The ink on the painting board was still wet, and the Water Qilin knew that touching it now would ruin the artwork.
She looked at it carefully, and the more she looked, the more she liked it. The impatience that had been bothering her had long faded away. Her beautiful eyes turned to Li Hao and she asked, "Did you draw this for me?"
"Do you like it, Senior?"
Li Hao noticed the joy in her eyes and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. He smiled and said, "If you like it, then it’s yours."
The Water Qilin smiled brightly, making the entire cold pond seem much brighter. She chuckled, "I didn’t expect that there would be such a skilled painter among humans. It’s really well done; I feel like I’m standing on the paper myself."
"I'm glad you like it."
Painting is not just about copying; it’s also about artistic expression, like adding a filter to make it look better.
Li Hao glanced at her and quietly asked, "Senior, how about I draw you in your transformed form?"
This time, the Water Qilin didn’t refuse. Instead, she looked at Li Hao with interest, "You can draw?"
"Of course! As long as you cooperate, I can draw all day!" Li Hao replied with a smile.
"Alright, then draw another one for me to see," the Water Qilin agreed.
"Great!"
Li Hao quickly agreed, seeing this as a rare opportunity.
"Senior, please stand by the pond and tilt your body slightly. Yes, just like that..."
He instructed her to pose sideways, and with her stunning beauty, she looked like a gentle woman standing by the clear pond, filled with sorrow.
He quickly began to sketch.
An incense stick later, the second painting was finished.
[Painting Experience +1738]
The experience didn’t decrease much, likely because of her transformed state, which was a different kind of pose.
Soon, Li Hao handed the painting to her.
The Water Qilin took a glance, and her eyes brightened immediately. The woman in the painting looked sorrowful, her brows furrowed, revealing a sense of otherworldly loneliness, like a water lily drifting away from the world.
This is actually me... The Water Qilin felt that the woman in the painting looked much better than her real self.
Moreover, the sadness in her brows was exactly what she felt inside.
Alone in the cold pond for a thousand years, she felt isolated. The human world was not her place, and amidst the bustling human cities, she felt even more lonely.
As she gazed at the painting, she gradually became entranced.
Li Hao noticed she was lost in thought and didn’t interrupt her. He just made small adjustments to the painting board and then began to sketch her entranced expression again.
In a time without photographs, his paintings could capture moments in time.
Li Hao thought most people would likely enjoy this.
Soon, the third painting was also completed.
[Painting Experience +1541]
The experience decreased a bit, but it was still a large amount.
Just from these three paintings, he earned over five thousand experience points, which was a huge profit.
When Li Hao finished the painting, the Water Qilin came back to her senses and asked, "Is it done?"
So you noticed... Li Hao chuckled inwardly. She had clearly realized it but still maintained her lost expression, indicating she was intentionally cooperating.
"It’s done."
Li Hao nodded and turned the painting board toward her.
Seeing the third painting, the smile in the Water Qilin’s eyes deepened. Her entranced look was vividly captured, and the light reflected in her clear eyes seemed to hold countless thoughts.
She had indeed briefly recalled some memories from a thousand years ago, and he had noticed?
This human boy could actually read her emotions?
The Water Qilin looked at Li Hao, her gaze becoming much kinder. "Your painting skills are indeed impressive. You say you are from the Li family?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded.
The Water Qilin said with interest, "The Li family of the Divine General’s Mansion is famous throughout the world, but as far as I know, the Li family has strict rules, and all its members are warriors. How could they allow you to dabble in such minor skills?"
"Painting isn’t necessarily a minor skill."
Li Hao smiled slightly, "Besides, practicing doesn’t interfere with painting; there are times when one needs a break from training."
"Oh?"
The Water Qilin raised an eyebrow.
Li Hao concealed his true attributes for a moment, releasing his aura for fifteen miles, then reactivated his attributes.
The Water Qilin was momentarily stunned, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at Li Hao.
Fifteen miles?
But his vitality and foundation looked so fresh and tender.
"Senior, since we have this rare opportunity today, how about I draw a few more for you?" Li Hao smiled and suggested.
The Water Qilin glanced at the paper in her hand, which she had dried with her power, and nodded, "Alright."
Li Hao smiled inwardly and immediately had her stand by the clear pond again, continuing to paint.
Before long, one painting after another was completed.
After drawing eleven pieces, when the twelfth was finished, the painting experience only increased by 351 points.
Though it was much less than before, it was still substantial compared to painting other subjects.
"Let’s call it a day."
The Water Qilin accepted the latest painting, looked at it a couple of times, and smiled brightly.
"Are you not satisfied, Senior?" Li Hao asked as he was about to pick up his brush.
The Water Qilin shook her head and said, "Today my outfit is too plain. Your painting skills are so exquisite; next time, when I dress up a bit more, I’ll let you draw me again."
Li Hao was momentarily speechless. It turns out that even this great demon king cares about beauty.
She felt she wasn’t pretty enough today?
But Li Hao thought she was already stunning.
"Alright."
Li Hao didn’t push it; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
"What’s your name?" The Water Qilin asked.
"Li Hao."
The Water Qilin seemed a bit surprised; the name sounded a bit bold. If Li Hao came from royalty, it would be understandable.
"And you, Senior?" Li Hao asked, not wanting to miss this chance to connect.
"I take the surname of the first palace master; my surname is Song." The Water Qilin smiled and said, "I’m called Song Qiumo."
Song Qiumo... Li Hao nodded slightly, "Senior Qiumo, next time I have free time, I’ll come visit you again. How should I call you then?"
"You can lightly touch the pond water, and I’ll sense it." Song Qiumo smiled and said.
Li Hao remembered and nodded, "See you again, Senior."
Song Qiumo waved gently and floated away, taking the dozen or so paintings back into the clear pond.
Those papers were covered with her power, like a thin film, preventing the water from touching them.
"This dive... should get a perfect score."
Li Hao watched her enter the cold pond without a splash and couldn’t help but silently admire her.
He didn’t immediately put away the painting board but continued to paint the cold pond and the cliff.
Although Song Qiumo wasn’t in the painting, just the breathtaking scenery could still bring in a lot of experience.
Li Hao had tried to create grand scenes and even strange beasts in his mind, but when he painted them, the experience gained was minimal.
He wasn’t sure why; maybe it lacked certain details and charm?
After painting four or five more pieces of the lonely cliff and cold pond, he gained five to six hundred experience points. Li Hao thought it was about time to leave when he suddenly heard someone reciting poetry:
"Lonely peak, steep cliff, the mountain looks worn,
White clouds drift like tears from the sky."
"Where does the path lead? Who knows my heart?"
As he spoke, a figure slowly walked over. When they saw Li Hao by the cold pond, Li Hao also turned to look at them.
They exchanged glances and recognized each other’s identities.
A prince?
Li Hao was surprised; this person was one of the two princes from the academy, seemingly named Jiang Hanxing.
Jiang Hanxing also recognized Li Hao. If anyone was making a splash today at the academy, it was undoubtedly this young master from the Li family.
Since entering the academy, he had noticed Wang Han and Li Hao, among others from the Divine General’s Mansion, but hadn’t approached them.
Thinking about how he had just been reciting poetry, Jiang Hanxing felt his face flush. Damn it, why is there someone here?
But this guy is the son of a military general; he probably doesn’t understand poetry anyway, right?
After their brief exchange of glances, Jiang Hanxing controlled the heat on his face and smiled to greet him:
"Young Master Li?"
"Hello."
Li Hao responded very formally. He wasn’t particularly interested in these royal offspring.
The other prince, Jiang Ye, had approached him and Li Yuanzhao not long after school started, expressing a desire to befriend them.
But the ambition in that kid’s eyes was too obvious, and Li Hao didn’t want to get involved in the troubles that came with royalty. He also advised Yuanzhao to keep his distance; this was not a place they could easily tread into.
"What brings you here?"
Jiang Hanxing curiously examined the painting board in front of Li Hao. If Li Hao was practicing here, he wouldn’t find it strange.
But what was he doing with the brush and ink?
Thinking that Li Hao had entered the Black and White Hall through extraordinary means, he quietly became more serious.
"Just gathering inspiration." Li Hao casually replied, then turned his gaze back and began mixing ink, preparing to paint.
Jiang Hanxing was a bit surprised, his interest piqued. Earlier at the academy, he had secretly observed this young master from the Li family.
After all, his name was personally given by the emperor.
He had heard about this since he was a child, and upon seeing him on the first day of school, he couldn’t help but pay more attention.
Li Hao’s performance was indeed different from ordinary people. He had felt regret earlier, thinking that Li Hao had been spoiled by the Li family, turning into a playboy.
But after hearing Teacher Su Ye’s words today, he realized that Li Hao was a hidden genius.
"Gathering inspiration?"
Jiang Hanxing curiously walked over and saw Li Hao painting. The lonely mountain and cold pond appeared vividly on the paper, depicting a remarkable scene.
He was stunned.
Coming from royalty, although he had practiced martial arts since childhood, he loved poetry and literature, so he could easily see that this painting skill was quite impressive.
Once Li Hao finished, Jiang Hanxing couldn’t help but ask, "Young Master Li, you can paint too?"
Li Hao didn’t even glance up, continuing to paint, "Aren’t you good at poetry as well?"
Mentioning poetry made Jiang Hanxing’s face turn slightly red.
He liked it, but "being good at it" was another matter entirely.
He indeed had a bit of knowledge about it.
But the poem he just recited was not serious; the words were spontaneous, meant to express his inner feelings without careful crafting.
"Young Master Li understands poetry?"
"Just a little."
"Oh?"
Jiang Hanxing was quite surprised and intrigued. "Then why don’t you compose a poem too?"
"Compose a poem?"
Li Hao glanced at him. His poetry experience was already maxed out, and he hadn’t yet grasped the essence of poetry, so he had no experience in composing.
"Yes, why not... let’s use the cold pond you painted as inspiration. How about we each write a poem?"
Jiang Hanxing was eager for a poetry duel, wanting to compare his skills with Li Hao and redeem himself after the casual poem he just recited, so people wouldn’t think his poetry skills were that poor.
Li Hao looked at him and said, "The cold pond? You go first."
"Actually, you should go first. I’m not very talented and need to think it over," Jiang Hanxing quickly replied.
Li Hao didn’t think he was being modest; after all, he hadn’t even gotten the rhymes right in his previous poem.
"Alright."
Li Hao, being easygoing, didn’t think much of it and recited:
"Li Bai rode a boat and was about to leave,
When suddenly he heard singing on the shore."
"The water of the Peach Blossom Pond is a thousand feet deep,
Not as deep as the feelings Wang Lun gave me."
After finishing the poem, he didn’t stop painting.
In the past, reciting a poem from the great poet would earn him at least a hundred experience points, but now his experience was already full, so he gained nothing.
Out of respect for the original work, he didn’t change a single word.
Not fitting the context? Hah, that’s not my problem.
Jiang Hanxing was amazed after hearing it; this poem had a certain charm.
"Young Master Li, you didn’t compose this on the spot, did you?" Jiang Hanxing asked, noticing that the scenes in the poem didn’t match the current situation.
"Just tell me if there’s any pond water in it," Li Hao replied.
"……"
Jiang Hanxing was speechless. There was pond water, but where were the peach blossoms? There were none around!
He thought for a moment and asked, "Did you compose this yourself?"
The suspicion in his eyes was quite evident.
"Anyway, you won’t find another author in this world," Li Hao said casually.
Seeing his confidence, Jiang Hanxing was a bit surprised and asked, "Then may I ask who Li Bai is in the poem?"
"His surname is Li, so he must be an ancestor of my Li family."
"……And who is Wang Lun?"
"My ancestor’s best friend."
"??????"
What on earth is a best friend?
Jiang Hanxing looked completely stunned.
"Your turn." Li Hao glanced at him.
Jiang Hanxing came back to his senses, feeling a bit speechless. Fortunately, he had secretly prepared a poem about the cold pond waterfall earlier, which happened to be useful today.
Though it might not perfectly fit the current scene, it was certainly better than Li Hao’s outrageous poem.
(End of Chapter)