Chapter 49: How Did He Do It?

"Left by the master?"

Huang Yu on the side was also going crazy, almost losing her footing and falling straight to the ground.

In the past, Master Lu Chen had also let them appreciate his paintings, taking the opportunity to test them, but... he had never taken out his own paintings!

Why this time...

The point was, even if he took out his own paintings, if this guy said a few nice words, praised them, maybe the master would be happy and let it go, but... what did you say—"nonsense, what kind of crap is this?"

Is that something a human would say?

Calling Master Lu Chen's painting "nonsense, what kind of crap"...

Huang Yu felt like she was about to vomit blood.

Didn't you say you wouldn't make things difficult for me? What... is going on?

If she knew that Zhang Xuan later thought that as a people's teacher, he couldn't possibly embarrass her... she would definitely vomit even more blood!

Is this your way of not wanting to embarrass me?

This is clearly pushing me to my death...

She was already regretting bringing this guy along!

Master Lu Chen liked humble and eager-to-learn young people, never discriminated against rich or poor, and enjoyed having people come to learn and consult with him.

This guy seemed gentle and refined, with a good sense of propriety. She thought he was a humble and eager learner, so she brought him along, hoping to please the master and find an excuse to accomplish her own matters. But unexpectedly... he was too unreliable!

Huang Yu felt her intestines turn green with regret.

If she had known earlier, she would have just refused outright. Why did she let him bring her here, asking for trouble...

While she was about to go crazy, Bai Xun on the side was almost laughing out loud.

Indeed, one fears not a god-like opponent, but a pig-like teammate.

This guy actually said that Master Lu Chen's work was "what kind of crap." No need to think, he had definitely offended the master thoroughly. Even if he didn't make a move, the master would surely teach this ignorant brat a good lesson!

"So this is what you call 'learned and talented, with vast knowledge'? 'Proficient in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting'?"

With a light laugh, Bai Xun looked at Huang Yu, his face full of mockery.

Huang Yu had just praised him, and then he said this. Had you ever seen such a learned and talented person?

"Everyone, be quiet!"

Unlike the nervous steward Cheng Bo, the frantic Huang Yu, and the smug Bai Xun, Master Lu Chen was not angered by the other's words. Interrupting the discussion, he looked over calmly: "Young friend, why do you say that? Is there something wrong with my humble work?"

"I didn't know this was the master's work. Please forgive my impertinence!" Zhang Xuan pretended to be surprised and quickly bowed.

The Library of Heaven's Path had generated a book, revealing the flaws of this painting and also noting the author. He naturally knew that this was the work of Lu Chen before him, but he deliberately pretended not to know!

"It's fine. This is just a painting for you to appreciate. Only talk about its quality, not who painted it!" Master Lu Chen waved his hand.

"Since the master says so, I can rest assured!" Zhang Xuan smiled lightly, looked at the painting before him, and gently stroked it: "If we're just talking about this painting, even if it was painted by the master... it can only be described with these eight words: 'utter nonsense, what kind of crap!'"

Huang Yu and the steward were once again stunned.

Knowing it was the master's painting, he still said that. Kid, are you crazy?

"However..."

Zhang Xuan paused.

"However what?"

"This painting is indeed not good. Any street artisan could paint it. Calling it 'what kind of crap' is already an overstatement! But if you can see the deeper meaning, you'll be utterly amazed and find it hard to believe it's real!"

Zhang Xuan said.

"Deep-level stuff? How do you see that?" Master Lu Chen smiled faintly.

"Very simple!" Zhang Xuan looked at the steward, Cheng Bo: "Please fetch me a dagger!"

"Alright!" Cheng Bo glanced at Master Lu Chen, and seeing that he did not object, turned and walked out. Before long, he returned with a dagger.

"I'll make a fool of myself, then!"

Taking the dagger, Zhang Xuan went straight to the painting and stabbed directly into it.

"What are you doing?" Seeing his action, Bai Xun stepped forward: "Each of the Master's paintings is priceless, a treasure beyond compare. If you damage it, can you afford to pay for it?"

Huang Yu also looked on in confusion.

If you're looking at a painting, just look—why bring out a knife?

Ignoring Bai Xun's rebuke, Zhang Xuan used the dagger to cut open the intact painting.

With a series of ripping sounds, the cut part of the painting curled up. He gently tore it, and the picture on top came off. Just like the hidden compartment in the room, this painting had a layer of rice paper on top and sheepskin underneath.

Rustle!

The rice paper was torn away, revealing what was on the sheepskin. There was also a painting on it, extremely similar to the one on the rice paper, but full of spirit and vitality, as if the rocks, trees, village houses, and children on it might leap out at any moment.

"If I'm not mistaken, the painting on the rice paper was just a fake. The real painting was already imprinted through the rice paper onto the sheepskin. This is the true essence of the Master's work!" Lifting the rice paper, Zhang Xuan smiled.

"This..."

Huang Yu, the steward, and Bai Xun all stared wide-eyed, unable to believe it.

To press the brush through the rice paper and paint on the sheepskin, while keeping the image on the paper clear and flawless... that was truly remarkable!

And crucially, the two paintings fit together seamlessly, without any gap... How did he see it?

"Good, good!" Seeing the young man easily discern the mystery of his painting, Master Lu Chen's eyes lit up. He looked at the youth, his gaze full of praise.

At the same time, he was filled with shock.

This technique of pressing through the paper to paint on sheepskin was something he had only just comprehended and had never shown to anyone outside. For this young man to see it at a glance—his eyesight was simply too sharp!

"And what about this painting?"

Master Lu Chen turned to point at a painting hanging on the wall.

It was a picture of a savage beast, depicting a huge monster like a tiger descending a mountain, fierce and imposing, giving a strong sense of shock. Anyone timid might collapse in fear at the sight of it, unable to speak.

Zhang Xuan walked up, gently touched it, then smiled: "This painting is not bad, but it lacks spirit. If I'm not mistaken, the artist who painted this beast had never seen it! This painting was done purely from imagination!"

"This..."

Master Lu Chen's whole body trembled, his eyes wide.

Others might not know, but he understood exactly what the young man meant.

Because this painting was also his work.

The beast in the painting was called 'Chi Xiong,' a rare creature. Legend said it was immensely strong, invulnerable to any weapon, and had unmatched defense.

He had indeed never seen this creature. As the young man said, he had painted it by combing through many books and imagining it in his mind.

This painting was one of his proudest works, which was why it hung in the most central place in the living room. Countless masters of painting and calligraphy had come to see it and praised it endlessly, saying it was full of spirit and grand in momentum. How could this youth say it lacked spirit?

Since the other party could discern the specifics of the previous painting, his eye was beyond doubt. Now he could see at a glance that he had never seen Chi Xiong—there must be a reason for saying so!

"Where exactly does it lack spirit? Could you please tell me in detail?"

Thinking this, Master Lu Chen no longer maintained his lofty demeanor and asked hastily.

"Ah?"

Seeing the Imperial Tutor, who had been testing them and leaving them scratching their heads with no solution, now humbly seeking advice from a teenager of fifteen or sixteen, Huang Yu and Bai Xun exchanged glances, nearly fainting.

Especially Huang Yu, whose beautiful eyes blinked constantly, her shock churning like a stormy sea.

This guy... how did he manage it?