"Right, right, it's killing intent!"
Wang Mianzhi and Cao Hui and the others also became excited. Before Wan Yunting started writing, he exuded an oppressive aura. Everyone was startled by him, but couldn't figure out why. Now that Tang Boyun had pointed it out, everyone suddenly realized that Wan Yunting's work contained a killing intent!
It was as if they saw a great general in ancient battlefields wielding a treasured sword, charging into battle with an unstoppable, soaring spirit, causing an icy chill and a feeling of awe and pressure.
Fan Liren also nodded, looking at his wild cursive script. He turned to Wan Yunting and praised him with a smile, "Little Wan, you can inject your emotions into your calligraphy. This is truly rare. Many people wish they could do this but can't."
"That's right..."
Tang Boyun and Cao Hui nodded to the masters like Wang Mianzhi and smiled, "It seems this is talent, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to blend emotions into your work. It's like you've infused this piece with a soul!"
"Infused with a soul..."
Upon hearing this evaluation, Huang Yaodong, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong's eyes widened. Fan Liren turned to Tang Boyun and nodded with a smile, "Precisely, little Tang, you've described it perfectly. It's like breathing a soul into this calligraphy. When people see it, they're immersed in that scene and can empathize. This is the greatest charm of a good piece, and not everyone can achieve it; it depends on personal talent!"
"Indeed..."
Cao Hui and Wang Mianzhi and the other masters repeatedly nodded in agreement, their gaze towards Wan Yunting growing increasingly astonished and impressed. This young man had brought them too many unexpected surprises.
"You flatter me, Elder Fan."
Being praised so highly, Wan Yunting felt a bit embarrassed. He said, "I just felt that the artistic conception of this poem by Lu You was very good. Writing it in cursive script could showcase the artistic conception and momentum within the poem. Then, adding my own understanding, it naturally turned out like this."
This made Huang Yaodong roll his eyes. He said, "Brother Yunting, that's quite a humblebrag. I also understand the artistic conception of Lu You's 'Su Zhong Qing' poem, but I just can't write it with your feeling, it lacks that overpowering killing intent!"
"That's because you haven't killed anyone!" Wan Yunting waved his hand.
This statement, however, startled everyone present, who stared at him with wide eyes...
Killed... people...!
For scholars like Fan Liren, Tang Boyun, and Huang Yaodong, it was a terrifying prospect. They couldn't imagine it in a lifetime, and they wouldn't even know how to kill a live chicken...
Seeing everyone looking at him strangely, Wan Yunting quickly smiled and said, "I assisted the police in clearing out drug dealers in the Golden Triangle, so I only killed villains."
"Hoo..."
This explanation finally allowed Tang Boyun, Huang Yaodong, and Lin Yushu to breathe a sigh of relief. Cao Hui gave him a thumbs-up, "Impressive. No wonder you can express killing intent in your calligraphy. We definitely can't do that."
Fan Liren and Wang Mianzhi and the others also nodded. Tang Boyun then pointed at the artwork and said to Wan Yunting with a smile, "Yunting, let me keep this piece too, to hang here, how about it?"
"Sure, take it if you like it, General Manager Tang." Wan Yunting waved his hand and said heartily.
"No!"
Fan Liren raised his hand to stop him, pointed at the artwork, and said to Tang Boyun with a smile, "Little Tang, you already received a Jinshi style calligraphy from little Wan earlier. This wild cursive script must be for me. I'll take it back to show my little granddaughter, so she doesn't claim to be a calligraphy prodigy every day."
Tang Boyun looked stunned and then gave a wry smile, realizing he had been outmaneuvered by Fan Liren. He said, "Alright, but Yunting, could you write another one? I really want to collect your wild cursive calligraphy to hang here for all the scholars in the world to admire."
"Okay, I'll write another one then..."
Seeing how much everyone liked his calligraphy, Wan Yunting was quite happy and naturally didn't mind writing another one...
Meanwhile, on the third floor, Huangfu Hongfang, Ning Yuqing, and Gao Jiaxu were still in the study, but the three were somewhat uneasy and restless. They asked, "Are Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang still on the fifth floor?"
Gao Jiaxu said, "I have Xu Jin keeping an eye on them. They haven't come down yet."
Huangfu Hongfang's brow furrowed. It was already four in the afternoon, and Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and Huang Yaodong's group had been on the fifth floor with Fan Liren and Tang Boyun for over two hours. Judging by this, their relationship must be quite close, otherwise, they wouldn't have stayed that long.
Ning Yuqing, who was standing by the desk practicing calligraphy, turned to look at Huangfu Hongfang's gloomy expression and smiled, "Hongfang, rushing now is useless. It's better to sit down and calm your mind."
"That's right."
Gao Jiaxu was sitting in a chair with his legs crossed and said, "But Brother Huangfu, don't be anxious. Even if Wan Yunting and Fan Liren are close, he's not the main judge for the Lanting Award calligraphy competition, so you don't need to worry."
Huangfu Hongfang glared at him and turned away, unwilling to engage with Gao Jiaxu. He sat down on a chair, still frustrated, and slammed his hand heavily on the table, startling Ning Yuqing. She turned and gave him a coquettish look with her peach blossom eyes, then shook her head and sighed softly without saying anything, continuing with her painting...
However, on the fifth floor of Jubao Pavilion, the atmosphere was entirely different. Everyone was chatting and laughing. After appreciating the calligraphy of Wan Yunting and Fan Liren, Gu Luotang and Huang Yaodong were also invited to paint or write on the spot, which made Zhao Yushi and Lin Yushu quite nervous.
After all, it was their first time painting and writing in front of Elder Fan, a grandmaster of the art world. It was like showing off their inferior skills. However, encouraged by Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang and the others mustered their courage to write on the spot and received praise from Fan Liren, Cao Hui, and Wang Mianzhi, as well as guidance on the shortcomings of their work and techniques to correct them.
This made Gu Luotang, Huang Yaodong, and Lin Yushu extremely excited and thrilled, as receiving guidance from Elder Fan was a dream for countless people.
This was clearly all due to Wan Yunting's connection...
The group stayed on the fifth floor until six in the afternoon, during which they drank tea and discussed art. Fan Liren even persuaded Wan Yunting to enter the art circle, believing that with his calligraphy, he would definitely create a sensation in the entire art world.
But Wan Yunting refused all these offers, as his aspirations were not in the art world. As long as people liked his calligraphy, he was content.
Finally, Tang Boyun hosted a dinner at the Purple Bamboo Tea Garden. This also involved a lot of drinking. Fan Liren was particularly unrestrained at the dinner table; after a few cups of yellow wine, he was almost calling Wan Yunting his sworn brother.
He had initially intended to take Wan Yunting as his personal disciple, but then Fan Liren discovered that while he could guide Wan Yunting in painting, in terms of calligraphy, and even on a certain level, Fan Liren felt that Wan Yunting's calligraphy talent had surpassed his own.
However, Wan Yunting was not interested in painting. So, he pointed at Gu Luotang and smiled at Fan Liren, saying, "Elder Fan, Luotang likes painting. Why don't you take her as your personal disciple?"
This remark made Fan Liren's old face pause. He looked at Gu Luotang, who was sitting beside him, and then laughed at Wan Yunting, saying, "Good boy, you were waiting for me here!"
Wan Yunting chuckled, "Didn't you say you were looking for a personal disciple? Luotang is so good at painting; she's bound to catch your eye."
This made Gu Luotang blush with shyness.
"Yes, this girl is indeed excellent. Her talent in both calligraphy and painting can certainly be called genius," Fan Liren said, looking at Gu Luotang and nodding in affirmation.
Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong, who had just come to their senses, looked on with envy. Qi Miaomiao also excitedly said, "So, Elder Fan, you're going to take my senior sister as your personal disciple?"
Fan Liren looked at Gu Luotang and smiled, "Girl, come find me in the capital when you have time."
Gu Luotang's pretty face couldn't hide her joy. She tried hard to control her excitement and nodded at him with a smile.
"Haha, congratulations, Elder Fan..."
Cao Hui and Wang Mianzhi and the others immediately cupped their hands in congratulation.
Although Gu Luotang's talent in calligraphy wasn't as great as Wan Yunting's, she was proficient in all aspects of art, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as poetry and literature. She was a rare talented woman among the younger generation in the art world. While Fan Liren was influenced by his connection with Wan Yunting, he also genuinely appreciated Gu Luotang's talent; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to take her as a disciple.
Gu Luotang understood this clearly, and her gaze towards the man was filled with gratitude and happiness...
The group drank and chatted until past nine o'clock in the evening at the Purple Bamboo Tea Garden. If Fan Liren, Cao Hui, and Wang Mianzhi hadn't become drowsy from drinking, they would have wanted to continue talking with Wan Yunting and the others...
When they left, Tang Boyun naturally arranged for a car to send Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and their group back. Finally, he handed a wooden plaque with characters on it to Wan Yunting and said with a smile, "Brother Yunting, when you come to Zhejiang in the future, please visit me often at the Purple Bamboo Tea Garden for tea."
Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, and Lin Yushu were envious when they saw Tang Boyun giving the plaque of the fifth floor of Jubao Pavilion to Wan Yunting.
"Okay, if I have the chance, I will definitely come to find you, Brother Tang, for a drink."
Wan Yunting didn't refuse. He took the plaque and handed it to Gu Luotang beside him, cupping his hands and smiling at Tang Boyun.
After drinking together, they were basically like brothers. Tang Boyun, like Fan Liren, greatly admired this young man, believing he would achieve great things in the future.
"And these talented young men and women, each so gifted, I am very impressed, Brother Tang."
As he spoke, Tang Boyun gestured, and Manager Zhang, who was standing behind him, personally brought out four inscribed plaques and handed them to Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong. He smiled and said, "From now on, you talented young men and women should visit the Purple Bamboo Tea Garden more often to recite poetry and compose verses."
Huang Yaodong and the others were surprised that Tang Boyun personally presented them with inscribed plaques, and they were naturally delighted, thanking him profusely...
Tang Boyun waved his hand and said to Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang with a smile, "Then I will await your good news. If Brother Yunting truly wins first place in the Lanting Award calligraphy competition, I will host a grand banquet at the Purple Bamboo Tea Garden to celebrate."
"Okay, I'll take your good wishes." Wan Yunting smiled and nodded.
He hadn't even thought about winning first place in the Lanting Award calligraphy competition.
Finally, Tang Boyun had Manager Zhang drive his car to personally send Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and Qi Miaomiao back to their hotel. Since Huang Yaodong and the other three were not staying at the same hotel, separate cars had to be arranged for them...