He obtained the God of All Laws from human skin.

Chapter 84: Price Increases Drastically, Zheng Ding Requests a Painting

"Oh, quickly open it and take a look!"

Wang Zhang's tone also sounded somewhat anxious.

If black and white drawings are this realistic, imagine how vivid they would be if they were colored.

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan unfurled the scroll in his hand.

The moment the scroll was unfurled, Wang Zhang's gaze was immediately drawn to it.

If the sketch he had just seen had captivated his attention, then this colored painting in front of him was absolutely mesmerizing.

Her lips were a deep, luscious red, her robes an elegant, refined emerald green, and her skin was fair and delicate with a hint of pink...

The colors are layered yet harmonious, neither too vibrant in the rich areas nor too pale in the light ones; the figures seem to come alive within the colors.

"this……"

Wang Zhang opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

He reached out his hand, wanting to touch the painting, but immediately withdrew it.

He stared at it for a long time before straightening up, letting out a long breath, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement and excitement.

The two paintings were placed side by side on the table. The sketch, with its smooth lines and lifelike figures, was already a masterpiece.

Ordinary painters would probably feel ashamed of their own abilities upon seeing this.

But the one with color on it, placed next to it, is on a completely different level.

In the dim candlelight,

The woman in the painting looks so real, almost like a real person.

What's even more captivating is the expression on her face, a look that's irresistibly alluring.

The dazed look in her eyes and the timidity between her brows—a mix of emotions that made it impossible to tell whether she was feigning reluctance or simply unable to control her feelings.

Adding to that the ethereal beauty of the woman in the painting...

Without hesitation, Wang Zhang pointed to the colored painting.

"This one," his voice was noticeably more urgent than before, "how much silver?"

Qin Chuan nodded to himself, observing Wang Zhang's expression.

First, use a sketch to draw the viewer in, letting them see the unique aspects of the painting.

Then, throw out the colorful paintings to amplify the visual impact to the extreme.

By taking it step by step, we can amplify the impact of the contrast and sell the painting for a good price.

Qin Chuan smiled and said unhurriedly, "Master Wang is a discerning man. He probably knows better than I how much this painting is worth."

Wang Zhang glanced at Qin Chuan, knowing that this meant he was being asked to make a price offer.

Without hesitation, he gestured "two" with his fingers and said, "How about twenty taels?"

Qin Chuan neither agreed nor refused, but sighed slightly, his tone tinged with difficulty: "Master Wang, as you can see, this painting is completely different from those on the market. To paint a colored painting like this, from conception to brushstrokes, from outlining to rendering, layering colors one by one, rendering again and again, it takes at least ten days to half a month. You can't do anything else in between. When you get to a crucial point, you have to wait for the colors to dry before you can paint the next layer. You can't rush it, and you can't be fast. If you make a slight mistake, all your previous efforts will be wasted. Painting a single piece is extremely mentally and physically exhausting."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhang understood the underlying meaning of Qin Chuan's words: he simply complained that the price was not high enough.

He glanced at the painting on the table and said again, "Thirty taels, that's a high price, isn't it? Not to mention the prefectural city, even the famous painters in the capital charge this price."

"What Master Wang says is true," Qin Chuan neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply responded before reaching out to close the scroll.

Seeing this, Wang Zhang immediately became anxious and asked, "What are you doing?"

Qin Chuan pretended to be taken aback upon hearing this, and then said, "Put the painting away."

Why put it away?

"Hey, with Mr. Wang quoting this price, I need to ask Xiaoxiaosheng if he's willing to sell it. After all, Mr. Wang isn't the only one interested in buying this painting."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhang was somewhat surprised and asked, "There are others?"

Qin Chuan nodded, his expression calm.

Seeing this, Wang Zhang didn't hesitate at all and raised the price again: "Fifty taels, I'll offer fifty taels, I'll take this painting."

As he spoke, he reached out to grab the scroll, his movements so fast it was as if he were afraid it would be snatched away.

"Hey," Qin Chuan feigned an attempt to stop him, his hand half-hidden in front of the painting, "This...this is a bit against the rules. Master Wang, aren't you putting me in a difficult position? That customer hasn't even settled his price yet. If I sell the painting to you without permission, and they come looking for me later, I won't be able to explain it..."

"Rules are made by people," Wang Zhang said, taking out ten taels of silver from his pocket and handing it to Qin Chuan. "Young brother, you've worked hard. Keep this money for tea and say a few good words for me to Xiao Xiaosheng. Fifty taels, not a penny less. I'll take the painting first."

Before he could finish speaking, he took out another fifty taels of silver and handed it over.

Seeing this, Qin Chuan also sighed with feigned helplessness, put the silver into his pocket, and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Since Master Wang is so generous, I can't say anything more. This painting belongs to Master Wang. I will pass on Master Wang's message to Xiaoxiaosheng."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhang finally smiled with satisfaction and carefully put the painting into his pocket.

Seeing this, Qin Chuan also reached for the sketch, but at this moment Wang Zhang reached out again and said, "Young man, don't be in such a hurry. I want this drawing too."

Faced with Qin Chuan's questioning look, Wang Zhang carefully patted the scroll of painting he had already put away, and smiled meaningfully: "I can't bear to use this painting as a dowry. Such a fine painting, to use it as part of a dowry would be a waste. I'll keep it for myself to enjoy."

He paused, then took out another silver ingot from his sleeve and placed it on the table, adding, "I still want the dowry paintings, twelve in total, painted to the same standard as the one we just painted. This is the deposit; once they're finished, the remaining balance will be paid in full."

......

Just as Qin Chuan saw Wang Zhang off, another figure flashed in through the door.

He looked up and saw a familiar face.

It was Zheng Ding.

However, after only a few days apart, this person looked visibly much more haggard.

Her once round cheeks were sunken, her cheekbones were high and protruding, and her eye sockets were deep, as if she hadn't slept for several nights.

Zheng Ding stood at the door, his gaze sweeping around the room. When he saw Qin Chuan, he didn't hesitate at all and strode over quickly, his steps quick and his clothes fluttering, a far cry from his usual leisurely demeanor.

"Help me find Xiaoxiaosheng to paint a picture." Zheng Ding lowered his voice and got straight to the point, skipping all pleasantries.

Seeing his anxious yet somewhat embarrassed expression, Qin Chuan said, "Brother Zheng, don't be in such a hurry, speak slowly. Do you wish to paint another picture like the one before?"

He was referring to the kind of subject matter Zheng Ding had asked him to find Xiaoxiaosheng to paint, such as romantic affairs and erotic paintings.

"No." Zheng Ding shook his head, his eyes filled with a mixture of urgency and rare seriousness. "This time, I want to ask for something different."

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, before slowly speaking: "I want a painting, in which a woman is wearing a bright red wedding dress, a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, sitting quietly under the candlelight..."