Little Zhu kicked the bucket!

Chapter 61 The Hegemon Bids Farewell to Xi Shi

First, a few lines to set the background of the story. Feng Yi then closed his eyes and stood still before the desk, organizing the story in his mind.

The next moment, Feng Yi's eyes snapped open, a sharp divine light glinting within them. Dipping his brush in ink, he began to write with inspired fervor!

"The wind blew with a chilling intensity, and familiar songs, carried by the breeze, arrived with tears, and then departed with them.

Yu Ji frowned and walked into Xiang Yu's encampment.

'My King, the songs from the enemy camp...'

'I hear them. They are folk songs from our Chu land.'

Saying this, Xiang Yu raised his cup and drained the fine wine.

'Liu Bang's army is largely composed of Chu people. He must have conquered Chu. Thus, in this land of defeat and starvation, I have no retreat. Heaven has forsaken our Chu; this is not a fault of battle!'

Yu Ji's eyes welled with tears upon hearing this.

She quietly wiped them away, then silently sat before Xiang Yu, poured herself a cup, and said, 'Gaixia has high ground, difficult to attack and easy to defend. If my King holds his position, he can surely find an opportunity to break through!'

Xiang Yu sighed, picked up his sword, and walked out of the encampment.

Yu Ji followed him out, only to see Xiang Yu untie his horse, stroking its mane and saying, 'You have accompanied me in battles until now, and your service has been great. You should go and find a safe place for yourself.'

The Wuzhui horse seemed to understand, remaining motionless, only whinnying sadly in the wind, its cry desolate and mournful, like weeping and complaining.

Xiang Yu turned to look at Yu Ji and sang softly, 'My strength upturns mountains, my spirit overwhelms the world; the times are unfavorable, and Wuzhui does not move. Wuzhui does not move, what can be done? Yu Ji, Yu Ji, what can be done for you?'

Upon hearing this, Yu Ji drew her sword and began to dance, singing as she danced, 'I urge my King to drink and listen to Yu's song, to relieve your worries with my swirling dance. Ying Qin ruled unjustly and broke the land; heroes from all directions rose in conflict. Since ancient times, common words have not deceived me; success and failure, rise and fall, happen in an instant. Drink with a relaxed heart and sit in the precious tent!'

Before the song was finished, a scout suddenly reported that Liu Bang's army was attacking from four directions. The eight thousand soldiers, their morale shaken by the Chu songs, had scattered, leaving fewer than eight hundred.

Hearing this, Xiang Yu, holding Yu Ji, mounted his horse with his sword.

'My beloved, follow me as we break through the encirclement!'

Yu Ji kissed him and said, 'My King, if there is a next life, this concubine wishes to follow you and be a couple in the mountains and wilderness, cultivating the land and weaving cloth every day, living freely, not striving for anything, and not thinking about anything.'

After saying this, she drew her sword and committed suicide.

This was the last thing she could do for her King.

Xiang Yu roared in anger and wept, shocking the soldiers around him. No one had ever seen Xiang Yu shed tears; he was the Overlord of Western Chu, whose strength upturned mountains!

The eight hundred Chu soldiers charged against three hundred thousand.

When their spears broke, they threw them away and used swords.

When their swords were bent, they threw them away and used their limbs, their teeth.

Even in death, they wanted to take more enemies with them.

After all, they followed the Overlord of Western Chu!

Xiang Yu finally broke through alone to the banks of the Wujiang River. He alone killed several hundred people, but what was the point?

Yu Ji was dead, and his soldiers had all perished. What else did he have to face the elders of Jiangdong?

Xiang Yu looked at the turbulent river, drew the sword with which Yu Ji had committed suicide, and closed his eyes.

A gentle light then appeared before him, and he seemed to see Yu Ji. Her expectations echoed in his ears as he committed suicide by the river!"

Ink exhausted, brush stilled. The writing flowed, a single, unbroken stream!

When Feng Yi collected his thoughts and detached himself from the story, he noticed that the three people present were all gathered around him, engrossed in the story of the Overlord's Farewell to Yu Ji.

"Mr. Feng Yi, can you change the ending so that Xiang Yu and Yu Ji successfully break through?!" Fan Erye pleaded with Feng Yi, his face etched with sorrow, clearly still affected by the tragic end of Xiang Yu.

"It cannot be changed! It must not be changed!"

Feng Yi sighed deeply. To alter it would be to ruin a timeless masterpiece.

The reason why "The Overlord's Farewell to Yu Ji" has been revered by people of Hua Xia for centuries as a timeless masterpiece is due to the following points.

Firstly, tragedy!

Tragedies always move people the most. The hero's downfall, the beauty's decline, parting of life and death, a flower leaving the tree.

There are many tragedies in life, but among those that resonate widely with people, the story of the Overlord's Farewell to Yu Ji encompasses almost all of them.

Secondly, contrast!

Small events within large ones, minor characters before major figures, individual destinies against the wheels of history.

This immense contrast generates a special effect.

The Chu-Han contention is a grand event; the Overlord's Farewell to Yu Ji is a small event.

Xiang Yu is a major figure; Yu Ji is a minor figure.

The struggle for the imperial throne between Chu and Han is the wheel of history; the love between Chu and Yu is personal destiny.

Viewing the small from the large, and the large from the small, seeing the forest in a flower, seeing paradise in a dewdrop.

This special contrast creates a special destiny.

Thirdly, it satisfies human inner needs!

Most men wish that, in their most desperate moments, there would be a pair of gentle eyes that believed in them with unwavering conviction and followed them.

Most women wish for a man who stands tall and strong, who is devoted and caring, and who, even if they cannot stand at the pinnacle of the world together, regards them as his sole love.

Xiang Yu and Yu Ji in "The Overlord's Farewell to Yu Ji" perfectly fit this psychological framework.

Fourthly, the abrupt ending, leaving a lingering resonance, a result without a conclusion, is the most unforgettable!

The most unforgettable thing is not how difficult it was, but that it was left unfinished.

The reason most people can't forget their first love is simply because it didn't reach its conclusion.

Non-professionals might not understand, but a good work of art should never be over-embellished or arbitrarily altered!

"Why can't it be changed? It's just a matter of you moving your pen!"

Fan Erye truly disliked tragic endings. Currently, theatrical performances in Liyue all have happy endings, which makes the audience comfortable and more likely to offer tips.

If a performance disheartens the audience, who would want to give tips? How would the Heyu Teahouse earn money!

In Fan Erye's opinion, this story was written by Feng Yi. Changing the ending was merely a matter of moving his pen. Why pretend to be profound?

"You ignorant outsider, Feng Yi can write it however he wants. If you're so capable, write a good story yourself!"

Although Hu Tao also felt regret for the ending of "The Overlord's Farewell to Yu Ji," she was displeased to see Fan Erye refuting Feng Yi and immediately stood up for Feng Yi without hesitation!

She would support Feng Yi even if it meant opposing the world!

"You, you young girl..."

Hu Tao's words were sharper than any blade, leaving Fan Erye speechless.

"Mr. Feng Yi, truly a great talent! Elevating the theme with a tragic ending is indeed a unique stroke of genius!"

Zhong Li, having read extensively, saw things far beyond Fan Erye's comprehension. Feng Yi's technique impressed him, and he addressed him as "Mister" without reservation.

"See? Even the learned and talented Zhong Li says so. Are you more learned than Zhong Li?!"

Hu Tao said with a proud smile, her eyes curved. Hearing Zhong Li praise "her" Feng Yi made her happier than if he had praised herself.