"No need! No need!" The manager immediately said with a laugh, "The portrait has already been framed. Sir Huangdi, please take a look. Will this do, or not?"
Niu You Dao took the portrait, unrolled it, and looked at it.
"Not bad!" He then handed it to Black Peony, "It's framed!"
Black Peony quickly took it and began to examine the portrait.
Yuan Fang also came over and started examining it, praising the portrait.
Niu You Dao turned his head and, looking at the manager, asked in surprise:
"Manager, do you have any other business?"
"Hehe. Indeed, I do have something. I'm not sure if it's convenient to speak about it." The manager smiled.
Niu You Dao: If there's something to say, then speak. Don't hesitate.
"Very well!" He looked at the portrait in Black Peony's hands and said:
"According to the rules of the inn, we should not disturb our guests... However, Sir Huangdi truly paints magnificently, so we would like to ask Sir Huangdi to paint a portrait for someone. What does Sir think of this?"
At this moment, Black Peony, who was examining the portrait, immediately raised her head. A sparkle appeared in her eyes.
Niu You Dao pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"I'm afraid I won't meet the manager's expectations. I do not paint portraits for strangers."
As soon as he said this, Black Peony grew anxious. She immediately went up to Niu You Dao and began to wink at him.
"Uh..." The manager froze, then smiled again and said:
"Don't worry, Sir. You will be well compensated."
Niu You Dao, as if oblivious to Black Peony's winks, spoke.
"Manager, if you have no other business, you may leave. I have my own matters here."
Black Peony couldn't help but say:
"Lord Dao, the manager has come to you personally. You shouldn't refuse like that."
The manager looked at Black Peony and said with a laugh, "Sir is an understanding person, there's no need to take Black Peony's words to heart."
Niu You Dao: Alright. Escort the guest out!
Yuan Fang didn't wait to be told a second time. He immediately stepped forward and, gesturing with his hand, said, "Please."
Black Peony nearly stamped her foot. The manager's offer still lingered in her mind. She wanted to persuade Niu You Dao again, but he gave her a cold glance.
The manager, however, was in no hurry to leave:
"Sir Huangdi, do you truly not wish to know for whom the portrait is to be painted?"
Niu You Dao calmly said:
"Manager, it doesn't matter to me who I paint. The inn has its rules, and I have mine. Please!"
The manager didn't know what to do.
"Sir Huangdi, that person sincerely invited you. What are your conditions? You can discuss them when you meet."
Niu You Dao seemed to lose his patience:
"Alright, I can paint it. 100,000 gold. One scroll. You can decide for yourselves then."
Yuan Fang blinked his eyes and exchanged glances with Black Peony.
"... " The manager was speechless. Could a portrait really cost 100,000 gold?
"What? You think it's expensive?" Niu You Dao waved his hand, "Then it won't work out. It's like your inn. Ten gold a day. For some, it's certainly very expensive, but people still come on their own."
*I've never seen such arrogance!* The manager was truly enraged, yet he still restrained himself and said with a smile:
"Very well. I will inquire with them then."
Niu You Dao waved his hand, dismissing the manager.
As soon as the manager left, Black Peony immediately said:
"Lord Dao. The fact that the manager personally came to us means there's an important figure from the inn behind him."
Niu You Dao calmly replied:
"Could it be the ruler of Zhaixing City, Sha Huang Li?"
Black Peony nodded, "Lord Dao, most likely that's the case. Even if it's not him, it's still a very important person. He is definitely connected to Sha Huang Li. Lord Dao, this is an opportunity to befriend Sha Huang Li. After this, who in the heavens would dare touch you?"
Niu You Dao glanced sideways at her, noting that a person of humble origins thinks like one of humble origins. However, this was quite natural. How else could she think? Would a high-flying figure like Sha Huang Li pay much attention to a mere artist?
In other words, if she wants you to paint for her, then you absolutely must paint for her?
He wanted to ask Black Peony, does Sha Huang Li not know people skilled in the Four Treasures of the Scholar? What outstanding masters hasn't she seen? Would she place such importance on a single person?
One can become a friend through status or some form of intimacy, but not merely because of a painting.
Anyone who thinks that painting Sha Huang Li's portrait will immediately make them her friend is utterly foolish. On the contrary, it could invite trouble.
People are respected in different ways, and respect does not always appear genuine. Sometimes people merely fawn and flatter you, without truly revering or respecting you. Sometimes they hate and resent you, yet at the same time, respect you.
How many people are there in the world? How many powerful and strong cultivators? And would they respect and fear you just because you painted a portrait for Sha Huang Li?
However, Black Peony couldn't yet understand this. She wasn't on that level, and Niu You Dao was too lazy to explain everything to her. So he calmly said:
"If Sha Huang Li pays the money, then we can get acquainted with her. For now, don't think too much about it."
Black Peony fumed inwardly. She wanted to say:
*Sha Huang Li is the daughter of Luo Qiu, one of the nine most powerful cultivators in the world! It's precisely someone like her you should want to meet, and yet you refused her?*
She didn't believe that anyone stronger than Luo Qiu stood behind Lord Dao!
The manager reached the back of the inn, passed through a set of double doors, climbed a staircase, and arrived at a blooming garden.
An old man with a grey head was tending to the plants. He would occasionally prune the flowers, and if he didn't like something, he would go back and trim them again.
This person was none other than the household manager, the actual ruler of Zhaixing City, Xiang Ming.
The manager approached him respectfully, clasped his hands, and said:
"Manager."
Xiang Ming, without turning his head, replied:
"Since you're here, bring the person to the Lady."
Sweat broke out on the manager's forehead:
"Manager, he didn't agree."
Xiang Ming turned and asked, "Why not?"
The manager smiled bitterly:
"He said he doesn't paint for strangers. I pleaded with him several times, but he only gave one condition. One painting. 100,000 gold!"
"Ah! Truly highway robbery in broad daylight." Xiang Ming smiled outwardly, yet waved his hand:
"The Lady liked the drawing, and money is not important. If it's 100,000, then it's 100,000. There's no need for the Lady to know about this."
"Understood!" The manager immediately nodded.
He had just turned to leave when Xiang Ming added:
"This person can be temperamental. Report back quickly and be careful with him."
The manager was surprised and asked:
"Does the manager think this person has issues?"
"Whether he has issues or not, I don't know. Money is trivial. However, reckless people shouldn't be allowed near the Lady just like that."
"Understood. I will obey." The manager bowed and left.
Not long after, he returned to Niu You Dao's room.
"Hehe. Sir Huangdi. The one who desires the portrait agrees to pay you 100,000." As the manager entered, he immediately clasped his hands respectfully and spoke. He appeared very compliant and polite.
Black Peony brightened up and immediately looked at Niu You Dao. She hoped he wouldn't pull another stunt.
Yuan Fang was also delighted. It was 100,000!
Niu You Dao calmly looked at the manager. He was silent for a moment, then calmly said:
"It seems I have no reason to refuse."
"Please!" The manager invited him with a gesture and also said to Black Peony:
"You may come along too. Bring your portrait with you. The Lady wants to confirm that the portrait is indeed such a good likeness."
Seeing that Niu You Dao didn't object, Black Peony took the portrait.
Several people left the room, went to the back courtyard, and passed through an arched doorway. However, before the staircase, the guards blocked Yuan Fang's path.
One could see how magnificent this compound was. How many resources and finances had been invested in it. Especially in the middle of the Gobi Desert.
When they reached the garden, they found a luxurious pavilion there. One person asked them to wait in front of the pavilion while he went to report to the ruler.
Black Peony and the manager appeared agitated, while Niu You Dao calmly walked about, admiring the scenery.
The grand pavilion was indeed splendid and very beautiful. Niu You Dao looked at the curved roofs in the Chinese style. How many characters were engraved on the pavilion, and how delicately they were carved. The master knew his craft. It seemed he had used a knife to engrave everything as if with a pen.
The manager kept an eye on Niu You Dao, who was quite calmly walking and wandering about. He looked at him as if he were insane.
Not long after, several maidservants, surrounding one young woman, emerged towards them.
Niu You Dao looked at Black Peony and the manager. He observed their reactions and immediately surmised that this must be the true mistress arriving. He scrutinized her carefully and found that she indeed had an ordinary appearance. However, her skin was white and radiant. In every movement, she carried herself with grace.
Indeed, this was the ruler of Zhaixing City, Sha Huang Li.
As soon as Sha Huang Li arrived, she immediately waved her hand, indicating that the manager and Black Peony shouldn't be reserved. Then she glanced briefly at Niu You Dao.
Sha Huang Li waved to Black Peony and gently said:
"The portrait, may I see it once more?"
Immediately, someone approached Black Peony, took the portrait, and unrolled it before Sha Huang Li.
Sha Huang Li looked from the portrait to Black Peony, and sighed, saying:
"Exquisite. Truly a divine execution!"
She looked at Niu You Dao, who was standing to the side, and said:
"And this must be Sir Huangdi?"