Chapter 278: A Flow of Inspiration (1)
At the end of lunch, Miao Nu, a bookstore employee, took out a roll of drawing paper from the drawer.
A rough outline of the sunrise over the valley had been laid out on the paper. Miaonu prepared the pollen mixture and began to paint. He didn't know how professional painters handled it, but he planned to paint the sunrise light first—that pale, yet intense, fiery color, one of the most beautiful images in his memory. He planned to use a light yellow base, then add a layer of pale white to create a thin effect.
The tip of the brush rustled, and Miaonu pouted unconsciously. It wasn't producing the desired effect. More accurately, it wasn't very pretty. The more she wrote, the further the painting drifted from the scene in her memory.
Angrily, it set its brush aside and walked around the room a few times. Perhaps it would use a pale yellow. Add a touch of fiery red. It picked up its brush and started painting again.
Even worse.
Miaonu put down his pen. He looked around cautiously, then opened a small drawer like a thief. Inside lay a few white mushrooms, and he ate one.
The hand moved spontaneously, choosing a crimson color it had never considered. The tip of the pen moved with remarkable efficiency, and with a few strokes, it had outlined the sun's rays. Before he could realize it, the corona was complete. It was slightly different from what he had envisioned, but undoubtedly beautiful... much more beautiful.
Miaonu picked up the drawing paper, his eyes shining. He kissed the back of the paper and put the unfinished drawing back into the drawer. It would be finished in another afternoon, and it would surely be a beautiful painting.
·
Time goes back to the present, and everyone in the bookstore is staring at the white mushroom, and Chu Hengkong himself has a particularly horrified look.
"I sometimes have the thought of responding to his words with a limerick..." He struggled to form his words, "but I won't do it because I can't come up with one."
"Dude, you just made up four sentences," said Vander.
"Mushroom said it." Chu Hengkong spread his hands, "Once I had an idea, the words came naturally. I just read it."
"Are the mushrooms in Jingsha so magical?" Ji Huaisu exclaimed, "What's the principle behind this?"
Sreel shook his finger. "The poet has no idea of the origins of this thing. If he knew nothing, why would he ask for help?"
He carried his guitar and walked out the door, not forgetting to bow before leaving: "We must not allow this evil trend to continue. I hope the inspector will show his magic power~"
Ji Huaisu was confused: "What on earth does this poet mean? I heard him speak in a sarcastic tone earlier, and it seems that he really doesn't like this mushroom."
The Poison Otter editor sneered repeatedly: "This mushroom is naturally not very pleasing."
"Isn't this something great? Even Kong became a poet after eating it. With this, everyone can create."
"Miss Ji, please correct your wording," Dudu Otter said indifferently, "The word 'creation' isn't quite right. We usually call eating mushrooms creation."
The otter editor's eyebrows shot up. Even his sharp tongue had previously been used in jest with friends, but when it came to the mushroom, he became serious and was reluctant to discuss it further. Chu Hengkong noticed that as the otter editor was speaking, a small animal slacking off on the second floor shrank back.
He carefully memorized the clerk's appearance and did not say anything. He just asked, "How much do you know about this mushroom?"
"About a month ago! It started circulating among a small circle, saying it was a food that was very helpful for creative work," Bang Bang Crucian Carp said. "More and more poets and painters have been using mushrooms lately. From the bookstore's perspective, it's difficult for us to comment on this. You know, it's a very sensitive topic—and quite a few people actually use it."
"I roughly understand." Chu Hengkong picked up Fan De and said, "I'm going out for a walk."
"Let's go together. It's a good time to take a walk after dinner," said Trick.
·
The white mushrooms first appeared about a month and a half ago. They were first introduced at a literary salon, where a writer from the Crustacean tribe declared that the new mushrooms had given him "remarkable inspiration" and "made my writing exceptionally efficient." The kindhearted poet shared the mushrooms with his pen pals at the salon, and their reactions confirmed their effectiveness.
This isn't some common scam like honey claiming to enhance performance or crystals claiming good luck, nor is it a questionable drug claiming to stimulate the nerves and "provide inspiration." White mushrooms are inherently non-toxic, non-addictive, and free of allergic contamination. Those who take white mushrooms instantly gain a powerful ability to express themselves. This wondrous inspiration can help them express themselves in the form of poetry, painting, and even music, all at no cost.
Such miraculous effects were unheard of even in the city-state, so white mushrooms became very popular among creators, who called them "inspiration mushrooms."
"When the Inspiration Mushroom first appeared, I asked Captain Fourth Vein to analyze and investigate it," Trek said. "Based on the information we've obtained so far, the mushroom is currently harmless. Of course, there's a possibility it could be used for harmful purposes, but all tools can be used to harm people. We can't ban a popular pastime based on theoretical suspicion."
"I'm surprised that this thing is only circulated on a small scale. Logically, it should become popular quickly." Chu Hengkong flipped through the report.
"The yield of inspiration mushrooms isn't too high, and we're working on it." Trek gestured to him, "Well, Uncle Trek, go back to drinking. Let me know when you have a conclusion to your investigation~"
As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished without a word. Chu Hengkong suspected this person's ability had something to do with space; otherwise, there was no reason for him to appear and disappear so mysteriously. He tossed the report to Fander. The report cover had "Internal Information, Strictly Prohibited from Dissemination" printed in bright red font, but Chu Ke clearly didn't take it seriously.
Fander quickly flipped through the report: "Trek's control ability is surprisingly strong."
"How do you say it?"
"The time, location, and owner of the inspiration mushroom's first appearance, its distribution channels over the past month, and all the citizens currently in possession of the mushroom... basically all the information you can think of is in this report," said Vander. "This old guy has been prepared for a long time. He's not in a position to take action, so he's waiting for you, a righteous citizen, to meddle in his affairs."
"As a civil servant, it's not always convenient for us to act in public," Chu Hengkong said. "Let's find a target that's close by and see if it's worth our attention."
"1.8 kilometers northwest, Wavy Leaf Square."
The artistic atmosphere in the Wavy Leaf Square is particularly strong, with musicians improvising and painters sketching for customers everywhere. The popularity of the artists varies greatly: the most popular painters are surrounded by queues of tourists, while the less popular ones are left alone with their canvases and no one cares about them.
When Chu Hengkong approached, a young man with a goatee had just picked up his sketchpad and was about to leave. His expression wasn't the dejected look typical of down-and-out artists; instead, it held a tinge of anger, directed at something unclear.
Chu Hengkong raised his hand to stop him: "Not doing business anymore?"
"Please make way, thank you," the painter said grimly. "No one wants me to paint anyway."
"My friend just wants to draw a portrait." Chu Hengkong held up Fander, "Do you mind helping me? He has been looking forward to Jingsha's trip for a long time."
Vander cooperated and made an expectant expression.
"Well..." The painter scratched his head. "Yes, of course. But I'm a bit slow at painting. You know, if I need more details, you might have to wait for more than half an hour."
"I thought Jingsha didn't care so much about efficiency."
"Well, most of the time, that's it." The painter looked pleased. "What style do you want?"
Vander spent a good while fiddling with his poses on the small wooden table reserved for smaller guests, finally settling on a pose that looked like a poisoned totem. The artist prepared for about ten minutes before officially starting to paint, and by the time he finished, a high school class period had already passed.
"Your silver is hard to pinpoint!" the painter explained. "Darker than mercury, paler than precious metals, with a shimmering, star-like quality. It's quite unique, sir. You're quite individual."
Vander was very surprised: "You are very knowledgeable, sir! When I was in school, my teachers always said that my cortex was beautiful, but since I graduated, few people have praised me."
"Artists are always good at discovering beauty in their surroundings." The painter turned the canvas around. "Do you like it?"
Even someone with a low appreciation for art, like Chu Hengkong, thought it was a truly remarkable painting. The Vander in the painting seemed even more vivid than in real life, and the smug look in his eyes was especially well-captured.
Fan De clapped his tentacles hard, and Chu Hengkong took out a handful of leaf-like "green branches", which were the change he got from lunch.
"How many?"
"33 Cuizhi..." The painter changed his tone, "30, sir."
Chu Hengkong gave 60 green branches.
"Your painting skills are quite good, you deserve more money," he said. "Young people should have more confidence in themselves."
The painter was pleasantly surprised. "Thank you! Even though I don't make a living from this, thank you very much."
"I assume you're a college student."
"Jingsha Public University of Fine Arts, sophomore year," the painter said complacently. "I use my downtime to earn some pocket money and hone my painting skills. Many clients' requests are things you'd never imagine. The more you paint, the more you learn."
"Very motivated." Chu Hengkong handed him a bottle of juice. "To be honest, I don't quite understand. You have a good temper and good painting skills. You shouldn't be ignored."
Over forty minutes of painting and sixty twigs of greenery were enough to get this introverted young man talking. He gushed on nonstop, "Sir, you're right. This certainly shouldn't be the case. When I used to come here, there were always people waiting to paint. You had to wait in line to get a painting from me. My starting price for a painting was 45 twigs of greenery! But... well..."
The resentment returned to his eyes. "I have to say, the public lacks appreciation. It's hard for them to tell the difference between 'good' and 'better'. Most of the time, they're satisfied with something that's 'not bad'. That's why they're so popular."
The painter raised his hand, gesturing toward the distant crowd, and began to laugh. "The roots of the sacred tree! Do you see that fat guy? He's in my grade, this absent-minded guy failed three classes last semester! But now he's a darling, all because he can churn out those 'not bad' things so quickly... I don't recognize that as a painting, sir. It's insulting."
"This is quite unusual, but the world of Shendong is never short of new things. There's no need to get angry about it."
"I'm not angry..." the painter sighed, "Oh, who wouldn't be angry? This is fucking terrible!"
He thanked him and left with his drawing board. Fander handed the drawing paper to Chu Hengkong and commented, "Typical college student, good at getting himself into trouble."
"I can imagine you looked like this before you graduated."
"How is that possible? My temper is a hundred times better than his, and I'm good at finding happiness for myself every day." Vander got into his pocket and said, "Go look at that fat guy."
Although the fat painter's line was long, it moved quickly. In less than twenty minutes, the first seven customers had taken their paintings and left. The painter's hat was filled to the brim with the guests' green branches. When he saw Vander, he let out a loud "Oh" and stretched out his hands to form a picture frame.
"Sir, you have quite a distinctive appearance." The fat painter exclaimed in amazement, "That's quite difficult!"
"How? I need to pay more?" Vandella said in a long tone.
"That's not the case. Please wait a moment while I have a snack and catch my breath."
He took out an inspiration mushroom from his bag, ate it in a few bites, and immediately picked up his brush and started painting.
Vander started to argue: "Hey, you didn't even ask the customer what style they want before you started."
"How could that be possible? Please wait a moment..."
The chubby artist's attitude was positive, and in less than two minutes, he had the canvas spun around. The white canvas was neatly divided into 16 grids, each depicting Vander in a different pose. Each grid had a distinct style, and while some details still needed polish, at first glance, they all looked quite good.
He drew 16 "good" drawings in two minutes.
"Take a look. Which style do you like? If you find one, I'll add more pens for you. If it doesn't look good, I won't charge you."
(End of this chapter)
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