[ Meng Yao watches him curiously, listening to when he starts speaking, and smiling a little when he tries to laugh off the wistfulness. He thinks he can understand why, though. ]

You're right that it wouldn't. Paintings can catch the essence of a place with ease, and the same can be said of the people that may be contained within them. But, capturing the emotions like that behind experiencing it is another matter entirely.

[ He doesn't consider himself a painter or anything, but he is well familiar with the arts, given that two of his prior associations were intimately acquainted with such things. Or at least familiar enough that they perused it, whether because it was their own interest, or it was expected for one of them. ]

I can't even say that I've travel as a hobby, but I've been to various places, due to being a cultivator, so I think I can imagine. Most of the time my focus has been more on the people, what needs to be done, and whatever slight differences in cultures there are from each Sect's region, more than anything else. In the end, I think it'd be nice, though...if I can experience that same thing.