Niu You Dao bowed:
—Indeed.
Sha Huang Li said curiously:
—I also understand a little about painting. I just don't know what style of painting you use?
Hei Mudan looked hopefully at Niu You Dao. She hoped that Niu You Dao would seize the moment and explain to the ruler. For then they could grow closer, which would also be good for Hei Mudan. A rising tide lifts all boats.
Outside the grand pavilion, the household manager Xiang Ming also slowly approached. He stood by the entrance and silently watched Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao did not want to explain everything to someone who wouldn't understand the concepts from his world. So he calmly said:
—I paint for pleasure when I have nothing else to do. As for what style it is or how it's done, I don't even know what to say about it.
Hei Mudan was at a loss for words. He missed such a precious and important opportunity.
Sha Huang Li looked at him, unsure if he genuinely didn't understand painting or simply didn't want to speak.
—One who has seen the sea is not surprised by a mere stream. He who has seen the clouds of Mount Wushan will not recognize other clouds. Looking back, half the journey was in cultivation, half in dominance... What does this mean? Is this your verse?
Niu You Dao had deliberately written this verse on the portrait because he didn't know whether Sha Huang Li preferred poetry or painting. So he casually left this inscription.
—I once heard this verse from someone else, and when I was painting, I decided to leave it on the sheet. Nothing interesting.
—Ah! Sha Huang Li understood that the other party seemed unwilling to converse much with her. She looked around:
—Did you not treat the gentleman rudely?
—No!
—City Ruler, the gentleman has just arrived. We haven't even said anything. The servants to her left and right immediately replied.
Niu You Dao immediately spoke up, so as not to make things difficult for the servants:
—City Ruler, I don't know who the subject of the portrait will be. Perhaps yourself? If so, perhaps we could start a little earlier?
Sha Huang Li herself also wanted to be painted quickly, so she smiled and said:
—Good! Then I shall rely on you, sir.
Niu You Dao: I hurried here, so I need some things.
Sha Huang Li nodded her head:
—Just say what you need right away.
—Paper, drawing stick, easel... Niu You Dao immediately listed everything he needed.
At that moment, two people began to prepare everything.
Very quickly, they brought an easel and paper, but the drawing stick was not commonly used by them, so Niu You Dao had to sharpen a piece of charcoal with a knife again.
Sha Huang Li seemed interested. She immediately walked over herself and began to examine everything. Evidently, she was learning from the experience.
When everything was ready, Niu You Dao asked:
—City Ruler, shall we paint right here?
Sha Huang Li looked at the previous painting. She also understood that the background played a significant role in a painting's beauty. So she asked:
—I shall listen to you, sir. Wherever you say, we shall paint there.
Niu You Dao: For the City Ruler, one cannot paint a portrait carelessly. However, it is my first time visiting you, so I don't even know where would be best.
Sha Huang Li smiled: Understood. Sir, you may take a stroll then. And wherever you like, we shall paint there.
—Very well! Niu You Dao cupped his hands. He looked around, exited the grand pavilion, and began to stroll slowly. He took the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Sha Huang Li followed him at a certain distance. The servants also carried everything necessary.
Household manager Xiang Ming still watched Niu You Dao with a calm expression.
The ruler's residence was built on mountainous terrain and ascended higher and higher. Niu You Dao searched for a suitable spot for the landscape, but he kept shaking his head. Only when he reached the highest point, the uppermost veranda of the palace, did Niu You Dao lean against the railing and, looking at the ancient city, said with a nod:
—Here. What do you think?
Sha Huang Li: Good. As you say, sir.
The servants set up the tools for the portrait. Who would have known that Niu You Dao would turn, look at the landscape once more, and say:
—Perhaps change the easel and paper. They need to be larger...
Those servants were speechless. They had been lugging these tools around for so long, and now it turned out they weren't needed?
However, Sha Huang Li was excited. After all, a larger portrait was going to be drawn for her. So she immediately urged:
—Go on! Do as the gentleman says.
—Understood! several people replied and, taking the items, went to prepare a new easel. Not long after, they brought everything Niu You Dao needed again.
How could Sha Huang Li possibly lack the means to please Niu You Dao?
As for Sha Huang Li, Niu You Dao instructed her to step out of the veranda and stand, leaning against the railing.
—Back to the railing. You need to adopt an important bearing. A little more to the left. Don't stand like that. Lean to the right. Face this way, don't look down. Look straight ahead. Thaaat's right, just like that...
Niu You Dao maneuvered Sha Huang Li as he pleased, and she, in turn, docilely did everything he told her.
Such a scene made Hei Mudan break into a sweat. She worried Lord Dao might be accused of sexual harassment.
Most were unaware that Niu You Dao wasn't worried about this at all. From his past life's experience, he knew that girls, in front of a camera or an artist about to draw them, completely shut off their brains. There, they could even be stripped naked, and they wouldn't notice. How could Sha Huang Li resist now?
As soon as he positioned Sha Huang Li exactly as he wanted, he began to draw. Niu You Dao estimated the proportions of the drawing and began to quickly and skillfully sketch.
At this time, Hei Mudan approached and observed the process.
The other servants dared not approach, fearing they might disturb him.
Xiang Ming also couldn't resist and stepped closer to watch the work. And as soon as he saw it, he was immediately astonished. He had neither seen nor heard that one could paint in such a manner. It was clear how, under Niu You Dao's nimble hand movements, the outlines on the paper constantly changed. Niu You Dao poured his soul into the portrait.
Sha Huang Li also grew curious. She shifted her gaze slightly, but Niu You Dao immediately said:
—Don't move!
Sha Huang Li immediately froze meekly and dared not move.
The drawing was larger, so it took much more time. A whole hour.
Sha Huang Li stood obediently under the sun. She did not move at all. Quite a few people sweated for her. They feared that Sha Huang Li might fall ill. Outsiders might not know, but they knew perfectly well that Sha Huang Li was not suited for cultivation from birth! And standing for a whole hour under the sun was quite difficult.
And when Niu You Dao said *Good*, Sha Huang Li straightened up. She still leaned on the railing, but in the end, she almost fell. A painful expression appeared on her face. At that moment, someone rushed to her side and supported her.
As soon as they entered the veranda, they stimulated her blood circulation and helped her recover.
Watching all this, Niu You Dao and Hei Mudan widened their eyes and exchanged glances. They only just now learned that Sha Huang Li was not a cultivator.
Xiang Ming approached and asked her something several times. Sha Huang Li shook her head and, holding the sun-scorched side of her face, quickly went to look at the portrait.
Niu You Dao hastily cupped his hands and said apologetically:
—I did not know that the City Ruler was not a cultivator. Had I known, I would have offered a chair.
—It's nothing! Sha Huang Li replied magnanimously. She was not concerned about it now. She walked past Niu You Dao and looked at the portrait. As soon as she cast her gaze upon it, her eyes widened in admiration.
In the painting, one could see a young woman standing in a long skirt. She appeared delicate yet severe. The girl, leaning slightly on the railing, gazed into the distance, as if lost in thought. Behind her, one could see a beautiful sky and an ancient, ruined city, amidst whose ruins stalls, shops, and stores rose up.
From the painting, it could be understood that this was her city. Only for her, the city itself was not important. The most important thing was that Sha Huang Li seemed to truly feel as she was depicted in the painting.
Everything was elegantly depicted in the painting, and Sha Huang Li in the painting was even more beautiful.
Not only her, but even others who approached and looked at the painting saw that Sha Huang Li was indeed more beautiful in the painting than in real life.
Sha Huang Li rejoiced inwardly and said with a sigh:
—Master! Truly a genius!
Niu You Dao replied with a smile: The important thing is that the City Ruler likes it.
Sha Huang Li remained silent and gazed at her portrait for a while. Then she suddenly turned and, pointing to the most beautiful maidservant, asked Niu You Dao:
—Master, could you paint another portrait for her?
When the maidservant heard this, she almost jumped for joy, yet she respectfully said: This servant would not dare.
Of course, she imagined much for herself. Sha Huang Li actually just wanted to learn and observe how Niu You Dao painted, and what technique he used.
Niu You Dao furrowed his brows: We agreed on one painting.
Sha Huang Li smiled: I stood for a while and grew tired. And you, Master, were painting, so you must be even more tired. If you are tired, Master, perhaps another day?
Who would have known that Niu You Dao would turn and say to the manager standing nearby:
—Manager, you saw the portrait I painted for Hei Mudan. We agreed on one painting. 100,000. And for the City Ruler, out of respect, I painted a portrait of even larger size without any additional charge. Now the City Ruler is asking for another drawing. I fundamentally cannot refuse the City Ruler, but what about the payment?
Knowing Sha Huang Li's true nature, Niu You Dao didn't mince words about the price.
Xiang Ming narrowed his eyes.
Sweat appeared on the manager's forehead. It was a pity he couldn't shut Niu You Dao's mouth. The household manager had even said not to let the City Ruler know the cost of the painting.
—One portrait. 100,000 gold? Sha Huang Li was utterly shocked. Even the most famous painters don't charge that much.
The maidservant was also frightened. Would they really spend 100,000 gold on her? She herself couldn't even accept a portrait for such a sum.
Niu You Dao looked at the manager in surprise, as if telling him: "What? Are you refusing payment?"