You Kill Me (Part 2)

However, how did Lu Gaosheng determine his own identity among these two guesses? I should not have revealed more traces.

Zhang San wondered secretly.

Lu Gaosheng continued, "You may wonder how I identified you. In fact, it's very simple. To tell the truth, Li Xing did a great job here."

Lu Gaosheng pointed to Li Xing.

Zhang San looked towards him with a cold gaze.

Lu Gaosheng said, "He caught the father and son who sold this store to you. I got some interesting information from them. Although the matter was...amusing. You were actually pitted by a little apprentice. However, through this incident, I can determine that since you bought the store unintentionally, you are not the old ministry of the Southern Army."

Lu Gaosheng mocked Zhang San a little in his words.

But Zhang San only had one thought in his mind.

Because at this moment he immediately recalled everything that happened when he bought the store, and afterwards, how Wang Xiaoer was so elated, following Bai Xiaoyu around like a stalker. He immediately understood everything...

Women really affect stability!

Wang Xiaoer, I'll definitely kill you if nothing happens to me this time! Zhang San thought viciously.

Lu Gaosheng went on, "So I can almost confirm that you are a master of the underworld, but there are many such masters in the underworld of Great Wu. I can determine that you are from the south, thanks to your paintings."

Paintings?

Zhang San said, "That landscape painting?"

Lu Gaosheng smiled, "You're wrong. Not one painting, but all your paintings!"

Zhang San looked around subconsciously, but did not understand.

Zhang San realized that for someone like Lu Gaosheng, although he had said he was from the south, his words had no credibility at all in Lu Gaosheng’s eyes.

Claiming to be from anywhere in the south, north, east or west was the same, meaningless.

Because people like Lu Gaosheng would never believe a single word you said. What he believes in is always his own reasoning and judgment.

But paintings, how could they be related to where I’m from?

Puzzled, Zhang San recalled that the first time Lu Gaosheng came to the painting and calligraphy store, he spent a good half day looking at all kinds of books and paintings in the store.

Lu Gaosheng stood up and pointed to a painting of a dragon boat on the wall, “There are many types of paintings you have, portraits of people and objects, but most of them focus on landscapes, mansions, and cities. However, the culture in the north and south of Great Wu are different. The architecture of cities and mansions are influenced by their respective cultures and each has its own style. Landscapes also have different features due to geographical differences.”

“I have to say, you're very smart and very cautious. So there are paintings of northern scenes in your work, and southern scenes too, to confuse people. But you made two mistakes.”

Zhang San also looked at his paintings. Compared to Lu Gaosheng, Zhang San's understanding of painting was clearly inferior.

"The first flaw is in the details. When you paint southern landscapes, like this painting of the dragon boat, it's a festival game unique to the south that many artists have painted. But you even painted the veins on the sides of the boat body, accurately and meticulously. You must have seen it with your own eyes. And this painting of Dongcheng, the maple forest, etc. However, when you paint northern paintings, although the style is right, the details are much worse."

This is actually a common problem for many painters.

When painting familiar objects around them, they tend to be meticulous in subtle details. But when unfamiliar or only seen briefly, even if the impression is deep, it is still lacking in subtle details when trying to paint them.

With his extensive experience appreciating countless paintings and being a painter himself, Lu Gaosheng noticed these nuances.

Zhang San was from the Jianghu and the painting store was just a cover. His knowledge of painting was not as profound as Lu Gaosheng’s. Although he traveled extensively across the south with his master, where he really settled for a long period of time was still the south.

Seeing that Zhang San remained silent, Lu Gaosheng went on, “The second flaw is in the paper you use. You are too frugal. Do you know the difference between inferior paper and good paper?"

With one statement, Lu Gaosheng pointed out Zhang San's oversight.

Zhang San's eyes widened as if realizing something.

High quality paper, such as the famous Yipintang and Baixuantang, not only have their own papermaking techniques, but also use unified materials, even from the same location, to ensure consistency across all paper they sell.

Therefore, no matter where in the east, west, south or north their paper is purchased, the paper quality remains the same.

On the other hand, inferior paper, that is cheaper grades focused on lower costs, use materials sourced locally or nearby during papermaking. But because of differing climates and raw materials between north, central and south regions, and simpler papermaking techniques to save time and materials, the most ordinary rice paper still exhibits variations across regions, even though it's the same type of paper.

Seeing Zhang San's expression, Lu Gaosheng smiled and said, "Newer paintings use paper from this city, while older paintings, judging from the paper quality, use southern paper. The degree of yellowing on blank areas of this type of inferior southern paper reveals a lot. As I said earlier, one look at the dragon boat painting and I can tell it must be an old painting from seven or eight years ago. As for the others, some are three years old, some five years old as well."

With both aspects combined, it was quite clear already.

You are a master of the Jianghu, your martial arts level is at least middle-stage prefecture level, possibly even higher. You came from the south, and have spent a considerable amount of time there.

Zhang San fell silent.

Then he laughed.

Zhang San finally understood that ultimately, it was because he had not thought of these subtle details that Lu Gaosheng was able to seize upon the flaws.

But could ordinary people really infer so much from just a few paintings?

Am I not steady enough? Or is this Lu Gaosheng simply... Zhang San looked at Lu Gaosheng and said slowly, "So you thought, why would a Jianghu master who stayed in the south for so long suddenly come to Tianruo City in the central region, and open such a small shop in the slums, living such an impoverished life?"

Lu Gaosheng smiled, “That’s right. So I checked what had happened in the Jianghu of the south in the past year, murders, acts of vengeance, robberies, etc.... There were a total of fifty incidents that fit your profile, at least middle stage prefecture level martial arts, possibly even higher, along with your mysterious identity."

In the Jianghu, masters at middle stage prefecture level and above were more or less figures with certain reputations and standing, like the “Green Knight” from the Green Sword Sect killed earlier by Lu Gaosheng. And for top masters at upper stage prefecture level below heaven stage, their fame would be even greater.

Once these people make any moves, others would pay attention and take note.

But there were indeed still a number of masters in the Jianghu who kept completely low profile like Zhang San.

Zhang San pointed to the three documents on the table, “But you need a top master capable of pulling off these three incidents. That's why you brought these three cases here today to test me.”

Lu Gaosheng clapped and laughed loudly, "Just as expected of you! Indeed, I need your martial arts skills to take action for me once, 30,000 taels of silver, what do you think?"

Zhang San was not so easily swayed by 30,000 taels at this point.

Zhang San asked, "If I refuse, are you going to spread the word about my ‘illustrious deeds’ everywhere?"

Lu Gaosheng smiled slightly and said, "You are very smart. In fact, there is no need for me, Lu Gaosheng, to say much. Ultimately, I do not actually need to know whether you committed those three incidents."

That’s right. Both intelligent men, Lu Gaosheng and Zhang San, understood this very well.

As long as Lu Gaosheng spread the speculations and conjectures about Zhang San, as well as the incident with Zhang San fighting off the two wolves alone tonight and Li Xing’s matter, onto the Jianghu.

Together with his status and position as Lu Gaosheng, An Lou, the Southern Underworld family, and Grand General of the Southern Army, those three sides would immediately take "interest" in Zhang San upon receiving such news.

Coupled with Lu Gaosheng's reasonable speculations and analysis, even if subsequent investigation proves Zhang San did not commit those acts, those three sides would at least feel no ill will towards Lu Gaosheng for the false information.

In other words, Lu Gaosheng really did not need to know whether Zhang San actually committed those three incidents, and had no need to worry about offending those three powerful factions over false information.

Zhang San smiled and asked, "Sir Lu, is this considered coercion?"

Lu Gaosheng said, "Don't forget, there's also a bait of 30,000 taels."

Zhang San nodded and said, "Coercion and bait, it's the common tactics of our underworld enterprises. Sir Lu, you use them really skillfully."

Lu Gaosheng laughed in response, "How should I put it? These tactics work well everywhere, officials do the same."

"But you've forgotten one thing," Zhang San said in a low voice.

A small night knife!

The knife can only strike once, and once it must kill!

Zhang San's fastest killer move, a small night knife was already at Lu Gaosheng's neck!

In the next moment, perhaps Lu Gaosheng would be beheaded.

"Sir Lu has said so much, allow me to say something too. Since you want to know my identity so much, I'm not afraid to tell you, I am a hitman, and a very professional one." These were Zhang San's words, seemingly joking but full of coldness.

Decisive killing intent diffused, no one doubted the veracity of Zhang San's words.

However, Lu Gaosheng just laughed loudly and said, "Then kill me, come on, do it. Killing people should be very easy for you."

As his voice fell.

A madness suddenly burst out from Lu Gaosheng's eyes!

Even shocking Zhang San.