Chapter 324 Seeing the Mountain as a Mountain, Seeing the Water as Water_1

"Move your calf forward a bit more."

Xu Ran directed, and directly in front of Qian Renxue and Xue Ke, he held Xue Ke's petite foot in his hand.

Although he was sincerely doing a job for Davis, wanting Brother Dai to see what Xue Ke looked like, after all, Brother Dai couldn't get a taste, but it didn't mean he couldn't get a look as well. Davis had granted him favor, and naturally, he couldn't be so shameless.

However, Xu Ran was also a reasonable person, and couldn't just give without taking anything in return while busy doing Davis's bidding. So, he decided to preliminarily test out Xue Ke's feel for Davis.

And really, soft and tender; the feel was quite nice.

As the princess of a nation and the daughter loved and pampered by Emperor Xue Ye, Xue Ke was born with a golden key in her mouth. As a daughter, she didn't need to join the family's power struggles. Raised in the lap of luxury in the imperial palace, her skin was incredibly smooth, like it had been soaked in milk.

"Lord Xu Ran..." Xue Ke murmured, her face blushing.

This was the first time she had such intimate contact with a man. The touch of Xu Ran's palm on her ankle and the top of her foot sent tingling sensations through her body, making her almost cry out. However, the shame inherent in a girl's nature forced her to suppress the peculiar feelings that her physiology brought about.

Her beautiful eyes lowered, she looked at Xu Ran shyly.

Only she knew that Xu Ran was not just helping her pose. He had also played for quite a long time. Although it was imperceptible to outsiders, she could feel Xu Ran's fingers continuously moving over it, tickling her.

"All done." Xu Ran smiled and positioned Xue Ke's left leg at a forty-five-degree angle.

Art, understand?

Naturally, all sorts of poses had to be arranged properly, to lay out an even more beautiful composition, in order to create an even more wonderful work.

Xu Ran wasn't the type to take advantage of someone on the first meeting, was he? That would make him a pervert, wouldn't it?

Xu Ran glanced at Qian Renxue's expression, which had already become gloomier than dark clouds. He had intentionally wanted to annoy Qian Renxue, the more depressed she was, the better. If he didn't press down on Qian Renxue's spirit, then even if she were brought into the "Harem," it would just be a bunch of troubles.

With Qian Renxue's pride, if it wasn't quashed, what would he do if she became defiant later?

He had to make Qian Renxue understand that once she became his woman, all of her status and position would no longer matter.

What's important? Naturally, it would be serving him, her husband.

The one who served him the best would be the leading lady of the house. This would stimulate their enthusiasm.

Pfft, that sounds somewhat shameless.

"I am quite interested to see Brother Xu's skills. With Brother Xu's unparalleled talent, he must be powerful in other areas as well," Qian Renxue said without noticing Xu Ran's sly intentions. Up until now, she didn't believe that Xu Ran had discovered her identity.

"Sure, just watch."

Xu Ran took out his equipment from the storage soul tool. An easel, a painting board, and various brushes.

Seeing Xu Ran take out so many items, Qian Renxue became interested and forgot about him publicly teasing Xue Ke moments ago, standing quietly behind him, scrutinizing his every stroke.

Her beautiful eyes carefully studied Xu Ran, never imagining he was versed in so many things. Ever since she had met Xu Ran, it seemed there was nothing he couldn't do. He was practically perfect, without a single flaw to find.

If only Xu Ran could rein in his flirtatious nature, he might just be the most perfect man in the world at that time.

Xu Ran picked up a brush and started to freely splash it across the white paper, with graceful and beautiful curves emerging at the tip of his brush. At that moment, his demeanor underwent a change, from frivolity to restraint, his deep eyes seemingly encompassing everything, holding within them endless galaxies.

A man who is serious is the most handsome.

When Xu Ran became serious, he was handsome as well.

Xu Ran, who suddenly became serious, made both Qian Renxue and Xue Ke's eyes light up at the same time. At this moment, an elegant and cultured aura exuded from Xu Ran's body, making him seem like a piece of gentle jade, which was pleasing to the eye and made one feel comfortable just by looking at him.

Leaning against a wooden pillar, Xue Ke faced Xu Ran, who would occasionally lift his head to look at her, causing her heart to beat wildly, and a novel and strange feeling arose within her.

In Soul Land, there were no such things as sketching from life or models as in his previous world. Hence, what Xu Ran considered normal behavior was seen quite differently in the eyes of Xue Ke and the others.

As a princess, not many dared to directly look at her, let alone assume a pose for someone to repeatedly scrutinize like this.

For Xue Ke, it was naturally a novel and delightful experience.

Soon, as time passed, on the originally blank canvas, an incredibly beautiful girl holding flowers began to emerge. Her pretty face was blushing with coyness, looking sideways with affectionate, longing eyes as if gazing at a lover in the distance.

Elegant, wonderful, and with a hint of nobility, her every smile and frown seemed to come to life, astonishing those who saw it.

"What a beautiful painting."

Qian Renxue stared blankly at the scroll in Xu Ran's hands. The likeness of Xue Ke was too gorgeous, seemingly even more beautiful than the actual person. Under the brilliant sunlight, the shy demeanor of Xue Ke was simply exquisite.

Qian Renxue's hands were twisted together, and no one noticed her unusual behavior. Seeing Xu Ran mysterious produce things that continued to shock her, her heart trembled incessantly, and she made a bold decision.

How she wished for Xu Ran to paint a portrait of her as well!

How wonderful that would be, wouldn't it?

She wanted to be carefree like Xue Ke, wearing clothes she liked, boldly adoring someone, acting spontaneously. But now, even if she wanted to revert to being a girl, she could only do so during her baths, briefly adorning herself in her favorite dress to admire for a little while.

"Imperial Brother, Lord Xu Ran, what's happening? I want to see too." Seeing Xu Ran stop painting, Xue Ke walked behind him with a blushing face and saw the completed painting.

She was stunned for a moment, and then her face turned red.

The girl in the painting was beautiful, but it felt as if she was gazing at a lover, and the direction of her gaze was towards Lord Xu Ran, wasn't it?

Doesn't that mean, she...

Ah! How embarrassing!

Did she just act as frivolously?

However, she soon felt her mind become incredibly clear, and all the things her teacher had been instructing her, which she had not understood, suddenly became crystal clear.

Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes also widened in shock, as the cultivation problem that had troubled her for so long was suddenly solved in that moment. Even the mysteries of the Angelic Domain were now suddenly clear to her.

It was as if her intelligence had abruptly increased manyfold, even by tenfold.

What, what's going on?

"There are three realms in life. The first realm: seeing the mountain as a mountain, seeing the water as water. The second realm: seeing the mountain not as a mountain, seeing water not as water. The third realm: seeing the mountain still as a mountain, seeing water still as water."

"So, do you think a painting is just a painting?" Noticing their astonishment and confusion, Xu Ran smiled and said. As for the buff he had, it came with the System, and he didn't know how to explain it, so he could only try to sound as imposing as possible.

As it turned out, those who could show off were a bit more attractive to the opposite sex.

Of course, that refers to successful showing off.

If showing off failed, well... that's called making a spectacle of oneself.