The moment Xu Shan pushed the door open, the heavy stone that had been lodged in his heart finally eased by half. It turned out that He Yiming and the other person had not gone directly into the inner chamber, but were standing side-by-side in the outer area, quietly appreciating the paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls.

Since entering this room, He Yiming had spotted the painting on the wall with his very first glance.

It was a landscape scroll, remarkably lifelike and possessing a captivating quality. However, it was clearly not the work of any famous master, as the entire composition lacked any signature or seal.

If the piece hadn't truly been an excellent work of art, it would never have been hung in such a location.

Of course, this was merely what an ordinary person could discern.

In He Yiming’s eyes, the painting was far more than just an object for viewing; it was an image imbued with some profound principle of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

He was certain that the creator of this painting was undoubtedly a Xiantian Master, and moreover, one who possessed considerable mastery, reaching heights above the essence of Cloud and Rain.

This painting might not be of much immediate use to the current He Yiming, but by gazing at it for a long time, comprehending the supreme principles of the Dao contained within, and cross-referencing them with his own understanding, it should still offer some benefit.

He sighed inwardly, acknowledging his sheer luck. If that Young Master Zi hadn't dared to insult Yuan Lixun, he would never have come upstairs, making it impossible to ever see this landscape scroll.

Furthermore, unless this landscape fell into the hands of a Xiantian Master like himself, one who understood the Dao of Cloud and Rain, it could hang there for another hundred years and no one would ever uncover its mysteries.

Not even Cheng Fu or Shui Xuanjin would be capable of doing so.

Slight footsteps sounded from behind him. He Yiming turned, a hint of playful mockery naturally curving his lips.

Xu Shan offered a strained smile and bowed deeply to He Yiming. Seeing the pained, almost contorted expression on his face, He Yiming paused briefly, then pointed toward the landscape painting on the wall. The implied request was utterly clear.

Xu Shan let out a long, drawn-out breath, nodding his head so vigorously it resembled a chick pecking grain. As long as he could persuade this inscrutable and formidable figure to leave, let alone a mere landscape painting hung there for display—even a far greater price, he would gladly pay.

After all, conducting business in the Tianluo Kingdom meant that offending the Five Great Clans would certainly lead to unpleasant consequences.

Even with Feng Laixiang's deep background, no one was eager to provoke the established powers of the region.

Of course, having witnessed He Yiming’s prowess, Xu Shan was deeply intimidated. To be so formidable at such a young age, who knew what immensely powerful backing he might possess? As long as these two didn't cause trouble within his Feng Laixiang establishment, he would count himself blessed.

He Yiming chuckled dryly and nodded toward Yuan Lixun.

The young girl was close to He Yiming in age, yet she was clever and sharp-witted, instantly grasping his meaning. While she was relieved he was no longer pressing the matter concerning Young Master Zi, a part of her felt a touch of disappointment.

However, just as she stepped forward to retrieve the painting, a profoundly familiar voice reached her ears: "Lixun, once we leave here, I will settle things for you."

Yuan Lixun faltered slightly, a sudden sweetness blooming in her heart, accompanied by a wave of thick happiness that seemed to lighten her steps.

The door to the inner hall suddenly clicked softly. Zi Ruiguang emerged, his face already clouded with displeasure. He caught sight of He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, and his annoyance instantly morphed into extreme dissatisfaction.

Xu Shan felt a splitting headache coming on. He had never expected this young master to emerge so quickly; it seemed the jewels and treasures carefully prepared within had failed to capture his interest.

At that moment, Yuan Lixun had reached the landscape painting. She acted as if Zi Ruiguang were completely invisible, reaching out her hand to take the artwork down, ignoring his presence entirely.

Zi Ruiguang snorted in anger. His gaze fell upon the painting, and he suddenly stiffened. Seeing Yuan Lixun’s fair, jade-like hand touch the frame, he immediately bellowed, "Hold it right there!"

His voice was utterly unrestrained, his eyebrows slightly raised, as if all the people in the world were obligated to obey his command.

Yet, how could either He Yiming or Yuan Lixun possibly heed his order?

Yuan Lixun acted as if she hadn't heard, taking down the painting, slipping the scroll out of the frame, and proceeding to roll it up herself.

Zi Ruiguang’s face immediately turned ashen. In his twenty-odd years of life, he had rarely encountered anyone who showed him such blatant disregard.

At his angry shout, the waiting attendants from outside rushed in. Although they were extremely wary of He Yiming, they dared not slight their master’s command.

He Yiming watched Yuan Lixun return to his side, gracefully holding the scroll, and permitted himself a slight smile. He turned to Xu Shan and said, "Mr. Xu, how much is this painting? Name your price."

Xu Shan let out a long sigh, offering a wry smile. "This painting is merely a decoration for this establishment, Young Master. If you take a liking to it, please feel free to take it."

He Yiming shook his head slightly. "That won't do. He has no habit of taking things by force."

Xu Shan inwardly smiled bitterly. As long as you don't stay here and provoke Zi Ruiguang, you can take ten or eight such paintings! But he certainly couldn't utter those words with Zi Ruiguang standing right there.

Zi Ruiguang sneered coldly and suddenly declared, "Mr. Xu, I want that painting."

Xu Shan's mouth dropped open, a look of profound distress crossing his face, as if he had just swallowed a live fly.

He Yiming appeared not to have heard him, continuing his cheerful inquiry: "Mr. Xu, I not only want this painting, but I also want to know its origin—who painted it, and why it was hung here."

The anger on Zi Ruiguang’s face intensified. He abruptly snapped, "Are you two deaf? I said I want this painting!"

He Yiming waved a dismissive hand. "Where did that fly come from, buzzing so annoyingly?"

This time, the complexions of Xu Shan and the others changed completely. If the earlier exchange was a minor conflict, this statement escalated it into outright provocation. Under normal circumstances, Zi Ruiguang’s attendants would have immediately stepped forward to rebuke them or even attack. But they had just witnessed He Yiming’s elusive and utterly unfathomable movements. Knowing his skill level was unprecedented, they understood attacking him would yield no advantage. Thus, they remained silent, though their faces showed shared indignation, none dared to invite trouble upon themselves.

Yuan Lixun covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Then, her gaze inadvertently swept across one person's face, causing her eyebrows to furrow slightly—but only for an instant before she returned to normal, as she couldn't quite recall the identity of this individual for a moment.

However, this person’s gaze remained fixed on He Yiming, so he missed the subtle shift in Yuan Lixun’s expression.

A flash of shame and anger crossed Zi Ruiguang's eyes, quickly followed by sharp killing intent.

He Yiming sensed the killing aura and sighed inwardly. These scions of powerful families truly treated human life as nothing. A mere mocking remark from him had provoked the man’s intent to kill. He wondered if human life was truly that cheap in this world, or if the hearts of these nobles were simply that twisted.

"Heh heh. I am Zi Ruiguang of the Zi residence. May I ask how I should address you? You look unfamiliar," Zi Ruiguang managed to suppress his resentment, forcing a smile onto his face. Although furious, having been raised in his family background meant he wasn't a complete, incompetent dandy. At the very least, he knew the importance of investigating an opponent's background first. If the situation proved too thorny, certain matters that touched upon the bottom lines between great families should be avoided.

He Yiming smiled faintly. "No need to try and establish a connection. I don't associate with friends who are good-for-nothing trash and look down on people with dog eyes."

As he said this, he winked twice at Yuan Lixun. A blush immediately rose on the beautiful young woman's face, and she quickly lowered her gaze, though deep amusement flickered within it. When they first met, Zi Ruiguang had mocked Yuan Lixun as a country bumpkin. Thus, He Yiming calling him one who looked down on others with 'dog eyes' was a direct counter, clearly placing Zi Ruiguang on an entirely different level from himself.

He Yiming’s attitude was utterly unrestrained, even arrogant, seemingly showing no regard for the entire Zi family.

Zi Ruiguang’s face finally grew so dark it seemed water might drip from it. He snorted, realizing he could no longer afford to be timid. Being insulted to this extent, if he still tolerated it, the reputation of the Five Great Clans of the Tianluo Kingdom would truly be tarnished beyond repair.

He waved his hand and coldly commanded, "Take them down." He wasn't entirely irrational, knowing this was not the place for outright murder. However, once these two were subdued, countless means of dealing with them awaited.

Since their master had spoken, the attendants and retainers dared not disobey. They felt miserable inwardly, but they rushed forward nonetheless.

Zi Ruiguang had twelve men with him: nine were personal attendants trained by the Zi family, and the other three were retainers recruited from elsewhere. The six who charged forward were identifiable as those skilled in synchronized combat techniques; their movements carried a fierce air, suggesting they had experienced the bloody chaos of the battlefield.

He Yiming naturally paid them no mind. Just as he smiled and prepared to act, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from outside. Then, the door to the room was shoved open, and a figure strode quickly inside.

As this person entered, he happened to see the six attendants making their move, and he saw He Yiming and Yuan Lixun looking relaxed, their faces seemingly unaware of the mountain of incoming fists and the sharp wind of their strikes.

The newcomer’s face instantly changed, his eyes wide with terror. Without hesitation, he charged forward, shouting loudly, "Stop!"

His voice was filled with panic, yet carried undeniable force. The six charging attendants froze upon hearing the familiar tone, though they noted it sounded slightly distorted compared to their memory.

Zi Ruiguang’s face broke into an expression of overwhelming joy, but it instantly morphed into stunned disbelief.

For this person, upon arrival, showed no intention of helping him; instead, he shot forward like an arrow, getting between the six attendants and He Yiming with speed that surpassed their own. He stood with his back completely to He Yiming, exposing his rear entirely, yet he extended both hands, striking out with formidable force.

The six attendants, after their brief pause, realized the man before them. Their expressions changed drastically. Faced with the open-palm strikes rushing towards them, let alone counter-attacking, they didn't dare even block. They stood rigidly upright, like wooden stakes.

The man showed no mercy, striking each of the six men with a palm, sending them flying backward. However, he held back his strength, merely knocking them away without inflicting true injury.

Having dealt with the initial threat, the man suddenly turned, bowed deeply to the ground, and spoke respectfully, "Master He, my younger brother is ignorant and has offended you. I beg your magnanimity to forgive his unintentional mistake. Upon our return, he will be severely punished."

Xu Shan and Zi Ruiguang were stunned at first, then their eyes widened instantly. Though they didn't know He Yiming personally, after hearing the widespread rumors in the capital about the "Master He," if they still didn't recognize his status, they wouldn't deserve to mingle in the capital anymore.

In that instant, excitement mingled with fear in everyone’s eyes. This was especially true for the attendants, who instantly felt cold sweat drenching their backs as they realized they had dared to attack a Xiantian Realm Master moments ago.

Fear flashed in Zi Ruiguang's eyes. His previous arrogance vanished instantly, replaced by a deep sense of dread.

He Yiming glanced at the newcomer. "You are Zi Ruiwen."

"Indeed!" Zi Ruiwen replied, excitement overflowing. "I never imagined Master He would remember my name. It is truly my honor."

He Yiming inwardly shook his head. When he first encountered Zi Ruiwen, this man had been charging recklessly down the middle of the street with a large group of young masters and ladies—his bearing far more arrogant than Zi Ruiguang's. However, now that he recognized He Yiming, he had become extremely reserved and deferential.

A wave of irritation suddenly washed over He Yiming. He had no desire to associate with these people. He let out a cold laugh and said, "Young Master of the Zi family certainly carries weight. I think Young Master Zi Ruiguang's tongue needs some serious discipline."

Zi Ruiwen’s expression flickered slightly, and he immediately said respectfully, "Yes, Master He is absolutely right." Then, he turned, faced Zi Ruiguang, and ordered, "Lift your head."

Zi Ruiguang raised his head blankly. In the next instant, his vision blurred, followed by a searing pain on his face. His elder brother, Zi Ruiwen, was delivering slap after slap. In just a few blows, Zi Ruiguang’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth—a horrifying sight.

However, after instinctively dodging the very first slap, Zi Ruiguang stood rigidly, enduring the barrage without pleading for mercy.

He Yiming frowned slightly. "Enough. We let the matter rest today."

Zi Ruiwen stopped instantly, saying, "Thank Master He quickly."

Zi Ruiguang bent over, his voice slurred due to his swollen face, "Thank you, Master He."

He Yiming ignored him and turned back to Xu Shan. "Mr. Xu, how much is this painting worth, and what is its background? You can tell me now, can’t you?"

Xu Shan finally leaped up as if waking from a dream, responding with a flurry of agreements and issuing rapid instructions. Moments later, someone brought over an account book. Xu Shan flipped through it a few times, then smiled wryly. "Master He, I have found out. This painting was created two months ago by a destitute traveler who ate a meal at our establishment but had no money to pay. So, he made this painting on the spot to settle his bill. The manager at the time thought the painting was quite good, so he waived the cost of the food and wine and sent the painting here for decoration."

"To pay for a meal?" He Yiming’s face showed a complex expression, a mix of laughter and helplessness. He sighed inwardly: the world is indeed vast and full of wonders. A Xiantian expert reduced to such poverty, yet dealing with people so reasonably—that in itself was a major oddity.

Xu Shan respectfully confirmed, "Replying to Master He, precisely so."

He Yiming pondered for a moment, then asked, "Did Feng Laixiang also operate wine houses in these locations?"

"Yes, we have similar jewelry stores and wine houses established in every major capital."

"If someone ate a meal and couldn't pay the bill, how would you generally handle it?"

Xu Shan hesitated before finally saying, "According to the rules of the wine house, if we truly encountered someone dining and dashing, they would be beaten until they vomited back everything they consumed."

He Yiming’s expression grew even stranger. "Your wine house manager had some insight. It is fortunate he accepted the painting and didn't resort to violence. Otherwise, your wine house might as well close its doors."

Xu Shan looked startled and tentatively inquired, "Why is that, Master?"

He Yiming took the painting from Yuan Lixun’s hands, gently stroking the surface. "The author of this painting is a Xiantian Master whose comprehension of the Dao of Heaven and Earth is not beneath my own. Even if I encountered him, I might not confidently claim victory. If your establishment’s guards and staff had tried to beat out the food he consumed, hehe..." He cast a mocking glance at Xu Shan, "...of course, it’s possible your wine house has a hidden Xiantian Master seated here as well."

Xu Shan’s face took on an utterly fascinating look, his eyes wider than they had ever been in his life.

He Yiming laughed heartily. "How much was that meal worth? You can report the figure to Shaomingju later; they will settle the balance with you. Lixun, let’s go."

Yuan Lixun responded softly, following He Yiming to the doorway. She suddenly paused, as if remembering something. But she forcefully suppressed the surprise in her heart and continued to leave with He Yiming.

He Yiming did not speak another word to the two Zi brothers, which caused them both immense relief. Although Zi Ruiguang had lost all face and held a sliver of resentment in his gaze toward He Yiming, it was outweighed by fear and lingering apprehension.

Ps: Another chapter in two minutes ^_^