Chapter 244: Bronze Drum Soul (The Ma Shang Cave Has Vanished)

Luo Shigen and Meng Jiumei were both able-bodied youths left in the village, with little exposure; though they could read and write, they had never owned a mobile phone and had few chances to leave the village in their entire lives.

Brought by Qin Yun to the recording studio, their hands trembled, unsure where to put them.

Qin Yun first spent half a day recording the backing track, using entirely electronic simulation. The production team relied solely on Qin Yun's recorded video as reference—for the sounds of cowhide drums and bronze drums, bamboo clappers and bronze bells, small wind barrels, ox-horn trumpets, and the hum of spinning tops—all were electronically simulated.

Originally, when he proposed modifying the Bronze Drum Array, the clan elders had firmly opposed it.

They had performed this ritual for centuries—how could it be changed so easily? But after seeing all of Qin Yun's ideas and the songs he had written, they were moved by the effects he described.

Finally, the clan elders convened a meeting with respected villagers, and only then was the decision settled—but even then, changes could not be too extensive.

Qin Yun was already very satisfied with this.

After the backing track was recorded, next came the song recording—but Luo Shigen and Meng Jiumei had never experienced anything like this; they were flustered, hands shaking and unsure where to place them, let alone singing. Mistakes piled up, and they couldn't even find the pitch.

After several hours, only a tiny portion had been recorded, leaving both of them utterly lost in anxiety—and the more nervous they became, the worse they recorded.

Qin Yun decided to pause and took them out to eat.

At the dinner table, both were gloomy and low-spirited.

"Eat. Only when you're full can you sing with strength."

Luo Shigen picked up his chopsticks, ate two bites, then put them down. He sighed dejectedly: "Big Brother Qin, I think I can't do this. Maybe the elders should pick someone else."

"Yeah," Meng Jiumei nodded in agreement. "I feel we're just not suited for this."

Qin Yun smiled: "Whether you're suited or not is my call."

He looked at them: "Judging purely by your voices, you're perfect—I, as the composer of this song, can confidently say that."

"You lack only confidence and experience. So look at me—am I in a hurry? Because I know this process is normal. Even professional singers don't record that quickly. You don't need to stress like this."

"Really?"

Qin Yun nodded solemnly: "Of course it's true. And think about it—once this song is recorded and the plan is rolled out, your voices will be heard throughout the village and across the internet. People will dance and sing along to your songs. Imagine how that feels."

Their eyes slowly brightened. Even without considering the internet, just imagining their songs playing during village rituals… the feeling was truly wonderful.

Seeing their confidence return, Qin Yun exhaled slightly—he had truly feared they might give up.

…

After two days of recording, the three returned to the village.

Su Huan saw him and asked curiously: "How did it go? Was it smooth?"

Qin Yun shook the hard drive in his hand: "Smooth enough. Want to listen?"

Su Huan thought for a moment, then shook her head: "No, I'll wait until the rehearsal."

"Fine, suit yourself. I'm going to find the clan elders. How's Duoduo these past two days?"

"She's weaker," Su Huan's eyes dimmed, and she sighed. "She won't last many more days."

"I understand."

Qin Yun turned to find the clan elders.

Seeing them, he immediately began discussing the revised Bronze Drum Array ritual—there were actually few changes; only the opening song needed to match, the rest was just backing track for a long time.

The clan elders listened, then nodded immediately—but before approving, they needed to hear Qin Yun's composition first.

Qin Yun pulled out his phone and pressed play.

As the rhythm began, the opening roar and the wild, rustic singing instantly struck the clan elders' hearts. Their eyes grew brighter, as if vivid scenes of the original Bai Ku Yao rituals—the Bronze Drum Array, Monkey Dance, circle-drum stepping songs, spinning tops—flooded before them.

Seeing the elders seemed satisfied, Qin Yun said: "During rehearsal, only a few parts need to sync with the song—the rest don't need adjustment."

"Good. Rehearse tomorrow."

"Yes. After rehearsal, record."

"But what about the homestay? I asked everyone—they have no experience and don't know how to start."

Qin Yun asked: "How many households agreed to run homestays?"

"Seven."

"Then good. I'll have my girlfriend talk to them. The homestay is critical—keeping visitors overnight is the key. Only if people stay can surrounding products keep selling in a cycle."

"Alright."

…

Qin Yun's plan wasn't complicated—since Jiaping Village had nothing special, he'd conceived the idea of composing a song to provide external support. And he owed it to the reward from the previous check-in task.

When he received the songwriting skill that day, he was speechless.

He didn't even hang out in the entertainment industry—why give him this skill? Now, it turned out to be exactly what he needed. Had he not written this song himself, he never would have believed he could create cultural works.

"Did you all remember?"

Qin Yun looked at the villagers.

"Remembered!"

"Good. Let's rehearse once."

He nodded toward Su Huan at the perimeter; she immediately took her position.

"Wum—!"

As the ox-horn trumpet sounded, Su Huan pressed play.

As the progress bar moved, a vast, echoing roar rose—Luo Shigen's voice.

Hey—!

Bright—!

Hey yo! Bright—!

Ho—!

The Yao mountains open their gates!

Hey—!

Brighten up—!

The bronze drum shakes the mountain's soul!

Accompanying the intro, the elder began to dance, but since it was rehearsal, he made no grand movements—just simple gestures.

Soon, the main verse began:

Male:

The ox-horn blows, stirring clouds across a thousand peaks

The ancient village burns incense to honor ancestors

Female:

The bronze drum lines up, arraying sun and moon

The sun pattern carves the rings of years

Male:

Sticky resin dyes the clothes, swaying in the wind

White trousers tread in song, descending to mortal dust

……

Luo Shigen and Meng Jiumei's voices, rugged and powerful, blended with the stomping steps and the bronze drum's "tang-tang" beats—a copper drum ritual unlike any other appeared in Jiaping Village.

Su Huan saw it for the first time; she was instantly captivated by the song and the scene.

Then her gaze settled on the man at the center, and her beautiful eyes shimmered with countless stars.

Who doesn't love having a man who's a treasure—an endless treasure to dig up?

Hey—!

Brighten up—!

The bronze drum's echo lingers through the hills

Generation after generation follows on

Hey…

Brighten up…

As the finale ended, new accompaniment began—this follow-up music Qin Yun had spent hours crafting, so there was no worry it would run out.

After discussing and correcting issues with the elder and others, Qin Yun immersed himself in rehearsal for several consecutive days.

And as time passed, the song "Bronze Drum Yao Soul" gradually grew more perfect.

Until this day: the first official performance was set for June 18.

In the vast drying yard, all villagers participating in the copper drum ritual were in place; on a prime elevated spot, a girl named Lan Duo rested in a wheelchair, Su Huan supporting her from behind, ready to witness the full ceremony for the first time.

Su Huan placed her phone in Lan Duo's hands and whispered softly: "Duo Duo, when I say 'play,' tap the play button, okay?"

Lan Duo nodded.

As the hour arrived, the ox-horn sounded again.

"Wum—!"

"Duo Duo, tap play."

At once, Lan Duo pressed the play button, and a rhythmically powerful melody erupted.

It jolted her heart, lifting her spirit slightly.

Then the ritual officially began.

Qin Yun's three camera positions were in place, recording the entire process.

The bamboo clapper shatters mountain dew

The hide drum urges open ten thousand doors

Ancient methods spin sun and moon

Silver bells shake down evening stars

Song, shouts, bronze drum, ox-horn—each scene, Qin Yun captured it all.

……

"How was it? What do you think?"

Qin Yun asked, looking at Su Huan and Lan Duo.

Lan Duo smiled: "Wonderful, Brother Qin Yun, you're so amazing."

"Hahaha, of course! Later, Brother Qin Yun will livestream from even more places—you've got to watch, okay?"

"I will," Lan Duo nodded firmly, though inside she thought: if I'm still alive.

Qin Yun uploaded his video—onto Douyin, TikTok, YouTube.

With his fanbase size, the moment he posted, views, likes, comments, shares exploded like gunpowder meeting a spark.

"Holy shit, this song is so good."

"The drumbeat hits and your hairs stand on end—sure enough, ethnic is universal."

"Where is this? Where did Brother Qin go?"

"Whoa, bamboo clapper, bronze drum, unified shouts—the moment the sound comes, your soul resonates."

"Not flashy at all, but somehow addictive—I watched once and wanted to watch again."

"This is what Chinese ethnic culture should look like: vibrant, confident, neither crude nor clichéd."

"What tribe is this?"

"Looks like the White-Pants Yao."

"Damn, fifty-six ethnic groups, fifty-five singing and dancing—what the hell are the Han doing?"

The Han people are watching.

As the video spread, the song and the copper drum ritual in the footage went viral overnight, with countless people demanding the location.

Qin Yun had anticipated this; with the seven homestays already fully prepared, he pinned his own comment to the top of the comment section.

{Location: Jiaping Village, Bayi Township, Nandan County, Hechi, Guangxi; every Saturday, a copper drum ritual is held here, accompanied by song and dance, honoring heaven, earth, and ancestors. Here, you'll find ancient spinning tops passed down through tradition; white-pants Yao fabric dyed with sticky resin; and the mysterious copper drum sacrifice. Friends interested are welcome to come see. }