The next day, Ma Yun returned to work with his mind burdened by thoughts of the mysterious brush and the threats from Chenyang Group. Determined to conceal the danger he faced, he resolved to maintain an appearance of normalcy.
As soon as he sat down at his desk, Li Hang, an old colleague with a penchant for gossip, sidled over holding a steaming cup of coffee.
"Hey, Lao Ma, everything okay? You've been out for a couple of days, and the company chat has been buzzing," Li said, his voice tinged with intrigue.
"What's going on?" Ma Yun asked casually, feigning indifference as he organized his papers.
"Our new design proposal got snatched by Chenyang Group's subsidiary!" Li whispered, his tone low but animated. "That high-end home UI project we were about to lock down? They came in with an eerily similar design and undercut us by a mile."
Hearing "Chenyang Group" sent a chill down Ma Yun's spine. Keeping his face neutral, he asked, "Are you saying they somehow got hold of our design?"
"Who knows? It's suspicious, though. The boss was livid in yesterday's meeting. Just watch your back; this kind of thing could get messy," Li said, patting Ma Yun's shoulder before heading back to his own desk.
Ma Yun leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Chenyang Group's reach was creeping into his professional life, making it impossible to remain uninvolved. He realized he needed to shield his family while finding a safer space to investigate the brush's secrets.
That evening, Ma Yun arrived home with groceries, planning to cook a family dinner. Yet, as he stepped inside, he sensed something amiss.
Su Qing sat on the sofa, her expression somber. Their two children sat quietly beside her, and the television was off, leaving the room eerily still.
"What's wrong?" Ma Yun asked, setting the bags down as he scanned the room.
Su Qing handed him an envelope. "Someone delivered this for you earlier. It doesn't feel right."
Opening the envelope, Ma Yun found a neatly printed note:
"The brush isn't yours. Hand it over."
"Or face the consequences."
His brow furrowed deeply as he crumpled the note in his hand.
"Is this about something at work?" Su Qing asked, her voice tinged with worry. She rarely questioned Ma Yun about his affairs, but the ominous note had shaken her.
Ma Yun took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Probably just a prank. I'll take care of it."
Su Qing's skepticism was clear. "If this is a prank, how do they know our address? Are you hiding something from me?"
"I'm not," Ma Yun assured her. "It's likely just a competitor trying to rattle me. Nothing serious."
Though still uneasy, Su Qing relented. "If anything else happens, you'll tell me, won't you?"
Ma Yun nodded, retreating to his study with the note. He knew it wasn't a prank. The walls were closing in, and he needed a plan to protect his family and unravel the brush's mysteries.
Alone in the study, Ma Yun summoned Ma Liang once more. The ethereal figure appeared as the brush glowed faintly.
"Someone's threatened me," Ma Yun began. "I need to know: can the brush protect my family?"
"Yes," Ma Liang replied after a pause. "But to wield its full potential, you must truly understand its abilities. The brush can do far more than create—it can alter reality itself."
Ma Yun was stunned. "Alter reality?"
With a wave of Ma Liang's hand, the study transformed into a swirling realm of light and shadow. Images painted by the brush sprang to life, their movements imbued with the flow of time and the essence of transformation.
"To resist Chenyang Group, you must master these powers," Ma Liang said gravely. "But beware—misuse of the brush can have dire consequences."
Ma Yun nodded, his determination hardening. To protect his loved ones, he would grow stronger.
The following morning, Ma Yun stood by the window with a cup of tea, watching sunlight creep across the cityscape. Despite the peaceful scene, an unshakable sense of urgency loomed.
"Dad, aren't you going to work today?" his son asked, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
Ma Yun ruffled the boy's hair. "I'll be working from home today. I want to spend time with you."
As his son grinned with delight, Ma Yun steeled himself for the steps ahead. He needed answers—answers buried in his family's ancestral home.
Hours later, Ma Yun stood before his family's old estate. The once-majestic mansion was now a shell of its former self, overgrown and weathered by decades of neglect.
Inside, the grand hall echoed with his footsteps. Dusty beams of light filtered through cracked windows, illuminating cobweb-laden furniture. He followed the faded layout of his memory to the backyard, where a peculiar stone slab caught his eye.
Prying it open revealed a hidden metal door, its rusted lock barring the way. Ma Yun drew the brush, sketching a simple key in midair. As the key materialized, he inserted it into the lock, which clicked open effortlessly.
The door led to a narrow staircase spiraling into darkness. Holding the brush tightly, Ma Yun descended into the unknown.
The hidden chamber was cramped and damp, filled with shelves of ancient books and crates. In the center sat an ornate wooden box engraved with intricate patterns, its lid adorned with the familiar motif of the brush.
Inside were several yellowed pages. As Ma Yun lifted them, he knew he had found the missing pieces of the family's legacy.
But his relief was short-lived. Footsteps echoed from above, and Ma Yun turned to see several figures silhouetted against the dim light of the entrance.
Leading them was Liu, a manager from Chenyang Group, who smirked coldly. "So, this is where you've been hiding your secrets."
"How did you find me?" Ma Yun demanded, slipping the papers into his pocket.
"Following you was easy," Liu replied with a chuckle. "You've underestimated our reach."
Realizing escape was unlikely, Ma Yun gripped the brush firmly.
"Let's talk," Liu suggested, his tone deceptively genial. "Hand over the brush, and this ends peacefully."
Ma Yun's eyes narrowed. "Your actions speak louder than your words. I won't hand it over."
Liu sighed, signaling to his men. "Then we'll have to take it by force."
As the intruders advanced, Ma Yun raised the brush, his voice steady. "Come and try. Let's see who walks away."