Chapter 349: The Artist

Do not underestimate him; as the President of the Wuji City Branch of the Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association, he possesses no weak strength and holds a rather high status, yet in front of this person, he can only behave himself.

Once the other party is annoyed, everything he previously possessed will vanish like bubbles.

Soon, a burst of hurried footsteps arrived, and two more people walked in.

The person behind carried a backpack, his body hunched over, his head lowered until it was almost touching the ground.

"Sir, the artist you wanted has been brought here. He is the most skilled artist in the city; the things he draws are no different from photographs," the man in front reported.

"Is that so?" Wei Xiong set down the teacup in his hand, hooked his finger at the artist, and said, "Come here."

Upon hearing this, the artist trembled all over in fear, raised his head, and walked over tremblingly, his heart pounding like he had fifteen rabbits inside, jumping up and down.

"I describe, you draw. If you draw well, there will be a heavy reward; if you don't draw well, don't blame me for being impolite," Wei Xiong said in a cold tone.

"Yes, yes." The artist nodded hurriedly, not doubting for a moment that if the person before him wanted to take his life, it would be as easy as a Reverse Palm.

He hurriedly spread out the drawing paper, mixing pigments in a flustered mess.

The two men on the side and Chen Qinglin, seeing this scene, all revealed expressions of confusion, but no one dared to ask more, and could only watch quietly.

Soon, the artist picked up his brush, his voice as small as a mosquito's: "Sir, I, I am ready."

"Good." Wei Xiong closed his eyes, carefully recalling Lu Yu's appearance in his mind, and then began to describe it in detail.

After several adjustments during the process, before long, the image of a fierce-looking man holding a long blade appeared on the paper, almost identical to Lu Yu's appearance after his disguise, save for some slight differences in minor details.

"S-Sir." The artist swallowed his saliva, looking at Wei Xiong with trepidation; he had drawn it entirely according to Wei Xiong's description and did not know if it met the other party's wishes.

Yet Wei Xiong seemed as if possessed, staring fixedly at the portrait.

After a long while, he suddenly let out a burst of wild laughter, his eyes filled with bone-deep hatred, "That's right, that's right, it's him!"

"Li Liang, transfer one million to his card."

"Yes, sir." The man who was named replied.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" The artist was so excited that he knelt directly on the ground, kowtowing to Wei Xiong incessantly.

One million! How could he ever earn so much money in his daily life? He never expected to get it so easily just by drawing a picture here.

Soon only three people remained in the room, and Wei Xiong raised his head and beckoned to Chen Qinglin on the side.

"President Chen, come over and take a look. Do you recognize this person?"

"Alright." Chen Qinglin hurriedly walked forward, his eyes widened like copper bells, staring tightly at the person in the portrait.

Wei Xiong picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

He did not do this because he had nothing better to do, nor because he was thirsty, but because this tea had a good effect on keeping the soul Steady.

As for calling Chen Qinglin over, the reason was also simple: the number of True Essence Realm martial artists is limited, and if one excludes those who are attached to the subordinates of Awakened, they are even fewer.

Letting Chen Qinglin identify him—if he could recognize who this guy was directly, that would naturally be best; he would take people over to capture the other party and would have to torture him well to vent the hatred in his heart.

Even if Chen Qinglin could not recognize him, it would not matter; he would just have him investigate. If he could not find out? Hmph!

Time ticked away second by second, and in the blink of an eye, three minutes passed; Chen Qinglin's brows were tightly knitted into a "chuan" shape.

He truly did not recognize the person before him! But Wei Xiong had called him over, and nine times out of ten, he hoped he knew who this person was; the two sides must have had an extremely unpleasant encounter.

If he truthfully said he did not recognize him, he feared he would incur Wei Xiong's blame.

"What, have you not decided how to answer me yet?" Watching Chen Qinglin's appearance, as if he wished he could stick his eyes onto the painting, Wei Xiong sneered and asked.

"Sir, this humble one truly cannot recognize who this person is; in my memory, I have never seen this person. However," Chen Qinglin said hurriedly, "I ask that you give this humble one one week, and by then, I will certainly bring this person before you."

After speaking, Chen Qinglin looked straight into Wei Xiong's eyes with a fawning smile on his face.

He considered this the best strategy to deal with the current situation; otherwise, Wei Xiong would certainly become displeased.

However, after Wei Xiong heard this, a trace of mockery appeared in his eyes, and he said coldly: "Oh? Just based on you?"

Chen Qinglin's complexion turned gloomy instantly.

"I almost forgot to mention, this guy is a True Essence Realm martial artist. How about it? Do you still need me to fulfill my previous words and give you one week to bring him back?" Wei Xiong pressed.

"T-True Essence Realm..." Upon hearing this, the smile Chen Qinglin squeezed onto his face was uglier than crying.

This brag was blown too big. He was only at the Vein Refining Late Stage, and although he was only one step away from the True Essence Realm, who knew how many Vein Refining Late Stage martial artists were trapped to death by this one step.

But immediately after, he steeled his heart and said through gritted teeth: "Although this humble one is not a True Essence Realm martial artist, if this person has offended you, sir, even if I have to risk this life, I will definitely make him pay the price!"

"Heh heh." Wei Xiong sneered disdainfully; to be honest, he felt quite satisfied.

"Enough, this guy's strength is far beyond your imagination. If you run into him, you won't even have a chance to get close; going there would just be throwing your life away for nothing."

"I-is he that powerful?" Chen Qinglin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"I will ask you one more time, do you truly have no impression of this person?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qinglin examined the portrait carefully for a few more moments, then shook his head and said: "Sir, in our Nanshan Branch Martial Arts Association, including the President, there are only a few True Essence Realm martial artists.

Even if I haven't seen them in person, I have seen their photos, and this person is not among them. Moreover, the few True Essence Realm martial artists in our Wuji City are also not him."

"Nonsense." Wei Xiong said irritably.

He knew all the True Essence Realm martial artists in the city; how could he not know whether this person existed or not?

"Sir, could it be someone from another Branch Martial Arts Association, or someone under another Awakened?" Chen Qinglin asked tentatively.

"Hmm." Wei Xiong nodded and said: "That possibility is very high. Didn't you just say with certainty that you would bring this person before me?"

Chen Qinglin was so scared his face turned pale, his lips trembling slightly.

"Look at your spineless appearance. You don't need to bring him before me, just find out who this person is and where he is. I will give you one day; at the latest by tomorrow night, give me an answer."

"To-tomorrow night?" Chen Qinglin was shocked.

This time was too tight, wasn't it? True Essence Realm martial artists are rare, but each one is highly skilled; how could it be easy to find out their background?