Chapter 193: Masterful Brushwork, Endless Longing in Black and White

As the saying goes, those who walk the same path often become rivals—though this phrase may not be entirely accurate here, it still seems fitting. Both being beauties, Yu Chenxing viewed Ye Luobaihua differently.
Ye Luobaihua and Ye Luojianmu ignored Yu Chenxing’s gaze and instead focused on her painting. Seven colors created a landscape scene—fresh and natural, with sunlight, rivers, mountains, green trees, flowers, and birds. Everything was present in this painting, giving one a sense of tranquility and as if one were immersed in those mountains.
Ye Luobaihua couldn’t help but exclaim, “You have such skillful brushwork and a wonderful artistic conception.” Her voice was soft yet sweet. Even Yu Chenxing, who had always looked down on her, seemed to lose his temper for a moment and simply smiled, saying, “You flatter me.”
Ye Luobaihua continued, “But by repaying kindness with such actions, aren’t you being too narrow-minded?”
Of course, Yu Chenxing understood what she meant. Liu Yi had fought her gently, not killing her, yet now she wanted to compete in a painting contest with a blind man—clearly trying to revenge Liu Yi and embarrass him by making him lose the match. Hearing her words, Yu Chenxing sneered coldly, “Princess, are you blaming me for proposing this match? Or are you pitying this blind man?”
Ye Luobaihua wasn’t angry. Her gaze was like water, reflecting Yu Chenxing’s beautiful face. She said, “I know you’re good at twisting truth and falsehood, but… we both know what this match is really about.” Then she turned and walked toward Liu Yi’s painting desk.
Ye Luojianmu glanced at Yu Chenxing and then at her painting, shaking his head. He followed Ye Luobaihua and the other three judges toward Liu Yi. Yu Chenxing, meanwhile, showed a proud expression and also walked toward Liu Yi’s desk—she wanted to see what the blind man had painted.
Liu Yi had stood quietly there all along. His world was dark yet peaceful, lonely yet serene. Everything stemmed from his heart, came through his hands, and appeared in his paintings—like a story he depicted, or like a memory that kept telling something.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of lilies through the air. Then, a sweet voice reached Liu Yi’s ears: “Sir, what is in your painting?” It was Ye Luobaihua asking.
Liu Yi thought for a moment and replied, “I haven’t painted anything in ten years. I don’t know what’s in this painting. Princess, whatever you see is what it is.” His tone was calm, as if the outcome of this match had nothing to do with him.
After Liu Yi finished speaking, everyone focused on the painting. It was a very ordinary painting—white silk and black ink forming a scene. In the center stood a person in black clothes with white hair, holding a long sword and looking up at the moon. Under the moonlit sky, there was a blurred face—a woman’s face…
The figure in the painting appeared lonely and desolate, and what it gazed at made one feel the story behind the painting. Facing the bright moon, that lonely figure seemed to express longing and sorrow—eternal longing, changes through time, yet unable to alter that face in the moonlit sky.

This painting is simple, seemingly depicting a swordsman missing his wife. It’s clear in black and white, yet as everyone views it, their hearts grow heavy. Their endless imagination draws them into this painted world. They are driven to know who that solitary figure is, who the one they miss is.

At that moment, a voice broke the silence. It was Yu Chenxing, who asked, “Is the person in the painting you?”

Liu Yi nodded and casually replied, “Sort of.”

Yu Chenxing pressed on, “Then who is that blurred woman? Your wife?”

Liu Yi nodded again and softly said, “Maybe.”

Yu Chenxing suddenly laughed and said, “Blind man, are you joking? You came here to choose a bride, yet you painted your own wife? Do you really intend to take Princess Baihua as a concubine?” His words were laced with sarcasm.

Liu Yi replied, “I’ve already said it. I came to the arena not to choose a bride, but to get something from the princess.”

Yu Chenxing sneered coldly, “I don’t think you’ll have that chance. First, you already have a wife. Second, your painting is far too crude. Clearly, you can go back now.”

Liu Yi shook his head and said, “This is very important to me. I must obtain that thing no matter what. So, I still have to defeat you in this match.” His voice was firm and strong.

Yu Chenxing retorted, “How can you defeat me? My ‘Spring Scene’ uses seven colors and over nine thousand strokes to meticulously depict everything that should be there. It’s far better than your crappy painting.”

Liu Yi replied, “The girl in your painting is indeed beautiful, but one thing is missing.”

Yu Chenxing curiously asked, “I really want to hear what’s missing. I’ve painted everything that flies in the sky, runs on the ground, and swims in the water. What more could be missing?”

Liu Yi answered, “Your painting lacks a soul, so it seems lifeless.”

Yu Chenxing laughed instead of getting angry. “Okay, so you must have some special ability to bring paintings to life, to create a soul for them. Then why doesn’t your black-and-white painting jump around? Isn’t it just lying on this table?”

Liu Yi sighed and shook his head. The sigh seemed to come from another life, distant and unreachable. He then said, “I haven’t finished it yet.” With that, he removed his left glove and placed it on the table. Then, with a clanging sound as his sword returned to its sheath, he extended his left middle finger, and a drop of black blood flowed down from it.

That drop of black blood gently fell, landing right on the blurred face of the woman in the painting. Everyone stared at the painting. In an instant, the black blood turned as pure as water, becoming a tear from the woman’s eye.

Liu Yi put his glove back on and said, “It’s finished.”

As Liu Yi finished speaking, everyone began to examine the painting carefully. Compared to before, the only change was a single tear on the woman’s face. Yet it was this tear that altered the entire direction of the painting, redefining its soul. The black-and-white world also struck a profound impact on their vision and left an indelible mark deep in their hearts.

The loneliness of the dark figure, the desolation behind the white hair, the story hidden behind the blurred face, the woman’s pain and longing—all were vividly expressed with the appearance of that tear. Gradually, the woman’s face became clearer. No one knew whether it was due to their eyesight or something else, but no one denied that the woman indeed became clearer little by little.

Soon, her entire body became clear, and the starry sky in the painting seemed infinitely vast. The woman stretched out her hand to grab the man in black, but as her body gradually disappeared, she felt helpless and powerless. Gradually, the image became blurred once again. Amidst the blur, a voice appeared in everyone’s ears: “In this war that desecrates true love, you are my beloved. I am willing to sacrifice my life for you.” The voice grew fainter and less distinct until finally, the image returned to calmness, and the voice disappeared, as if everything had been an illusion.

Yet, amidst this illusory dreamlike state, everyone felt a sense of reality. One sentence kept echoing in their minds. The painting seemed to depict the sorrow of the world and tell a story of memory. When they returned to reality from that memory, they suddenly heard various praises and exclamations from the crowd below the arena.

The three elders behind Ye Luo Jianmu also began to discuss what they had seen and heard, trying to determine whether the same thing had happened to others as well. The praises came from the fact that the painting seemed to come to life, while the exclamations were due to the sad sentence: “I am willing to sacrifice my life for you.” How many lives does a person have, and how many are willing to sacrifice their lives?

Staring at the painting, the people on the arena remained silent for a long time. But soon, someone broke the silence. Yu Chenxing suddenly shook his head, said nothing, turned around, and walked back down to the elders.

Hearing his departing footsteps, Liu Yi asked, “What does the princess think of this match?”

Ye Luo Baihua, as if just emerging from a dream, said softly, “What a sad painting. I think the outcome is already clear. Since Young Master Yu has left the arena, the winner must be you. But… Baihua has one question. Could you please explain?” Her voice was very gentle, without any trace of a princess’s haughtiness.

Liu Yi replied, “Please go ahead, Princess.”

Ye Luo Baihua continued, “Since you said that coming to this arena was not to choose a spouse but to obtain something, then please tell us what it is—gold, silver, jewels, martial arts secrets, divine artifacts, or magical elixirs. As long as you agree to stay in My Tearless City, I think… there must be something you desire among them.”

After hearing this, Liu Yi did not answer immediately. He simply shook his head gently and then sighed softly, “Perhaps I am indeed just an ordinary person. But… the things the princess mentioned are of no use to me. What I want is only held by the princess, yet I want it without staying in her city. So, I want to use this competition to obtain what I desire.”

Ye Luo Baihua’s gaze shifted as she examined the blind man once again, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity. The things he mentioned were all things people across the world dreamed of having—possessing just one of them could bring instant fame. Yet this man said they were useless to him. What was stranger was that he wanted something from her. She asked, “What do you want, sir? If you can truly fight to the end and defeat Baihua, then anything Baihua has will be given to you.” Her voice was sweet, gentle, yet powerful, conveying an air of authority that left no room for doubt.

Liu Yi paused for a moment before saying, “I want your tears.” His voice was not loud, but it seemed everyone in the arena heard it. Their expressions transformed into one of utter astonishment, and everyone reevaluated this blind man. He wasn’t just blind—he was insane. Could Princess Baihua really shed tears in front of outsiders? Even if she did cry, it would be out of sorrow, which was far rarer than a battle or a literary contest.

Yu Chenxing, who had been at the bottom of the arena, sneered coldly, “Madman.”

Ye Luo Baihua also seemed confused and asked, “Sir, you came here to find a spouse. Is your goal of defeating everyone just to get a single tear?”

Liu Yi nodded firmly. “Yes.”

A hint of doubt appeared in Ye Luo Baihua’s eyes as she continued, “The thing you mentioned, Baihua should have it. But… over the years, even Baihua herself has never seen it. If you really want it, it depends on whether you have the ability to get it.” Her voice carried both doubt and a challenge.

Liu Yi nodded gently and said, “Thank you, Princess, for helping me.”

Ye Luo Baihua did not respond to Liu Yi’s words. Instead, she asked in a skeptical tone, “Are you truly blind?”

Caught off guard by her question, Liu Yi paused for a moment before replying, “Princess doubts it?”

Ye Luo Baihua suddenly laughed softly. Though hidden behind the white veil, her laughter was like the chirping of a bird—clear and pleasant. This left Liu Yi puzzled, and his soft laughter ceased. Ye Luo Baihua said, “It’s just a feeling. I feel that some people aren’t really blind; they just close their eyes because they don’t want to see certain things. Of course, Baihua isn’t referring to you, nor does she doubt you. It’s just a passing thought. Since you’ve won this round, then… please continue.”

In the wind, the delicate fragrance of the lilies gradually faded, and the footsteps grew fainter. Liu Yi knew that now only he was left on the arena. As the servants came up to clean the arena, Liu Yi casually said, “Is there any other friend who wants to come up?” At that moment, Liu Yi seemed even more anxious; he was eager to see if that tear was the one he was searching for. But haste makes waste, so he needed time to complete this process.

Yet it seemed as if fate was against him. About half an hour passed without anyone stepping onto the arena. Although more and more people gathered below, filling Ye Luo City to capacity, they knew that stepping onto that arena meant risking one’s life. They had all witnessed Liu Yi’s fight with Yu Chenxing earlier—no one would dare to go up unless they were confident. But then again, if no one had stepped onto the arena after such a long time, did it mean that not a single person among those tens of thousands had the confidence to defeat Liu Yi?

Although Liu Yi was somewhat anxious, he still had to wait. Otherwise, he would never have the chance to approach Ye Luo Baihua, never get that tear, let alone the other nine tears in the future.

Just then, a loud voice rang out, reaching everyone’s ears, seemingly coming from the ends of the sky or from all directions. The voice was directed at Liu Yi: “I thought I was mistaken. I never expected it to really be the Demon Lord of the Demon Realm.” Those few words, though brief, stirred huge waves in everyone’s hearts. Did that sentence reveal the identity of the man in black? Where was the Demon Realm? Why had they never heard of it before?

As the voice faded, the dense crowd in front of the arena suddenly parted to create a path. Everyone’s gaze turned toward that direction at the same time, for the person who spoke seemed equally mysterious. There, five people were walking toward them.

The leader was tall, clad in white armor made of an unknown material that seemed softer than silk, covering his body and reflecting the sunlight. His long black hair was neatly tied back, his brows thick like swords, his eyes cold as lightning, his nose high, and his skin dark with clear facial features. He looked like a young man in his twenties but carried the maturity of a thirty-year-old. Among the crowd, his steps were firm and powerful, his black cloak fluttering gently, exuding an indescribable aura.

The four behind him also wore white armor and black cloaks, but they all appeared to be elders in their seventies. Yet their eyes shone brightly, and no one doubted that their cultivation was on par with, if not surpassing, that of the man in black on the arena.

At that moment, an elder behind Yu Chenxing said, “Master, it’s Lord Lei. He’s come in person.”

Yu Chenxing nodded and said, “I thought the Lei Ri Xing Palace would only send those four old men to help us. I never expected Brother Lei to come himself. Now this blind man will get to see something interesting.”

Another elder behind him added, “Lord Lei has always cared deeply for the master. Since the master personally wrote to ask for help, Lord Lei will surely take it seriously.”

Yu Chenxing seemed impatient again and casually said, “Enough, stop talking. It seems Brother Lei Jun knows this guy’s background.” As he spoke, the young man in white had already walked up to Yu Chenxing. The four elders behind him stopped moving at the same time. The young man glanced at Yu Chenxing, smiled brightly, and said, “What, Sister Chenxing was bullied by this blind man?”
Yu Chenxing, as if she had found a supporter, snapped, “It’s him! He even hurt me! Brother Lei Jun, help me kill him!”
Qiyue wasn’t very far away. Hearing this, she turned her head and said nonchalantly, “People these days are becoming more and more unkind. He spared her life, yet she cries for revenge. Sigh…”
Lei Jun glanced in the direction of the voice. His eyes lit up upon seeing Qiyue. He seemed stunned for a moment but quickly regained his composure. He grabbed Yu Chenxing, who was about to get angry, and said, “If we lost, so what? There’s no need to be angry. We’re not the kind to be unable to accept defeat.” Though his words were brief, they showed his magnanimous mindset.
Yu Chenxing snapped, “Just saying empty words.”
Lei Jun continued, “This man comes from the human world and seems to have some connection with the Emperor. But my spies haven’t explained much… I heard the Emperor is returning to the Netherworld, probably because of him.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Chenxing seemed surprised and asked, “Are you saying… the person the Emperor fell in love with is this blind man’s wife?”
Lei Jun shook his head. “I’m not clear about the details. I only know he used to be the ruler of the Demon Realm. I don’t know why he came here. But… I want to know how powerful he really is, so I can determine if my sword can compete with the Emperor’s.”
Yu Chenxing nodded and added, “I support Brother Lei Jun. I feel uncomfortable just seeing the Emperor. I really don’t understand why Wang handed over the Netherworld to him. Moreover, he went to the human world for ten years without returning. I guess this blind man now poses a threat to him, that’s why he wants to come back. Otherwise… he would have already enjoyed himself.”
Lei Jun nodded and was about to step onto the arena when Yu Chenxing suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, “Brother Lei Jun, be careful! This blind man’s sword is very fast… and strange.”
Lei Jun turned to look at Yu Chenxing, didn’t say anything, just smiled slightly. But in his mind, he wondered just how fast and strange this blind man’s sword really was.