Nan Xiangwan was chosen to be the third performer. As she rushed out, Jing Da Shuai and Monica were still engrossed in their conversation, talking without pause.
Xiao Dong listened for a while and couldn't believe it. They were already discussing the different mixed drinks and food that would have the best effect on King Gu. Monica even thought about giving some suggestions, but Jing Da Shuai stopped her in time, saying it wasn't appropriate.
The two of them were deeply immersed and couldn't pull themselves away. After some thought, Xiao Dong decided to leave the lounge and closed the door behind them.
On stage, Nan Xiangwan stood in the darkness, holding a custom-made white microphone.
On the big screen beside her, the title of the song lit up:
"The Sword Mound" - Nan Xiangwan
From lyrics and composition to arrangement, Nan Xiangwan did it all!
This was her second song that truly belonged to her alone, following "May the Gods Favor."
Moreover, "The Sword Mound" was the most popular national style song at the moment, a fusion of originality and traditional Chinese elements. Countless people were eagerly anticipating it, even those who weren't fans were tuning into the live broadcast to hear the live version for the first time.
In just six months, Nan Xiangwan had achieved a crucial step in becoming a sensation, just like King Gu. Her casual fans might not call themselves hardcore fans or follow all her updates, but they would definitely listen to her songs and appreciate her work.
The best measure of her popularity was not necessarily through idol worship but rather mentioning her name would immediately bring this song to mind, and some might even hum a few lines.
King Gu's popularity skyrocketed in the same way, and now Nan Xiangwan was showing signs of a similar trajectory. What's there to worry about in the future?
As the lights slowly brightened, a white suit of armor came into view.
The audience erupted in applause!
In the front row of the audience, Jie Chou transformed into a devoted fanboy once again, cheering wildly.
Unlike the heavily armored look in the music video, Nan Xiangwan's armor on stage was lightweight and thin, made of astonishingly beautiful mother-of-pearl pieces.
Under the lights, it shimmered like pearls!
The armor didn't cover her entire body but instead adorned specific parts over her outfit. It padded her shoulders, covered her chest, and extended across her entire back.
This way, the thin layer didn't give a heavy impression at all. On the contrary, it looked light and fitted. Combined with Nan Xiangwan's tall figure, it didn't hinder her stage presence.
The lower part of her body, her legs, were concealed by a blurred effect, simply wearing regular warrior pants.
However, considerable effort went into her footwear. She wore short boots that were also made of mother-of-pearl material, matching the appearance of her upper body armor.
The redesigned lightweight armor stage outfit was stunning, and the use of mother-of-pearl was a bold move. It was evident that two stylists were involved in customizing it, and who knows how much they spent.
With this attire, she had a battlefield feel but resembled more of an assassin, capturing the attention of the audience with her upper body and boots.
Her hair was styled with a few strands pulled back, giving the impression of being drenched in sweat. In reality, she had used a lot of hair wax and styling spray so that it wouldn't come undone no matter how she moved.
This debut appearance received immediate praise. The barrage of comments in the live chat went wild, and even the backstage singers were all praising her.
Zhong Lingfei said, "I couldn't pull off this outfit, but Nan Xiangwan looks amazing in it. I would look really bulky if I wore it."
Wei Sha shook her head and sighed, "How does she look so stylish in these clothes? I guess only someone with her figure can pull it off. She must be tall and slim, right?"
Zhong Lingfei replied, "She appears slim because she has excellent body proportions. It's the result of long-term training. The stylists must have tailored the outfits based on her body proportions."
Wei Sha added, "I can already imagine that after today, there will be people trying to imitate her makeup and hairstyle, but it will all end in disaster. This look is truly unbeatable."
Zhong Lingfei agreed, "Yes, even if others have a figure as perfect as hers, they don't have the military aura she possesses. Not everyone can carry off armor like she does."
Yang Rongjun chimed in, "If I wear that, I'll look like a bear!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
While backstage echoed with laughter, the accompaniment music started playing on the stage.
Unlike the Southern charm that opened "Sword Dance," "Sword Mound" began with a sense of autumn's chill and desolation.
Nan XiangWan lowered her head, and her voice resonated through the microphone:
[A sword divides, the scarf sheds tears]
[The hero is no longer nameless and regretless]
She didn't conceal her original voice, and the huskiness in her voice instantly captivated the audience!
Everyone was immediately transported into the MV they had watched before, as if they could see the blank space on the wordless monument.
The general had died, nameless and regretless.
Then, Nan XiangWan slowly raised her head, her gaze fixed on a distant height, as if beckoning:
[Drunk rain provokes my heavy ink, provokes my grudges]
[No compassion comes to ask if there are any traces left]
She reached the pinnacle of sorrow in an instant with her extraordinary rendition!
The most exaggerated of them all, Jie Chou, was already crying and clinging to Gu Beihuai's shoulder.
Gu Beihuai's expression was complex, and his heart suddenly started aching.
Ever since he watched the MV, his heart had been aching faintly. At first, he thought it might be a health issue, but now, listening to Nan XiangWan's live performance, Gu Beihuai knew it wasn't a physical problem.
Something was wrong with her. And what exactly was wrong with him?
Who had died? Why was he so devastated?
Regardless of how deeply the audience in the venue or those watching the live broadcast were moved, the song continued.
The mounted warfare in the MV began, and the rhythm of the accompaniment accelerated. Nan XiangWan's voice soared!
[Pick up the long sword and defend your homeland]
[Lead the war cavalry to suppress the enemy]
[The rouge is scattered, but your eternal fame lingers]
[The people curse endlessly, and the rest of your life will be spent on the battlefield]
As she sang this part, her gaze turned resolute, just like her performance in the MV.
Unwavering!
Defend your homeland, suppress the enemy!
Jie Chou went crazy again. He loved this song too much, so much that he cried his heart out.
But Gu Beihuai suddenly clutched his heart, stood up, and left without looking back.
I'm sorry, he really wanted to witness her moment of becoming a legend, but he couldn't bear to listen any longer.
He was suffocating!
That feeling of discomfort tore at his heart, as if he had lost something and was now overwhelmed with intense pursuit and regret!
Nan XiangWan continued to perform on stage, unaware of Gu Beihuai's departure.
The song ended amidst the intense battle in the MV, freezing at the moment when blood flowed down.
[Red Robes Fall, City Crumbles, Thousand Miles of Slaughter]
[What is the love of righteous children? Love of righteous children?]
As the last note of the song faded away, it left behind a lingering echo and a sense of bewilderment.
This song is difficult to define; it is both a love song and a war anthem.
It is the protagonist's reflection after experiencing the ups and downs of life, as she bravely charges onto the battlefield, driving away the enemy forces.
But she can never retrieve that person again.
After singing, there was a long silence in the audience, until Nan XiangWan's performance ended and they snapped back to reality.
We thought the music video was impressive enough, but little did we know that the live performance would truly be divine!
You must personally come and listen to Nan XiangWan's live performance, to experience the transmission of her music.
