Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 102 The Suppressed Dragon King
Zhao Yifu sat cross-legged in the pavilion in his courtyard, seemingly meditating with his eyes closed.

The next moment he moved, stretched out his hand and pointed at a distance, then moved along the trend.

No ink was used, but ink marks were drawn in front of the face.

The ink extended all the way, and then a small tree formed by ink appeared in front of him.

The small tree next to him seemed like a real object, and it was as if he had brought the ink painting into reality.

Then Zhao Yifu quickly sketched in his own courtyard, and ink trees stood up and ink flowers bloomed.

He really treated his yard as a painting, and he himself was the person in the painting... No, he was the one who painted.

He felt extremely happy. At this moment, he felt as if he had become one with the world and could dominate it.

Of course this is definitely an illusion, but it is an interesting experience for Zhao Yifu. It makes him fully immersed in the feeling of "depicting reality" and makes him forget himself, forget about himself and the world, or become one with himself and the world.

Even in this situation, naturally there were rays of true yang in the surrounding world that shone into his dantian and also washed his primordial spirit.

Slowly, he even floated up, like a true immortal who was about to ascend to heaven at any time.

In his paintings, he is the immortal, the god, and the heaven. What's so strange about that?

But the next moment, he was suddenly awakened by another voice.

There was a burst of intermittent piano music coming from the yard next door.

He fell down the instant he woke up.

Of course I didn't make him fall, but I just felt a sense of loss.

I looked at the neighbor next door and felt a little annoyed, but I couldn't get angry.

Because the intermittent piano sounds were obviously Zhao Yian practicing, and the occasional scolding sounds were his stepmother Peng Yulian scolding her son.

Zhao Yifu laughed.

Then he looked around and saw that the cats were curiously circling around the trees and flowers he had painted with ink, as if they were getting familiar with their new environment.

Zhao Yifu was very happy. This was a completely new way of "painting" for him, breaking away from the two-dimensional world of paper and entering the three-dimensional world of reality.

This may be called an illusion, but Zhao Yifu thinks it is his art. He finds it interesting and fun, and that is enough.

At this moment, the ground in front of him shook, and a middle-aged figure in a bamboo hat appeared, spinning.

"Old Huang, you're here."

It was the land god who served Zhao Yifu.

Old Huang respectfully handed over a document and said, "Sir, this is your Juren certificate. The results have been announced today. You have passed..."

Zhao Yifu said, "It's not even a high school, it's just the third from the bottom."

He casually put the letter away and said, "There should be news in the next month that the court will recruit me to be the county magistrate of Fenglin County."

Huang Lin was surprised, so he brought the documents over. But Zhao Yi Fu even knew about his next work arrangements?
Huang Lin looked at the courtyard around him, which looked like a scene from a painting, and lowered his head. "I am from Mozhou, and I am afraid I cannot leave Mozhou to follow you, Master. I wonder if you have any instructions?"

Zhao Yifu said, "It's nothing important. I just hope that Old Huang can take care of the fields cultivated by my Zhao family."

Huang Lin said, "Of course. Do you have any other instructions, sir?"

Zhao Yifu smiled and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing. At most, I need you, Old Huang, to help pass on the message."

Huang Lin nodded and said, "If you need me, just knock on the ground three times with your magic power and then call on me."

Zhao Yifu nodded.

Huang Lin was about to say goodbye, but suddenly thought of something and stopped talking.

Zhao Yifu asked, "Anything else?"

Huang Lin nodded, then said, "Sir, do you still want to know who borrowed the Summoning God Picture that day?"

Zhao Yifu asked in surprise, "Isn't it forbidden to say?"

Huang Lin said: "I couldn't say it before, because the cause and effect behind that person was too great, and I didn't dare to touch him."

"but now……"

He chuckled.

Zhao Yifu understood immediately and said, "Then tell me about it."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the surrounding ink-painted trees rose from the ground, blocking the sunlight and leaving a cool shade.

He sat down again and invited Huang Lin to sit down as well.

However, what appeared in front of Huang Lin was a stone pillar painted in ink and wash.

Huang Lin felt a little unreliable, so he tentatively sat down.

Then he actually felt like he was sitting on something solid, and he praised it loudly: "Young Master, you have great magical powers!"

Zhao Yifu said, "Okay, Old Huang, just tell us who is stirring up trouble."

Huang Lin asked, "I wonder if you have any impression of the Narcissus legend from a thousand years ago?"

Zhao Yifu said, "I've heard that the Water Fairy Bixu ascended to heaven here, and that the lake even got its name from it."

Huang Lin said, "But sir, do you know what True Man Bixu did to ascend to heaven?"

Zhao Yifu shook his head. Of course he didn’t know, nor did he really want to know.

Huang Lin said seriously, "That True Man Bixu is indeed extremely gifted and has reached the point where he is about to transcend the tribulation and become an immortal."

"But although True Man Bixu claims to be a True Man, he is actually a heretic. His cultivation techniques are far inferior to those of the Taoist school, which is righteous and peaceful. Therefore, he is unsure whether he can survive the heavenly tribulation."

"But he was friends with the Dragon King of Dongting at the time, and he knew full well that the Dragon King possessed a rare treasure, the Dragon Pearl, which was the product of his lifelong magical power. With it, he would surely be able to overcome the heavenly tribulation and ascend to the ranks of the immortals."

"So, True Man Bixu found a deadly poison and killed the Dragon King at his banquet. He then cut open the Dragon King's stomach and obtained the Dragon Ball. He then survived the thunder tribulation and ascended to immortality."

Zhao Yifu laughed elegantly and said casually, "What's this person thinking? After all, the Dragon King is a water god registered in the heavenly court, right? What a huge cause and effect this is."

Huang Lin said, "My lord, you are wise. Although True Man Bixu survived the heavenly tribulation with the help of the Dragon Ball, he was punished by the Heavenly Court after ascending to heaven."

His Dharma body and cultivation were all destroyed, leaving only a remnant soul that did not dissipate under the protection of the dragon ball, and then he directly escaped into reincarnation.

And thus began the fate of this Immortal Lake.

The Dragon King's unjust death still holds his grudge, and he has been entangled with the True Man Bixu, who escaped heaven's punishment, for generations. They are reincarnated every two hundred years and continue to fight each other endlessly.

The reincarnation of the Dragon King naturally wants to kill the reincarnation of Bixu and take back the dragon ball.

The reincarnation of Bixu also wants to kill the reincarnation of the Dragon King, take away his luck, disperse his resentment, and then free himself from his own predicament.

Zhao Yifu nodded in understanding and said, "So the person who caused this entire chaos around the Immortal Lake is that... the reincarnation of Bixu?"

Huang Lin nodded and said, "Yes, every time, the reincarnation of Bixu would make a big fuss in order to find the reincarnation of the Dragon King who had not yet grown up."

"And when the Dragon King reincarnates for revenge, natural and man-made disasters often occur."

"This has become the fate of the Immortal Lake District."

Zhao Yifu originally wanted to ask "How to end all this", but then he thought that there was no need to do so. After all, the reincarnation of Bixu had offended him, so he just had to retaliate.

As for the reincarnation of the Dragon King?
Let’s talk about it when we meet.

He thought so.

"I don't want to learn anymore!"

"I'm showing off my cards!"

"I'm the reincarnation of the Dragon King of Dongting. I don't need to learn any of this!!"

There was a sound of collapse from next door.

Zhao Yifu: "..."

Huang Lin: “…”

The two looked at each other, feeling that the strangeness of fate in this world was simply poisonous.

At this moment, they had a rare tacit understanding. They climbed up the dividing wall together quietly and looked towards the side yard next door.

I saw Peng Yulian holding a willow branch in her hand with her eyes wide open.

Zhao Yifu's poor brother stubbornly confronted him.

"Dragon Lord? What Dragon Lord? Your little Dragon Lord is bathed by your mother every day, and there's no sign of him turning into a big dragon."

This is so vulgar. All I can say is, she is indeed a married woman of the underworld.

Zhao Yian blushed immediately and said, "Mom, I'm talking to you seriously, can you please not bring this up?"

Peng Yulian sneered, "Alright, let's not talk about that. And don't go around saying you're the Dragon King."

Zhao Yian insisted: "Mother, I am really the reincarnation of the Dragon King. Look, my reverse scales are the proof."

As he spoke, he raised his chin, revealing the shape of a scale in his throat.

Zhao Yifu took a look and was amazed: "It really exists."

Huang Lin said, "That's for sure. He is the reincarnation of the Dragon King. Who would have thought that this generation's Dragon King would reincarnate into the young master's family and become his brother... This is truly a stroke of luck."

however……

"pia~"

“Oh wow~~!!”

Zhao Yian suddenly jumped up with a strange cry because he was hit hard on the butt.

Peng Yulian was really ruthless when she hit with the willow branch.

"What reverse scale? That's a birthmark! It's been there since you came out of your mother's womb."

"It's just that it looks a bit ugly. Your father and that woman tried many ways to cover it up for you. How did you bring it out again?!"

Not feeling satisfied, he slapped him twice more.

"Ah! Oh!"

Zhao Yian was beaten so hard that he jumped up and down.

Just looking at Peng Yulian's expression of jealous anger, it was obvious that she was venting her anger while thinking about other things.

Zhao Yifu grimaced, and it looked painful.

"Mom, please stop hitting me. Stop hitting me. My butt will rot if you continue to hit me."

The young Long Jun was beaten badly by his mother.

Peng Yulian retracted the willow branches and said, "Xiao An, I know you envy your second brother's current demeanor and want to become a transcendent cultivator."

"To be honest, I'm not afraid of you going to practice cultivation. Just leave me a grandson before you go, just like your grandfather left me behind."

Zhao Yian rubbed his butt and said, "Mom, but I really am the reincarnation of the Dragon King. I really don't need to learn these."

Peng Yulian laughed heartily, seeming to be extremely angry.

She said, "Okay, you said you are the reincarnation of the Dragon King, so let me ask you some questions. Maybe you can answer them?"

Zhao Yian immediately raised his head and chest and said, "Mom, please ask."

Peng Yulian said, "Recite the Analects for me first."

Zhao Yian: ...

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Dragon Lord doesn't need to learn this."

Peng Yulian's smile grew even colder. He said, "Well, let me change it. Your second uncle has been reading Zuo Zhuan lately. Can you tell me what the Zuo Zhuan is about?"

Zhao Yian immediately said, "I know this. Zuo Zhuan is a history book written by a Lu person. I read it back then..."

"pia~"

Peng Yulian whipped it with a willow branch.

"Ow~"

Zhao Yian jumped up again and said quickly, "Mom, I wasn't wrong!"

Peng Yulian said, "You're not wrong, but when mother hears it, she wants to spank you."

"You can't read the books of the sages, and you refuse to learn the art of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. You're really driving me crazy. Do you really want to be a warrior your whole life?"

Peng Yulian choked up as she spoke, looking like an old mother who was worried sick about her son.

Zhao Yian said: "Mom, I am the reincarnation of the Dragon King. I don't have to do anything to become a powerful cultivator. Don't worry..."

He promised very seriously, and at the same time opened his arms and embraced Peng Yulian, as if he wanted to comfort his mother with his arms.

however……

“Ah, ah, ah~”

Zhao Yian started howling again because Peng Yulian had pinched his waist with two fingers and twisted it.

"What are you talking about Dragon Lord? You don't know anything, so what do you think you are?!"

"Okay, you can be a Dragon King if you want, but a Dragon King should be able to take a beating, right? I'll train you to take a beating first!"

As he spoke, there was a burst of crackling sounds of beating, and the willow branches were broken into pieces.

"pia~"

"Ow~"

"piapia~"

"Ow~"

"Mom, please stop hitting me, please stop hitting me..."

"I'll kill you, Dragon Lord! Aren't you a Dragon Lord? Would a Dragon Lord be afraid of willow branches? Just a willow branch!"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch~"

"Mom, I was wrong. I'm not the Dragon King. Whoever is the Dragon King is the dog. Anyway, I'm not the Dragon King. I will never lie to you again..."

A quarter of an hour later, Peng Yulian had pulled out three willow branches and finally stopped.

Zhao Yian was kneeling with his butt sticking out and his shoulders on the ground. When he turned his head, he happened to meet the eyes of Zhao Yifu who was watching the battle on the wall.

The sight of him with tears streaming down his face was truly heartbreaking.

Zhao Yifu quickly shrank his head and stood behind the wall with a horrified look on his face.

My stepmother is too cruel. Fortunately, he is not my biological son. If he were, it would be miserable!
Huang Lin, who was standing beside him, wiped his sweat from his forehead before saying, "What a fight between dragon and tiger. It's a pity that the dragon is not strong yet, while the tiger is already strong."

This guy speaks in a very literary way.

Zhao Yifu nudged him and said, "Well, it looks like this round of 'fate' has ended early. After all, the current Dragon King's reincarnation has already been subdued without even the Bixu reincarnation having to make a move."

Huang Lin nodded heavily, his expression heavy and a little sad.

Zhao Yifu said: "Forget it, don't worry about it..."

As he said this, there was a knock on the door of his yard.

Zhao Yifu stopped talking and walked over to ask, "Who is it? Come in."

When Peng Yulian pushed the door open and entered, Zhao Yifu couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

It's terrible. The most terrible thing is the old mother who pushes her child to do too much.

However, Peng Yulian was very gentle and polite at this time. She said, "Junxin, Xiaoan was naughty just now and asked for your forgiveness for being a little loud."

Zhao Yifu bowed and said, "It's okay. This kid doesn't understand the good intentions of adults and always has wild ideas. A beating will make everything better."

Peng Yulian heard this and said worriedly, "Alas, this child has grown up and it's really hard to control him or punish him. I just hope that he will be more self-disciplined when he goes up the mountain next year."

She paused and asked, "Jun Xin, do you think the teachers on this mountain will be very strict?"

Zhao Yifu understood immediately and said, "Don't worry, mother. I will definitely take good care of Xiao An. Although I can't affect the master's decision to accept him directly, I will definitely discipline him with all my heart."

Peng Yulian nodded and said, "Then I feel relieved."

"By the way, if it's difficult, don't force it. Don't cause dissatisfaction to the sect because of your brother's affairs. It will be more trouble than it's worth."

Zhao Yifu quickly said, "Don't worry, mother. I know what I'm doing."

Only then did Peng Yulian leave satisfied.

Zhao Yifu felt uncomfortable all over, and felt that it was not peaceful for him to stay in this courtyard. He had to find something to do...

　My wife was helping the kids with their homework and she was out of breath. I had no choice but to go to the emergency room with her that night. Today is just one chapter.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)