them . Yan Liqiang instantly flushed red with fury, practically seething with anger .

After he calmed down, only then did Yan Liqiang recall that Hong Tao’s uncle from the Hong Clan seemed to be working at the Qinghe County’s Law Enforcement Office . No wonder they had banded together .

However, even if the Hong Clan could extend their hold over at the Law Enforcement Office of Qinghe County, they weren’t able to reach out to the Law Enforcement Office of Huanglong County . In Huanglong County, the Lu Clan’s influence was completely on a different level than the Hong Clan .

Once he understood these facts, Yan Liqiang sucked in a deep breath of air . He cupped his fists at Lu Peien . "Then I shall trouble Sixth Master . . . "

"No trouble . It’s no trouble at all! There’s no time to lose . If you’re sure that this man is our wanted criminal, we can request the Law Enforcement Office of Huanglong County to report directly to the prefectural city’s Law Enforcement Office so they can issue a document to make the arrest…" said Lu Peien unscrupulously . "After being commanded to do so by the authorities, Qinghe County’s Law Enforcement Office won’t be able to shirk their responsibilities . That culprit surely won’t be able to act as recklessly as before . This matter should not be delayed, so I’ll head back to Huanglong County first and verify this man’s identity . Even if he’s not a wanted criminal, our Lu Clan can still find someone to ask around for anyone who might know this person!"

Lu Peien stood as he spoke, getting ready to leave with the portrait drawn by Yan Liqiang . Yan Liqiang escorted him out of the residence .

"I’ll let Steward Lu stay behind, along with two guards from the Lu Clan . If Young Master Yan has anything that needs to be done, you can inform Steward Lu to handle it on your behalf!"

Yan Liqiang nodded his head . Lu Peien then handed Yan Liqiang’s drawing on the wooden board to the guard accompanying him and requested him to pack it carefully in a cloth, strapping it to his back . Soon after, he then brought along four attendants and went off on their rhinodrake steeds .

. . .

The Revival Pill brought by the Lu Clan was undisputedly miraculous . After a mere two hours had passed, Yan Dechang, who had lain unmoving up till then, finally regained consciousness . His complexion was also far better than how it looked that morning .

After Yan Dechang woke up, the Revival Pill’s skin was then dissolved in water for him to drink . After resting for a while, Yan Dechang became more spirited and could actually converse with the others . Upon seeing this scene, Yan Liqiang finally placed his worries at rest and was incredibly grateful towards the Lu Clan .

. . .

Both Qian Su and Zhou Yong stayed until it was almost sunset, then ate their dinner before bidding Yan Liqiang goodbye . Zhou Young and the rest were regular soldiers . Although they were dressed casually, it would become an issue should they stay at the Yan Residence for too long . Now that the Lu Clan had assigned a couple of men to guarantee the safety of the Yan Residence, and Yan Dechang was out of harm’s way, Qian Su was the first to leave, with Zhou Yong and the rest in tow .

Yan Liqiang personally escorted Qian Su to the outskirts of Liuhe Town .

"Liqiang, do you know why the Lu Clan took out the Revival Pill from their collection today? You should know that the Revival Pill is not just any ordinary medicine . If you placed it in the prefectural city’s auction house, you might get bids worth thousands of pieces of gold," Qian Su said to Yan Liqiang, when they were finally alone together .

Yan Liqiang muttered, "I won’t conceal the truth from Uncle Qian . It was indeed out of my expectations that the Lu Clan would take out their Revival Pill . Although I did save a Lu Clan family member, they’ve already given me gold, which should count as repaying the favor . The Lu Clan’s favor today is too heavy to bear, I don’t know how to even begin paying them back!"

"You’re a bright man . When we went to celebrate the Half Year Festival at the Lu Residence yesterday, I’m sure you understood why you encountered the Ninth Lady at Lotus Flower Lake, even though you didn’t say it outright . "

Yan Liqiang didn’t feign his ignorance anymore . "I just don’t understand why Old Master Lu would have such thoughts . In terms of the Lu Clan’s aspects and family background, they completely outclass me . I’m seriously flattered!"

"When I went to the Lu Residence today and informed Old Master Lu of what happened with your family, I also told him about your auspicious form when you’d passed the Horse Stance stage . Naturally, the Lu Clan would consider such a son-in-law worthy of being offered their major assets in order to win him over . At the very least, even if you didn’t end up as the Lu Clan’s son-in-law, you’re still worth the Lu Clan’s investment as a youth with boundless prospects—someone who’s destined to advance as a Warrior in the future . You’ll be doing a huge favor to the Lu Clan!"

So this was the truth all along!

Yan Liqiang nodded, "I finally understand!"

"It’s good that you understand!" Qian Su turned to cast a glance at Liuhe Town . He then softened his tone . "Liqiang, just the Hong Clan in Liuhe Town was enough to almost ruin your family . Have you thought of the reason why? In this world, the so-called principles of truth and justice are just nonsense . In the end, everyone compares pure strength . People will obey whoever has that power . Those with similar strengths can probably negotiate with each other, while those without strength can only be pushed around like wooden puppets . What is ‘strength’? Money, land, people, relationships, and even fists all count as strength . The reason why the Lu Clan fancies you is because of the strength you’ve exhibited, as well as your future potential . Your future prospects are limitless, and becoming a Martial Warrior won’t be the end for you . It’s only the beginning . If you have the Lu Clan backing you, you’ll be like a tiger that has grown wings, and you’ll be able to obtain more achievements after you became a Martial Warrior . Perhaps you will perceive this point better after you’ve become a Martial Warrior in the future . This is also the reason why I wanted to match you up with the Lu Clan’s young miss!"

Qian Su gazed at the silent Yan Liqiang . "I’ve seen the Lu Clan’s young miss before . Although she’s older than you by a few years, her appearance and talents are considered the cream of the crop . Carefully think about it on your own . Take what just happened today; if your Yan Clan was linked to the Lu Clan through marriage, do you think the Hong Clan would still dare to use such methods against the Yan Clan?"

"Rest assured, Uncle Qian . This won’t happen again in the future . " The expression on Yan Liqiang’s face was as calm as iron . "I’ll give ample thought about Miss Lu . "

Qian Su gazed fixedly at Yan Liqiang . "Then that’s good!"

Yan Liqiang drew in a deep breath of air after Qian Su and Zhou Yong left . He then turned to walk towards his home .

The setting sun was similar to a red-darkened cloud . In the midst of the afterglow of the setting sun, the entire Liuhe Town was dyed a shade of crimson .

Yan Liqiang glanced coldly at where the Hong Clan’s courtyard was situated, his lips tightly pursed . The reddish light which shrouded the Yan Residence was akin to blood in Yan Liqiang’s eyes . . .