Chapter 174: Let Me Mix Up an Unorthodox Remedy

Seeing Cai Xukun’s expression twist into something close to hideous, Su Chen had no intention of stopping there.

It was pointless to reason with such a bootlicker; the only way to deal with it was to strike hard, until it felt the pain and learned to fear!

With that in mind, Su Chen continued, "As for what Mentor Cai Xukun just said about traditional style being beneath notice and lacking an audience."

"I would argue that no musical genre can be pigeonholed. Take rap, which you hold in such high esteem—didn't it also originate and flourish among the common people?"

"Let me explain for everyone here: in rap, the term 'underground rapper' refers to artists who create underground music."

"This kind of underground rap differs from mainstream commercial models, and performances are typically spread through streets, garages, and bars."

"Rap is a musical genre that germinated and sprouted from that very soil, and for a very long time, this genre wasn't actually viewed with much prestige abroad."

"So, in Mentor Cai Xukun's eyes, are foreign folk elements somehow loftier and more sophisticated than domestic ones?"

Faced with Su Chen's question, Cai Xukun, sitting in the mentor's chair, suddenly saw his pale skin flush bright red.

This flush wasn't from shyness, but because Cai Xukun realized he simply couldn't answer Su Chen's question!

Whenever he appeared on shows, he always just memorized the model answers provided by his agency. Where had he ever encountered a situation like this?

He was just like a student who only knew how to flip to the back of the book for answers during practice, only to find that when the exam came, the test paper didn't come with any standard answer key!

"You... you... I..."

Cai Xukun stammered, unable to even string together a complete sentence.

This scene was captured completely by the production crew's cameras, leaving nothing hidden from the audience in the live broadcast room.

"Oh? No way? Such a big guy like Kunkun, why does he blush the moment he speaks?"

"What did you just say?! Our beloved Gege is a proud little sister, so what's wrong with a little sister blushing and getting shy?! Do you believe Gege won't lay any eggs for you to eat next time!"

"Hahaha! I'm dying of laughter. But what Su Chen said makes so much sense, while Cai Xukun can't even squeeze out a single fart after half a day!"

"Heh, that just shows how pure our Kunkun is. Do you all think everyone is as aggressive as this Su Chen guy, who doesn't even know how to respect his seniors?"

"My heart aches for Kunkun. Su Chen is really going too far!"

......

Meanwhile, watching Cai Xukun's display, Su Chen on stage suddenly felt a tinge of boredom.

After all, when you watch an enemy charging at you with a little wooden stick wanting to hit you, what motivation could you possibly have to pick up an RPG?

Yet, lack of motivation aside, some things still had to be done regardless.

Such as awakening the national consciousness!

Before Cai Xukun could stutter out another few words, Su Chen forcefully continued, "In addition, I have further objections to Teacher Cai Xukun's statements."

"Our Chinese traditional style is inclusive and all-embracing, capable of blending into any musical genre or piece. It is by no means some niche thing that no one listens to."

"How about this? Since Mentor Cai Xukun holds rap in such high regard, I will perform an improvised freestyle on the spot right now, incorporating traditional Chinese elements."

This time, Su Chen didn't even bother asking Director Liu, simply speaking his mind directly.

Because regardless of whether the production team agreed or not, he was going to use this show to let more people hear this freestyle!

And Su Chen's words once again sent the entire venue into an uproar!

They never expected that in just a single episode, they would get to hear three songs from Su Chen. How could Su Chen's fans not be ecstatic?

Moreover, with such a massive buildup beforehand, everyone was intensely eager to see how Su Chen would pull off this fusion of traditional style and rap!

No one had ever heard rap like this before, and on top of that, it was a freestyle!

Freestyle, in internet slang, means improvisational, casual, and spontaneous performance.

However, in hip-hop, freestyle means improvised rap.

This was being composed on the spot!

On stage, Director Liu felt completely numb. The direction of the show had long since slipped out of his control.

Yet, since the production team was leaning toward Su Chen—or rather, toward the immense internet traffic he generated—Director Liu naturally chose to let it be, even finding some amusement in it.

After all, everyone possessed at least a little desire for entertainment.

So Director Liu simply picked up the microphone and said to Su Chen, "Go for it!"

With that, he stepped off the stage, leaving the spotlight entirely to Su Chen.

This time, Su Chen didn't walk over to the band members because it was an improvised rap, which naturally had no sheet music.

Rap didn't rely heavily on melody; it was all about the lyrics. Although Su Chen knew rap songs with both great beats and lyrics, the track he was about to perform had minimal musical requirements.

Under the gaze of everyone present, Su Chen adjusted his breathing, took the mic right off its stand, and began moving to a steady, rhythmic groove.

Then, with his free left hand, he started snapping his fingers, keeping the beat for himself and the audience.

As soon as Su Chen was ready, the vocals leaped forward.

"If Hua Tuo were alive today, worshiping foreign things would be cured."

"Foreigners would come to learn Chinese characters, igniting our national consciousness."

"Maqianzi, juemingzi, cocklebur, and lotus seeds as well."

"Huangyaozi, kudozi, chinaberry, I want to save face."

"Using my own way, rewriting a piece of history."

"Nothing else to say, follow me and recite a few words."

"Chinese yam, angelica, goji berries, Go."

"Chinese yam, angelica, goji berries, Go."

"Watch me grab a handful of Chinese medicine, swallowing a dose of pride."

......

The leaping melody echoed in their ears, drawing the crowd into the rhythm right along with Su Chen.

"My expression is leisurely, dancing the rough outline, movements relaxed and effortless, you can't copy this."

"Neon signs adjusting to the right state, waiting to wake up in this gorgeous city."

"My expression is leisurely, dancing the rough outline, using calligraphy to write dynasties, inner force radiating."

"Swinging regular script with heroic spirit, throwing a punch of spoken defense, lying flat at the end to see who's better."

......

To untrained ears, these lyrics might just sound like a catchy beat, but to professional critics, they were already sending chills down their spines!

These lyrics were impeccably structured, and the content was intensely positive and uplifting. Could this really be achieved through improvisation?!

"What elixir to refine, what pill to roll, sliced velvet antlers shouldn't be cut too thin."

"The old master's technique cannot be copied so haphazardly."

"Turtle jelly, Yunnan Baiyao, and caterpillar fungus."

"Your own music, your own medicine, the dosage is just right."

"Listen to me, Chinese medicine is bitter, plagiarism should be even more bitter."

"Quickly open the Compendium of Materia Medica, read more rare and good books."

"Toad venom and earthworms have already traversed the pugilistic world, the hard work of these ancestors."

"We must definitely not lose, this is the light."

"This is the light, sing together, this is the light, this is the light, hey."

"Let me mix a folk remedy, specially curing your cultural cringe and foreign worship."

......

Every single line of these lyrics hit Cai Xukun's face like a resounding slap!

It also made every musician present gasp involuntarily!

This freestyle... carried an attitude that was simply too strong!

"The Han prescription that has taken root for a millennium holds power that others don't know."

"My expression is leisurely, dancing the rough outline, movements relaxed and effortless, you can't copy this."

"Neon signs adjusting to the right state, waiting to wake up in this gorgeous city."

"My expression is leisurely, dancing the rough outline, using calligraphy to write dynasties, inner force radiating."

"Swinging regular script with heroic spirit, throwing a punch of spoken defense, lying flat at the end to see who's better."

......