Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds-Chapter 39: Master Lu

"Master Lu?"

The two thugs looked at the man, clearly recognizing him.

The thug in front frowned and snapped, "Watch where you’re going! Can’t you see we’re busy?"

The thug behind him had a cold glint in his eyes. "We haven’t caused you any trouble before. You think that’s because we’re kind?"

No one was a fool. The two thugs were obviously cornering someone in the alley. For this man to approach, he must have been planning to meddle.

Master Lu shook his head. "If you were robbing anyone else, I wouldn’t care. But not him."

The thug in front pointed his short blade at Master Lu. "And why not him?"

The one in the back hissed, "Stop wasting time with him! Just get rid of him!"

Hearing this, the thug in front slashed his blade toward Master Lu’s shoulder, intending to either scare him off or injure him and drive him away.

Master Lu answered calmly, "Because I see this young master is handsome, with brows like swords and eyes like stars. I wish to discuss painting a portrait for him."

At these words, not only were the two thugs stunned, but even Gu Zhao was completely baffled.

But regardless of their thoughts, all three of them were now staring at Master Lu’s hand. He had simply extended his empty left hand and caught the wrist of the thug attacking him with the blade.

"You’ve hidden your skills well! You’re a martial artist?" the thug in the back exclaimed in surprise.

The thug in front, however, had no time to be surprised. He felt as if his wrist were caught in a pig iron clamp. No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t move an inch. The clamp just kept tightening, the pain growing more intense until his eyes turned red and sweat beaded on his forehead.

"AHH!" A pained scream erupted.

"CLANG!" The short blade fell to the ground.

Master Lu finally let go. The thug staggered back, cradling his trembling hand to his chest. He stared at the clear, red handprint on his wrist, wondering if the bones had been crushed.

As if sensing something, he couldn’t help but look up, his eyes meeting Master Lu’s. Without another word, the thug scrambled past Gu Zhao and fled.

The thug in the back was sharp enough to know who he could and couldn’t afford to offend. He also wasted no time, immediately turning tail and scurrying away after his companion.

Master Lu watched them run off before turning to Gu Zhao and giving a calm nod. "Greetings, Young Master."

Gu Zhao didn’t try to stop them. Instead, while sensing the rhythm of the Five Thunders Order in his Sea of Consciousness, he cupped his hands in thanks. "My thanks, Master Lu."

Master Lu had called Gu Zhao handsome, but he himself was not unattractive. His skin was so fair you could faintly see the veins beneath. He had a high-bridged nose, thin lips, and a light cinnabar mole under the corner of his left eye. His overall appearance was somewhat scholarly and frail, which was probably why the two thugs hadn’t taken him seriously.

Master Lu nodded. "You’re welcome. Besides, I have my own selfish reasons."

Gu Zhao’s gaze fell on the bamboo pole Master Lu was leaning on with his right hand. The pole was taller than a man and had an unfurled landscape painting of a figure hanging from it. In the painting, a person in a green robe stood on a bluestone bridge shrouded in misty rain, holding an umbrella with an elegant, free-spirited air.

"A fine painting!" Gu Zhao exclaimed in admiration.

Master Lu smiled faintly. "It is a fine painting."

"You want to paint one for me as well?" Gu Zhao asked.

Master Lu nodded. "Young Master, you have a magnificent bearing and a radiant presence. It would be my honor to paint you."

Gu Zhao looked again at the portrait in Master Lu’s hand. The artistic conception was elegant, the figure lifelike. The eyes of the person in the painting seemed to pierce through the heavy, misty rain, gazing out at him with a hint of sorrow.

"The honor should be all mine." Gu Zhao’s eyes narrowed as he couldn’t help but ask, "How much for a painting like this? I should first see if I can even afford it."

Master Lu shook his head with a chuckle. "Once I am finished, I will naturally gift the painting to you, Young Master."

Gu Zhao pointed to the painting in his hand. "Then what about the owner of this one?"

Master Lu gave an evasive answer. "Once I finish one painting, I can naturally paint another."

Gu Zhao understood and asked another question. "Are you a native of Xiuyue County, Sir?"

Master Lu shook his head, then nodded, glancing at Gu Zhao’s long robe. "I’ve only been living here for two years. If you’re looking for a friend’s residence, Young Master, or perhaps visiting the county school, I can show you the way."

Gu Zhao nodded. "That would be great. Xiuyue County is surprisingly large."

Master Lu turned to lead the way. "Although Xiuyue County is in the southeast of Changping Prefecture, it borders Yongzhou to the east and isn’t far from Yazhou to the south. It’s a meeting point for three prefectures, so naturally, it’s quite populated."

Gu Zhao followed, asking casually, "Sir, your skills are extraordinary. Are you perhaps a Mage?"

Master Lu didn’t break his stride. "My cultivation is shallow, barely enough for self-preservation. I wouldn’t call myself a Mage."

"You’re so powerful, Sir. Have you ever seen any of those demons and ghosts?" Gu Zhao asked, feigning the curiosity of a wide-eyed child who had never seen the world.

"Never." A corner of Master Lu’s mouth curved up as he shook his head. "You’re overthinking it. How could there be so many demons and ghosts in the world? Most of it is just exaggerated rumors."

Gu Zhao remained noncommittal and glanced at the scrolls in the bamboo basket on Master Lu’s back. "Are those all paintings in there?"

"Yes," Master Lu nodded. "If you’d like to see them, Young Master, you are free to admire them to your heart’s content after I’ve finished your portrait."

"Your skill is superb, Sir. I look forward to it." Gu Zhao didn’t get too close to Master Lu, but continued to ask, "Are they all portraits?"

Master Lu’s steps faltered for a moment. "Not all of them. There are also some landscapes of mountains and rivers."

...

Master Lu didn’t live far. Shortly after leaving the alley, they turned into another one and soon arrived at his residence.

It was a small, secluded courtyard. The yard wasn’t large, with only two rooms—one in the front and one on the side. One served as a bedroom, the other a studio. A stove and various sundries were piled up in the courtyard itself.

"This way, Young Master." Master Lu opened the door to the side room and invited Gu Zhao inside.

Gu Zhao walked in slowly, looking around as he asked, "So this is where you paint, Sir?"

"That’s right." Master Lu nodded and went to a nearby table to pour Gu Zhao a cup of water. "Things were a bit rushed earlier. I haven’t had a chance to ask for your name, Young Master."

The side room wasn’t large. A white wall, a long table, two chairs, a slightly tilted easel, and a wooden rack holding watercolors, brushes, and ink—this was the room’s entire contents.

Gu Zhao set the water aside and casually gave a fake name. "Zhang Hang."

Master Lu didn’t seem to mind, simply asking Gu Zhao to sit at the table. "Please, make yourself comfortable, Brother Zhang. I just need to be able to see your face."

With that, he sat down opposite Gu Zhao, set up his easel, laid out a sheet of paper, and prepared to begin painting.

"Just like this?" Gu Zhao asked.

"Just like this." Master Lu nodded, looking at Gu Zhao with admiration. "Young Master, you have such a handsome and spirited look. This painting is sure to be a masterpiece."

Gu Zhao looked at Master Lu, then at the surroundings. It was indeed much safer and quieter than the alley from before. He flexed his fingers. "Alright, then. Let’s do it like this."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Lu Sheng, you’ve run into a good friend. Why not bring him over to my place for a visit?"