As soon as Xing Wenhua began to speak, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. The representatives of the Pinghai Culture and Tourism system were the first to clap. When the big leader speaks, even a fart would be considered fragrant.
The backdrop projected three large characters — Dongzhou Horse Racing Platform, a signature tourist attraction of Dongzhou. In 206 BC, after Xiang Yu destroyed the Qin, he declared himself Overlord of Western Chu and established his capital in Dongzhou. On the southern hill outside the city, he constructed a lofty platform to observe horse racing, hence the na Horse Racing Platform.
With one hand gripping a sword, Xing Wenhua adjusted his reading glasses and declared loudly, "The Horse Racing Platform! A place where the Overlord of Western Chu and Yu Ji once reveled and observed horse races! In those days, with golden armor and iron horses, his presence swallowed the world like a tiger, what a hero the Overlord of Chu was!"
The lights again went out entirely, and when they ca back on, the cries of battle filled the air. Xu Chunliang, dressed in heavy armor as the Overlord of Western Chu, Xiang Yu, strode onto the stage.
The audience fell completely silent, for regardless of Xu Chunliang’s acting skills, his appearance was truly formidable. Clad in dark blue steel armor with a crimson cloak, with a leopard head and glaring eyes, long hair, and a coiled beard, holding the Tianlong Siege Halberd, he stood there valiant and imposing, like a war god reborn.
Xu Chunliang let out a thunderous shout: "Hoi! Who dares to fight!"
This shout startled everyone, and they were now fully imrsed in the fierce tis of the Chu-Han contention.
Su Qing appeared as Yu Ji on stage. Her ancient costu was stunning, with delicate features and an aura of unparalleled elegance, she seed to have stepped out of a painting. The sight of these two on stage, with the handso man and beautiful woman, needed no acting—it was simply a visual delight.
"My king! Fortunately, here on the plains of Gaixia, the high ridges and steep cliffs are not easily breached. Await an opportunity, break the encirclent for aid, it is not yet too late... Prepare the wine, let’s share a few cups with my king."
"—Then—let the wine co—"
The two shared a goblet.
Xu Chunliang sighed and said, "I think of myself as Xiang Yu! With the strength to lift mountains and an aura overshadowing the world, but when the tis are unfavorable, Zhuis will not gallop, if it will not gallop, what can be done, Yu Ji, Yu Ji, what can be done with you?"
His voice bood and was full of energy, resonating within the hall for a long ti. His skill with lines was quite comndable; even Su Qing felt he was born to perform.
Su Qing lanted, "My king’s gallant and tragic song moves one to tears. Allow to dance and sing to relieve your worries."
"I trouble my beloved consort!"
Their eyes t, filled with deep feeling. Tears glistened in Su Qing’s beautiful eyes. She truly wished she could return to the past, just to always stay by his side, even if just as a beloved consort, so what? A wave of shyness surged in her heart; why would she have such thoughts?
"Then I shall disgrace myself for my consort!"
Su Qing withdrew, and when she returned to the stage, she held her shoulders, turned away from Xu Chunliang, and wiped her tears. The audience was completely engrossed in her performance. Her presence was truly captivating, and this Dongzhou Culture and Tourism team was impressive for having such a beautiful mber; Su Qing’s beauty is such that even a reincarnated Yu Ji would be comparable.
Su Qing sighed desolately: "Enough!" As she began to turn and dance with her sword.
Su Qing had received professional dance training, and her sword dance emphasized dance over martial arts. Although it had little practical combat application, it was far more elegant and pleasing than simple martial arts.
Watching Su Qing’s dance on stage, light as a swallow taking flight in spring, and at other tis as gracefully as a dragon swimming, her performance was visually stunning. The audience was srized, with ceaseless applause and cheers.
Fu Guomin and Fan Lidada exchanged a glance, both delighted. Entrusting the performance to Xu Chunliang was undoubtedly the right choice. It could now be said to be secured, at least surpassing the Six Cities Alliance’s "Sha Jia Bang" was no problem.
A voice-over ca from the stage, still featuring Xing Wenhua’s cao.
—Report to the king that the enemy army attacks from all sides, this is to inform you.
Xu Chunliang stepped forward: "Order all generals to et the enemy from all sides!"
—To report to the king, all eight thousand comrades are dispersed!
Xu Chunliang turned to Su Qing: "Beloved consort, quickly follow to break out!"
Su Qing pointed outside: "Han forces, they, they, they, they have co in!"
Xu Chunliang turned to look, and as he turned back, Su Qing drew the sword from his waist. Xu Chunliang realized he had been deceived and quickly turned, shocked to find the empty scabbard on his waist.
Yu Ji had already slain herself with the sword before him.
Xu Chunliang let out a cry of unspeakable agony, clutching Su Qing’s delicate body. To be fair, his performance was a bit exaggerated, but such is needed for the stage effect.
At that mont, a spotlight shone on them, and suddenly butterflies appeared, dancing around them, reluctant to leave.
The music played, a piano piece "The Butterfly Lovers" began, instantly pushing the atmosphere to its peak, elevating it! It was extraordinary and fitting to the scene, but what was with the butterflies?
To everyone’s surprise, the person playing the piano was Xing Wenhua, the head of the Pinghai Culture and Tourism Bureau. Old Xing truly perford at his best today. Although the piano piece didn’t quite match "Farewell My Concubine," it had an unexpected effect in this atmosphere.
The applause at the scene was thunderous. Look at Pinghai Culture and Tourism; they’re all about elegance, the combination of historical and cultural elents, classic and modern, tragedy and romance, love and war. In just ten minutes, there’s storytelling, music, local cultural promotion, and butterflies fluttering everywhere.
No one could understand where these butterflies ca from. Were they made by computers? High-tech is amazing!
A butterfly flew in front of Nanjiang Cultural and Tourism Bureau Director Yang Jianwu. Yang Jianwu extended his hands and clapped the butterfly to death in his palms like swatting a fly. He didn’t an to kill it; he just wanted to verify if it was real. Staring at the dead butterfly in his palm, he could confirm that it was indeed real.
Beside him, Qi Hongyan, who was playing the role of Ah Qing Sao, frowned. Yang Jianwu’s hands were too ruthless. What did such a beautiful butterfly ever do to you? And you just killed it like that, it’s like a real-life flower crusher.
The lights on stage lit up, and Su Qing got up from Xu Chunliang’s embrace and invited Xing Wenhua to take a bow with her. The applause didn’t cease until they walked off the stage.
Xing Wenhua was feeling delighted. What does it an to be an old hand full of vigor? What does it an for an old soldier to make a move? It also let peers from across the country see the solid strength of our Pinghai Culture and Tourism.
Walking beside him, Xu Chunliang seized the opportunity to flatter, "An old soldier like you is worth two. If Xiang Yu had an old general like you by his side back then, he probably wouldn’t have lost to Liu Bang."
Xing Wenhua laughed heartily and patted Xu Chunliang on the shoulder. The armor was a bit hard, though it was mighty, it was very heavy, ordinary people couldn’t handle it. He told Xu Chunliang to hurry backstage to remove the makeup.
Xing Wenhua appeared in modern attire initially, so he didn’t need to remove any makeup and went straight back to the audience. A group of subordinates approached him to praise him.
Fu Guomin was a bit late with his actions and couldn’t squeeze in next to Xing Wenhua.
When Xing Wenhua sat down, there were still two seats between him and Fu Guomin. Xing Wenhua proactively smiled at Fu Guomin and said, "Your Dongzhou Culture and Tourism has great potential."
Fu Guomin was extrely excited. Receiving recognition from a leader is not easy. Thanks to Xu Chunliang, this further solidified his determination to recruit Xu Chunliang into the Culture and Tourism Bureau. He must act quickly; such talent must not be snatched by others.
Perhaps the performance of "Farewell My Concubine" was too shocking, as the subsequent programs seed dull to everyone.
The last scheduled program was a martial arts performance. It began with a group performance by Shaolin Martial Arts School showcasing Shaolin Fist, followed by Wudang monks performing the Wudang Sword. Essentially, it was like group gymnastics focusing on synchronization.
Then several major martial arts hotowns in the country took turns appearing. First to co on stage was Ji Bei Lion City, famous for its robust martial elegance.
According to incomplete statistics, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, 1937 martial artists and scholars erged from there. The number of martial arts styles or weapons originating from or spreading in Lion City reached fifty-two, accounting for 40% of the country’s total, recognized as one of the birthplaces of martial arts.
In the early 1990s, it was one of the first nad by the National Sports Commission as a "Martial Arts Hotown," becoming the first prefecture-level city nationwide to receive this honor. Lion City’s cultural and tourism delegate ng Youde is a three-ti national Baji Fist champion, delivering a vigorous Baji Fist performance.
Lunan Caozhou, another martial arts hotown, sent representatives to perform Plum Blossom Fist on stage today.
The appearance of Wing Chun master Liang Zan from Greater Bay Zen City elicited cheers from the audience, as Wing Chun’s popularity was high due to the film "Yip Man." Appropriately, he wore a white shirt and black pants, making it seem as if Yip Man walked out of the movie.
After each of the three grandmaster-dressed experts perford, they battled in pairs with the Shaolin and Wudang disciples. The performances were all choreographed, with blows barely landing before opponents exaggeratedly stepped back or fell over.
The audience was very supportive, applauding continuously. On the screen, the nas of famous martial arts hotowns in the country were displayed, but Dongzhou and Han County’s nas did not appear. Han County was in the first batch, Dongzhou in the third.
Ji Bei Lion City’s Baji Fist champion ng Youde knocked two monks flying with his beautiful technique of "sticking mountain," shouting, "Who’s next?"
This was a part of the performance. Next, Master of Tan Tui Ma Baomin from Xingzhou was supposed to appear, but as Master Ma approached the stage, soone rushed past him like the wind.
Master Ma was a bit bewildered. Who’s this guy?
The person was already on stage, loudly declaring, "Xu Chunliang from Dongzhou, here to challenge."
Master Ma’s line was supposed to be: the Tan Tui inheritor from Xingzhou here to spar, but he was completely confused now. Should he go up or not?
Ma Baomin was bewildered, and on stage, ng Youde was even more confused. It was supposed to be a set performance. Who’s this party crasher? Think I don’t recognize you, Xu Chunliang, the guy who just played Xiang Yu? Just because you played the Overlord of Chu, you think you’re unbeatable?
Most of the audience thought it was part of the performance, but Su Qing knew very well it wasn’t.
Just returning to the stage after removing her makeup, Su Qing’s beautiful eyes widened in shock. Xu Chunliang, oh Xu Chunliang, you can never just stay out of trouble. Our program finished already, and here you go trying to show off again.
Xu Chunliang gestured to ng Youde and said, "Hey, who dares to fight!" then repeated the earlier line.
The audience erupted in laughter, finding it amusing, reminiscent of Guan Gong fighting Qin Qiong.
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