Chapter 41: This is a master (Part 1)

"Really not?"

Honestly, Shen Tang didn't believe it.

Faced with Young Master Shen's questioning, Qi Shan, who had been expressionless, suddenly laughed. He pointed to the painting Shen Tang was holding and said sarcastically, "Young Master Shen, do you think these can be finished in just a few strokes? The painting depicts a rather tricky mess..."

The implication was that Shen Tang was overestimating him.

How could he possibly have time to stay up all night to finish a painting, yet still find time to unravel the hidden puzzles on the canvas?

Shen Tang awkwardly touched her nose and guiltily looked away—this couldn't be blamed on her being suspicious; it was only because Qi Shan had too many "previous offenses" that she had some "psychological trauma"—she abruptly changed the subject: "Yuan Liang, I'm taking the painting to the bookstore to hand it in now?"

"Go on, go on." Qi Shan waved to her, out of sight, out of mind. But when Chen Tang turned around, he called her back and instructed, "Go hand in the painting, and be careful on your way back. We don't know what connection the person behind it has with the Prefect of Sibao County, so we must be cautious."

It's best if you have no connection; if you do, you have to be careful.

The water in Xiaocheng is deep; one wrong step and you could drown.

"Okay, okay."

Shen Tang felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She vanished like the wind in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace. Qi Shan could only lower and then raise his eyes again in the blink of an eye, his gaze falling only on the hem of her robes that had disappeared. He could only shake his head with a wry smile and turn back into the house. Instead of taking a nap, he sat back down at his desk.

A clean sheet of paper lay open on the desk.

He suppressed his remaining ease, focused his mind solemnly, raised his hand to gather his literary energy, and in the blink of an eye, his mind entered that unfinished game.

In this mysterious realm where yin and yang intertwine, the battlefield beneath their feet continues to rage, cities suffer damage on both sides, and the black and white armies are locked in a stalemate. A closer look reveals that the white army is currently holding a slight advantage. As soon as Qi Shan appears, the figure opposite him raises its head to meet his gaze.

Qi Shan gracefully lifted the hem of her dress and sat down.

He said calmly, "No one's disturbing us, let's continue."

No one answered; all that remained was the man waving his fan and placing a piece, erasing the advantage that the White Army had painstakingly regained.

Qi Shan remained calm and composed, uttering a spell. White pieces materialized beneath the sky, and the white army on the chessboard obeyed the command. While the black and white armies clashed, Chen Tang rode his motorcycle to the Zheng Guang Bookstore from the previous day, calling out from afar.

"Shopkeeper, I'm here to report back."

She leaped off the motorcycle and tossed the reins to it. Her motorcycle, with perfect understanding, tilted its head back, opened its mouth, and caught the reins precisely, then lay down to rest in the open space in front of the bookstore. The shopkeeper was sitting behind the counter, one hand supporting his forehead, dozing with his eyes half-closed.

Upon hearing Shen Tang's shout, all sleepiness vanished.

"Who, who?" The shopkeeper was startled. Upon recognizing the person, he asked in surprise, "Young lady, you've finished so quickly?"

Feeling a little guilty, Shen Tang mumbled, "Mmm..."

"Let me see how it's drawn."

The shopkeeper didn't believe it.

How detailed a painting can be created in just one night?

He knew a little about the temperament of that courtesan at Yuehua Tower; he knew that the man was picky and wouldn't even look at a poorly made painting.

As he slowly unfolded the painting, his gaze was immediately captivated by the figure within, unable to look away, even his breathing unconsciously slowing. The painting depicted a handsome young man with a touch of boyish charm, alone amidst a cluster of flowers. The artist didn't focus on the boy's face, instead emphasizing his full, perfectly proportioned red lips, making one yearn to lean closer.

The shopkeeper suddenly snapped out of his daze, his old face slightly flushed.

He coughed awkwardly and said, "Young lady, your painting skills are superb!"

Having worked in this industry for so many years, he had taken on numerous high-priced commissions from brothels and theaters. He had worked with at least fifty or a hundred painters, many of whom created classic works that were widely praised—some subtle and restrained, others passionate and unrestrained. Some were extremely erotic, while others were extremely vulgar; the painters seemed to use every imaginable skill to create a dazzling display of beauty and allure.

Honestly, there was nothing that could have made him lose his composure like this, but he never expected to encounter one today.

He could hardly wait to open the second painting. This painting was in the same style, seemingly understated and reserved, but upon closer inspection, one could discover the desire beneath the calm surface, as if a seductive yet refined enchantress was hiding in the painting, whose every smile and frown could bewitch one's soul.

The third picture shows two people.

One of them was still the same boy, while the other was indistinct in appearance but had a burly and robust build. He was whispering intimately into the boy's ear, almost swallowing the boy's full earlobe into his mouth.

The fourth picture also features two people, a man and a woman. The woman's face is also indistinct, but her back is slender and well-proportioned. The boy is smiling and getting close to her, and the ambiguous atmosphere is almost bursting off the paper.

The shopkeeper's Adam's apple bobbed a few times as he secretly wiped away sweat.

Not wanting to lose his composure in front of Shen Tang, he could only pretend to be thirsty and drink tea, using the cool tea to suppress his anger.

This is truly bizarre.

Having worked in this industry, he had seen all sorts of passionate stories and erotic paintings, thinking he was immune to such temptations. But he never expected that a few hastily completed portraits would break his immunity. The shopkeeper's forehead was beaded with sweat, and his face flushed.

After he finished admiring all the paintings, he exhaled a breath of stale air and was completely convinced—this was definitely a master of erotic art!

The shopkeeper blurted it out.

"Young lady, have you ever considered publishing a collection of your paintings?"

Business is booming, and the art books sell out in minutes!

He believed that once these paintings in his possession were put on the market, the top courtesans in the brothels would be scrambling to make reservations, they were not short of money!

Shen Tang shook her head: "Just this once."

Yuanliang is such a hot-blooded young man; painting like this all day would make him look unhealthy. He doesn't seem very healthy either; he should probably give it a rest.

The shopkeeper was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this and wanted to persuade him further.

Shen Tang interrupted him: "Actually, I didn't paint these. I painted half of one last night, but my older brother found out and got angry, so he helped me finish it. My brother is old-fashioned and won't agree to make a living from this. Are you satisfied with these paintings, shopkeeper?"

"You didn't draw it?"

Shen Tang nodded frankly: "Yes, does this have any impact?"

The shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "It's alright, as long as I can get the job done."

It's not like we're specifically asking for a particular artist to draw the picture. As long as the artwork is satisfactory, it doesn't matter who drew it.

It's a real shame that the art book won't be published.

The shopkeeper carefully put the paintings away, smiling happily, "To be honest, I've seen countless paintings in my life, and these are the most stunning. Even I find them amazing, so I imagine that courtier will be satisfied too. These paintings will definitely help raise his value even higher!"

When will the shopkeeper hand over the painting?

Shopkeeper: "What's wrong?"

Shen Tang smiled shyly: "That courtesan is so handsome, unforgettable. I think..."

She lowered her head shyly as she spoke.

The innkeeper understood and stammered, "Young lady, these... these people in brothels and theaters, no matter how beautiful they are, you mustn't fall in love with them... after all, they're all..."

He swallowed the rest of his words.

It's fine if they're from respectable families.

But a courtesan who greets and sees off guests...

Unfortunately, this young lady wouldn't listen; she's a total sucker for good looks!

(End of this chapter)