Chapter 24: The Person You Used to Be

The man did not agree with Lilia’s claim that he was a loser.

He sneered, "A good song depends on who is singing it, doesn't it?"

"Are you implying that I don't sing well???"

If the man on the other end of the transmission had been standing before Lilia, she likely would have devoured him alive. However, separated by the screen, she could only glare at him with eyes full of fury.

"Lilia, there is no need for such temper. The only reason I called is to give you a reminder. Do not attempt to spout nonsense on the Interstellar Network. Otherwise, it is hard to say what kind of 'accident' might befall a D-rank female like you on Azure Star."

This was a naked threat. Although Interstellar regulations regarding the protection of females were indeed strict, they were not entirely without loopholes. For instance, she could "accidentally" encounter a pirate raid on her city, or be torn apart by a beast that had "accidentally" snuck in. They could even arrange for a male orc to lure her away to a wild planet. In short, the man had plenty of ways to deal with a low-ranking, low-born female.

His warning was serious. If Lilia kept her mouth shut, they were happy to follow the rules, but if she proved uncooperative, the Federation losing one female was of little consequence.

It must be said that Lilia was truly intimidated. She had originally intended to strike first—to accuse the other party of wrongdoing and leverage it for benefits, such as a school transfer or additional resources. She had not expected to be dealing with a madman who dared to openly defy interstellar law. Terrified, Lilia abandoned all thoughts of gain, left only with rage she dared not voice.

Fortunately, the money they had given her to frame Jiang Qin had not been reclaimed. With these Star Coins, she would not be completely destitute, but the bright future she had planned for herself had been ruined! Lilia gnashed her teeth in hatred. She hated the male who had discarded her after using her, she hated Jiang Qin for resisting, and she hated Jiang Rumeng. Why was she being blacklisted across the entire network and facing expulsion, while Jiang Rumeng could sit back in peace and watch her fight with Jiang Qin?

Hmph, she would drag her down with her. Let’s see if she could remain so high and mighty then.

Having made her decision, Lilia’s furious face twisted, a smug smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as if she were envisioning a beautiful scene.

***

Inside the live broadcast room, Jiang was preparing to sing her sixth song. The request was for rock music. It had to be said that this genre was a bit of a challenge for her. It wasn't that she couldn't perform it, but she might struggle to let go, especially with her voice, which would diminish the effect. However, she firmly believed that a great song could compensate for her shortcomings. She bowed her head, pondering which song would be most suitable.

After deciding, she stood up, guitar in hand, and cleared her throat. Afraid of feeling awkward, she changed the room’s background to a simulated prairie mode. In an instant, the brightly lit room transformed into a vast grassland. That was the convenience of the interstellar age; if you wanted to lie down anywhere, you just adjusted the room's holographic simulator. Though, this gadget was not cheap.

Once ready, Jiang Qin lowered her head and strummed the guitar casually. She began with a husky, languid voice:

"I once dreamed of traveling the world with a sword,
To see the prosperity of the world.
The heart of youth is always a bit reckless,
Now you wander to the ends of the earth..."

It was clear she was deliberately dropping her register. Even so, everyone found it pleasant to listen to. But some disagreed.

[Is this also rock?]
[It obviously is. Don't tell me something is wrong with your ears?]
[It’s not the same as the music library!]

The owner of the Nalan Bar, as if finding a point to smear Jiang Qin with, immediately contacted a group of hired posters to flood the screen, claiming this wasn't rock. Interstellar citizens’ perception of rock was that it had to be explosive, passionate, and surging. Consequently, many joined in the spam.

[The song is good, but it doesn't fit the title.]
[Could it be that the songs were all prepared beforehand, and now that she’s faced with something unprepared, her true colors are showing?]
[Heh, let’s see how you guys keep hyping her as a genius composer.]
[Everyone leave, it’s all just a persona.]
[No, doesn't this fit the title quite well? You can hear it as soon as it starts; it definitely has a rock style.]
[If you don't like it, leave, okay? We love listening to it!]
[This is rock. What you call rock is just a template. It is because everyone composes according to templates that our music scene hasn't produced a single talented newcomer in years.]
[Such a free-spirited song; it really makes me want to wander the world.]
[I want to go to a tourist planet, feel the breeze, and see a different kind of life...]

"Dilililidilililidada,
There is sadness, and there is brilliance.
Whenever I feel sad,
I just look at the sea alone..."

[Wow!! It sounds great! This is rock music, no doubt about it!]
[You have to understand, Jiang Qin only has a guitar. Unlike those songs that can synthesize sounds at will, this is just a simplified version.]

More and more people began to support Jiang Qin, even questioning if the massive wave of critical comments was the work of hired trolls. After all, the barrage had been abnormal since the broadcast began.

Old Zhan, a mercenary, was a regular at the bar. Having lived alone for many years and possessing a wealth of experience, he quickly noticed the changes within himself. He kept Jiang Qin's special nature a secret, watching her quietly. He didn't care about the true or false debates on the Interstellar Network; he only cared about tangible benefits. Whether Jiang Qin was a plagiarist or a genius didn't matter to him, as long as he could keep hearing her sing.

So, he ignored the chaos in the comments and sipped his inhibitor while listening to the song. After the previous few songs, his purification level hadn't dropped at all. He guessed it was because of the screen, which prevented him from coming into contact with her radiating spiritual power. But it didn't matter; even if it couldn't purify him, it had calmed his emotions and eased the pain in his mind. That was enough for a good night's sleep.

It wasn't until this rock song appeared that his mental fluctuations shifted. His orc gene was that of a Unicorn. As he listened to this song, he actually felt the urge to shift into his beast form and go wild in the wilderness! When the song ended, there was no doubt: his purification level had dropped by one percent!

Old Zhan was ecstatic! He hadn't expected to be purified through the Interstellar Network, though he didn't understand why the earlier songs hadn't caused a drop. Perhaps they hadn't resonated with his spiritual sea? Previously, he had only felt that the songs were pleasant and calming. But this one had made him feel as if he had truly seen a vast world! His spirit had almost lost control, nearly forcing him back into his beast form.

With this in mind, his eyes shimmered with intrigue. Although he wanted to keep this to himself, as more people discovered her, this little female wouldn't be able to stay hidden for long. Should he use this to make a fortune? Perhaps with wealth, he could find a female partner, and he wouldn't have to worry about being unsoothed in the future...