The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the study. Ma Yun hadn't slept all night. The desk was now scattered with various drawings he had experimented with: a bamboo grove, a bridge over flowing water, birds in flight, and, most intriguingly, a small village he had never seen before in his life.
"It really works." Ma Yun clutched the brush, his emotions in turmoil. He was beginning to realize that the brush's power went beyond artistic skill—it could imbue the drawings with a semblance of life.
As he pondered this, Su Qing's voice called from outside the door. "Breakfast is ready. Bring the kids down to eat."
Ma Yun carefully placed the brush back in its box and locked it in the drawer. Taking a deep breath to collect himself, he opened the door and stepped out.
At the dining table, his son, Ma Yiming, was tapping his chopsticks against a bowl. "Dad, can you take me to school today? I want to talk to you about the essay competition!"
"Of course," Ma Yun said with a smile, ruffling his son's hair.
His daughter, Ma Xiaorou, rolled her eyes dramatically. "You always get Dad's attention. My art competition is way more important!"
Su Qing gently tapped the table. "Enough, both of you. Eat first, and we'll talk about competitions later."
The family shared a warm, cheerful breakfast. Afterward, Ma Yun dropped the kids off at school. On the way, he couldn't stop thinking about the anomalies from the night before and began plotting how to master the brush's power.
But life was never truly calm.
A Scheme Unfolds
At the same time, in Chenyang Group's headquarters, a high-level meeting was underway. Zhao Liquan sat at the head of the table, a faded photograph of an ancient painting laid before him. The painting depicted a dense forest, and deep within the trees, a brush was embedded in a rock.
"Are you sure it's this brush?" Zhao Liquan asked, his gaze sharp as a hawk's.
Across from him, a middle-aged man in a suit nodded. "Based on our investigation, the brush is now in Ma Yun's possession. He appears to be the sole heir of the Ma family."
Zhao Liquan smirked coldly. "Ma Yun? Just a run-of-the-mill designer. Can he even wield such power?"
The man hesitated briefly before responding. "While Ma Yun seems ordinary, our findings suggest that he has already triggered the brush's anomalies. If we don't act soon, it could disrupt our plans."
"Then move now," Zhao Liquan commanded, his tone icy. "This brush is critical to us. We cannot let him master it."
A Strange Phenomenon
That afternoon, Ma Yun returned home alone. After ensuring his family was settled, he went back to the study to refine the bamboo grove he had drawn the previous night. However, as soon as the brush touched the paper, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
A fierce wind rose outside the window, and the bamboo grove on the paper began to glow faintly green. To Ma Yun's astonishment, the leaves floated off the page, exuding the vibrancy of spring.
"This is…" Ma Yun's eyes widened in shock as he took in the surreal scene.
But it wasn't over yet. As the anomaly intensified, a deep, resonant voice echoed from all directions: "Protect it…"
The voice was elusive, and Ma Yun looked around, unable to locate its source.
Suddenly, the brush trembled in his hand, a golden light flowing from its shaft into his palm. A searing heat surged through his body, accompanied by an indescribable pain. Clutching his chest, he struggled to steady his breathing.
"Is this the brush's awakening power?" Ma Yun wondered, his heart racing. Before he could dwell on it, the doorbell rang abruptly.
He set down the brush and hurried to the door. Peering through the peephole, he saw two men in black suits standing outside.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Ma," one of them said with a polite smile. "We're from Chenyang Group. We'd like to discuss a business matter with you."
Ma Yun's heart sank. He recalled Su Qing mentioning the threat posed by Chenyang Group. Had they already tracked him down?
"I'm sorry," Ma Yun replied calmly. "I'm a bit busy today and can't entertain visitors."
The men didn't leave. Instead, one continued, "Mr. Ma, this concerns your father's inheritance. We need to discuss it in person."
At the mention of "inheritance," Ma Yun hesitated. After a few seconds, he reluctantly opened the door.
The two men entered the living room, their eyes scanning every corner as if searching for something.
"Mr. Ma," one of them began bluntly, "we know you've recently come into possession of your family's legacy, including a rather interesting brush."
Ma Yun maintained a calm exterior, though his mind was churning. He knew he couldn't let them learn the brush's secrets.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," Ma Yun said, feigning ignorance. "Everything my father left me is here. Feel free to look if you think something's of interest."
The two men exchanged a glance. One sneered. "Mr. Ma, let's not waste each other's time. This brush is very important to us. Hand it over, and we'll leave you in peace."
Ma Yun's chest tightened, but he kept his composure. "As I said, I don't know what you're talking about. If there's nothing else, please leave."
When the soft approach failed, the men's demeanor turned cold. "Mr. Ma, we urge you to reconsider. If you don't hand it over today, you won't like the consequences."
With that, they left, but Ma Yun knew this was only the beginning. Clenching his fists, he resolved:
"If they want the brush, they'll have to go through me first."