57: Chapter 057: Zhonghai Painting Saint!
57: Chapter 057: Zhonghai Painting Saint!
Zhang Qingsong’s loss of composure had shocked the onlookers, including Zhou Jiangming, who all wore incredulous expressions.
“I did not recognize your artwork before, and it was due to my poor sight.
Please, Master, forgive my superficiality…”
Zhang Qingsong stopped sobbing, offered various apologies, and even started to slap himself viciously across the face.
Ning Fan directly grabbed Zhang Qingsong’s hand and then helped him up.
He said indifferently, “To know one’s mistakes and be able to correct them is indeed great.”
Zhang Qingsong simply nodded his head and did not think there was anything wrong with what Ning Fan had said, following which he dialed a number.
“If my master could see this painting, it would fulfill his lifelong dream.
I must tell my master to come and observe it.”
After Zhang Qingsong hung up the phone, Ning Fan smiled and said, “The painting I made is just a replica.
I had the fortune to see the Phoenix Nirvana overseas, so it was merely a reproduction.”
“Of course it’s a reproduction, but this also tests your skill in painting,”
Zhang Qingsong naturally did not think it was the original; the one painted by Ning Fan could only be a replica.
The original of this painting must not be in the country.
The original artist might even have passed away by now, so how could it possibly be this young man before me?
But even so, this reproduction of the Phoenix Nirvana Diagram was of such high mastery that having the old master take a look would fulfill half of the master’s life’s wishes.
With the call connected, Zhang Qingsong was extremely courteous to his master, as his master was the Art Saint of Zhonghai City, a truly mythical figure in the art world with exalted artistic attainments.
In Zhonghai City’s art circle, none did not know his master; his fame extended nationally and globally, and his artworks were treasures.
Ning Fan found himself surrounded by the crowd, their stares akin to those given to pandas, which he found quite annoying.
“The young girl left.”
Ning Fan promptly pulled Xu Xiaoqing away from the art exhibit.
At that moment, Xu Xiaoqing, regardless of what Ning Fan wanted to do, would follow his lead—his art had captivated her to the point of madness!
She said, her face brimming with a smile, and rushed over to kiss Ning Fan fiercely!
can you not take advantage of me all the time?
I’m here to perform, not to sell my body.”
After Ning Fan left the art exhibit, his final words entered the room, causing everyone inside to shudder.
And all this, in the eyes of Zhou Jiangming, made his complexion very poor.
He realized that no one was paying attention to his artistic skill; countless people were focusing on Ning Fan instead.
What was more infuriating was that Ning Fan had won Xu Xiaoqing’s heart again and returned with the beauty.
Yet he still had to endure such humiliation, his heart bled, filled with hatred towards Ning Fan.
Before long, the Art Saint of Zhonghai City arrived.
The Art Saint was a white-haired old man, ninety-eight years old, his face covered with wrinkles, yet he remained rather robust.
Upon hearing of the appearance of the Phoenix Nirvana Diagram, he hurried over excitedly and swept his gaze over all the teachers and students at the exhibit.
The Art Saint exclaimed excitedly, “Where is the artist who painted the Phoenix Nirvana?”
Zhang Qingsong said, “Master, the artist has already left.”
The Art Saint appeared forlorn but suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly asked, “What about the painting, the painting…
I must see the Golden Flame Phoenix Diagram.”
Zhang Qingsong quickly led the Art Saint to the seat.
As soon as the Art Saint saw the Phoenix Nirvana Diagram on the table, he was petrified and kept staring at the painting for a long time without any movement.
Suddenly, Saint Painter plopped down on the ground, his hands trembling.
Zhang Qingsong hurried to help him up.
After helping the Saint Painter up, he asked uncertainly,
“Master, although his painting is not bad, it is still just a highly imitative fake.
Master, why are you so excited?”
It indeed was a fake, and it obviously couldn’t be authentic, especially as even the painter himself had admitted it, so there could be no mistake.
Even so, it was a painting of extremely high attainment, but…
it was really not necessary for the master to be so agitated over such a counterfeit piece.
Seeing that his master did not react, Zhang Qingsong continued, “Such a high-quality counterfeit is very rare, but you, Master, have extensive experience and need not be so concerned.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiangming and Wang Xiaoyan recovered from their shock and started to laugh.
Wang Xiaoyan giggled and teased Zhou Jiangming, “It’s just a fake after all.
I actually thought Ning Fan had the ability to directly paint an authentic piece.”
Zhou Jiangming also smiled knowingly.
A high-quality imitation was nothing extraordinary; anyone with painting skills could replicate it.
Though creating imitations was not a shameful act, it certainly did not bring a good reputation.
“Ning Fan, oh Ning Fan, you almost deceived us all!”
At that moment, the Saint Painter suddenly widened his eyes, glaring fiercely at Zhang Qingsong before slapping him hard across the face.
The slap left Zhang Qingsong baffled, not understanding why his master had suddenly grown so furious, thundering in anger.
The Saint Painter shouted in rage, “You short-sighted fool, how is this a high-quality fake?
This is the authentic work, imitating your dad indeed!”
Zhang Qingsong was stunned.
How could this possibly be authentic?
Zhou Jiangming, too, seemed as if he had been slapped by the Saint Painter; his face was burning red as he stood there dumbfounded.
Zhang Qingsong, holding his left cheek, knew the depth of the Saint Painter’s skills, but perhaps the master, being so old, had made a mistake.
are you sure you are not mistaken?
How could he possibly have painted an authentic piece?”
That was a fatal mistake by Zhang Qingsong.
The Saint Painter looked at him with a “you could have been better” expression and swung towards Zhang Qingsong’s right cheek.
Zhang Qingsong did not dodge, letting the Saint Painter hit him, but now he was sure of one thing—this was indeed the authentic work!
No longer paying attention to Zhang Qingsong, the Saint Painter turned excitedly to the Phoenix Nirvana Diagram, tears streaming down his face,
“In my lifetime, I have actually seen the fifth Phoenix Nirvana Diagram—the Golden Flame Phoenix Diagram.
So many people will never see this painting, and I have actually seen it, it’s worth my life indeed!”
“It really is authentic!”
Everyone was stupefied; that young man didn’t even use a brush for painting, wasn’t that just messing around?
And what exactly did Ning Fan end up painting, a rooster in a pile of poop?
In the end, daring to cover the painting with milk and setting it on fire was simply the conduct of a madman.
But it clearly wasn’t just that; even the renowned Saint Painter was so excited that he sat down on the ground.
How could it possibly be a fake?
It was absolutely, definitely authentic!
Ning Fan, the great artist, really slapped us hard,” many murmured, wiping the sweat off their foreheads and chuckling bitterly.
The most heartbroken were not them, but Zhou Jiangming and Wang Xiaoyan, who were both embarrassed and angry yet had nowhere to vent their frustration; Ning Fan really made them loathe him.
But he was indeed incredibly awesome!