Chapter 30: Testing

In the midst of our conversation, Ge Quan and I quickly reached the third floor. Along the way, it was clear that Ge Quan was particularly proud of the furnishings in his house. I knew a little about this, so I flattered Ge Quan a bit.

This made us even closer. When we reached the third floor, the unknowing looked at Ge Quan’s attitude towards me, and might have thought I was Ge Quan’s long-lost son.

“I don’t usually entertain guests in my study, but now that I’ve invited you in, it’s my honor.” As he spoke, Ge Quan pushed open the door to his study, and I had to admit that Ge Quan’s way of speaking was very persuasive. He treated you intimately, and a few words could make people feel comfortable and happy.

I smiled and walked into Ge Quan’s study. As soon as I entered, I realized why Ge Quan valued this study so much. The entire set of furniture was made of high-quality yellow rosewood, including the huge bookshelf. The books on the bookshelf were all thread-bound books. I didn’t look closely, but I could tell at a glance that the books were antique.

The decorations inside are even more exquisite among the antiques.

If these are just low-key luxuries made up of money, then the photos on the wall show the hidden strength of the owner.

The photos were all of Ge Quan and some other people. I didn’t recognize many of them, but I always recognized two or three of them. They were all famous people in the circle, and one of them was Jiang Yi.

I looked at it without saying a word, but I noticed that on the wall where the photos were hung, there was a painting that was particularly conspicuous, placed in the most solemn position. It was a portrait of a person, one of which was Ge Quan, who looked slightly younger than he does now, and the other was my master, a person I would never forget even if I forgot everyone else in my life.

In the painting, Ge Quan and my master stood side by side, looking particularly close. At the moment I saw it, I almost couldn’t control my emotions, and I even reached out to touch the painting, the smiling master standing in the painting.

“Hey, big brother, do you like this painting? Do you know the person in the painting?” Obviously, my behavior had attracted Ge Quan’s attention, and he asked me in a surprised tone.

I was also very confused. Ge Quan’s relationship with my master was only defined as good in the notebook that Master Liu left me, but why would Ge Quan…

I quickly withdrew my hand, imitating the habit of my brother Chengxin, and adjusted my glasses, saying, “No, I just find it a bit surprising that among so many photos, this one is the only one that is a painting. Upon closer inspection, I find that the painter has extraordinary skills. He uses just a few strokes to vividly capture the character’s spirit, just like you, Master Ge, who completely captures the spirit of the entire person. Is it perhaps a work of everyone?”

Hearing this, Ge Quan was silent for a moment, looked at the painting on the wall and thought for a while, then carefully dusted off the slight dust on the painting, and I saw all these details.

“The person in the painting has done me a favor, but he has always been low-key. I think not many people know his true face. It seems that I have thought too much. How could you recognize him?” When he said this, Ge Quan seemed to be thinking about something. After a while, he suddenly said proudly, “Haha… my friend doesn’t like to take pictures, and there are almost no pictures of him in his life. You have good eyesight, and you can tell at a glance that it is a work of everyone. This has cost me a lot of money.”

I was speechless again, and then I was also thinking to myself. My master never liked to take pictures, but on his last journey to find his master, he left behind so many images. I can guess that he didn’t do it willingly. Besides leaving me some hints, I think he must have been under some pressure to do something he didn’t want to do. Thinking about it this way, the matter is even more complicated.

I was suddenly very agitated. At that moment, not only was I unable to find my master, but I was also in a state of confusion about my own affairs.

I wanted to ask him more, but Ge Quan seemed to have no interest in talking about the painting, and quickly called me to the small terrace outside the study.

Soon we were sitting on the small terrace. Ge Quan personally brewed a pot of good tea. The taste of the tea in my mouth was so familiar that I knew without thinking that it was the kind that my master and I often drank in the bamboo forest cottage.

Over the years, I have traveled all over the country, and apart from the tea that my master’s mother gave me and the tea that the mysterious Wang Feng gave me, I have never tasted a better tea than the one my master made. I never thought that I would be able to relive the taste of this tea here with Ge Quan.

To tell the truth, after Master left, he left some of this tea behind, but I didn’t dare to drink it again, so I kept it as a souvenir.

“Young friend, what do you think of this tea?” Obviously, my pensive expression had once again caught Ge Quan’s attention, and he asked me in surprise.

I put down my teacup and said, “This tea is so good that I can’t bear to speak for a while, I just want the tea aroma to linger in my mouth for a while.”

“It seems that you are a tea connoisseur. You should know that I don’t easily offer this tea to guests because it was given to me by a friend. Now that friend… Well, it’s better not to mention it. Anyway, this tea is best drunk in small quantities.” Ge Quan’s expression was a bit gloomy. I quietly observed him and found that he was really sad, which made me a bit sad too.

Because I could easily deduce that the tea must have been sent by my master. I have been drinking this tea since I was a child, and I can’t think of anyone other than my master who would have sent it to Ge Quan.

“I’m sorry, Master Ge, I inadvertently brought up a sad topic. Could it be that your old friend has passed away?” I asked deliberately. After all, I promised Ge Quan not to buy information here, so I only tried to get around the topic. In the end, can I say something freely and get the information I want?

“No, how could he have passed away? You mustn’t say that. It’s just that…” Ge Quan paused for a moment and suddenly said with a laugh, “You know, cultivators often avoid the world and cultivate, but his whereabouts are uncertain.”

“I see!” I was even more certain that the old friend in Ge Quan’s mouth was my master. From the look on Ge Quan’s face, the relationship could not possibly be defined as just good. I really don’t know what Master Liu was thinking.

Ge Quan seemed to not like to talk about this topic, and suddenly changed the subject to his small, flower-filled rooftop. I didn’t know until he mentioned it, but his rooftop was full of chrysanthemums, all of which were famous varieties that ordinary people probably wouldn’t see even once in their lives.

“My roof has different flowers throughout the year. Only the most precious and rare flowers can grow here.” Ge Quan’s face was quite proud, and I had to nod along.

Although this knowledge about flowers is interesting, Ge Quan talked for nearly an hour. It was almost noon, the tea was cold, and we hadn’t gotten to the topic yet. I was a little anxious.

So, I took a small amount of medicinal herbs from my backpack and handed them to Ge Quan, smiling and saying, “It’s really a pleasure to chat with Master Ge, and I’ve learned a lot! However, I’m a cultivator after all, and I’m more interested in the strange and unusual things in the circle. I wonder if I can talk to Master Ge about this next?”

Ge Quan saw the herbs and his face was filled with a smile. His eyes were almost closed. He took the herbs without saying a word, but there was still a hint of hesitation on his face.

I quickly said, “We agreed that we would only talk about things that could be discussed in the industry, and never about buying and selling information or anything like that. How does Mr. Ge like it?”

Ge Quan then laughed heartily, and then changed the subject, saying loudly, “Young man, you are too serious. How about this: you pick out a book or two to read in the study, and I will personally cook a little home-cooked meal for you, and we can drink and chat together. Wouldn’t that be even better?”

In fact, since this morning, I have not eaten anything except for a bellyful of tea. How could I not be hungry? But I was still able to keep my composure. From the moment I met Ge Quan, not to mention getting any useful information, I haven’t even gotten to the main topic. How could I not be anxious? How could I wait for Ge Quan to cook a meal with such care and delay it for a few more hours?

So I said loudly, “Master Ge, don’t bother to cook. Although I came here to buy no news, I have something to say, but I have to spit it out first before I can be happy. Can Master Ge accompany me to talk about it?”

Ge Quan had already walked out of the small platform and was about to go downstairs. When he heard my words, he suddenly stopped and remained silent for a long time without speaking or turning around.

I suddenly became nervous. Had I been too abrupt? If I had offended Ge Quan, all my previous efforts would have been wasted. What if he had asked me to leave?

But I didn’t expect Ge Quan to suddenly turn around, smile on his face, and say to me, “It depends on what topic you’re talking about. You know, I’m old and easily tired. The more exhausting the topic, the more I need to replenish my energy.”

Hearing this, I was finally relieved, and quickly lifted the bag of luggage in my arms and said, “Master Ge, don’t worry, I’ll take care of the nourishing business.”

“So what are you going to talk about?” Ge Quan said, and then walked back to the rooftop and sat down again. It was cool and windy outside, but the small rooftop of the glass house was warm and comfortable.

Ge Quan looked at me with a smile, but I didn’t want to delay any longer. I quickly said very calmly, “Master Ge is well informed. I wonder if you’ve heard about the most shocking thing in the circle recently?”

“You mean…” Ge Quan still smiled, unperturbed.

“That’s Chen Chengyi, a descendant of the old Li family, a disciple of Jiang Lichun. It is rumored that he is already dead?” I looked at Ge Quan and said in one breath.

Ge Quan was still smiling, but I noticed that his brows twitched involuntarily. At this point, I also became nervous. Ge Quan’s next attitude would obviously determine my gains!