Chapter 123: The Hunt

Duan Rong looked at the silver embossed cup before him, slightly surprised; the wine in the cup was actually green!

If not for the fact that this wine was held in a silver cup, Duan Rong would have suspected it was poisoned!

For the longest time, the image that rose in Duan Rong's mind whenever he thought of the "poison" in the phrase "drinking poison to quench thirst" was green.

Duan Rong watched as Ximen Kankan lifted his wine cup and downed the liquid, which shimmered with a faint green light, in one gulp; a look of enjoyment appeared on his round, chubby face.

Duan Rong picked up the wine cup before him and took a small sip; a chill immediately rose up his back and rushed straight to the back of his head, because this wine was simply too delicious!

Mellow, fragrant, and rich—it simply did not seem like a thing of this world!

Duan Rong's eyes lit up; he picked up the wine cup and downed it in one gulp!

With the cup of wine in his belly, he closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time, immersed in the mellow richness of the wine, savoring it slowly...

Duan Rong opened his eyes again and exhaled a faint breath of wine...

"I can see Brother Duan is a man who loves wine. Come! Have another cup!" Ximen Kankan took the wine ladle and scooped another cup for Duan Rong.

Duan Rong looked at the green wine in the silver embossed cup before him, his eyes flickering. He looked at Ximen Kankan and asked with some confusion: "Doesn't aged fine wine usually have a faint yellow hue? Why does this wine have a green glow?"

Ximen Kankan said: "Aged spirits do indeed turn yellow within thirty years! But after thirty years, they gradually turn green! This jar of Bamboo Leaf Green has been stored for thirty-two years; it's older than both you and me!"

Duan Rong clicked his tongue slightly. "Thirty-two years?"

A thought suddenly stirred in Duan Rong's heart; he recalled an idiom: "red lanterns and green wine."

The ancients were fastidious with their word choices; it seems there really was a source for it!

Having drunk this wine today, Duan Rong finally understood the true meaning of this idiom! Green wine is the truly good wine!

Afterward, more than ten dishes were served one after another, each one exquisite!

After more than ten dishes and half a jar of Bamboo Leaf Green in his belly, Duan Rong's belly was already round and bulging, and his lips were shiny with oil...

As each dish was finished, it was cleared away, so the entire table remained as neat as it had been at the start!

Ximen Kankan sat opposite Duan Rong, already slightly tipsy, his chubby face flushed with a ruddy red...

Duan Rong looked at Ximen Kankan and had to admit that Ximen Kankan had truly invested a lot in this meal. This was no longer a simple invitation; it could be called a hunt!

"This kid is likely plotting something big!" Duan Rong thought to himself.

But what exactly could it be?

Duan Rong was truly getting a bit curious!

Shi Kang cleared away the last dish, brought over a pot of clear tea, and poured a cup for both Ximen Kankan and Duan Rong!

Ximen Kankan looked at Shi Kang and said: "Keep watch outside the courtyard gate. Brother Duan and I have important matters to discuss; no one is to disturb us!"

Shi Kang acknowledged the order and withdrew!

Duan Rong sipped his tea and sat at ease, knowing that the real show was about to begin!

Ximen Kankan watched Shi Kang leave before looking at Duan Rong and saying: "Master, I have always had a small wish in my heart! I hope Master can fulfill it for me!"

Duan Rong looked at Ximen Kankan with a smile in his eyes and said: "Young Master Ximen is so hospitable; if I can truly be of help, I will naturally fulfill it!"

"Master certainly can!" Ximen Kankan said, then stood up, walked to Duan Rong with a furtive expression, leaned down to his ear, and whispered for a while!

As Duan Rong listened, he froze, his complexion turning green!

Very well! The map is unrolled and the dagger is revealed!

Regarding the request Ximen Kankan made, if it weren't for the fact that Duan Rong still needed him for the Dragon Flame Fat...

Even after eating such a sumptuous dinner, he would have flicked his sleeves and left! Never to step foot in his Ximen Mansion again!

It was simply too shameless!

It turned out that this Ximen Kankan had always admired Xia Shuangshuang, but because he was born looking like a short winter melon, Xia Shuangshuang had never looked at him properly.

Yet, even so, he longed for her all the more, his heart and lungs itching with desire...

What he had just told Duan Rong was that he hoped Duan Rong would paint him a Spring Palace Painting of Xia Shuangshuang's nude body!

He had developed this sordid desire because, while looking at the previous Spring Palace Painting by Duan Rong, he had become dazed and seen Xia Shuangshuang's face!

At that moment, he had shuddered...

And this thought could never be shaken off!

Moreover, Duan Rong had actually met Xia Shuangshuang...

Seeing Duan Rong's face change, Ximen Kankan immediately knelt halfway before the table, cupped his fists solemnly, and said: "If Master agrees to this wish, from now on, Kankan is willing to serve you as my elder brother. Whatever you command, I will have no objections!"

Duan Rong looked at Ximen Kankan, his expression shifting between light and shadow. He really wanted to kick Ximen Kankan in his fat face and knock him to the ground!

However, Duan Rong quickly calmed down. Although this matter was extremely sordid and obscene, it was also something that could not see the light of day. If this matter were exposed, would Xia Zhongyang let Ximen Kankan off?

Having offended the God of Wealth of Xiangu County, let alone Ximen Kankan, even his father Ximen Yong would be in deep trouble...

From this perspective, this matter was absolutely a perfect opportunity for him to manipulate and control Ximen Kankan!

"Young Master Ximen, get up first!" Duan Rong stood up and helped Ximen Kankan up.

Ximen Kankan noticed the change in Duan Rong's demeanor, his eyes flickering with a hungry light.

After helping Ximen Kankan up, Duan Rong paced back and forth in the hall...

Duan Rong suddenly stopped, looked at the somewhat nervous Ximen Kankan, and said: "Young Master Ximen, I agree to this matter!"

Ximen Kankan's expression changed, and he said excitedly: "Thank you, Master!"

"No! Thank you, Big Brother!" Ximen Kankan immediately corrected himself, his expression solemn.

Duan Rong patted Ximen Kankan's hand and said: "Prepare the things! I will paint it now!"

Ximen Kankan prepared the Four Treasures of the Study and the pigments, moved a chair for himself to guard the hall door, and let Duan Rong paint alone at the table!

As Duan Rong ground the ink, he recalled Xia Shuangshuang's face!

Xia Shuangshuang was naturally a beauty of the age; Duan Rong had honed his Painting Skill and was quite sensitive to human facial features, so with a slight recollection, he captured it immediately!

The remaining question was, what kind of body should he give her?

After pondering, Duan Rong decided to depict it truthfully!

Xia Shuangshuang had a slender figure, and her chest was only slightly raised; she was not the type to have a generous bosom!

Duan Rong dipped a brush in ink and first outlined her appearance and physique with delicate lines!

Looking at the face of Xia Shuangshuang on the drawing paper, a sense of guilt suddenly rose in Duan Rong's heart...

Duan Rong had no choice but to suppress this feeling, mix the pigments, and carefully begin to apply them...

Afterwards, once the overall painting was finished, Duan Rong began to handle some details... This was the finishing touch...

Duan Rong painstakingly outlined a rather three-dimensional navel...

Of course, there were also some other parts...

Although the Xia Shuangshuang in the painting was not wearing a single thread, Duan Rong still had her raise her hands slightly in a seductive pose, while draping a piece of red, transparent, light gauze behind her, held up by her hands to increase the overall aesthetic of the image...

After Duan Rong finished the painting, he looked at this work of his and was actually quite satisfied!

"Although the motive is sordid, the work is innocent! Good is just good!" Duan Rong comforted himself, then beckoned Ximen Kankan, who was keeping watch at the hall entrance, to come over.

(End of this chapter)