Li stood before the huge, blank wall, holding the silver-wood brush in his trembling hand. He knew in his heart that using the magic brush to create mountains of gold for a greedy man was not what the wise old man had intended. It wasn't about selfishness; it was about kindness and helping. He had to be very, very clever.
He thought and thought, tapping the brush gently against his chin. Then, a wonderful idea bloomed in his mind! He would paint what the Magistrate wanted, but in his own special way. He smiled, a secret little smile, and began to paint.
First, Li painted a vast, churning ocean. He used deep blues and greens for the water, and foamy whites for the tops of the waves. He painted the sky above it a moody grey, with heavy clouds. The waves looked so real, you could almost hear them 'splash, splash, splash' against the shore. The room suddenly felt cooler, as if the painted sea brought its own breeze.