Chapter 526: Painting the Heart
Yue Menghe's words surprised Lin Feng. It seemed that his mother had fully accepted Meng Qing, and was giving him such a solemn instruction.
A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his eyes. Seeing his mother and Meng Qing getting along well naturally made Lin Feng happy.
Raising his head, he looked at Meng Qing and Duan Xinye not far away. He saw the two of them discussing something. At this moment, Duan Xinye seemed to have relaxed a bit as well, a bright, shallow smile on her face.
This also let a stone fall from Lin Feng's heart. With such a wife, what more could he say? He didn't need Yue Menghe to tell him; he already knew what he had to do—to cherish the women who deeply loved him.
Thinking back to the words Meng Qing and Duan Xinye had once said to him, Lin Feng smiled foolishly. They hadn't spoken empty, boastful words; they had truly followed through. Meng Qing had fulfilled her promise of not minding other women by his side, and Duan Xinye had also said she didn't care about status or title, as long as she could follow him, Lin Feng.
"Lucky bastard."
Lin Hai muttered beside him, a smile also in his eyes. Seeing his son so outstanding, having obtained two such wonderful daughters-in-law, he, as the father, was naturally happy.
"What, are you saying you're not lucky yourself?"
Yue Menghe's eyes glared at Lin Hai, startling him. His eyes flickered, and he chuckled nervously, "No, I'm a lucky bastard too."
Having said that, Lin Hai lowered his head and continued carving.
This heartwarming scene made Lin Feng's smile even brighter. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he whispered, "Finally know what Father is afraid of."
"Watch your mouth, you brat." Lin Hai glared at Lin Feng with displeasure, making Lin Feng quickly shake his head and look away, as if nothing had happened.
"Go on. Treat Meng Qing and Xinye well."
Yue Menghe looked at the two women not far away and smiled at Lin Feng. Lin Feng nodded slightly, lifted his feet, and slowly walked to their side.
At this moment, Meng Qing was also holding a paintbrush, with paper spread out in front of her. She was learning strokes and lines from Duan Xinye, sketching out various patterns.
The two of them completely ignored Lin Feng, immersed in their own enjoyment. Lin Feng was left out in the cold.
Everything was developing in a direction Lin Feng hadn't expected, but one that comforted him.
Duan Xinye stayed in Longing Forest for two days. During those two days, she was always with Meng Qing, teaching her how to paint and occasionally chatting happily. Poor Lin Feng was ignored for the entire two days; neither woman paid him any attention, leaving him utterly frustrated. He really didn't know who he had offended...
It wasn't until the third day that Duan Wuya sent someone to Longing Forest to pick up Duan Xinye, and at the same time brought Lin Feng a message.
The envoy of Dragon Mountain Empire, Ruo Lanshan, instructed Lin Feng to assemble outside the Imperial Palace in three days, ready to depart. This time, they would head to Dragon Mountain Empire.
As soon as this news came out, Snow Moon Kingdom became lively again. The people for the Snow Domain Grand Competition were finally about to set out. Heading to Dragon Mountain Empire, no one knew how many from Snow Moon Kingdom would be chosen to participate in the Snow Domain Grand Competition this time.
Lin Feng was also speculating. Ruo Lanshan hadn't truly made a selection, but had finally decided on the departure date.
Still, three days was fine. The Snow Domain Grand Competition was a matter of sooner or later. Setting out earlier would allow him to learn more and witness the geniuses of the empire.
"I imagine Duan Wudao, Duan Wuya, Yue Tianming, and the others have all received invitations."
Lin Feng guessed in his heart, but that wasn't for now. At this moment, Lin Feng was sitting in the bamboo forest, on the ground, where a large straw mat was spread out. On it lay a scroll.
Lin Feng was holding a paintbrush, continuously moving it across the scroll.
Three meters in front of Lin Feng, Meng Qing sat there, letting his brush move. She was still as quiet as ever, as if there was nothing else in the world besides the woman before him and the brush in his hand.
The outline of a woman was slowly sketched out under Lin Feng's brush—gentle, virtuous, holy as an immortal, carrying a hint of ethereal grace. But in the painting, it seemed to lack a deeper sense of beauty.
"No good."
Lin Feng shook his head slightly, seemingly dissatisfied. Then he tore the scroll apart, pressed his palm on it, and a flame suddenly rose, burning the paper to ashes.
"Lin Feng, how much longer are you going to paint?"
Meng Qing said softly. She had been here for a long time. Lin Feng had painted many pictures, but none had succeeded. One by one, the scrolls he painted were torn and burned.
This made Meng Qing a bit frustrated. Originally, Duan Xinye was teaching her to paint, but then Lin Feng stubbornly insisted on painting her portrait, and even wanted her to stay in front of him the whole time.
"Until I can paint you to my satisfaction."
Lin Feng was tireless, smiling at Meng Qing.
Meng Qing was silent. Then she continued sitting there without leaving. Pure and refined, leaning there, she was already a beautiful scenery in herself.
The rustling sound of the brush came again, and another portrait emerged. Lin Feng looked at the painting, then at Meng Qing. It was very similar. By now, Lin Feng's painting could capture a person's appearance, but what it lacked was the finesse.
"No good." Another whisper escaped Lin Feng's lips. The tip of the brush swept across, the scroll shattered, and a faint flame rose. Another painting was burned by Lin Feng.
Taking another piece of paper, Lin Feng spread it on the table in front of him. His gaze, as usual, once again fell on Meng Qing, as if in his eyes, there was only her, and nothing else.
Raising the brush, Lin Feng paused for a moment, then began to paint again, tracing simple yet intricate patterns.
The rustling sound continued. A gentle breeze blew through the bamboo forest, filling the quiet space with a romantic atmosphere.
"Not right..."
"Not right..."
"Still not right..."
Lin Feng continuously painted Meng Qing's appearance. It was very similar, but what it lacked was the divine essence—the life-like spirit, the holy beauty that could make all things pale in comparison.
Countless scrolls had been burned by Lin Feng. Meng Qing still sat there, looking at the beautiful bamboo forest, at Lin Feng with his furrowed brow. She showed no sign of impatience. On the contrary, in her heart, there was only a trace of sweetness.
Lin Feng was watching her; and she was watching Lin Feng.
Even without any communication, many times, a simple glance was enough for them to understand the meaning in each other's eyes.
Time slowly passed. Nightfall shrouded the sky, and the world turned pitch black. Night came and then faded, day and night alternating. Time passed so quickly.
Yet Lin Feng remained silent, from day into darkness, and from darkness back to day. Tides rose and fell, flowers bloomed and withered, as if he wanted to see all the splendor of the world.
Finally, on the third day, Lin Feng raised the brush in his hand and froze it in the air.
His gaze fell on Meng Qing, just looking at her. A breeze brushed by, lifting Lin Feng's long hair. Then, his eyes slowly closed.
No longer looking at Meng Qing, Lin Feng's eyes were shut. But at this moment, his hand finally came down.
The rustling sound drifted out again, but this time there was no disorder, only clarity and naturalness, as if it were heaven-made.
Lin Feng kept his eyes closed, but his hand danced continuously, so smoothly. The obstacles of the past three days seemed to pour out all at once in this moment, completed in one go, without even a pause.
"Whoosh!"
The wind stirred. Lin Feng opened his eyes and looked at the painting before him. Finally, a brilliant smile spread across his face, a smile he couldn't hide.
At last, he had painted it. The painting under his brush now possessed the divine essence of life, the divine essence of beauty—not just a simple, nice-looking scroll.
Meng Qing raised her head, looking at the scroll that Lin Feng had spent three days and countless efforts to paint. Meng Qing smiled, a radiant smile.
So beautiful. The her in this scroll was too perfect, like a flower fairy about to step out of the painting.
"Finally painted it."
Lin Feng said softly, smiling with satisfaction.
"Lin Feng, since you could paint it with your eyes closed, why did you keep doing it this way?"
"Because I needed to feel your presence, until I branded you into my mind, into my heart."
Lin Feng whispered, then said gently, "With this scroll, on this journey, when I miss you, I can look at this painting. As for why I painted with my eyes closed, it's because what I wanted to paint was you, Meng Qing. With my eyes, I cannot paint you; only with my heart can I!"
Meng Qing felt her eyes sting a little. She smoothed her long hair with her hand, beautiful enough to make all things lose their color. Lin Feng had painted with his eyes closed; he was using his heart to paint. And what he painted was not just Meng Qing's face, but also Meng Qing's heart!