Before even entering, Lu Gaosheng sensed something peculiar. His hearing was extraordinary, able to pick up whispers from pedestrians on the street from the third floor. However, when he stood in front of the calligraphy and painting shop, he didn't hear any footsteps until the shopkeeper opened the door.
If the shopkeeper had been behind the door the whole time, why did it take so long for them to answer the knock? Or perhaps...
Lu Gaosheng recalled the previous encounter with the leader of the Black Dragon Hall, who had attempted to assassinate him at the Star Sea Building. The assassin had silently slain the servants and guards from the first floor all the way up to the seventh floor, only making a sound when he was close. This suggested that these martial arts experts indeed possessed techniques to conceal their movements and sounds.
However, this was merely a suspicion and not concrete evidence. Nevertheless, Lu Gaosheng's wariness towards this scholar grew stronger.
Lu Gaosheng stepped through the door and looked around. Zhang San, sizing up the official around him, remembered that he had feigned "serious injuries" just yesterday. So, he spoke with a weak tone, respectfully asking, "Sir, may I inquire..."
Lu Gaosheng walked past Zhang San and noticed a landscape painting. He casually asked, "You mentioned 'official.' Does that mean you recognize me?"
Wearing black clothes and a cloud-shaped finger ring on his right hand, Lu Gaosheng, who was not dressed as an official, had some doubts.
Zhang San replied, "A few days ago, when I first entered the city, I caught a glimpse of you at the judicial platform. That's how I recognized you."
There were registration records for those who entered the city, and at that time, the judicial platform was surrounded by soldiers. Zhang San didn't believe it was wise to lie about these matters, as anyone could verify whether an official had noticed him.
Lu Gaosheng looked at the landscape painting and the calligraphy on it, smiling as he said, "Impressive painting skills and calligraphy. It seems the shopkeeper is quite talented in the arts."
Zhang San humbly replied, "Not at all."
Lu Gaosheng asked again, "You seem a bit afraid of me, don't you?"
Zhang San bowed and said, "That day, when I witnessed you slay the thief, naturally I felt some trepidation. But I don't know why the esteemed official has come today..."
"It's nothing significant. I happened to hear about some disturbances in the south of the city, so I came to inspect. Truth be told, I've been quite negligent in my role as the magistrate for many years without conducting inspections."
In his mind, Zhang San wondered, "When Lu Gaosheng says 'you haven't been in Tian Ruo City for long,' how does he know that? How could a magistrate like him care about a humble shopkeeper in the impoverished district of the city and when they arrived in Tian Ruo City?"
If he noticed me yesterday, then could the Twin Wolves be his subordinates?
Despite his doubts, Zhang San quickly responded, "Indeed, I have recently arrived in Tian Ruo City and I am unaware of many things here. But anyone daring to raid the execution grounds must be fierce criminals. It should be a cause for celebration that you eliminate them, sir."
In Zhang San's words, it was evident that he had no knowledge about the Green Sword Sect and openly admitted that he had recently arrived in Tian Ruo City.
However, despite Zhang San's unchanged demeanor and tone, Lu Gaosheng couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly.
His deliberate use of the phrase "you have not been in Tian Ruo City for long" had a purpose.
Starting from their first encounter at the bookstore, Lu Gaosheng could even disclose the exact number of days Zhang San had been in Tian Ruo City if he wanted to.
But he specifically chose to use the term "not long," intending to make Zhang San suspicious, wondering if he had already caught his attention and even suspecting when exactly that happened.
If Zhang San was truly a cunning individual who had moved next to Bai Fang's house and had even stepped forward yesterday, all of these actions would have had their own motives. So, when he sensed that he might have been targeted by Lu Gaosheng, the Prefect of this district, he should have shown some flaws in his tone, expression, or even in minor gestures.
However, Zhang San showed none of that. There wasn't even a hint of anything unusual in his responses.
Could all of this be mere coincidence?
Was he genuinely an ordinary scholar who came to Tian Ruo City to make a living? If that were the case, then it would be reasonable for him to fail to discern any hidden meaning in Lu Gaosheng's words.
Or perhaps, it was just that this person was extremely shrewd and had caught on to the sharpness in Lu Gaosheng's words without revealing any reaction.
As Lu Gaosheng pondered, he glanced at the surrounding calligraphy and paintings, which were of exceptional craftsmanship and bore inscriptions from renowned poets of the past and present.
It was evident that Zhang San was a well-read individual.
With that being the case, could he truly be oblivious to the peculiarities in Lu Gaosheng's words?
Lost in thought, Lu Gaosheng heard Zhang San respectfully inquire, "But Your Excellency, how did you know that I haven't been in Tian Ruo City for long? Could it be that my bookstore has gained some reputation in the city?"
His tone carried a sense of surprise and hope, fully expressing the mentality of a small figure seeking to make a living through calligraphy and painting.
Lu Gaosheng fell silent for a moment.
He couldn't discern any issues from Zhang San's words.
Casually, Lu Gaosheng replied, "No, it's just that I happened to pass by this street and remembered that it used to be a tavern. Now it has become a bookstore, and since I don't recognize the store owner, I made this conjecture."
However, from Lu Gaosheng's words and the nonchalant tone that didn't seem like pretense, Zhang San detected something.
Lu Gaosheng knew that this place used to be a tavern.
But how could a high-ranking official like him casually remember a roadside tavern, especially in a poor district like South City, and even recall it after a chance encounter?
However, if Lu Gaosheng had said "I frequently pass by" or "I have thoroughly investigated this street," then it would have been plausible.
But why would Lu Gaosheng come here frequently or investigate this street?
Bai Fang.
These two words immediately sprang to Zhang San's mind.
As Lu Gaosheng continued to examine the paintings in the store, appearing like an ordinary art enthusiast, Zhang San, as a "poor scholar," naturally couldn't and shouldn't defy the government authority and had to keep accompanying him.
"I heard about the incident yesterday and how the store owner stood up against a few shameless individuals in broad daylight, taking advantage of their strength and preying on the weak. As someone who has studied the teachings of sages, I couldn't bear watching it," Zhang San said with righteousness.
Lu Gaosheng, who had spent many years climbing the ranks in the officialdom, was not particularly interested in such conversations.
He neither chose to believe nor disbelieve.
Lu Gaosheng casually continued, "After talking for so long, I still don't know the name of the shop owner or where you came from."
"I am Zhang San, from Nan Commandery. I came to Tian Ruo City hoping to make a living with my painting skills."
"Do you have any family?"
"My parents passed away early, and besides a young disciple, I have no relatives."
"What artistic school do you follow in poetry and painting?"
"I have no artistic school. I only attended a private school for a few years when I was young and later taught myself."
Lu Gaosheng nodded silently because Zhang San's paintings were indeed of excellent craftsmanship, but he couldn't discern any signs of a specific school. Zhang San claimed to be self-taught, and his credibility was high.
It seemed that there was nothing more to be asked from Zhang San's paintings.
Lu Gaosheng asked again, "I can see that you, as the shop owner, are well-read. Why don't you take the imperial examination?"
Zhang San hesitated for a moment.
Because at this moment, he remembered his conversation with Ming Qing a few days ago.
It was still unclear what the relationship between Ming Qing and this Lu Gaosheng was. If what he said now contradicted what he said to Ming Qing that day, it might cause trouble.
Zhang San immediately replied, "I am ashamed, I couldn't even pass the provincial examination, so how could I take the imperial examination?"
Lu Gaosheng furrowed his brow and didn't say anything further. He just looked at Zhang San's paintings on the wall.
It wasn't until Lu Gaosheng walked up to the painting titled "Tranquility" and slowly halted his footsteps.
The figure of the white-clothed swordsman in the painting made him feel a sense of trance.
The perilous cliff and precipice made him feel a sense of fear.
"A great painting, an excellent work!" Lu Gaosheng exclaimed, just like Ming Qing did.