Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 159 Accidentally shocked again, Sister Lan takes off [1 more update]

Chapter 159: 159 Accidentally shocked again, Sister Lan takes off [1 more update]

Sheng Yunyi merely asked a question any normal person would, so why the aggressive confrontation?

Master Wu already can’t stand Ye Wanlan to the extreme, so much so that he doesn’t even want to be in the same space as her.

His senior brother is a very amiable person, but when it comes to painting, he’s even more strict than him. He isn’t afraid that Ye Wanlan would take shortcuts to get ahead.

"Miss Yunyi, don’t be upset with a girl who hasn’t fully grown her hair yet," Master Wu caught up with Sheng Yunyi, "A girl her age, to utter such rude words, I really don’t know how her parents taught her."

"Uncle Wu, you’ve misunderstood again," Sheng Yunyi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled slightly, "Her father disappeared when she was a child, and after so many years of absence, he’s probably dead. It seems her mother remarried to a wealthy family in Harbor City. She grew up without the guidance of her parents."

"No wonder," Master Wu said indifferently, "How can she claim to have studied painting for thirteen years?"

Sheng Yunyi just smiled faintly, staying silent.

Earlier, while in Master Wu’s office, when she heard Ye Wanlan’s name, she was already thrown into turmoil.

Ye Wanlan actually didn’t die in the earthquake at Yan Mountain?

It was one thing not to have died, but how did she not even get injured?

Could luck be that good?

However, she didn’t show her emotions, or Master Wu, experienced in reading people, would have surely noticed something was amiss.

Since Ye Wanlan wasn’t dead, she indeed couldn’t let down her guard just yet.

Frowning, Sheng Yunyi realized she still needed to continue with her plan.

**

Inside the room, Chairman Tao said again, "Don’t be nervous, you can paint whatever you want, be it Chinese painting or Western painting."

After a moment of silence, Ye Wanlan picked up her brush: "Then, let’s try a figure painting."

In terms of proficiency, her landscape and flower-and-bird paintings were certainly superior.

Her figure paintings were practiced stealthily by copying Han Yunsheng, Ning Zhaozong, He Jia, and others in a sketchbook, and they weren’t bad either.

Ye Wanlan prepared the ink and dipped her brush, then the brush touched the Xuan paper, beginning the painting.

Chairman Tao was initially looking on absentmindedly, although he didn’t generalize based on Master Wu’s words.

But everyone has their biases, and he too genuinely believed that Ye Wanlan had no real skill in painting.

As time passed, however, Chairman Tao’s gaze suddenly fixed, and his expression changed instantly!

Being proficient in figure painting himself, he could naturally see the skill in Ye Wanlan’s few strokes.

To say she practiced for thirteen years would probably be an understatement!

The figure painting wasn’t yet complete, only one-third done, but Chairman Tao already recognized the two figures in Ye Wanlan’s painting.

King of Yan, He Jia, and Princess Yongning, Xiang Lan.

The likeness and spirit of the siblings were captured in the painting, that even Lin Woyu, who knew nothing about painting, could recognize them at first glance.

"This is..." Lin Woyu was immensely surprised.

She didn’t expect, Ye Wanlan could really paint that well.

After some time, Ye Wanlan made the final stroke, completing the figure painting, and looked up: "Chairman Tao, I’ve finished."

On the Xuan paper, the young Princess Yongning is leaning against a tree studying, while the King of Yan, having just finished practicing with his spear, approaches with a paper kite in his other hand.

The tranquil and beautiful atmosphere is vivid on the paper, making one wonder if such scenes really did exist three hundred years ago.

Chairman Tao rose to his feet, his hands trembling slightly.

He carefully observed the painting from start to finish and then, looking up, he bowed to Ye Wanlan with clasped hands and asked solemnly, "May I know the title of this painting?"

"The inspiration came suddenly, and I haven’t named it yet," said Ye Wanlan. "I was fortunate to have your presence, and I hope you could name it for me."

"Having me name it, I fear I’d dishonor this painting," Chairman Tao sighed deeply, "I never thought I’d see such a figure painting again."

The magic of Chinese painting lies in not replicating the scenery and figures one-to-one, yet still being able to depict them vividly.

However, in recent years, there have been too many people like Sheng Yunyi going abroad to the Starman Federal Empire for further study, and the paintings they produce often lose the original charm of Chinese painting.

But from Ye Wanlan’s brushwork and perspective, her painting is traditional Chinese painting.

Chairman Tao couldn’t help asking again, "Have you never learned Western painting?"

Ye Wanlan pondered for a moment: "I haven’t studied it deliberately, but I’m aware of what I need to know. Art has no boundaries; I need to understand it too."

"No wonder," Chairman Tao nodded, yet couldn’t help sighing again, "So, are you planning to submit this painting for the painting competition?"

He was somewhat envious of the competition’s judging panel.

"Chairman, if it’s for the preliminary round, I would like to submit another painting, not this one," Ye Wanlan said with a slight smile. "Sending this one for the preliminary round would indeed be overkill."

Chairman Tao was a little surprised but then burst into laughter: "Good, you have the strength and the right to say that. You’re absolutely correct, using this painting for the preliminary round would indeed be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!"

With that, he turned his head: "Much thanks to Mrs. Lin for contacting my junior brother, otherwise, I might never have seen such a painting. With your niece’s talent, standing on the final stage is no question."

At this moment, Lin Woyu was still somewhat stunned.

She knew Master Wu’s status in the world of calligraphy and painting, so his senior brother Tao Ruhua was certainly even more accomplished.

However, Chairman Tao spoke again at this moment, "In fact, there are some areas where I need to ask your niece for guidance."

Lin Woyu: "..."

She must be dreaming, right?

"Chairman, if there’s nothing else, my aunt and I will take our leave," Ye Wanlan said, "I’ll paint another one tonight and bring it to you tomorrow."

"Okay." Chairman Tao’s expression couldn’t hide his excitement as he personally escorted the two to the door. "I’ll be waiting for you."

He also wanted to see what kind of surprises Ye Wanlan would bring to her next.

**

Today the weather was exceptionally good, the sunlight fierce, and warm breezes blew in waves.

When she returned to the Lin Family Old House, Lin Qin moved the zither into the yard to start practicing.

Upon seeing Ye Wanlan enter, she hurriedly stood up: "Cousin."

Ye Wanlan asked, "What are you thinking about? You seem so preoccupied."

"I was wondering..." Lin Qin pursed her lips, "if we can really go to Yunjing and return to our main family at all. I’ve practiced the zither for so long, yet I still can’t compare to the people in the main family."

Ye Wanlan was pensive.

For a branch family to return to the main family was truly difficult.

But securing a foothold in the main family after returning was even more challenging.

Because all the daughters of branch families who practiced classical instruments did not know the orthodox Heavenly Music Method, they were unable to rebound the sounds from their instruments, turning them into weapons.

This meant that even if the branch family returned to the main family, it would take at least two or three generations before they could completely integrate.

"Have you tried plucking it like this?" Ye Wanlan’s hand hovered above the zither strings, but she did not actually touch them. Instead, she made hooking and plucking motions in the air.

"No." Lin Qin was taken aback, "It seems... different from the way I’ve played before."

"Yes, it is a bit different," Ye Wanlan nodded slightly, "This isn’t playing the zither, it’s—"

She took Lin Qin’s hand and placed it on the zither strings.

"Twang!"

The zither’s note rang out sharply, and yet there was a bursting sound in the air.

"Snap!"

A leaf was split into pieces, fluttering down to the ground.

Lin Qin couldn’t help but widen her eyes, disbelieving what she had just witnessed.

"C-Cousin, did-did-did you see that?" she stuttered for the first time, "That leaf, it..."

"I saw it." Ye Wanlan smiled faintly, "Then did you see that? This is the genuine Heavenly Music Method."

The founder of the Heavenly Sound Sect had initially established it to shelter homeless women, but in chaotic times, where women could not protect themselves, the patriarch invented the Heavenly Music Method.

To outsiders, they were women with no capacity for violence, yet should any wicked individuals harbor evil thoughts, they would be swiftly slain by these women.

The emergence of the Heavenly Sound Sect greatly preserved these women’s lives, and in the Ning Dynasty Period, it became officially recognized as one of the Six Great Sects.

The Heavenly Music Method, that was for killing, not merely for playing tunes.

Lin Qin tried hard to recall the method Ye Wanlan had just taught her, playing a note by herself, but nothing happened.

Lin Qin felt somewhat disheartened.

"You’ve just started, and being able to resonate with the air is already impressive," Ye Wanlan praised, "Practice more. Of course, playing the zither is the foundation. Master the piece first, then work on rebounding."

Lin Qin nodded her head, still feeling as if her soul had left her body.

"Qinqin, want some fruit?" called Lin Woyu’s voice, "Come over after washing your hands and take a break. You shouldn’t practice the zither non-stop..."

Still in a dreamlike state, Lin Qin felt as though she floated over, "Mom, I feel like there’s a problem with my world."

Lin Woyu sighed, "Don’t speak of it, so does your mother."

The mother and daughter looked at each other and decided to calm down together.

**

On the other hand, at the Jiangcheng Art Association.

Chairman Tao had already had someone mount Ye Wanlan’s portrait, and at the moment he was still annoyed that he hadn’t prepared the best xuan paper in advance.

"Senior brother." Master Wu had returned, glancing at the empty office, "Is everything settled?"

"Junior brother!" Chairman Tao’s expression turned serious, "I must thank you for today. If it weren’t for you, I would surely—"

"Senior brother, you don’t need to thank me," Master Wu replied with a smile, "It is my duty to remind you not to be deceived by those seeking fame and flattery."

Chairman Tao also finished his sentence, "I would surely have missed a genius!"