My Goddess is Good at Pretending

Chapter 272: Another Encounter with an Unusual Street Painter

After a little tour, Miko encountered at least two slave markets and one black market. These places were pretty hidden, but it would be easy to find if one would seek them further.

However, Miko wasn’t there to visit or buy anything. Dory wants to witness how the slaves are treated by their new masters under the so-called laws and regulations.

"That’s the third person. I guess that has been proven to be true. Thank you for accompanying me here." Dory sighed after seeing the third person. She found it complicated for some reason.

"..." Michael remained silent as he didn’t want to offend the mermaid lady.

Even though somewhat similar to servants, the slaves didn’t always come from a willing person. They could be criminals, big debtors, those who suffer from poverty, survivors of monster invasions, or even kidnapping victims.

The market only resembled the servant or maid agency in general from the outside. Also, a slave could only have one master throughout the valid contract.

However, there were also the dark side and the unspeakable rules. This kind of marketplace was not completely clean, but it was much better because it was regulated under the laws.

"Alright. Then, let’s leave." Miko nodded in agreement. She and her little group left the area, returning to the main market street.

"Hm?" Miko noticed a familiar figure in a particular tent among antique dealers.

He was a street painter dressed in a rather dull and shabby robe. His beard was unkempt, and his expression looked like someone who lacked sleep.

At first glance, he was like some random citizen who sold his goods on the market, but his well-hidden cultivation base said otherwise.

[Huang Zedong (FV: 2780) | 7th Rank Mid Stage]

[Talent: 4 Stars | SSR]

’This street painter again? Is he a travelling merchant or something? Why is he still a street painter even though he is a 7th Rank expert?’ Miko asked in wonder, but she didn’t overthink about it.

This hidden expert might have his own personal reasons. Nevertheless, she was glad to meet him again. After all, he was the one who inspired her to paint a masterpiece.

"Hello, sir." Miko approached the painting stall and greeted politely

"Welcome, esteemed customer. Are you looking for a painting with profound meaning or something that can give you deep insight and enlightenment? You’ve come to the right place! This old Huang is the best painter you could possibly find. Huh?" Huang Zedong happily rushed forward to greet his customers.

However, he was surprised because the mentioned customer came with many people. Those knight-looking escorts also looked like they wanted to cause trouble rather than buy something.

"Wait, wait... I am a law-abiding citizen. Please don’t ruin my business." Huang Zedong immediately spread his hands, securing his painting.

"???" Michael raised his eyebrows. He didn’t care because those paintings were worth nothing compared to his master’s artwork.

"Fufu, sir. I guess you’ve forgotten about me. I want to thank you. Your animated illusionary painting art is impressive and inspired me to paint several masterpieces." Miko covered her mouth gracefully.

"Hmm?" Huang Zedong glanced sideways. His previous worry caused him to miss the nearby beauties, especially the lovely, stunning priestess lady!

"Ahem, I’m glad to hear that. So, you are that priestess... It’s been a while since the Lumina City. You now look graceful and stunning, but please be more mindful of what you say, miss. It was only one month, and you say you can already paint a masterpiece?" Huang Zedong cleared his throat. He also made his point clear because he didn’t like the boastful junior.

"Then, you must also be mindful of your speech, sir. Your art is pretty decent. It is imbued with spiritual power and insight in every stroke. However, my master has mastered the art mastery to a higher level. Broadly speaking, my master has far surpassed you." Jophiel was dissatisfied because this street painter dared to underestimate her master in front of her.

"Hou? Then, could you show me the so-called masterpiece? Show me, don’t just talk all about it." Huang Zedong was intrigued.

This customer’s level of masterpiece was obviously still so-so. He could enlighten her with his real masterpiece and benefit more significantly from it.

"Sure. Since you inspired me beforehand, my masterpiece might be able to inspire you to reach a greater level of art mastery. The first one is this." Miko took out her painting. That was her first artwork recognized by Heaven.

"!!!" Huang Zedong was surprised and held his breath.

The nearby knights, witches, and random passers-by were stunned when they saw the painting. The dreamland above the sky was what they could comprehend from the portrayal of paradise above the clouds shown by the priestess.

The audience felt like they were suddenly sent to the said dreamland.

They played like children in an amusement park but above the clouds. They went to have fun like happy birds, free from worldly burdens and concerns.

"The next one was painted when I reached greater art mastery." Miko put her painting into her subspace and took out a scroll.

The scroll floated and unscrolled the painting into a circle formation with the audience in the middle. It was a 360-degree painting.

Those outside the circle couldn’t see it. But, those inside the circle could see the otherworldly scene of the illusionary unknown dream space amidst the sea of stars.

They were thrown into the unknown middle of nowhere amidst the sea of stars. They experienced the mystical and supernatural enlightenment that could only be seen by the higher being above the mortal boundary.

Unfortunately, Miko only displayed her masterpiece for fifteen seconds. She kept the scroll and showed the last one, the real masterpiece she and her mama drew.

"!!!" Huang Zedong suddenly knelt down when he witnessed the realistic snowy terrain of the heavenly mountainous land. Tears brimmed at the corners of his eyes at that sight as he recalled some distant memories in the past.

He could see memories of when he was still in the Divine World in his past life. His first visit to the Heavenly Realm, the highest realm of Heavens. A name then left his mouth without realizing it. "The Shenseng Mountain, the Heavenly Realm..."

"Hmm, why are you crying, sir?" Miko immediately put her masterpiece in her subspace again because the street painter suddenly cried. She could tell he was mysterious, but he was probably from the Divine World!

"This, this is! What an ethereal, heavenly art mastery! You have transcended mortal comprehension. The divine insight! You are the real master, the Goddess of Art! Please allow me to see your masterpiece once more. I would pay you dearly to see it again. No, please allow me to be your disciple!"

Huang Zedong admitted his defeat and took out his storage pouch, ready to pay to see the paintings again. However, he soon changed his mind and begged to become the priestess’ disciple.

"S-sir? I’m glad it gave you the precious insight and enlightenment. But don’t do this. I don’t think that’s appropriate." Miko took a step back.

"Please allow me to be your disciple, my lady!" Huang Zedong was about to hug the priestess’ legs, but the knights grabbed his arms.

"Behave. You are not in your right mind. You are a painter yourself. Do the divine paintings drive you to insanity?" Michael smacked the street painter in the head because he could notice this man’s confused mind.

"Huh!?" Huang Zedong regained his composure right away. He stood up and cleared his throat. "Ahem, please forgive my ungraceful attitude. My enlightenment is interrupted, and I need to see your divine paintings again, my lady. But, my previous stand is the truth. Please allow me to register to be your disciple."

"My apologies, but we cannot accept you as a disciple. However, I can show you my masterpiece once again. You can keep your money. This is my thanks because you introduced me to the art world." Miko then showed her masterpieces once again to the street painter.

Previously, it was fifteen seconds. This time, it was half a minute. She didn’t want to show her treasures for long because some people might want to steal them.

While everyone around the vicinity was still enchanted by the paintings, Miko took her group to quickly escape from the area with a teleportation crystal.

Several influential people who happened to pass by wanted to buy those otherwordly paintings, but the priestess had disappeared somewhere.

"Maybe I shouldn’t show him my masterpiece. Just thanks will do, right?" Miko muttered softly while staring at the crowd in the distant market.

"..." Amy folded her arm and rubbed her forehead. She seemed to have seen that street painter before but couldn’t recall it.

Nevertheless, she could tell he was a reincarnation of an Immortal from the Divine World. His divine soul was apparent. She couldn’t remember his divine title.

"Let’s go back to the hotel." Miko’s mood was ruined. She didn’t want to stroll anymore and only wished to return to her mama’s side.