A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

The next morning, Duan Rong and the others got up early to wash up and had breakfast in the cafeteria before heading to the room that Lao Qin had taken them to the night before.

There were nine tables in total, and everyone sat at their own pace, flipping through the books on the tables.

The others merely flipped through the pages casually, but Duan Rong examined them with meticulous care. After all, he had already entered the Dharma Aspect Sect. His next task was to find a method to further enhance his spiritual power. And to find such a method, he needed a thorough understanding of the Dharma Aspect Sect.

Everyone waited for a long time before Yu Dai finally arrived.

As soon as Yu Dai entered, he got straight to the point and began explaining the various rules and regulations of the Faxiang School. Not only did Duan Rong listen attentively, but the others also listened very carefully, taking notes as they went.

Their actions were definitely not just for show for Yu Dai. The Faxiang School has very strict rules, and any transgression will be punished. They must be very careful.

Yu Dai appeared calm and collected, but once he started lecturing, he gradually became very talkative, spitting as he spoke, and didn't leave until the afternoon, completely satisfied.

Looking at the meticulously filled notes, everyone realized that they contained a lot of irrelevant and nonsensical ramblings.

The artisans here are divided into six groups, and each group has a leader.

After Yu Dai, the six leaders gave them a lecture. These lectures weren't about rules and regulations, but rather about many specific matters related to craftsmen.

On the morning of the third day, Duan Rong and the others ate breakfast early as usual and sat there. After waiting for less than half an incense stick's time, someone came in.

This person was tall and slender, wearing a robe that was too big and didn't fit him well. He had a thin, horse-like face, sallow skin, and high cheekbones.

As is customary, each leader must first introduce himself upon entering.

As soon as he entered, his gloomy gaze swept over everyone, and he said, "My name is Tang Xiong. Today, I will be explaining to you the maintenance and replacement of sect magical artifacts..."

Upon hearing the name Tang Xiong, Duan Rong felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but glance at the man a few more times.

Wang Xun had told him that one of the two people from Cunmu Hall who had entered the Faxiang Sect was named Tang Xiong, and he had already become a minor leader. Therefore, Duan Rong had been waiting for him to appear for the past few days, and sure enough, the man arrived on the third day.

The sect's magical artifacts are numerous and varied, and their maintenance and disposal each have their own methods, making the matter quite complex.

They had only covered half the story by noon. So everyone went to the cafeteria for lunch, preparing to continue in the afternoon.

Duan Rong and the other nine sat together while eating, chatting casually.

After taking a few bites, Duan Rong suddenly looked up and walked towards a certain direction. The others were all taken aback, wondering where Duan Rong was going while he was eating.

Duan Rong walked to a corner of the cafeteria, where Tang Xiong was sitting and eating.

Duan Rong clasped his hands in greeting and smiled, "Captain Tang, I am also from Cunmu Hall. Would it be convenient for us to sit here and chat for a bit?"

Tang Xiong glanced at Duan Rong and asked in surprise, "You're also from Cunmu Hall?"

Duan Rong replied, "That's right."

Tang Xiong looked Duan Rong up and down with a gloomy expression, and said coldly, "Sit down."

The artisans in the sect have annual holidays, and he has returned to Xidu Prefecture before. He knows very well that there is no such person in Cunmu Hall.

Duan Rong sat down, flipped his hand, placed his registration certificate on the table, and gently pushed it to Tang Xiong's side.

Tang Xiong glanced at it and his expression changed in surprise. The registration certificate clearly stated Zhu Shicheng's name, but he knew that the person in front of him was definitely not Zhu Shicheng, because he had seen Zhu Shicheng himself at Cunmu Hall before the New Year.

Every time Tang Xiong returned to Xidu Prefecture, he would visit Wang Xun, so he knew all the employees of Cunmu Hall.

The person before me is clearly not Zhu Shicheng, yet he was able to participate in the examination under Zhu Shicheng's name and even pass it to enter the Faxiang Sect. This already carries a deep implication. There must be a recommendation from Cunmutang involved.

Tang Xiong pushed the registration certificate back to Duan Rong, who accepted it and left without saying a word.

Tang Xiong didn't find it strange; he merely glanced at Duan Rong's back before continuing to eat.

Duan Rong returned to his original seat and continued eating.

The others looked at him strangely and asked, "Shicheng, what did you say to Captain Tang just now?"

Duan Rong laughed and said, "It's nothing. Captain Tang is also from Cunmu Hall. He just went over to say hello."

"Really? Captain Tang is also from Cunmu Hall?"

Duan Rong said, "Yes. I've been here for six years."

“We should go and say hello,” the others said, looking at Duan Rong with envy.

After lunch and a short rest, Tang Xiong continued to lecture them on the maintenance and elimination of sect artifacts. During the lecture, both he and Duan Rong remained calm and composed.

At dinner time, Tang Xiong sat at the entrance of the canteen.

Just as Duan Rong and the others finished eating and got up, Tang Xiong saw them move and got up first, walking out of the cafeteria.

After Tang Xiong, the group left the canteen. Duan Rong slowed his pace and, taking advantage of their inattention, slowly broke away from the group and turned to walk in Tang Xiong's direction.

He followed Tang Xiong from a distance and watched as Tang Xiong went through a door. The moment Tang Xiong closed the door, he gave Duan Rong a deep look.

After confirming Tang Xiong's address, Duan Rong returned to his own place. The others were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't even notice Duan Rong was late.

As darkness fell completely, the noise outside subsided. In their cramped room, some people were already asleep, while others were still chatting idly.

Duan Rong climbed down from the upper bunk, pulled up his pants, and said, "I drank too much porridge, and now my testicles are so swollen they hurt."

He then left the room and walked along the dimly lit corridor toward Tang Xiong's residence.

In the corridor, a lantern hung at intervals, the light dim, but all the doors were closed, and the whole place was very quiet.

Duan Rong walked to Tang Xiong's door and gently knocked on it.

As soon as Fang knocked, the door opened immediately.

Tang Xiong stood at the doorway, both silent. Duan Rong slipped inside. Tang Xiong immediately closed the door.

Duan Rong stood there and looked around. The room was quite large, even slightly larger than their room where nine people lived.

Behind the screen not far away, there was clearly a bed. This side was the hall, where the tea table, chairs, and various ornaments were quite exquisite.

Tang Xiong looked at Duan Rong and asked, "What brings you here?"

Tang Xiong had basically guessed Duan Rong's identity, but he still asked the question carefully, never revealing his identity first.

Duan Rong smiled slightly, flipped his hand, and held a token in his palm.

Under the lamplight, Tang Xiong's face paled in surprise. "The Black Pattern Token!?"

Duan Rong then uttered a coded message, Tang Xiong responded with a reply, and the two exchanged four or five more coded messages.

Tang Xiong immediately knelt down and whispered, "Your subordinate greets Your Excellency."

The adult said, "Get up."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiong stood up, but he was still deeply shocked. He couldn't understand why an adult from a sect would personally enter the Faxiang Sect.

Although he was curious, he did not dare to be disrespectful and directly ask Duan Rong about his purpose.

Duan Rong looked at Tang Xiong and got straight to the point, saying, "Use the magic to get me into your team."

Tang Xiong was, after all, the leader of a team. If he could join Tang Xiong's team, it would be equivalent to him controlling the entire team, which would greatly benefit his subsequent actions. Tang Xiong's expression was solemn as he lowered his head in deep thought.

Duan Rong asked, "Is there a problem?"

Tang Xiong said, "Newcomers usually take turns joining each team. I should have one spot this time. However, if I go to Yu Dai and mention your name directly, it will inevitably arouse his suspicion."

Duan Rong said, "Can't you just say that I'm also from Cunmu Hall and want to recruit me into the team?"

Tang Xiong said, "That won't work. There's an unwritten rule here: forming cliques is not allowed. Therefore, those from the same workshop should not be in the same team to avoid trouble."

Duan Rong's eyes flashed; he hadn't expected there to be such an obstacle.

Both of them remained silent for a short while.

Duan Rong suddenly asked, "What is your usual relationship with Yu Dai like?"

Tang Xiong said, "Since I'm here, I'll naturally take care of my relationship with him. I often give him gifts during holidays. Our relationship is quite good."

Duan Rong said, "Then let's do this. Send him some more things. Just say that we're recruiting someone for the team and we're looking for a capable person."

"Capable?" Tang Xiong's eyes widened slightly, unsure of Duan Rong's meaning.

Duan Rong said, “That’s right. I came in first place in this assessment. Just tell him you want to recruit a capable person and ask him to recommend me. If he does, the matter will be settled. If he doesn’t, then it’s over and we’ll have to give up.”

Tang Xiong said, "This method is acceptable, but there is still one thing?"

As Tang Xiong spoke, a troubled expression reappeared on his face.

Duan Rong asked, "What else?"

Tang Xiong said, "To be honest, sir, if this matter is to succeed, we need something that will please Yu Dai, then everything will be perfect."

Duan Rong nodded; what Tang Xiong said was indeed true. As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him."

Duan Rong asked, "Do you have anything in your hands?"

Tang Xiong said, "I don't have anything that can entice Yu Dai. He might not agree to this if it's just a normal gift. And time is short. The new recruits are to be assigned to the team in three days. I can't come up with anything in time."

Duan Rong sighed and said, "I can only do my best and give him the good stuff you have."

As Duan Rong spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked, "Does Yu Dai like calligraphy and painting?"

Tang Xiong said, "I do like it. And I especially like paintings of ladies. It is said that he has more than ten paintings of ladies by famous artists in his collection."

Duan Rong smiled faintly and said, "Then this matter is settled."

Tang Xiong was slightly taken aback, unsure of Duan Rong's meaning.

Duan Rong asked, "Do you have paper, pens, and paint?"

Tang Xiong said, "We don't have any here, but we have some in the warehouse over there."

Duan Rong said, "Go and get some."

Tang Xiong hesitated and did not move, because he did not understand Duan Rong's meaning.

Duan Rong said, "I want to paint a portrait of a lady."

"Ah!?" Tang Xiong looked at Duan Rong with disbelief and said, "My lord, the paintings of ladies collected by Yu Dai are all by famous artists. Moreover, he is not a pretentious fool who is just trying to be cultured; he really has a good eye."

Duan Rong said, "Go ahead. What I fear most is that he lacks discernment. That would be a waste of my cultivation level!"

Tang Xiong didn't know if Duan Rong was telling the truth or not; he only sensed a strange confidence in Duan Rong. Left with no other option, Tang Xiong went to the warehouse to fetch paper, pens, and paint, and personally ground and mixed the paint for Duan Rong.

Duan Rong laid out a large sheet of paper on the table and immediately picked up his brush and dipped it in ink. With just a few strokes, the outline was already visible. He changed his brush and was about to dip it in paint when he suddenly looked at the paint and said, "The red is too light. Add some vermilion."

Tang Xiong added some cinnabar and remixed the mixture.

Duan Rong dipped his brush in the paint and began to paint with swift, flowing strokes. In no time, a portrait of a lady was finished. Duan Rong put down his brush, smiled slightly, and said, "She's the one."

Tang Xiong was taken aback. It seemed that Duan Rong had spent less time painting this portrait of a lady than he had spent mixing the paint. At this moment, he stared intently at the painting and saw that the woman in the painting was not exactly alluring or seductive, but rather possessed an indescribable charm.

"This..." Tang Xiong couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Sir, is this alright?"

In fact, artisans also possess aesthetic sense. However, Duan Rong's painting has already captured the essence of the art, and its technique is also unconventional. Tang Xiong was somewhat unsure of what to make of it.

Duan Rong said, "Send it over with confidence. I guarantee it will be done."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiong looked at the painting and still had some doubts, but he still replied, "I will frame it tomorrow."

Duan Rong said, "Alright, let's get it done as soon as possible. It's getting late, I'll be going now."

Tang Xiong said, "Yes, sir."

Duan Rong stepped out of the room, walked lightly down the dimly lit corridor, and returned to his cramped room. The others were already fast asleep, their snores filling the darkness...

The following evening, after dinner, around 7 p.m., Tang Xiong arrived at Yu Dai's door.

A wind chime hung in front of Yu Dai's room. Tang Xiong didn't open the door, but instead tugged at the wind chime. A jingling sound rang out outside the door.

The door opened, and Yu Dai stood there smiling at Tang Xiong, saying, "Brother Tang Xiong, it's been a while since you came to have tea with me."

Tang Xiong smiled and said, "I know the Master is busy, so I didn't dare to disturb you."

Yu Dai said, "It would be too formal for us to say such things."

Tang Xiong smiled but remained silent.

"Come in," Yu Dai said, "You're lucky; I just brewed some good tea."

Tang Xiong said, "Really? Then I'll have to trouble you for a drink."

The two then entered the room and sat down at the table. Tang Xiong sat down and casually placed a scroll painting on the table.

Yu Dai's eyes flickered slightly. He poured a cup of tea, personally presented it to Tang Xiong, and said with a smile, "Come, Brother Tang Xiong, this is excellent pre-Qingming tea."

Tang Xiong bowed and accepted the tea, took a sip, and said, "Excellent tea! Only a refined person like the Master can appreciate such fine tea. It would be a waste for a boorish fellow like me to drink it."

Yu Dai said, "How can you say that?! If Brother Tang Xiong is rude, then I am simply vulgar." Yu Dai laughed as he spoke.

Tang Xiong picked up the scroll from before and said, "Let's skip the tea. But this item is only truly appreciated when it's with the Master."

Yu Dai pretended not to care, and simply asked indifferently with her lowered eyes, "What is that?"

Tang Xiong handed over the scroll and said, "Master, you may look at it yourself."

Yu Dai took it and gently unfolded it. It was a painting of a lady, without a signature or seal. At first glance, Yu Dai sneered at the lack of a signature or seal. But upon closer inspection of the woman in the painting, his expression changed. He let out a soft exclamation and began to stare at the painting intently under the lamplight.

Seeing Yu Dai's expression, Tang Xiong knew that the matter was already 80% complete.

Duan Rong made it appear unsigned and unsealed because Yu Dai was an expert. If it were a forgery, Duan Rong could naturally imitate the handwriting of a master calligrapher and make it indistinguishable from the real thing, but the signature, seal, and paper details would easily reveal flaws, and he could easily make a fool of himself. It was better to present it as unsigned and unsealed.

Since Yu Dai has collected more than ten paintings of court ladies, he must truly have a fondness for them. Duan Rong's bet is that with this painting, he can outshine all the other beauties. (End of Chapter)