15. The Drink of Inspiration
1. The Wandering Painter
Lin Fengmian was a frustrated young painter who wandered aimlessly through the city streets with his painting supplies on his back. His paintings had never attracted any attention, and his inspiration was like a dried-up well. No matter how deeply he dug, all he could draw out was nothing but muddy water.
One evening, as he wandered through a light drizzle, he happened to enter an old alley. The buildings seemed to have been left behind from another era, carrying a weathered and tranquil atmosphere. At the corner, a small, elegant, old-fashioned café caught his eye: “The Garden of Inspiration.”
The copper plaque above the door had faded somewhat, yet it still possessed a unique beauty. Lin Fengmian pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and an indescribable sense of mystery. Several warm yellow pendant lights illuminated the dim interior, while the walls were covered with old paintings and strange specimens.
“Welcome.”
An elegant middle-aged woman stepped out from behind the counter. She had long black hair as dark as night and deep, mysterious eyes. Her voice was as gentle as a whispering breeze.
“I’m the owner of this place, Yi Ling,” she said with a smile. “The coffee here may give you the inspiration you’re looking for.”
A trace of doubt appeared on Lin Fengmian’s face, but hunger and cold forced him to sit down. Yi Ling brought him a steaming cup of coffee. The pale brown liquid glimmered faintly in the cup, as if countless shattered stars were hidden inside.
“This is—the Drink of Inspiration,” Yi Ling said.
Half believing and half doubtful, Lin Fengmian took a sip. To his astonishment, countless brilliant and fantastical images instantly surged through his mind.
He saw stars dancing across the surface of the sea, giant birds emerging from the clouds with their wings spread wide, and an everlasting flame burning deep within a silent forest.
That night, after returning to his studio, he created paintings unlike anything he had ever produced before.
2. Rising to Fame
Lin Fengmian’s paintings quickly attracted attention and praise from the art world. At exhibitions, countless people marveled at his dreamlike works. Having never experienced such success before, Lin Fengmian began greedily seeking more and more inspiration.
Whenever his inspiration ran dry, he would instinctively return to “The Garden of Inspiration.” However, as his reputation gradually grew, the mysterious café became increasingly difficult to find. Sometimes Lin Fengmian had to wander around the city for several days before he could locate it again.
“Does this place actually exist, or doesn’t it?”
He tried asking Yi Ling several times, but she would merely smile gently without giving him an answer.
“The source of inspiration has never been outside the café, nor has it ever been inside,” Yi Ling said calmly, as though stating an indisputable truth.
Lin Fengmian paid no attention to her words and continued relying on the magical coffee.
3. Drifting Away
As his creative obsession intensified, Lin Fengmian gradually drifted away from the outside world. His studio became an isolated space, filled with fantastical works, yet it also carried an indescribable gloom.
Every time he found “The Garden of Inspiration,” he longed for more of the Drink of Inspiration. But one day, when he pushed open the café door, he found that the only thing left inside was a note:
“Lin Fengmian, true inspiration comes from within your own heart. Do not depend on this place anymore.”
Lin Fengmian felt angry and lost. He crumpled the note into a ball and threw it onto the floor.
“I need that coffee! I can’t create without it…”
But no matter how hard he searched, the café never appeared again.
4. Self-Redemption
After losing “The Garden of Inspiration,” Lin Fengmian fell into a prolonged creative block and depression. He repeatedly reflected on Yi Ling’s words and began trying to dig for inspiration from within himself. After countless failures, he finally created a painting unlike anything he had ever made before.
The painting was like a mirror, reflecting the deepest emotions and desires hidden within his heart.
Just as he began to feel liberated, Yi Ling suddenly appeared in his studio.
“You have finally found true inspiration,” Yi Ling said with a smile.
Lin Fengmian looked at her in astonishment and confusion. “How did you get here? Didn’t you say we would never see each other again?”
Yi Ling gently nodded. “Yes, because you have already found yourself.”
Suddenly, Lin Fengmian felt a violent wave of dizziness. His vision began to blur…
5. The Unexpected Truth
When Lin Fengmian awoke, he discovered that he was standing at the entrance of “The Garden of Inspiration.” The plaque above the doorway had long since become weathered and dilapidated, and the café appeared to have been abandoned for many years.
Yi Ling’s voice came from behind him.
“This café never truly existed.”
Lin Fengmian turned around, only to see that Yi Ling’s figure had become transparent and ethereal.
“Everything you saw was created from your deepest longing for and fear of creating art.”
He stared blankly at Yi Ling as everything shattered like bubbles.
“The only thing that truly exists is your own soul.”
Yi Ling’s voice grew weaker and weaker until it finally disappeared into the air.
Lin Fengmian finally understood that the café, Yi Ling, and even the so-called Drink of Inspiration were all projections of his own mind.
From that moment on, he never again relied on external things for inspiration. Instead, he searched within himself and went on to create countless deeply moving works of art.
