114: Chapter 113 The Book of the Saint!
114: Chapter 113 The Book of the Saint!
“Grandpa, it’s not Li Chen’s fault.
It’s just your granddaughter being too sentintal on her own, a one-sided wishful thinking.
It’s not his fault!”
Lin Xuanfei’s eyes reddened, her face like a pear blossom bathed in rain, pitiful and loving.
Zhao Huanhuan saw her best friend being rejected and still defending that scumbag Li Chen, feeling a pang of heartache.
She stood up, took Lin Xuanfei’s arm, and said indignantly, “Feifei, why are you being so foolish.
I really wonder, what’s so good about him that you, a girl like you, the pride of heaven, are so devoted?”
With reddened eyes, Lin Xuanfei said aggrievedly, “Huanhuan, you don’t understand.”
Zhao Huanhuan gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes and reproached softly, “Oh, Feifei, you’re truly naive.
I’ve been through this age as well, how could I not understand?”
“Feifei, you’re still young.
After so ti, when you look back on this period, you’ll realize how naive and laughable you were.
Whether it’s dating or marriage, you have to find soone of equal status.
n from a poor family either resign themselves to fate or resort to ruthless ans, lacking responsibility and commitnt.
They’re not worth entrusting your life to!”
Although Zhao Huanhuan didn’t ntion Li Chen by na, when she said “n from a poor family,” the corner of her eye fleetingly glanced at Li Chen.
However, Li Chen’s expression remained calm and serene without any hint of feeling accused.
Of course, he did not beco angry or retaliate against Zhao Huanhuan’s words.
Walk your own path, let others say what they will!
Li Chen’s actions have always been independent and non-conformist.
He does not need anyone’s understanding, nor does he need to explain himself to anyone, as long as he has a clear conscience.
After saying a few more words of comfort, Zhao Huanhuan saw that it was almost ti to leave and took Lin Xuanfei’s hand, saying, “Alright, Feifei.
Let’s end today’s gathering here, we’ll et up another day.
Go ho and rest well!”
Lin Xuanfei, choked with emotion, couldn’t speak, but lightly nodded her head.
As Zhao Huanhuan turned around, she glared fiercely at Li Chen, who seed unfazed by the situation.
The other second-generation socialites, seeing Zhao Huanhuan leave, also left one after another.
Zhang Yuanjun and Lui Kang did not forget to leave Li Chen with so harsh words to express their inner anger as they left.
Bai Qianshui, seeing that Li Chen had no intention of leaving, beca furious and snapped, “Why are you still shalessly sticking around?”
Li Chen raised his eyebrows and retorted, “Aren’t you still here as well?”
Bai Qianshui scoffed disdainfully, “Hmpf, how dare you, a penniless loser with nothing to his na, compare yourself to ?”
Li Chen shot back, “Why can’t I?
I’m a human, aren’t you a human too?”
Bai Qianshui beca infuriated and embarrassed: “You…”
Mr.
Lin was also furious that his precious granddaughter had been made to cry by Li Chen, but as a great scholar, it wouldn’t look good for him to lose his temper on the spot.
Bai Qianshui saw his opportunity to shine and stepped forward, speaking respectfully to Mr.
Lin, “Teacher, please calm down.
A few days ago, I followed your advice and again carefully copied Wang Xizhi’s ‘Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection.’ If there are any inadequacies, I hope you could offer so guidance.”
As he spoke, he carefully unfolded a calligraphy piece.
When Mr.
Lin took the piece and looked at it, his cloudy eyes suddenly shone with a glimr of light.
“Qianshui, this calligraphy piece of yours, with its graceful and modest strokes, beautiful and sturdy, has already captured seven or eight parts of the spirit of Wang Youjun.
Given ti, you will certainly beco a great master!”
As he spoke, he passed the calligraphy piece to his two friends for them to see.
Elder Zhou praised with a smile, “Not bad, in my opinion, within five years, he will surely exceed his teacher.
The leading figure of the calligraphy world, there’s no doubt it will be your disciple!”
“Teacher, Elder Zhou, you flatter too much.
I will work hard and strive to live up to your careful ntorship!”
Bai Qianshui, though playing it humble, was brimming with pride.
Lin Xuanfei had also stopped crying and praised, “Brother Qianshui’s calligraphy has reached another level, it’s getting more and more impressive!”
Hearing Lin Xuanfei’s complint, Bai Qianshui felt even prouder, his face almost blooming with delight.
“Li Chen, what do you think of Brother Qianshui’s calligraphy?”
Lin Xuanfei stared at Li Chen with her sparkling eyes, unblinkingly.
She made the words “Brother Qianshui” very clear and ambiguous, wanting to see if Li Chen would get jealous?
Moreover, Li Chen was just too arrogant.
It was the perfect opportunity to knock down his pride and to send him a ssage:
There are many suitors of Miss Lin, many of whom are outstanding talents.
If you don’t make a move, you’ll regret it and won’t even have a place to cry later.
Taking over the conversation, Bai Qianshui, with a face full of superiority, said triumphantly.
“Feifei, the art of calligraphy requires accumulation over ti, persistence like water wears away stone.
I’ve been practicing calligraphy under the teacher since I was nine, and spent a lot of money to learn hands-on from famous masters in the field, putting in nearly twenty years of hard work to achieve so success.”
“He, Li Chen, being from a poor family, will spend his whole life toiling for survival.
Just buying a house and a car will take him twenty years of struggle, without any spare money or energy to pursue calligraphy, such an elegant art?”
After finishing, he deliberately looked at Li Chen with a provocative gaze, shaking his head and sighing, “Ah, this is the sadness of a poor family’s descendant, so sad!”
Seeing Bai Qianshui repeatedly provoking him, Li Chen’s face also showed a touch of indignation.
If not for waiting until midnight to expel evil for Lin Xuanfei, he would have already slapped this clown hard.
“Hehe, Bai Qianshui, your calligraphy can only be described in four words: ‘Utterly unwatchable!'”
Hearing the words “utterly unwatchable,” Bai Qianshui’s face turned an iron blue.
Mr.
Lin’s face also darkened in response.
Bai Qianshui was his proud disciple, and Li Chen’s comnt was a direct affront to him.
“This young brother, you also understand calligraphy?”
Li Chen nodded and said, “I know a little!”
After speaking, he pointed to Bai Qianshui and added, “Just a tad stronger than him!”
Bai Qianshui, furious yet laughing, retorted: “Haha, Li Chen, are you here just for laughs?”
Li Chen shrugged and replied, “Believe it or not, that’s up to you!”
Elder Wu saw that although Li Chen was arrogant, from start to finish he maintained a nonchalant deanor, a state of mind far surpassing that of ordinary people.
He also wished to take this opportunity to truly see whether Li Chen possessed unique talent or not.
“This young brother, if you wish us to believe you, you could write a piece of calligraphy for us.
Let’s compare it with Bai Qianshui’s ‘Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection’ to determine who is superior, how about that?”
Bai Qianshui sneered and said, “Exactly, Mr.
Li, show us a thing or two at your convenience, to broaden our horizons.
Let’s see if your calligraphy is indeed just that tiny bit stronger than mine.”
Li Chen, feigning difficulty, said, “Well, alright then, since you insist, I shall casually write sothing.”
Mr.
Lin knew his granddaughter was exceptionally proud and also desired to see what distinguished qualities the man who caught her eye possessed.
“Lin Bei, go to the study and bring my Four Treasures of the Study!”
A robust servant respectfully responded and went off to the study.
He brought back the Four Treasures of the Study and started to arrange them one by one on the table, ready to grind ink.
However, he was stopped by Lin Xuanfei.
“Uncle Bei, let do it!”
When Bai Qianshui saw Lin Xuanfei, the pride of the heavens, offering to grind ink for Li Chen, his relatively handso face darkened instantly as if dripping water.
Red sleeves adding fragrance, delicate hands grinding ink!
This was what he longed for in his wildest dreams and never dared to ask for, yet Li Chen, a man from a poor family, had effortlessly seized the opportunity before him—how could he not be furious?
“The ink is ready!”
Lin Xuanfei glanced at Li Chen, her dimples lightly swirling.
Li Chen nodded and took the Wolf Brush from her hand.
He was positioned directly in front of the ‘Pri Tang Court Ladies Painting’ on the wall.
Li Chen gazed into the eyes of the maiden in the painting for a mont, then a mischievous smile curved across his lips.
A man should kill without rcy,
His undying legacy lies within the act of murder.
…
Three steps for one kill, heart stills yet hands never rest.
In dreams, one continues to kill, with smiles reflecting off pure luster.
Do not ask the girls why the boys are so ferocious.
In a burst of inspiration, he composed and finished the “Murder Song” without a single pause, his movents as fluid as clouds and water, a perfect creation of sheer delight.
Once complete, the murderous intent was startling.
The raw energy was palpable, sending chills down one’s spine!
“This running script…
wafts like floating clouds and arches like a startled dragon.
It perfectly lds strength and softness, with decisive execution.
It feels as if one is imrsed in the scene; could this be the writing of a Saint?”
Mr.
Lin’s eyes, previously clouded, now shone brilliantly, his face unbelieving.
Elder Zhou and Elder Wu were also visibly shaken.
Bai Qianshui stood with his mouth agape, looking as though he had swallowed a dead rat.
His own achievents in calligraphy were considerable, having been guided by a renowned master; he had reached an advanced level, and could be considered a master in his own right.
Yet when his work was compared with Li Chen’s, it was like comparing the faint glow of fireflies to the brightness of the sun and moon—there was no comparison at all.
“How can this be?”
Lin Xuanfei, gazing at the distinct profile of Li Chen, couldn’t help but be emotionally stirred.
Her clear eyes also were filled with a fervent glow.
He was no re mortal, but a heavenly immortal on earth!
She must seize him; she must!
Li Chen’s expression was unchanged, not revealing even the slightest ripple.
He looked up at the quartz wall clock on the wall—it was 22:45.
Only a quarter of an hour remained until midnight…
…
Note 1, taken from the “Murder Song” by Chou Sheng.
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