Chapter 98: 039 The White Robe Journey (Part 2)_2
Translator: 549690339
They looked at the elderly Ji Heng, whose hair was streaked with white, and asked with quivering voices, “Old gentleman, were, were you a biology teacher before?”
“Me? A tailor.”
The two of them stared at Ji Heng’s solemn face, which did not seem to be joking, and were flustered, “A tailor???”
Their tone sounded as if they were about to cry.
“Yes,” Ji Heng said expressionlessly as he watched them, then pointed at the stage and said, “My granddaughter is about to perform. You two be quiet and watch, and remember to applaud later. Look, the clothes she’s wearing were made by me.”
...
The two turned their gaze to the stage, looking at the exquisite clothes on Bai Lian.
Ah… was he really a tailor?
Finally, the two of them started to cry.
The first row.
Director Chen saw Bai Lian e on stage, still holding a guzheng, and he suddenly sat up straight.
He watched Bai Lian without blinking an eye.
Today, many performances had been outstanding, but Director Chen watched them with a sort of absentmindedness. He had seen many national-level live performances, and the small shows in Xiangcheng, where he had managed to sit from eight until after eleven.
It was solely out of respect for Jiang Fulai, and possibly for Bai Lian, who might perform.
Unexpectedly, Director Chen, who had been indifferent to the performances, suddenly sat upright, which startled the principal.
At the same time, a leader who had returned from backstage whispered to the principal what had happened there.
The principal’s smile froze on his face as he quickly whispered to Director Chen, “This guzheng performance is just a little amusement by the students and naturally cannot pare to the professionalism in Jiangjing. You are just here to enjoy the show.”
“Mm.” Director Chen did not take his eyes off her.
He was still sitting straight, watching Bai Lian on stage.
Bai Lian sat on the stool.
Her hands gently rested on the guzheng, with her eyes slightly closed.
The wide, gradient green skirt spread on the floor, with various colors of poppies blossoming in the wind at the hem that lay on the ground.
The anxious and uneasy auditorium gradually quieted down.
“Bang”
The brightest spotlight shone down in the center.
Bai Lian, who had kept her eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Her eyes were no longer casual and indifferent, but dark and cold, brimming with a murderous air.
She raised her hands, her fingers poised on the strings, and started to pluck them from top to bottom. The incredibly fluid arpeggio cascaded effortlessly from her hands!
The sound of the guzheng was reserved and powerful, like a manding presence.
Even those without an understanding of music could feel the tension related by the guzheng, one note at a time.
Director Chen in the first row abruptly stood up!
He stared at Bai Lian, his hands trembling. It was just the prelude, but he recognized it—
It was “White Robe Army!”
It was the Bai Family’s army!
“Zeng”
The sound of the guzheng became more and more urgent!
Bai Lian raised her wrist, with her index finger and thumb ready, pressing the strings with decisive and crisp strums!
Although she wasn’t wearing artificial nails, the sound of the guzheng was not soft at all, but became firmer instead.
One could faintly perceive through the passage of time, thousands of troops charging forth!
Bai Lian, with her head half-lowered, moved her fingertips swiftly across the strings. Her finger rolls matching her string shakes, her fingers moving so quickly they were almost a blur. The guzheng’s sound, whether slow or fast, light or heavy, clashed into a symphony of swords and shadows!
The guzheng’s rapid and cutting sound, full of ups and downs, did not offer the audience a moment’s respite. At its most exuberant peak, it quickly descended sharply!
Where her jade fingers swept across, a thousand troops charged forth!
“Zeng”
The final note was like a taut string in everyone’s minds, almost holding their breath.
The rapid sound abruptly stopped, and Bai Lian’s hands rested on the guzheng strings as she slowly lifted her head.
The only screen behind her magnified her face; her eyes were still pitch black, yet they seemed faintly bloodshot.
Although the piece had e to an end, the hall was still utterly silent.
Only the poppies on the stage fluttered elegantly, and only her slowly lifting peach-blossom face seemed to weave together a picture interlacing a thousand years with reality, an image etched in the vast cosmic wildness.
Bai Lian’s fingers pressed on the guzheng strings, pausing for two or three seconds before she stood up with her instrument.
With one hand, she swept aside her skirt and took a small bow in thanks.
In class 15’s gathering spot, Jiang He was held by Ning Xiao, his mouth slightly open as he stared at the stage.
Beside him, the tall and upright Jiang Fulai also quietly stood in place. His usually unemotional eyes were now surging with waves, his fingertips almost trembling.
And in the first row, Director Chen’s eyes were also almost red.
Everyone on-site was from Xiangcheng, and some understood Director Chen’s feelings.
This song, being Jiangjing University’s anthem, just listening to it was enough to stir the hearts of the listeners—
Imagine, this was a pre-war piece posed a thousand years ago by the Bai Family’s young mistress and played to send off the Bai Family’s army. Now, to think of it being almost perfectly recreated in such a spirited performance filled with pride and trembling excitement!
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