Annnd the next chapter of my omake is ready! Part one is
here, part two is
here and part three is
here. Hope you guys like it. ^_^
Serenity: Sunset
The blinding daylight shone through the cracks of grey-blue clouds. The contrast between the sunlight and every wisp of cloud was striking. The heavy rain clouds migrated slowly east, taking their grey rain with them and letting the afternoon sun shine down gloriously on the lake. A magnificent reflection of that sun shimmered. On the horizon line, where water and sky met, the yellow-gold sunshine blended together to present one blinding force...and--
Wait, Chen Mei thought. The shape of this blinding force did not look right to her. What did that shape look like, when she beheld the glorious view on the shores of Lake Hei? She closed her eyes and thought back to her time meditating on that shore. While she was absorbing the Lake and Solar qi, Chen Mei had noted how the sun melded with its own beautiful reflection...but the horizon line did not disappear completely. There was a slight demarcation, marking where the lake met the sky.
Chen Mei opened her eyes and regarded her work. The horizon line did not truly act like a divider, she thought--it simply marked two halves of one whole. She leaned forward and carefully recreated that faint line with her paintbrush, while channeling both Lake and Solar qi through the paintbrush.
Chen Mei stood back and considered the painting. The Lake qi was alive on the lower half of the canvas, shimmering and mingling with the small amounts of Solar qi she had added. She eyed the upper half of the canvas, where the rain clouds were still traveling east. She had packed the clouds with Water qi, in shades of slate grey with hints of violet. In the center was the sun, blinding in its magnificence. It dominated the canvas, just as she has intended. The sunrays pierced the rain clouds, driving them off--but more importantly, every sunbeam practically leapt off the canvas and enraptured anyone who viewed the painting. Chen Mei had poured incredible amounts of Solar qi into the work in order to recreate the scene from her memory. The sun was just beginning to set and the faintest colors of sunset--pinkish red fading into ochre and then bright yellow--hovered near the horizon line.
Yes, thought Chen Mei. This will be an acceptable beginning to the commissioned three-part series. She expected the Bai would be very pleased. The formations hidden in the sun were undetectable and yet they would work with the Solar qi to keep viewers spellbound. Only cultivators equal to or greater than her in power would be able to dispel the illusion--and even then, they would likely spend a fair amount of qi in the attempt.
The second part of the series would be the Sun setting in earnest. Chen Mei looked at her palette and brushes. Without a doubt, she would be needing more supplies. The oil gleaned from the silver devil fish made for wonderful oil paints. It was a potent resource that absorbed and complimented her own qi nicely. She was quite satisfied with the way it interacted with her third-grade beast skin canvases. Though it was all quite expensive, there was nothing to be done about that. She began washing her paintbrushes, carefully removing the paint from the bristles. Unicorn hair made for fine bristles when treated with the right substances, she mused. Perhaps she should try the other options, though she wasn't sure it was--
There was a knock on the studio door.
"Lady Chen? I beg your pardon but your afternoon appointment begins soon. The guests have arrived."
"Yes, I know." She called out.
Chen Mei quickly washed her hands, using the special soap made from the essence of water elementals. Nothing less would remove the custom-made paint from her skin. She slipped out of her work clothes and considered the choices from her wardrobe. After a moment of thought, she pulled on some golden-red brocade robes. She pinned up her dark locks in a bun, using one of her more simple golden hair clips. Chen Mei regarded her reflection and decided no rouge was necessary for her face. The impact her Cyan-level cultivation had on her appearance was enough. As she progressed towards Indigo, the Solar qi circulating in her body had become more apparent. It gave her fair skin a golden glow. The golden patterns on her robes complimented that glow. She straightened the robes that accentuated her voluptuous frame and headed out of her studio.
Chen Mei walked briskly through the gilded, marble halls of her home. She passed the various paintings decorating the halls--masterful paintings, with qi formations that would enchant almost any viewer--without glancing at them. One grew used to the presence of the artwork in their own home--especially cultivators of higher skill. Besides, many of the paintings were Chen Mei's own work. Thus, it did not have the same captivating effect.
She made her way down the grand staircase and headed for the foyer in the east wing. There, standing between her subordinates Heng Xun and Qiu Min, were two mortals looking quite overwhelmed. The man was fearful while the little girl simply seemed overawed. He held the girl's hand tightly in his own. When he saw Chen Mei, his eyes widened and he bowed low. The child stared at her, awestruck. Her father's hand came up to pull her into a bow as well. Chen Mei stepped forward and saw the girl peeking up at her, despite her father's efforts to keep her head lowered.
"Welcome to my home. I am Lady Chen Mei of the Chen clan. Please, rise." She stepped forward, studying the child. She was dressed in a mortal's excuse for formal wear. It had been some time since Chen Mei had a reason to pay attention to any mortal. She had forgotten how drab and irrelevant mortals seemed since it had been ages since she last paid attention to one.
She supposed that dwelling on how unremarkable this child seemed would be foolish. After all, it was mainly her abilities that were of interest to Chen Mei. She looked at Qiu Min questioningly. He nodded and slipped out the door. He came back leading some servants in, who carried a shoddy folding screen. It was the divider Chao Bo had described in his report, the one with the child's artwork on it.
The servants set it in front of the group. Chen Mei stepped forward and studied the paintings. The amount of detail and skill for mortal artwork was...incredible. Especially for one so young. The movement of the people in the crowded market...The perfect rendering of the Sun temple's architecture...and the city's horizon line backlit by a beautiful setting sun. Chen Mei eyed the girl. "Lai Meixiu," she said.
The young girl startled. She has seemed transfixed by Chen Mei. It was, Chen Mei mused, understandable for a mortal child who had never before seen a cultivator. "Y-yes, Lady Chen."
"Come here."
The child obeyed. Her eyes grew wider as she drew closer. "You're a v-very pretty lady." Chen Mei laughed. "Well, thank you."
"Are you special like Qiu Min? That's why you're all...
glowy?" She asked, pointing to Chen Mei's hands and face.
"Yes. Yes, I too am special," Chen Mei said, smiling in amusement. "I want to talk about your artwork." She indicated the paintings on the folding screen. "It's very advanced for a mortal child, especially one without artistic education."
Lai Meixiu shook her head. "It's nothing compared to the stuff
here." She looked around at the paintings on the foyer's walls. It's all so
beautiful." The child looked both amazed and a little overwhelmed. Chen Mei guessed that the allure each painting had, enhanced by hidden formations designed to keep viewers spellbound, was probably pulling the child's attention in different directions. An expected effect if the viewer was a mere mortal. This mansion was not meant for mortals. Actually, Chen Mei guessed that only Green or maybe Yellow realm cultivators would be able to behold each painting in this foyer without getting drawn in by illusory effects.
She took the child by the hand. "Lai Meixiu, I want to show you something. Come with me." She led the girl down the foyer, to the grand staircase. Chen Mei did not bother looking back. She knew that Qiu Min and Heng Xun would know to entertain the father. A mortal would not have the privilege of seeing what Chen Mei was about to show to Lai Meixiu. Only important guests, family members or those who would become family could ever see it. She led the child up the staircase slowly and patiently. Lai Meixiu looked around in amazement, drinking in every detail of the mansion. As they reached the second floor, Lai Meixiu slowed down, staring at every painting. Chen Mei realized that the paintings on this floor must be having more powerful effects on the girl. They were created by more powerful cultivators of the Chen family.
Chen Mei activated her Searing Mantle Art and extended it to include the child. It flowed around the girl, enveloping her in a warm, translucent cocoon of qi that shielded her from external effects. Lai Meixiu's attention broke away from a picture of the Alabaster shores at dusk. She looked at her hands. "I feel all warm and tingly."
Chen Mei smiled down at the child. "Yes. I will explain that later. I promise, you can look at these paintings at another time. I know, they are all very beautiful but there is something I wish to show you now." Lai Meixiu would now see them for what they were in the physical sense--just skillful, lovely paintings decorating the walls. Her spirit was shielded from the lively qi and hidden formations within the artwork.
"I-I get to see them later? You just said you promised," the girl said, looking astounded. "I get to
come back?"
Chen Mei's smile grew wider. "Yes. I promise."
She inclined her head toward the next staircase. Lai Meixiu nodded enthusiastically.
They ascended to the third floor, the fourth floor and then the fifth floor, where they entered a smaller hallway. She opened the door at the end of the hall. Lai Meixiu followed but then stopped in the doorway, frozen.
She stared ahead, in shock and awe. Eventually the child was able to speak in a small whisper.
"
It's incredible."
