Douluo: Martial Soul White Tiger, I am the White Emperor of Heaven

Chapter 636 Liu Erlong's Surprise
Inside the bath, Liu Erlong leaned quietly against the warm jade pool wall, the warm water enveloping her skin. The bitter fragrance of snow-white orchids seeped out with the rising steam, gradually relaxing her tense mind.

But in my heart...

Yet a vague and inexplicable doubt arose within me.

Dai Chengfeng... he really just left like that?

She opened her eyes, her phoenix eyes misty with tears, and her gaze fell on the sandalwood screen.

The screen depicts distant mountains in a hazy, misty rain, and one can vaguely see that the light outside is brighter, but no one is in sight.

This is so unlike him.

Has he finally learned to restrain himself? Or is he harboring some other wicked idea?

Liu Erlong snorted and splashed a handful of water on his face.

"Fine, since we're here, we might as well make the best of it... whatever he wants to do..."

Liu Erlong stopped worrying, closed her eyes again, and let her body completely relax in the warm water.

Her long, black hair spread out like seaweed on the milky white water, making her neck and shoulders appear as white as jade. There were still some ambiguous red marks on her skin, which were particularly noticeable under the shimmering water.

Just as she was about to doze off, footsteps came from outside the screen.

Unhurried and unhurried, that is Dai Chengfeng.

Liu Erlong's eyelashes twitched slightly, but she didn't open her eyes, pretending not to know.

The footsteps stopped by the screen, and then the familiar figure turned and entered.

Liu Erlong peeked through his slits and saw that he was holding a wooden tray with some things on it.

"Why are you back again?"

She spoke lazily, her voice softened by the bath, "Didn't you tell me to soak in it properly?"

Dai Chengfeng placed the wooden tray on the low table by the pool, raised an eyebrow and smiled upon hearing this: "I was afraid you'd be bored by yourself, so I came to keep you company and talk to you."

Liu Erlong then fully opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the wooden tray.

When she saw what was on it, she was taken aback.

There were several sheets of plain white paper, with a black, stone-like or wood-like strip pressed against the corner. Next to it was a small knife and a thin, polished piece of wood.

"This is……"

Liu Erlong's eyes narrowed slightly, not understanding for a moment what he was going to do.

Dai Chengfeng sat down casually on the ground by the pool.

He first picked up the dark, strip-shaped object and the knife, then bent down and began to carefully shave it.

Fine black dust fell down, revealing a deeper black core inside.

"Charcoal strips."

He explained, his hands still moving, "It's the burnt willow core, used for drawing."

"Draw something?" Liu Erlong was even more puzzled.

She propped herself up, causing ripples to spread across the water. "What do you want to draw?"

Dai Chengfeng had already shaved the charcoal strips, grinding the tips to a suitable thickness.

He raised his head, his blond hair casually draped over his shoulders, and the morning light shone through the misty air onto his profile, outlining his handsome and deep features.

He smiled at Liu Erlong, his eyes flashing with a familiar, eager light.

"Draw you."

Liu Erlong was stunned.

After a long pause, she finally found her voice, which was filled with disbelief: "Draw me?"

"Ah."

Dai Chengfeng picked up a piece of paper, placed it on the thin wooden board, adjusted his posture, and began to examine her. "Let's paint the two dragons at this moment—a beauty bathing in spring, a begonia sleeping in spring. Wouldn't it be a pity not to capture such a scene?"

Liu Erlong felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and subconsciously shrank back into the water, only revealing her shoulders and above.

Orchid petals drifted over from the water, partially obscuring the view.

She glared at him: "Dai Chengfeng, what's wrong with you? When did you learn to paint?"

Liu Erlong was puzzled.

The fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire is known to all for his exceptional talent and outstanding combat prowess.

He can cook. Liu Erlong had tasted his cooking and, though surprised, thought about his experiences abroad over the years; perhaps he had learned it for survival. He can massage, and his techniques are exquisite. Liu Erlong attributed this to his understanding of his own body and his subtle control over his soul power.

Can I draw?
In the Douluo Continent, Soul Masters pursue power, Soul Rings, battles, and breakthroughs.

Painting, a "leisurely pursuit," was a pastime for noble ladies and gentlemen who lacked spiritual power, or a means of livelihood for court painters.

How could a prince, a future contender for the Star Luo Emperor, have the time or inclination to study this?

Seeing the disbelief on her face, Dai Chengfeng wasn't in a hurry.

He casually sketched a couple of lines on the edge of the paper with charcoal, tested the ink density, and then slowly said, "Don't believe I can draw?"

"Only ghosts believe it."

Liu Erlong chuckled, raising her hand to brush her wet hair behind her shoulder, a gesture that fully revealed her slender neck and delicate collarbone.

“Dai Chengfeng, if you’re going to tease me, at least come up with a decent reason.”

"You are the fourth prince of Xingluo, not a court painter. Where do you find the time to learn this?"

What if I really could?

Dai Chengfeng stared intently at her, twirling the charcoal stick between his fingers.

Liu Erlong stared at him for a moment, and seeing that his expression didn't seem feigned, her doubts deepened, but she refused to admit defeat.
"If you really know how, then I will..."

"So what?" Dai Chengfeng pressed, leaning forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with even greater interest. "Erlong, how about we make a bet?"

"A bet? What to bet on?"

"Let's bet on whether I can capture seven-tenths of your spirit on paper with this charcoal stick within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Dai Chengfeng said slowly, "If I succeed, then I win."

"If I can't do it, or if the drawing doesn't look right, then I lose."

Liu Erlong narrowed his phoenix eyes.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you draw a person on paper with that dark, unappealing substance? And you want to capture seven-tenths of their spirit?

Although she didn't understand painting, she knew that painting was not easy, especially figure drawing, which required many painters to observe, sketch, and revise repeatedly over a long period of time.

Where did he get his confidence?

"What's the stakes?"

As Liu Erlong inquired, he had already begun to make plans in his mind.

By all accounts, she's the one who benefits from this bet.

He lost, and she took the opportunity to get him to promise her something, like... to stay quiet for a few days and not bother her.

He won? How could he possibly win?

Dai Chengfeng seemed to see through her thoughts, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "If I win, you will promise me one thing."

"And vice versa, how about that?"

"What is it?" Liu Erlong asked warily.

"I haven't decided yet, but it must be something within your capabilities and that doesn't violate your principles."

Liu Erlong fell silent, his mind racing.

The bet seemed fair, but in reality, she had a very high chance of winning.

Dai Chengfeng can paint? That's as absurd as saying Liu Erlong can embroider.

Perhaps he was trying to trick her, or maybe he was just looking for an excuse to get closer to her?

But the tools he prepared looked quite professional.

Besides... she glanced at the charcoal sticks and paper.

Even if he did have some basic skills, how could he possibly capture her "spirit" in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, using such rudimentary tools? A pipe dream.

"it is good."

Liu Erlong finally agreed, her red lips curving slightly with a hint of sly anticipation. "I'll take the bet."

"Dai Chengfeng, you'll regret this."

"I will never regret it." Dai Chengfeng's smile deepened.

(End of this chapter)