122: You're done, leave.

As Tao Yue'er pushed open the door.

Everyone waiting outside craned their necks to look into the shop.

Inside, a young man in plain cloth robes was holding a brush, completely focused on his painting.

Even when the door was suddenly opened, he didn't interrupt his movements.

Just watching him paint captivated all those who had come seeking a painting.

Tao Yue'er was also deeply drawn to Lin Mu's aura.

That familiar feeling, as if they had met before, once again welled up in her heart.

She unconsciously walked into the shop, her steps slow and light like green lotuses.

As she got closer, she leaned forward, unable to resist looking at the painting beneath Lin Mu's brush.

With just one glance, Tao Yue'er gasped, her mouth agape in surprise.

On the foot-square painting paper, the entire outline of Hancheng City was depicted.

From the traces of time on the city walls to the people coming and going in the streets and alleys.

Lin Mu had portrayed them all with astonishing realism.

Even Tao Yue'er, who was born there, had never seen Hancheng City depicted in such a way.

As Lin Mu's final stroke fell, the entire painting instantly elevated.

Tao Yue'er felt as if she was immersed in the painting.

Every scene, every passerby in the painting, felt as if they were right beside her.

Lin Mu put down his brush and nodded with satisfaction.

Then he looked up, and when he saw Tao Yue'er, he showed no surprise.

It was as if he had known she would be there all along.

He spoke softly, “Miss Tao, long time no see.”

Lin Mu's tone of voice at this moment was steady and capable.

Gone was the naive and endearing appearance he had when he first entered the city.

Tao Yue'er asked with a wary expression, “Who exactly are you? You look completely different from before.”

“What is your purpose in coming to Hancheng City?”

Lin Mu chuckled softly at her words, “A person's image reflects all things; whichever version of me you see is the real me.”

Tao Yue'er found Lin Mu's words difficult to comprehend at first.

She pondered the sentence several times but still couldn't understand it.

She then voiced another doubt in her heart, “Have we met somewhere before?”

Lin Mu, while putting away the painting, said, “Why must we have known each other to meet? Upon meeting again, we are but strangers on a journey.”

“Miss Tao, take this painting back and hang it in the Tao Family ancestral hall.”

“As long as it exists, the Tao Family will not fall, and Hancheng City will not fall.”

As Lin Mu spoke, he casually handed the rolled-up painting to Tao Yue'er.

Tao Yue'er mechanically took the scroll.

Her mind was still processing Lin Mu's words.

“With this painting, the Tao Family will not fall, and Hancheng City will not fall?”

Despite his arrogant and confident words.

Tao Yue'er actually felt that he wasn't boasting.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she tentatively asked, “Are you Young Master Lin?”

As she spoke, her eyes continuously scanned Lin Mu, as if searching for a familiar trace on him.

However, she and Lin Mu had only met briefly once before.

That subtle sense of familiarity was because the jade pendant Lin Mu had given her still carried his aura.

Lin Mu, having been recognized, neither admitted nor denied it.

He said in his usual calm tone, “Hancheng City holds extraordinary significance for me; it can be considered my second home. I hope the Tao Family can guard it well.”

Tao Yue'er had always been exceptionally intelligent.

She had also learned about Lin Mu's deeds from the older generation of her family.

Hearing Lin Mu speak in such a way, she became even more certain that the person before her was Lin Mu.

Thinking of this, she said respectfully, “Please rest assured, Young Master, the Tao Family will not disappoint you.”

Now, her heart finally felt at ease.

No wonder Tao Rou and her husband had undergone such significant changes; it was all due to Young Master Lin, which made perfect sense.

In Tao Yue'er's heart, Lin Mu had long been like a god.

Seeing her reaction, Lin Mu no longer concealed himself.

Ten years of wandering life, followed by ten years of contemplation.

A full twenty years.

Lin Mu had completely unraveled the mysteries of life and knew how he should proceed.

Not only that.

These twenty years had also allowed him to truly merge with this world.

That's why Lin Mu's paintings gave people a sense of being immersed within them.

Because Lin Mu was this world.

Now he had completed his great work; that painting of Hancheng City was his final masterpiece.

Lin Mu's body suddenly flickered, becoming illusory then solid again.

The simple, honest young man in coarse cloth robes transformed in an instant into a dashing, handsome Young Master in white.

Tao Yue'er looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before her, momentarily lost in a daze.

Suddenly, she snapped awake and humbly knelt before Lin Mu.

“This junior, Tao Yue'er, greets Young Master Lin.”

Tao Yue'er's action immediately left the onlookers outside the shop dumbfounded.

The esteemed eldest daughter of the Tao Family, a disciple of a Great Emperor Expert.

Actually kneeling before an obscure mortal painter?

No matter how miraculous his paintings were, this shouldn't be the case.

Everyone began to speculate about Lin Mu's identity.

Some guessed he was a hidden peerless master.

Some said he was Tao Yue'er's master.

Others even guessed that Lin Mu might be a god descended to earth to take disciples.

For a time, everyone's enthusiasm soared to unprecedented heights.

Only the elder standing at the front frowned slightly.

He had been standing the closest, and his eyesight was stronger than the others.

He had clearly seen Lin Mu's appearance undergo an astonishing change.

He felt as if he had seen this appearance somewhere before.

But he couldn't recall where.

Just as he was racking his brain.

Inside the shop, Tao Yue'er had slowly stood up.

Lin Mu also didn't give any further instructions.

The entire world was under his control; even if he left this realm, he could return in a single thought.

Lin Mu then surveyed the shop and said, “Tell the owner of this shop for me that I have left.”

After speaking, Lin Mu lifted his foot, preparing to walk out the door.

Suddenly, he turned back and said, “Oh, right, please also deliver a message to Tao Qian for me.”

Tao Yue'er quickly asked, “What message does Young Master wish me to convey?”

Lin Mu chuckled, “Tell him to cultivate diligently. I hope he can keep up with my pace when I return next time.”

Although Tao Yue'er didn't understand the meaning of these words.

She immediately nodded in affirmation.

This time, Lin Mu didn't look back.

He strode out of the shop.

The crowd of people waiting in line, seeing the master emerge, all bowed and called out, “Greetings, Master.”

Lin Mu laughed heartily and said, “I am no master. Go back where you came from.”

Lin Mu waved his hand, and a surge of pure spiritual energy instantly spread through the crowd.

Everyone immediately felt as if they were immersed in an ocean of spiritual energy.

Every pore of their bodies greedily absorbed the spiritual energy.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed, “I've broken through! Thank you, Master!”

As this person broke through, others in the field began to break through one after another.

For a time, shouts of gratitude rose and fell.

The elder at the front, witnessing this scene, his pupils contracted.

He suddenly shouted, “I remember now! You are Sect Master Lin!”

No sooner had the elder spoken than a terrifying spiritual energy erupted from his body.

He had actually broken through to the Venerable Realm, which martial artists dreamed of, at this very moment.

He knelt on the ground in excitement, “Thank you, Sect Master Lin, for this rebirth.”

Lin Mu heard him and said, “Oh? You recognize me?”

The elder respectfully said, “Twenty years ago, this junior was fortunate enough to meet Sect Master Lin once at the Cui Family.”

Lin Mu nodded and said to the crowd, “You all must cultivate diligently and not let This Young Master's good intentions be in vain.”

Everyone knelt on the ground, respectfully shouting, “We will certainly not disappoint Young Master.”

When the crowd looked up again.

Lin Mu's figure had already vanished from the spot.