Chapter 032: A Shocking Arrival!

Inside the Lotus Television Station’s surveillance room, a hush had fallen. The reason was simple—General Win himself had called into the live broadcast.

Stunned, Director Tang ordered the staff to immediately bring up all available information on Win Dengbo, displaying it both on the main monitor and the three-dimensional broadcast screen. It was imperative that Le Xiaotian be made aware of everything.

At that moment, Sun Yuzhen sensed something amiss. Her husband’s meteoric rise lately had been nothing short of astonishing, but what exactly was this military star Win Dengbo’s true intention?

The background check must have already been completed, for Le Xiaotian now spun his leather chair around. When his gaze fell upon the screen, his pupils contracted ever so slightly.

Win Dengbo, forty-two, triple-star general of the Fama Federation, renowned for his military exploits and beloved by the people. A decade prior, he had secured his most famous victory—an engagement marked by overwhelming odds and Fama’s desperate disadvantage.

Yet, with just three thousand drummers performing his original march, “At All Costs,” Win Dengbo had miraculously reversed the tide. So, he was a master of military music. Realizing this, Le Xiaotian smiled. “So it’s General Win. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. However, I’m afraid our cooperation may not be possible.”

Win Dengbo’s voice was calm. “Why not?”

Fear is born of the unknown, and with the truth revealed, Le Xiaotian was no longer anxious. Lighting another cigarette, his gaze grew profound. “Since you’ve called in, General, I assume you’ve done your homework on me as well. Tell me, do you really think I need this partnership?”

Win Dengbo replied, “Le Xiaotian, twenty-three, in less than two months you’ve released nearly a hundred masterpieces, blending genres from epic, symphonic, pop, electronic, rock, country, to folk—each earning universal acclaim. For reasons unknown, you chose the uniquely challenging path of singer-host. Your live experience: eight sold-out shows in Jiufeng Main Hall, each with two thousand in attendance.

“Moreover, you’re simultaneously serializing and broadcasting the epic fantasy ‘Journey to the West’ on MusicNet and in ‘Perfect Myth.’ My conclusion: you’re a conducting prodigy, and your ambitions lie elsewhere. Am I right?”

Le Xiaotian chuckled. “There’s no hiding from you, General.”

Win Dengbo continued, “The challenge for a conductor is always having a worthy ensemble. For a prodigy like you, the arts pose no real challenge. What you need is to cultivate virtuosos—a god of the violin, a song deity, a drum master, a dance legend, a poet immortal. Isn’t that so?”

Though currently a lone conductor, there was no need to say so outright.

So Le Xiaotian merely shrugged. “Since you know my goal, General, why worry that I might fail to shake up Blue Vast? Besides, I do have an ensemble. My eighty-eight musicians are out gaining experience as we speak.”

Win Dengbo cut to the heart of the matter. “With your displayed talent, how could your musicians be ordinary? If you truly led a group, they’d already be famous across the music world. I suspect your ensemble is but a prototype. It’s not like you to lead just anyone. And if you don’t have a real group yet, that explains everything. You lack fame, and your stage experience is still limited. Isn’t that so?”

Le Xiaotian protested slyly, “General, it’s a secret operation. Do you understand? The music world is vast—so vast I could say it nine thousand times.”

Win Dengbo pressed on. “It’s precisely because your skills are so unparalleled that your artistic works must be a hot commodity—pirated to excess. You won’t sell cheap, as your fame isn’t yet high enough to command the price you deserve. You need strength to protect your creations. This collaboration could be your opportunity.”

Indeed, as Win Dengbo said, companies hounded him daily for rights—an endless nuisance.

After surviving the bloody alleyway battle in Haoyi with his eight sworn brothers, the clamor had lessened, likely because all now feared Zhang Hao, the Dark Star of North Sea. No one dared challenge him—except Le Xiaotian.

But that was just North Sea; true multinational conglomerates were a different breed. They remained undeterred, still clamoring for rights—an endless headache.

Not that he could admit it.

At that, Le Xiaotian’s expression turned solemn. “General Win, to be perfectly honest, money is no concern for me. Fame and glory hold little appeal. Piracy? I’m letting them have their way for now; but one day, they’ll pay it all back with interest—believe it or not. What matters most is, I won’t sell the rights because I haven’t found true lovers of music and dance. Otherwise, I’d freely share all my masterpieces. Understand?”

Win Dengbo replied approvingly, “Your philosophy of conducting truly impresses me. But it’s precisely because you’re so gifted that you now need greater fame—to attract musicians capable of fully realizing your vision. Only then will you have time to prepare for the ‘All-Star Extreme Challenge.’ Do you agree?”

Good grief, must he poke at his sorest spot? He would find his musicians, no matter what!

At this point, Le Xiaotian could only play his final trump card—the supreme authority of a dance god conductor. “I refuse to cooperate.”

But Win Dengbo had already surmised that Le Xiaotian was not yet the true dance god conductor, only that he had the potential.

So, he dropped a bombshell. “Perhaps you’re unaware—Blue Moon Island is under my control. Thirty thousand hostages, and the high-tier triple-star dance instrument ‘Crystal Violin’ has locked onto North Sea. If you agree to cooperate, we’ll broadcast nationwide. If not, I’ll seek another network.”

What a staggering revelation!

He hadn’t even had a chance to take Su Yun to Blue Moon Island, and now it was occupied?

Thirty thousand hostages—what was his aim?

A general so beloved by Fama’s people, holding thirty thousand hostages—this was explosive news.

Dance instruments were classified from basic, intermediate, advanced, to divine, each with a five-star rating. A high-tier triple-star instrument—could North Sea survive its power?

A national broadcast—an undeniable way to boost his fame. General Win truly saw through him.

In a flash, the situation had been upended.

Only now did Le Xiaotian realize that General Win was his superior in cunning.

At first, Win Dengbo had been humble, earnestly seeking cooperation. After leading him in circles, he then unveiled this supreme bait.

If he truly were the dance god conductor, he’d have no need for this opportunity—he’d find Win Dengbo and slap him outright.

But, as things stood, he was simply a lone conductor. This opportunity, he might just have to accept.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Le Xiaotian replied, “I need to think it over.”

At last, Win Dengbo laughed—a restrained sound, but unmistakable in its meaning. “No need to investigate further. I’ll contact you again in half an hour.”

When the call ended, Le Xiaotian exhaled deeply, his face grave.

The surveillance room remained dead silent. The sheer volume of information exchanged was overwhelming.