It is said that in the world of cultivation, there are no ugly won.
This is because as long as a cultivator has normal features and has not undergone so mutation, their body is cleansed by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth over ti. Most develop fair skin, attractive faces, and slender figures. At the very least, they could be described as graceful and refined.
But the one Wang Xiu had chosen was broad-shouldered and rugged in appearance; even her features were sowhat twisted, causing anyone who saw her for the first ti to frown involuntarily.
"That's… from the Luo Family, isn't it?"
"How strange. She hardly ever shows her face and always hides at ho!"
"I heard that the Second Young Miss of the Luo Family's birth mother was secretly poisoned while pregnant. The strange toxin was passed on to her daughter. Although the Luo Family sought out immortal physicians over the years to purge the poison, making it no longer fatal, her appearance was permanently altered. Despite trying many thods, it could not be improved!"
"For a young lady to have such an affliction, few would be willing to appear in public! I just heard that she has no hobbies aside from a passion for painting and calligraphy. It seems she couldn't resist coming out today…"
"Could this guy be planning to use the Luo Family's second young miss to disgust Miss Zhou?"
"If so, he's truly courting death! Everyone knows how much the Luo Family's eldest young master dotes on his sister. If he finds out about this, it won't matter where this person cos from—he won't be leaving White Jade City alive!"
The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion, their eyes on Wang Xiu filled with a hint of schadenfreude.
Using Luo Yunting to upset Zhou Yui? The effect would likely be excellent. After all, although Zhou Yui appeared broad-minded, she was extrely petty. As for the consequences… hah! Offending two of White Jade City's eight great families in one fell swoop was certainly not a wise move.
"Brother Wang, this is unwise!" At his side, Zhao Zhonghe heard Wang Xiu's words and quickly warned him via voice transmission, "This woman cos from a prominent family. The Zhou Family also wields significant influence in White Jade City and maintains close ties with the other major families. The Lin Family hasn't given you a definite answer yet, brother. It's not wise to offend the others so completely at this ti!"
Wang Xiu's expression remained calm as he continued to stare at the young woman. "Miss, did you hear what I said?"
Hearing Wang Xiu call out to her again, Luo Yunting pointed to herself with a lack of confidence. "… ?"
Wang Xiu's gaze was firm. "Yes, you."
Luo Yunting averted her gaze, shaking her head. "I… I can't!"
Although her appearance was plain, her voice was incredibly pleasant, like a high mountain stream or the sweet song of an oriole, captivating all who heard it. Perhaps this was the window heaven had opened for her.
Wang Xiu said gently, "How will you know if you don't try?"
Nearby, when Zhou Yui saw this, she was so enraged her chest felt like it might explode. "Heh, fine, fine, fine! So, you claim we are not fated, but it turns out you've set your sights on the second young miss of the Luo Family?"
She was suprely confident in her own beauty and figure. In all of White Jade City, very few could surpass her, let alone soone as notoriously plain as Luo Yunting. Wang Xiu was clearly doing this just to spite her.
She glanced at Luo Yunting and said sarcastically, "Miss Luo, since this fellow claims to be fated with you, why not give him a chance? Who knows… you might truly beco a pair of celestial lovers."
The barb in her words was obvious to everyone.
Luo Yunting bit her lip and turned to leave the crowd.
Just then, Wang Xiu's voice reached her again. "Miss Luo, don't you want to see your true appearance?"
Her true appearance?
Luo Yunting suddenly stopped and turned back. She saw that at so point, Wang Xiu had already spread out a sheet of paper and begun to paint.
His brush strokes were like an Azure Dragon leaping from the sea, as smooth as flowing clouds and water, moving without a mont's pause. His brush moved with abandon, like a child who knew nothing of the Dao of Painting doodling carelessly on paper. But for so reason, those seemingly random splashes of ink, to the eyes of the onlookers, seed to possess an indescribable charm.
「」
At so point, rain had begun to fall. Ripples dotted the surface of the lake outside the pavilion. In the slanting wind and fine rain, the lotus flowers swayed gracefully.
Wang Xiu, dressed in white, stood with one hand behind his back, the other holding the brush. He was fully absorbed in his painting, as if he had beco one with the wind and rain.
The scene was indescribably beautiful.
Even Zhou Yui, despite her many grievances with Wang Xiu, found herself srized. She had to admit, this man truly possessed an elegant deanor, and his every movent held a captivating allure. He was like a banished fairy from a painting who had walked into the mortal realm.
But the more this was so, the more she thought about how Wang Xiu would paint for Lin Yuyan but not for her, the more she seethed with jealousy.
I, Zhou Yui, how am I inferior to Lin Yuyan? And how do I fall short of Luo Yunting?
「」
Luo Yunting watched Wang Xiu's focused expression, montarily stunned. For so reason, her heart suddenly began to race. She abruptly turned her head away, the light in her eyes dimming.
A person like … what right do I have to think such things?
Before long, Wang Xiu's painting was finished. The instant his brush stopped, everyone crowded around.
A series of gasps and exclamations of admiration rippled through the crowd. The commotion spread, drawing curious glances from those farther away.
"What a beautiful woman!"
"This… even a fairy from the heavens could hardly compare, right?"
"Those eyes, that figure… If such a woman truly existed, I would willingly die this instant just for a single glimpse of her beauty!"
Everyone was utterly enchanted. It was no surprise. The woman in Wang Xiu's painting was simply too beautiful. She was not coy, flirtatious, vulgar, or pretentious. Simply standing there in a green dress, she surpassed all worldly beauty. Most importantly, the scroll exuded a spiritual quality, making it seem as if the person in the painting could step right out at any mont.
In truth, if Wang Xiu wished it, the person in the painting really could step right out of it. But he didn't. Now was not the ti for that.
"I want this painting!" Zhou Yui declared, her red lips slightly pursed. Her gaze toward Wang Xiu now held a complex emotion. "Na your price!"
Wang Xiu sighed softly. "As I just said, my art follows the principles of fate. It is to be gifted, not sold."
"Furthermore…" He looked at Luo Yunting and said, word by word, "This is a portrait of Miss Luo. Naturally, she should be the one to decide its fate."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place erupted.
The crowd's gazes landed on Wang Xiu, turning peculiar. Was this man insane? That couldn't be right; an insane person could never create such a masterpiece. But if he was sane… If he truly wanted the Luo Family's support, he could have just gifted the painting to Luo Yunting. Given her love for art, his chances of success would have been extrely high. But why resort to such blatant flattery, claiming the woman in the painting was her? Who would believe such a thing? Did he really think the young miss of the Luo Family was so naive? This attempt at flattery was bound to backfire spectacularly.
Indeed. Upon hearing the first half of Wang Xiu's statent, Luo Yunting had seed sowhat moved. But when he finished, even soone as good-tempered as she felt her face flush with humiliation. This was tantamount to a public shaming.
"Master Wang! I appreciate your sentint, but… I know my own limitations. I'm afraid I cannot accept this portrait!"
With a darkened expression, she turned to leave.
At that mont, Wang Xiu spoke again. "Miss Luo, why the hurry? Have you ever heard the saying, 'There are no ugly won, only won who lack confidence'? Confidence is a woman's best adornnt!"
"Please, take a closer look at the person in this painting. Can you find… a few familiar features?"
Wang Xiu's words seed to carry a magical quality, causing Luo Yunting to once again halt her steps. With a mixture of doubt and belief, she looked at the figure in the painting.
This ti, following Wang Xiu's suggestion, she carefully observed the figure's features, from the brows to the eyes. And sure enough, she found familiar traces.
Traces of herself!
This… is that painting really of ?
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