The first to perform today was Zhang Liangying.
Zhang Liangying walked onto the stage with great confidence.
Even though her identity had been revealed, she wore a smile, showing no regret whatsoever.
As the accompaniment began, she perfectly presented her act and then gracefully walked off the stage.
Such a poised, clean, and unpretentious woman earned a measure of admiration from Wang Shu backstage.
"Your performance today was excellent!"
As Zhang Liangying returned backstage and passed by Wang Shu, he couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up and say.
"Thank you!"
Zhang Liangying responded with a sweet smile.
Although the Monkey King had beaten her last time, she actually had a good impression of this fellow.
After all, she had truly witnessed his strength last time and had accepted her defeat wholeheartedly.
"You should try your best too! Don't end up being last place today!"
As Zhang Liangying was about to leave, she turned back to Wang Shu after taking a couple of steps and said.
"Is that thing you're holding a musical instrument?"
Just after Zhang Liangying finished speaking, she casually glanced at what Wang Shu was holding and asked with a hint of confusion.
"This? You'll know soon enough!"
Wang Shu said mysteriously, lifting the object wrapped in red silk in his hand.
"Then I wish you a successful performance!"
Seeing that Wang Shu had no intention of telling her what it was, Zhang Liangying said somewhat dejectedly and then left without looking back.
Wang Shu stood still, waiting for the host to call him to the stage.
"Next, the singer to appear is none other than the Great Sage Equaling Heaven! His performance tonight is his original song, 'Xi'!"
On stage, the host announced with a tone full of anticipation.
"Looking forward to it! Looking forward to it! Looking forward to it! After waiting for so long, we've finally reached the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's performance!"
"Without his singing these past few days, I haven't even enjoyed my meals or sleep. He's finally here!"
"The song title is so strange, I wonder what kind of song it will be!"
At this moment, many audiences who had been anxiously waiting for several performances perked up their ears and their eyes filled with anticipation upon hearing that their long-awaited 'Great Sage Equaling Heaven' was next.
Wang Shu walked directly onto the stage after the host's words fell.
The lights lit up, and Wang Shu, wearing a monkey mask, reappeared before the audience.
Wang Shu then proceeded to unwrap the object wrapped in red silk in his hand in front of the entire audience.
"What instrument is that?"
"The person upstairs doesn't even recognize a suona? But isn't that usually used for weddings and funerals?"
"Good heavens, isn't that a vulgar instrument? Can a suona even appear on a stage like this?"
"I've already laid down. I think listening this way is the only way to show respect for this instrument."
When the audience saw the suona in Wang Shu's hand, their jaws dropped in shock.
They had never seen an instrument like the suona used in a pop music performance.
Backstage, Zhang Liangying and the man wearing a wolf mask also watched Wang Shu's suona on the monitor with some astonishment.
"Can this thing even be used as accompaniment?"
Zhang Liangying murmured to herself in confusion, her anticipation for the performance growing even more.
"Thanks, but can something so rustic truly be called an instrument?"
"Help, what comes out of this thing is simply noise. I really don't understand why he's bringing this thing on stage to perform. Sisters, let's just go!"
"Speechless, what kind of program is this, having someone perform with a suona, how tacky!"
At this time, some new audience members were also very speechless about Wang Shu's decision to perform with a suona, and they began to complain.
Some girls, in particular, had expressions of disdain on their faces. They had come to this show to see handsome guys and listen to pop songs.
Now, not only was the performer masked, but they were also bringing a suona on stage, which clearly looked extremely unfashionable. Thus, they were all considering leaving.
However, the next moment, the intro began.
A bizarre and sorrowful melody silenced the audience.
"Why does this music sound so eerie?"
"Don't say it, my spine is starting to tingle."
"Why do I suddenly feel a heavy yin energy in the venue today? Isn't this song called 'Xi' (喜, meaning joy/happiness), why does it feel not festive at all!"
Many audience members said with some nervousness.
"On the eighteenth of the first lunar month, an auspicious day, the sorghum is carried..."
"Carried in red attire, an inch of hate, hastily cut..."
...
As Wang Shu sang the lyrics, the eerie atmosphere intensified.
Many girls now showed a hint of fear on their faces.
Even a few young girls were seen hiding in their boyfriends' arms.
"This song is quite interesting. It's called 'Xi,' yet it's sung so mournfully and a bit eerily!"
On the guest judge panel, one judge couldn't help but exclaim.
"Yes, I've only heard a few lines, and I'm getting goosebumps."
"This style is completely different from the previous two songs, it's as if a different person is performing, it's too strange!"
The judges all offered their opinions, but after the last judge finished speaking, the others shivered even more.
Indeed, it was strange. The previous two songs by this 'Great Sage Equaling Heaven' were very positive and powerful.
But this one today was completely different, and the question of whether the last line was sung by a different person sent a chill down their spines.
They even began to doubt if the person performing now was still the same person who had sung "When the youth are strong, the nation is strong!"
"Cut off the good husband, but alas he does not return, feigning a smile."
"The clapper beats the red sandalwood, spoken lightly, truly hard to guess."
Wang Shu continued to sing. Today, to make his voice suitable for this song, he was deliberately singing with a very suppressed tone.
This was a stark contrast to when he sang "Young China Discourse" a few days ago, making him sound like an entirely different person.
"I can't listen anymore, I'm afraid I won't dare to go to the bathroom later."
"Me too, I'm covered in goosebumps."
"I think I vaguely understand why this song is called 'Xi' now!"
At this point, the audience began to react.
Although the song was titled "Xi," from the beginning to now, every lyric seemed to be about preparing for a wedding.
However, the melody and the tone were very suppressed and eerie, exuding an oppressive sense of death.
Therefore, some audience members began to guess that this song might not just be about a simple wedding.
As Wang Shu continued to sing the following lyrics, more and more audience members furrowed their brows.
"
...
She couldn't answer this time either.
She cried with a smile.
Guess how she cried with a smile.
Cried.
Look how she smiled with tears.
..."
As the song reached the part about bowing to heaven and earth, the atmosphere in the venue became extremely eerie.
Many audience members were trembling all over, and some had red-rimmed eyes. Their initial fear had now turned into pity for the bride in the song.
"She's so pitiful. At such a young age, she's married to a dead man and has to perform the wedding rituals with him..."
"This song is truly bizarre. My mind has already conjured up a horror movie."
Many audience members whispered to each other.
The next moment.
Wang Shu directly raised the suona in his hand and brought it to his lips.
Immediately, the sound of the suona resounded throughout the entire recording hall, its powerful penetration even reaching across the entire Jiangnan Television station.
Many employees who were slacking off were startled by this sound.
Wang Shu poured all his strength into playing the suona with sincerity.
In his past life, he grew up in the countryside. Whenever there was a wedding or funeral in the village, he would linger around the people playing suona and gongs.
He would pester them to teach him how to play the gongs, drums, and suona.
It was at that time that he found his connection with music and later embarked on the path of a professional singer.
And this song, 'Xi,' was one of the rare songs from his previous life that featured suona playing that astonished him.
As the saying goes, among all instruments, the suona is king. As the rogue of instruments, once the suona plays, all other instruments lose their luster.
So, when Wang Shu blew into this small suona, the entire accompaniment faded into insignificance.
"No kidding, no wonder I felt so uncomfortable earlier. Lying down to listen now is indeed much more comfortable."
"I'm impressed. This is the first time I've felt a suona could be played so coolly. It's completely overturned my imagination!"
"Once the suona plays, who can contend! This suona solo is absolutely breathtaking!"
At this moment, the audience was once again stunned by Wang Shu's incredibly brilliant suona performance.
Especially with the eerie atmosphere of the song, this suona solo amplified it to its extreme.
Although this section only featured suona without lyrics, each note of the suona seemed to narrate the despair the protagonist was experiencing.
"This is not the tune for a joyous occasion, this tune feels like it's meant for the dead!"
"I originally thought this was just a song of pointless lamentation, but now I realize my perspective was too narrow. Just this suona solo alone has me kneeling in admiration!"
"Needless to say, it's no wonder our ancestors used the suona for life's major events. Today, I finally understand the charm of the suona!"
The judges, who had maintained stern expressions, now had their mouths agape and faces filled with disbelief after this suona solo.
In their many years of experience, this was the first time they had seen someone dare to use a suona on a pop music stage, and play it so soul-stirringly.
Backstage, Zhang Liangying was also amazed.
This time, she had to admit the power of this fellow.