The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul-Chapter 744 - 743. Gone crazy with killing!

"Yes, your Grandpa Li’s style has always been unique in the world of calligraphy and painting, normally expressing himself through grand and bold scenes, but... haven’t you noticed that this time ’Gallop Horse Painting’ and ’Charming Landscape’ have similar styles?"

"Huh?"

Bai Chenxi fell silent for two seconds, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

"Grandpa, are you saying that everyone thought Grandpa Li’s work was ’Gallop Horse Painting’??"

"Correct."

The voting audience seated below were all insiders from the association, and as members of the calligraphy and painting community, it would be impossible for them not to have studied the painting styles of the various masters. It was precisely because of their studies that they fell into empiricism.

Tang Shu’s ’Gallop Horse Painting’ under the title ’Gallop Horse Painting’—pleasing? Naturally, it wasn’t pleasing. Put another way, it was prone to criticism.

However, what if everyone thought that this painting was by Professor Li?

The first reaction would be—normal. As Professor Li, a towering figure in China’s landscape of painting, what’s the big deal about him painting a galloping horse? He has the capability and the stature!

Vote!

You must vote!

Having been reminded by Master Bai, Bai Chenxi had evidently thought of this, and instantly felt an indescribable sense of speechlessness.

"So, actually, everyone was misled by their own perceptions? Does Sister Tang’s painting really have the ability to win the championship then?"

Upon hearing this, Master Bai glanced at his grandson, his look akin to seeing an idiot.

The latter: "...."

Well, that question didn’t need to be asked at all.

What’s fairer than a vote by the people? If they say she’s the winner, then she is!

Apart from Master Bai, the voting results seemed to be beyond everyone else’s expectations, and faces of disbelief were revealed in the crowd.

"Oh my god, ’Give and Take’ actually got the most votes?"

"532 votes! Just a two-vote difference from the runner-up, that’s a narrow victory!"

"Who cares about a narrow victory or a certain win, the point is she won, undoubtedly the first place!"

"Awesome!"

"No, I’m just curious... was this painting really completed in half an hour???"

"And it still got first place!"

"That’s outrageous!"

The result chosen by everyone had to be acknowledged, and besides, ’Gallop Horse Painting’ indeed was superior in both artistic conception and brushwork, beyond doubt.

On stage, the ten judges were mentally prepared, yet still found themselves shocked when the results were announced, looking at Tang Shu with even more complex gazes.

A hero emerges from youth, as always.

Tang Shu, dizzyingly confused: "..."

Don’t look at me, I’m just as stunned here, okay?

To say that her painting is good? Certainly, it is—she doesn’t deny that, after all, she didn’t want to let down her mentor from a world away.

But the works of Elder Li and the other masters were also top-notch. In her opinion, there was no distinction of superior or inferior, it’s just that she seemed to have had a bit of luck on her side...

***

At five o’clock that afternoon, it was the moment for the association’s official website to announce the top four finalists in both the Chinese painting and calligraphy competitions.

Those who hadn’t made it to the event and had been squatting on the official website all day were now sitting in front of their computers or phones, chatting while refreshing the page.

"The results are about to come out, I bet Xue Mingxi definitely made the top four in both competitions!"

"He’s always been fierce, okay? With Master Xue personally teaching him, he’s bound to place."

"I’m more optimistic about that young participant, Song Qingyuan. Although his previous ranking wasn’t ideal, he has huge potential!"

"Go Tang Zhou, I wonder what place he’ll get this time?"

"Emmmm, I’m not too concerned about the rankings, I just want to see everyone’s works. I hope the association will post high-resolution photos."

When the clock struck five, everyone refreshed the association’s page once more and suddenly found there was an update.

"Here it comes, the exciting moment is upon us!"

"Xue Mingxi advances in both categories! As expected, I didn’t misjudge him!"

"Tang Zhou’s ranking in the national painting competition actually changed? Being second is still pretty good, and he has a shot at the championship!"

"Holy shit, Song Qingyuan made it into the top four? This kid is awesome, a true prodigy from Yun Province!"

"It’s a pity that the prodigy’s calligraphy journey ended in the top four, leaving only the national painting competition—"

...

People were chattering, some focused on rankings, while others were paying attention to appreciating the artworks.

So...

"Holy crap, why were eighteen pieces announced this time? What the hell happened??"

"Chill out, isn’t that pretty normal? Both competitions were almost simultaneous, is eighteen a lot?"

"No, I mean there are eighteen pieces just for the national painting competition!"

"Huh?"

"Huh huh?"

This is unscientific!

It seemed like this comment had drawn everyone’s attention, as people flocked to the artwork area to see for themselves, indeed finding the ten additional pieces.

"Oh my goodness, there really are eighteen? What happened?!"

"Is there anyone who can spill some info, clear up the confusion?"

"Curious!"

Meanwhile, the five hundred spectators who had participated in the live voting were exiting the conference room, still with shocked faces as they hazily opened up the association’s official website.

When they saw everyone’s curiosity about the ten extra paintings, a gleam suddenly burst forth in their eyes.

Curious? Sure, I’ll tell you all about it!

"Be shocked!"

"Tremble!"

"Why should only we be so shocked that we don’t know up from down?"

"You’re all dead meat!"

Frustrated and with nowhere to vent, people seemed to have found a channel for their grievances, clenching their phones and quickly typing away, some even sent voice messages in groups.

"You think today’s event was just about the eight competing students?"

"Then you’re underestimating the association."

"Ten judges were also competing!"

"We even participated in live voting, and get this, we voted for the judges!!!"

"Uncle She and Giving are mad—"

"Uncle She, this madman!"

"No more words, I am green with envy—"

Association netizens who were clueless: "???"

What’s wrong with you guys? Just because you went to the scene, why is everyone acting abnormal?

These IDs didn’t talk like this before!

"Those who’ve been at the scene, they’ve become arrogant, case closed."

"Definitely arrogant, and now they like playing riddles, if it weren’t for the campus recruitment fair I have to attend, I would have gone in person."

"I thought you guys were different..."

However, those who had seen the ten works of the judges returned to the comment section, and with them came a string of exclamation marks.

"Damn, these are truly master-level works, each one a gem—"

"Mother of god, so overwhelming, I never thought I would see so many masterpieces at once!"

"Did you guys notice? There’s a signature from each of the judges in the lower left corner of the works, but... what do the numbers 1 to 10 written above mean?"

"That’s the ranking, brother! What’s your IQ? Even this you don’t get!"

"So... Uncle She took the top spot in the Judges’ Area competition??"