(This chapter is best enjoyed while listening to "The Music of the Cloud Palace".)
March 31st.
Seven ten in the evening.
At a barbecue restaurant in Blue Star’s Qin Continent, Jack was munching on a large piece of kidney, oil dripping from his mouth:
"The barbecue here is much more satisfying than in our Han Continent. In Han, we only have beef and chicken for barbecue, and the only seasoning used is salt and black pepper..."
"Your tastes are more Qin than Han."
His agent found the greasy barbecue to be only passable.
Each continent has its own style of cuisine. The turkey and steaks popular in Han Continent were seemingly not as well-liked here as the skewered barbecue.
Jack was a two-ti King of Singing winner from Han Continent.
After being severely outperford by Xian Yu in Mandarin and English versions of "Farewell Kiss" in February, Jack had not given up on expanding his market in the territories of Qin, Qi, Chu, and Yan.
Lately, he had been participating in so musical events in Qin Continent so as to familiarize the local audience with him as much as possible. However, the effects weren’t significant yet, or else Jack wouldn’t be able to dine undisturbed at a Qin barbecue restaurant without attracting any attention from the crowd.
"Nobody recognizes here."
Jack looked around, continued munching on his kidney, and mumbled:
"When I win the Seasonal Chart next month, people should start to recognize . Then we won’t be able to enjoy our barbecue so peacefully and undisturbed."
"April looks very promising!"
The agent’s interest was piqued:
"The most important thing is that Xian Yu isn’t in the April Seasonal Chart. Without his interference, we would have clinched the championship in February."
"Steer clear of what you can’t overco."
Jack stated without any burden.
He and his company had been observing for a long ti, only daring to release a new song after confirming that Xian Yu wasn’t releasing one in April. They aid to secure the April Seasonal Chart championship.
Whilst chatting leisurely.
The big TV in the barbecue restaurant was turned on.
In the buzzing environnt, an ad appeared on screen:
"’Journey to the West’ will be broadcast in five minutes. Don’t go away, the excitent is about to begin!"
"Change the channel, boss!"
One of the custors at table two yelled displeasingly: "Watch ’The Primordial Chaos’, it’s also on today!"
This custor was clearly a ’The Primordial Chaos’ fan.
The boss hesitated: "Which channel is airing ’The Primordial Chaos’ again?"
The custor at table two was about to answer, but the adjacent custor at table three was not pleased:
"Why change the channel? Let’s watch ’Journey to the West’!"
Turns out.
This patron was a ’Journey to the West’ fan.
The custor at table two glared: "Only you want to watch ’Journey to the West’..."
" too."
The custor at table one objected.
A voice also ca from table six: "I want to watch ’Journey to the West’ too, I love Xian Yu!"
It was a little girl.
Then, the custor at table four chid in: "Let’s watch ’The Primordial Chaos’, it’s better."
Table three: "It must be ’Journey to the West’."
Table five: "Isn’t ’The Primordial Chaos’ on-point?"
Like a chain reaction.
The barbecue restaurant erupted in lively chatter.
So were clamoring to watch ’Journey to the West’, so were clamoring to watch ’The Primordial Chaos’. It appeared that there were many fans of both series present.
The online debate between the two parties seed to have spilled over into the real world.
Of course.
The majority were simply chiming in, stirring up so fun.
After all, not everyone enjoys watching television, and not everyone is a fan of either ’Journey to the West’ or ’The Primordial Chaos’.
Not to ntion that many people in the barbecue restaurant were slightly tipsy.
Alcohol tends to make people a little more animated.
Even the introverted ones beco extroverted in this situation.
"…"
The boss threw up his hands: "There’s only one TV."
Jack was slightly surprised: "’Journey to the West’ is Xian Yu’s drama, right?"
The agent nodded: "I read part of the novel a while ago, it’s really good."
"Then let’s watch ’Journey to the West’!"
Jack yelled out.
Agent: "…"
Why were you adding to the commotion?
Jack laughed: "Xian Yu isn’t releasing a song in April, so I should be thankful to him."
For so reason, the agent felt that made sense:
"Indeed. He even showed rcy to us in February. If ’God Is a Girl’ had been released in February, we Han people would have been utterly defeated."
The barbecue restaurant was still filled with argunts.
Those calling for ’Journey to the West’, those calling for ’The Primordial Chaos’, none were giving way to the other.
In the midst of the stalemate.
The drama is finally going to air.
The patron at Table No. 2, who had asked for "The Primordial Chaos" after drinking who knows how many rounds, started to stagger to his feet, saying:
"Let tell you!"
Before he could finish, the the song of "Journey to the West" began to play, effectively drowning out whatever he was about to say:
"Whoosh!"
"Boom boom!"
"Wait, wait, wait..."
The voice at Table No. 2 paused for a mont, as if suddenly sobered up by the music.
The audience felt a shiver run down their spinal cords, their attention imdiately drawn to the television by the captivating music.
In the lens.
The waves are crashing violently!
The mountains are towering!
A massive mountain peak suddenly explodes in this majestic landscape, waves roar into a storm, and the rhythm of the music rolls in like thunder!
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Earthquake!
Among the flying grit and stone, a golden light shoots towards the sky. A monkey rolls and leaps into the sky, disappearing among the deep clouds.
The bass guitar starts to play.
The orchestration and percussion combine, beating against the audience’s hearts, growing increasingly intense.
Almost instinctively, people begin chewing the barbeque in their mouths.
Electronic music with a jumpy rhythm.
Drenched in psychedelic hues.
With every earthen tremor and mountain shift, the corresponding sound is illustrated through music. The electronic music mixed with a variety of classical instrunts, resulting in a harmonious blend rather than a chaotic ss.
The Guzheng, Pipa, and Bianzhong!
The instrunts resonate and complent each other!
Either due to the top-notch special effects or the abrupt music, everyone swallowed their food forcefully, forgetting what it tasted like.
The atmosphere is magnificent!
The Five Finger Mountain turns to dust!
Yellow talismans float away into the distance. Amid the dreamlike mist, Buddha stands solemnly, his single hand pointing skyward, his sacred aura enveloping everything!
Lotuses blooming fiercely!
Kuan Yin, tender and compassionate.
Four figures traverse desolate mountains and regions. Wolves and leopards lurk nearby, the setting sun splintering through the dappled shade onto the ground beneath them. Unidentified creatures hide behind the roadside trees.
"Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum!"
"Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum!"
The music takes a sudden turn, rging electronic beats with the rhythm of drums, accompanied by the Guzheng’s trembling notes. It sounds both sturdy and soft, like undulating mountains, each following their own course yet maintaining perfect harmony!
Lost souls in Hell hovering!
The Monkey King swings his Golden Cudgel!
Gods and demons scurry, the earth shakes and mountains tremble!
Silver-armored heavenly soldiers and generals swarm in masses, their intimidating gaze fixed on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. The muscular Titan beats his drum frantically. While atop the mountain peak, a monkey draped in a billowing red cape sits quietly!
"Ah ah ah…"
"Ah ah ah…"
"Ah ah ah…"
The ethereal female vocals begin, tender and lancholic, which only amplify the dazzling magic weapons. As the world changes color amidst the grand battle, a large Golden Fillet sweeps across resulting in a rain of blood!
"Ah ah ah…"
The only sound left in the barbecue restaurant was the music.
Everyone had forgotten to continue eating. Their mouths hung slightly open, their eyes seemingly frozen. So people’s mouths were still half full of partially chewed food, which was still slightly warm.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom boom!"
At every beat, fleeting images of intense battles flashed on the screen. The Monkey King’s eyes were filled with undying flas, the universe seed to shake with the rhythm of the battle. These were pieces of the westward journey.
Demons danced wildly!
Evil spirits ran amok!
Finally, all the musical instrunts converged brilliantly, and the harp flowed out like running water, rging beauty with solemnity.
Two minutes and fifty-three seconds.
The duration of a piece of music.
Two minutes and fifty-three seconds ago, the barbecue restaurant was noisy and chaotic. Two minutes and fifty-three seconds later, the restaurant was dead silent. The normally busy hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"What is this?"
Who knows when.
Jack stood up.
The man next to him, who was presumably his agent, struggled to swallow his saliva. He pointed with a shaking hand to the swiftly disappearing information on the screen. There were a few lines in blue text, which were particularly noticeable.
"The Music of the Cloud Palace"
"Composer: Xian Yu"
"Guzheng: Wang Li, Pipa: Zhang Xie, Orchestra: Liu Ran, Bianzhong: Li Keqi, zzo-Soprano: Ning ii, Harp: Han Han, Violin: Lala, Trumpet: Xiao Gang, Harp: Zhou Li, Guitar: Ping Dahai..."
Boom boom boom!
Three large golden characters replacing the flurry of images, and thus leaving an everlasting impression on everyone’s mories. Even years later, many people would still cherish their recollection of it:
Journey! To! The! West!
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