Chapter 33: The Song Prepared for a Lifetime

Fang Xing stood on the stage, gazing at Tong Fei, the chief director below, and uttered a challenge to the show’s producers: “Unless the production team changes the rules, you can forget about eliminating anyone from my team.”

Tong Fei, down in the audience, watched him with a hint of amusement glinting in her eyes. She found this young man increasingly intriguing. He was no longer content with simply crushing his opponents—now he was provoking the show itself. And he’d said it out loud for all to hear. If the producers really did change the rules, it would be as good as admitting defeat.

The cameras had captured enough footage of the pre-PK round interviews. Tong Fei signaled to the assistant director, who prompted the host to proceed.

He Hao, seeing the cue, announced the official start of the PK round.

Ten contestants, each prepared to sing their PK songs. As expected, after the first eight performances, only Wu Junchen sat in the advancement seat.

Just as in the previous PK round, Fang Xing and Hashim were left for last—a deliberate move by the showrunners, clearly meant to stir things up. This time, the PK song also had to fit a given theme, so Hashim had once again adapted a martial arts soundtrack, titled “Sealed Throat at First Blood.”

He incorporated even faster rap into the arrangement:

“My sword seals throat at first blood, in my world I’m lord and master.
“In front of me you’re nothing but a trapped beast, lucky wins just picking up scraps.
“When your luck runs out, what else will you use to fight me?
“Music keeps playing, my merciless rap will make you go!”

As before, Hashim’s rapid-fire rap and provocative lyrics ignited the crowd, sending the audience into a frenzy.

Unsurprisingly, Hashim once again took a seat in the advancement row. This time, he was joined by Wu Junchen. The situation was even more dire than before.

Finally, it was Fang Xing’s turn.

He Hao teased him, saying, “History repeats itself in uncanny ways. I remember two weeks ago—it was this very scene. Only now, it’s not Shao Yu in the advancement seat, but Junchen.

“This time, the rules have a slight twist—the PK round is a gauntlet. Once the advancement seats are full, the subsequent contestants must choose one person from those seats to challenge; a single song determines the winner.

“So Fang Xing, you must now choose between Wu Junchen and Hashim for your challenge.

“The final decision will be made by our four mentors and twenty-eight professional judges, who will vote to decide who stays and who leaves.”

Fang Xing smiled. “History is indeed repeating itself, so… Hashim.”

He Hao amped up the atmosphere, pressing again, “Fang Xing, are you sure you want to challenge Hashim once more?”

“Absolutely,” Fang Xing nodded.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that thrilling moment again. Will history repeat itself, or will the outcome be different? Who will emerge victorious? Let’s see what PK song Fang Xing has prepared…”

After stirring the crowd, He Hao asked, “Fang Xing, I’ve heard from the production team that the song you’re about to perform is extremely difficult.”

“It is,” Fang Xing nodded.

“How difficult?” He Hao pressed.

“Anyone brave enough to cover this song is a warrior,” Fang Xing replied earnestly.

“If it’s that tough, how long did you train for it?” He Hao continued.

“A lifetime,” Fang Xing’s tone carried a distant, profound weight.

“Sounds as if you’re an old man already. So, what kind of song is it?”

“A Cantonese song.”

“A Cantonese song? But many people in the audience don’t understand Cantonese. Isn’t that risky?” He Hao’s expression was full of surprise.

“You’ll know once you hear it.”

“Alright, then. Tell us the title of this martial arts song first.”

“The song is called ‘Difficult Scripture.’”

“Please take the stage!”

He Hao gestured invitingly.

Fang Xing took the microphone and walked to the center of the stage.

The stage lights dimmed. The director nudged the volume slider, and the ancient zither’s prelude from “Difficult Scripture” echoed through the venue.

Zheng zheng zheng…

“Difficult Scripture” was the theme for the 1997 TVB adaptation of “The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,” lyrics by Lin Xi, composed and performed by Wakin Chau. This song was a classic martial arts anthem in the world of music, renowned for its difficulty—few singers on earth dared to attempt it.

One reason was that it was in Cantonese, and Wakin Chau’s performance was already considered peerless; any cover would struggle to surpass the original. As for major adaptations, the song’s atmosphere was steeped in Buddhist scripture, making it nearly impossible to recapture its essence with new lyrics, let alone surpass the original.

Fang Xing had his own mysterious connection to this song. When he first joined the musical troupe in his previous life, he lacked fame and experience, and rarely got cast. Desperate for a role, he was willing to try anything. If he couldn’t be the main character, he’d sing the supporting role. If not even that, he’d do odd jobs around the troupe.

Those days were tough.

Later, a Cantonese musical adaptation of “Midnight Diner” was holding auditions. Since it was a Cantonese production, the first requirement was fluency in Cantonese.

Fang Xing’s hometown dialect belonged to the Baihua family; though it differed from the Cantonese spoken in TV dramas, with slight adjustments, he could speak it well.

So, to secure an important role in the musical, Fang Xing attended the audition. He was eliminated in the first round because his appearance didn’t fit the director’s vision.

But Fang Xing refused to give up. For a musical actor, the two most important skills are singing and stage presence. For a Cantonese musical, you need Cantonese proficiency as well. Singing ability and Cantonese fluency could be shown through recordings.

Thus, Fang Xing chose the notoriously difficult “Difficult Scripture,” recorded a demo, and had someone deliver it to the casting director.

He ended up landing an important supporting role—an A role.

That was his first A role, and it was thanks to that part that he survived his hardest days.

For this reason, Fang Xing would never forget the song. In later years, he often sang it at karaoke.

…

Zheng zheng zheng…

The sonorous, elegant zither prelude floated across the stage, its ancient melody driving away the clamor of electronic music.

Fang Xing raised the microphone and, with a deep, resonant voice, delivered lyrics steeped in Zen and contemplation:

“Laugh at you and me for wasting schemes,
“Chasing after fleeting beauty in the mirror.
“Afraid that fortune will vanish in an instant,
“Obsessed with greed and anger, joy and hate.

“Blame you and me for craving power,
“Blame the world for its endless allure.
“Regret the old days for clinging to promises,
“Lost in sorrow, envy, and longing…”

Between the lines of the lyrics flowed an ineffable atmosphere, like contemplations filled with Zen. In the end, a single line captured the essence: Ah… ha… a lifetime of pondering, yet this riddle remains unsolved!

The verse finished; without an interlude, the song plunged straight into the fast-paced chorus:

“Swallowing wind, kissing rain, burying sunsets—never wavering.
“Conquering mountains, chasing seas, treading snowy paths—never despairing.
“Plucking flowers, raising cups, breaking the madness of the world.
“With these eyes and a hundred arms, a thousand hands can’t defend.

“The sky is vast, snow falls thick—who will sail with me?
“Sand rolls, water ripples—laughing as I wander.
“Chasing fleeting bliss, yet the feelings of daughters are buried…”

The lyrics rushed over the audience like a storm, startling mentors and spectators alike.

…

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