Cheng Xiaofan hadn't expected that his arrival would actually awaken Shen Yanwang from the painting.
Fortunately, Shen Ruobing couldn't see the phenomenon before her, otherwise, Shen Yanwang's appearance would surely have scared her into a swoon.
After sliding down from the painting, Shen Yanwang immediately knelt before Cheng Xiaofan and said, "Lord Shennong, be honored by my bow!"
"It is the supreme honor of my Shen family for Ruobing to be able to become your disciple, Lord Shennong. I hope you will guide her well."
"Ever since the incident at the ancestral hall in C City, I have repeatedly appeared in Ruobing's dreams, telling her that Lord Shennong is not only her master but also her man. She will be proud of Lord Shennong her entire life!"
"..." Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan was dumbfounded.
Why would Shen Ruobing's ancestor give his descendant such a terrible idea!
No wonder Shen Ruobing always looked downcast and like a proper little woman in front of him; it was this old guy's doing!
Master and his beautiful disciple... Forget it, let's not dwell on this.
My persona is important; I mustn't let myself collapse!
This old guy is clearly ill-intentioned!
"You..." Cheng Xiaofan was about to severely reprimand Shen Yanwang, but unexpectedly, the latter, being cunning and experienced, seemed to have predicted Cheng Xiaofan's anger and had already returned to the painting.
"Master, what's wrong?"
When Shen Ruobing noticed Cheng Xiaofan's troubled expression, she quickly asked, "Did I say something wrong in front of my ancestor just now?"
Cheng Xiaofan hastily forced a smile and said, "No, you said it very well!"
Hearing this, Shen Ruobing finally breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "You scared me. I thought I said something that displeased Master!"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, "Ruobing, don't misunderstand, you didn't say anything wrong!"
As he spoke, he cast his gaze upon a newly made antique-style bed nearby.
Generally, antique furniture is made in one of two ways: using old materials to create new items, or treating new materials to make them look old. Regardless of the method, it all caters to the novelty-seeking psychology of vintage trend enthusiasts.
However!
The antique bed made by Shen Ruobing focused more on craftsmanship and its spiritual essence.
Just like Old Man Tu in the Northeast developed the "Thousand-Day Drunkenness" wine, she wanted to revive the wedding bed developed by her ancestor in the present day.
Modern young men and women, due to the accelerated pace of life and various pressures, unintentionally lose their fertility.
Some also, due to physical reasons, lose their "interest" before even interacting with each other.
And so on!
Once Shen Ruobing excavates and revives a series of wedding beds developed by her ancestor, it will perfectly solve these people's problems.
The reason Cheng Xiaofan was willing to accept Shen Ruobing as a cheap disciple was precisely because he realized the immense economic value she could bring to Zhuxi Village once she developed that series of wedding beds.
"Master, do you see any flaws in the bed I made?" Shen Ruobing asked Cheng Xiaofan cautiously.
Hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan's eyes carefully observed the bed. With a smile, he asked intentionally, "Ruobing, why do you ask that?"
Shen Ruobing's delicate eyebrows furrowed. "After this bed was made, it looked exquisite and perfect from the outside. The wood grain looked as vibrant as flowing water, seemingly full of spiritual energy."
"However, when I sensed the bed with my heart, its spiritual energy seemed to vanish suddenly. I always feel it's missing an inner soul!"
Cheng Xiaofan listened and smiled faintly. "The fact that you can articulate the source of these problems indicates that after your breakthrough in artisan cultivation, you have grasped many things."
"As you said, the bed you made indeed lacks an inner soul. The main reason is that you haven't imbued it with vitality!"
"Ruobing, always remember, when you pick up a piece of wood, you must first learn to communicate with it. In your eyes, it should be filled with vigorous life force."
"What is the difference between artisan cultivation and ordinary craftsmen? The difference lies in your ability to imbue any object in your hands with powerful vitality!"
"And this vitality comes from the integration of heaven, earth, and man, from the convergence and harmonization of the Yin and Yang and five elements' energies of nature!"
At this moment, a ray of sunlight streamed in through the window lattice.
Cheng Xiaofan casually picked up a nearby plane, pushed it forward gently towards the sunlight, and a piece of golden sunlight was planed out from the exit of the plane.
He reached out, pinched that piece of sunlight, and tossed it onto the bed.
*Ding!*
The piece of sunlight made a marvelous sound and instantly vanished into the bed.
The wood grain on the entire bed, like flowing water, rippled slightly.
It was alive!
"Master!"
Shen Ruobing was immediately astonished.
Master could actually plane out a piece of sunlight from the sunlight with a plane.
This kind of world-shattering event defied scientific logic!
Had I been living in a dream since I came to Zhuxi Village?
At this moment, Cheng Xiaofan stood with his hands behind his back, facing the sunlight outside the window lattice, his lips curving slightly as he murmured, "Ruobing, remember, what your master plans is not sunlight, but confidence!"
"Although you have made a breakthrough in your artisan cultivation realm and improved your understanding, you lack confidence."
"Only with confidence can outstanding works be presented under your hands!"
Saying this, he turned around and, in a rather pretentious manner, walked towards the exit.
"Master, please wait!" Shen Ruobing suddenly rushed forward and blocked his path.
Cheng Xiaofan paused for a moment and asked, "Ruobing, is there something else?"
Shen Ruobing's pretty face blushed slightly and she said, "Disciple requests Master to hug me!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan shivered all over, quickly stepped back, his voice laced with extreme tension, and asked, "Ruobing, why... do you ask your Master for a hug?"
Shen Ruobing stammered, "I want to feel the spiritual essence of the Great God from Master. I hope Master can fulfill this disciple's request!"
"..." Cheng Xiaofan was rendered speechless.
Was this another terrible idea from Shen Yanwang?
That old guy is definitely not a decent person!
I truly don't believe, not even a hundred percent, that just by hugging her, she could feel the spiritual essence of the Great God from me?
Looking at her thirsty expression... no, the word is used incorrectly, she has an eager expression... should I refuse her?
After all!
She is my beautiful disciple!
"I cannot hug you!"
After a three-second internal struggle, Cheng Xiaofan finally hardened his heart and said, "My embrace is only for my Goddess Bai!"
"If you won't hug me, can I hug you?"
Shen Ruobing, without allowing any room for refusal, pounced forward and wrapped her arms around Cheng Xiaofan's waist.
"Ah, what are you two doing?" Just then, Bai Yiling entered with a smile and asked Cheng Xiaofan and Shen Ruobing.