[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans":3,"chapter-the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-336":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1298000,1723,"Chapter 336: Jiang Ci Ascends the “High Tower” Alone","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-336",336,"\u003Cp>Chapter 336: Jiang Ci Ascends the \"High Tower\" Alone\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment those two words left Hou Hsiao-hsien's mouth, a majestic, grand, ancient melody of the utmost intensity burst forth from the venue's surround sound system!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was \"The Song of Gaixia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tragic song of the Hegemon's final stand, where blood stained the mountains and rivers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very first note of the music, Qin Feng had already reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was not a trace of the disappointment of defeat on his face. Instead, there was a bone-deep sense of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He abruptly stood up and, under the focus of countless camera lenses, fiercely pulled the young man who was still sitting quietly beside him into a tight embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force was so great it made Jiang Ci's slender frame sway slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Feng's palm heavily, repeatedly, patted Jiang Ci's back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good lad! Well done!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This embrace held no encouragement from a senior to a junior, nor was it a congratulation for a new king replacing an old emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only the profound relief of having a thousand-pound weight lifted from one's shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Feng stood up, and a silent command spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first row, Director Wei Song, Zhang Mouyi, veteran actors Huang Shengqiu and Liu Hanyu, and the female lead Zhao Yingfei all rose to their feet in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, the second row, then the third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those fellow nominated actors, renowned directors from the industry, producers holding the reins of capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one took the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one issued a call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From front to back, from left to right, people stood up one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall rose to its feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, applause erupted and continued for a long, long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This applause was not about courtesy, nor was it about congratulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the highest form of respect for a madman who had gambled his life to earn a role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Song stood behind Jiang Ci, looking at that still-thin back under the glare of camera flashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally couldn't hold back, took off his glasses, and roughly wiped the corner of his eye with his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't happy for Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was happy for that young man who had driven a Film Emperor to the brink at the Hongmen Feast, who had demanded nineteen revisions to the prop sword by the Wu River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much blood and tears this trophy was stained with, only he knew best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci stiffened for a moment in that scorching embrace before slowly raising his hand and gently patting Qin Feng's back in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed Qin Feng away and straightened up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He adjusted the lapel of that light-devouring black suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[My ribs... Does Teacher Qin want to deliver the final blow to Xiang Yu off-screen?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci deadpanned in his heart, simultaneously exhaling the breath that had been squeezed out of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he stepped onto the stairs leading to the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were seven steps in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked neither hurriedly nor slowly, his steps steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the left side of his chest, at the heart position, the \"Blood Medal\" pigeon-blood ruby brooch flashed with a piercing light under the spotlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked onto the stage, towards the cinematic giant standing there in his Tang Suit, proud and unyielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Hsiao-hsien held the heavy golden trophy in both hands, not immediately handing it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man before him, his face having regained some color yet still pale,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>looked into his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed the trophy into Jiang Ci's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the silent passing of the torch between two generations of filmmakers, at the pinnacle of the transition between old and new reigns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci held the trophy, his palm feeling the temperature of the metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded to Hou Hsiao-hsien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he turned and walked alone towards the microphone at the center of the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lights focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The background music of \"The Song of Gaixia\" gradually softened, fading into a mournful sound of wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The applause in the hall also gradually subsided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone held their breath, waiting for the acceptance speech of this newly crowned Film Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting for his ecstasy, his excitement, or his tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Jiang Ci just stood there quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the trophy, his gaze lowered to the stage beneath his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full ten seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The venue fell into complete silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bullet comments in the live stream stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The media reporters in the front row held their cameras, fingers hovering over the shutter buttons, forgetting to press them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci was not organizing his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was listening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the neighing of horses and howling of wind from the Wu River crossing two thousand years ago—sounds that did not exist at all within this hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he raised his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The microphone carried his cool, clear voice to every corner of the venue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This chair is too cold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did he say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The throne of the Film Emperor, he said it was... cold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci paid no mind to the astonishment below the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He extended his other hand, his fingertip gently stroking the golden trophy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carved patterns on it pressed against his skin, transmitting a faint, stinging sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Many people say I acted well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice held no inflection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, I didn't act.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just lent this body, for those few months, to the man named Xiang Ji.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audience below erupted into complete commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of acceptance speech was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he gone mad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not thank any platform, did not thank his company, did not thank the directors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not even thank the organizing committee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began to list a series of unfamiliar names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you to Old Zhang from the Props Team.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below the stage, in a remote corner, an old man with graying hair and a face full of wrinkles jerked his head up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your sword was very heavy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man froze, remembering that night when he was forced to revise the prop sword nineteen times,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>remembering the final words the young man had said: \"Three grams lighter, and the weight of a hero going to his death is gone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes reddened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you to that older brother in the Background Actors group, whose name I don't know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci's gaze traversed the venue, landing on a certain spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"During the Battle of Julu, when you died in my arms that day, your body was truly trembling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for that tremor. It was the only human warmth Xiang Yu felt when he slaughtered the two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reporters in the media area forgot to press their shutter buttons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stared dumbfounded at the young man on the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never had a Film Emperor, at an awards ceremony, given thanks to a prop master,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to a background actor whose name he didn't even know,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to those specks of dust on the film set, the most insignificant, the most easily overlooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the back row, Liu Wei lowered his head to look at his own well-maintained, clean, and slender hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the hands of a \"performer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that young man on the stage, though dressed in the highest-grade custom-tailored suit,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wei could see through that layer of fabric a pair of hands stained with blood and dirt,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hands that existed solely to \"live as\" another person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Liu Wei felt an absurd chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized he hadn't lost. Rather, from the very beginning, they had not been running on the same track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci held the trophy, his gaze passing over everyone in the audience, looking towards the darkness of the venue's exit,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as if looking at an old friend waiting there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought of his own father, a narcotics hero whose name could not even be remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought of those nameless ones, like his father, who burned themselves out in the darkness, unable to leave even a wisp of smoke behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the true actors, using their lives to play another role until the curtain fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was merely a lucky imitator, able to live in the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke into the microphone, uttering his final sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lastly, I want to dedicate this award to those...\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1408,"2026-06-05T18:00:08.557Z",1,"novelbin.me","286cff66a5be703cb20eaf251543c48846963dd0fc3d44ed0e59a6c6edcd1beb","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-337","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-335",366,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-cover.jpg"]