Chapter 136

"My youth is back!"

"Who would've thought Super Ma Liao sung with clappers would sound this good? I'm in love!"

"Su Meng! You bastard! Alright, I admit it—you've got me hooked…"

"My Tetris is number one under heaven, come fight me if you disagree!"

……

At Shi Fukuan's home.

His son had already frozen on the spot, his mind a tangled mess.

He didn't understand Naruto, but he did know the second segment's Ultraman.

The old man's health was poor—how on earth was he supposed to explain this?

Before he could come up with a plan, Su Meng's "Ma Liao Saves the Beauty" had already begun.

Shi Fukuan, who had been frowning in deep thought, suddenly froze and muttered.

"Ma Liao? Super Ma Liao? … Battle City? Red Fortress? Tetris?"

"Aren't these video games? How…"

"No, wait! He… he turned video games into a clapper routine?"

The old man pointed shakily at the screen, his words stumbling over themselves.

The little grandson behind him couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha, Grandpa, it's not just games."

"The first two segments he sang were Naruto and Ultraman—those are anime…"

"Nonsense!" The old man suddenly slammed the table and roared.

"Clappers are a traditional performing art—how dare he…"

Before he could finish, Su Meng's voice came through the TV, freezing him on the spot.

……

On the stage of the comic convention, Su Meng cupped his fists in a salute and chuckled.

"Ladies and gentlemen, since you like listening, I'll put in some extra effort."

"But you see, I'm a bit tired right now, so please give me a moment to grab some water and rest."

"Now, please welcome Master Xiao Yueyue to the stage and give us a segment."

"But as you all know, in the world of two-dimensional culture, looks are justice, and with Xiao Yueyue looking like that… tsk tsk tsk."

"So let's cut him some slack and let him perform a traditional clapper routine, 'Tongrentang'!"

"Are you folks willing to listen? Or willing to listen? Or willing to listen?"

"Willing to listen!"

Countless people in the audience roared in unison.

Xiao Yueyue was also a wildly popular contestant, and Su Meng's previous segment had already won him countless fans.

Brother Su Meng gave me a three-way choice, so of course I'd pick 'willing to listen'!

Huh? Why are all three options the same?

Xiao Yueyue paused briefly, then quickly walked onto the stage, took the clappers from Su Meng's hand, and said with a grin.

"Everyone, my clapper skills aren't great, and with my looks, the anime circle doesn't want me either."

"I'll perform a traditional clapper routine, 'Tongrentang'—please bear with me!"

After a few pleasantries, Xiao Yueyue struck a pose and began to sing.

"Tongrentang, founded as an old apothecary, Mr. here is like the carefree King of Loose Hands."

"The Medicine King sits right in the middle, with the ten great physicians lined up on both sides…"

In the past, young people attending a comic convention would never have wanted to listen to this.

But Su Meng had already whipped up the atmosphere, greatly boosting their interest in clappers.

Combined with Xiao Yueyue's popularity, the crowd was still quite willing to listen.

……

Xiao Yueyue understood in his heart that Su Meng was creating an opportunity for him, so he naturally gave it everything he had.

It was just a pity that his fundamental skills were indeed only so-so.

On top of that, "Tongrentang" was an extremely difficult routine.

With Xiao Yueyue's ability, trying to sing this routine well was honestly a bit lacking.

By the later parts, even audience members who didn't understand clappers could tell something was off.

The venue gradually began to stir with unrest.

Xiao Yueyue barely finished the segment on stage, saw the atmosphere cooling, and nearly burst into tears.

If this were a crosstalk performance, I'd absolutely blow the roof off the place.

But today, I've embarrassed myself to no end…

Seeing him finish, Su Meng chuckled and walked onto the stage, tugged at Xiao Yueyue, and signaled him not to leave.

Then he gave Xiao Yueyue a thumbs-up and said to the audience.

"How about it? Xiao Yueyue's a real one, right? He's genuinely honest."

"Said his skills aren't great, and they really aren't—no beating around the bush at all."

"Am I right, folks?"

"Right!" Seeing Su Meng take the lead, some people below mustered their courage and shouted sporadically.

Su Meng shook his head, his face full of anguished regret.

"Unprofessional! You lot in this audience are way too unprofessional!"

"Here, let me teach you all how it's done—"

Then he squared up toward Xiao Yueyue and started booing loudly, "Psssh…"

The audience below burst into laughter, and quite a few of them joined in with "Psssh…"

Su Meng waved his arm and said loudly.

"Still not in unison! How come some of you still can't bring yourselves to open your mouths?"

"Come on, everyone follow my lead—one! two! three! Psssh—"

"Psssh—" Following his countdown, the entire audience below heckled in unison.

Then a wave of laughter erupted.

So fun! This is really something!

Seeing Su Meng pull the atmosphere back together in just a few words, Yue Yue has already a bit dumbfounded.

Wait, isn't working up the crowd live my specialty?

He was dumbfounded, but Su Meng wasn't. Without a flicker of expression, he gave him a kick, then began to speak.

"That little bit you just did—don't even talk about the audience not being able to listen to it, even your Master couldn't stand listening to it."

Xiao Yueyue caught his cue, reacted at once, and picked up the thread smoothly.

"Really?"

"Of course! Just now when I was offstage, your Master Shifuzhuan Sect called me and asked me to give you a good scolding on his behalf."

"Oh dear, then what did my Master say?"

Su Meng tilted his head back to look at the ceiling, one hand on his hip, the other jabbing at the air, and hopping on one foot as he cursed.

"Xiao Yueyue, you've lost face for our patriarch—I'll beat you to death…"

As he spoke, he hopped a few more times, swatting his palm through the air.

Seeing him like this, the audience below burst out laughing at once.

Who couldn't tell he was roasting Guo Dagang's height?

Xiao Yueyue was also a master of improvised banter, reacting lightning-fast—he immediately bent over and shouted toward the floor.

"Master… please stop hitting me… my kneecaps are already hurting…"

"Hahaha…" Quite a few people in the audience laughed so hard their tears nearly came out.

Guo Dagang has to jump up to reach your kneecaps? Then just how short must he be?

"You're infuriating me to death! I'm so angry my face has gone black!"

"Master, that's because you were already dark to begin with…"

"You still dare to talk back? Guo Qilin, bring me my forty-meter broadsword—and grab a ladder on the way…"