Chapter 189
Chapter 189: Qin Battle! Gao Shan Liu Shui vs Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao!
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Ding Shaojie, the representative of Great Yan, was in a bad mood. The morale he had worked so hard to boost was brought down by Lin Beifan!
He was very unwilling and decided to continue to challenge.
He smiled and said, âSir Lin, letâs start with the two of us for the first game, shall we?â
By inviting Lin Beifan to go first with him, he had a chance to eliminate him.
He didnât know how skilled Lin Beifan was in playing the qin.
However, Lin Beifan had a special identity. If he was eliminated, it would definitely hit the morale of Great Wu.
Lin Beifan blinked, âAre you sure I should go first?â
âOf course! Iâve heard that Sir Lin is talented and knowledgeable, a rare genius in a century! I believe he must be outstanding in qin playing as well. So, I canât wait to witness it myself. I believe everyone here is also very eager to hear Sir Linâs qin music!â
Ding Shaojieâs words were full of politeness and flattery, pushing Lin Beifan up high, forcing him to go on stage.
If Lin Beifan went on stage, he had a chance to use his qin skills to defeat the opponent and hit Great Wuâs morale.
If he didnât go on stage, it would mean that Lin Beifan was afraid.
Being afraid before the battle could also affect his morale.
It had to be said that even a small qin battle was full of deceit and cunning, making it difficult to guard against.
The Empress and the civil and military officials looked worriedly at Lin Beifan.
Lin Beifan nodded calmly, âAlright! Iâll go first in this game!â
Ding Shaojie smiled happily and arrogantly, âThank you, Sir Lin, for your cooperation!â
Then, under everyoneâs gaze, Ding Shaojie walked to the center of the martial arts arena.
âNow, let me play the first piece, âGao Shan Liu Shui,â for everyone to appreciate!â
Saying that, he knelt down and pressed his hands on the qin strings.
After closing his eyes for more than ten seconds, waiting for his heart to calm down, he began to play the well-known piece, âGao Shan Liu Shui.â
Instantly, a melodious and soothing, elegant and fresh sound of the qin filled the entire venue.
In the qin music, everyone seemed to see a tall green mountain deep in the forest, with a flowing stream winding down, crashing against the rocks and making a pleasant dingdong sound.
The stream was clear and one could see the moss and even fish.
Beside the stream were strange rocks, green forests, and the sounds of insects and birds.
It was as if they could also see two people playing the qin under the high mountains and flowing water, a scene of harmony and tranquility between man and nature!
Their hearts couldnât help but calm down.
On the side of the Great Yan team.
Tang Yong, the top scholar, whispered, âItâs been a few days, but now I really have to admire it! Shaojieâs qin skills have become even more refined. Not only has his technique reached its peak, but he can also integrate emotions and scenery into his qin music. Amazing!â
âIndeed, Shaojie is truly outstanding in this aspect. He will definitely become a master qin player in the future!â
At this moment, the third prince of Great Yan, with a hushed tone, said, âEnough talking, letâs quietly enjoy this beautiful piece of music!â
Everyone nodded, some even closed their eyes, swaying and moving their heads.
The melodious qin music even floated outside the venue.
âThis is the sound of the qin, the literary battle has begun!â
âWho is playing âGao Shan Liu Shuiâ? It sounds so delightful! The scenery has been integrated into the music, I can almost see a painting depicting high mountains and flowing water. Itâs so beautiful!â
âThis is the best version of âGao Shan Liu Shuiâ that I have ever heard. The lingering sound lasts for three days, itâs unforgettable!â
âWith this divine composition, victory is already assured! Who is the genius behind it?â
âIt should be Liu Feng, from our Great Wu. He excels at playing the qin!â
âI also think itâs Liu Feng. This prodigy is the best at playing the qin. I heard he even sleeps while hugging his qin!â
âHaha! It seems like we have already won this round!â
âŠ
The people of Great Wu grew excited.
At this moment, a soldier ran out and shouted, âIn the first round of the literary battle, Great Yan has sent Ding Shaojie, the second place winner in the imperial examination, who is currently playing the well-known qin piece âGao Shan Liu Shuiâ!â
The venue instantly fell silent!
Everyoneâs hearts became filled with worry.
After about half an incense stickâs time, the qin music finally came to an end, and everyone snapped out of their trance caused by the melodious music.
There was a bit of regret, as the qin music was too short and they couldnât continue to enjoy it.
âWhat a wonderful rendition of âGao Shan Liu Shuiâ!â the Empress praised loudly. âAlthough it is a widely circulated qin piece, you have played it in a new realm. Well done!â
âThank you for your praise, Your Majesty of Great Wu. I am unworthy of it!â Ding Shaojie smiled faintly, but couldnât hide his arrogance.
He had played this piece of âGao Shan Liu Shuiâ more than a thousand times!
Not only had his skills reached their peak!
But he could also integrate emotions and scenery into his qin music, making it truly extraordinary!
He didnât believe that anyone could play it better than him!
It could be said that he had already secured his victory, haha!
âSir Lin, itâs your turn!â Ding Shaojie said with a smile that he couldnât conceal.
Lin Beifan smiled, âYou played really well! With just this piece, you can be considered outstanding!â
Outstanding?
Ding Shaojie furrowed his brows slightly, feeling somewhat dissatisfied.
In the field of art, skill levels could be categorized as famous, outstanding, and master.
A famous master is someone who has reached a level recognized by the public in a certain skill.
An outstanding individual is someone who has devoted many years to a particular skill and has reached the pinnacle of that skill.
A grand master is someone who has transformed their technique into an art form and established their own style.
He felt that based on his performance just now, calling himself a grand master would not be an exaggeration.
But the other party only gave him the title of âoutstanding,â which was clearly stubborn and stingy, unwilling to admit his greatness.
âSir Lin, please! Let me see what level your qin skills have reached!â Ding Shaojie said somewhat provocatively.
Lin Beifan did not respond and stepped onto the stage slowly.
The spectatorsâ eyes filled with worry.
This was the first round for Great Wu, and Lin Beifan was the soul of Great Wuâs representatives. If they lost this round, it would be a huge blow to Great Wu. And based on the current situation, the chances of losing were very high.
On the side of Great Yan, the third prince, Yan Xinghe, opened his paper fan and smiled triumphantly. âLin Beifan is destined to lose! Shaojieâs qin skills have reached their peak, they are incomparable. No matter how well Lin Beifan plays, it will only result in a draw! Moreover, Shaojie has taken the initiative. I donât believe that Lin Beifanâs mentality wonât be affected! Once affected, he is bound to lose!â
âWhat Your Highness said is absolutely right!â
On the side of Great Yan, they burst into laughter as if victory was already in their hands.
At this moment, Lin Beifan had already arrived in front of the ancient qin. With a composed expression, he said, âNext, I will play the piece âCang Hai Yi Sheng Xiaoâ! This is a qin composition that I created. Please enjoy!â
After the introduction, he sat down and placed his hands on the strings of the qin.
Without making any adjustments, he began playing directly.
After just a few notes, everyone felt a tremor throughout their bodies, as if they were being pulled by an inexplicable force.
Before they could react, a majestic and grand aura rushed towards them, like surging waves in the vast ocean!
Wave after wave, the tides rose and fell, the sky was high and the sea was wide, and determination filled their hearts!
Everyone felt as if they were being swept along by the waves!
It was as if they had leapt out of the waves and stood on top of tall rocks, facing away from the setting sun, witnessing the surging tides, the lingering glow of the setting sun, the rising winds and clouds, and the waves crashing on both shores. Their hearts were filled with determination and magnanimity, and their minds were boundless!
At the same time, in the vastness of the world, there was only one person, who couldnât help but feel a sense of vastness and loneliness!
All the trivialities and mundane matters of the past seemed to have been washed away by the waves, leaving only a deep evening glow and a release of heartfelt laughter!
Young people, listening to this piece, felt their hearts brimming with courage, wishing they could wield a sword and enter the martial world, or hold a pen and enter the court.
The elderly listened to this piece of music and shed tears.
Memories of the past were like clouds drifting away, swept away by the waves.
âWhatâŠwhat kind of tune is this? So bold and yet so moving?â
Representatives from the Great Yan side were shocked as they watched Lin Beifan playing the qin.
The third prince of Great Yan exclaimed, âThe opponent actually played such a divine tune?â
Ding Shaojie couldnât believe everything, shaking his head vigorously, âItâs impossible! This canât be!â
At this moment, the melody of this piece spread outside.
The people who heard it were filled with excitement, a sense of courage surging through their bodies, as if they couldnât wait to express it.
âWhat kind of tune is this? I havenât heard it before.â
âThis should be a new composition!â
âAnd itâs different from the usual melancholic qin tunes! This piece is full of boldness and ambition, itâs a song for heroes! So captivating!â
âYes, it sounds amazing! I feel like I can see the surging river and its flow into the sea!â
âI see the martial world in it, isnât this what the martial world looks like?â
âThis is the kind of tune a man should listen to, full of grandeur and magnanimity. I want to shout loudly!â
âDonât shout randomly, listen carefully!â
âŠ
Half an incense stickâs time passed, and Lin Beifan finished playing.
It took a while for everyone to come back to their senses.
The Empress asked, âSir Lin, is it over?â
Lin Beifan replied, âItâs over!â
The Empress felt unfulfilled, filled with regret. âIt ended so quickly!â
Lin Beifan said, âYour Majesty, it has been half an incense stickâs time already!â
âAlthough itâs been half an incense stickâs time, after listening, I still want to listen again! This piece is different from the usual qin compositions, which tend to be somewhat melancholic and lacking in grandeur! But this tune is so refreshing, majestic, vast, and full of heroic and free-spirited energy. Itâs a song for heroes, a song for great men! Truly worthy of being called âCang Hai Yi Sheng Xiaoâ!â praised the Empress.
Lin Beifan smiled and said, âThank you for Your Majestyâs praise!â
âHowever, I still feel like something is missing!â
âWhatâs missing are lyrics!â Lin Beifan smiled.
The Empressâs eyes lit up and she eagerly said, âYes! Thatâs it! Itâs missing lyrics! Because itâs a qin composition, not many people can play it! But with lyrics, everyone can sing along and express their emotions! Especially when sung by great heroes and individuals, it can bring out their heroic spirit!â
âWhat Your Majesty said is absolutely right!â A general sitting nearby laughed. âActually, I wanted to express my feelings just now. But without lyrics, all the courage in my heart, filled to the brim, didnât know how to be expressed. Itâs uncomfortable to keep it inside! If it could be accompanied by a set of lyrics, it would be absolutely marvelous!âjosei
âA good composition needs to be paired with good lyrics to complement each other!â
âŠ
Everyone started to speak.
âSir Lin, since this tune was composed by you, itâs up to you to complete the lyrics! We believe that with your talent and knowledge, you can create the best lyrics! Let this composition, âCang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao,â become renowned throughout the world!â The Empress assigned the task.
Lin Beifan smiled faintly, âYour Majesty, actually, I already have the lyrics!â
1. Gao Shan Liu Shui (é«ć±±æ”æ°Ž) is a famous piece of classical Chinese music that originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The title translates to âHigh Mountains and Flowing Waterâ in English. It is a solo guqin piece, with the guqin being a traditional Chinese musical instrument.
Gao Shan Liu Shui is considered one of the most renowned and challenging compositions for the guqin. It is often regarded as a masterpiece of Chinese music and has been performed by many virtuoso guqin players throughout history.
The piece is known for its expressive and evocative nature, aiming to depict the imagery of towering mountains and flowing water. It combines various playing techniques to mimic the sounds and movements of nature, such as the cascading of water and the grandeur of mountains.
Gao Shan Liu Shui has become a symbol of Chinese culture and has been performed and recorded by numerous musicians, both within China and internationally. Its enduring popularity and significance have made it an integral part of the guqin repertoire and an important piece in the preservation of traditional Chinese music.
2. âCang Hai Yi Sheng Xiaoâ (æČ§æ”·äžćŁ°çŹ) is a popular Chinese song from the 1990s. The title can be roughly translated as âA Laugh in the Vast Sea.â
The song was performed by Chinese singer/songwriter Zhou Huajian, also known as Dave Wong in English. It gained significant popularity and became one of Zhou Huajianâs signature songs. âCang Hai Yi Sheng Xiaoâ is known for its emotional and poetic lyrics, which depict the vastness of the sea and the laughter that resonates through it.
The songâs melody and lyrics evoke a sense of longing, reflection, and a connection to nature. It has become a classic and enduring piece in Chinese popular music, and Zhou Huajianâs rendition is widely recognized and appreciated by listeners in China and beyond.