Chapter Seventy-Eight: A Single Sword Shines Cold Across Nineteen Provinces

The "Tang Dynasty" Bar, for the special occasion of the premiere of "The Singing Star," had suspended its usual performances to broadcast the show live. For the patrons, this was a pleasure in itself.

"It feels just like fans abroad gathering in bars to watch football together." This was the guests’ sentiment, and precisely the bar’s intention.

"Hey," as Lin Qihua appeared on screen, a ripple of excitement spread among the guests, "Isn’t that someone we know?"

"Yes, that’s Lin Qihua," someone confirmed, "He was the lead singer of ‘Hellfire’ back in the day."

"So that’s him—how impressive."

"Indeed, who would have thought the bar’s lead singer could make it onto the stage of ‘The Singing Star.’ Truly remarkable."

Sister Mei folded her arms, gazing at the familiar face on the screen with visible excitement. "So this is the surprise you were talking about—what a wonderful surprise."

The band members, enjoying a rare night off, were left speechless.

"Is that Qihua?" Liu Xing knew well the influence of "The Singing Star," and for a moment he could hardly believe it.

"It’s him," Ah Hui affirmed. "No doubt about it—it’s Qihua."

"Unbelievable," Haizi said, uncharacteristically breaking his silence.

"Yes, really beyond imagination," Shen Ming stared blankly at the face on the screen, despair welling up inside him. "Is this the goal I’m supposed to chase?"

In an office somewhere in Xiangzhou, Han Dongxi, impeccably dressed, watched the live feed with a knowing smile. "This is just like you—impressing everyone with a single move. No matter how you perform tonight, you’ve already succeeded in drawing everyone’s attention. A truly splendid beginning."

"Damn it, am I hallucinating?" muttered Liu Feng. Overwhelmed by recent pressures, he had invested great effort to keep his position and quell rumors in the company and complaints within the group. Just when he was about to see results, Lin Qihua appeared on television, making him doubt his own eyes.

Smash—a vase in the office became collateral damage once again as General Manager Chen of Xinghui Entertainment lost his temper.

"What a clever play behind our backs," his face twisted with suppressed rage. "Silently securing a spot on ‘The Singing Star’—fine, we can’t touch you now. But you’ll have to perform well under such immense pressure. The moment you slip, be prepared for a tidal wave of criticism tomorrow."

On stage, Lin Qihua had no idea that at this very moment, countless eyes were fixed on him, curious to see what kind of performance he would deliver. All he knew was that this stage now belonged to him.

He took a breath to steady himself, stepped before the microphone, and nodded to the side. Gao Rui nodded in return and, with a gentle motion, cued the music.

A simple yet rhythmic melody began, as if flowing through the river of time, resonating with people’s memories.

Amid the intense electric guitar, Lin Qihua gripped the microphone and sang the first line, calm yet resolute.

"Once I dreamed of wandering the world with a sword, to see the splendors of the earth."

"My God, I got goosebumps all over," a listener in the audience shuddered, feeling a strange sensation in his hands.

"Youthful hearts are always somewhat reckless; now you call the four seas your home."

"What a profound realization—those fearless, dream-chasing days of youth, captured in a single phrase." A middle-aged man sighed with emotion. "Once I dreamed of wandering the world with a sword—it sums up everyone’s youthful memories."

"The girl who once made your heart ache
Has now quietly disappeared without a trace
Love always fills you with longing and trouble
Once leaving you battered and bruised"

Many in the audience recalled past loves and old sweethearts—romances that also marked the fiery years of their youth. They had thought those memories forgotten, yet realized they had always been there, never truly lost. Even if those times had left them wounded, recalling them now brought a bittersweet nostalgia and a touch of regret.

“Dilililidilililidenda
Dilililidilililidada
Dilililidilililidada
Walking bravely down the road ahead”

Lin Qihua sang the wordless refrain, “Dilililidilililidenda,” again and again. Memories surged: the abrupt end of university life, the smiling chubby friend and other classmates, the radiant Shen Mengxue, Ma Xiaoqian—once an ugly duckling, now perfectly transformed—the grueling training camp, the sweet days of mutual support with Zhao Wanting in pursuit of their dreams, the absent-minded Zhang Zilin, Han Dong’s fury for the sake of love, quarrels with Liu Feng, the contract termination with the company, the persistence and struggle at the bar, and the fans who had walked alongside him, giving him strength. In this moment, all those memories poured out in his singing, unrestrained.

In the churning world, people strive for what they desire, yet with every gain comes loss. The blue skies of dreams and the faces you cherish—by the end, all become blurred images of the past. And so you learn to grow, to find strength in sorrow, letting old stories settle gently in your heart. But on clear, quiet nights, you remember—once, there was that person, that self.

There is always a tear that makes you grow up in an instant, always an experience that leaves an indelible mark, always a song that holds all your memories, always someone you try and fail to forget, always an innocent dream, a day when you’ll laugh at your own foolishness, a day when you’ll cry for what’s lost forever, always a chance to seize for yourself, always a road only you can choose.

The audience rose as one, erupting in applause for Lin Qihua’s performance. Though the show had only just begun, they already felt the unwavering courage and confidence of a youth who had persisted through hardship. Moved to the core, they could not help but stand and sing along with this artist.

“Whenever I feel sad,
I look out alone at the sea,
Thinking of friends who walk this road with me,
How many are still healing their wounds.”

Tears welled in Chang Yan’s eyes as she recalled Lin Qihua’s first night singing at the bar. Back then, he was at his lowest point. Others thought he had fallen, that he was reduced to performing in a bar, but in truth, he had never given up—he continued to move everyone with his warm voice. From that moment, she became captivated by him and resolved to do something for him. Now, at last, he stood on this top stage, declaring his comeback, his persistence, and his carefree spirit to the whole country with a song called "The Way You Were."

"You will succeed, no matter what. I’ll always walk with you." This was Chang Yan’s hope, and the hope of countless fans watching the show that night. In this moment, their hearts beat as one.