Taking no one else but Yuan Gang, Chu An Lou and Niu You Dao ascended to the Heavenly Palace and reached the designated spot. Hai Bing had not yet appeared, but Chu An Lou called for Xiao Run.
Xiao Run presented the easel and other supplies, then asked Niu You Dao:
"Sir, is everything in place? Do you need anything else?"
She was wary of Hai Bing, so she had asked Chu An Lou to summon Niu You Dao in advance to ensure everything was perfectly prepared.
Niu You Dao told her what else was needed and what adjustments to make. Xiao Run immediately instructed the others to follow Niu You Dao's directions precisely. Only the charcoal pencil, Niu You Dao had to prepare himself, or rather, Yuan Gang had to prepare it for him. This, at least, gave Yuan Gang an opportunity to demonstrate his role as an assistant.
Once everything was ready, Xiao Run breathed a sigh of relief.
The weather was also cooperative today; as the sun rose, Hai Bing emerged, followed by several maids.
"How is the preparation?" Hai Bing asked.
Xiao Run bowed and replied:
"Reporting to Chief Manager, everything is ready."
Hai Bing nodded and asked Niu You Dao again:
"Can we begin?"
"Yes!" Niu You Dao replied.
Hai Bing: If you've chosen a landscape, we will first go there and wait.
Niu You Dao looked at the sun's rays and told Yuan Gang to bring his notebook. He and Yuan Gang consulted briefly about the landscape and the effect of sunlight on it.
Several people watched and listened in. Hai Bing was once again convinced that they were indeed professionals, and her worries eased.
Chu An Lou had previously thought, "What's so difficult about painting?" But seeing these strange tools and hearing Niu You Dao's conversation with Yuan Gang, his view now completely changed. He never imagined that painting could be such a complex and meticulously planned undertaking, and he was convinced by Hai Bing's words that Niu You Dao was probably the only artist of his kind.
Yuan Gang had a better grasp of time and had already selected the sequence of portraits with corresponding landscapes based on the intensity of the sunlight.
"We'll go here first, then here, then here... This spot will be best at this particular time."
Hai Bing and the others now understood why Niu You Dao had brought Yuan Gang. This was his utility.
"Good, we'll do that." Niu You Dao nodded. He handed the notes to Yuan Gang and, cupping his hands before Hai Bing, said:
"Chief Manager, the sun is just rising. We should first go to the lake."
Hai Bing immediately instructed everyone:
"Do as he says. Go there and clear out any extraneous people so they don't disturb us unnecessarily."
"Yes, ma'am!" The maids quickly departed, while others carried the easel and other supplies.
Hai Bing personally went to summon Xue Lao Er.
Chu An Lou walked beside Niu You Dao:
"Can I be of any assistance?"
Niu You Dao looked at him and noticed a flicker of hope in his eyes. He evidently wished to demonstrate his service to Xue Lao Er and Hai Bing. But what could he be tasked with? What would be appropriate for him?
"The sun's rays can be dazzling, and that might affect the painting. Manager Chu, could you perhaps find an umbrella? If it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all. Leave it to me." Chu An Lou immediately waved his hand and began searching for an umbrella. Then he departed, saying: "I'll go get the umbrella!"
After he left, a cold glint flashed in Niu You Dao's eyes. If not for this situation, he might have seized the opportunity to put Chu An Lou in an awkward position.
A few people reached the lake and waited. Not long after, Hai Bing led Xue Lao Er, dressed in a long white gown.
Xue Lao Er was indeed a cold and alluring woman, arrogant and indifferent. This was evident not only on her face but also in the clear light of her eyes.
"Greetings, Palace Mistress!" Niu You Dao clasped his hands.
"You are the one who painted Sha Huang Li's portrait?" Xue Lao Er asked in a cold tone.
"Yes!" Niu You Dao replied politely.
Xue Lao Er noticed Yuan Gang standing motionless and not observing proper etiquette. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment.
Perhaps Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang themselves didn't realize how Yuan Gang's physique now naturally drew women's attention. Most women, upon seeing him, would have only one word come to mind: *MAN!*
When Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang were together, Niu You Dao involuntarily faded into the background beside him. Women simply ignored him.
In truth, Niu You Dao himself was handsome. It was just that his demeanor, character, and physique were completely different from Yuan Gang's. Yuan Gang was simply the epitome of masculinity. His character, temperament, figure, and aura—everything about him proclaimed him an alpha male.
Xue Lao Er averted her gaze from Yuan Gang.
Hai Bing looked around and thought to herself, "What's so admirable about this?" She asked:
"Right here?"
"Please sit by the river." Niu You Dao pointed to a spot:
"Closer to the river. In front, you can see the emerald expanse, and in the distance, a mountain emerges. It will make for a good landscape."
Hai Bing looked in the direction Niu You Dao pointed, then waved her hand:
"A chair."
Immediately, someone brought a chair. Niu You Dao asked in surprise:
"What are you doing?"
Hai Bing: Didn't you say to sit here?
Niu You Dao: The landscape will appear natural. How can there be naturalism if the mistress sits on a chair? We specifically chose a stone for this purpose.
Hai Bing said, slightly indignant:
"You want the mistress to sit on a stone?"
"...." Niu You Dao was speechless and finally compromised:
"Alright, put the chair here."
However, Xue Lao Er overheard them and said:
"Do as the artist says." As she spoke, she pointed to the stone.
When she sat on the stone, a soft cushion was laid out for her.
Niu You Dao stood behind the portrait and began to direct:
"Mistress, no need to sit so upright, sit more naturally. Lean back slightly, yes. A little more, now forward, no, not like that, good. Place your hand on your knees. Yes, yes, just like that, good..."
Hai Bing, standing to the side, smiled, but Niu You Dao suddenly said:
"Chief Manager, could you adjust the mistress's dress?"
Hai Bing immediately walked to Xue Lao Er and adjusted her dress:
"Like this?"
"A little more, no need to be too stiff..." Niu You Dao eventually approached himself. He couldn't touch Xue Lao Er, so standing nearby, he indicated how the dress should be arranged.
"Higher, higher, there, there. You need to show your natural beauty. Right. Now it's good!"
The two stepped back, and Hai Bing looked from her side and indeed realized it looked much more beautiful. No wonder they spent a million. This person truly knows his craft.
"Mistress, please sit like this and don't move!" Niu You Dao said.
He took the pencil, sketched the proportions, and then began to move his hand rapidly.
Yuan Gang stood motionless beside him. He had no interest in such pointless endeavors.
But Lord Dao showed interest in art. Besides chess, guqin, calligraphy, and painting, he was also interested in carpentry and stone carving. And he never tired of pursuing all of these.
Yuan Gang recalled how Lord Dao once restored an ancient waterwheel. According to old records, he personally crafted porcelain vessels in a kiln, and most of them he gave away as genuine antiques of bygone eras.
He also, following ancient designs, crafted antique roof tiles. Lord Dao did many things himself. Yuan Gang believed that no matter where Niu You Dao went, he would never starve. Lord Dao had mastered many branches of art!
Hai Bing constantly glanced between the seated Xue Lao Er and Niu You Dao's portrait. The silhouette of Xue Lao Er gradually appeared on the portrait, and it was an astonishing silhouette.
Meanwhile, Chu An Lou ran back with an umbrella, over which a cloth had been stretched.
There was nothing for it; cultivators were not afraid of sunlight or rain. So, it was difficult for him to find an umbrella here. He had to gather materials and make an umbrella himself.
Hai Bing looked at him and thought, "The mistress is just sunbathing, why did he bring an umbrella?" She asked:
"What are you doing?"
Chu An Lou: I was afraid the sunlight would hinder the sir from painting.
Niu You Dao helped him: The sunlight stings the eyes, this is much better.
After his words, Hai Bing immediately calmed down, and Chu An Lou looked at Niu You Dao with excitement. He regretted having shamed Niu You Dao back then.
He held the umbrella and occasionally glanced at the portrait, marveling at it. It was truly exquisite.
When Niu You Dao put down the pencil, he was finished with this painting.
Hai Bing quickly stepped forward to help Xue Lao Er stand. And they both walked over to Niu You Dao to view the painting.
Standing before the painting, seeing the close-up, the middle ground, and the distant view, and then herself seated on the stone, Xue Lao Er's eyes sparkled. She raised her head and looked at the landscape. Indeed, the painting was as if real. She noticed how beautiful she appeared in the painting.
Hai Bing asked:
"Mistress, how do you like it?"
Xue Lao Er calmly replied: "Good!"
Then she began to look at the painting again. She seemed to immerse herself in the painting and did not want to tear her gaze away.
Hai Bing smiled. She knew the mistress's character and knew that to hear "Good!" from her mistress required great effort. She pointed to the painting:
"Take it and bring it to the mistress's room. Be careful not to damage it."
"Yes, ma'am!" Two maids immediately took the paintings.
Hai Bing turned to Xue Lao Er and asked:
"The mistress has been sitting still for so long, you must be tired. Perhaps we should rest for a bit."
"No need, let's continue." Xue Lao Er replied.
Hai Bing immediately turned to Niu You Dao, asking where the next location would be.
Having decided on the spot, the group reached a decorative wall where vines, moonseed, and other flowers grew.
This time, Xue Lao Er stood before the wall.