Two days later, Chu Anlou came to look for him again.
"Mister Xuanyuan." Chu Anlou smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, as if nothing had happened.
Yuan Gang looked on coldly, the muscles on his face tensing.
Niu Youdao smiled and cupped his hands in return. "Shopkeeper Chu, what can I do for you?" Similarly, he acted as if nothing had happened.
Chu Anlou said, "The Pavilion Master has returned. Mister, please follow me."
Niu Youdao understood from these words that the Pavilion Master of the Ice and Snow Pavilion hadn't been here before. Chu Anlou had been wondering what it meant to keep him here and not let him go.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Niu Youdao hurriedly agreed.
"Please!" Chu Anlou extended his hand and personally led Niu Youdao away.
Niu Youdao didn't bring too many people with him. He only brought Yuan Gang with him, saying that he would be his assistant. Chu Anlou didn't have any objections. After all, he didn't know anything and couldn't stop him.
Watching them leave, Black Peony pouted. She was a little jealous. She had been brought to Star picking City, but now that Yuan Gang had come, she had nothing to do with it …
They left the back of the inn and walked on foot for a while. They went up a flight of steps on the side of a waterfall, and a lush green area appeared.
Deep inside, flowers were hidden in the lush greenery, and all kinds of pavilions appeared one after another. All of them were built with top-grade pure white jade, and they were exquisite and gorgeous. It was truly a bejeweled jade palace, and it was like a fairyland.
Looking around, Niu Youdao found this place really interesting. The so-called Ice and Snow Pavilion didn't have any ice or snow at all. Along the way, he praised, "This is a good place. In this world of ice and snow, it really is a paradise."
"Haha!" Chu Anlou laughed in response.
The group came to a waterside pavilion and saw the Head Steward of the Ice and Snow Pavilion, Han Bing, sitting there drinking tea. Chu Anlou introduced him to Niu Youdao in advance, reminding him not to be rude later.
Entering the waterside pavilion, Chu Anlou said respectfully, "Head Steward, they are here."
Niu Youdao also bowed. "Greetings, Head Steward."
Yuan Gang, who was standing at the back, stood there stiffly. He was indifferent and had no intention of bowing.
Han Bing nodded and put down the teacup. He sized up Niu Youdao and asked with a smile, "I heard that you've painted a portrait of Sha Huan Li of Star picking City?"
Niu Youdao nodded. "That's true."
Han Bing: "I heard that your painting skills are very unique. I want to see it later."
Niu Youdao: "Head Chief, you flatter me. It's just a small trick that distracts one's will, it's not worth mentioning."
Han Bing shook his head in disagreement. "Good is good. There's no need to be humble. By the way, I heard that your paintings aren't cheap. I asked Xiang Ming of Star picking City, and he said that one of your paintings costs 100,000 gold coins. That's a sky-high price! "
Chu Anlou was slightly taken aback. A painting for 100,000 gold coins? What kind of painting was so expensive?
Niu Youdao: "If Head Chief needs it, I won't take a single cent from you."
Han Bing waved his hand. "That's not necessary. Whatever exists is reasonable. Whatever the market price is, the Ice and Snow Pavilion won't interfere."
Niu Youdao: "Head Chief, you may not know this, but I have a condition that I won't take a single cent from you."
Chu Anlou's cold gaze swept over him. His meaning was clear. How dare he raise a condition here?
"Oh!" Han Bing slowly picked up the teacup, twisted the lid, and skimmed the floating leaves in the tea. He lowered his eyes and said in a seemingly careless manner, "What condition? Let's hear it."
Niu Youdao: "Painting is just for my own amusement. I don't make a living by painting, and I don't want people to think of me as a performer. Otherwise, all kinds of disturbances will come one after another. There are so many rich and powerful people in the world. If they all come looking for me, I won't need to cultivate anymore. I won't be able to refuse them all. This is also the reason why I offered such a high price in Star picking City. The purpose is to make people back off. That's why I hope Head Chief can help me keep the matter of painting a secret. If it becomes public, I'm afraid I won't be able to live freely. If Head Chief can agree, I won't take a single cent. "
He was wondering what kind of condition it was, but it turned out to be this! Han Bing took a sip of tea and smiled. He put down the teacup. "You're really unwilling to earn money. But you're right. If Sha Huan Li hadn't leaked it, we wouldn't have found you. Even if we found you, you wouldn't be able to refuse. If this continues, you'll eventually run into someone difficult to deal with. Sooner or later, you'll get into trouble. Alright, that's a different matter. I should agree to this. I'll also help you talk to people in Star picking City. It's not right to cause trouble for you after you've contributed. As for the price, it'll be whatever the price is. I won't take advantage of you. "
Niu Youdao cupped his hands. "Thank you, Head Chief, for granting my request."
Han Bing raised his hand and beckoned. A maidservant behind him took out a stack of gold notes and walked over to Niu Youdao, presenting them to him with both hands.
Chu Anlou glanced at it and was stunned. It was such a thick stack. How much was it worth? Judging from the face value, it wasn't just a hundred thousand gold coins. It was probably ten hundred thousand gold coins, right?
"Head Chief, this is …" Niu Youdao was also a little surprised.
Han Bing stood up and asked, "Is there a problem with drawing ten different portraits for the Pavilion Master?"
Niu Youdao looked at the sky and turned to ask, "Do you want me to just draw the portrait or add a background?"
Han Bing said, "The Pavilion Master said that Sha Huan Li's painting is beautiful. Does Sha Huan Li have a background?"
Niu Youdao said, "Yes."
Han Bing said, "Then why do you ask? Is there a need to pay attention to whether there's a background or not?"
Niu Youdao said, "Head Chief, it's like this. A blank piece of paper and a person will look monotonous if there's no background. It's better to use a background to set off the person. However, when he was drawing City Lord Sha's background, the Head Chief Steward had asked Chief Steward Xiang about it. The background had been carefully selected from the entire Star Picking City to serve as a foil for City Lord Sha. After adding the background, the drawing would take longer. If the Pavilion Master also needs a background, he can't just randomly find a tree, a rock, or a pillar to be the background, right? There has to be something aesthetically pleasing about it. Choosing the scenery, adding the time needed to add the background, it's impossible to finish ten paintings in one day. It'll take at least two days. "
"That makes sense." Han Bing nodded and pondered. Suddenly, he asked, "Are you in a hurry?"
Niu Youdao shook his head. "A day more or less won't affect me. At most, I'll be a little tired and have to spend a little more energy."
Han Bing pointed at the gold notes in the servant girl's hand. "Then it's settled."
"I'll do as you say." Niu Youdao cupped his hands in thanks. He didn't act pretentiously and took the gold notes.
Chu Anlou couldn't help but take a few more glances. His expression twitched slightly. One million gold coins! How many people couldn't earn that much even if they worked their entire lives? How many experts fought and killed to earn that much? This guy just drew a painting and earned that much in one or two days. How could he say it was a little tiring and hard? Was there any justice in this world?
He wanted to see what kind of painting it was that could be so valuable.
Seeing that Niu Youdao agreed, Han Bing was looking forward to asking the young miss to mention what the painting was about. He asked, "Shall we start now?"
Niu Youdao said, "Let's choose the scenery first. Today, we'll take a good look at the scenic spots. Then, we'll choose the ten best backgrounds. Then, I'll think about it and see how to paint. It's not good to be in a hurry."
"Yes!" Han Bing nodded. "Every skill has its specialization. That makes sense."
Niu Youdao said, "We also need to prepare some painting materials."
"Little Rong." Han Bing pointed at the servant girl. "What do you need to prepare? How to choose the scenery? You can ask her."
"Okay!" Niu Youdao cupped his hands again. "Chief, there are still some matters related to painting. Can we talk in private?"
What kind of trouble was this guy trying to cause? Chu Anlou couldn't help but glance at him.
Han Bing was startled. He waved his hand. "You can all leave."
"Yes!" Chu Anlou and the servant girl excused themselves. They left the waterside pavilion and stood a little further away.
"Speak." Han Bing said.
Niu Youdao said, "Chief, it's like this. What's the Pavilion Master's personality like?"
Seeing Han Bing suddenly look at him coldly, he hurriedly waved his hand. "Chief, don't misunderstand. It's like this. Painting seems simple, but to paint well, it's actually very meticulous. To put it bluntly, to satisfy the person being painted, you must know her preferences. You must know what kind of painting will make her like it. For example, do you like paintings that are warmer or colder? Do you like paintings that are simpler or more complicated? In addition, I'd better see the Pavilion Master herself. I want to observe the Pavilion Master and see what kind of scenery is suitable for the Pavilion Master. Things like backgrounds are actually the same as what a woman wears. It's useless no matter how good a dress is. Not every woman can look good in it. "
As a woman, Han Bing deeply agreed with the last sentence. However, she still asked, "Is it like this when you paint Sha Huan Li?"
At the side, Yuan Gang muttered in his heart. Was it so complicated?
Niu You said, "Head Chief, you can ask Chief Xiang. Before the painting, City Lord Sha personally accompanied me to choose the sceneries and had a long conversation and interaction with City Lord Sha. When choosing the sceneries, we can just compare it with City Lord Sha herself. If I paint ten paintings at once, I'm afraid that dragging the Pavilion Master along will make him unhappy. Of course, if the Pavilion Master doesn't care about this, then there's no need. Just pretend I didn't say anything. "
Han Bing was silent for a moment. "I'll arrange for you to see the Pavilion Master later. As for the Pavilion Master's personality, he's cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He likes simple things and doesn't like complicated things. He's a cold person. "
Niu Youdao wasn't surprised that the other party would say all this and agree. When faced with this kind of situation or in front of the camera, a woman's IQ wouldn't be able to think things through properly.
It wasn't without reason that they took a step to talk and avoided Chu Anlou.
"If you put it this way, I have a rough idea." Niu Youdao nodded.
After that, there was nothing for Chu Anlou to do for the time being.
In the shade of a forest, Han Bing, who had led Niu Youdao and Yuan Gang there, let the two of them watch. Han Bing walked out of the small forest and came to a pavilion. He greeted a woman in white who was flipping through something. It was the Pavilion Master of the Ice and Snow Pavilion, Xue Luo 'er.
She was a very beautiful woman. She was more than a little more beautiful than Sha Huan Li from Star picking City. The two of them weren't even on the same level.
She was dignified, noble, and cold. No matter what Han Bing said, her face didn't change at all. She was like an ancient cold ice that made it difficult for people to get close to her.
After seeing her, Niu Youdao believed Han Bing's words. This Pavilion Master of the Ice and Snow Pavilion should be a person who was cold on the outside but cold on the inside. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to become friends with Sha Huan Li. She was cold because she hadn't met the right person.
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