Chapter 157: Calligraphy and Painting Assessment

As his fame grew, the master “Yang Xuan” disguised by Zhang Xuan instead became more at ease.

Three million gold coins—even if there were many wealthy people in Tianxuan City, not many could take out such a sum at once and give it away without hesitation. Unless they faced an insurmountable problem, such people would surely not dare disturb a master's peace.

After President Ouyang and Alchemist Chen Xiao left, the courtyard quieted again.

After resting all morning and with no one coming, Zhang Xuan removed his disguise again and returned to the academy.

“Teacher, Miss Huang Yu is looking for you. She’s waiting in the classroom…”

Before he even reached the classroom, Yuan Tao came up to him.

“What does she want with me?”

Zhang Xuan was startled. Knowing Yuan Tao wouldn’t have an answer, he asked no further and returned to the class. Sure enough, Miss Huang Yu stood in the room, as quiet as a painting.

She could become a master’s apprentice not just because she was the daughter of the Teacher Guild president; this calm and serene temperament naturally inspired goodwill.

Indeed, as she stood in the room, Zheng Yang, Yuan Tao, and the others kept stealing glances at her, infuriating Zhao Ya so much she wanted to bang her head against the wall.

Am I not just as good as Wang Ying? When we’re in class, why don’t you sneak peeks at us?

Despicable!

“Master Zhang!”

Ignoring these girlish thoughts, Huang Yu’s eyes lit up when she saw him return, and she quickly walked over.

“Miss Huang, is there something you need?” Zhang Xuan asked, puzzled.

“Master Lu asked me to invite you over,” Huang Yu said with a cupped fist salute.

“Is he going to take me to the royal library?” Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up.

Previously, Lu Chen had promised to take him to the royal library to find manuals for the Aperture Opening realm, but it fell through because Emperor Shen Zhui was not in the royal city. Now that he had sent Huang Yu to find him, things must have progressed.

“Uh… no!” Huang Yu looked a bit embarrassed. “Master Lu wants to assess Bai Xun and me, and he intends to have you as a judge.”

“Judge?” Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Both Huang Yu and Bai Xun wanted Master Lu Chen’s “Mo Xuan Tu.” The latter had set a criterion: whoever had a deeper understanding of calligraphy and painting would receive it. That was why the two had come to Zhang Xuan a few days ago, seeking guidance on the subject. But what did he know about calligraphy and painting? He had just spouted some nonsense, which the two treasured like a gem and studied diligently. Now it seemed the final assessment had come.

“Yes. Master Lu knows you have a deep understanding of calligraphy and painting and can give the most impartial judgment. So he asked me to invite you and insisted you come…” Huang Yu said.

Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows twitched.

He didn’t even know what a paintbrush was, yet he was supposed to give an impartial judgment… This Master Lu really thought highly of him.

Still, having received favors from the man and hoping to use him to enter the royal library, he couldn’t very well refuse.

Besides, Huang Yu had spoken, and she had been a great help during the Mind-Corroding Interrogation.

“Alright, as long as you don’t mind me talking nonsense. When does it start?”

Nodding, Zhang Xuan agreed.

“It was supposed to start at noon, but you weren’t around… If we go now, we should make it in time,” Huang Yu said.

“Noon?” Zhang Xuan was startled.

He had woken up when the sun was already high, waited a long time, and then sauntered out. It was nearly noon now… The test was today, and right now at that—wasn’t that a bit too rushed?

“Mm,” Huang Yu nodded.

“Alright!” Seeing that she was determined to take him along, Zhang Xuan knew refusal was useless. He gave a few instructions to his students and followed her out of the academy.

“I know calligraphy and painting are hard to learn, but the competition doesn’t seem easy either, does it?”

On the way, Zhang Xuan couldn’t help asking.

He had never heard of a calligraphy and painting competition, nor did he know the rules.

Surely they wouldn’t have Huang Yu and Bai Xun paint at the same time and then compare the results?

Huang Yu came from the Teacher Guild and was a master’s apprentice. Even if she hadn’t studied it formally, she was certainly proficient. As for Bai Xun… that guy only knew martial arts. Zhang Xuan found it hard to imagine him holding a brush and painting.

“The assessment was set by Master Lu and Master Yuan Yu. Bai Xun and I don’t know the details in advance. I’m not sure exactly how it will be conducted either,” Huang Yu shook her head.

“Master Yuan Yu?” Zhang Xuan looked at her in confusion.

Wasn’t that fellow a famous physician in Tianxuan Royal City? What was he doing setting rules for calligraphy and painting?

“Master Yuan Yu is not only a great physician but also accomplished in calligraphy and painting. Even Master Lu praises him highly. His ‘Jiang Niao Tu’—a clear river flowing, lifelike—when he painted on a boat, it attracted birds to come and cry out for a long time, which became a celebrated story.”

Huang Yu’s eyes shone with admiration.

“That impressive?” Zhang Xuan clicked his tongue.

He had heard of Master Yuan Yu ever since he accepted Wang Ying as a student, but he had always thought of him as just a physician. He never dreamed the man was also so skilled in calligraphy and painting.

To paint and attract real birds—that was enough to prove his level. Even if he wasn’t as good as Master Lu Chen, he was certainly not far off.

“Yes. This time, Master Lu not only invited you but also him. He said that with three judges, it would be fair,” Huang Yu said.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

With two true masters of calligraphy and painting presiding, he was just there to make up the numbers. He would go along with the crowd and not be so nervous.

After all, he knew nothing about calligraphy and painting. The last time he had impressed Master Lu, it was thanks to the library. This time, he would just speak less to avoid revealing his ignorance.

Walking and talking, they soon arrived at Master Lu Chen’s residence.

Before they even reached the entrance, the steward Cheng Bo came up to them: “Master Zhang, Miss Huang, why are you so late? Master Yuan Yu said he has to visit someone in the afternoon and is getting impatient.”

“I went out and kept Miss Huang waiting,” Zhang Xuan said apologetically.

They had set the time at noon, but he had been away from the academy these past few days and was hard to find, which caused the delay.

“Please!” Hearing this, Cheng Bo dared not say more and led them inside.

Having his own courtyard now, returning here gave him a different feeling.

Though simple and elegant, it was exquisitely decorated in the details. The rented mansion was far inferior—not even in the same league.

Of course, if the rented mansion had truly been decorated by a master, it wouldn’t have looked like that. A merchant’s dwelling naturally couldn’t compare to that of a calligraphy and painting master.

Following Cheng Bo, they soon reached the reception hall. Looking up, Zhang Xuan saw Master Lu Chen and an old man sitting opposite each other, drinking tea. The flamboyant Bai Xun was off to one side, looking around anxiously. When he saw them, his face lit up with joy and he hurried over.

“Master Zhang, you’re here…”

Zhang Xuan nodded and looked at the famous Master Yuan Yu of the royal city.

He appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, with a snow-white beard. Though advanced in age, his eyes were bright and spirited, giving off an energetic vibe. As a physician, to have such vitality at this age—truly, fame was well-deserved.

“Young friend, you’ve come.”

Master Lu Chen stood up with a smile.

“Master Lu Chen!” Zhang Xuan cupped his fists.

“Mm. Come, let me introduce you. This is Master Yuan Yu, my close friend and a great calligrapher and painter.” Lu Chen smiled as he introduced them. “Yuan Yu, this is the young friend Zhang Xuan I mentioned. Though young, his skill in calligraphy and painting is probably not inferior to ours.”

“Master flatters me. I just… casually… dabbled a bit,” Zhang Xuan hurriedly said.

Last time, he had seen through Master Lu’s painting only because he had a powerful cheat. If he had to observe it himself, he wouldn’t have figured it out in three years.

“Learning has no age; mastery makes the teacher. Being able to see through Lu Chen’s ‘Xia Qiu Tu’ and ‘Chi Xiong Xiao Tian’ and point out the flaws—that kind of insight is quite remarkable. Such young people are becoming rarer.”

Master Yuan Yu spoke.

His voice was calm and clear, carrying a faint warmth.

It seemed Lu Chen had told him about Zhang Xuan. His dark eyes looked over with curiosity.

“You flatter me…” Zhang Xuan cupped his fists again.

Only now did he learn the names of those two paintings from last time.

If Lu Chen and Yuan Yu knew what he was thinking, they would surely spit blood on the spot.

When calligraphers and painters create a work, they leave their names and various inscriptions on it, so that even as time passes, they can be remembered through the ages.

Because of this, when he had looked at those two paintings, they did have names on them—but in special calligraphic styles favored by artists, and very cursive, so he hadn’t recognized them.

Even an apprentice in calligraphy and painting could read those characters, but he couldn’t. He didn’t even know they were the painting titles… And yet he dared to call himself a master…

Of course, when he had touched the paintings earlier, the library had surely marked the names, but at the time he was only thinking about how to avoid being questioned and hadn’t paid attention.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries.

It had to be said that Master Yuan Yu was quite easy to get along with. Someone else might have looked down on Zhang Xuan for his youth, but he not only didn’t, he even seemed appreciative.

“Alright, since everyone’s here, let’s begin!”

Master Lu Chen stroked his beard.

“Yes!”

Huang Yu and Bai Xun nodded simultaneously.

“There is only one ‘Mo Xuan Tu,’ so it can only go to one of you. That’s why I set up this assessment. First, I don’t want to give a famous painting to someone who doesn’t understand it. Second, I want to temper you both, to make you shed your arrogance and impatience—especially you, Bai Xun.”

Master Lu Chen looked at them and said calmly.

Given his status, even though he cherished the Mo Xuan Tu, if a junior asked, he would surely bestow it. The reason he set up the assessment was also to get them to engage more with calligraphy and painting and learn more.

He had devoted his whole life to calligraphy and painting, even throwing his entire youth into it. Seeing no one to carry on the tradition, he was naturally anxious. When Huang Yu and Bai Xun came to ask, he seized the opportunity to set rules, hoping they would study hard and perhaps pass on the art in the future.

In his words, everyone practiced martial arts, and fewer and fewer young people liked calligraphy and painting. If nothing was done, the profession might be lost.

At the same time, this approach could also temper Bai Xun. That fellow was hot-tempered and liked to solve problems with his fists. Studying calligraphy and painting could cultivate his character and make him more steady. Otherwise, with such an impatient nature, how could he inherit the throne and fight for the royal family in the future?