Chapter 145: Shatter the Firmament Beneath Your Feet, Wild and Defiant!

Finally, Bai Ling took the stage, and the crowd couldn’t help but feel excited. Yet, when Dingdang Cat announced that this performance would be “Wukong,” the expressions of the audience shifted to something peculiar.

Wukong?

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven?

This character was almost universally known.

Who didn’t grow up with Journey to the West?

Who didn’t have memories of the Monkey King shattering the heavens?

For a long time, Journey to the West and Sun Wukong have been popular themes for creative works.

Whether in animation, film, television, or music, the figure of Sun Wukong is everywhere.

But sadly, truly capturing the essence of Sun Wukong is no easy feat.

Many creators have tried, many have failed.

To be frank, up until now, only the original 1986 version of Journey to the West is widely and willingly acknowledged as the authentic portrayal of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King.

As for music, it goes without saying—hardly any song dedicated to Sun Wukong has been universally accepted.

That is why in recent years, fewer and fewer people have ventured to create works on this subject.

Not because they have forgotten the Great Sage, but because the challenge is immense, almost insurmountable.

In fact, it can be said without exaggeration,

That just as there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes,

Every person’s vision of the Monkey King is uniquely different.

How could a single song unify them all?

Even the 1986 version’s “Cloud Palace Swift Melody” does not fully express the spirit of Sun Wukong.

Those present were deeply anticipating today’s performance.

They were waiting for Bai Ling’s new song, waiting to see Dingdang Cat’s delivery.

But what came instead was such a daunting challenge.

For a moment, many wore expressions of confusion and puzzlement.

Did Bai Ling not understand the complexities involved?

Was that why she dared so boldly to create and compose?

Could this simply titled “Wukong” really satisfy everyone?

In truth, Bai Ling herself had some hesitation.

As mentioned before, everyone’s image of the Monkey King was different.

Moreover, this song itself had two versions: an original and a cover.

The cover was sung by Teacher Sa, a former national team veteran who often guest-starred in TV dramas, lending a female voice.

It portrayed a distinctly different Wukong from the original sung by Teacher Dai.

Two different versions of the same Wukong!

When deciding between the two, Bai Ling was torn for quite some time.

How could she make everyone accept and enjoy her performance?

But soon she realized her worries were needless.

She believed in this version of Wukong!

As the accompaniment began and the stage lights flickered, Bai Ling adjusted her tone perfectly.

“Moonlight splashes across the starry river, the long road stretches on.”

“The smoke of battle fades, a solitary shadow lingers.”

“Who says my skills are extraordinary?”

“Who says I am torn by love and hate?”

“The illusory world hangs in the sky, let old grudges rest.”

The prelude softened, and as Bai Ling meticulously shaped every detail,

Expressions in the audience began to shift.

Though the name Wukong was never uttered, everyone knew from the lyrics that Dingdang Cat was singing about Wukong.

The depth of the lyrics alone was profound.

“Sure enough, this is Bai Ling’s caliber!”

“She writes songs as brilliantly as ever.”

“Goodness, I can’t fathom how such a song is composed.”

“This is already fantastic just from the start, can’t wait for what’s next!”

The judges murmured quietly among themselves,

Then fell silent, focusing intently on the music.

“Abandon enlightenment and leave confusion, the six dusts remain unchanged.”

“Angry, sad, and wild!”

“Human, ghost, or demon,”

“All are but debts of the heart’s demon.”

The crowd was once again amazed. They had expected just great lyrics, but Bai Ling’s singing was equally impressive.

The line “angry, sad, and wild” carried a hint of operatic tone.

If one did not listen closely, they might miss it.

But upon careful attention, the richness and depth of its flavor emerged.

It seemed to set the tone for what was to come, making everyone realize this song was far more elevated than they had imagined.

“Call out to Buddha, no turning back!”

“Kneel to a master, life and death are irrelevant.”

“Good and evil in this floating world, the true and false realms.”

“Fate’s ties gather and scatter indistinctly.”

“Hard to sever!”

When the words “Buddha” were sung, the crowd was struck deeply.

At that moment, the voice truly seemed to question the high and mighty Great Sage Equal to Heaven!

The following lines also carried operatic nuances.

Not the familiar drawn-out or melismatic singing, but the stylized ‘singing’ from traditional drama’s four essential skills: singing, acting, reciting, and combat.

“Goodness, this kid can do that too!”

“He’s got skills.”

“This song is not easy to sing.”

“It demands not only vocal skill but emotional investment.”

“I don’t know why, but Dingdang Cat seems fully immersed, like something big is about to happen.”

“I feel it too!”

These judges were heavyweights in the industry.

Even if not all were versed in drama, they knew Bai Ling was approaching the explosive climax.

The moment that ordinary people recognize as the pinnacle of a song.

“What use is this iron rod?”

“What good is these transformations?”

“Still restless, still uneasy.”

“The golden hoop tight on my head, wanting to speak but holding back.”

Two rhetorical questions struck everyone’s hearts deeply.

Just as the audience was drawn into the Great Sage’s helplessness,

Dingdang Cat unleashed a new surge.

“I want this iron rod to dance wildly with demons!”

“I wield these transformations to confuse and perplex!”

“Shatter the spirit heavens! Reckless and defiant!”

“The world is wicked and the path perilous, yet in the end, it’s hard to escape.”

“This rod will reduce you to ashes!”

High notes burst forth, a fierce roar emerged.

All the earlier restraint and questions were now unleashed.

Eyes flickered as if truly witnessing the Great Sage laughing proudly across the heavens.

Truly witnessing him wield the golden hoop and shatter the spirit heavens!

In that instant, everyone’s scalp tingled with deja vu.

Not a single word uttered “Wukong.”

Yet every phrase was Wukong itself!

This song was worthy of deification!

At that moment, the final “ashes to dust” gradually faded and drew to a close.

Helplessness or bitterness, confusion or fatigue—

Though the world presents obstacles and trials,

One must be like Wukong: clearing the path, reckless and proud!

When Bai Ling laid down the microphone, the entire audience erupted into applause.

“Excellent!”

“Dingdang Cat, you have once again brought us a huge surprise.”

“The song is well written, and the singing superb!”

“Amazing! I declare this the best performance of the entire show so far! Without question!”

“I second that!”

“Me too!”