Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 346: Painting Cave, Dormant Dragon, Black Tiger
It's a rare opportunity to meet Wang Mengxi, so how could Zhang Yuan miss the opportunity to ask him for advice?

When he picks up the pen and writes, the lines are like chisels and the dots are like rain.

The pen and ink are the sword.

To enter the Tao means that everything in the world can be expressed in writing, and writing can also represent everything in the world.

Under Zhang Yuan's brushstrokes, every flower blooms with a faint trace of ink.

In Zhang Yuan's paintings, the green mountains are like dark ink and the willows are like smoke.

In Zhang Yuan's writing, new swallows are pecking at the spring mud.

In Zhang Yuan's paintings, the pines look like carved stones and the rocks look like clusters.

The wild geese have returned, and the cuckoos are crying blood...

Wang Mengxi, who was standing aside, watched Zhang Yuan's brushwork and the strokes of ink. A look of joy flashed across his face, but also a hint of loneliness.

"Your brushwork is not bad, but it's not enough to just enter the Dao. You also need to master the Dao. Only by using the Dao as your brush and ink can you create your own paradise."

"The charm is there, but in addition to the charm, there must be details, the brushstrokes must be concentrated, and they must be carefully polished."

"Okay, okay, this technique probably already has the power of immortal spiritual patterns. Have you studied the technique of immortal talismans?"

Wang Mengxi spoke from time to time, and when he got excited, he couldn't help but help Zhang Yuan paint the scroll.

Mountain flowers, green trees, chickens and ducks, flying birds, wild cattle...

And there are the dark green mountains stretching out in the distance.

The two of them seemed tireless and painted quickly on the scroll in front of them.

On the side, a woman holding cups and a tray watched quietly with a smile on her face.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Yuan and Wang Mengxi looked up and burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright, the peach blossom wine is already warm. As my husband said, the fish has also been braised. Come and try it."

The woman brought the delicious food and wine. Wang Mengxi couldn't wait and quickly picked up the bamboo chopsticks while holding the wine glass.

"Hiss, good wine, good wine."

"My Xiaodie's braised fish is better than even the best chefs in the restaurants in the Imperial City can make."

Wang Mengxi's words were full of joy, and he drank with relish.

Zhang Yuan picked up the wine glass and touched his lips.

Light as water.

Pick up another piece of fish.

Bland and tasteless.

His gaze turned to Wang Mengxi standing beside him.

At some point, Wang Mengxi's body had become as thin as mist.

Across from her, a woman stood there, tears streaming down her face.

Zhang Yuan stood up and bowed to Wang Mengxi.

"Alas, dreams will eventually end. Go, go..."

A faint voice sounded in Zhang Yuan's ears.

When he opened his eyes, all the illusions had disappeared.

He was sitting in the study with a scroll of spring mountain painting unfolded in front of him.

In the Spring Mountain Painting, there is an old man sitting by the river, a woman in front of a thatched cottage, and scattered chickens and ducks, flying birds, mountain flowers, and green willows...

Golden light flashed in Zhang Yuan's eyes, and his spiritual power moved again, and the illusion of the scroll reappeared.

However, this time, the brook in front of him was gurgling, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard not far away, but the old man and the woman serving tea were nowhere to be seen.

As Wang Mengxi said, dreams will eventually end.

This painting of spring mountains is Wang Mengxi's last work and also his dream.

He stayed there with the last of his spiritual power, transforming it into a mysterious illusion and then into a secluded spring mountain where he and Xiaodie lived.

If Zhang Yuan hadn't come, Wang Mengxi's remaining soul might have remained in the scroll, dreaming of being with Xiaodie forever.

Zhang Yuan arrived, and Wang Mengxi exhausted his spiritual power, leaving behind the last inheritance, and the remaining soul finally dissipated.

Zhang Yuan didn't know whether Wang Mengxi felt more satisfied with the dream or with leaving behind the legacy.

Zhang Yuan withdrew his spiritual power and looked at the scroll in front of him. An indescribable power was gathering in his body.

Insight into the mystery will lead to your own world.

At this moment, his spiritual power broke through the limit of the divine elephant and entered the realm of Dongxuan.

————————————————————

Imperial City.

The Grand Prince's Mansion.

The civil servant in a green robe handed over a scroll and then quietly left.

"Spring Mountain Picture?"

Unfolding the scroll, the eldest prince showed emotion on his face.

In his opinion, this "Spring Mountain Picture" is no less impressive than Wang Mengxi's at his peak in terms of spirit and brushwork, and is in no way inferior to the works of those famous masters of Daqin.

Even the eldest prince could not tell whether the scroll was written by Wang Mengxi himself.

Looking at the scroll, the eldest prince frowned slightly.

He sent a message to Zhang Yuan, asking him to study at one of the four major academies as a favor to Zhang Yuan.

Does Zhang Yuan want to use this scroll to repay a favor?

Although this scroll is of great value, whether it is a matter of reciprocity or repaying the favor, it seems that it is still not enough.

It seems that the Marquis of Qingyang is of a poor background after all, and his actions lack a certain level of vision...

Looking at the unfolded scroll in his hand, the eldest prince showed a hint of disappointment on his face.

But when his eyes fell on the courtyard in the painting, he was stunned for a moment.

The chickens and ducks in the yard seemed to have moved?
"Om-"

In an instant, the space in front of him vanished into thin air, and then, through the endless mist, he landed on the mountain path beside the stream. An illusion?

Cave?

The eldest prince showed surprise on his face.

He is the prince of the Great Qin Dynasty. Whether in terms of cultivation or knowledge, he is the best in the world.

For a man like him, things rarely shock him anymore.

But even so, he was still shocked by the painting.

Walk slowly forward to the courtyard, see the chickens and ducks scattered around, and the wooden table across the courtyard.

There are books and scrolls on the wooden table.

The eldest prince saw that the scroll contained a picture of a blue ox, with green grass growing everywhere and the ox grazing comfortably.

The brushwork of the scroll is quite different from that of the Spring Mountain Picture. The brushwork is delicate and lacks the wildness of the Spring Mountain Picture.

"My brother Mengxi's work on entering the Dao is one I feel ashamed to be inferior to."

"Written by Zuo Qiuren on the fourth day of the second month of the twenty-first year of the Yuankang reign."

Although the eldest prince was not familiar with the name Zuoqiu Ren, he had heard of him. He was a great scholar in Zhengyang County and a master.

He turned around and walked towards the wing room. After taking three steps, he suddenly stopped and turned slowly, with horror in his eyes that he could hardly suppress.

Today is the sixth day of the second month of the twenty-first year of Yuankang in the Great Qin Dynasty!
Was this scroll on the wooden table painted two days ago?

It would take more than ten days to travel from Zhengyang County to the imperial city even if riding at full speed.

This painting was released from Zhengyang County half a month ago!
Looking at the scroll, the eldest prince showed excitement on his face. He quickly picked up the scroll and saw two more paintings underneath.

One is a picture of Qingxi, also painted by Zuoqiu Ren a month ago.

The second painting on top of the scroll is also a landscape painting, but it is in Wang Mengxi's style, has no signature, and was dated half a month ago.

The eldest prince stared at the three scrolls spread out in front of him.

The three paintings on the table were created by two people a few days apart in this picture of spring mountains!

In other words, there are not only him but also at least two other people who can appear in this Spring Mountain Picture!

Could this picture be used to convey messages using such secret methods?
If this picture has such a method, then it is a priceless treasure!
Looking at the scroll in front of him and the blank scroll on the table, he picked up the ink brush, pondered for a moment, and wrote two words.

Hibernating dragon.

Zhengyang County, in the study room of a small courtyard on Tangwai Street.

The painting of spring mountains was spread out in front of Zhang Yuan, and he himself unfolded a scroll in his hand.

There were two words on the scroll.

Hibernating dragon.

A smile appeared on his face.

The painting of spring mountains was delivered to the eldest prince.

Picking up the ink pen, he wrote two words on the scroll.

Black tiger.

……

In the imperial city, outside the palace, Master Tao, with a smile on his face, handed a scroll to Yu Kuizhen.

Yu Kuizhen took the scroll and nodded, saying, "I didn't expect that the Marquis of Qingyang would ask you, Master Tao, to bring me a gift."

He glanced at Qin Yuqing who was standing not far away, then whispered, "After you settle down, send me a message and I'll organize a party to welcome you."

"Thank you, Master Yu." Master Tao bowed with a smile, then got into the carriage with Qin Yuqing.

"Brother Zhang has asked me to visit a few more people. Once I've dealt with that, I'll report to the Imperial City Academy."

In the carriage, Master Tao chuckled and looked outside: "By the way, I'm going to see Wang Qinian. I heard that he's very grand now..."

After watching Master Tao leave, Yu Kuizhen turned around and entered the palace through the side door, to the residence of the head of the Imperial Household Department.

All the eunuchs he met along the way bowed to him.

He is not only a third-rank official, but also a close attendant in front of the palace. He is now extremely respected in the imperial palace.

When he returned to his own courtyard, two eunuchs hurriedly brought him tea.

Yu Kuizhen waved her hand, placed the scroll on the desk, and slowly unfolded it.

He came from a humble background and had worked hard to reach the position of a third-rank official in the Imperial Household Department. He was not familiar with calligraphy, painting, and writing since childhood, and only later studied hard in the Imperial Household Department.

It was the same. He was extremely excited because Zhang Yuan treated him as a brother and did not look down on him.

The spring mountain painting before my eyes is covered with smoke and clouds, with lush trees and gurgling water.

Except for the lack of signature and inscription, which makes it appear a little incomplete, the rest are all top-notch works.

"This painting—"

Yu Kuizhen's expression moved slightly, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

With the help of Zhang Yuan's dragon-elephant power, he has entered the Grandmaster realm, and his soul power is strong. At this time, when the power of his soul is explored, he instantly enters the painting.

From the mountain path by the river to the desk in the courtyard, Yu Kuizhen quickly discovered the secret of the scroll.

He was able to become a third-rank official because he acted carefully and cautiously.

Looking at the two names Zhelong and Heihu on the desk, Yu Kuizhen's expression changed, and finally he turned to look at the book placed beside him.

"The Immortal Sword Controlling Technique..."

There was surprise in his eyes.

At the beginning, Zhang Yuan gave him the method of controlling the sword, which was used to control the Nine-Revolution Wheel, and greatly improved his strength.

He also looked for many sword-controlling methods in the Ministry of Internal Affairs to verify each other.

"It seems that the gift sent by Qingyang Hou is truly priceless..."

Chuckling and shaking his head, he memorized the sword-controlling technique carefully. He left two words on the scroll and then disappeared from the spot.

Sitting in front of the desk, Yu Kuizhen pondered for a moment before he breathed a sigh of relief and rolled up the scroll.

He was very curious about how many people's names would eventually be recorded on the scroll.

(End of this chapter)