Chen Mu never expected that he'd get entangled in a family annihilation case just by painting a portrait.
What terrified him even more was that the Wang family had been exterminated.
That was a major family that had been entrenched in Qingshan County for decades.
Staring at the headless portrait, thousands of thoughts whirled in Chen Mu's mind.
"Come with me," said Lu, the head of law enforcement, as he turned to take Chen Mu to the back hall.
The county magistrate had ordered that Chen Mu should not be let go, so Lu could only lock him up for the time being.
Pity arose in Lu's heart.
Getting thrown into jail was easy, but getting out was difficult.
The Wang family's extermination was a vicious case, and the pressure on the county magistrate and magistrate was immense.
It wouldn't be surprising if they ended up looking for a scapegoat to bear the blame.
This scholar, who had become entangled with the Wang family... Lu dared not think further.
"Wait!" Chen Mu called out to stop Lu.
He had no family or friends in his previous life and was all alone.
If he were locked up, with no one to come for him, he really would be at the mercy of fate.
"The portrait I painted was of a complete person. The disappearance of the head must mean that someone deliberately mystified it, using a special method to erase the head," Chen Mu said gravely.
His Second Rank painting skill had bestowed him with an extensive knowledge base.
Gazing at the headless portrait, a paint formula began to emerge in his mind.
He moved closer to the portrait and discreetly sniffed at it. Amidst the thick fragrance of ink, a faintly pleasant scent drifted from the paper, reinforcing Chen Mu's conviction.
"You can't prove it," said Lu.
"There is a way!" Chen Mu insisted, staring intently at Lu.
"This portrait is a memorial for the Wang family patriarch. The paper and pigments are exquisite, and combined with my skill of painting with force through the paper, it should preserve its color for decades," Chen Mu confidently bluffed.
In reality, the solution that could erase ink and paint was not completely effective, as there was residue left.
Of course, he couldn't directly tell the other party about the solution.
That would also increase his suspicion.
"Just let the mounting master open up the painting from the middle, and you will definitely find residual pigments. It's enough to prove that I painted a complete portrait!"
"Wait here," said Lu, taking the portrait out of the main hall.
In the County Government Office, all six departments' clerks were scholars, and many veteran clerks knew the craft of mounting.
...
Half an hour later, in the back hall of the County Government Office.
"This makes it impossible to blame it on evil spirits," Magistrate Du said worriedly as he stared at the lifelike portrait.
Evil spirits killing people wouldn't erase the head from a portrait.
Clearly, it was the work of thieves, trying to create an illusion.
"It seems that the scholar really was just at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Lu.
"Hmm, he's also quite talented," Magistrate Du now had the leisure to observe the portrait.
Although he had been released now, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be caught again.
In a major family annihilation case, if it couldn't be solved, the County Government Office would surely find a scapegoat for the sake of their achievements.
He, a poor scholar with ties to the case, was the perfect candidate!
"I have no control over it!" Chen Mu sighed.
Today's experience brought him to a clear realization.
This was no longer the stable and prosperous country of his previous life; it was a chaotic ancient world.
He had to learn to protect himself!
"Practicing martial arts in a short period isn't feasible, but I need to find something for self-defense."
Chen Mu immediately thought of Lime Powder.
This substance was cheap and plentiful; a surprise attack could achieve miraculous results.
He resolved to prepare some for himself later.
"I also need to master some power."
He had no understanding of the martial arts in this world, and he dared not practice them recklessly, so he could only recall from his prior life's memories.
In his previous life, information was abundant; he knew a bit about various fighting skills, yet they were all unorganized.
After thinking for a long while, a vague memory surfaced in his mind.
He seemed to have read about a training method for the Natural Sect's Flying Locust Stone.
The Flying Locust Stone was nothing but the small rocks that were readily available everywhere.
They were easy to obtain and simple to practice with, and steadily improving accuracy and striking power would naturally enhance their potency.
Chen Mu immediately went to the yard to collect small stones.
Then he propped up a wooden basin used for washing his face against the wall.
Standing five paces away, he threw the stones into the wooden basin.
After all twenty-odd stones in his hand landed in the basin, Chen Mu picked up the stones and retreated to a distance of six paces from the basin and continued throwing.
Once he started throwing from a distance of eight meters, finally some stones fell outside the basin.
Chen Mu didn't continue to increase the distance, but persisted in practicing from that position.
He kept throwing until his arm became sore and his throwing strength weakened, then a sudden insight appeared in his mind.
The throwing technique subconsciously adjusted, and his movements became somewhat more effortless and light.
Chen Mu's mind stirred.
The gray wall materialized before his eyes.
Writing: 1043/10000/Second Rank;
Drawing: 157/10000/Second Rank;
Throwing: 26/10000/First Rank;
Chen Mu took a deep breath.
What came next was the phase he was familiar with.
Practice.