Yi Wang

"Four Months" - that was the cryptic title of the painting crafted by Yi Wang, the third young master of the illustrious Yi Family. The enigmatic message hidden within the strokes of the brush was clear to only a handful, with Yi Tian being one of them. As the clamor of the audience subsided, Yi Wang, armed with his brush, pivoted to face the crowd, his youthful gaze locking onto Yi Tian's with a provocative challenge.

A few discerning observers caught this fleeting exchange and traced Yi Wang's gaze to its target - Yi Tian, who sat with an unperturbed demeanor, his calm eyes revealing no discomfort at being singled out by Yi Wang.

Yi Tian understood that the painting was a veiled reference to the main family's decision to send him to the battlefield. What puzzled him, however, was the uncharacteristic hostility emanating from his younger brother.

The answer to this wasn't straightforward. It wasn't merely a case of Yi Wang being an arrogant, entitled young master. Instead, Yi Wang was attempting to gather information, believing that ruffling Yi Tian's feathers might offer some valuable insights.

During his early childhood, Yi Wang was mentored by Elder Jun, forming a bond so deep it mirrored a father-son relationship. Like Yi Long, Yi Wang harbored resentment toward their father's indifference, always being told not to disturb him. One fateful day, while studying in the Scholar's Annex, a grand library nestled within the Yi Family palace, Yi Wang encountered an older man - tall, slender, garbed in exquisite purple robes, his hair haphazardly bundled into a messy bun. This was none other than the family's most brilliant strategist and one of the four esteemed elders, Yi Jun.

Yi Jun, observing the young Yi Wang engrossed in his studies, dismissed the prestigious scholar previously instructing the boy. He then took it upon himself to guide Yi Wang's studies, recognizing his intelligence and his hunger for attention. With time, their bond deepened, and Yi Wang became Yi Jun's disciple in the art of strategy.

As he educated Yi Wang about the complex family dynamics, Yi Wang's perception of people and their underlying motivations changed dramatically. This newfound understanding allowed him to discern a shift in his older brother, Yi Tian. He watched as Yi Tian transformed from a complacent, conceited teenager to someone who seemed convinced that he was destined to lead the family. This sudden change seemed incongruous given Yi Tian's previous indifference towards the leadership role, so Yi Wang reported his observations to Yi Jun.

Initially, Yi Jun dismissed the concerns. However, as he observed Yi Tian more closely, he sensed something amiss. After months of investigation, he unearthed secrets that could potentially destabilize the family. Yi Jun relayed his findings to Yi Chang in a private meeting, and while they drew some conclusions, they felt they needed more evidence. In the interim, Yi Jun instructed Yi Wang to provoke Yi Tian in the hopes of gathering additional information.

In the present, Yi Wang was once again executing this strategy, but something felt different. Yi Tian seemed immune to his provocations, displaying an uncharacteristic calmness that made Yi Wang question his previous assumptions. He decided he needed to probe deeper, to find new ways to test Yi Tian's reactions.

Sensing the tension in the room, the announcer attempted to defuse the situation by saying, "Thank you, Young Master Yi, for sharing your talent with us. Truly inspirational."

Acknowledging the compliment with a nod, Yi Wang exited the stage. The announcer, with a wide grin, declared, "Alright, everyone, it's time to see who can best mimic the Young Master's work. As always, please line up at the main stairs of the stage in an orderly manner."

The stage boasted two staircases. The first extended from the front of the hall, wide and gently sloping, while the second at the back was exclusively for artists and servants to make their entrance. It, too, was designed with a gentle incline.

A varied group of individuals queued up, ready to take on the challenge. Not everyone joined, as the requisite skill level for this task was quite high. Many recognized their limitations in terms of calligraphy skills. Moreover, the older generation abstained, as this festival was a platform for the younger generation to showcase their talent.

As the eager participants assembled, servants emerged from the back of the stage with the necessary materials for calligraphy – ink, brushes, and fine paper.

Among the lineup was a young man who looked no older than eighteen, but his physique was more akin to that of a child. This was Xue Tao, a member of the Xue Branch Family, a lineage renowned for their artistic brilliance and creation of awe-inspiring works of art that married traditional techniques with mystical elements. Xue Tao, in particular, was celebrated as an artistic prodigy, making him a highly anticipated participant.

Once the servants had distributed the materials, the announcer signaled for the participants to take their places on the stage, which was spacious enough to accommodate them all in a grid, each standing three feet apart.

"Begin!" announced the host, striking the gong. The audience watched with rapt attention as each participant deftly maneuvered their brushes - some with swift, confident strokes, others with slow, meticulous precision.

All eyes were on Xue Tao as he dipped his brush in ink, closed his eyes in deep contemplation, and then with a graceful flourish, brought the brush down on the paper.

After the participants had finished their calligraphy, the announcer beckoned them to the front of the stage. "Now that everyone has finished, please step forward and hold your drawings for the judges to assess the details."

The participants formed a line, and a pair of elderly men in grey robes ascended the stage. With just a glance, they were able to discern the quality of the mimicry. Participants were dismissed from the stage swiftly if their work fell short.

Minutes later, only two young men remained on stage - one with a childlike figure, the other a rotund youth with a prematurely receding hairline.

The elderly judges continued their discussions and inspections, pointing and murmuring. Finally, they pointed towards the plump young man, Zhen Bao.

Zhen Bao initially thought he had lost, but the next words from one of the old judges took him by surprise. "You win."

Although taken aback, Xue Tao graciously accepted the outcome. The audience, however, was less restrained. "Little Tao has been outdone by a fatty!" exclaimed one onlooker, inciting laughter among the crowd. Others clapped and cheered, while some felt a pang of disappointment, having bet on Xue Tao's victory.

"Congratulations, young man! The Vitality Rejuvenation Pill is yours," the announcer declared, patting Zhen Bao on the back and handing him a small box containing the prized pill.

Jolted back to reality, Zhen Bao broke into a wide grin and accepted the box. He turned to Xue Tao and bowed respectfully, "It was an honor competing with you."

...

Once Yi Wang had exited the stage, he ascended the grand staircase, making his way to the third floor. He traversed the ornate corridors, ultimately arriving at his private viewing chamber within the expansive Mountain River Hall.

Inside the chamber awaited the pair of young men with whom he had initially entered the grand hall. The first was a slender figure, radiating a gentle aura that filled the room with a calming energy. In contrast, the second was athletically built, his posture rigid and upright, exuding an air of discipline and strength.

As Yi Wang crossed the threshold into the room, deep in thought, he issued a command, "Xuanfeng. In the Youth Martial Showdown, challenge Yi Tian."

At his words, Xuanfeng nodded in agreement, a glint of understanding flashing in his eyes. He had a clear grasp of the implications behind Yi Wang's instructions.