join patreon.com/worldoffanfiction for advanced chapters and to support the daily update
"Really not?" Honestly, Shen Tang didn't believe him. Facing Young Master Shen's questioning, Qishan, who had been expressionless, now openly smiled. He pointed to the painting Shen Tang held, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Does Young Master Shen think these can be drawn with just two or three strokes?
And the paper holds a rather tricky endgame..." His implication was that Shen Tang thought too highly of him. Where would he find the time to stay up all night rushing the painting, and still manage to spend a lot of time deciphering the hidden endgame on the paper? Shen Tang rubbed her nose awkwardly, guiltily averting her eyes—she couldn't be blamed for being suspicious; if anything, Qishan had too many "prior offenses," leaving her with a certain "psychological shadow"—she stiffly changed the subject: "Yuanliang, should I take the painting to the bookshop to hand it in now?"
"Go, go." Qishan waved her off, preferring not to see. As Shen Tang turned, he called her back, instructing, "Go deliver the painting, and be careful on your way back. We still don't know the mastermind's connection to the Sibao County Administrator; caution is paramount." It would be best if there was no connection, but if there was, she needed to be careful. Xiaocheng was a deep, murky water; one misstep and she could drown.
"Got it, got it." Shen Tang, as if granted amnesty, sped off like the wind, vanishing in the blink of an eye. Qishan merely lowered his gaze and raised it again, his sight left with only the corner of her disappearing robe. He could only force a bitter smile and shake his head, turning back to his room. He didn't go back to sleep but sat back down at his desk. A clean sheet of paper lay spread before him. He reined in his lingering ease, concentrated solemnly, raised his hand to condense literary qi, and in the blink of an eye, his mind entered that endgame. A mysterious realm where yin and yang intertwined, the battlefield below was still raging, cities on both sides suffered damage, and the black and white armies were in a deadlock. Upon closer inspection, the white army subtly held a slight advantage. The moment Qishan appeared, the figure opposite him raised its head and met his gaze. Qishan calmly adjusted his clothes and sat down.
He said faintly: "No one will disturb us. Let's continue." There was no reply, only the other person waving a fan and making a move, nullifying the advantage the white army had finally gained. Qishan, unhurried, calmly uttered a Spirit Speech. White pieces condensed beneath the sky, and the white army on the chessboard moved according to the command. While the black and white armies slaughtered each other, Shen Tang, riding her scooter, found the Zheng Guang Bookshop from yesterday and shouted from afar. "Shopkeeper, I'm here to hand in the work." She leaped off the back of her scooter, casually tossing the reins. Her scooter, with perfect tacit understanding, craned its neck and opened its mouth, precisely catching the rope, then settled down in the open space in front of the bookshop to rest. The shopkeeper was currently sitting behind the counter, propping his forehead with one hand, dozing with narrowed eyes. Startled by Shen Tang's shout, his sleepiness vanished completely.
"Who, who?" The shopkeeper was startled. Seeing who it was, he asked in surprise, "Young lady, you finished so quickly?" Shen Tang felt a little guilty, vaguely replying, "Mm-hmm..." "Let me see how it's drawn." The shopkeeper didn't believe it. How detailed a painting could be completed in just one night? He knew a thing or two about the courtesan's temperament at Moon Blossom Pavilion; he was a picky person, and crudely drawn paintings wouldn't catch his eye. As he slowly unfolded the painting, his gaze was immediately captivated by the person in the drawing.
For a moment, he couldn't look away, and even his breathing unconsciously slowed. The paper depicted a handsome young man with a hint of childishness, hiding alone among flowers. The artist hadn't focused on the youth's face, dedicating almost all the essence to his full and perfectly shaped red lips, making one want to lean in and press close. The shopkeeper suddenly snapped awake, his old face slightly flushed. He cleared his throat awkwardly: "Young lady, your painting skills are excellent!" He had been in this business for many years, taking on numerous high-priced commissions from brothels and entertainment houses.
He had dealt with no fewer than fifty, if not a hundred, artists, many of whom created highly praised classics—some subtle and reserved, others passionate and unrestrained. They were either extremely alluring or overtly vulgar, with artists eager to use every trick in the book, creating lush and captivating scenes. Honestly, there wasn't a single one that had made him lose his composure like this, and he never expected to encounter one today. He almost couldn't wait to open the second sheet. This painting was also in the same style, seemingly subtle and reserved, yet upon closer examination, one would discover the desire beneath the calm surface, as if a charming yet not vulgar fairy was hiding within the painting, capable of captivating one's soul with every gesture.
The third sheet depicted two people. One was still the young man, the other's face was indistinct, but he was burly and robust, intimately whispering into the youth's ear, almost holding the youth's full earlobe in his mouth. The fourth sheet also showed two people, but it was a man and a woman. The woman's face was also indistinct, but her back was slender and well-proportioned. The young man was smiling and leaning close to her, the ambiguous atmosphere almost breaking through the paper and washing over them. The shopkeeper's Adam's apple bobbed several times as he secretly wiped sweat. It wouldn't be good to lose composure in front of Shen Tang, so he feigned thirst and drank some tea, using the cool liquid to suppress the heat within him.
*This is truly bizarre.* To think he had been in this industry for so long, seen countless erotic novels and paintings, believing himself to be immune, yet he was broken by a few hastily completed portraits. The sweat on the shopkeeper's forehead grew more profuse, and his face turned red. After he finished admiring all the paintings, he let out a sigh of relief, completely convinced—this was definitely a master of erotic art! The shopkeeper blurted out. "Young lady, have you considered publishing a collection of your paintings?"
The business would be absolutely booming; the collection would sell out in minutes! He believed that once these paintings were released, the top courtesans of the red-light district would probably fight to book appointments, money being no object! Shen Tang shook her head: "Just this once." *Yuanliang is such a vigorous young man; constantly drawing this kind of painting would easily deplete his energy. He doesn't look too healthy either, so he should conserve his strength.*
The shopkeeper was somewhat disappointed to hear this and tried to persuade her further. Shen Tang interrupted him: "Actually, these weren't drawn by me. I went back last night and had drawn half a page when my older brother discovered it. He was furious and helped me finish it. My brother is pedantic and wouldn't agree to make a living from this. Are you satisfied with these paintings, shopkeeper?" "It wasn't you who drew them?" Shen Tang nodded calmly: "Mm, does that affect anything?"
The shopkeeper thought for a moment: "No problem, as long as it gets the job done." It wasn't a commissioned piece by a specific artist; as long as the work was satisfying, who drew it didn't matter. It was just a shame that a collection couldn't be published. The shopkeeper carefully put away the paintings, smiling cheerfully: "To be honest, I've seen countless artworks in my life, and these few are the most astonishing. If even I feel this way, I'm sure that courtesan will also be satisfied. These paintings will definitely help raise his value even further!" "When will the shopkeeper deliver the paintings?" Shopkeeper: "What's wrong?" Shen Tang smiled as if shy: "That courtesan is handsome; one glance and you can't forget him. I want to..." She then lowered her head shyly. The shopkeeper understood, and stammered, "Young lady, those... those people in the red-light district, no matter how handsome they are, you mustn't fall for them... After all, they are all..." He swallowed the rest of his words. An upright lady would be one thing. But a courtesan who entertained guests... However, this young lady wouldn't listen; she was extremely attracted to beauty!