Chapter 106: The Black Datura, Palette Knife Painting

“Bao’er… stop right there!” Lin Shenlu was startled and hurriedly restrained Su Bao’er.

“Deer boy… don’t move… let me bury you… you idiot… you abandoned me at home last night…” Su Bao’er fixed her eyes fiercely on Lin Shenlu.

Lin Shenlu knew it…

…

After returning to change clothes, the group once again set off for Whale Deer Inn.

On the way, Wu Heng said to Little Hand with a sigh, “Brother Hand, you still owe me a hundred thousand words this month. Once you’ve attended the art exhibition today, will you finally be able to settle down and write? Ever since I accompanied you to Lishui, your output has plummeted. I can hardly explain this to my superiors. If you keep going like this, I won’t be able to cover for you anymore.”

Before Little Hand could reply, Seven Nai stared wide-eyed at Wu Heng. “You mean he still owes that many words this month? Then won’t I have nothing to read next month?”

Little Hand was now absolutely terrified of Teacher Seven Nai.

“I’ll definitely start writing as soon as I get back today…”

They joked and bickered all the way up the mountain, and soon reached the halfway point.

To Lin Shenlu and Ocean Blue Whale’s surprise, thirty or forty people had already gathered in the open space before the main gate.

The host and DJ whom Ocean Blue Whale had arranged in advance were also already there.

With these professionals keeping the atmosphere lively, the scene was not awkward in the least.

“So you really are just leaving everything to everyone else!” Lin Shenlu said with a laugh.

There was already a host and music playing. All that remained was to wait for the painters to arrive.

Naturally, besides the artists taking part in the event, there were also quite a few tourists there to watch the excitement.

Seeing so many people painting together on the spot was an interesting experience in itself.

Lin Shenlu glanced at the time. The event was about to begin.

Although there was no way to guarantee that everyone would arrive punctually, the advertised starting time had come, and the event had to begin.

According to Lin Shenlu’s plan, apart from having the cultural affairs official give a brief opening speech, everyone could paint however they pleased. It did not matter if some people finished in the morning while others only arrived to paint in the afternoon.

Any work completed that day would be accepted.

Even paintings brought by artists who arrived the following day would be allowed…

Art had never truly been bound by rules.

There was no need for all those rigid restrictions.

So the host’s role was not especially important.

As the organizer, Ocean Blue Whale still had a great many matters to coordinate.

Lin Shenlu, meanwhile, disliked occasions like this.

Speeches, formal addresses, and officials delivering remarks were all necessary parts of the process, but Lin Shenlu would much rather hide somewhere quietly, smoke a cigarette, drink a glass of wine, and create something infused with feeling.

He had been the planner, but now that the event had become a reality, he needed to change roles.

After all, he was not only the organizer—he was also one of the artists taking part.

The scene that day was quite impressive. The independent painters had each found a place of their own.

Some faced the wooded hills, some gazed into the distant mountains, some sat beside the river, and some meditated beneath the trees.

Every good spot in the open area by the gate and throughout the courtyard was occupied by a painter.

Besides those who had brought their own easels, brushes, and paints, many tourists also collected a set of supplies, found a place to sit, and tried their hand at painting alongside the artists.

While Ocean Blue Whale went ahead to confer with the host, Lin Shenlu led Su Bao’er, Little Hand, and the others inside the inn.

“Wow, as expected of Sister Whale… This inn is gorgeous!” Little Hand’s eyes lit up at once.

As Ocean Blue Whale’s most devoted fan, Little Hand felt that from the Whale Deer Hotel in Dali to the Whale Deer Inn in Lishui, he had truly witnessed the course of her life.

Everyone was dazzled by what they saw. The design of the great courtyard was exceptionally striking. In particular, during the day, different flowers bloomed beside every doorway, and the name of each flower was written beside it. The flower’s name was also the name of the room.

“You all wander around for a while. I’m going to get my drawing board,” Lin Shenlu said.

He glanced at the time. Outside, the host had already begun explaining the significance of the event and was preparing to invite the officials to speak. After that, the painters would be free to do as they pleased.

Lin Shenlu could not be bothered to listen to the formalities. He would rather take his board and quietly find somewhere to work on his own painting.

Naturally, Seven Nai felt the same way.

When she saw Lin Shenlu carrying his easel and drawing board toward a quiet, breezy spot, she thought for a moment, then followed him.

That fellow had spent so long critiquing her work last time. This time, she could see just how good he really was.

Lin Shenlu was somewhat surprised. The grounds were enormous, with enough room for hundreds of painters around the buildings and courtyard. Why did she have to stay by his side?

He gave a soft laugh, set up his easel, adjusted its position, and glanced at Seven Nai.

Seven Nai sat beside him.

Together, they looked like students who had formed a team and gone outdoors to sketch.

“What are you looking at? Keep staring and I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Seven Nai glared at Lin Shenlu.

…

The free-spirited art lover Chen Fan had set up his easel in the courtyard.

Of all the rooms lining the courtyard, his favorite was the one called Black Datura.

There was no particular reason beyond the fact that a huge flowerpot had been built from piled stones beside the room.

And growing inside it was a single black datura.

The blooming flower was breathtakingly beautiful.

Black datura was the most noble and rarest variety among daturas.

It was an elegant, mysterious flower—pure and beautiful, with enchanting branches and leaves.

A small white sign also hung from the stem.

It read: “Poisonous flower. Do not touch.”

It was exactly as he had imagined it.

Before coming, Chen Fan had not yet decided what he would paint that day.

But the moment he entered the courtyard and saw the black datura, he knew what he wanted to do.

He had never imagined that he would encounter a flower he loved so much in an inn like this.

Truly black flowers were exceedingly rare in the world.

Although there were several varieties that came close to black, they were all difficult to find.

Chen Fan badly wanted to lean closer and inhale the datura’s fragrance, but he feared that its scent might influence him and cause hallucinations.

That would interfere with the work he intended to create afterward.

His goal for the day was simple.

No matter what, he had to place his painting inside the room called Black Datura.

…

Compared with most of the others, who were still listening attentively to the cultural affairs official’s speech about the so-called opening ceremony, Seven Nai had already adjusted her easel and begun mixing her colors.

Lin Shenlu was curious as well.

What would the solitary female painter Seven Nai create today?

After watching Seven Nai work twice before, Lin Shenlu had come to acknowledge her skill.

Now he saw her take a palette knife from among her brushes.

That surprised him pleasantly.

It seemed the girl intended to try something new today.

Lin Shenlu grew interested too. Over the past few days, he had practiced seven or eight paintings in succession, and the feel had returned to his hands.

The palette in his hand was constantly shifting as he adjusted the colors.

Lin Shenlu was in excellent form that day.

His movements quickened, and the colors on his palette changed without pause.

Seven Nai glanced at him.

She was stunned.

What color was that?

A shade of blue she had never seen before?