Chapter 110: Rising Momentum, The Burning Tower

Qi Nai’s painting today was not done with a brush.

She used a palette knife from beginning to end.

And she truly used black as her color.

In oil painting, the palette knife technique could be called a stroke of genius. To a great extent, the palette knife played the role of the finishing touch, adding a distinctive radiance to an oil painting and achieving effects that would otherwise be difficult to attain. Some artists even used a palette knife more often than a brush.

Of course, there was no shortage of works created entirely with palette knives. Yet the painting before them by Qi Nai was especially thought-provoking.

Although the colors used with a palette knife were still mixed on a palette, the only real difference was that the brush had been replaced by a knife. Blocks of color in varying sizes took the place of the delicate texture created by brushwork. The overall composition became richer, heavier, and more substantial, while the changes in light and dark produced an entirely different three-dimensional effect.

Qi Nai possessed a powerful understanding.

At that moment, the blocks of color were arranged into sections and zones, each connecting naturally with the next. Whenever the blocks and planes underwent the slightest change, the entire image shifted with them.

This was Qi Nai’s work at that moment—

a painting of tremendous visual impact.

A burning city.

Three black towers stood in the painting, their tops lost beyond the frame. Around them, the scene had been assembled from patches of various colors, giving the composition extraordinary intensity.

Qi Nai had blended the original black into yellow and orange. Perhaps she believed that only colors filled with sunlight could break through the darkness.

Though the carefully mixed paint remained black, on the canvas it appeared as black touched by firelight.

At the center of the painting, flames built from blocks of color roared upward. Pale yellow, deep yellow, and dark orange fused into a blaze. Within the pale flames stood an orange building.

The main image showed only three black skyscrapers, half-consumed by fire.

The flames climbed and spread toward the sky… and at the point where firelight met black, the two complemented each other with astonishing harmony.

Perhaps it was precisely because Qi Nai had handled the black so skillfully that the transition felt so natural.

Lin Shenlu could not help admiring Qi Nai’s painting technique.

This work was entirely different from the previous two.

Although it, too, was dominated by black, Lin Shenlu could see a passionate intensity ready to burst forth.

It was as though the flames were not burning skyscrapers at all, but the darkness within Qi Nai’s heart.

Lin Shenlu knew that creating such an outstanding work required not only a change in one’s thoughts and consciousness, but also masterful execution.

Looking closely at the burning buildings, Lin Shenlu discovered that each layer of paint was relatively thin. In the color of the layer above, one could still vaguely make out the underlying tones.

The blocks of color connected in this subtle manner.

The entire image possessed an extraordinarily strong textural quality. Its substantial texture was broad and imposing. Layer upon layer of firelight accentuated the gradations of the flames.

This was how the painting’s theme opened up a spatial distance from the background, allowing its weight and substance to unfold.

When Qi Nai’s technique fused perfectly with her inner vision, this flawless work came into being.

Lin Shenlu smiled inwardly.

Keep going, Qi Nai.

Qi Nai, too, drew a deep breath.

Thank you, Lin Shenlu.

…

Little Hands Teacher spent the entire day gathering inspiration with Wu Heng.

Unfortunately, attending an exhibition like this did little to help with the romance novel she was writing.

Perhaps the only real harvest of the day was that lunch had been delicious.

After eating too much, Little Hands slipped away into the woods to relieve herself.

She nearly wandered into one artist’s painting.

Wu Heng followed and let out a sigh.

She had realized that coming along with Little Hands Teacher had been a complete mistake. How many days had it been now? She was supposed to be supervising the work and urging the manuscript along, yet she no longer even dared report back to the boss.

And Little Hands Teacher was far too mischievous. The moment Wu Heng looked away, she would dart into the grass to use the bathroom again.

What left Wu Heng especially speechless was the way Little Hands, after emerging with her trousers half-fastened, kept rubbing her hands against them.

She wanted to go home…

Once upon a time, Wu Heng had not been this sort of person.

But now, as one ordinary person among countless others, she was doing unpleasant things simply to make a living.

Sometimes Wu Heng wanted to rebel. Yet she seemed almost like a miniature reflection of all ordinary people.

Reality was simply reality.

People rushed about, busying themselves with lives that, by existing, somehow justified themselves.

…

A little after two in the afternoon, quite a few artists had already finished their works.

After delivering their paintings to Hai Lanjing, they left their contact information as well.

Some older artists sought nothing in return and departed quietly. Others walked over to examine the works of their fellow painters.

Wave after wave of visitors came and went, taking photographs, checking in, and posting to their social feeds.

It was a rare sight: a hundred artists creating together.

Lin Shenlu had finished his painting completely.

In the lower-right corner, he wrote “Mr. Deer,” followed by the date.

Qi Nai and Su Youzhi had also nearly completed their works.

The three of them tidied up briefly before walking toward Hai Lanjing.

Su Youzhi went ahead and handed her painting to Hai Lanjing. Hai Lanjing had just begun to offer a few words of thanks when she discovered that Su Youzhi had already turned away.

Not a single expression had changed on her face from beginning to end.

That damned world-weary look.

She was so likable, yet somehow so irritating at the same time.

Still, the painting itself was beautiful.

Hai Lanjing was captivated at first glance. Beneath that soothing sky-blue expanse stood her own inn.

And more than that!

At a glance, the painting stirred a vague sense of romantic intimacy.

Sweet.

Comforting.

That sour-faced girl was actually quite good at painting…

Hai Lanjing truly loved the work.

Before she had finished admiring it, Qi Nai stepped forward and handed over her painting, The Burning Towers.

“Congratulations on the opening.” Qi Nai said little, merely nodding at Hai Lanjing.

Hai Lanjing had never imagined that Qi Nai would come to participate as well. Where had she been painting? How had Hai Lanjing failed to find her?

And then there was Lin Shenlu…

Where had that fellow been hiding all day?

Lin Shenlu likewise handed his painting to Hai Lanjing.

“Mine doesn’t need to be included among the fifty selected works. I simply wanted to give it to you. You can hang it on the wall in the lobby. After all, this is the Whale-Deer Inn. I built a Whale-Deer wishing pool in Dali, so in Lishui, I’ll give you a Whale-Deer painting.”

Lin Shenlu spoke with a cheerful smile.

“You can paint?” Hai Lanjing was genuinely astonished.

She had never imagined that Lin Shenlu possessed such a hidden talent.

“You can look before you decide,” Lin Shenlu said with a laugh.

Disbelief in her eyes, Hai Lanjing turned to examine Lin Shenlu’s work.

With a single glance, she was captivated once more.

Without even noticing, Hai Lanjing found that three seconds had passed and the corners of her cheeks had begun to curve upward slightly. It was a smile with the power to heal.

The blue was so beautiful.

The whale was so beautiful.

The little deer was so beautiful.

And the boy and girl…

This had really been painted by Lin Shenlu?

“Oh my goodness, Lin Shenlu, I’m truly seeing you in an entirely new light!” Hai Lanjing exclaimed, her face full of disbelief.

Especially after she considered the deeper meaning behind the content of the Whale-Deer oil painting, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

“By the way, how many people have finished their paintings?” Lin Shenlu asked.

“We’ve received more than fifty completed works so far. Seven or eight of the artists have already left. The rest are either looking at other people’s paintings or… eating in the courtyard.”

Hai Lanjing pointed toward the artists inside the inn, who were enthusiastically replenishing their energy with food.

“That’s enough. I have a bold idea!” Lin Shenlu said with a smile.