novelraw Chapter 721 361 Cao Xiu Visits_1
Chapter 721 361 Cao Xiu Visits_1
The two spoke like old friends, sharing cups and conversation for a full day and night. The more they talked, the more Zhuang Feiwu found himself impressed with Wang Xiu, recognizing his extraordinary talent and finding him very much to his liking. Everything Wang Xiu said resonated deeply with him, stirring a sense of regret that they had not met sooner.
"Brother Wang, you are truly a man of great talent! Today has been a real eye-opener!"
「The next day, in front of the courtyard.」
Zhuang Feiwu clasped his hands to bid farewell, saying earnestly, "I have gained so much insight from our conversation, Brother Wang. Certain things have become clear to me… I shall take my leave for now, but I will surely impose upon you again another day!"
Wang Xiu urged him to stay. "What's the rush? Since you've come all this way, Brother Zhuang, how can you leave empty-handed? Please wait… let me paint a picture for you!"
"A painting?" Zhuang Feiwu asked, puzzled. "But don't I already have one?"
Wang Xiu replied, "How could that count? We hit it off the moment we met. It's only right that I paint a portrait especially for you!"
With that, he led Zhuang Feiwu to the pavilion. He unrolled a blank scroll, and the brush danced rapidly across the paper like a dragon in flight. In no time, a painting took shape.
"Excellent! What a wonderful painting!" Zhuang Feiwu exclaimed, looking at the portrait with great pleasure.
If I'm not mistaken, Brother Wang has never painted a portrait of a man before. I'm the first!
He held the scroll, unable to put it down.
Wang Xiu smiled. "When you return, Brother Zhuang, you can examine this scroll more. Perhaps you will gain some insight from it."
Zhuang Feiwu clasped his hands again. "Rest assured, Brother Wang, I will treasure your masterpiece and study it day and night!"
***
「Several days passed in the blink of an eye.」
In front of Wang Xiu's residence, a grand and elegant carriage, drawn by four rare Xuan Jade White Horses, came to a slow stop. A distinguished-looking elderly man and a stunningly beautiful young woman descended from it.
When the crowd surrounding the courtyard saw them, they were immediately captivated by the pair's unique aura and instinctively made way.
"Who are they? They seem extraordinary!"
"You don't know him? That's the chairman of the Green Leaf Association, rumored to be the number one master of the Dao of Painting in Huangzhou. A true titan of the art! The other is his beloved granddaughter, the apple of his eye!"
"He's number one? I heard the chairman of the Hongshan Association was number one."
"The Hongshan Association? I can't stand their paintings. They're so rigid, completely lacking in spirit. The Green Leaf Association's paintings are far better—full of artistic conception and worth savoring time and again. You never get tired of looking at them!"
"Nonsense! The Green Leaf Association paints nothing but illegible scribbles. You can't even understand them. Is that what you call art?"
…
Cao Xiu paid no attention to the hushed conversations. He gave Cao Qingqing a meaningful look.
She immediately stepped forward, presented a visiting card, and said softly with a smile, "Excuse me, miss. My grandfather has come as promised to visit and exchange pointers on the Dao of Painting with Young Master Wang."
Nie Linglan returned a beautiful smile, her demeanor perfectly composed. "My young master said that if Chairman Cao were to visit, there would be no need for an announcement. You may proceed directly inside."
Hearing this, Cao Xiu feigned surprise and laughed heartily. "They say that getting to see Young Master Wang in White Jade City is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. I didn't expect this old man to be given such consideration!"
Nie Linglan smiled softly. "You jest, Chairman Cao. You are a titan of the Dao of Painting; my young master has always held you in high esteem."
Chatting and laughing, they went inside, quickly disappearing from the crowd's view.
The buzz of conversation continued among the people left behind.
"Gods, the chairman of the Green Leaf Association is personally visiting this Young Master Wang Yitian? Am I seeing things?"
"Young Master Wang may be a rising star in the art world, but that man… he's a renowned titan. Isn't this a bit backward?"
"What do you know? Chairman Cao has always appreciated talent. This is a sign of his respect for a junior."
"If that's the case, then Wang Yitian is being awfully arrogant, not even coming out to greet him!"
…
As the crowd murmured among themselves, the figures who had been staking out the residence day and night witnessed this. They almost simultaneously took out their Messenger Spirit Talismans to relay the news.
***
「In a riverside pavilion with a magnificent view.」
Curvaceous dancers moved with enchanting grace to the music. A group of elegantly dressed figures gathered around several scrolls, discussing their merits with profound expertise.
"Brother Zhang, this 'Guiyan Approaching the River Painting' of yours truly captures both spirit and form. It's astonishing!"
"Not at all, Brother Lin. Your 'Spring River Scenery Painting' is the truly exquisite one…"
…
As the men lavished praise on one another, a young man in blue stood respectfully by the bead curtain. "Miss Fang, these are all renowned young talents from White Jade City. Every one of them is a master of the Dao of Painting who has received true instruction from the greats. Please, see for yourself…"
"This is it?" a cold, disdainful voice cut through from behind the curtain, instantly chilling the atmosphere. "If this lot is the best talent Huangzhou has to offer… then I'm afraid the Banquet of Little Cold Mountain has no place for any of you!"
As the voice echoed, the expressions of the young men in the room soured, their faces turning shades of pale and green, yet none dared to utter a word in protest.
Just then, a subtle sound was heard.
"Mountain Lord! Breaking news. Cao Xiu, the chairman of the Green Leaf Association, has personally gone to visit the rising talent Wang Yitian to exchange pointers on the Dao of Painting!"
At these words, the room fell dead silent, then burst into an uproar.
Who was Cao Xiu? A titan in the Dao of Painting! He was one of the foremost figures in the entire Wasteland Boundary. There were very few in the world qualified to exchange insights on painting with him. And now he was taking the initiative to visit a newcomer, who had only just begun to make a name for himself, to discuss the Dao of Painting?
It was utterly flabbergasting.
"Cao Xiu?"
Behind the bead curtain, a girl in purple with an air of arrogance, proud as a frost-covered plum blossom, tilted her head in thought. "I've seen his paintings. He's grasped some of the true essence, so they're passably good to look at… As for that Wang Yitian… I've never heard of him."
The blue-clad youth at her side quickly explained, "Miss Fang, you've just arrived in White Jade City, so you may not be aware. This man only made a name for himself in the last month. Before that, he was unknown. It's said that he's very skilled at portraits, and the portraits he paints… they seem to possess some miraculous power, able to help people alter their appearance, or even reshape their entire body…"
Hearing this, a flicker of interest appeared in the purple-clad girl's eyes. "Do you have any of his works?"
"I do!" the blue-clad youth replied hurriedly.
He rushed off, returning shortly with several scrolls. "These are all works by that Wang Yitian. They've been spread through countless reproductions and are all over the city now."
The purple-clad girl opened one scroll and peered at it closely, her eyes narrowing slightly. "The brushwork is exquisite, almost to the point of achieving artless perfection…"
The youth was stunned. This mysterious girl considered even Cao Xiu barely worthy of mention, yet she had such a strong reaction to Wang Yitian's work!
After looking for another moment, the purple-clad girl shook her head.
Seeing this, the blue-clad youth became anxious. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
The purple-clad girl said, "These paintings have been reproduced so many times they've lost their original artistic intent. Judging by the brushwork and form alone, there isn't much to see. Do you have an original?"