### Chapter 342: The Most Deranged Performance Yet (Additional Chapter for Donation) (Vote for Me Please)
Inside the hall of the Dragon Zither Cup…
The meaning of the Dragon Zither Cup is infinitely more profound than just being a ceiling for the cello scene in Tianchao. Over the past hundred years, so many international famous musicians have performed here that some have become legends, leaving monumental impacts on later generations. Thus, the Dragon Zither Cup has become hallowed ground for musicians.
On such revered ground…
Every performance you give imbues the stage with new meaning. It might even be recorded on videotape, passed down through generations.
There’s no need for complicated rules from the organizers to constrain contestants. The hundred years of sedimentation and countless musicians’ footsteps already serve as the most powerful unspoken rules, guiding each musician who steps onto this stage.
But then, a musician like this would have to show his face.
Nanaly was quite curious now.
What kind of musician would be so reckless?
Even if he really couldn’t afford good clothes, as a cellist capable of getting to this level, shouldn’t he still respect the Dragon Zither Cup?
This isn’t about whether he can afford decent ones. Even basic hygiene, like washing hair, was nowhere to be seen!
He’s clearly not taking these “rules” seriously at all!
Thinking back to bumping into that guy earlier in the hallway, she concluded:
He must be crazy?
Nanaly mused like this. It doesn’t matter anyway.
All these musicians are slightly off their rockers.
Bai Junze sat in the center of the stage.
The judges on the podium looked less than pleased, except for a few giving him curious looks. After all, most of these judges were elderly, respected professors still working either at conservatories or in the frontline of performances.
To see such disregard for decorum stirred nothing but disdain.
They silently crossed him out just by first impressions.
I mean, how did someone like this get the gold in the Jianghan Province competition?
For Bai Junze, these judging gazes held little weight. He just smiled politely at the judges.
As the lights dimmed, Bai Junze’s old cello case stood up on its own under the spotlight like a coffin.
This caught the audience’s attention on the worn-out case plastered with stickers.
“What the bathrobe ticket! Who’d stick these things on their cello box?”
“This is the real deal; imagine the horrors this cello has seen!”
“This is not just wrong, I feel like the entire atmosphere is off the minute he steps in!”
The audience’s commentary floated by.
Just when things needed controlling, Zhu Ye and Feng Ye—the commentators—were surprisingly silent.
It was partly because they’d never seen anything like this before!
Zhu Ye, numb with shock, could only manage one sentence:
“It appears Teacher Bai is quite nostalgic.”
Feng Ye laughed uncontrollably at this attempt at high emotional intelligence: ‘nostalgic.’
Versus low emotional IQ: ‘Useless cr*p, too broke to replace.’
Even still, shouldn’t he have used a better cello?
At this moment, the issue wasn’t about his skills, it was whether his performance would even make sense!
If not for verified identification photos and other data listing him as the Jianghan champion, one would have thought he snuck into the competition!
In utter silence,
Bai Junze opened his case and pulled out a cello.
Mounted with three bicycle spokes and colored LED lights, it resembled a disemboweled robot octopus.
Lin Tian looked dumbfounded. Just days ago, his cello was already this modified?
Can you DIY a cello???
“Bang bang bang—”
The rhythmic stomps of his boots on the wooden floor signaled the start.
Bai Junze raised his bow, made of some glossy old wood, and started playing!
Wham!
An old professor holding a thermal mug nearly drenched his form sheet with the first note.
“Is this Rhapsody Blue??”
Clearly, the song felt off!
Originally a high-spirited melody, his version had an eerie, ominous undertone.
His pitch was never quite balanced—his lower notes wobbled up and down, creating a disconcerting uneasiness.
In the distinctive sound of a cello, the atmosphere bordered on horrifying. Suddenly, the entire stage transformed into a crime scene.
Kids in the audience started shouting, scared, then got silenced by anxious parents.
Not just kids, adults were freaked out too!!!
“What even happened?!”
Feng Ye couldn’t hold it in any longer and commented.
Back in the resting room,
Gan Yan Yu watched the screen, mouth open wide in shock.
Lin Tian approached her, thinking she was shocked too, ready to comfort her.
“Gan Yan Yu, it’s his extensive tremolo, unpredictable finger pressure, and the mournful, wavering quality—”
“Using the whole tone scale to build the melody, sharp dissonance with dim seventh chords—”
“Controlling the bow’s contact point within 3cm of the bridge, unstable heavy pressure pushing the strings close from snapping—”
“Also, scraping the D string’s upper register with his ring finger nail backs, simulating bone friction.”
“Crazy!”
Gan Yan Yu murmured in awe, “These techniques sound simple but performing them well, especially in a competition, is no small feat.”
Lin Tian also stared at the stage, mouth agape.
Watching Bai Junze’s grin, completely lost in his chaotic performance.
This music was genuinely terrifying, even giving Lin Tian a bit of physical discomfort.
But it emphasized Bai Junze’s superb technique and emotional depth.
He seems to have taken cello manipulation to this “show-off” level!
Such a frightening rival.
Ever since he first saw Bai Xi’s performance at the Star Cup, Lin Tian hadn’t felt such immense pressure from any other cellist.
Meanwhile,
Nanaly, equally stunned, pondered:
“Unbelievably skilled! If I didn’t train for a full year, I’d never be able to match this.”
Why?
Why perform like this at the Dragon Zither Cup?
On the commentary stand,
Both Zhu Ye and Feng Ye finally came to terms with what they heard after a long period of listening:
“By using the whole tone scale and dim seventh chords, combined with unorthodox bow techniques, Bai Junze creates this chilling vibe!”
Zhu Ye observed, “While sounding easy, it’s really far from simple.”
“That’s right,” Feng Ye added, “it’s all about crafting a spooky atmosphere with a few subtle techniques.”
Ordinary cellists don’t usually explore this aspect of their art.
Quite astute indeed!
“He is really leveraging the unique characteristics of the cello,” Feng Ye mentioned.
“Booom!!”
Suddenly,
A sharp, piercing noise erupted.
Feng Ye froze, furrowing his brow as he gazed toward the stage.
Bai Junze suddenly stood up and began shredding the strings with his hands.
Each pull generated metallic clattering sounds, akin to an industrial demolition site.
He’s literally tearing these strings apart!
Feng Ye felt frozen in shock.
Both broadcasters, judges, and the audience were stunned.
“Oh dear, oh dear! This is the true essence of cello manipulation!”
“That’s impressive! Right after explaining the techniques, he goes for an actual physical spectacle!”
“Such skill! I could learn this too!”
But it didn’t end there.
Immediately after, Bai Junze lifted his head and slammed his forehead against the cello body.
“Boom!”
A row of LED bulbs beside the cello lit up.
It actually turned on!
Bright colors filled the darkened stage center.
Bai Junze started playing more energetically, bringing the music to its climax.
Netizens finally lost control:
“What in the world am I watching?!”
“This dude’s brain is beyond messed up!”
“I thought the LED wires were just decorations, they actually light up!”
“He’s turning cello music into rock music!”
“But honestly… Despite all the gimmicks, the composition hasn’t fallen apart!”
Most people, after a brief shock, marveled at Bai Junze’s deranged antics!
Whether it was his destructive interaction with the strings or his headbutt to the cello,
The sounds fit perfectly into the rhapsody, almost flawlessly connecting segments of the music.
Even shocking sounds, in reality, integrated seamlessly with the piece.
This shock heightened everyone’s immersion into the music.
“Hell yeah, you’re a musical genius!” Feng Ye admired.
After those shock-inducing moments, he was now thoroughly impressed by Bai Junze’s performance.
Despite unconventional attire and instruments, this wild and untamed performance reached new heights.
“This is such a stark contrast compared to the first piece Flying Goose.”
Precisely.
Two entirely different experiences.
Nanaly, alone in the backstage resting area, simply stared blankly at the massive screen showing Bai Junze.
She simply didn’t understand.
“Why would Bai Junze perform this way?”
Absolutely a brilliant showcase.
Yet, the chaos is overwhelming.
One could predict his scoring would be controversial.
Judges would likely give him low scores because of the unconventional methods.
Hadn’t he already demonstrated remarkable skill?
Why not tone it down a notch?
Everyone follows rules established by past musicians here.
Performing within them demonstrates strength too.
Why the rebellion?
Nanaly slowly glanced upward, staring at Bai Junze.
Remembered his words on the hallway.
“Domestic cat?”
“Wild cat?”
Without realizing,
Her lips trembled slightly; tears welled in her eyes.
She really envied him!
She wished she could, like Bai Junze, ignore norms and freely express herself wildly onstage.
But she couldn’t!
Nanaly’s family, her mother’s expectations… They all tied her down.
She could never be like Bai Junze; they belonged to completely different worlds.
“Ploooong!”
At that moment,
The door to the resting room swung open.
Nanaly abruptly turned around, alarmed.
A well-dressed man stood at the doorway, arms crossed, smirking strangely.
“I remember you,” Nanaly whispered, “you’re Teacher Yao, right?”
“Ms. Nanaly, it’s been a while.”
Yao Han stepped forward, glancing at the big screen.
Elsewhere,
Lin Tian, and Gan Yan Yu continued watching the screen.
Behind them, the door opened with a few knocks.
They turned to see He Zhi Chen, rubbing his temples, entering.
“Teacher Lin, I finally found something out,” he gasped, holding a tablet.
“Found what?”
“Background information on Bai Junze!”
Wham!
Lin Tian eyed He Zhi Chen as he watched Bai Junze onscreen.
Confusion struck him.
What critical detail prompted such urgency?
“Bai Junze is the son of Bai Jie, the richest man in Jianghan City, a real estate tycoon.”
“Really?”
Lin Tian was puzzled.
The son of the wealthiest man?
Him?
“But, isn’t that—”
“You have to hear me out, Professor Lin.”
“Ten years ago, Bai Junze severed ties with his family due to his musical dreams. He wandered around for ages.”
“During this time, he earned money through competitions and performances, but spent it quickly, continuing his life on the streets—apparently, he enjoyed the homeless life.”
He concluded, “Definitely, this guy is mentally troubled.”
(The End)
