As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 238 An unexpected start but a tail end
"What? What did she say?"

"Going on stage? Who is it?"

"Is it me...?"

"It can't be me, can it...?"

……

Many people went up to the rooftop, and the crowd was bustling.

The Kui Xian of Taichung was the focus of everyone's attention. Her voice was not loud, but it was clear enough to reach people's ears.

For a moment, people looked at her with various expressions.

Their gazes finally settled on the group of people surrounding Mingchen.

Some people were surprised, while others were expectant.

"This this……"

The old shopkeeper emerged from the beautiful music, facing the gazes of countless people, and was momentarily stunned.

He subconsciously looked to his side.

He could feel the woman on stage looking in their direction.

Could the young master that Kui Xian mentioned be this special young man beside him?
This young master from out of town certainly had an extraordinary air about him; one glance was enough to set him apart from the others.

Of course, some people around who didn't understand pointed at themselves amidst a sea of ​​gazes.

However, just as they were about to walk, it was as if some unknown force pressed down on their shoulders.

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't make any progress.

But who is truly seen by the Kui Immortal?

Their eyes met, and the world seemed to consist only of the two of them.

Mingchen exchanged glances with the woman on the Ascension Platform, then smiled nonchalantly.

He wasn't nervous or reserved at all, and strode confidently toward Taichung.

Those in front of him couldn't help but admire him and made way for him.

In a few moments, Mingchen arrived at the front of the stage, attracting everyone's attention.

The handsome young man was like a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp and unrestrained.

Judging from appearance alone, she actually outshone the more ordinary-looking Kui Xian.

"Hearing about the immortal Kui today is like hearing celestial music; it has broadened my horizons."

"I wonder what business the Immortal Kui has with me?"

Mingchen cupped his hands in greeting to the woman and asked with a hearty laugh.

She stepped onto the stage amidst countless gazes, yet remained neither humble nor arrogant, her speech and demeanor both generous and appropriate.

If you lack confidence that you are the one being called out, or if you don't believe you are special, you won't dare to go on stage.

That means he's not a funny person.

Now, stepping onto the stage under the gaze of thousands, Kui Xian couldn't help but narrow his eyes, carefully examining this person whose intuition made him seem special.

Gathering her thoughts, she stroked the guzheng and asked Mingchen, "Would you mind playing a duet with me, young master?"

What are we doing on stage? The stage is for artists to perform!

"Oh?"

She had never met Mingchen and knew nothing about him.

To bring up something like this on a stage in front of everyone is quite shocking.

Perhaps he is musically illiterate and tone-deaf?
If they fail, both Mingchen and she will inevitably suffer a bad reputation.

Mingchen is just an unknown figure here, easily forgotten, but Kui Xian is a famous person. If some scandalous news spreads afterward, he will fall from the top of the clouds to the bottom of the valley.

People like to elevate people to immortality, and they also like to drag immortals down to the mortal world.

But that doesn't matter.

How can you truly understand a person?
It's about seeing how he performs in unexpected situations and how he handles special circumstances.

You can never truly see a person clearly when you're in a comfortable, well-prepared situation.

Mingchen speaks in a clear and melodious voice, and his singing is also quite pleasant.

She can compose music for whatever he sings on the spot, and even if he's off-key, she can guide him back on track.

Most importantly, she was testing the waters; she wanted to get to know this special person.

The confrontation has begun.

She wanted to see what he would do, what he would say, and how he would react in such a situation.

Shrinking back in fear? Nervousness when facing areas you're not good at? Or high-spirited confidence? Or humble refusal?
Having been in a high position for a long time, she has seen many people and witnessed a lot of intrigue and backstabbing. Having seen the gazes of countless people on stage, she can clearly sense that Mingchen is different.

Her intuition has always been very accurate.

Legend has it that the Marquis of Jing'an kept a magical and intelligent bird. When it was in the capital, it was a white bird, but after it went south, it turned into a red bird.

She saw it too; the little red bird was on his shoulder, having just taken flight.

Who is this person?
This performance, which she put on out of boredom, was actually partly motivated by a desire to hook up with the person she wanted to meet.

Even if he weren't the Marquis of Jing'an, the charisma and refinement he displayed were enough to make her happy.

The world is gray and monotonous, and there are not many people with color.

Or rather... even if this person isn't the Marquis of Jing'an, it might not be a bad thing.

The Marquis of Jing'an of the new Qian Yuan era is just the Marquis of Jing'an of the new Qian Yuan era.

It will be difficult for him to become a minister of the Jinglan Alliance.

But those without a background or connections can have their colors repainted.

"Who is he? I've never seen him before! He looks like he's from out of town."

"She's quite good-looking. Could it be that the immortal Kui has fallen for her?"

"What did the Immortal Kui say? You want to play a duet with him?"

Does he know music?

……

Once the person invited by Kui Xian ascends the stage, they will naturally be scrutinized by all sides.

It's not time for a performance now, and there's no longer the tacit silence of a performance.

There was a slight disturbance among the audience, with people discussing among themselves.

"This...sir, do you recognize the Kui Immortal?"

The old shopkeeper really couldn't see through this special guest, Chen.

Does he even know Kui Xian? He was actually invited to the stage to play a duet.

Wasn't he just asking me if I had any information about the Kui Immortal?

Beside the old shopkeeper, Long Lian clenched her fists, looking at the stage with a hint of nervousness.

She's been a shut-in for two thousand years, somewhat introverted, and doesn't like to show off in front of others or attract too much attention.

She had never heard of the young master's expertise in music and was afraid of being embarrassed by this immortal and losing face in front of everyone.

The child's expression remained unchanged, blank, staring fixedly at Mingchen.

Amidst the attention and gossip, Mingchen simply smiled and asked, "Shall we play a duet?"

This person... is indeed as rumored, unconventional and willful.

He is quite similar to himself.

He did not refuse, did not speak modestly, did not show nervousness, and did not say anything superfluous.

He simply smiled at the immortal Kui and readily agreed, "Okay!"

This was indeed an interesting life experience.

Today, on their first meeting, with neither of them even knowing the other's identity, they are about to perform a duet on this stage.

Mingchen agreed to such a bold request so easily.

This was somewhat strange, but his reaction seemed to be within Kui Xian's expectations.

She watched him quietly, ignoring the reactions of the audience below, and said no more. Her slender fingers danced across the ancient zither, which looked expensive.

In an instant, the strings trembled slightly, and the clear, resonant sound reached everyone's ears.

After a brief interlude, the performance resumed.

As the music began to play, the surrounding audience fell silent.

People love excitement and are waiting to see how this excitement will unfold.

Whether it's a farce or a legend, it's enough to make people look forward to it.

Compared to the light and leisurely piece just played, this prelude seems a bit more somber, resolute, and spirited, which better matches the elegant and profound temperament of the guzheng itself.

Music can penetrate the physical body and allow us to glimpse the essence of the soul.

The performance just now was like a light and clever young girl, but now it has transformed into a dashing and spirited young man.

At the age when they are most confident, most passionate and arrogant, they are ambitious and have the spirit to conquer mountains and rivers.

Mingchen didn't utter a word, yet the rhythm alone was enough to stir the hearts of the surrounding audience, stirring up boundless heroic sentiments.

Mingchen lowered his eyes, and after a brief pause in the music, he exchanged glances with the other person and spoke.

"A hearty laugh echoes across the vast ocean, as tides surge on both shores."

Mingchen wasn't actually a great musician; at most, he sang karaoke in his past life, just belting out a few lines into a microphone.

He dared to come on stage simply because of his confidence and spontaneity; he was bold enough not to care about what the audience would say.

Whether he sings well or poorly, the result doesn't matter. He has never thought about competing in a field he is not good at.

However, one must not lose one's composure.

Those modern pop songs from the past are clearly not suitable for today's trends, and those so-called ancient style songs also look a bit strange here.

Kui Xian played this stirring and elegant prelude.

It seems that "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" is more suitable.

A clear, resonant male voice rang out, confident, proud, and powerful.

Kui Xian's eyes lit up, and he began to pluck the strings of his zither.

She had never heard the piece before, but she was a musical genius.

The music flowed through his hands, guiding the melody and providing the most suitable accompaniment for Mingchen's singing.

"Floating and sinking with the waves, only remembering today~"

"The heavens laugh, the world's tides surge and fall."

Only heaven knows who will win and who will lose.

"The landscape smiles, the misty rain stretches far."

"The waves have washed away so many beautiful things from the mortal world."

Mingchen had no reservations; he simply wanted to sing a song from his past life in this world.

It's also a way for him to experience what it's like to hold a concert, where the opinions of others are irrelevant to him.

This was nothing more than a mutual test between him and the Kui Immortal before him.

A cheerful male voice rang out, causing the audience below the stage to pause in surprise.

I asked you to come, and you actually did!

This handsome young nobleman looks delicate and fair-skinned, as if he has not experienced anything major.

The songs he sang didn't seem to suit his temperament.

The unique melody and accent painted a vivid picture in their minds.

Fallen leaves sway in the breeze, wine flows freely, and a swordsman, riding a galloping horse, laughs heartily as he heads off into the distance.

Jianghu, Jianghu.

It's not necessary to have martial arts techniques to be considered part of the martial arts world.

Wherever there are people, there is a world of martial arts; and in this world, there are also chivalrous heroes.

The imperial court is a battleground for officials' power struggles.

The battles and schemes of the martial arts world are the true reality of the struggles among the lower classes.

Kui Xian's performance did not compete with Ming Chen's melody, nor did it make things difficult for him; instead, it complemented and enhanced the performance.

The stirring guzheng music, accompanied by the bold singing, brought people a unique experience. It was as if hot blood was surging in their chests, giving rise to boundless heroic feelings, making them wish they could roam the world with a sword, drink and kill, and shatter this chaotic world.

Although it doesn't quite reach the pinnacle of ethereal beauty achieved by Kui Xian singing and playing his own instrument, it still possesses its own unique charm.

Because it is special, it is impressive.

"My heroic spirit remains, I still laugh foolishly~"

Mingchen never imagined that he would be able to attend a concert after arriving in this era.

Under everyone's gaze, the song was sung until the very end.

He raised his hand and waved gently: "La la la la la~"

At the end, there was only a soft humming of a tune.

Nobody knows more about concerts than me.

The audience seemed to be infected by his enthusiasm, raising their hands and humming along: "La la la la~"

The people's singing flowed like waves, one after another.

The event was grand and imposing, exuding a powerful aura. Mingchen actually agreed with some of the wildly imaginative ideas of the Jinglan Alliance leader.

Music is indeed a fascinating force.

The atmosphere here on the Ascending Heaven Platform is completely different from when the Kui Immortal sang his song.

Previously, people were afraid of disturbing the celestial music, that their voices were unworthy to appear in the melodies of high mountains and flowing water, and unworthy to ascend to the clouds to peer into the realm of immortals.

The song now is like a world of chivalry, splendid and unrestrained, as if the knight-errant is right in front of them, pulling everyone together to express their passion and heroism.

They can't sing, but they can still mimic the "la la la" rhythm.

Naturally, people unconsciously follow suit and advocate for it.

Exuberance and unrestrainedness are two completely different attitudes.

However, they were all excellent performances.

As Kui Xian played the guzheng, she looked at Ming Chen with bright eyes, seemingly amazed.

She considered all the possibilities that might have occurred since the other person took the stage.

But even now, she was still shocked.

She never expected that a tentative invitation would lead to such a result.

Mingchen's singing skills are not outstanding, but... he can easily stir up everyone's emotions and make the atmosphere of the whole scene surge.

This is something even she wouldn't do.

She remains the protagonist on this stage and is still revered by people; Mingchen did not try to steal her spotlight.

However, this person also stubbornly established himself on this stage, without using any special skills, but easily showcasing his charm.

People sang and shouted, some with beautiful voices, some with unpleasant ones...

But when combined, they form the soul of this song.

The ethereal sounds of flowing water and towering mountains are beyond human comprehension, but these stirring and elegant mortal melodies can awaken people's souls, inspiring them to sing and dance.

The songs she sang were never covered by ordinary people.

Because some music can only be listened to, not sung by oneself.

But she knew that from this day forward, people in the streets and alleys would surely continue to pass on this song of the martial arts world.

In the bustling city, people go about their work, sing to express their passion, and find strength in the process.

How interesting!

How interesting!

This person... is really too interesting!

As she watched Mingchen sing, her eyes grew brighter, and her breathing seemed to become a little heavier.

"La la la la~"

Her emotions were stirred, and she couldn't help but hum along, swaying her body with the crowd, harmonizing with Mingchen.

Immerse yourself in this musical feast.

In essence, there is no distinction between high and low in the art of music; as long as it can touch people's hearts, that is the charm of music.

The fingers moved faster and faster, like flowing water on a musical string, leaving afterimages in their wake.

The sound of the guzheng grew increasingly passionate.

Suddenly,
As Mingchen's singing faded to the last syllable.

"Zzzzz~"

With a sharp sound, everything came to an abrupt end.

One of the strings on the zither in Kui Xian's hand also snapped.

The music stopped, and Mingchen's song stopped too.

However, the audience's enthusiasm did not seem to have subsided.

They were still singing spontaneously, their voices surging like a torrent.

After a while, it all came to an end.

"it is good!"

I don't know who shouted.

"Hahaha!"

"That feels so good!"

"You sang so well!"

"One more song! One more song?!"

"I love this song!"

A pebble fell into the lake, creating ripples. People watched the two on the stage, their passion surging, cheering and applauding.

This piece of music sounds completely different from the dreamlike, cloud-shrouded melody sung by Kui Xian that I heard before.

But without a doubt, they were all having a great time.

"who is he?"

People couldn't help but be curious about the young and handsome singer, and they talked about him among themselves.

The old shopkeeper in the crowd was completely stunned.

Who exactly is this young man?

He was ruthless and audacious; he was an outsider and unfamiliar with Bailing City.

However, now he has stepped onto the stage and sung a song with the immortal Kui, stunning the world.

It was as ethereal as a mist.

After today, this person's reputation will likely become a topic of conversation in Bailing City.

Could he also do some advertising?

As for Long Lian, Fuyao, and Xiudie who followed Mingchen, they could only sigh in admiration.

They never expected that Mingchen had this trick up his sleeve.

The little bird, seeing the people around it cheering, puffed out its chest as if it were proud of itself.

Look, this is our young master!

Wherever this person goes, they will always be the brightest star!

After the incident with the bean paste, I'll have to find a way to get him to sing a song for me...

The guzheng string is broken, so today's performance should come to an end.

The whole stage was a bit noisy.

This is something that has rarely happened since the Kui Xian performance began.

She inexplicably felt a sense of lingering satisfaction.

She turned her head, and asked the intrigued person with a hint of curiosity, "What kind of tune is this?"

Mingchen turned to her and smiled, "Let's call it 'A Laugh in the Vast Ocean'."

At first, the two did not exchange names or identities, but they seemed to get along quite well.

There was not a trace of awkwardness.

Music seems to be a form of communication.

"Hahaha!"

"Good good!"

"Well done!"

"reward!"

Although the Jinglan Alliance advocates freedom, there are always some managers and powerful figures.

There is a spot with the best view on the east side of the Dengtiantai, which is reserved for the powerful and wealthy and is not open to ordinary people.

When we ascended to immortality, the alliance leader was sitting at the very top.

Today, the mysterious Kui Xian suddenly appeared on stage to perform, which naturally attracted some powerful and influential people to come and watch.

After all, this is something that can only be encountered by chance.

At that moment, several powerful and influential people were seated in that affluent area, the highest-ranking of whom was a rather obese man.

He looked somewhat intoxicated, clapping his hands repeatedly in praise, and instructing his subordinates to throw money towards the rooftop.

He was from the archipelago, named Gao Panhai, and was among the first group of people who followed the leader of the alliance to sail out to sea and take control of the Central Plains.

He enjoys the deep trust of the alliance leader and is in charge of the alliance's finances.

Upon learning of the appearance of the Kui Immortal today, I rushed here to listen to the performance. After hearing him sing a song, I felt that the trip was worthwhile.

It's an even more pleasant surprise that this young singer is performing now.

But at this moment,
"boom!"

Suddenly, a loud explosion came from the crowd closest to him.

His pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes filled with disbelief, as excruciating pain struck.

He clutched his chest, his chubby face contorted in pain.

Where he reached out and grabbed, blood gushed out freely, as if pierced by something.

"grown ups!!"

"There are assassins!"

"quick!"

……

Everything happened too fast, in just a moment.

Just a moment ago, Gao Panhai was laughing and saying he would reward the two performers on stage, but the next moment he was about to stab them.

Several subordinates then realized what was happening and rushed over to surround him, trying to provide first aid and protection.

But it's obviously too late.

His face was pale, and he leaned back in his seat. The cheerful smile from just moments before vanished instantly. His body trembled, and he could only reach out his hand, uttering a few broken words: "Help...help..."

He collapsed to the spot, lifeless.

"The firearms went off! Ah!!"

"Run!"

"Killing! Killing!"

Who got shot?

"It's the Zhu You Gang! It's people from the Zhu You Gang!"

……

The roaring sound shattered people's anticipation and longing for the song.

Like a bucket of cold water, the passion stirred up by the rousing song was instantly extinguished.

The gathering of thousands was in chaos, with people shouting and trembling with fear.

Faced with life and death, they even forgot to enjoy the song.

"Hahaha! A hearty laugh echoes across the vast ocean, while the tides surge on both shores!"

Suddenly, a burst of wild laughter erupted from the crowd.

They were singing the same song that Mingchen had just sung on stage. His voice was rough and bold, and it felt like the song's江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit was describing them.

He shouted loudly, "Get out of the mainland! The Jinglan Alliance, get out of Qianyuan!"

"Sooner or later, I, the Zhuyou Gang, will kill your leader!"

"Hahaha~"

The sound faded into the crowd and disappeared.

This disturbance instantly robbed the two main figures on stage of their status.

No one could have imagined that this breathtaking performance would end so anticlimactically.

Mingchen didn't seem to care about this.

He's been through so much, what's this little thing?
Even if the firearm were right next to his forehead, it wouldn't cause him any harm, let alone that this matter had nothing to do with him.

He observed the immortal Kui with great interest, seemingly trying to discern some clues from the other's face.

A league executive was killed in this situation.

Kui Xian's expression was very calm, as if this was a trivial matter, and no one could see into her thoughts.

She casually tossed the expensive guzheng onto the table, then smiled at Mingchen: "Young master, we've known each other for a long time. I'll be waiting for you at Da Gui Men in three days."

After saying that, he waved to Mingchen and left decisively and gracefully.

"Have we been friends for a long time?"

"A prestigious family?"

Mingchen stood on the stage, but no one in the audience was paying attention to him anymore.

He didn't say much to Kui Xian, but just glanced at the zither with a broken string and watched the other person's departing figure.

She lowered her eyes slightly and murmured softly.

Hearing about it is truly not as good as seeing it in person...

(End of this chapter)