Wen Caishang suddenly frowned, her technique chaotic, the characters crooked, barely taking shape.
It turned into another lesson. Li Xian ultimately bore a grudge over the "Thrusting Sword."
The wind chis gently swayed.
Once she ca to her senses, the sky was dark, another day had passed. Wen Caishang lay horizontally on the bed, her gaze floating, looking at the jade-green river.
Li Xian scrutinized the calligraphy, teasingly said, "It seems madam’s calligraphy and painting skills are not all that impressive."
The first two characters showed great power, but the dozen characters that followed, the penmanship was coarse, technique chaotic, like bearing humiliation... as if greatly disturbed while writing. Wen Caishang’s delicate face blushed, snatched the calligraphy and paintings, hid them in her sleeve, and they vanished into thin air.
Li Xian said, "The calligraphy is obtained."
"I still ask madam to teach painting."
Wen Caishang knew Li Xian was inherently unrestrained. He had previously respected her greatly, never offending. But once opening the door to this mischief, it was deeply troubling.
She retorted, "If you keep causing trouble, how can I teach you."
Li Xian said, "Does madam not dare?" Wen Caishang said, "Do I fear you, brat?"
Though embarrassed, she couldn’t say she disliked it. She laid out the rice paper, pressed the edges, dipped the brush, and began to paint.
The candle fla flickered, the wind chis chid.
That night, idle pleasure was in full swing. Playing the zither, practicing calligraphy, painting... after all, bla must go to the spring breeze.
The characters did not look like characters, the paintings not like paintings. It was ant to be a spring riverboat painting, but there was only spring water, no boat.
In a blink, the third day had co.
Here the water flowed gently, Li Xian raised the boat cover, lay in the cabin admiring the clouds. The two had traveled the river for several days, never getting off the boat, and lacked the heart for eating or drinking.
The fruits and vegetables on the boat were all wasted, helplessly thrown into the lake. Suddenly today hunger was unbearable, so they fished for river fish by the boat.
Silk wound around an iron hook caught the vegetable leaves. Tossed deep into the river, it didn’t take long for river fish to bite the hook.
Lighting a fire for cooking, the fish soup was delicious.
Wen Caishang no longer had the renowned "Broken Sword" and had turned completely into the lady of "Stored Sword." Knowing the taste, her attachnt to Li Xian grew stronger.
Li Xian embraced his might greatly, naturally undefeated. He brought Wen Caishang to utter defeat, fourth day, fifth day, sixth day... delightfully, without restraint.
The Seven-day Pass gradually ended.
Li Xian dressed neatly, counting the calligraphy and paintings created in seven days. Fourteen calligraphy pieces, sixteen paintings... none had proper technique.
Wen Caishang, face red and ears burning, still felt the lingering aftereffects, looking at the scattered clothes, said, "Dear husband, help get dressed."
Li Xian carefully assisted. Clothing neat, but one boot was missing. It had unknowingly fallen into the river, swept away by the waters.
Wen Caishang glared at Li Xian. This boy had a wild energy, he truly exerted.
She tidied her long hair, picked up the silver hairpin on the ground, and arranged it into her bun. Her eyebrows relaxed, no longer did she seem indifferent. Amid dignity, she gained more charm.
After the wild storm, calm was rare.
Wen Caishang glanced at the calligraphy and paintings, recalling many awkward monts. She kept nudging Li Xian, scolding him for not staying upright, his antics endless. It was him who wanted to learn calligraphy and painting, and also him who obstructed the process.
The Seven-day Pass had passed, yet the two alone on the boat truly had no distance. Embracing each day, sleeping together each night.
The river flowed incessantly, the ship sailed non-stop.
That night.
The painting boat floated to Qiong Heavenly Mansion’s "Fan Yuzhou." In the distance, a "Great Qing City" was faintly visible, the lights flickering.
The painting boat floated among reeds. Here the current was very slow, the frog croaks loud and noisy.
Wen Caishang ground ink and burned incense, teaching Li Xian calligraphy. Li Xian, though rowdy and indulgent, was clever and talented, coupled with ’Heaven rewards diligence,’ he progressed quickly in mimicking calligraphy pieces and drawing line paintings.
Wen Caishang said, "Various arts in the world have logical connections."
"This calligraphy piece of yours, while the start is strong, the strokes overly fierce, the transitions lack smoothness, handling not yet mature. The ancients said ’seeing characters is like seeing the person,’ just as ’seeing martial arts is like seeing the person.’ One should be able to discern so clues from the characters in calligraphy. But should not be easily seen through in one glance."
[Skill·Calligraphy]
[Skill Level: 156/500 Beginner]
...
...
[Skill·Painting Technique]
[Skill Level: 236/500 Beginner]
...
Suddenly, a "splash" was heard from outside the boat.
Li Xian said, "Who is it!" He paused his writing, left the cabin, and looked towards the dark. The surrounding was full of dense reeds, taller than a person.
A few yards away, in the darkness, water splashed, faintly soone could be heard.
Li Xian knew soone had fallen into the water, the river was muddy and flooded into the mouth and nose, making it difficult to make sound. From his sleeve pocket, he took out the "Silk Jade Rope" and flung it towards the water splashes.
The rope had significant power, wrapped around the hand wildly flailing in the water, he pulled hard.
With a "splash," a figure was dragged out of the water, landing on the painting boat’s deck. It was a woman, drenched, but her attire was fairly intact.
Li Xian lightly patted her back, quietly exerting inner qi, and she instantly coughed out the dirty water from her lungs, feeling much better, breathing heavily.
Wen Caishang was slightly annoyed, but greatly affectionate towards Li Xian, so she said nothing more.
That woman coughed heavily a few tis, said, "Benefactor... benefactor... thank you benefactor for saving my life!" She knelt in gratitude, deeply appreciated. Wen Caishang said, "Raise your head."
That woman raised her head. Wen Caishang drew her sleeve sword, cutting away the disheveled hair covering her face, revealing her clear and attractive features, she said, "You are no longer in trouble, swim back yourself."
That woman quickly said, "Benefactor... I... I can’t swim, please, benefactor, be kind to the end, bring back to shore, I will surely give a good reward, anything is possible."
Wen Caishang coldly said, "Humph, you are common and vulgar, who cares about your reward." Glancing at Li Xian.
Li Xian said, "Miss, this place is quite remote, why did you fall into the water here?"
That woman trembled glancing at Wen Caishang, fearing, she shifted towards Li Xian, said, "To speak of it, it was all the heartless man’s fault!" At this, sorrow grew.
Wen Caishang was annoyed by this woman’s sudden appearance, disrupting the couple’s elegance. But a sword kill, blood staining the deck, further dampening the mood. Moreover, fearing to anger Li Xian, though extrely displeased, she did not act to resolve.
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