Inside the hunter's cabin.
Chen Mu stared at the white-haired old man outside through the gap in the window.
Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the other party seemed to be strolling around but disappeared quickly.
As soon as he wiped his forehead, he was sweating profusely.
"The old man is a killer?"
"Who wants to kill me?"
"What happened if the employer died?"
"Are you trying to trick me and kill me again while I'm slacking off?"
Chen Mu was in a state of confusion.
I am practicing calligraphy and painting honestly, earning my hard-earned money as expected, and yet someone wants to kill me? !
The world is difficult and people's hearts are evil!
"We must master the power as soon as possible!"
The figure of the white-haired old man has completely disappeared.
Chen Mu tied a water bag mixed with the venom of several poisonous snakes around his waist.
Arrange the lime powder inside the sleeves.
His right hand clenched dozens of sharp-edged gravels.
Carry a mountain hatchet on your lower back.
Chen Mu took care of the hare, used the kestrel training technique with all his strength, and headed straight to the side of the mountain forest.
That was completely opposite to the old man's departure.
Although it takes a long journey, he feels more at ease.
He never wanted to meet that white-haired old man.
…
Be careful all the way.
Chen Mu was like a frightened bird, any disturbance made him tremble with fear.
It wasn't until evening that I secretly returned home to Qingshan County.
"If the other party can find Chenjiacun, they will probably find this place as well."
“We need to move as soon as possible!”
Today's experience made Chen Mu extremely insecure.
After putting away the things and having a quick dinner, Chen Mu didn't rest at home.
Holding the bedding in hand, he climbed over the wall and ran into the adjacent yard.
After living here for so long, Chen Mu has found out clearly.
The west side of the house has been vacant for a long time.
He decided to spend the night here tonight.
"We have to find a way to rent this yard as well."
"No, it's still too close." Chen Mu looked to the west.
"This house seems pretty good too."
…
The next day Chen Mu went to Dongshi Yahang and rented the two houses next door together.
The annual rent is only one tael of silver, and Chen Mu can now fully afford it.
After locking the door, he began to climb over the wall and move basic necessities to his new home.
Sleeping in the westernmost courtyard.
Practice in the middle house.
The old house has not been returned, and it is ready to be used as a cover to fool people.
After that, I went on a big shopping spree, bought a lot of medicinal materials, and started practicing.
The kestrel training technique and the secret medicine can improve the body's constitution and repair damage.
He used to take it only once a day.
Now Chen Mu is eager for strength. He takes the secret medicine twice a day, takes a moderate rest in between, and increases the number of exercises.
In the past, when he practiced bodybuilding six or seven times a day, his body would become sore and painful that it would be difficult to continue.
Now combined with the secret medicine for recovery, I can practice eight or nine times a day.
Proficiency soared quickly.
Feeling that his muscles are getting stronger and stronger, and his speed and reaction are getting faster and faster, Chen Mu becomes more and more devoted.
I even deliberately reduced the number of portraits I took out.
…
a month later
Writing: 1336/10000/second level;
Picture: 1034/10000/second order;
Throw: 2465/10000/Level 2;
Kestrel training technique: 5352/10000/level one;
"It's fast. It can be completed in two months at most."
There are three levels of changes in the training technique, namely tendons, bones and marrow.
The name is just a superficial description.
According to Sheng Hong, the three levels of change are when the human body breaks through its limits three times, and the overall quality continues to transform and strengthen.
Every change is earth-shaking.
There is no way you can achieve it without practicing for years and months.
But once the change is completed, it can easily surpass ordinary people.
"It would be great if I could keep practicing like this." Chen Mu frowned.
He practiced Qigong for a month, and his consumption of medicinal materials and food increased greatly.
The number of times I go out for portraits has decreased, and my savings have shrunk significantly.
All the silver taels, copper plates and broken silver in the pots everywhere were clearly counted.
Forty-three taels...
"I'll draw a few more portraits for people this month."
Increase the use of secret medicine.
Consumption is greatly increased.
Purchasing Thousand Grass directly from the herb collectors really saves a lot of costs.
But the remaining medicinal materials are still not cheap.
If there is no more income, he can only sustain it for another month.
"Still poor."
In the following days, he moderately slowed down his practice pace and gradually resumed the number of portraits he had done in the past.
Fortunately, my drawing ability has been improving and the speed is faster. It only takes half a day to draw someone's portrait.
There is half a day left, which can be used to brush up on proficiency.
…
On this day, Chen Mu's portrait came home.
Suddenly, I noticed a thin middle-aged man standing at the door.
The other party was standing at the door of his house, followed by two strong men.
He knew that strong man, he was Painter Yan's bodyguard.
If it weren't for these two people, he would have gone to have a chat with Master Yan.
"Miaohua Workshop!"
"Then what kind of trouble does Master Yan want to cause?"
"It seems that the gift I gave last time was too light!"
He really didn't want to interact with these local snakes.
But before he could turn around and leave, the thin middle-aged man in gray clothes had noticed him.
"Master Chen, stay!"
Glancing at the arms of the two strong men, which were thicker than his thighs, Chen Mu regretfully gave up the idea of knocking the three of them unconscious.
"What's the matter?"
"Master Zhen, the owner of our Miao Painting Studio, has invited us. Please come with us." The thin middle-aged man said with a smile.
Chen Mu glanced at the two expressionless strong men again.
He knew he had no choice.
"Wait a moment, let me clean up." Chen Mu said with cupped hands.
"Please hurry up. Mr. Zhen doesn't like waiting for others." The middle-aged man said with a smile.
Chen Mu opened the door under the watchful eyes of the three of them.
Just as he was about to close the door, a strong man held the door with one hand.
"Mr. Chen, please hurry up." The thin middle-aged man was still smiling.
Chen Mu nodded expressionlessly.
Entering the room, Chen Mu stood under the window on the west side of the room, looking at the three people at the door through the window grid holes, and silently stuffed two lime powder packets into his sleeves.
After thinking for a while, he clenched a small porcelain bottle on the window sill.
Finally, he grabbed another handful of stones and put them into his money bag.
…
Anlefang Ruyizhai.
Chen Mu looked up at the three-story wooden building.
It was noon at this time, and the business in the building was booming and there was a constant flow of people.
"Sir, please, I'm in the private room on the third floor." The thin middle-aged man led Chen Mu upstairs.
Ruyi Zhai occupies a huge area and has a large flow of customers.
The lobby on the first floor is bustling, but the private rooms on the third floor are quiet.
Chen Mu followed the thin middle-aged man to the third floor.
A wealthy middle-aged man was already sitting in the private room. Two tall bodyguards stood behind him.
Is this Mr. Zhen? Why don't you see Painter Yan?
"But Mr. Chen is in person." Mr. Zhen said with a smile.
"It's me." Chen Mu said calmly.
"Come on, come on, please take a seat." Mr. Zhen said with enthusiasm.
"I've heard that Mr. Chen's painting skills are amazing. I've always wanted to meet you, and today I finally met you in person." Mr. Zhen complimented.
"Master Zhen is so complimentary." Chen Mu responded calmly.
Mr. Zhen is indeed a businessman, good at dancing and very good at chatting.
Sometimes he tells interesting stories about Anlefang, and sometimes he praises Chen Mu for his superb painting skills.
Chen Mu dealt with it one after another, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in his heart. It should not be the Hongmen Banquet.
"I won't mince words. I would like to ask Mr. Chen to be the chief painter of my Miao Painting Studio." Mr. Zhen got straight to the point.
"Miaohua Studio is responsible for connecting Mr. Chen, and we don't take a penny from the retouching fee. In addition, we also provide a monthly payment of twelve taels per month." Mr. Zhen looked sincere.
Want me to be the chief painter? Chen Mu was surprised.
Where is Painter Yan?
Helping attract business, and there are additional twelve-month cases, which seems pretty good.
With such a good condition, there can't be any fraud, right?
"As the chief painter, Mr. Chen only needs to make a few portraits for our Miao Painting Studio when necessary." Mr. Zhen said with a smile.
Chen Mu understood.
His own painting skills combined with modern techniques are difficult for others to imitate nowadays.
Miaohuafang wants to use itself as a sign.
You can make money steadily, and the other party will increase your influence.
"Okay! I agree." Chen Mu no longer hesitated.
As for Painter Yan.
If you really dare to cause trouble, give him another big gift!
After that, there was a feast of eating and drinking, and it was not until evening that Chen Mu left Anlefang.
…
In the elegant room of Ruyi Zhai.
Mr. Zhen leaned against the window to admire the lanterns in Anlefang, and slowly cracked melon seeds: "Sent back?"
"Master, I'm back." A thin middle-aged man responded as he walked in with a cup of ginseng tea.
"With Mr. Chen, our Miao Painting Studio will be stable. The boss has good tricks." The thin middle-aged man said with a smile.
Mr. Zhen spat out the melon seed skin: "I don't know where Mr. Yan died. Without this sign, a lot of business has been taken away by Hongfang in the west of the city."
"Is it possible that Hongfang is plotting to harm Mr. Yan?" the thin middle-aged man said solemnly.
"That stinky bitch can really do it!" Mr. Zhen said coldly, flicking the skin of the melon seeds.
"In this way, we will find two good people to protect Chen Mu tomorrow, and we won't make any mistakes again."
"yes."
…
Outside the window of the wooden building, a black shadow grabbed the eaves and hung quietly in the air.
"It turns out you really want to hire me as the chief painter." Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief.
He reached out and threw a stone, hitting the ginseng tea in the hand of the thin middle-aged man.
"Since he is the real boss, he can't be poisoned to death."
"It's a pity that I have a bottle of concentrated snake venom."
He immediately ignored the chaos in the house and climbed up to the roof deftly.
Several ups and downs jumped into the alley and disappeared.
