October 1st, the day of the dead.
The princess had been waiting at the entrance of the Chengfo Temple since early morning.
She was waiting for Prince Li Longji.
With the princess's arrival.
Cen Zhi, the leader of the Cen Clan Army, began deploying his three hundred men to secure the Chengfo Temple.
Soon.
The prince, riding a tall steed, arrived with his own three hundred guards, their arrival a grand spectacle.
The two royals met.
The prince bowed respectfully and humbly: "Aunt, I am late."
The princess nodded, a hint of coldness in her valiant brows: "Not late, just in time!"
At this moment.
The abbot of Chengfo Temple, Master Guangxiao, quickly stepped forward to greet them: "Princess, Prince, please enter!"
Where there are people, there is the world.
This scene.
Behind them stood the civil and military officials, all in formation.
Who entered first, on a smaller scale, it was a matter of face for their respective factions, on a larger scale, it determined who had a louder voice in court and greater power.
However.
For this silent power struggle.
The prince remained humble, retreating as a way of advancing: "Aunt, please go first."
The princess smiled softly: "Prince, please."
And so.
They held hands.
And together, they ascended the steps, entering the Chengfo Temple.
Countless people of the Tang Dynasty stood behind them, observing.
And Su Wu Ming followed the civil and military officials into the Chengfo Temple.
Only.
Upon entering.
He kept looking left and right, searching for Wang Lin's presence.
Soon.
They arrived at the grand hall of the Chengfo Temple.
The abbot, Master Guangxiao, looked at the Subduing Demon Transformation mural covered by red cloth, and chanted: "Amitabha, the time has come, please, Princess and Prince, together unveil the mural - Subduing Demon Transformation!"
The princess and the prince stood on either side.
They both pulled the ropes in their hands.
Whoosh -
The crimson curtain fell.
The exquisite paintings emerged from the mural.
Vivid and lifelike, as if they were about to break free.
It was breathtaking.
The princess looked from left to right, quite pleased: "The demons dance wildly, with such vigor, haha, they are truly frightening!"
The prince was also amazed by the artistic skill of the paintings.
He agreed with the princess's words.
And Master Guangxiao, seeing this, knew that the reputation of his Chengfo Temple, the foremost temple of the Tang Dynasty, was secured!
At this time,
Only one voice spoke out in dissent.
"How dare Qin Xiaobai! To mock the princess!"
It was Cen Zhi, the leader of the Cen Clan Army: "Princess, please look at the Buddha, the mural is not yet complete, the eyes are missing!"
The princess looked and indeed, the eyes were missing, she showed a frosty expression, her words sharp with anger: "Where is Qin Xiaobai?"
Qin Xiaobai spoke from the corner: "I am here!"
Everyone looked toward him.
They saw Qin Xiaobai bound his apprentice, Azu.
Together they knelt on the ground, offering apologies.
Time went back to last night.
Because of his foresight and understanding of the case.
Su Wu Ming had immediately stopped Azu who was holding the Youguang, trying to act above his station and paint the eyes of the Buddha.
Therefore.
It could be said that Wang Lin, with Su Wu Ming's help.
Changed Qin Xiaobai's fate.
Allowed Qin Xiaobai to complete the eyes and ensured that Azu could temporarily avoid death.
Back to the present.
Cen Zhi gave an order: "Seize Qin Xiaobai!"
Pei Xijun, Qin Xiaobai's little admirer, immediately stepped forward: "Why?"
"He did not finish the eyes, you disobeyed the princess's orders and helped this madman delay, you are equally guilty! Seize her as well!"
Seeing the situation escalating.
Pei Xijun was about to be taken down by Cen Zhi's orders, her petite figure about to be surrounded by blades.
At that moment.
Wang Lin's voice echoed through the hall:
"Hold on."
Everyone turned back.
They saw, at the entrance of the grand hall.
A man in a white robe, ethereal and handsome beyond compare.
He carried a sword at his waist, and walked slowly towards them.
Seeing it was Wang Lin.
The Cen Clan Army immediately fell silent, he cautiously looked at the princess, waiting for her orders.
The princess's gaze fell upon Wang Lin, with a hint of questioning.
She wanted to hear,
How this most talented man in the Tang Dynasty would excuse her daughter-in-law.
Wang Lin glanced at Qin Xiaobai, and nodded slightly.
Qin Xiaobai also expressed his gratitude to Wang Lin.
The reason was,
He had known last night that the reason everyone was able to stop Azu in time was because Wang Lin had greatly accelerated the progress of the case, allowing Su Wu Ming to react quickly.
Moreover.
He was already the number one painter in the Tang Dynasty, reaching the pinnacle, his understanding extended beyond painting, and he was also proficient in poetry and music.
He knew.
If he was a mountain in the world of Tang Dynasty painting.
Then Wang Lin was two other towering peaks, one named music, the other named poetry!
Therefore.
Qin Xiaobai could despise all those who sought power and wealth, he could disregard Su Wu Ming, the Dali Temple Assistant, he could berate Lu Lingfeng for having no artistic talent in his eyes.
But he had an innate fondness for Wang Lin.
Perhaps this was the kinship between talented people!
All eyes were on him.
Wang Lin spoke slowly: "The Buddha does not need eyes, because there is no demon in his heart, and therefore, no demon in his eyes! So, this Subduing Demon Transformation, though seemingly incomplete, is actually full of charm, and it will surely become a masterpiece that will be passed down through the ages!"
With these words from the Tang Dynasty's Golden Son.
When everyone looked at the mural again.
They actually felt.
That the Buddha without eyes was a stroke of genius!
Suddenly.
The mural acquired an infinite depth.
Even if the demons were in a frenzy, I remain unmoved.
Wang Lin walked, slowly reciting a poem: "Strong as he may be, let him be strong, a gentle breeze sweeps across the mountainside. Cross as he may be, let him cross, the bright moon illuminates the vast river. Let him be cruel and vicious, I have enough true Qi to face him!"
These lines were from the Nine Yang Scriptures, written by Jin Yong in later generations.
They inherently carried the classic ideas of Mahayana Buddhism, after the fusion with later generations.
It was both self-cultivation and self-preservation.
It was also the most fitting verse that came to Wang Lin's mind when he saw the Subduing Demon Transformation.
And sure enough.
As soon as these words came out.
When they looked at the Subduing Demon Transformation again.
The Buddha seemed to shine with golden light.
A short poem, in an instant, transported people into the Buddha's realm, allowing them to experience the Buddha's thoughts and feelings!
"Absolutely brilliant!"
Prince Li Longji was overwhelmed with excitement, clapping his hands.
Then he asked the princess to let Wang Lin add his poem to the mural: "Can you, Aunt, allow the Golden Son to write these lines on the mural?"
The princess was also very satisfied.
This poem resonated with Li Longji's current state of mind.
And did it not also speak of her?
"Approved!"
At this moment.
Everyone was praising the Golden Son's name.
Qin Xiaobai stood in front of Wang Lin.
As the number one painter in the Tang Dynasty.
He had abundant pride, he would not allow anyone to touch his masterpiece.
Any stroke by anyone else would be an insult.
Just when everyone thought Qin Xiaobai was going to erupt in anger.
Qin Xiaobai, with tears in his eyes, said: "You are the only one who understands me, Golden Son, please help me achieve eternal fame! If it can be said that the Buddha without eyes was my stroke of genius, then these lines are the finishing touch to the entire Subduing Demon Transformation!"
【Ding, Qin Xiaobai's Favorability 100!】
【Ding, Congratulations Host, you have replicated the golden trait: Tang Dynasty's Number One Painter!】
【Ding, You have obtained a bucket of Lao Gan Ma Beef Sauce!】
【Ding, You have obtained one pound of Wagyu Beef!】
【Ding, You have obtained a bottle of vintage Maotai!】
Wang Lin quickly fused the trait.
He stepped forward with a brush, using the art of painting to add his ink.
Under everyone's gaze, he wrote these words with elegant flourishes.
In an instant.
The entire mural seemed to come alive.
It was radiant and dazzling.
For a moment, the grand hall echoed with enthusiastic applause.
When everything settled down.
Su Wu Ming immediately stepped forward.
"Princess, Prince, now that the unveiling of the mural is complete, shall we depart?"
The prince looked at the princess with a strange expression.
The princess, however, slowly turned towards the prince and sneered.
Then she turned her back, and looked at Cen Zhi.
Cen Zhi let out a cold laugh.
At that moment.
Hundreds of armed soldiers came from outside the grand hall.
The man at the front roared: "Wei Zhong is here, no one leaves!"
Then, the grand hall was sealed shut.
All the soldiers drew their gleaming blades, aiming them at everyone inside the grand hall!