Su Changkong thought to himself, indeed, he roughly understood why the Family Head of the Shi Family would send a message to the deserted Book Fragrance Mountain.

Because the Family Head of the Shi Family knew that the Li Family had not left Book Fragrance Mountain, but was instead within the “Literacy Paradise,” a place difficult for outsiders to enter.

“I am Su Tailai.”

Su Changkong bowed in response; he had many doubts in his heart, but for the time being, he restrained them.

“So, it’s Mr. Su. Since you have come from afar, why not visit our Li Family estate for a chat?”

The middle-aged man, Li Song, quickly ran through his knowledge but had not heard of such a person. Nevertheless, he invited Su Changkong onto the boat.

Therefore, Su Changkong did not stand on ceremony and made his way to the riverbank, boarding the wooden boat.

Two youths in white stroked the oars, and the wooden boat advanced along the ink-colored river.

Su Changkong saw that within the ink painting-like river, there were inkfish flowing, and all around were mountains and trees depicted in ink painting, creating indeed an impression of an other-worldly paradise.

Su Changkong couldn’t help but ask, “Is this place perhaps the legendary Cave Heaven and Blessed Land?”

Hearing this, Li Song gave a bittersweet smile, “Cave Heaven and Blessed Land… not quite. A real Cave Heaven and Blessed Land is teeming with Spiritual Medicine, with Spirit Grass everywhere. Ordinary people living within can easily live to a hundred years.

This Literacy Paradise is merely a ’pseudo Cave Heaven and Blessed Land,’ just a painting imitated after the Cave Heaven and Blessed Land by our ancestor.”

A true Cave Heaven and Blessed Land, only the topmost sects or noble families possess and control it, as it is their foundation. Even if the family falls into decline, they still have the Cave Heaven and Blessed Land as a final retreat, where they can recover and multiply.

“A painting imitated after the Cave Heaven and Blessed Land? Could it be…”

Su Changkong had his speculations but temporarily suppressed his curiosity.

After half a quarter of an hour, the boat reached the shore and moored. Su Changkong saw a manor not far off.

At the entrance of the manor, the Li Family disciples looked at the out-of-place Su Changkong with both curiosity and vigilance.

For so many years, Su Changkong was the only outsider who had entered the Literacy Paradise.

Su Changkong noticed that the Li Family had few members—just a few dozen at most, not even comparable to a common small family.

At Li Song’s invitation, the two of them made their way to a guest hall within the manor.

Once seated, Li Song said, “Mr. Su, we noticed you three months ago when you arrived at Book Fragrance Mountain, but not knowing whether you were friend or foe, we dared not show ourselves.”

“I see!”

Su Changkong suddenly understood.

Within Literacy Paradise, the people of the Li Family could actually perceive everything happening on Book Fragrance Mountain. Every action Su Changkong took during the two or three months he was there had been observed by the Li Family within Literacy Paradise.

But the identity of Su Changkong remained unknown, so naturally, the Li Family would not reveal themselves.

Su Changkong guessed that the Li Family’s reason for appearing now and inviting him into the Literacy Paradise was simple—it was because of Su Changkong’s recent conflict with the Shi Family brothers.

The Li Family had a great grudge against the Shi Family. Su Changkong showed no mercy when he killed the Shi Family brothers. The enemy of an enemy is a friend, so Li Song believed that Su Changkong was not an enemy, which is why he took the initiative to open the entrance of Literacy Paradise and invite him in.

Thus, Su Changkong couldn’t help but ask, “Those two people from the Shi Family just now were here to deliver a message. Does your family have a feud with the Shi Family?”

Li Song sighed, “It’s not that our Li Family has a feud with the Shi Family. Rather, the Shi Family sees our Li Family as weak and wishes to exterminate our bloodline and swallow us up. Our Li Family is kind to others and has never actively offended anyone. Being weak… is a sin indeed!”

Speaking of this, Li Song turned to Su Changkong, “That letter those two brought just now—would it be convenient to let me take a look?”

The Shi Family brothers were on a mission to deliver a letter to the Li Family, but Su Changkong couldn’t make out anything from it.

“Of course, you can.”

Su Changkong did not hesitate and handed the letter over to Li Song.

With a swipe of his hand over the letter, the blank paper revealed characters. Li Song read it carefully, his eyes filled with anger and gravity. He eventually steadied his mind and stashed the letter away.

“Mr. Su, you’ve traveled a long way to find us. Is there a matter you wish to discuss?”

Then Li Song inquired about Su Changkong’s purpose.

Su Changkong had come to Book Fragrance Mountain to find them and had not left for a long time, so he certainly had a reason.

After a brief contemplation, Su Changkong did not hide his intentions and frankly said, “I previously obtained some paintings left by the Paint Saint Bai Xingzhi, and I’m very interested in them. Thus, I’ve collected quite a few, but I’ve heard that the Li Family is also collecting these paintings with most in your hands. Therefore, I wanted to come to the Li Family to observe these paintings.

It’s fine if I give all the paintings I’ve collected to you.”

Saying that, Su Changkong took out eight scrolls of paintings from his baggage and placed them on the table.

“Truly, ancestral paintings… so many?”

Upon unraveling one of the paintings, Li Song couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.

The Li Family had also gone to the Great Flame Empire to collect Bai Xingzhi’s paintings, but the Li Family had no connections or power in the Great Flame Empire.

Su Changkong’s collection of these paintings was personally facilitated by the Lord of the Demon Suppressing Department, Duanmu Tao, who, with his status, could easily accomplish what others could not. Some families even presented the paintings for free just to ingratiate themselves with him.

Li Song looked up at Su Changkong, full of gratitude, “Mr. Su, I truly thank you. To be honest, Bai Xingzhi is our Li Family’s ancestor. The Bai Family once suffered a great disaster and lost its home. To avoid trouble, we changed our surname to Li. Only after stabilizing a bit did we have the strength to begin recollecting the scattered paintings of our ancestor…”

“As expected, this Li Family is indeed the descendant of Bai Xingzhi, a noble family…”

After entering Literacy Paradise, Su Changkong had vaguely guessed the true origins of the Li Family.

Paint Saint Bai Xingzhi had descendants, but time had been too long. Even the most glorious families decline, and the Bai Family was one of them. They even changed their surname directly. Naturally, collecting Bai Xingzhi’s paintings was to be expected.

“You want to observe the other paintings of the ancestor, of course, that’s possible, as long as you don’t take them away.”

Regarding Su Changkong’s request, Li Song readily agreed.

Su Changkong brought eight paintings, and only asked to observe the other paintings, which meant no loss for the Li Family. Li Song was no fool and thus readily agreed.

“Good!”

Su Changkong was also pleased. Most of Bai Xingzhi’s paintings were with the Li Family, among which many were likely to be related to other True Beast Pictures connected with the Five Animal Frolics. Su Changkong just needed time to comprehend them. Given time, he was bound to gain immensely, possibly elevating the Five Animal Frolics to a higher realm!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel