Chapter 320: The Four Friends of Jiangnan
A chubby, short man with an oil-smooth bald head said with a face full of joy:
"I dare not claim my calligraphy skills to be the best in the world, but few can compare. Why don’t we discuss the art of calligraphy first?"
"It’s still better to compare paintings."
A fresh-looking, handsome man looked Ding Ling up and down and smiled:
"Ding Ling. You don’t come to West Lake Mei Manor for no reason. Your sudden visit can’t be just to discuss the Dao with us, right?"
Needless to say.
Some are siding with Xiang Wentian.
Certainly, some players are siding with the four Manor Masters of Mei Manor.
Judging by the expression and demeanor of the handsome man, he seemed quite wary of Ding Ling and his group, needless to say, some players must have leaked the information about Xiang Wentian’s plan to rescue Ren Woxing.
Regardless of whether this is true or not.
It’s natural for people to be cautious.
Compared to the pedantic Liu Zhengfeng, these people are clearly more seasoned and slick; they neither fully trust the players’ words nor completely dismiss them.
Xiang Wentian’s heart skipped a beat, and his heart raced; he realized he had underestimated the caution of these Manor Masters in front of him.
He was very upset and didn’t know if he could succeed this time.
At this moment, he could only rely on Ding Ling since he was definitely not able to compete against the four Manor Masters of Mei Manor in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
However, he had collected some precious paintings, music scores, and such.
But having competed with Ding Ling, he knew Ding Ling’s painting skills were far superior to the sages of the past, so he gave up on using paintings and such to lure the four Manor Masters, placing all his hopes on Ding Ling.
With this in mind.
He, too, stared at Ding Ling with eager eyes, full of expectation, unable to share with outsiders.
"Indeed."
Ding Ling, with full-level acting, looked seriously at the four Manor Masters:
"I am here not only to discuss the Dao but also to exchange my skills in painting, calligraphy, and playing the zither with the life-long learning of the four Manor Masters."
The four Manor Masters’ expressions changed simultaneously.
Each looked as if they were about to refuse.
Ding Ling quickly said before they could speak:
"Of course, if my skills cannot satisfy you Manor Masters, you are free not to exchange."
He smiled slightly and said:
"Manor Masters, this deal is mutually agreeable and fair for all ages. So, how about it? Do you want to give it a try?"
"Alright."
An elderly man with gray hair laughed heartily, stroking his beard:
"Ding Ling, you’re straightforward, no need for any pretense. We won’t be courteous with you either. Let’s do it!"
He made the decision:
"Let’s give it a try first. If any of us is convinced by you and wants to exchange, I won’t stop it."
Xiang Wentian watched at the side, a bit bewildered.
He wasn’t sure what Ding Ling was up to.
Only Qu Feiyan understood and thought:
"Needless to say, Brother Ding must be doing all this to learn new martial arts. Such a great effort."
Her eyes rolled as she thought to herself:
"I must find a way to help Brother Ding. But where can I find a lot of martial arts secret manuals? Oh right, Shaolin Temple! But how do I sneak into Shaolin Temple?"
While Qu Feiyan was pondering.
Ding Ling had already set up.
He laughed aloud:
"I will compete with the four Manor Masters simultaneously."
"Ding Ling, don’t be too conceited."
The zombie-faced man’s expression looked a bit unnatural:
"Each of us brothers has a unique skill, studied for decades, or at least for ten years. Competing with all of us at once might be too conceited."
"If not, how would I convince the Manor Masters?"
Ding Ling clapped his hands.
Lin Pingzhi and Qu Feiyan immediately stepped forward and prepared the writing tools.
Ding Ling picked up the brush and started painting without a word.
But within moments.
A portrait of the four Manor Masters emerged vividly on paper.
The portraits were lifelike, radiant, as if ready to step out at any moment.
The four Manor Masters were moved.
Before they could react.
Ding Ling picked up the brush again, with swift strokes, he produced a piece of calligraphy that shocked ghosts and gods.
The four Manor Masters gasped.
Then Ding Ling sat before the guqin and played ’The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.’
For a long time.
The sound of the zither faded away.
The Manor Masters still seemed entranced.
It wasn’t until Xiang Wentian coughed a few times that they seemed to wake from their daze.
At that moment.
The Manor Masters looked at Ding Ling as if he was a god.
The gray-haired one looked at Ding Ling with enthusiasm:
"I never thought that I, Huang Zhonggong, would hear such divine music in my lifetime. I can die without regrets, die without regrets!"
Ding Ling’s zither skills were at full level.
After collecting the zither skills of various masters in the Three Kingdoms World.
His zither skills rose all the way to the pinnacle, reaching a grandmaster level!
At this point.
It’s not an exaggeration to call him a Zither Saint.
A song ’The Smiling, Proud Wanderer’ played with boldness and grandeur to the extreme; anyone hearing it would find it hard not to be enchanted.
Pursuing and indulging in the Dao of the zither all life, Huang Zhonggong was immediately convinced by Ding Ling and was the first to speak:
"I have devoted all my life’s learning to the Seven-string Invisible Sword. If Ding Ling, you don’t mind, would you be willing to exchange your zither skills with me?"
"I couldn’t wish for anything more."
Overjoyed, Ding Ling maintained a calm facade and said sternly:
"In pursuing all kinds of Daos in my life, it would be an honor to learn your supreme skill, Elder Huang!"
"Haha..."
Huang Zhonggong, comforted and gratified, laughed while stroking his beard:
"I had never found a suitable successor for my Seven-string Invisible Sword. None in Mei Manor could learn it. Your zither skills are extraordinary, which pleases me greatly. Passing the Seven-string Invisible Sword to you would be a great honor."
From this, one could see.
Compared to the other Manor Masters, Huang Zhonggong was honest, generous, and kind-hearted.
Meeting such an elder.
Ding Ling had immense respect.
He immediately expressed his intention to impart his life’s zither skills to Huang Zhonggong.
Huang Zhonggong was, of course, overjoyed, but that’s another story.
Meanwhile, the handsome one couldn’t wait to say:
"Since Big Brother has spoken. I won’t hold back. Ding Ling, I, Dan Qingsheng, am also willing to exchange with you."
"And me, Tubi Elder."
The short, chubby, bald man held out his pen, eyeing Ding Ling with enthusiasm:
"Your regular script is too strong, simply invincible. I’m curious about your cursive script."
Ding Ling didn’t hesitate.
He picked up the brush and, with a simple gesture, completed a cursive script.
Tubi Elder immediately leapt forward, examining and appreciating it, completely engrossed.
"Big Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Brother were all convinced by you."
The zombie-faced man stepped out, looking solemnly at Ding Ling:
"I am curious about your chess skills."
"Come."
Xiang Wentian brought out the chessboard and pieces:
"Why don’t you two have a match now?"