Chapter 142: World of War

"Ha, it is far too early to sing a song of victory. But since this is a war, I might as well sing something to let them feel the cruelty of this conflict!"

Zhang Qiyang’s words piqued everyone’s interest. The crew members were genuinely surprised. Having never interacted with him before, they had assumed "Cannon" was the type of person who would fly into a rage at the slightest provocation. They never expected that the real "Cannon" was the type who would break into song at the slightest provocation!

Li Xuan asked with interest, "What are you going to sing? Did you write it yourself, too?"

"Naturally! I only sing songs I’ve written myself!"

Zhang Qiyang’s declaration made the situation even more tantalizing. The crew, who were busy packing up props and preparing for the next setup, stopped what they were doing and gathered around to listen.

Xiao Qiang and Shen Yulin exchanged glances, both silently marveling that this legendary "Cannon" was a variety show genius. He had even more gimmicks than Wang Dawei! If he could sing well, this spontaneous performance would be gold for the final edit! It was a brilliant addition to the show. Xiao Qiang immediately signaled the cameramen to restart their equipment and prepare to film.

On the host team’s side, having heard that "Cannon" intended to make them feel the cruelty of war, they were also intrigued, fixing their gazes intently on Zhang Qiyang.

Zhang Qiyang handed his sweat-dampened towel to a female production assistant, then turned his head to look toward the outdoor sound technician. The technician had an effects keyboard, a foot drum, and a soundboard at his disposal. Zhang Qiyang walked over to the keyboard and asked the technician to trigger a few sound effects. He found one that sounded like a sci-fi, interdimensional warp, which fit perfectly with the song he was about to perform, titled "World of War."

Standing before the keyboard, Zhang Qiyang tested the foot drum: "Thump-tap... thump-thump-tap... thump-tap... thump-thump-tap..." He executed the rhythmic beat with practiced ease; the effect was excellent. As the rhythm took hold, everyone gathered around him, eager to listen.

"The name of this song is 'World of War'!"

Once Zhang Qiyang finished, Peng Liang and the others took the lead in cheering him on: "Oh! Cannon is about to belt one out! Listen up, Wang Dawei, today our competition is going to be a world of war!"

Zhang Qiyang tapped the foot drum and triggered the keyboard’s warp effect, instantly creating an atmosphere thick with the smoke and tension of a battlefield. Everyone fell silent, waiting in anticipation for his impromptu performance.

Zhang Qiyang played a crisp, delicate melody that felt like a peace dove taking flight, but he quickly shattered that image with his deep, soulful voice. The cruelty of war began to unfold through his singing.

"...Look at this silent world, NO, the atmosphere of despair is so intense, NO, people are fleeing frantically from that once-bustling street, the scent of gunpowder causing all life to wither, the weeping of the earth spreading across the entire world, how... can it cease!"

Zhang Qiyang’s deep vocals served as a prelude to the theater of war, erupting suddenly on the word "cease!" As the beat of the foot drum and the chords of the keyboard exploded, he launched into the heart of this brutal war with a powerful, cannon-fire-like intensity:

"...The moment the war begins to erupt! No one in the entire city is spared! The moment the war begins to erupt! Who will mourn for the city! That boy on his bicycle, selling newspapers! Panic-filled tears slowly covering his face! The moment the war begins to erupt! Faith is extinguished throughout the entire world!"

It was as if one could see the flying debris, the raging fires, and the thick smoke! The moment his voice erupted, the sheer power of his vocals gave everyone a thrilling, head-spinning rush.

Peng Liang praised him to his friend Fa Zai, "Cannon’s singing is incredible!"

Fa Zai nodded repeatedly. It was their first time hearing Zhang Qiyang perform live. They had previously suspected that his victory on "I Am a Singer" was bought by bribing the audience. But after hearing this impromptu live performance, they were convinced: his win was the real deal! His live presence was simply phenomenal. He could turn an empty field into a raging battlefield with his voice. To musicians like them, his talent was nothing short of divine.

Although Wang Dawei had shifted his career focus toward hosting in recent years, he had never stopped playing music or abandoned his musical dreams. He possessed a keen sense of rhythm and a strong ability to appreciate music. As he listened to Zhang Qiyang, his jaw nearly hit the ground. In his eyes, Zhang Qiyang was essentially a one-man band, or perhaps even a one-man army fueling a cataclysmic war. Whether it was the accompaniment or his dark, epic vocal style, everything left him in awe.

Wang Dawei had always prided himself on his musical abilities, but after experiencing the radiant, undeniable talent radiating from Zhang Qiyang, he suddenly felt as though his own musical pursuits were childish and amateurish. Today, Zhang Qiyang had completely redefined his perception. This was no "brainless young master" as the rumors suggested; this was clearly a musical master with extraordinary skills. Wang Dawei was utterly convinced by this spontaneous performance.

Lu Cheng and his team felt energized by the background music, their desire to fight burning even brighter. Lu Kai, however, was thoroughly annoyed. As an athlete, he had an intense competitive spirit. He refused to lose to anyone in any field, especially not to a "super-rich second generation" like Zhang Qiyang who had been born with a silver spoon. To him, Zhang Qiyang’s performance was nothing more than a provocation and a deliberate attempt to show off. He couldn't wait to crush Zhang Qiyang in the upcoming competition; he had no interest in listening to the song.

But others were listening with genuine delight. Zhao Lijing sat on the ground like a kitten, her knees pulled up, her face cupped in her hands, looking completely enchanted. She had already enjoyed listening to Zhang Qiyang’s songs on a music player, but hearing him perform live like this, she realized it was even more intoxicating. For a fleeting moment, she fantasized about what it would be like to have a boyfriend who could sing to her like this every day. How happy that life would be!

Her eyes shimmered with longing, though in her heart, she listened with a bittersweet sense of resignation. As a rising star heavily cultivated by Dongyu, just like Li Xuan, she was under a strict no-dating clause. No matter how much she liked someone, she could only hide it in her heart; there was no chance to truly date. Even if the person was someone like Zhang Qiyang, the young master of Dongyu, it probably... wouldn't be allowed, right?

*Oh, what am I thinking!*

*Thump, thump.*

Tapping her head, Zhao Lijing smiled shyly, stopped her wandering thoughts, and continued to listen to the song.