Brother, just how powerful is our family?

The camera panned across the audience: there were elderly people with white hair accompanied by their grandchildren, young couples holding hands, groups of Hanfu enthusiasts, and professional photographers carrying long lenses and tripods. Everyone's face was filled with anticipation.

The screen was quickly flooded with comments:

"Wow, there are so many people!"

"Yao Yao looks so beautiful today!"

"I'm there! I'm in the third row!"

"I envy those who were there in person; I can only watch the live stream."

"When does it start? I can't wait!"

Qin Yao adjusted the camera and began her explanation: "Before the performance begins, I'd like to talk to you about 'The Qin King's Battle Song.' Some of you may not be familiar with it, but this musical dance holds special significance in the history of the Tang Dynasty."

She paused, her voice becoming solemn: "In 619 AD, not long after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, it was beset by internal and external troubles. The Turkic army pressed in, and rebellions broke out everywhere within the country. At this critical moment of life and death, Prince Qin, Li Shimin, led his army to a great victory over Xue Rengao, the son of Xue Ju, the Hegemon-King of Western Qin, at Qianshuiyuan. To celebrate this victory, the musicians composed the 'Music of Prince Qin Breaking the Enemy's Formation.'"

"Later, this music and dance became the military music and national music of the Tang Dynasty. Every performance inspired the soldiers' fighting spirit and intimidated the enemy. Historical records show that the real 'Qin King's Battle Music' was magnificent, with 120 people in armor and holding halberds dancing, and the sound could be heard for hundreds of miles, shaking the valleys."

In the live stream, a fan familiar with history added:

"It is said that this music and dance performance extended the life of the Tang Dynasty by thirty years!"

"Li Shimin was the ruler of Asia in the 7th century!"

"The title of 'Emperor of the Ages' is no exaggeration!"

"The original 'Qin King's Battle Song' has been lost; this is a modern reconstruction."

Qin Yao nodded: "Yes, the original 'Qin King's Battle Music' has been lost. What we are seeing today is a version carefully restored by the artists of the Luo City Song and Dance Theater based on historical records and combined with the characteristics of Tang Dynasty music and dance. Although it is impossible to restore it 100%, it is enough for us to feel the grandeur of that prosperous era."

As soon as he finished speaking, all the lights in the stadium suddenly went out.

A gasp rippled through the audience, which quickly subsided.

In the darkness, the deep sound of drums rose from all directions.

thump -- thump -- thump --

Slow, heavy, each strike resonated deep within the heart.

The drumbeats gradually quickened, from slow to fast, from sparse to dense. Accompanying the drumbeats, the horns sounded, desolate yet powerful.

A spotlight shone on the center of the stage.

Twenty dancers appeared in the pillar of light. They were all bare-chested, wearing leather skirts and barefoot. Their bronze skin gleamed healthily under the lights, their muscles clearly defined but not grotesque; instead, they possessed a sculpted beauty.

What's most striking is their makeup—their faces are painted ochre, their foreheads are adorned with yellow floral patterns, their eyebrows are strong, and their eyes are sharp. This is a restored version of the makeup of Tang Dynasty soldiers.

"My God..." someone in the audience exclaimed in a low voice.

The live stream chat exploded instantly:

"Here it comes!"

"Those muscles! That aura!"

"The makeup is so accurate!"

"I'm getting goosebumps!"

Qin Yao lowered her voice to explain: "Look, everyone, the dancers' makeup and costumes are restored based on Tang Dynasty murals and terracotta figurines. The Tang Dynasty valued martial arts, and men were considered beautiful for their strength. This kind of dance with bare upper bodies not only showcases muscles, but also the masculinity and martial spirit of that era."

The drumbeats suddenly quickened.

The dancers moved.

There were no fancy movements, no complicated formations. They held replicas of Tang Dynasty halberds, and their movements were vigorous and powerful. Stepping, turning, slashing, blocking... every movement was full of power, yet it also carried the rhythm of dance.

Their footsteps pounded the ground with a rhythmic thud, blending seamlessly with the sounds of drums and horns.

"wind!"

The lead dancer suddenly shouted.

"wind!"

All the dancers responded in unison, their voices deafening.

"Strong wind!"

"Strong wind!"

This was the battle cry of the Qin army. This element was preserved in the Tang Dynasty's "Qin King's Battle Song" to commemorate the might of the Qin Dynasty and inspire the soldiers.

In the audience, many people subconsciously straightened their backs.

Qin Yao continued her explanation: "Everyone, please pay attention to the dancers' steps and movements. This is choreographed based on historical records describing formations as 'left circle, right square, first sideways then in formation, fish in formation, geese in formation, winnowing baskets spread out and wings unfurled.' It simulates changes in battle formations—circular formation, square formation, wedge formation, goose formation…"

On stage, the dancers' formations were indeed constantly changing. Sometimes as solid as a city wall, sometimes as sharp as a blade, and sometimes as turbulent as waves.

The drumbeats grew more urgent, and the horn calls grew louder and louder.

The dancers' movements grew faster and more intense. Sweat slid down their bronze skin, glistening under the lights. Their muscles were bulging, veins popping, yet they didn't appear savage at all; instead, they possessed an ultimate fusion of power and beauty.

The audience fell completely silent. Everyone held their breath and watched intently.

Suddenly, the drumming and horn sounds stopped abruptly.

The dancers remained frozen on the stage, maintaining a charging posture.

silence.

The deathly silence lasted for five seconds.

Then, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, like a mountain roaring and a tsunami, lasting for a long time.

"good!"

"This is absolutely stunning!"

"This is the true grandeur of the Tang Dynasty!"

In the live stream chat, the comments were so numerous that the screen was almost invisible.

"My God, this is so exciting!"

"Is this the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty at its peak?"

"I felt my very soul was shaken!"

"The dancers are amazing! How long must they have been practicing!"

"I want to travel back to the Tang Dynasty..."

The applause lasted for two minutes before the dancers slowly finished their routine and lined up to take their bows. They were panting and sweating profusely, but their eyes remained bright and their postures upright.

Qin Yao's voice was also somewhat excited: "My darlings, this is the 'Qin King's Battle Song.' Although it's just a restored version, we can already feel the spirit and grandeur of the Tang Dynasty that brought tribute from all directions."

The performance ended, but the audience lingered, reluctant to leave. Many people rushed to the front of the stage, wanting to get a closer look at the dancers and take photos. The dancers were very cooperative, patiently interacting with the audience.

Qin Yao noticed that many of the audience members were young women, and their eyes were full of appreciation for the dancers—a pure appreciation of strength and beauty, without any vulgarity.

This is precisely what makes this dance so brilliant. It showcases masculine beauty without being vulgar; it is full of power yet highly artistic.

"This is what healthy aesthetics are all about," Qin Yao said softly to the viewers in the live stream. "Men can be masculine, and women can be graceful. Every kind of beauty deserves respect and appreciation."

After leaving the stadium, Qin Yao rushed to her next performance venue—the Huai County Cultural Palace—for a Henan Opera performance.

The Cultural Palace is a Soviet-style building with red walls and yellow tiles, simple and solemn. A long queue had already formed at the entrance, mostly middle-aged and elderly visitors, but also quite a few young people.