I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 237 Why Not Light Up the Eyes?

"Taibai, Taibai..."

Yuan Danqiu called to him from the side; his throat was a little hoarse from climbing all the way up the mountain.

"Are you going to drink it or not? If not, give me the water."

Li Bai subconsciously handed him the water pouch, and only came to his senses when the group had gone inside and disappeared from sight. He looked down and saw his disheveled appearance, unconsciously straightening his clothes.

Ask as if nothing happened.

"Danqiu Zi, you have always had many friends, do you know who those people are?"

Yuan Danqiu was extremely thirsty and hadn't even looked at the screen. He gulped down two mouthfuls of water and casually wiped his face with a handkerchief.

"Who?"

Li Bai fell silent.

Jiang She, standing to the side, naturally noticed Li Bai's absent-mindedness. He simply smiled throughout, neither obstructing nor urging him on.

He stroked the cat that had jumped up.

Carefully remove the thorns that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere from its fur. After removing the thorns from its fur, the cat jumps down, its tail held high.

Just as it was about to speak, it noticed the Taoist priest not far away, became more alert, and wagged its tail.

It tilted its hairy head back and didn't say a word.

The Taoist priests in the temple also looked them over when they saw them coming.

After Yuan Danqiu finished drinking the water, he stepped forward.

He cupped his hands and asked.

"I wonder if the Master is present?"

"Our master is guiding people to paint in front of the wall."

The Taoist returned the greeting and said with a smile, "You are a distinguished guest from Chang'an. It is a rare privilege for you to come. You are currently at the back. Do you have important business to attend to, fellow Taoist?"

Yuan Danqiu raised an eyebrow and glanced at Mr. Jiang, who was being rubbed by the cat's tail.

Thinking back on the experience on the ship, I could guess the identity of the painter who was invited to create the mural.

Yuan Danqiu asked, "Is that gentleman Chen Hong, or Chen Daizhao?"

The Taoist priest was surprised.

Yuan Danqiu laughed.

“We know this person well; we traveled together on the ship for two months before, and he held your hand tightly and said goodbye when he left. Please take us there!”

……

……

Chen Hong's plain clothes were exceptionally neat. At this moment, he was facing a blank wall, mentally rehearsing his speech.

beside him.

The elderly Sima Chengzhen turned the pages of a book, searching for records in ancient texts. Seeing that Chen Hong hadn't moved for a long time, fearing the man was nervous, he gently reminded him.

"I don't understand these things, so please feel free to use your skills."

Chen Hong took out his previous sketches and examined them carefully.

Above, two men carrying bamboo baskets and gathering herbs are depicted, heading down the mountain. Behind them, a woman in flowing robes gazes at them from afar. In the distance below, a few houses signify the mortal world.

"Yu Qing, grind the ink."

He instructed his servants, and Chen Hong put the paper back into his pocket.

Now that he had started painting, he stopped looking at it. There are no fixed rules; that rough sketch was just a draft he had made on the spot. When you really start painting, you must remember not to fall into old patterns.

Sima Chengzhen put down the book in his hand and looked over.

This was the first time he had ever seen Chen Hong paint in person.

As expected of a master of the court, the figures he depicted were adorned with flowing robes and graceful movements. With just a few casual strokes, he captured the expression of the immortal on the wall.

This brings to mind the artist's past.

I've truly encountered some extraordinary people in this world...

Sima Chengzhen stared at it for a long time, then began to speculate.

Footsteps suddenly came from afar.

He looked over and saw several visitors who looked like scholars. A man in blue robes was walking at the front, accompanied by two young men who looked not very old and were wearing Taoist robes... Were they also fellow practitioners?
Sanshui and Chuyi sized up the unfamiliar old Taoist priest.

The two still vaguely remembered their master's admonition to "be polite when traveling," and bowed to the old Taoist priest.

"And you are...?"

Jiang She said, "We heard that the Master is practicing asceticism here, and since we happened to be passing through Yuezhou, we wanted to pay him a visit."

Yuan Danqiu saw Chen Hong painting on the temple wall.

He said, "It just so happens that Chen Daizhao is also painting here, so I came uninvited."

People in the mountains never consider status or power when making friends. Sima Chengzhen only asked a few people's surnames before ordering the Taoist priests in the temple to bring fruits and snacks to entertain them.

The group sat at a distance in the pavilion, not wanting to disturb Chen Hong, who was concentrating on his painting.

On the first day of the lunar month, while enjoying the snacks, they listened to Senior Jiang talking to the old Taoist priest. The longer they talked, the more focused and attentive the old Taoist priest became, turning slightly to listen carefully to what his senior was saying.

They both overheard it.

It refers to the Daoist principles.

Sima Chengzhen was surprised. He had been discussing Taoist scriptures and cultivation with this stranger, but the man always had unique insights. He didn't spout any flowery theories or talk about supernatural powers and divination techniques that would pique one's curiosity or make one obsessed.

It only reminded the elderly Taoist priest of the feeling he had when he first read the Taoist scriptures and saw the Great Tao many years ago.

The more we talked, the happier we became.

Not only is he proficient in Taoist methods.

When it comes to human affairs, there is a sense of calm and tolerance in it.

It's as if by seeing today's actions, one has already seen the cause of yesterday, and can also foresee tomorrow's results.

"It's been a long time since I've spoken so freely!"

Sima Chengzhen sighed.

"I am very fortunate to see you today. I understand my heart and my nature. I am very fortunate."

Sanshui listened for a while, and his head started to ache. He forced himself to listen for another half a quarter of an hour, but his mind felt like a mess of mush. He couldn't understand what the great Dao was talking about, or why the old Daoist was laughing.

The two of them ate half a plate of snacks.

Finally, during a break in the seniors' discussion of Taoist techniques, she and her junior brother exchanged a glance, their eyes darting around, and she asked:

"Has the Taoist priest ever met the emperor?"

Sima Chengzhen looked down at the two young children.

As we just learned, these are two young disciples who entered the Taoist sect at a young age and have vaguely learned some supernatural abilities and divination techniques. They are not Jiang She's disciples, but rather his juniors.

"I've seen it."

The old Taoist priest smiled, noticing their curiosity, and explained in more detail.

"The emperor is now in his forties, handsome and skilled in riding and archery, and knowledgeable in music. Do you also wish to see the sage?"

Sanshui and Chuyi both nodded.

They had never seen an official of such high rank as the emperor before and wanted to broaden their horizons.

The old Taoist priest listened with a smile.

"It's great to broaden your horizons..."

Sanshui, always lively, added, "But our senior told us that even the emperor had never seen us. It seems he wasn't very knowledgeable either."

The old Taoist priest paused for a moment, then smiled when he met the clear eyes of his two young disciples.

"That makes sense, but we can't say that down the mountain."

"The emperor is very stingy..."

Both of them agreed.

The first-year student was curious.

"The Taoist priest also said so."

The old Taoist priest smiled and said, "That's why I shouldn't have said that."

Jiang She smiled when Sanshui and Chuyi had been sitting for a long time, looking around, and soon made an excuse to run away.

“The two of them have lived in the mountains for a long time and are ignorant of worldly affairs. I hope the master will forgive them.”

Sima Chengzhen waved his hand.

He admired and respected Jiang She's knowledge. When he heard the others call him "Master," he changed his own form of address and had some vague suspicions in his heart.

"Such a mindset is rarely seen in the area down in the mountains."

Sima Chengzhen subtly probed.

"But sir... have you heard of the extraordinary story of the two scholars from Yuezhou these past few days?"

……

Sanshui and Chuyi squatted beside the mural, watching the painter concentrate on his work. The conversation in the distance did not affect him. In no time, he had sketched most of it.

The figures are lifelike; first, their appearance is depicted, and then colors are added.

The two squatted down and looked at the painting for a long time, until their legs were a little numb, until the entire painting was almost finished. The painter put down his brush and examined the overall shape.

The Taoist priest and his servants nearby were already amazed.

"The painter's work is truly superb; the immortals on the mountain seem to have come to life!"

"Yes, it's painted very well. If you add the finishing touches, it will be even more lifelike."

Chen Hong smiled but did not respond.

Sanshui pointed upwards, also curious, and asked Chen Hong.

"Why not draw the eyes on?"

【Ask for monthly ticket】

(End of this chapter)