You can read ahead up to 60 chapters on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
Countless vagabond singers and bands had flocked to the 72H Grassland Music Festival, carrying dreams of making it big. They stood on this stage, one that celebrated freedom and inclusivity, giving everything they had to showcase their talent and energy to the roaring crowd.
Among the tens of thousands of spectators, there were always scouts and representatives from entertainment agencies. If a singer or band managed to catch the eye of a powerful company, that moment could become their ticket to stardom, a step into the glittering world of mainstream show business.
It was the passion and hard work of these vagabond performers that had kept the 72H Festival alive and vibrant, elevating it into one of the most influential events in China's pop music scene.
But not every vagabond singer came chasing fame. Liao Jia was one of those exceptions.
The 72H stage was massive, but getting him up there hadn't cost the organizers a thing. It wasn't about money or clout; Liao Jia had a deep emotional connection to this festival.
And emotions are priceless.
As for Lu Chen, the reason he stood here tonight wasn't fame either; it was to fulfill a long-cherished wish. That was why he carried no pressure, no burden. He sang simply because he wanted to sing.
His song, 'Free Like The Wind', embodied his untamed spirit and unrestrained nature. It was a reflection of his own journey, his own philosophy of life.
Perhaps 'Free Like The Wind' couldn't quite match the legendary status of In Spring, Blue Lotus Flower, or Follow the Dream of the Red Heart, but Lu Chen's effortless, laid-back delivery brought this piece close to perfection.
With his guitar in his arms, standing before tens of thousands of listeners, he sang into the night breeze, his voice rising and soaring.
"Endless drifting, a hunger for freedom.
Bearing all the hardships alone.
I gave you warmth… but you turned it away."
"I'm 'Free Like The Wind'!"
The lyrics and melody were simple, repeated twice, yet each repetition carried a fresh wave of emotion. The audience embraced the song almost instantly. It wasn't heavy, nor radical, nor angry, yet it struck deep into their hearts, stirring memories of youth and dreams.
Who hadn't once been young?
"I'm 'Free Like The Wind'… like your tenderness that could never hold me."
By the third chorus, the audience was already singing along, reading the synchronized lyrics displayed on the giant screen behind him:
"I'm 'Free Like The Wind'!"
The boundaries between performer and audience dissolved. The festival's atmosphere hit a new crescendo. This, this was the dream of every vagabond singer at 72H: to ignite the crowd in a moment of pure resonance. And Lu Chen had achieved it effortlessly.
Back in the VIP section, Liao Jia pumped his fist at the climax of the chorus before clapping loudly.
His little brother was the real deal! Looks like he was going to lose that bet tonight. By the side of the stage, Shi Gang's lips curled into a bitter smile.
He had spent a decade honing his craft, pouring his soul into his music, hoping to stun the crowd tonight. Yet, compared to Lu Chen's song, his own works, City of Solitude and even Scar, felt lacking, overshadowed and outshined.
He wasn't deluded enough to pretend otherwise.
Going on stage before Lu Chen? What a mistake.
When 'Free Like The Wind' ended, the applause that thundered across the festival grounds was deafening, punctuated by sharp whistles.
Even those who still held grudges against Lu Chen had to admit: this was an excellent piece. Not quite a classic, perhaps, but tonight, it stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Releasing a song like this also showed Lu Chen's sincerity.
Frankly speaking, a singer of his caliber could casually sell a single for hundreds of thousands of yuan.
Yet there was no payment for performing at 72H, no matter if you were a megastar or an unknown drifter.
"Thank you, everyone!"
Lu Chen bowed deeply to the crowd, then turned to the band behind him. "And thank you, Nirvana!"
Wang Jing waved his free hand back at him, and Chen Zhiyong spun his drumsticks with a flourish.
The four young members of Nirvana were all fired up. This was their first time performing at 72H, their first time playing in front of such a massive audience. Each one of them had given everything they had.
Though Nirvana still had a long way to go before reaching the level of veteran bands, lacking in skill, depth, and musical maturity, their youth promised limitless potential.
Lu Chen smiled and announced, "Next is the second song. It's also brand new, and tonight will be its first-ever live performance."
A ripple of excitement spread through the audience.
Many had expected Lu Chen to follow the standard format: one new song and one classic hit, just like Liao Jia. But to everyone's surprise, he was bringing out two original pieces. The crowd buzzed with anticipation.
Usually, when a singer presented two songs at 72H, the second was even stronger than the first!
"This song," Lu Chen continued, "is called…"
'Free As a Dream!'
As the title flashed across the giant screen, a collective gasp rose from the audience.
At first, people thought they'd misread it, or that the display operator had made a mistake. But no, it really was called Free As a Dream. Just one word different from his first song!
What kind of trick was he playing?
The crowd erupted in chatter, puzzled and intrigued. Two songs… with only a single word's difference in the title?
Lu Chen didn't bother explaining. Instead, he glanced at Nirvana and gave a subtle gesture.
The intro began to play.
"Will you still think of me,
My dearest friend,
When I decide to let it all go,
And walk down the road to freedom?
Will you still stand by my side,
My most beloved family?
I've already said goodbye to yesterday,
And I'm sailing toward the road ahead…"
The opening verses were carried only by the soft strumming of a guitar, the questioning lyrics laced with a quiet melancholy. As Lu Chen sang, his gentle voice unfolded a vivid picture of parting, a farewell drenched in longing.
Then, the chorus struck.
The melody surged upward, bold and unrestrained, brimming with fire.
"I will be Free As a Dream,
As steadfast as the sky above.
On this winding, twisting path,
I'll uncover the meaning of life!"
With Lu Chen's voice soaring into higher notes, the theme of the song transcended its sorrow, swelling into something grand and breathtaking, a declaration of courage in the pursuit of freedom.
The audience felt it instantly, as if a chord deep within their souls had been plucked. A longing for freedom, a yearning for a better life flared in every heart.
For life's journey has boundaries, but the heart knows none. To pause, to step away from the ceaseless rush of the world, to gallop freely across wide-open plains and shatter the chains that weigh on the soul, only then can one find their true self.
Life needs moments of stillness.
Sometimes, letting yourself drift is the only way to truly see.
Perhaps that is the truest path to meaning.
This song's message went far beyond its lyrics.
"Will you still stand by my side,
My most beloved family?
Now I've already said goodbye to yesterday,
And I'm sailing toward the road ahead.
I will be Free As a Dream,
As vast as the earth itself.
On this exiled, rugged path,
I will ignite the light of life!"
Freedom. Individuality. Innovation. Creation. These were the very themes of the 72H Grassland Music Festival. Freedom had always been at the heart of Chinese rock music, from its rise to its decline. Lu Chen's two songs, both bearing the name of freedom, pierced the deepest, truest emotions of every fan and wandering singer present.
Neither 'Free Like The Wind' nor Free As a Dream were strictly rock in the purest sense, yet their spirit of freedom soared beyond what many so-called "hardcore rock" songs could achieve.
It made many reflect on the rebellious, aggressive, even nihilistic, attitude they had worshiped as the essence of rock. Could that obsession with extremity be one of the reasons Chinese rock had fallen from its glory days?
Because rock didn't have to be dark, destructive, or angry. It could be free, uplifting, and blazing with light.
Perhaps that was exactly why Lu Chen brought these two songs here tonight. As the audience recalled his previous works, In Spring, Blue Lotus Flower, and more, many wandering singers found themselves lost in deep thought.
In this moment, every spotlight converged on Lu Chen.
He was like the wind. Like a dream. Untamed and unbound.
"Lost!"
Backstage, Liao Jia let out a hearty laugh. He turned to the nearby vagabond singers and said, "Tomorrow night, everyone come to the Imperial Grand Restaurant. Drinks are on me!"
Big Brother Liao's word was as good as gold. He wasn't the type to back out of a promise. If he'd lost to Lu Chen, then he'd treat.
And he was happy to do so.
By the stage, Shi Gang could only shake his head in defeat, There was no comparison.
None at all.
He was genuinely convinced.
As Free As a Dream reached its final note, Lu Chen took a step back and bowed deeply.
Sweat glistened on his forehead, tiny beads sparkling under the bright stage lights. His eyes, however, shone even brighter, full of life and determination.
Applause erupted like thunder rolling through the mountains, unending and relentless. It swept over the open-air venue like a storm, carrying with it raw passion and sincerity.
With 'Free Like The Wind' and Free As a Dream, Lu Chen had proven his mastery beyond doubt. Two songs of freedom, and he had utterly conquered the tens of thousands in the crowd.
The ovation was well-earned.
"Bravo!"
"One more song!"
Fans screamed from every direction, waving their arms desperately to get his attention.
"Encore!"
A lone shout started it, but the chant quickly spread like wildfire.
"Encore!" "Encore!" "Encore!"
Thousands of voices merged into one. A single voice, pleading with him to stay, begging him to return.
Lu Chen paused, then bowed again. "Thank you!"
This wasn't the first time he'd felt the love of his fans. It wasn't the first time he'd basked in their cheers or been called back to the stage.
But tonight was different.
These fans, true lovers of music, were unlike any other.
They clung to their passion with a fierce devotion few could understand. But their love was real, pure, and unshakable.
To earn their recognition, their affection, their support, that was the highest honor of all.
(End of Chapter)