Chapter 71: World-Class Masterpiece

Walking across the yard, a cool breeze hit Liu Liwa. After retching violently for a long time, he finally collapsed. For the first time, he enjoyed the luxury of sleeping on a proper bed.

Qin Wan’er and Miss Liuyun sat facing each other, both feeling uneasy. They kept glancing at Liu Liwa. In the end, Miss Liuyun couldn’t hold back. Having completely fallen out of favor, she faced being sold off at any moment. Her battle was defending her chastity, making her the most nervous now. “Miss Qin,” she asked, “that Supervisory Commander told us to follow Mr. Liu’s orders later. What do you think he’ll make us do?”

Qin Wan’er had endured his “guidance” and engaged in real battle practice with Liu Liwa. Yesterday, she had squatted in the outhouse all day, her toxic emissions polluting the atmosphere. She was beyond caring now, her shame already lost. She replied bluntly, “What can women do for men?”

“Ah?” Liuyun trembled all over. At this moment, these two women presented stark contrasts: one was fresh as a flower yet trembling like an angel entering the room for the first time; the other was pure and beautiful with a calm smile, like a demoness whose conscience wasn’t entirely snuffed out. Both were beautiful, yet their views on men differed vastly. Of course, the best way to distinguish an angel from a demoness remained that thin protective barrier.

Miss Liuyun still didn’t quite understand. “That Supervisory Commander holds a high position of power. Even the Madam flatters him. If he fancied any girl, he only needs to say the word. Why make us cooperate with Mr. Liu?”

Qin Wan’er looked at the sleeping Liu Liwa and couldn’t help recalling his stubborn hands clinging to her bottom all night. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she hissed venomously, “No man is any good. I bet Supervisor Wen wants to hand us over to this Liu fellow for… training!”

“Ah?” Miss Liuyun yelped again. “Him? He trains…?”

“Exactly!” Qin Wan’er stated firmly. “Don’t let his harmless look fool you. Beneath it lurks a sea of wickedness…”

Just as Qin Wan’er said this, Liu Liwa obligingly mumbled in his sleep: “Spread… Arched… Thrust upwards…”

“Hear that? This lecher! This pervert!” Qin Wan’er fumed. “Even in his dreams, he only thinks of such things!” She had performed these very actions herself. As Miss Liuyun shivered nervously, Qin Wan’er suddenly shifted her tone, her eyes softening with a tender glow. She smiled slightly, “Still… he has some skills. In such a short time, he befriended the Son of the Vice Minister, and today he’s buddy-buddy with the Supervisory Commander. Besides… he has this immense protective urge. If anyone dares covet what he considers his, he’d stop at nothing, use any means to prevent it…”

Even if his “possessions” suffered a bit under his protection, like preparing for a prolonged outhouse siege.

Miss Liuyun listened, confused. Yet seeing the unconcealable happiness within Qin Wan’er’s radiant smile, then glancing at the sprawled-out Liu Liwa, she seemed to grasp something.

And so, the roster in Liu Liwa’s little room expanded once again. Miss Liuyun officially moved in, carrying her Ya Qin, hanging her flute and bamboo pipe. Fortunately, the bed was large enough, and Qin Wan’er would sneak onto Liu Liwa’s big desk in the latter half of the night.

Late that night, Liu Liwa woke up. The hangover had left him parched. His drunken stupor had cost him another entire day – alcohol was such a time-waster. Outside, the sky was dark. By moonlight, he saw two women squeezed together asleep on his desk, while the Little Loli nestled comfortably against the inner side of the bed.

Liu Liwa fumbled his way out, gulped down a huge ladleful of cold water, perking himself up considerably. When he returned, the moon hung high at midnight. Its bright moonlight poured in, illuminating the room. On the desk, the two women shared one quilt. Qin Wan’er had one leg exposed, draped over Liuyun’s thigh. Miss Liuyun had an arm hooked around Qin Wan’er’s shoulder. Both lovely faces boasted skin like flawless jade, seemingly glowing under the moon’s glow. The key was their restless sleeping: tangled together like two beautiful snakes entwined, with patches of exposed skin.

Liu Liwa suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He hadn’t forgotten his promise to Wen Jun. But these two ladies likely had no experience posing for a photorealistic portrait. Even arranging positions would be tough. Liu Liwa was prepared to persuade them at length, yet this scene before him… it was utterly natural, overwhelmingly tempting. He cursed himself for not having a camera, unable to perfectly capture this wondrous moment. Fortunately, Miss Liuyun had moved from her luxury suite into his humble shed. Besides her instruments, she brought her Brush, Ink, Paper, and Inkstone – as a pure courtesan, she dabbled in arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Liu Liwa couldn’t bear to miss this exquisite image. He felt his long-dormant artistic cells ignite! Tang Bohu, Edison Chen, Ma Liang (the divine painter) – their souls possessed him now! He wasn’t painting alone! Seizing a brush, he spread a sheet of Xuan paper on the floor. Wielding it swiftly and with godlike precision, he painted… until his wrist ached and fingers cramped. Only then did he recall: brushes required ink!

Staring at the paper, whiter than his own face, Liu Liwa was stumped. He’d heard grinding ink was tricky. Born into an era of pencils and fountain pens, what did he know of this? Too runny or too dry ink would both ruin the effect.

Stuck in this dilemma, a voice piped up from behind. The Little Loli was awake, perched on the edge of the bed, wagging her little feet. “Brother Liu, what are you doing?”

“Shh!” Liu Liwa signaled quiet, nodding towards the entwined, partially exposed beauties. “Behold! What a magnificent tableau! I must immortalize this beauty for posterity!”

The Little Loli scratched her tender cheek, utterly bewildered. She couldn’t see what was beautiful about these two women drooling, grinding their teeth, and snoring in their sleep. Still, excited and eager for entertainment, she put on her Embroidered Shoes and hopped down. Fun was fun, after all.

“Xinying!” Liu Liwa whispered. “Help your brother grind the ink, won’t you? This painting will become a timeless masterpiece, a world-class treasure! We’ll sign both our names on it, and we’ll be remembered forever!”

This promise thrilled Xinying into becoming a little laborer. With her help, the ink was soon ground properly. Liu Liwa soaked his brush and looked again at his models. The scene seemed slightly less enchanting than before. Perhaps Qin Wan’er’s drool pool had grown too large, or maybe the mole on Miss Liuyun’s arm stood out too plainly. The artistic merit simply wasn’t strong enough.

“Xinying,” Liu Liwa instructed carefully, “I feel the aesthetic isn’t fully captured now. The painting won’t achieve its full effect. Could you help adjust things a bit? Go and pull down their quilt… Yes, yes! Expose those legs… more, more! The top too, pull it down… Good… Perfect!”

Liu Liwa directed with feverish excitement. If the women woke up, they’d likely chalk it up to the little girl’s mischief…

Naturally, he didn’t slack off. Wen Jun might return tomorrow; he had to deliver something today, even a single restricted portrait draft, to prove his efforts and deepen their rapport.

Fuelled, Liu Liwa resumed his brush dance. Inspiration surged like a fountain; his strokes felt divinely guided. Soon, a painting was nearing completion – a piece he deemed sublimely beautiful, verging on a Divine Miracle, worthy of hanging in the Louvre: a world-class masterpiece! But the birth of every great artwork faces obstacles, even sabotage. At this moment, Xinying crouched beside him. Her large, bright eyes, like stars at night, fixed upon his magnum opus. She murmured softly, “Brother Liu… Are those two things you drew white radishes or… radishes?”