Chapter 40 - Who’s The Woman in The Painting?

"Ouch!" Yao Ying groaned.

The young servant's eyes widened and quickly got up. "I…. I'm sorry, Young Master. Are you okay?" He apologized profusely and stuttered, feeling guilty. This was his master's guest! How could he make such a big mistake? This would become a disgrace for 'Lin Fu' if other people heard. He sweated while imagining his awaiting punishment.

"What's your name?" Yao Ying asked monotonously.

The young servant felt more scared. His doom day was coming! The guest asked for his name. Would he ask General Lin to punish him? In this household, even a servant would receive a military punishment. He was basically a weak person, thinking about running and following the soldiers' workout made him tremble in fear. However, he could only answer the question. "This servant name is Xia…. Xiao Yang," he once again stuttered.

Yao Ying frowned. He looked at Xiao Yang in wonderment. Was he that scary or this servant was basically a scaredy-cat? He decided to ease Xiao Yang's tension, "Listen! I'm okay. You don't need to be that afraid. Why are you so scared?"

Xiao Yang stared at Yao Ying in relief. "Aren't you going to punish me? Or tell General Lin?"

"No. Just like I said, I'm fine."

Yao Ying looked at the messy scrolls in front of him and pointed at them. "Aren't you going to clean it up?"

Xiao Yang was startled and remembered what he was supposed to do. He looked down in embarra.s.sment, but quickly picked them up one by one. "Thank you for Young Master's reminder."

Yao Ying didn't say anything and squatted down. He decided to help the nervous servant, besides, he had nothing to do anyway. Why not pa.s.s the time by helping Xiao Yang?

"Young Master… you don't need to help me!" Xiao Yang didn't want to inconvenience the young master.

Yao Ying helplessly appeased Xiao Yang. "It's fine. Just clean up! I'm helping you so you can finish your work faster."

Xiao Yang didn't continue refusing. What the young master said made sense. The sooner he finished here, the better.

Yao Ying saw a scroll that slightly opened. It was the painting of a woman. He could only see the beautiful white robes of the woman and it made him curious. He took it, wanting to open and see the whole painting.

Xiao Yang saw what he did curiously. However, when he saw the painting that Yao Ying hold, he was so scared that he wanted to faint. Without realizing how rude he was, Xiao Yang yelled, "Young Master! Don't open it!"

Yao Ying was startled by Xiao Yang's loud voice. The painting was dropped by him and rolled over. It almost opened all the way and showed the lady's face, but Xiao Yang quickly stopped it and rolled it back up again.

"Who is that?" Yao Ying asked curiously. Xiao Yang's reaction was over the top. It would be weird if he didn't feel curious at all. Who was the woman in the painting? It seemed like an important person.

"No.. no one." Xiao Yang didn't have the gut to look at Yao Ying. "I… I'm sorry for yelling at Young Master. Please punish this servant, Young Master!" He kowtowed, asking for forgiveness.

Yao Ying started to get a headache. This servant was really a scaredy cat! "Get up! I'm not going to punish you."

"Why are you so afraid? Is it a taboo to look at that painting?"

Xiao Yang gulped. He didn't know what to do. It seemed like this young master would keep pestering him and wouldn't let this matter go, if he didn't say something. "Yes. This is by General Lin's strict order. I'm sorry, Young Master."

Yao Ying had a gut feeling. That was probably the painting of the woman who was loved by General Lin. Maybe Madam Lin? He didn't continue to pester Xiao Yang for the answer. He didn't want to make it difficult for him.

Yao Ying nodded and said nothing anymore. He continued to help Xiao Yang and then let him go. Xiao Yang quickly scurried away. Luckily, the young master didn't see the painting. Otherwise, General Lin would certainly get angry. He almost cried in relief.

Watching Xiao Yang moved so fast like he was going to chase him, Yao Ying felt this servant was really funny. Although he was curious, he didn't put it in his mind. He wasn't noisy and just let it go. Before he could ponder more about the painting, he heard someone say, "Have you been waiting long?"

Yao Ying knew from the voice that it was General Lin. He quickly looked up and got up from his seat to pay respect. He cupped both of his hands and bowed. "General Lin."

"No need to be so formal. Why do you come here?" Lin Zheng looked at the youngsters in front of him full of interest. They just met yesterday. There must be something important or he wouldn't be here. He didn't think Yao Ying would visit him just to talk about the weather.

"Sit down." Lin Zheng pointed at the chair that had been occupied by Yao Ying, after that, he walked to the front and sat down on the main seat.

Yao Ying had felt confident before, but looking at the aloof general, he became a bit dispirited. He started to think that he pushed her luck too much lately. He hastily came here without inquiring whether it was possible for the general to help him. Maybe his shamelessness would bear a fruit?

"Er…" Yao Ying hesitantly said.

"Just tell me. No need to feel bad." Lin Zheng felt the hesitation. He didn't like dilly-dallying people, so he just wanted Yao Ying to get to the point.

"Can General teach me martial arts and qing gong?"

Lin Zheng furrowed his eyebrows. He only trained soldiers and never personally received a disciple, even Lin Jian was trained by a respectable master. "Why me?" Lin Zheng rarely talk much, so Yao Ying more or less understood his short reply.

"I find General Lin as an amazing person – both in martial arts and military skill. I'd like to learn from the best." Yao Ying didn't sugarcoat anything. He just spoke the truth. In An Yang City, everyone knew General Lin's great reputation and achievement.

Lin Zheng stared at Yao Ying in amus.e.m.e.nt. 'The best, huh?' General Lin thought to himself. He didn't like flattery, but the way Yao Ying answering him was quite sincere. Therefore, he liked it.

"If I accept you as my disciple, you have to learn everything I throw at you. You have to be hardworking. Once I find you slacking, I'll kick you out. How does that sound?"

Yao Ying smiled widely. Did it mean he was accepted? Without a second thought, Yao Ying answered, "Of course! I will do my best! Thank you for receiving me as a disciple!"

"Hold on!"

Before Yao Ying was able to pay respect and kowtow to his new master, Lin Zheng stopped him.

"Yes, Master?" Yao Ying was confused. Why did General Lin stop him? Did he get the wrong message?

"What's the benefit for me?" He asked with his mouth slightly curled up.