I Can Devour Spirits

Liu Shushan went to patrol near the front gate.

Standing in the shadow of the tree not far from the door of Xueyan Residence, Liu Shushan could still savor the lingering taste of the fine wine just now...

Suddenly, Ximen Kankan, sneaky as a thief, glanced around at the door, and seeing no sign of Shen Mizi, guessed she had gone to patrol the back. Only then did he quietly step to Liu Shushan’s side, slap him on the back, and say with a smile, ”Monkey, follow me inside, I have something interesting to show you.”

As Ximen Kankan reached the door, Liu Shushan saw him from the tree’s shadow, but had no idea what sneaky act Ximen Kankan was up to.

Though suspicious, Liu Shushan followed Ximen Kankan into the Xueyan Residence.

Ximen Kankan had Liu Shushan hold a lamp, and led him to the chests behind the screen.

Ximen Kankan opened a chest and rummaged through it for a while before finally pulling out a rolled-up painting from the bottom. One corner of the painting depicted an awkwardly drawn, ugly plum blossom.

Holding the painting, Ximen Kankan looked at Liu Shushan with pride and said, ”Monkey, today I’ll open your eyes.”

Liu Shushan smirked inwardly; his family was quite prosperous, and he had been surrounded by ink and brush since childhood. What paintings had he not seen?

Not bothered by Liu Shushan’s expression, Ximen Kankan knew that however cold he seemed now, he would soon be admiring it greatly, because what he was about to show Liu Shushan was the brilliance of humanity!

Ximen Kankan moved to the front of a table.

Liu Shushan held the lamp as Ximen Kankan unrolled the painting.

At the sight of it, Liu Shushan’s brows knitted tightly; it was no more than a chaotic smear of ink, hardly deserving to be called a painting.

Irritated, Liu Shushan thought Ximen Kankan was making fun of him. But being normally good-tempered, he did not turn and leave.

Ximen Kankan took the lamp from his hand, pulled out a candle from it, then signaled Liu Shushan to hold one end of the painting while he held the other. Ximen Kankan carefully hovered the candle flame beneath the painting, moving it slowly.

Liu Shushan’s eyes moved as, under Ximen Kankan’s actions, the ink spots on the painting gradually faded, revealing the image of a naked woman.

”This is...” Liu Shushan’s eyes almost popped out of his head.

He had seen erotic paintings before, but they were usually veiled to some extent, and none were so grand in size or refined in detail.

The painting before him was almost like a real person in front of him, so lifelike it was suffocating, even down to every strand of hair.

This was the original erotic painting Duan Rong had made for Ximen Kankan!

When this painting was revealed, back then Ximen Kankan had directly kowtowed to Duan Rong!

And at this moment Liu Shushan felt the same admiration.

Ximen Kankan placed the candle back and turned to Liu Shushan, asking, ”Liu brother, how is this painting?”

Liu Shushan, his face stiffened, replied without blinking, ”Absolutely unparalleled! One of a kind!”

Ximen Kankan laughed, ”I knew you would appreciate it, Liu brother. When I say this work is the shining light of humanity, am I overstating it?”

Liu Shushan answered, ”Not overstated. Perfectly fitting! Such a masterpiece stands alone through the ages! Ximen brother, you must take good care of it!”

Ximen Kankan said, ”Rest assured, Liu brother! I treasure it like my own life!”

As Ximen Kankan had not seen the painting in three years, he and Liu Shushan admired it together, marveling at it in awe.

Behind Xueyan Residence, Shen Mizi grew more and more bored as she stayed, gazing at the dark bamboo grove and garden. After guarding for so long without seeing a single person’s shadow, where was this secret agent?

Shen Mizi, with her temperamental nature, was unwilling to stay any longer as the night wind blew, causing the bamboo to rustle chaotically, swaying like ghostly figures.

Unwilling to remain there, Shen Mizi turned and walked towards the front gate of Xueyan Residence, noticing Liu Shushan was not patrolling this area. Feeling suspicious, Shen Mizi saw the faint candlelight in the main room and walked in quietly.

As soon as she entered, she saw Liu Shushan and Ximen Kankan at the table, avidly admiring a painting with fervent gazes.

”Ximen brother, who is the genius behind this painting?” Liu Shushan inquired.

Ximen Kankan smiled faintly, about to answer when he suddenly saw Shen Mizi standing at the doorway, her eyes like daggers on them.

Ximen Kankan shivered immediately.

Shen Mizi fixed her gaze on Ximen Kankan and demanded, ”What are you two looking at?”

”Nothing!” Ximen Kankan said as he hastily rolled up the painting.

Shen Mizi’s eyes swept over Liu Shushan and Ximen Kankan, noticing the hint of embarrassment on their faces.

Intending to distract her, Ximen Kankan had assigned Shen Mizi to patrol the back, allowing him to enjoy the erotic painting with Liu Shushan. Little did he expect she would return so soon.

Staring at the painting tucked under Ximen Kankan’s arm, Shen Mizi suddenly recalled the incident three years ago at the city gate after the Talent Selection Conference, as they were leaving Xianggu County—an event Xia Shuangshuang had vividly recounted to her later in the carriage.

Shen Mizi grew infuriated, glaring at Ximen Kankan, and ordered, ”Let me see it!”

Ximen Kankan retorted, ”Not a chance!”

In a flash, Shen Mizi moved to snatch the painting, but Ximen Kankan, having reached the Second Level of the True Qi Realm, dodged swiftly; their figures darted back and forth in the hall.

Ximen Kankan’s evasive maneuvers only deepened Shen Mizi’s suspicions!