NOVEL FULL

Strange Stories

Chapter 333: Wu Wenxia and Ming Hengzi

Chapter 333 Wu Wenxia and Ming Hengzi "In the winter of the second year of Jingping, on the emperor's birthday, a grand banquet was held for all the ministers and guests from all over the world. Envoys from all countries came to pay their respects and each presented precious treasures as a birthday present. "At the beginning of the banquet, the singing girls and dancers performed the Shi Ning Dance. When they came to the side of the Dazu envoy, the envoy coughed violently, and the cups and plates in the dancers' hands fell to the ground. The prince ordered the dancers to withdraw and summoned the extraordinary people in the Immortal Palace to perform immortal arts in the court, to show that the country was full of immortal energy and many noble people had emerged." In the corner of the hall, a young official was writing. After putting down his pen, he raised his head again and looked towards the hall seriously. A man wearing a crane feather Taoist robe walked in. He was a tall and thin middle-aged man. He looked like a crane and held a pen in his hand. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Highness, and all the civil and military officials, foreign envoys, as well as Master Lin, Master Fan, and I, Wu Wenxia, ​​have been practicing Taoism in Yunzhou and have learned some magic." Taoist Heyu came in and bowed to everyone in the hall first. He even specifically mentioned Lin Jue and Master Fan. "Wu Wenxia..."

The young official muttered to himself, and couldn't help but follow his gaze and look at Master Lin and Master Fan over there. Most of the people in the hall felt the same way. Then I heard Wu Wenxia continue to say: "Today is your majesty's birthday. I wish you good fortune as vast as the East Sea and longevity as great as the South Mountain. However, the East Sea is 2,600 miles away from here. The South Mountain is close, but how can I see it in the palace today? It just so happens that I have learned the skill of painting. Originally, there is a real master who can exorcise demons here today, so I shouldn't show off my skills. But since the Crown Prince has asked me to do so, I will use the wall of this palace as a canvas and paint a picture of your majesty wishing you a long life as vast as the East Sea and the South Mountain." When the civil and military officials in the court heard this, they all knew that it must be something extraordinary. However, some envoys from small countries had limited knowledge and little understanding of Central Plains culture and really thought that he was asking for a painting. In any case, everyone's eyes showed anticipation and they all looked intently. The young civil servant still took notes seriously. Wu Wenxia walked to the wall and waited for someone to bring him ink. He picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and moved the brush as big as a broom on the wall quickly and smoothly. With just a few simple strokes, he drew a stone mountain towering into the clouds on the wall. He dipped his hand in ink, pressed and lifted it on the wall, and drew a flying bird on the mountain. This stone mountain became more spiritual. Everything happens in just a few breaths, and the painting is full of charm. Wu Wenxia did not stop, but walked to the other wall and used the same method. After walking back and forth a few times, he drew a turbulent sea on the wall. He dipped his hand in ink and smeared it on the waves a few times, and waves appeared on the sea. He pressed and lifted it a few more times, and birds flew and fish jumped on the sea. It also only took a few breaths. Seeing that two such paintings were completed in such a short time, some envoys from small countries were amazed. But when they were about to cheer, they saw that most people did not move, so they sat down again. Wu Wenxia put away the pen, turned around and smiled at everyone. An apprentice handed him a small cup of paint. It is yellow pigment. Wu Wenxia picked it up and drank it in one gulp. Another disciple brought a cup of green paint, and Wu Wenxia also picked it up and drank it. He did this several times in a row, having drunk several cups of different drinks. He tilted his head back as if gargling, mixing the drinks in his mouth, and suddenly sprayed them towards Nanshan on the wall in front of him.

"puff!" The paint is sprayed evenly. At first, nothing could be seen, but as the paint slowly slid down and was naturally painted on the wall, the tall stone mountain was actually painted with color, earthy yellow stones, green forests, and occasional red spots, which were probably the red leaves on the mountain in autumn and winter. Any color was just right. Everyone in the hall was suddenly shocked. Even the young civil servant who was in charge of taking notes opened his eyes wide and paused for a moment. After he realized what was happening, he quickly lowered his head and continued to take notes. Wu Wenxia did the same thing, swallowed the paint, and spit it toward the other wall. The sea, which was originally outlined by a few strokes of ink, also became colorful and lifelike. The blue sea and the blue sky, they are obviously the same blue paint but they are not the same color. The amazing thing is that where the sea and the sky meet, the water vapor is thick and it is a gradient of grayish white, while the waves are pure white because they are not stained with any paint. "Wow..." Many civil servants, military officials and envoys stood up and cheered. “Good skills!” "Good spell!" Even Lin Jue was a little surprised. Even the tiny fox on the table stopped eating, ran to Lin Jue's shoulder, stretched its neck, and looked in that direction intently. But when he glanced at the prince, he saw that he was smiling, and Wu Wenxia did not show any intention of thanking him. "Haha! You are too kind!" Wu Wenxia said to them with a smile, "If it is just like this, although it can win some admiration and joy from the hearts of the important civil and military officials and foreign envoys, how can it be worthy of His Majesty's birthday today and His Highness's kind invitation?" Everyone was taken aback when they heard the words. Then Wu Wenxia turned around, with his back to the two paintings, and opened his arms. He had an unfathomable expression on his face and muttered a spell. A gentle breeze blew into the hall, blowing up his clothes and hair. Every crane feather fluttered in the wind, making him look like a deity. The hall gradually became quiet until it was silent. But suddenly, a crane cry came from somewhere. It seems to be there and not there, as if it is very far away. But there was a second sound immediately. "Wow..." This sound was much closer and clearer. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and saw that the flying bird that Wu Wenxia had carved with her fingernails on the lifelike "Nanshan" actually moved and was slowly flying towards them. But when I looked closely, I realized that although the mountain was huge, it seemed to be moving slightly. It is the wind that stirs the forests. For a moment, it seemed not like a painting, but a real mountain; and it was not a wall, but a window overlooking the distant mountains.

Everyone opened their eyes wide, marveled, and held their breath. Just as they focused their attention on "Nanshan", they suddenly heard the sound of waves. When everyone turned their eyes, they saw that the sea on the other wall had become turbulent with waves crashing and piling up. "Ah~" There were the sounds of seagulls and silvery white birds leaping out of the water. The Western Region envoys who were close to the wall were stunned. They looked up, and even though their necks were sore, they were reluctant to lower their heads. They just stared at the scene in a daze. Suddenly there was a snap! The waves hit! A splash of water suddenly shot out from the wall! The envoy was caught off guard and was suddenly drenched by the water, and his clothes were soaked. The water splashed on the ground and splashed everywhere, and it splashed on countless envoys' bodies and faces. The cool and moist feeling kept telling them that the water was real. Even licking my lips, it tasted so salty and bitter. "what!!" A group of envoys were shocked and stood up and left their seats. The waves continued to hit us, and water continued to pour out from the walls. Before long, a thin layer of water accumulated on the floor of the hall. Even those who were far away got their shoes wet. Lin Jue lowered his head, and the fox on his shoulder also lowered his head. Lin Jue bent down and put his hand into the water. The cold water could not deceive anyone. But a slight feeling in his heart told him that this was magic. “The canvas becomes a river…” Lin Jue muttered to himself, remembering the word. He raised his hand, fingers still wet, and placed it beside his shoulder. The fox came closer, sniffed, and then looked away. At the same time, the young civil servant in charge of writing records was staring blankly at the wall where the waves were surging and the sea water was gushing out. He was shocked beyond words. When he came to his senses, he did the same as Lin Jue. He first touched the paper that was splashed and a little wet with his hand, then bent down and touched the sea water under his feet with his hand. But before he could straighten up, he heard another loud crane cry. "Wow!!" The sound seems to be right next to my ear. Then there was the sound of flapping wings, so clear and deafening. "puff……" A huge crane flew out from "Nanshan" and flew over the heads of important civil and military officials. "…The envoys were timid, fearing that the sea would burst the dam, and they all left their seats, disregarding etiquette. Suddenly, the deafening cry of a crane was heard. The crane flew out of the Nanshan scroll and soared over the palace, flapping its wings in the wind, and the whole palace was moved. All the civil and military officials bowed their heads, but Tianshi Fan and Zhenren Lin were the only ones who were not afraid."

The young civil servant wrote quickly with a look of shock on his face. "Alright, alright! I and all the ministers have witnessed the Immortal Master's magic. Please stop here! Otherwise, the hall will be submerged!" The emperor above waved his hands to stop. Wu Wenxia looked around and was very satisfied with everyone's performance. With a smile, he saluted first to the emperor and then to everyone in the hall. "It's just a small magic, not worth mentioning. I just wish your majesty good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains." Wu Wenxia said this and waved his hand again. The waves in the sea gradually stopped, and the cranes flew out of the hall, going nowhere. The sea water in the hall also receded by more than half, leaving only a thin layer. The hall gradually returned to silence, and the envoys returned to their original seats, still in shock. "Master, you are too modest! This is a magic trick!" "As long as your Majesty is happy." "Come here! There will be a huge reward!" the old emperor shouted, "Give the immortal master a seat and bring him some wine and food!" The hall became lively again, with everyone discussing and marveling at each other. The way they looked at Wu Wenxia was as if they were looking at a god. Lin Jue lowered his head and looked carefully. The sea water has receded a little, but not completely. It seems that the sea water that previously filled the hall was a mixture of real and fake. Among them, there must be some ingenious designs that were thought out by some extraordinary people and are unknown to others. There is really not much point in delving into them. The significance of it is to be amazed by them. Lin Jue just wanted to... If Senior Brother Seven were here, he would definitely be very happy. Wu Wenxia sat down at the table that the attendants had just moved, not far from Lin Jue and the others. He turned sideways and saluted towards Master Fan and Lin Jue, who also returned the salute. Then a short and fat Taoist priest walked in, his name was Ming Hengzi. "Wu Wenxia is a deity, I am not as good as him, but I also have some magic skills, I am willing to show you my skills here for your entertainment." The short and fat Taoist paused, looked around, shook his head and said, "It's a pity that today is noon, I can't use my magic skills, it would be better if it were night." "Oh?" The emperor was a little confused. Everyone was also worried. Only the prince smiled and said nothing. …… Ming Hengzi then requested that the door of the hall be closed. The emperor ordered his men to do so. Ming Hengzi waved his sleeves, and the sky outside darkened, as if it was night, and the roof of the hall also darkened.

Ming Hengzi said: Since it is night now, there should be a bright moon. Then a bright moon rose above our heads, as big as a jade plate, and the moonlight was so bright that it made the floor look like it was covered with frost. Ming Hengzi pretended to be surprised and said: I forgot, today is the beginning of the month, there should be no moon, but a sky full of stars. Then the sky above the palace was full of stars again, shining brightly. Ming Hengzi flattered him by saying that the sun of our country was sitting in the hall, so after the night, the sun should rise. Then it seemed as if a red sun was printed on the window outside, rising slowly, and the sky outside the window gradually became brighter. The emperor was delighted and gave Ming Hengzi generous rewards. All the civil and military officials in the court and foreign envoys were also shocked and said that this was a magic that only gods could have. The young civil servant wrote furiously. Everything in the hall today will be passed down to future generations, so we must not be careless. After finishing writing, he looked around and saw Master Lin, Tianshi Fan and Lord Pan talking in a low voice with their heads down, while the foreign envoys opposite them all had shocked expressions on their faces. Only the envoy from Dazu sat still with a look of disdain on his face. (End of this chapter)