Chapter 18 The Show Begins

The time had come. Watching Ye Tao, dressed in a light blue long gown, ascend the high platform, those who had become quite familiar with him over the past few times couldn't help but stare in astonishment. The already slender Ye Tao had actually managed to lose another ring of weight in just a few short days. Now, using the phrase "skin and bones" to describe him was probably not an exaggeration. Ye Tao looked exhausted, obviously still hadn't rested well, or enough, but his expression was serene.

Giving a deep bow to all the spectators below the stage, Ye Tao said in a clear voice, "Thank you all for coming here today. Whether you couldn't refuse the face given by the Princess's mansion guards in delivering the invitation, or you really came to show your support; whether you wanted to see me, Ye Tao, make a fool of myself, or you had a sliver of hope that I could come up with something new, none of that matters anymore. It really isn't easy being a craftsman, especially when I overestimated myself and actually wanted to gamble against that heaven-defying Bi Hai Chao Yin Shu. However, since ancient times, the highest praise for a craftsman has been four words: 'Qiao Duo Tian Gong' (skill surpassing nature). I am untalented, but I still value the identity of a craftsman very much. These four words, 'Qiao Duo Tian Gong,' are precisely the goal of my Ye family, who have passed down their skills from generation to generation, and the entire Ye Shi Workshop. Even if it is overestimating myself, I must try my best. Fortunately, after working hard for the past few days, the things from the Ye Shi Workshop have been made. I dare not say whether or not it can surpass the Bi Hai Chao Yin Shu, but in these few days, I am satisfied to be able to reach this point. Looking at the whole world, I dare say that there is no second company that can make this thing. All of you present today have discerning eyes and have seen many good things. As for what the final result of this gamble will be, it depends on your judgment today."

With another deep bow, Ye Tao stepped down from the high platform with a relaxed expression, slowly walked through the passage between the audience seats, and entered that closed wooden cabin.

A group of musicians, carrying a full set of instruments, came out from the building of the Yi Zhan Xiaopu (Chess Battle Small Shop), which had not yet opened for business, and set up on both sides of the high platform. And on the second floor of the Yi Zhan Xiaopu, there was also hidden a pivotal figure, a musician who would become a key figure in tonight's performance. This musician plucked the first note.

As the music sounded, the wooden building opened the window facing the high platform, and several bright beams of light shone on the white curtain, reflecting a clear picture.

On the curtain on the right, the picture projected was the sunset over the vast water surface, the orange-red sun making the whole sky look like it was burning, and several water birds flying through the clouds.

On the middle curtain, what was reflected was the large and small boats weaving through the harbor, but the colors were not as intense and flamboyant as on the right curtain. The water surface was cyan, but the dancing golden-orange light made the picture look warm.

On the left curtain was a tall building built on a hillside. The straight lines made the building look imposing, but the lazy egret perched on the eaves, preening its wings with its beak, added a bit of humor to the imposing atmosphere. The color tone of the picture on the left was even richer, as if the gloomy night sky would sweep in at any moment, engulfing the entire building.

The three pictures happened to form three levels: distant view, middle view, and close-up, and these three pictures connected together were exactly a replica of the Shi Li Yan Bo Tu (Ten Li of Misty Waves Picture) that Ye Tao had repeatedly used and was already familiar with.

As the clear picture was projected on the curtain, the guards took advantage of everyone's moment of distraction and turned off all the other lights in the arena. This moonless night, the light on the curtain became the focus of the entire Danyang. When there were no other lights in the arena, the picture on the curtain became even clearer.

"The picture… is moving?" someone suddenly muttered, somewhat incredulously. With the music, on the right side of the picture, at the junction of the sky and water, a few sails appeared, and then, these sails actually grew bigger and closer little by little, just like returning fishing boats.

On the left side of the picture, below the imposing building, a crowd of people surged out, and the detailed brushstrokes depicted the expressions and movements of each person in the picture. Among them, some were looking into the distance, some were teasing the children in their arms, and some were holding each other's hands tightly, as if worried about something, or as if they were looking forward to something.

The fishing boats were getting closer. The guzheng (Chinese zither), as the core of the music, had already changed from ethereal and erratic to lively, and the dense, intense playing was like the people on the fishing boats greeting those on the boats that were approaching them, asking each other about the day's harvest.

The fishing boats entered the middle picture, and the increasingly bright and joyful music seemed to be telling the fishermen's eager mood to return home, and the crowd in the close-up also surged towards the dock with various expressions. The most inspired touch in the moving picture was the egret on the eaves, as if disturbed by the noise of the crowd, it straightened its wings, fluttered up, flew into the sky, crossed the entire picture, and in a blink of an eye, became one of the water birds flying through the clouds in the distant view.

The music reached its climax and end at the moment when the fishing boats docked and the welcoming crowd arrived at the dock at the same time. The tinkling notes were like plucking people's heartstrings, and just when all the audience's emotions were stirred to the highest point, the sound of the guzheng gradually faded away, and the picture returned to dimness again.

Until the guards relit all the surrounding lights and torches, the audience was still immersed in the bewilderment of this sound, light, and color effect, unable to extricate themselves. The guards chuckled as they watched the faces of these celebrities in Danyang City, as if they had seen a miracle, and that was exactly what these guards looked like last night.

Among all the spectators, the three people from Chun Nan Kingdom felt the most unbelievable. Lou Qingxi, after all, understood some basic optics. At least Shang Bao Tang (Precious Treasure Hall) had taken some orders for strange gadgets, and even made things like binoculars with crystal. Although he couldn't understand how Ye Tao was able to make the light become so ever-changing, he was only surprised instead of being completely shocked. Compared to Lou Qingxi, the faces of Luo Qin and Song Yu were much uglier. When they first saw the magnificent picture, they vaguely had a bad feeling, feeling that they might not win this gamble either, and that Chun Nan Kingdom was destined to lose face. When the entire short film of "Yu Zhou Chang Wan" (Evening Song of the Fishing Boat) ended, at that moment, they didn't even have any consideration for winning or losing. What they saw was completely something they couldn't understand. When this shock subsided, the faces of the two could only be described as pale.

Adjusting his clothes, Song Yu recovered first, and he turned to look at Lou Qingxi, shaking his head helplessly.

Lou Qingxi stood up, his voice deep and melancholic: "Today I know that these three gambles… it turns out that my Shang Bao Tang was so overestimating myself. I lost, and I lost convincingly."

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...Very generous update to reveal the answer~

It seems that someone's answer is already very close.