Chapter 80: Poetry Duel Prince
Chapter 80: Poetry Duel Prince
The ink on the painting board was still wet, and Water Qilin knew that touching it now would smudge the artwork.
She examined it carefully, growing more and more fond of it. The irritation from being disturbed had long dissipated, and her beautiful eyes turned to Li Hao:
"Did you paint this for me?"
"Do you like it, Senior?"
Li Hao noticed the joy in her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, smiling. "If you like it, I'll give it to you."
Water Qilin's smile brightened, and the entire Cold Pool seemed to glow. She chuckled softly:
"I didn't expect there to be such a skilled artist among the humans. It's indeed well done. I feel like I'm standing on the paper myself."
"I'm glad you like it."
Painting isn't just about replication; it involves artistic touches, like adding a filter, which naturally makes it more appealing.
Li Hao glanced at her and asked quietly, "Senior, would you like me to paint another one of you in your current form?"
This time, Water Qilin didn't object. Instead, she looked at Li Hao with interest. "You can paint again?"
"Sure, as long as you cooperate, I can paint all day!" Li Hao said with a smile.
"Alright, then paint another one for me to see." Water Qilin agreed.
"Great!"
Li Hao quickly responded, seeing this as a rare opportunity to earn more.
"Senior, please stand by the pond, and turn your body slightly to the side. Yes, just like that..."
Li Hao had her pose with her side profile, her stunning beauty making her look like a gentle, sorrowful woman standing by the emerald pond.
He began to sketch rapidly.
After about an hour.
The second painting was complete.
[Art Dao Experience +1738]
The experience didn't decrease much, likely because of the different form she had taken, which was another kind of pose.
Soon, Li Hao handed the painting to her.
Water Qilin glanced at it, and her eyes lit up. The woman in the painting looked sorrowful, her brows conveying a deep, unspoken loneliness and a clear, frosty elegance, like a water lily floating in isolation.
This is actually me... Water Qilin felt that the woman in the painting was even more beautiful than her real self.
Moreover, the unresolvable sorrow in her eyes reflected her inner feelings.
Living alone in the Cold Pool for a thousand years, she was isolated. The Tan Palace was a human place, but it wasn't her place. In the bustling human city, she felt even more alone.
She stared at the painting, gradually becoming entranced.
Li Hao saw her lost in thought and didn't disturb her. He subtly organized the painting board and then captured her entranced expression in another painting.
In this era without photographs, his paintings could capture the passage of time.
Li Hao believed that most people would appreciate them.
Soon, the third painting was complete.
[Art Dao Experience +1541]
The experience had only slightly decreased, but it was still a substantial amount.
Just three paintings had earned him over five thousand experience points, a significant gain.
When Li Hao finished, Water Qilin came back to her senses and asked, "Are you done?"
You noticed, huh... Li Hao chuckled inwardly. She had clearly noticed but maintained her entranced pose, indicating she was intentionally cooperating.
"Done."
Li Hao nodded and turned the painting board toward her.
Seeing the third painting, Water Qilin's smile deepened. Her entranced expression was vividly captured, with the light slanting across her clear eyes, reflecting countless thoughts.
She had indeed briefly reminisced about some past events, and he had noticed?
This young human could actually understand her?
Water Qilin looked at Li Hao, her gaze much warmer. "Your painting skills are indeed impressive. You said you're from the Li Family?"
"Yes." Li Hao nodded.
Water Qilin asked with interest, "The Divine General Li Family, renowned throughout the world. But from what I know, the Li Family has strict rules, and all its members are martial artists. How could they allow you to pursue such a minor art form?"
"Art Dao isn't necessarily a minor art form."
Li Hao smiled. "Besides, practicing martial arts and painting don't conflict. There are times when one needs a break from training."
"Oh?"
Water Qilin raised an eyebrow.
Li Hao temporarily hid his Omni Attributes and released the aura of a Fifteenth Li, then reactivated the Omni Attributes.
Water Qilin was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at Li Hao.
Fifteenth Li?
Yet his blood and bones looked so fresh and young.
"Senior, since we have some free time today, would you like me to paint a few more for you?" Li Hao asked with a smile, trying to entice her.
Water Qilin glanced at the painting paper in her hand, which she had dried with her power, and nodded. "Sure."
Li Hao smiled inwardly and immediately had her stand by the emerald pond again, continuing to paint.
Soon, one painting after another was completed.
By the time the eleventh painting was finished, his Art Dao experience only increased by 351 points when the twelfth was completed.
Although it was much less than before, it was still quite generous compared to painting other things.
"That's enough for today."
Water Qilin took the latest painting, glanced at it, and her face lit up with a bright smile.
"Senior, are you dissatisfied?" Li Hao asked, about to pick up his brush.
Water Qilin shook her head and said, "My attire today was too simple. Your painting skills are so exquisite; I'll dress up better next time before you paint me."
Li Hao was momentarily speechless. It seemed that even a Great Demon King had a sense of beauty.
She thought she didn't look pretty enough today?
But to Li Hao, she was already ethereal and beautiful.
"Alright."
Li Hao didn't push the matter, knowing there would be plenty of time in the future.
"What's your name?" Water Qilin asked.
"Li Hao."
Water Qilin was slightly surprised. This name seemed rather presumptuous, but it would be fitting if Li Hao came from a royal family.
"Senior, what about you?" Li Hao asked, not missing this opportunity to connect.
"I follow the surname of the First Palace Master. My surname is Song." Water Qilin smiled. "My name is Song Qiumo."
Song Qiumo... Li Hao nodded slightly. "Senior Qiumo, I'll come to see you again when I have time. How should I call you then?"
"Lightly touch the pond water, and I'll sense it." Song Qiumo smiled.
Li Hao remembered and nodded. "Farewell, Senior."
Song Qiumo waved gently, turned, and drifted away, carrying the dozen paintings back into the emerald pond.
The painting papers were covered by her power, forming a thin film that kept the pond water from touching them.
"This dive... it should score a perfect ten, I suppose."
Li Hao watched as she entered the Cold Pool without a single splash and couldn't help but admire her skill.
He didn't put away his Painting Board immediately but continued to paint the Cold Pool and the cliff.
Even without Water Qilin Song Qiumo in the paintings, the breathtaking scenery still provided a good amount of experience.
Li Hao had also tried to paint grand and magnificent scenes or even strange and ferocious beasts from his imagination, but the experience gained was minimal.
He wasn't sure why, perhaps it was due to a lack of certain details or spirit?
He painted four or five more scenes of the solitary cliff and Cold Pool.
Gaining around five to six hundred experience points, Li Hao felt it was time to leave. Suddenly, he heard someone reciting poetry:
"The solitary peak and steep cliff are withered, white clouds drift like tears in the sky."
"A narrow path leads to where, and who understands my heart?"
As the voice spoke, a figure slowly approached. When he saw Li Hao by the Cold Pool, Li Hao also turned to look at him.
They exchanged a glance and recognized each other.
A Prince?
Li Hao was surprised. This person was one of the two Princes of Alpha Court, seemingly named Jiang Hanxing.
Jiang Hanxing also recognized Li Hao. If there was anyone who had been the center of attention in Alpha Court today, it was this Li Family Young Master.
He had noticed Wang Han and the other Divine General Manor disciples when they entered Alpha Court but hadn't approached them.
Thinking about his recent recitation, Jiang Hanxing felt his face turn red, embarrassed that someone was there to hear it. Damn, why is there someone here?
But this guy is the son of a general; he probably doesn't understand poetry anyway, right?
After a brief moment of eye contact, Jiang Hanxing controlled his embarrassment and smiled, greeting Li Hao:
"Li Family Young Master?"
"Hello."
Li Hao responded formally, not particularly interested in these Imperial Clan disciples.
The other Prince, Jiang Ye, had approached him and Li Yuanzhao not long after the start of the semester, expressing a desire to connect.
But the ambition in that guy's eyes was too obvious, and Li Hao didn't want to get involved in the troubles related to the Imperial Clan. He had ignored Jiang Ye and told Yuanzhao to stay away from these people, as the complexities and power struggles within the Imperial Clan were too deep for them to easily navigate.
"What are you doing here?"
Jiang Hanxing curiously examined the Painting Board in front of Li Hao. If Li Hao was practicing, he wouldn't find it strange.
But what was he doing with his brush and ink?
Li Hao had been granted an exception to enter the Black and White Hall, and he was already at least at the Soul Continuation Realm. This thought made Jiang Hanxing's gaze turn slightly more serious.
"Scenic Sketching", Li Hao said casually, then withdrew his gaze and began to mix the ink, preparing to paint.
Jiang Hanxing was a bit surprised, his eyes showing a hint of interest. Earlier in Alpha Court, he had secretly observed this Li Family Young Master more closely.
After all, the other party's name had been personally bestowed by his father, the emperor.
He had heard this from his mother since he was old enough to understand, and upon meeting Li Hao on the first day of school, he couldn't help but pay more attention.
Li Hao's performance had indeed been different from that of ordinary people. He had initially felt a bit regretful, thinking that the other party had been overly favored and spoiled by the Li Family into a playboy.
But today, after hearing Teacher Su Yehua's words, he realized that Li Hao was a hidden genius.
"Scenic Sketching?"
Jiang Hanxing, curious, walked over and saw Li Hao painting. The solitary mountain and the Cold Pool were vividly depicted on the painting paper, capturing the scene with remarkable skill.
He was stunned.
Born into the imperial family, he had practiced martial arts from a young age but also had a fondness for poetry and literature. He could easily tell that Li Hao's painting skills were quite remarkable.
After Li Hao finished, Jiang Hanxing couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Li, you can paint too?"
Li Hao didn't even blink, continuing to paint as he replied, "And you can write poetry, can't you?"
Mentioning poetry, Jiang Hanxing's face turned a bit red.
He liked poetry, but being able to write it was a different matter.
He did have some understanding, but the poem he had just recited was not carefully crafted. The words and phrases were chosen on a whim, just to vent his frustrations, without any serious refinement.
"Young Master Li, you also understand poetry?"
"Somewhat."
"Oh?"
Jiang Hanxing was quite surprised and became more interested. "Then how about composing a poem? Why don't you write one about this Cold Pool you've painted? We can both write one together."
"Write a poem?"
Li Hao glanced at him. His poetry experience was already at three stages full, and he hadn't yet grasped the essence of poetry, so he had no experience in writing poems.
"Exactly, why don't you write one about this Cold Pool? We can see how we compare."
Jiang Hanxing was eager to engage in a poetry duel, partly to compare his skills with Li Hao and partly to save face after his spontaneous poem, which might otherwise be seen as lacking.
Li Hao looked at him. "The Cold Pool, huh? You go first."
"No, no, Young Master Li, you go first. I have limited talent and need to gather my thoughts", Jiang Hanxing quickly said.
Li Hao didn't think he was being modest. The poem he had recited earlier was so poor that it didn't even rhyme properly.
"Alright."
Li Hao, being casual, didn't give it much thought and started reciting:
"Li Bai was about to set sail, when he heard the sound of footsteps on the shore."
"The peach blossoms in the deep pond are a thousand feet tall, but they cannot match the friendship of Wang Lun."
After reciting the poem, he continued painting without stopping.
In the past, reciting a poem by the Poet Immortal would have earned him at least a hundred experience points, but now that his experience was already full, he gained nothing.
To respect the original, he didn't change a single word.
If it didn't fit the background? Ha, that wasn't his problem.
Jiang Hanxing was impressed after hearing the poem. It had a certain charm.
"Young Master Li, did you write this poem on the spot?" Jiang Hanxing asked, noting that the scene described didn't quite match their current situation.
"Just tell me if there's a pond in the poem", Li Hao replied.
"..."
Jiang Hanxing was speechless. There was a pond, but where were the peach blossoms? There wasn't a single peach blossom here!
He thought for a moment and then asked, "Is this a poem you wrote yourself, or...?"
His eyes were filled with suspicion.
"Anyway, you won't find any other author for this poem in this world", Li Hao said calmly.
Jiang Hanxing was taken aback by his confidence and asked, "Then, may I ask who Li Bai is?"
"He's a Li, so naturally, he's an ancestor of our Li Family."
"…And who is Wang Lun?"
"The number one patron of my ancestor."
"????"
What the hell was a number one patron?
Jiang Hanxing was utterly bewildered.
"It's your turn", Li Hao glanced at him.
Jiang Hanxing snapped back to reality, a bit at a loss for words. Fortunately, he had actually been clever and had a poem about the Cold Pool waterfall from earlier, which he could use today.
While it might not be entirely fitting for the current scene, it was certainly better than Li Hao's absurd poem.
(End of Chapter)
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