Chapter 204 Lu Xun's Level of Painting Appreciation

Liu Ling had originally wanted to remind Old Tian, but recalling how he had interrupted her earlier, she feared saying too much might displease him, so she said no more.

"Since neither of you has any objections, Tian Gang, go fetch that painting." With that, Old Tian waved his hand.

"Yes!"

Before long, Tian Gang came over carrying a slender box.

"This is a painting and calligraphy piece gifted to me by Master Liu, absolutely perfect. Every time I view it, I am full of praise. Today, you are fortunate to behold a work of this caliber!"

Old Tian smiled as he took the painting out of the box.

"I truly hope to meet such a master of painting and calligraphy in my lifetime, to witness his extraordinary skill firsthand."

Caressing the scroll in his hands, Old Tian's gaze was reverent.

Tea ceremony and painting-calligraphy share many commonalities; for this reason, he was extremely fond of painting and calligraphy. Though not a master himself, he had studied them deeply.

"Enough talk. Now I'll show it to you. Zhuang Xian, Zheng Fei, you are also well-versed in painting and calligraphy; feel free to offer some guidance."

Carefully unrolling the scroll, an ink-wash painting immediately appeared before everyone.

It depicted a meadow, on which stood a wild deer warily grazing, surrounded by wildflowers, evoking a sense of brilliant mountain blossoms and a fragrant aroma.

Though it was just a flat painting, it gave the impression that the deer might leap out at any moment and charge toward them.

"This is... a fifth-level painting?"

At a single glance, Lu Xun's pupils contracted, and his breathing quickened.

As someone from a family of painters and calligraphers, he knew a great deal about the art and immediately recognized the painting's exquisite qualities.

It clearly surpassed the level of "startling swan" and reached a more profound realm.

Paintings of this caliber were rare even in the Tianxuan Kingdom, occurring only once in a century. For Old Tian to possess one and allow them to appreciate it was an immense stroke of luck.

Even his father, a master of this level, had never seen such a work.

"Indeed, it is a fifth-level painting. Unfortunately, the author left no name or title; otherwise, I would surely pay a personal visit!"

Old Tian shook his head, full of emotion. "Alright, since we are to appreciate it, let's begin. Observe the painting and then offer your critiques. Whoever's critique is most accurate and true to reality wins. I and the three masters will judge; there should be no doubt about fairness. This time... let Teacher Zhang speak first."

Lu Xun had spoken first earlier; for fairness, this time Zhang Xuan was to begin.

After Old Tian finished, seeing no one respond, he couldn't help but look at Zhang Xuan nearby, only to find him staring at the painting, dumbfounded and utterly distracted.

Seeing him like this, Old Tian frowned.

Fifth-level paintings were too profound; laymen ignorant of painting and calligraphy could easily get lost in them, unable to distinguish reality from art. Clearly, this Teacher Zhang was one such case.

How could someone who couldn't even tell painting from reality understand art?

It seemed choosing painting and calligraphy for the contest was the right move; this Teacher Zhang was likely no match for Lu Xun.

"Hmph, putting on airs. With that level of skill, a master of painting and calligraphy? What a joke!"

Tian Long, standing to the side, sneered coldly at his loss of composure.

If earlier the address 'Yuanyu' had aroused his suspicion, seeing this guy's current state immediately put him at ease.

How could a true master of painting and calligraphy react like this upon seeing a fifth-level painting?

He must be so overwhelmed that he lost himself.

"Teacher Zhang!" Old Tian called.

"Hmm!" Zhang Xuan finally snapped out of it, his expression strange. "No need; let Teacher Lu speak first. I'll... just listen!"

"Very well, I won't be polite then. But I hope you won't make excuses when you lose later!"

Seeing that the other lacked even the courage to speak first, Lu Xun was full of disdain.

This guy must be at a loss for how to appreciate such a profound painting, so he let me go first, planning to just parrot my words.

But that trick might have worked earlier; now that I'm on guard, how could I let you succeed!

Flicking his sleeve, Lu Xun walked to the center of the hall, his face brimming with confidence.

"A fifth-level painting is the work of a master. I dare not overstep; if I say something amiss, I hope you will correct me. Let's treat this as an exchange!"

Approaching the painting, Lu Xun's eyes shone with the unique aura of a master. "To appreciate a painting of this level, one must go from far to near, from shallow to deep. So, let me first discuss the overall composition of this painting."

During the tea ceremony earlier, he had only mentioned the name and the tea's aroma, giving the other an opening. This time, he was prepared, intending to say everything he knew.

Once I've said it all, let's see what you'll say then!

Take the path of awesome, leaving no path for others!

"Although the author left no title, the artistic conception is lofty. One glance and you feel a vast grassland rushing toward you. The wild deer grazes leisurely, the flowers vie in fragrance... I suspect that when this master painted, he must have stood on a wide grassland, feeling the grandeur and tranquility before him, in high spirits, and thus wielded his brush to leave this immortal painting."

"If I were to give it a name, I think it should be... 'The Painting of Wielding the Brush Against the Azure Sky'!"

Lu Xun declared.

"'Wielding the Brush Against the Azure Sky'? Not bad, a name full of momentum, directly expressing the painter's ambition, with a soaring spirit piercing the clouds!" Tian Long praised.

See that?

This is a true master of painting and calligraphy. With his first words, he captured the painting's charm, leaving room for endless imagination.

"Having discussed the name, let me continue with the content and brushwork. Clearly, this painting uses the 'double-hook' technique, first outlining the contours of the objects, then creating a macro artistic conception, interspersing flowers, grass, and the wild deer. Only this method can manifest such a grand layout and contain such powerful artistic conception!"

Lu Xun's eyes sparkled.

"Double-hook technique? Could it be 'left-right dragon' instead?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but interject.

"Left-right dragon? Do you even know what that term means?"

Before Lu Xun could respond, Tian Long laughed out loud. "Left-right dragon is a technique used by roadside artisans to save time, like printing. They paint the same piece day after day until practice makes perfect. You're saying a fifth-level painting was made with this technique? Ha! Do you know anything about painting?"

Not only was Tian Long scornful, but even Old Tian glanced at Zhang Xuan and couldn't help shaking his head.

Using left-right dragon to paint a fifth-level work is like using the 'Long Fist of the Founding Emperor' to unleash the power of the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms'—are you sure you're here to appreciate art, not to be funny?

"You really dare to think!"

Lu Xun sneered, his contempt deepening. Curling his lip, he ignored this clueless fellow and continued to gaze at the painting. "That was about the overall composition. Now let's talk about the details. The master handled them with lifelike precision. Look at these wildflowers—you can clearly see the veins; that wild deer—you can even see the hairs on its body... From this, it's clear this painting wasn't dashed off in one go. Even a master would have taken at least two or three days to paint it."

"Only with such meticulous refinement over time can the details of a painting be perfectly presented, full of charm, leaving no flaws for the viewer to find. I must say, this master's patience and endurance are beyond ordinary people!"

Lu Xun's eyes showed admiration. Circling the painting, he continued, "Finally, this painting has an ancient, profound artistic conception. Although the author's name is missing, based on my years of experience in viewing paintings, I can hazard a guess."

"Oh? You can guess? Who is it?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask again, his expression growing even more peculiar.

Clasping his hands behind his back, Lu Xun lifted his head with an air of lofty pride and strong confidence in his knowledge of painting. "Among the surrounding ten kingdoms, in the past hundred years, only seven masters have possessed such breadth of mind and charm. Four of them rarely produced works involving such scenes. The remaining three have precedents for similar works."

"These three are: Senior Jin Mantang of the Beiwu Kingdom, Senior Wu Jiechao of the Hanwu Kingdom, and Senior Yun Shaoqing of the Shenfeng Kingdom."

"Senior Jin Mantang once left a masterpiece at the Eighteen-Zhang Plain, where the painted pine trees were vigorous and powerful, with an ancient charm, coinciding with this scene of a wild deer and grassland. He would be the most likely candidate. However, Senior Mantang passed away eighty years ago. If he had left this painting, it would have been known long ago, not discovered only now. So it cannot be him."

"Senior Wu Jiechao excelled at painting animals. It is said he once painted a white goose crouching on the ground, causing a real goose to approach, thinking its companion dead, and wailing mournfully until it died of grief. Only such skill could produce this wild deer."

"However, he specialized only in animals, not flowers and grass. To paint both so excellently, only Senior Yun Shaoqing among the ten kingdoms could do it. Most importantly, of these three masters, only he is still alive."

"Therefore, I speculate that this painting was left by him."

Having spoken, Lu Xun stood proudly, outstanding and aloof.

"Good, good! Excellent analysis, penetrating and incisive!"

Old Tian clapped in admiration.

See that? This is professionalism!

This is it!

Not only did he analyze the painting thoroughly, but he even guessed the author with near certainty. Truly the son of Master Lu Chen; with this insight and knowledge, he was sure to win this test.

"Alright, Teacher Zhang, your turn!"

After praising, Old Tian looked at Zhang Xuan nearby.

"My turn? Are you sure you want me to speak?" Zhang Xuan looked back.

"Of course. What, have I said everything you were going to say, leaving you speechless?" Lu Xun's eyes held a mocking glint.

"No... I actually can't think of any words of appreciation... After thinking it over, only four words come to mind!" Zhang Xuan said.

"Four words?" Old Tian and Lu Xun both looked at him.

"Yes."

Zhang Xuan scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "This painting, if I'm not mistaken... I painted it!"