King of Classical Music

Chapter 8

After all, this was a national competition organized by Huaxia officials and the Munich Conservatory of Music, so the competition was well regulated. Except for how Qi Mu entered through the “back door” with his recommendation by Tan Lao and others who're the same, the rest of the participants already went through two rounds of audition. Those who passed the screening were naturally very talented.

This was the first time Qi Mu had gone to the B City Theatre. As a participant in the youth group, he was temporarily moved up. His number was on his back, and it was among the last of the participants. Therefore, when the juvenile group started their round, he could leisurely watch them while Zheng Wei Qiao was anxious.

“Qi Mu, ah, are you. . . not nervous at all?”

A 12 years old girl was on stage playing ?Roxanne’s Veil?, and Qi Mu listened intently, smiling from time to time. Hearing Zheng Wei Qiao, he turned and answered, “Nervous? Maybe a little.”

Zheng Wei Qiao calmed down a bit. He was actually a normal person that knew how to feel nervous!

“So why don’t you get ready and practice a bit? This is not a simple competition, Tan Lao also attaches great importance to this competition.” Saying this, Zheng Wei Qiao reached out his hand out and pointed at an area under the stage that was dense with people, saying, “I just went and checked, Tan Lao is sitting on the third row.”

Qi Mu looked in the direction his finger was pointed.

He saw the crimson curtain and the brilliant light that shone onto the stage and the girl. Under the stage, the light was so bright that it made people in the denser area feel their scalps tingle. Don’t even mention the third row, the first row was hard enough to see.

Qi Mu stared for a long time but he didn’t say anything. Zheng Wei Qiao continued, “I inquired about this earlier. This time, the main judge is Professor Karl of the German Munich Conservatory of Music, and it is rare for him to come to Huaxia. If you work hard, some say that Professor Carl will take a student back to German with him which is a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

The more Zheng Wei Qiao talked, the more excited he became, with sweat on his forehead and eyes shining behind his glasses. He went on to say, “If you go to the Munich Conservatory and became Professor Karl’s disciple, it’s equivalent to having a letter of recommendation in Europe. Wasn’t the current concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra his student?”

Qi Mu just say “Un” with a carefree attitude, yet Zheng Wei Qiao didn’t notice this at all and continued, “If it wasn’t for Tan Lao’s recommendation, I’m afraid we wouldn't get such a great opportunity.” Zheng Wei Qiao viewed him as his own family so he always said “we”, and Qi Mu carefully analyzed this. “If you perform well this time, maybe. . .”

Qi Mu didn’t pay much attention to Zheng Wei Qiao’s words.

His eyes were focused on the center of the judges’ panel, on a bearded foreigner.

Unlike the rigidity and solemnness of most Germans, Robert Karl seemed to be born with the literary flair of the French. He had long hair and it was tied in a small braid with a rope. His beard was also long and just as strong and mighty as Hagrid’s from Harry Potter.*

*What a powerful reference. Was honestly expecting more of a Lucius Malfoy vibe. . .

However, this kind of valiant and robust man, Qi Mu knew, was one of the best music professors in Europe. Professor Karl had taught many world-class violinists, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s concertmaster, and his students could achieve almost anything.

He still couldn’t believe it that Robert Karl had come to Huaxia. Hearing Zheng Wei Qiao say the professor wanted to select a student from this competition, it shocked even him.

Regardless of their current level, becoming Robert Karl’s student would be the equivalent of having the red carpet rolled out for their future, eliminating almost all bumps along the way.

Following this train of thought, Qi Mu couldn’t help but seek out the old man’s face in the brightness he couldn’t see through. He finally understood why Tan Lao asked him to participate in this competition, and why he expressed concern before it. It turned out that. . .

He wanted to help him go to Europe?

True, for every violinist, the twenty-two year old was supposed to be in university.

However, that was not Qi Mu.

He had wanted to try out the Munich Conservatory in his previous life, but his adoptive parents had died by then, leaving only a small house as legacy. That house of memories, he refused to sell, so he lacked the money for the high tuition.

It just so happened that the Geneva Conservatory began its policy for impoverished students and increased the number of scholarships, so Qi Mu went to Geneva to complete his studies.

That was. . . already more than a decade ago.

Qi Mu’s beautiful phoenix eyes lowered, and he sighed softly.

“Ah, Xiao Qi, don’t feel too much pressure. Being Professor Karl’s student is definitely glorious, but even without this opportunity, I believe you can return to the stage again.” Zheng Wei Qiao had been talking for quite a long time and found Qi Mu’s expression to be quite bleak all of a sudden. He mistakenly thought the younger man was feeling a lack of confidence, so he comforted. “I believe that your strength in gaining experience and knowledge is very good.”

However, Qi Mu suddenly lifted his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, “. . . Xiao Qi?”

Zheng Wei Qiao was surprised for a moment, then nodded, “Ah, yeah, isn’t it Xiao Qi? Several people in the orchestra have been calling you so.” He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and said seriously, “Well. . . Teacher used to call you Xiao Mu, but I cannot beat Teacher. Xiao Qi is also quite good.”

“. . .”

While Zheng Wei Qiao and Qi Mu were speaking with a cordial atmosphere about them, a young man was watching them from afar. He was only about twenty years old and had a delicate, yellow violin in his hand. He watched the two from a distance and whispered, “Really. . . Qi Mu, ah. . .”

His voice was so low that it could not be heard. A trace of nostalgia flashed in his eyes, then he quickly concealed it, his fighting spirit rising.

He whispered confidently, “I lost to you ten years ago, but this time. . . not going to happen!”

Suddenly, he felt as though there was something crawling up his spine. Responding quickly, he looked up and saw Qi Mu smiling at him. With his bow in hand, he waved a little.

Qi Mu was a bit surprised, then he politely smiled and turned to whisper, “Zheng-Ge. . . that person, do you know him?”

Zheng Wei Qiao thought for a bit then said, “He is the champion of the youth group’s semi-finals, Sheng Yan Hui. He’s also a prodigy. How do you know him?”

Qi Mu carefully searched his memories then shook his head without fruition, “Seems like there is no impression.”

Zheng Wei Qiao said, “Oh.” Then he added, “Sheng Yan Hui’s character is good and his talent is also not bad. He’s one of the biggest candidates for Professor Karl this time. However, he’s a bit old, and that is a draw-back.”

“How old?”

“Twenty-four. Seems he became known a bit late.”

Qi Mu nodded then raised no further questions.

Although he felt that this Sheng Yan Hui’s gaze was a bit provocative, his feelings were not always accurate so Qi Mu paid it no attention.

Nothing would be blocked. When water covered the earth, a ship would cross the bridge.

Not long after, the nineteenth was called and Sheng Yan Hui took his renowned violin to walk onto the stage. Qi Mu happened to be sitting near the stage, and on his way up, Sheng Yan Hui suddenly stopped in front of him.

Zheng Wei Qiao was also surprised and about to ask. However, he saw Sheng Yan Hui smile. The young man then solemnly said, “Qi Mu, I haven’t seen you in ten years. This time. . . I worked hard, and I hope you like it. The championship will not always be yours, I will beat you.”

Having made his “declaration of war”, Sheng Yan Hui turned to continue up onto the stage and left behind both Zheng Wei Qiao and Qi Mu who was still smiling in confusion.

Zheng Wei Qiao asked, “Xiao Qi. . . you know Sheng Yan Hui?”

He saw the young man smile and turned, his delicate face wearing a gentle and bright smile, so beautiful people could not remove their gazes. However, when he opened his mouth, it was cold as the autumn wind swept away the leaves, ruthless.

Qi Mu merely asked, “Zheng-Gi, I. . . know him?”

“. . .”

Better to not let Sheng Yan Hui hear this. Otherwise not only would he spit three liters of blood, but it might just kill him too.

Chapter translated by Kuroshinji and Betwixted, edited by Betwixted.