amaotonovel Chapter 147 Hongwu Zheng Yun
Chapter 147 Hongwu Zheng Yun
The mountain spirit stared wide-eyed at the four large bags of local specialties in front of him, his eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation. The corners of his mouth turned up uncontrollably, and his face was overflowing with joy.
He subconsciously rubbed his hands together, opened a bag, and saw all sorts of Southeast Asian snacks inside, repeatedly exclaiming "Wow!"
He never expected that Bai Li would think of him while on vacation.
This unexpected surprise warmed his heart. He looked up, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Young boss, this is too much! It's all my favorite food! Thank you!"
Looking at the mountain spirit's appearance, Bai Li's bright eyes seemed to hold countless little stars, revealing her pure joy and gratitude without reservation.
Bai Li's mood also improved. Thanks to the mountain spirit's positive emotional feedback, the fatigue from being busy for so long was greatly reduced.
When I first met the mountain spirit, he was still a bit shy and reserved. When he greeted people, his eyes would always dart away, and his voice was soft. He exuded a sense of naivety.
Now that we've gotten to know each other, there's no awkwardness at all. Now he seems like a happy, energetic, and enthusiastic Asian big dog.
So Bai Li always felt that being with the mountain spirit would improve her mood.
However, while in a good mood, Bai Li didn't forget to discuss the theme song of "Asking the Immortals" with Shan Gui.
The mountain spirit scratched his head. He had already made several versions, but he always felt that something was missing and he was unsure of himself.
Bai Li put on her headphones and comforted him, "No rush, let me listen first."
It must be said that Shan Gui's talent for composing music is truly outstanding; he just hadn't had the opportunity to showcase it before.
The versions he presented this time are very mature and of a high standard in terms of melody, arrangement, and other aspects.
However, as the mountain spirit himself realized, although these pieces were pleasant to listen to, they lacked a memorable element that could instantly grab the listener's attention and make them unforgettable; they lacked some soulful elements.
Such a piece would be perfectly fine as a regular release track, but as the theme song for a big-budget fantasy film like "Asking the Immortals," it clearly falls short.
Because Bai Li had [Music Master], she only listened to it once and immediately noticed the problem.
After listening, she thought for a moment and quickly selected one of the versions.
This version has a moderate range of pitches, making it easy to sing and also giving it great potential to incorporate traditional elements, which makes it convenient for Bai Li to modify and improve it.
Bai Li did not make any major changes to the overall melody of the song, but simply added some ethnic elements and rearranged it using a pentatonic scale.
The traditional music that Guan Cha had collected for her from the mountains came in handy at this time.
All of these recordings were made using local traditional musical instruments. While the sounds produced by these instruments may not be as crisp and bright as those of a bamboo flute, they possess a more distant and desolate charm.
It seems to carry the mysterious aura of the deep mountains, as well as the locals' simple feelings and deep reverence for nature, which is highly consistent with the setting of the fantasy world in the movie, creating an ethereal and magical atmosphere.
In the chorus, the pop melody that Shan Gui originally produced was very exciting, and Bai Li decided to keep this part.
But on this basis, she added strong drumbeats and a grander string arrangement to re-arrange the music.
The mountain spirit stood aside, watching Bai Li skillfully operate the equipment, his heart filled with shock.
He never imagined that he could incorporate Western music in such a chromatic way.
After Bai Li's revisions, the entire song became more powerful and suddenly had an epic feel, with its expressiveness rising dramatically.
"This rhythmic pattern comes from the traditional bronze drum of the Yi ethnic group. It uses triplets and syncopated rhythms, which can enhance the rhythm and impact of the music," Bai Li explained to the mountain spirit while operating the instrument.
After the arrangement is completed, the finished song is played again.
The stirring melody echoed in the recording studio.
With a hint of smugness, Bai Li turned to look at Shan Gui: "How is it? Teacher Shan Gui, do you feel different?"
The mountain spirit nodded emphatically, gave a thumbs-up, and exclaimed with admiration, "That's amazing!"
Yes.
It's completely different now.
The music has become richer in layers. With the cooperation of various instruments and sound effects, from delicate solos to grand ensembles, every detail is handled perfectly.
The sense of mission it conveys is overwhelming, as if there is an invisible force that can strike directly at people's hearts.
The problem that the Mountain Spirit had been pondering for over ten days without success, Bai Li solved in no time after hearing it just once.
Only musicians can truly understand just how awesome Bai Li's actions were at that moment.
"Have you written the lyrics?" Bai Li asked.
The mountain spirit shook his head and explained, "My usual practice is to compose the music first and then write the lyrics. I haven't been satisfied with the music yet, so I haven't written the lyrics."
Bai Li curled the corners of her lips: "Perfect timing, I have an idea."
She borrowed paper and pen from the mountain spirit, and quickly wrote on the paper with the pen in her hand, writing down paragraphs of text in a few strokes.
After she finished writing, she handed the paper to the mountain spirit and said, "Find some children's choirs to sing."
The mountain spirit took the poem, initially not paying much attention, but as his gaze moved across the paper, his expression gradually became serious: "This is... the Hongwu Zheng Yun?"
"Oh? You know?" Bai Li raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“I know, I learned it when I was in music school,” Mountain Spirit replied.
The Hongwu Zheng Yun was merely a topic that the teacher glossed over in class and did not explain in depth. It was only after he became interested in it that he gained a deeper understanding of it.
Hongwu Zhengyun is a style of writing traditional Chinese war songs, meaning that the entire piece needs to rhyme.
Nowadays, very few people use the Hongwu Zhengyun rhyme scheme to write songs.
The Hongwu Zhengyun has extremely strict rules on rhyme and tone. For example, the level tone is divided into yinping and yangping, and there are specific rules for the use of entering tone characters.
This requires creators to spend a lot of time and energy studying and learning in order to master and apply its rules in their creations, making the creation process extremely difficult and no longer suitable for the fast-paced creative environment of today.
However, the Hongwu Zhengyun rhyme scheme is perfectly suited for the piece "Asking the Immortals".
As a fantasy-themed film, "Asking the Immortals" must have a theme song that carries profound cultural connotations to match the fantastical and grand fantasy world depicted in the film.
The Hongwu Zhengyun, having been refined over the years, carries a strong historical atmosphere, which can add a heavy sense of weight to the song.
Looking at Bai Li's lyrics again, the mountain spirit's admiration grew even stronger.
The entire piece rhymes with the Jiangyang rhyme scheme, making it easy to read aloud and possessing an extraordinary momentum.
This is not just lyrics; it is clearly a magnificent poem!
Every line is full of charm, and when paired with the melody of the song, it's a match made in heaven.
Looking at the words in his hand, the more the mountain spirit pondered them, the more ingenious Bai Li's idea seemed.
What kind of wonderful sparks will be created by the pure children's voices paired with lyrics full of ancient charm, plus the rich and layered melody that Bai Li revised earlier?
Thinking of this, the mountain spirit's eyes revealed an irrepressible anticipation.
As the mountain spirit was engrossed in reading the lyrics in his hand, Bai Li's gaze inadvertently fell on the mountain spirit's ear.
She paused slightly, a hint of surprise appearing on her face.
It seems he... got another ear piercing?
Bai Li began to have doubts. Getting her ears pierced was indeed a way to express herself, but was it really okay for someone like Shan Gui to get them pierced so frequently?
Ears are only so big, how can you keep hitting them indefinitely?
In Bai Li's opinion, Shan Gui's current enthusiasm for getting his ears pierced seems to have gone beyond the scope of ordinary hobbies, and could even be called a "habit".
We just had a new one when we last met, and now there's another one.
She frowned slightly, a hint of worry in her eyes. She gently raised her finger and pointed to the newly pierced ear of the mountain spirit, asking with concern, "Newly pierced?"
Upon hearing Bai Li's words, the mountain spirit put down the lyrics in his hand.
Although Bai Li's fingers did not actually touch his ear, for some reason, he felt a slight itch there, as if he were being gently brushed by a feather.
He awkwardly touched his ear, his eyes darting away, and turned his head slightly away, responding softly.
Seeing his reaction, Bai Li became even more worried and pressed him for an answer: "Have you been getting your ears pierced more often?"
The mountain spirit hesitated for a moment, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes, before finally speaking slowly and truthfully: "Sometimes when the pressure is too great, I can't help but hit it."
Hearing the mountain spirit's reply, I suddenly felt a little guilty.
He was gone for a month, leaving the arrangement work entirely to Shan Gui. Originally, the original composition for "Asking the Immortals" should have been completed by the two of them together.
Now it all falls on Shan Gui's shoulders. He not only has to compose the music, but also coordinate everyone in the music department. On top of completing so many film scores, he has also completed several versions of the theme song.
Bai Li's eyes were full of apology. She sighed softly and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
"No, it's not hard at all." Mountain Ghost quickly shook his head, forcing a smile on his face, trying to reassure Bai Li.
In his mind, since he received such a high salary from Bai Li, it was only right that he did more work.
If he doesn't do these things well, he'll feel guilty.
Bai Li looked at Shan Gui and began to seriously discuss with him other ways to relieve stress, such as riding roller coasters, eating hot pot, or doing handicrafts.
With a faint smile on his face, Shan Gui agreed to Bai Li's suggestions one by one, saying "okay" and "great" aloud. But deep down, he knew very well that his habit of getting his ears pierced was probably not going away anytime soon.
The pain of being pierced through the body has transformed into an indescribable pleasure.
The pain was like an outlet, releasing all the pent-up pressure and frustration in his heart, and after a brief sting, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Over time, this experience of pain and pleasure became a way for him to cope with stress.
Therefore, even though he agreed to Bai Li's request, he was still unsure whether he could really change this habit.
unless……
Bai Li had been watching the mountain spirit's expression closely. Seeing that he seemed uninterested and absent-minded, she knew that the mountain spirit might not have fully listened to what she had just said.
Just then, she vaguely heard the mountain spirit mutter "unless," and she blinked curiously, tilting her head to ask, "Unless what?"
The mountain spirit never expected that she would say what was on her mind. When she heard Bai Li's question, she immediately felt her face burning and her ears turning bright red.
He secretly glanced at Bai Li, his eyes filled with unease.
unless……
Unless, of course, something else can distract him from his dependence on the pleasure derived from this pain...
The mountain spirit stammered for a long time before finally finishing his sentence, clearly embarrassed: "Unless... there is something else that is more... painful."
Depend on……
Bai Li couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Who can give her back a simple, happy, and cheerful Asian dog?
No.
She misjudged the situation.
The Mountain Spirit was never a happy, bright, or cheerful dog.
It turns out that when mountain spirits get their ears pierced, it's not just about expressing themselves.
My previous guess was right; he actually liked the feeling of pain, which is why he hit me!
Case solved!
After truly understanding the mountain spirit's peculiarities, Bai Li was left with nothing but shock.
But Bai Li quickly came to her senses. Looking at the mountain spirit's embarrassed expression, her initial shock was gradually replaced by heartache.
If someone is willing to expose their weaknesses, it means they trust you extremely.
Furthermore, this also indicates that he is seeking help from the outside world, which is a good sign.
Bai Li had a sudden inspiration, and several ideas flashed through her mind.
She took a deep breath, trying to make her tone sound natural and relaxed: "Don't worry, Teacher Shan Gui, I've thought of a way!"
Bai Li proposed several other solutions.
A marathon is one such activity; the feeling of pushing your body to its limits and experiencing muscle soreness might improve your condition. Running also releases endorphins, which can improve your mood.
Or, rock climbing or something similar, something slightly thrilling but with a low risk factor, might also work.
The mountain spirit kept its eyes fixed on Bai Li, listening quietly to each of her suggestions.
Seeing her earnest and concerned expression, a warm feeling welled up in my heart.
He could genuinely feel that Bai Li was truly thinking of him, and that her suggestions were genuinely helpful.
The mountain spirit nodded vigorously, a grateful smile on its face, and whispered, "I will try."
Bai Li smiled and said, "Okay, if none of what I said works, then come find me again! You're not allowed to get your ears pierced in private anymore."
As she spoke, she extended her little finger, hooked it together, and asked, "Pinky promise?"
The mountain spirit was slightly taken aback. Looking at Bai Li's outstretched little finger, it did not hesitate at all, slowly extended its own little finger, and gently hooked Bai Li's finger.
His movements were very light, yet they seemed to carry a solemn sense of ritual.
The moment the mountain spirit hooked his finger around Bai Li's, he felt a strange electric current travel through his entire body from his fingertip, causing his heart to tremble slightly.
He gently tightened his grip on Bai Li's little finger.
"Pinky promise," the mountain spirit replied softly.
[Mountain Spirit's Favorability +2]
[Mountain Spirit's Favorability: 71]
The notification sound exploded in my mind.
Bai Li stiffened, and her fingers trembled.
Bai Li then realized that the mountain spirit was hooking her finger and showed no sign of letting go.
She subconsciously looked up and, without warning, met the mountain spirit's gaze.
In that instant, my heart skipped a beat again.
That fervent, sincere feeling, carrying an unmistakable dependence, seemed to be mixed with an indescribable emotion, so familiar that it made Bai Li a little flustered.
"It's over!" Bai Li cried out in despair in her heart.
The relationship has soured yet again!
In those few seconds of eye contact, time seemed to freeze, and hearts raced involuntarily.
With great difficulty, the mountain spirit finally released her fingers that were hooked around her.
Just as Bai Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief, Shan Gui asked again in a soft yet expectant voice, "Little boss, can I really talk to you?"
Bai Li's thoughts were in turmoil for a moment.
What could it be? Help him change his bad habits? But looking at the mountain spirit, it seems there's a deeper meaning...
Bai Li really wanted to go back to when she hit herself.
What kind of situation is this?
This is the consequence of excessive compassion!
This is going to be difficult to handle.
The mountain spirit's sudden change left her somewhat bewildered.
Although there is now [the balance of love?], theoretically, it can handle complex emotional relationships with ease and can endlessly amass a harem.
But when it comes to matters of the heart, Bai Li felt she should be more cautious.
Moreover, she had just accepted Jingye and didn't want to seamlessly transition to another one.
Currently, she is still trying to balance the relationship between Jingye and Ying Xiangyang. Before this relationship is stable, Bai Li has no energy to accept a third person.
Although the objective requires three characters with a love level of 80 or higher, there's no rush.
However, seeing the expectant look in the mountain spirit's eyes, Bai Li really didn't want to go back on her word, so she reluctantly agreed, "Okay..."