The Seven Sisters and Their Hidden King-Chapter 371: Setting Aside a Brick to Attract a Jade
Chapter 371 - 371: Setting Aside a Brick to Attract a Jade
Hugh couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he looked at the amazed expressions of his colleagues. This was the person he had valued, the one he had recognized as exceptional. Among all the talents present, John stood out as the brightest.
However, there was something even more interesting happening now.
With a subtle gesture, Hugh invited everyone to sit once again, and he motioned for John to take a seat next to him. The people around the table were important figures, many of whom were at least ten years older than John. Logically, it seemed inappropriate for someone so young to be among such distinguished company. Yet, the reality was quite the opposite.
John showed no sign of nervousness or self-consciousness; he remained calm and composed, contributing to the conversation at the right moments. His presence was magnetic, as though the entire room was naturally drawn to him. For a moment, it felt as if John had become the center of attention, a sense of focus that seemed almost out of place for someone his age. It was strange yet captivating, and even Hugh, who had known John for some time, felt this odd aura.
Determined to steer the conversation in a specific direction, Hugh casually shifted the topic to one of his favorite interests: calligraphy and painting. As a fan of the arts, this was a subject he could easily control, and he didn't need to force the discussion to lead in that direction.
John, however, wasn't fooled. He knew exactly what Hugh was trying to do but didn't expose him. Instead, he listened attentively, allowing the conversation to unfold.
Soon, Hugh found his opportunity to introduce the subject of "Master of Clouds," a well-known figure in the world of calligraphy and painting.
"The genius of the calligraphy and painting world must be Master of Clouds. I truly don't know how he managed to create those paintings with such far-reaching artistic concepts," Hugh remarked with genuine admiration.
One by one, the other members of the group joined in, praising the master's works. "Yes, although I'm not personally very interested in calligraphy and painting, I've heard of Master of Clouds many times. He's a true master," someone said.
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"I've seen his work. Even those who don't know much about the art can immediately feel the depth and meaning behind his paintings," another colleague added.
"I wasn't aware of the intricacies of the calligraphy and painting world, but when I saw Mr. Kurds admire his work, I thought there must be something to it, and I started learning about it. It turns out it's all true," someone else chimed in.
As the conversation continued, Hugh turned to John with a faint smile. "John, my friend, what do you think of Master of Clouds? He's considered a genius in the painting and calligraphy world."
John had been waiting for this moment. He knew exactly what Hugh was trying to do—set him up to compliment Master of Clouds. But John wasn't one to follow the script.
With a confident smile, he replied, "Honestly, I don't think Master of Clouds is as divine as you all say. Perhaps he just painted those works to kill time. There's no deep meaning behind them."
The room fell silent. Everyone, except Hugh, looked stunned. They couldn't believe what they had just heard. Master of Clouds was revered in the painting and calligraphy world, and his works were idolized by many, including Mr. Kurds. To hear someone, especially a young man like John, speak so dismissively of him was almost unthinkable.
What was even more shocking was that John didn't seem the least bit worried about his words. Did he really want to make an enemy of everyone at the table?
Everyone except Hugh exchanged uncomfortable glances. This was a low point for John. His response had all the hallmarks of someone with low emotional intelligence. Surely, he must have realized the consequences of insulting such an icon.
But to everyone's surprise, Hugh didn't react with anger or embarrassment. Instead, his smile grew even more enigmatic, as if he had been expecting this very thing.
John's response had clearly caught everyone off guard, but Hugh didn't allow the moment to get awkward for long. He stared at John for a moment, letting the tension build before finally saying, "John, I heard what you said. It seems like you have your own unique views on the world of calligraphy and painting. Why don't you make a painting for us to see?"
The atmosphere shifted again. Everyone's expectations of John being reprimanded or made to apologize now seemed misplaced. Hugh wasn't angry—he had a different plan in mind.
John, however, wasn't about to play along. "I won't be drawing anything. Even if I did, it wouldn't be much different from Master of Clouds' paintings," he said nonchalantly.
The people around the table were baffled. One middle-aged man opposite John nearly collapsed from the weight of the moment. His eyes widened as he realized John was truly going to say something that would make Hugh angry. "Why is he so stubborn?" the man thought.
A sense of dread washed over the group. They all wondered: Was John intentionally setting himself up for failure? Had he truly misunderstood the situation?
As they looked at Hugh, hoping for some kind of reaction, they were met with an odd stillness. Hugh, though, did not get angry as expected. Instead, his expression grew more and more peculiar, a mix of disappointment and something else that was hard to decipher.
He stared at John for a while, seemingly contemplating his next move. It was clear now that Hugh was not going to reveal John's identity, though it was painfully obvious to him that this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
John, after all, was the true Master of Clouds—the artist who had created the revered paintings. But Hugh wasn't going to expose John's identity just yet. He had a more intricate plan in mind, and the timing had to be perfect.
The conversation shifted again, and after a while, they started talking about the recent news surrounding the death of King of Horizon, a widely known figure whose passing had shaken both common people and cultivators alike. There was a palpable sense of loss in the air.
As the discussion turned somber, Arya, one of the guests, spoke up nonchalantly, "In fact, it's actually a good thing that King of Horizon died."
Her words hung in the air, leaving the group to ponder the significance of her statement.
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