Chapter 126: Drawing

“I can’t guarantee it, which is why I came back to look at the portrait again.” Huang Engui answered as he unrolled the paper. A man’s head and face had been drawn upon it, and it did indeed resemble Niu Youdao rather closely. How the Song family had managed to obtain such a likeness was anyone’s guess.

He studied it from left to right. “Similar! Nine parts out of ten. Especially the way he ties his long hair behind his head. It really could be him.”

When Niu Youdao had been with Shang Shuqing, she had taken care of his hair for him. After leaving her, he was still a fastidious man at heart. As long as circumstances permitted, he basically kept his habit of washing his hair every day. Constantly undoing a topknot to wash his hair and then tying it up again was troublesome, so he had returned to his ponytail style.

If he had not worried about standing out too much, he would have cut it short. Long hair was simply troublesome to wash.

“You’re certain?” The shopkeeper immediately became energized. How could he not?

Niu Youdao had killed several Liuxian Sect disciples, creating a feud with the sect. Liu Ziyu, the son of the Song family steward, had also died, and the Liuxian Sect felt somewhat guilty toward Liu Lu for failing to protect his son despite all the care Liu Lu had shown them over the years. This time, rumor had it that the Song family patriarch himself had cast the net. If their side could capture Niu Youdao, it would unquestionably be a major contribution. Neither the sect nor the Song family would treat them poorly afterward.

No one in Star-Plucking City had truly expected to discover Niu Youdao here. They had only carried out the sect’s instructions as a matter of routine. Who could have imagined this unexpected surprise?

Huang Engui gave a bitter smile. “A portrait and a real person are always a little different. If Martial Uncle insists I confirm it beyond doubt, I really can’t promise that.”

The shopkeeper grew impatient. “Then why did you come running back? Why aren’t you watching him and making sure? What if he runs? You don’t want the credit?”

Huang Engui said, “Martial Uncle, don’t be impatient. He checked into the Inviting Moon Inn. From the look of things, he shouldn’t be leaving so quickly, which is why I came back to compare him with the portrait and confirm.”

“The Inviting Moon Inn?” The shopkeeper stroked the beard on his chin, looking doubtful. “That does make things troublesome. We can’t conveniently act against him there.”

After pondering for a while, he seemed to reach a decision. He lowered his hand and tapped the counter once. “Go. Take another man with you to the Inviting Moon Inn and verify his identity beyond doubt. Remember, do not alert the snake by striking the grass.”

“Understood.” Huang Engui nodded and quickly left.

At another intersection in the city, he called over a junior fellow disciple who had been keeping watch there. After explaining the situation, the two went together to the Inviting Moon Inn.

Inside, ten gold coins were placed on the counter. Huang Enping smiled pleasantly. “Innkeeper, a room.”

People who spent much time in Star-Plucking City had generally seen one another even if they were not acquainted. Recognizing the two as Liuxian Sect disciples, the innkeeper gave them a faintly warning look. “You may stay, but no causing trouble. You know the consequences.”

He did not know what they intended to do. He only knew that Liuxian Sect disciples already had their own shop in the city where they could stay. Coming here to lodge was unusual.

Huang Enping grinned. “Innkeeper, you jest. How would we dare make trouble here? We have guests arriving and plan to put them up here later. We’re only making preparations. Nothing else.”

“See that it stays that way.” The innkeeper snorted. After recording their names, he tossed over a room token.

The two cupped their hands and thanked him politely, then followed an attendant to their room...

Inside another guest room, Black Peony had no idea what Niu Youdao was doing. All she knew was that he had asked her to stay behind for a while.

Yuan Fang was equally baffled. He watched Niu Youdao take a piece of charcoal and sharpen one end into a point.

Neither of them knew what trick he was playing. When they asked, he refused to explain and merely said they would understand soon enough.

After sharpening several sticks of charcoal, Niu Youdao personally arranged a setting by the window. Then he placed a chair and beckoned Black Peony over. “Come. Sit.”

Black Peony walked over in confusion and sat by the window as instructed, her posture perfectly upright.

Niu Youdao shook his head, dissatisfied. “Don’t sit so properly. Turn sideways. Yes. Cross one leg over the other. Put that hand on your leg. Rest that arm on the chairback and prop up your cheek... Don’t be so stiff. Relax. Yes, more natural. Right, right. Add a little smile... Good! Just like that. Don’t move.”

With that, he turned and went back to what he was doing.

Black Peony sat there feeling awkward all over, half amused and half exasperated. “Master Dao, what exactly are we doing?”

“Making money!”

“Making money?” Black Peony became even more confused. “Sitting like this makes money?”

“You’ll understand later.” Niu Youdao gave the same answer again. He had always left himself room when speaking and rarely said anything to the absolute limit.

He turned, dragged over another chair, placed it directly opposite Black Peony, and beckoned Yuan Fang. “Come. Sit.”

“I have to sit too?” Yuan Fang looked stunned.

“If I tell you to sit, sit.”

With that sentence dropped on his head, Yuan Fang could only sit down reluctantly. Then he imitated Black Peony’s alluring posture, crossing one leg and propping his cheek in one hand.

“...” Niu Youdao stared at the spectacle in disbelief.

“Pfft... hahahaha!”

Seeing an old man sitting opposite her in that pose, Black Peony tried to hold back her laughter, but finally failed. Her own carefully arranged posture collapsed as she shook with laughter, bending forward and back while clutching her stomach. “I can’t... I really can’t... You’re killing me, hahaha...”

Niu Youdao was speechless. He shoved Yuan Fang once. “Who told you to sit like that? Sit properly. Head down. Back hunched.”

Once Yuan Fang’s posture was arranged, Niu Youdao wedged a wooden board between Yuan Fang’s back and the chairback, laid a sheet of paper across it, and had Yuan Fang reach both hands back over his shoulders to hold the board and paper in place behind him.

“Get back into the pose from before.” Niu Youdao pointed at Black Peony, who had nearly laughed herself breathless.

After calming her breathing and emotions, Black Peony resumed the earlier posture.

Niu Youdao took a charcoal pencil in hand, stood behind Yuan Fang, and studied Black Peony for a moment. Then the charcoal touched paper and began moving in swift strokes, sketching lines.

Never mind drawing the living. In his previous life, he had even drawn memorial portraits of the dead.

Back then, when technology had not yet advanced so far, portraits of deceased people had been painted by hand onto porcelain plaques.

He was the real article when it came to qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He could play with all of them.

Hearing the scratching behind him, Yuan Fang twisted his head around to see what was happening.

Bang! Niu Youdao struck the wooden board sharply. “Sit still. Don’t move around!”

Yuan Fang immediately behaved. He hunched there without moving, though his eyeballs continued darting about.

From time to time, Niu Youdao held the charcoal pencil horizontally before his eyes and measured Black Peony’s proportions at a distance. Once he had the proportions clear, he continued drawing.

Before long, the smiling Black Peony, cheek propped in hand, had appeared vividly on the paper. The full image gradually took shape.

Black Peony’s bright eyes occasionally blinked. She too was growing curious about what Niu Youdao was doing. Was he drawing her portrait? Yet she saw no ink or brush. Could a portrait truly be drawn with nothing but charcoal?

Only when the drawing was nearly finished did Niu Youdao lift the board and paper from Yuan Fang’s back, balancing it across one arm. He instructed Yuan Fang, “Go. Have an inn attendant send up a jar of wine.”

Yuan Fang finally rose and stretched his slightly stiffened waist. As he passed Niu Youdao, he naturally could not resist glancing at whatever Niu Youdao had been scribbling.

The instant he saw it, his eyes almost popped out. His mouth fell open. He pointed at the drawing, then at Black Peony. “Master Dao, this... this...”

Niu Youdao asked blandly, “Does it look like her?”

“Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm!” Yuan Fang nodded repeatedly like a fool. The way he looked at Niu Youdao was pure worship, his eyes practically shining. He seemed finally to understand why Yuan Gang followed this man with such absolute devotion. Master Dao was simply too capable.

So he really was drawing her portrait. Black Peony could barely contain her curiosity now and badly wanted to come over and see.

“Didn’t you hear what I told you to do?” Niu Youdao asked, tilting his head.

“Oh!” Yuan Fang hurried away.

“Remember, don’t carry it up yourself. Have the attendant deliver it personally. Understand?” Niu Youdao reminded him without turning.

“Mm, understood.” Yuan Fang opened the door and left.

Before long, Yuan Fang returned. “The attendant will bring it up shortly.”

Then he stood there watching Niu Youdao complete the drawing stroke by stroke, sometimes shaking his head, sometimes clicking his tongue in amazement.

Black Peony grew increasingly curious, a trace of reproach even appearing in her bright eyes.

Knock, knock! A rap sounded outside, followed by an attendant’s voice. “Honored guest, your wine is here.”

“Come in,” Niu Youdao called.

The attendant opened the door and entered, having no idea what was happening inside. He placed the wine jar on a nearby table. “Honored guest, I’ve set your wine here.”

He was about to leave when Niu Youdao spoke again. “Wait. I’m nearly finished with this drawing. Help me take it to be mounted afterward.”

A drawing? The attendant agreed and came closer, curious to see what Niu Youdao was drawing.

His reaction was much like Yuan Fang’s. Once he understood what he was looking at, his eyes widened in astonishment. He looked at Black Peony across the room, then at the woman rendered vividly on the paper, his face full of amazement. Then he looked again at Niu Youdao, who remained completely absorbed in his work...

Niu Youdao soon finished the drawing. In one corner, he added an inscription:

Once I had known the vast sea, no other waters seemed like water;
Save for the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds seemed like clouds.
Passing through the flowers, I scarcely turn to look—
Half because I cultivate the Dao, half because of you.

Late spring, Year 523 of the Wu Calendar.
Presented to Black Peony!

“Heh-heh, done.” Niu Youdao tossed the charcoal pencil and board to Yuan Fang, then beckoned Black Peony over. “Come see whether it looks like you.”

Black Peony had long since run out of patience and had been waiting for those words. She immediately hurried over in delighted curiosity.

One look shocked her.

She covered her mouth with both hands and stared. Never in her life had she seen a painting so lifelike, so true to its subject. If she had not witnessed the process herself, she could never have imagined that charcoal alone could produce something like this.

In the drawing, the window stood open onto a broad sky and floating clouds. A green potted plant sat on the sill. Against that background, a graceful woman reclined sideways in a chair, cheek propped in one hand, smiling with gentle beauty. Even her gaze seemed alive. The likeness was more vivid than what one saw in a bronze mirror.

Slowly lowering the hands covering her mouth, Black Peony murmured in a daze, “Is that really me? You’re giving this to me...?”

Her gaze settled on the final line beneath the poem:

Presented to Black Peony!

Niu Youdao gave the drawing a little shake, then casually handed it to the attendant beside him. “Here. Have it mounted properly and bring it back. Don’t damage it.”

“Yes, yes. Of course. I’ll be careful.” The attendant accepted it with extraordinary caution, as though afraid of harming it. He bowed repeatedly as he backed out of the room, his gaze toward Niu Youdao filled with wonder.

[End of Chapter 126]