Chapter 49: How Did He Do It?

"Left by the master?"

Huang Yu, standing to the side, was also losing her mind, nearly stumbling and falling to the ground.

Master Lu Chen had shown them paintings for appreciation before, using the opportunity to test them, but he had never taken out his own works!

How could this time be different...?

The crucial point was that it would have been fine if he had just taken out his own paintings. If this guy in front of them had said a few nice words, offered some praise, perhaps the master would have been pleased, and the situation would have passed. But what did he say? "Utter nonsense, what is this stuff?"

Are those words a person should say?

To call Master Lu Chen's painting "utter nonsense, what is this stuff"...

Huang Yu felt an urge to spit blood.

Didn't you say you wouldn't put me in a difficult position? What... what is going on?

If she knew that Zhang Xuan later thought he was a people's teacher and couldn't embarrass her... she would definitely be even more furious!

Is this your way of not wanting to embarrass me?

You are clearly trying to get me killed...

She even regretted bringing this guy along!

Master Lu Chen liked humble and eager-to-learn young people, never discriminating based on social status, and welcomed those who came to him for study and consultation.

This guy seemed refined and well-behaved, so she thought he was a humble and eager learner. She brought him over, hoping to please the master and also find an excuse to accomplish her own tasks. But she never expected... he was so unreliable!

Huang Yu felt her stomach churn with regret.

If she had known this, she would have just refused him directly. Why let him bring her here and get herself into trouble...?

While she was losing her mind, Bai Xun, standing nearby, was on the verge of laughing aloud.

It's truly not divine opponents one should fear, but pig-headed teammates.

This guy actually called Master Lu Chen's work "what is this stuff." Without a doubt, he must have thoroughly offended the master. Even if Bai Xun didn't intervene, the master would surely teach this ignorant young man a good lesson!

"So this is the 'scholar of vast learning and immense talent,' 'proficient in all arts' you spoke of?"

With a slight smile, Bai Xun looked at Huang Yu, his face full of mockery.

Huang Yu had just finished praising him, and then he said those words. Have you ever seen anyone with such 'vast learning and immense talent'?

"Silence, everyone!"

Unlike the anxious steward Cheng Bo, the frantic Huang Yu, and the smug Bai Xun, Master Lu Chen was not angered by the young man's words. He interrupted their chatter and looked over calmly, asking, "Young man, 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 bluntness!" Zhang Xuan feigned surprise and quickly bowed.

The Library of Heaven's Path had generated a book, revealing the painting's flaws and identifying the author. He naturally knew this was Lu Chen's work; he was just pretending not to know.

"No matter, it's just a painting. I'm asking you to appraise it, only discuss its merits and flaws, not who painted it!" Master Lu Chen waved his hand.

"I'm relieved to hear you say that, Master!" Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, looked at the painting before him, and lightly rubbed it. "If we're just talking about this painting, even if it was painted by a master... it can only be described with those eight words! It's utterly nonsensical, what is this stuff!"

Huang Yu and the steward were once again stunned and speechless.

You already know this is the master's painting, and you still say that? Boy, are you insane?

"However..."

Zhang Xuan paused.

"However what?"

"This painting is indeed not very good; any street artisan could paint it. To call it 'what is this stuff' is even giving it too much credit! But if one can see the deeper meaning, they will be absolutely amazed, finding it hard to believe it's real!"

Zhang Xuan stated.

"Deeper meaning? How does one see that?" Master Lu Chen smiled slightly.

"It's simple!" Zhang Xuan looked at the steward, Cheng Bo. "Please fetch me a dagger!"

"Alright!" Cheng Bo glanced at Master Lu Chen. Seeing no objection, he turned and left. A short while later, he returned with a dagger.

"I shall make a humble display!"

Holding the dagger, Zhang Xuan went directly to the painting and thrust it straight in.

"What are you doing?" Seeing his action, Bai Xun stepped forward. "Every one of the master's paintings is incredibly valuable, a priceless treasure. If you damage it, can you afford to compensate?"

Huang Yu also looked on with a puzzled expression.

If you're looking at a painting, then look at it. Why are you using a knife?

Ignoring Bai Xun's reprimand, Zhang Xuan used the dagger to cut open the seemingly flawless painting.

With a ripping sound, the cut part of the painting lifted. With a gentle tear, the top layer of the painting came off, revealing that, like a hidden compartment in a room, this painting had a layer of Xuan paper on top and sheepskin underneath.

*Rip!*

The Xuan paper was torn away, revealing what was on the sheepskin. There was actually another painting beneath it, extremely similar to the one on the Xuan paper, yet full of spirit and vitality, as if the mountains, trees, villages, and children depicted could emerge from it at any moment.

"If I'm not mistaken, the painting on the Xuan paper earlier was just a fake. The true artwork was already imprinted onto the sheepskin through the Xuan paper. This is the true essence of the master's painting!" Zhang Xuan said with a smile as he peeled away the Xuan paper.

"This..."

Huang Yu, the steward, and Bai Xun all widened their eyes in disbelief.

To paint with such force that it penetrates Xuan paper onto sheepskin, while simultaneously keeping the image on the paper clear and without a single flaw... This was incredibly impressive!

The key was that these two paintings were seamlessly combined, without any gaps. How did he see that?

"Excellent, excellent!" Seeing the young man effortlessly discern the mystery of his painting, Master Lu Chen's eyes lit up. He looked at the young man, his gaze filled with admiration.

At the same time, his heart was filled with shock.

He had only recently mastered this technique of painting with such force that it penetrated the paper onto sheepskin, and he had never demonstrated it to outsiders before. Yet, this young man had seen through it instantly. Such insight was truly astonishing!

"What about this painting then?"

Master Lu Chen turned again and pointed to another painting hanging on the wall.

It was a painting of a savage beast, depicting a colossal creature descending a mountain like a fierce tiger, its menacing aura profoundly unsettling. Those with weak nerves would likely be terrified into paralysis and silence just by looking at it.

Zhang Xuan walked up to it, lightly touched it, and then smiled. "Although this painting is well done, it lacks spirit. If I'm not mistaken, the artist who painted this savage beast has never actually seen one! This painting is merely based on conjecture!"

"This..."

Master Lu Chen's entire body trembled, and his eyes widened.

Others didn't understand, but he knew exactly what the young man meant.

Because this painting was also his work.

The savage beast in the painting was called "Crimson Bear," a rare creature rumored to possess boundless strength, impervious to all weapons, and with an unbeatable defense.

He had indeed never seen such a creature. Just as the young man said, he had painted it from imagination after consulting numerous books.

This painting was one of his proudest works, which was why it hung in the center of his living room. Countless calligraphy and painting masters had seen it and praised it highly, feeling that his depiction was full of spirit and grandeur. How could it be, when spoken by this young man, that it lacked spirit?

Since the young man had been able to discern the specifics of the previous painting, his insight was beyond doubt. Now, he could tell at a glance that Master Lu Chen had never seen a Crimson Bear, so there had to be a reason for his statement!

"Where exactly does it lack spirit? Could you please elaborate?"

Thinking this, Master Lu Chen shed his previous lofty demeanor and asked urgently.

"Huh?"

Seeing the Imperial Master, who had always tested them and left them scratching their heads in futility, humbly seek advice from a teenage boy, Huang Yu and Bai Xun exchanged bewildered glances, almost fainting.

Huang Yu, in particular, blinked her beautiful eyes repeatedly, her heart churning with shock.

How... how did this guy do it?