Chapter Forty-One: The Promotional Video Airs

After the Lantern Festival, the festive air of the New Year gradually faded, and people returned to their normal routines of work and life. In the same way, after the brief interlude of Spring Festival culture, entertainment returned to its regular course. Major television networks fiercely competed for ratings, putting on a dazzling array of shows.

At this moment, a promotional trailer appeared across all major broadcasting platforms. The highest-rated central channel, Xiangzhou Satellite TV, Blue Sea Satellite TV, Huating Satellite TV, MTV, as well as the two giant video platforms, Starry Sky and Gale, all aired it simultaneously. The scale of investment was staggering, and the influence behind it left many industry insiders astounded.

This music video, produced by Oriental Culture Media and directed by Fang Yu, opens with a boundless, sweeping desert. As the camera draws closer, amid the melodious chime of camel bells, a camel steps lightly out of an imposing city gate into the endless sands, leaving a trail of deep footprints behind. Time shifts; the scene returns to modern society, with the same wistful sound reminiscent of bells, this time emanating from a corner of a building with ancient charm. The words “Tang Dynasty Bar,” written in a distinctive style, appear before the audience.

Rousing music strikes up, the scene changes once more to reveal a magnificent palace complex. The wide shot fully showcases its majesty and grandeur. With the music, civil and military officials file through the palaces, passing stately guards and graceful maids, all vividly displaying the flourishing splendor of the Great Tang. In the next instant, the lens snaps back to the present: five musicians carrying their instruments stride past the bar’s entrance and head inside. The entire bar unfolds like a grand concert venue. Attendants dressed in exquisite attire, bartenders performing juggling feats with bottles—all of it showcases the bar’s unique character and irresistible charm.

The next moment, the scene returns to the dazzling palace, where a grand ball is underway. A dignified emperor and his officials raise cups in celebration of the golden age, while a troupe of gorgeously dressed dancers performs a captivating dance. The lead dancer’s every gesture and glance overflows with allure.

“Emperor Ming of Tang, Lady Yang,” some viewers immediately recognize. “This is the Dance of the Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat—the most representative song and dance of the High Tang, encapsulating the rise and fall of the Kaiyuan era and a legendary love story. Absolutely stunning.”

Indeed, this is the renowned Dance of the Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat, a performance recently reconstructed and revived, which has ignited a frenzy among historians, archaeologists, and the entertainment industry. It is considered one of the most classic dances, for it represents the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty, celebrates one of the Four Beauties—Lady Yang—and immortalizes a story of love that has touched generations. Fang Yu’s decision to include it in the music video reveals his meticulous care.

As the dance unfolds, the scene shifts once more to the present. On the radiant stage of the bar, a band is giving a passionate performance. Just as the forty-second prelude ends, the first line of the song rings out: “Chrysanthemum, ancient sword, and wine.”

“This prelude is something else,” many viewers marvel. “And yet, surprisingly, it doesn’t feel drawn out at all. It’s as if the story is just beginning.”

With each line of lyrics, the visuals transform: the fervent live performance in the bar, the tidal response of the audience, the bustling activity along the Silk Road in the desert, the tranquil scenes of men farming and women weaving in the southern water towns, the chilling aura of ancient battlefields, tattered flags, blood-stained scimitars. Paired with a distinctive vocal style, the video unfolds a tableau of the Kaiyuan era’s prosperity, while also highlighting the unique allure of the “Tang Dynasty” bar. Ancient and modern, splendid palaces and contemporary bars—seamlessly fused—each displaying their own charm to the fullest.

The MV’s finale is a scene of blood-red flames, roaring and consuming the majestic palaces and their glorious scenes. From the fire, a new, modern bar slowly emerges, and a line of words gradually appears in the center: Welcome to Tang Dynasty! A bar devoted to creating a unique bar culture.

Unquestionably, this trailer exploded in popularity. The networks and video platforms airing it were among the industry’s most influential, with enormous viewership and attention. Coupled with the trailer’s exceptional quality, its success was all but inevitable.

On the video platforms, the trailer racked up two hundred million views in a single day, with numbers still climbing. Enthusiastic viewers eagerly reposted the video across their own accounts, sharing reactions and reviews.

“This is incredible! This MV is absolutely top-tier, one of the best in history.”

“Unparalleled visuals and storytelling, unmatched music and vocals, an overwhelming impact—these are the only words that can capture my excitement. The director’s genius, the electrifying performance, it’s simply astonishing.”

“No more words—I’m already on my knees!”

“Is this a promo? An MV? An ad? None of that matters now. What matters is how exhilarating it is—it makes your blood boil, you can’t help but jump up and dance along.”

“What I’m most curious about is: What kind of bar is this? What kind of band performed this? And, the director is Fang Yu, whose talent speaks for itself—but who is Lin Qihua, the songwriter? Someone please fill me in.”

“You must not know, but let me explain. First, the Tang Dynasty Bar is the most famous bar in the San Dao Wan district of Yanjing. Drinking and enjoying performances by its three resident bands is a real treat. Since its renovation before the Spring Festival, it has developed its own unique style and bar culture. Unlike other places where drinking is the main event, here, drinks are just a bonus—the true draw is enjoying the music and spending time with friends. Second, the bar has three bands: Hellfire (the performers of this song), Rose, and Standard. All are outstanding, with three different styles, so there’s something for everyone. Third, the songwriter, Lin Qihua, is the lead singer of Hellfire. If you look him up, you’ll see he’s the same Lin Qihua who terminated his contract with Huayi last year. After leaving, he became the lead singer of Hellfire and wrote many great songs. He’s incredibly talented and an exceptional vocalist. Listening to the MV is one thing, but hearing him live is a whole different experience. If you’re interested, go see it in person—you’ll find he’s a singer truly worth supporting.”

Clearly, this was a regular at the Tang Dynasty Bar, and likely one of the bar’s hired online promoters, using personal experience to explain the bar and its band to countless viewers. There was no need for exaggeration—just objective facts—because everything was already on display in the MV, complete with images, sound, and undeniable proof.

There were many more like him, active across various platforms, tirelessly promoting the Tang Dynasty Bar, Hellfire, and Lin Qihua, as well as the stories surrounding him.

“So it’s him—a singer from Huayi who’s already debuted. No wonder he’s so talented. But why would Huayi let go of such a gifted singer-songwriter?”

“Exactly. I remember reading news about him around New Year’s. I looked it up and the claims don’t add up. Lack of ability? Disruptive? Acting like a diva? I can’t judge the latter two, but to say he lacks ability is laughable. I checked the national music registry—Lin Qihua has written not only ‘Dreaming of Tang Dynasty,’ but several other songs as both lyricist and composer. If they’re all as good as this one, or even close, who would dare say he’s not talented? The official copyright records don’t lie, and the video performance speaks for itself. Lack of ability? What a joke.”

“Based on what you said, I did some research too. The ‘Tianyin’ group Lin Qihua was in only replaced him and terminated his contract because of some problems. But how could such a talented singer be considered a drag on the group? I’d say it was the group holding him back. If the issue wasn’t on stage, it must have been offstage. So what happened in that group? Why did Lin have to leave? Why wasn’t leaving the group enough—why terminate his contract altogether? There must be more to this story.”

“There’s another thing: the news claims Lin Qihua has fallen from grace by singing in bars. But what’s wrong with singing in bars? Does that mean all of us who hit bars are degenerates too? That kind of reporting makes me seriously question the journalist’s professionalism.”

“This bar looks amazing—a concert venue in its own right. Many TV studios don’t even have a stage this good. Surrounded by such enthusiastic crowds, performing there must be a thrill. How is that ‘falling from grace’ in any way? I’m going tonight to experience the atmosphere for myself.”

The Tang Dynasty Bar’s campaign was executed with precision and force. Within two days, an army of regulars and professional promoters had conquered numerous platforms. The trailer for “Dreaming of Tang Dynasty,” the bar, and Lin Qihua all shot up the trending search lists.

And hidden amid all these topics, the glint of drawn blades continued to shimmer in the shadows.