The Stars Beyond

Chapter 9: Classmates

The skies of the autumn noon were clear and lofty. Its azure blue threatened to spill down to the earth and cleanse the city of its hustle and bustle. Qin Cheng arrived with his car to pick Wang Xuan up from the campus. His family was well-off due to their trading business. Affording a car for their son was no big deal.

“Isn’t it a little too early?” asked Qin Cheng.

“No. We’ll get there right on time.” Wang Xuan gazed out of the window.

The city was filled with traces of the past. Old buildings and monuments that had stood tall in mankind’s bygone era still remained in this era. They were somehow integrated with a sea of skyscrapers that dominated the cityscape. It was a perfect blend of the relics of the past and the wonders of the modern world.

“I’ve never thought highly of this city.” Qin Cheng sighed, plagued by an emptiness in his heart. The roads near the business district were packed full of cars.

“You can travel freely between Terra Nova and this place once you make it big.” Wang Xuan pointed out.

It was autumn. A season where life said goodbye to the embrace of spring and prepared for the coming of winter. Leaves began to fall, flowers began to wither, and even the grass were slowly taking up a faint yellow shade.

Ancient maidenhair trees lined both sides of the roads, their silvery leaves falling with each sway of the autumn wind. Under the bath of the warm sunlight, it looked as if the ground was covered with gold. There were also a number of maple trees as well. Their falling fiery red leaves were like the evening glow brought to life. This was a sharp contrast to the bleakness of autumn.

In the same city, in the same season, life was so different.

The gathering was held at a place far from the city in a mansion overlooking a hill with stunning scenery that afforded them a view of the entire city. The mansion was surrounded by acres of lawn, and there was even a grandiose swimming pool in the compound.

While the students from Terra Nova might not have been flaunting their wealth, they were still from families that were rich and powerful. The choice of venue was not a surprise. Please visit 𝓃𝑜vel-𝒏𝑒xt.𝒸𝑜𝔪 website to read fastest update

There were even two landing pads on the top of the hill, where two spacecraft were parked.

“Don’t even think of comparing yourself to the people from outer space.” Wang Xuan smiled at his friend who was openly gaping at the sleek, silvery outline of the spacecraft.

“Wait a minute...” Qin Cheng muttered. He had not realized it before, but there were quite a number of students who were not from this world, “You’re right! They’re indeed from outer space!”

Their conversation was overheard by Su Chan, “Oi, Wang Xuan, your words are not as pretty as your face. Why do you make it sound like we’re some sort of aliens?” the ever lively girl was dressed in an off-shoulder dress that highlighted her long legs.

“You have been singing my praises lately,” Wang Xuan raised an eyebrow, “First you said I was glowing, and now you called me handsome. Have you perhaps... Fallen in love with me?”

Su Chan was young, this did not mean that she was a shy little girl, “Hey, don’t change the topic!”

Even Li Qingzhu who was known to be quiet in nature could not help herself, “I heard that too. You said that we came from outer space. I’ll have you know that my ancestors came from the Old World as well!”

“Alright, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Wang Xuan chuckled and followed them into the compound.

Preparations for the gathering were already completed by the time they arrived. Barbeque racks were set up, and there was a long table filled with food

Wang Xuan was greeted by many of his close friends who were from Terra Nova.

“Wang Xuan! Over here!”

“Did I just hear you calling me an alien? You better pray that you’ve achieved some sort of breakthrough in the Old Arts, or we’ll beat you up.”

The gathering of so many people would of course be a lively one. They have always enjoyed a close relationship. There was no distinction from the New World and those from the Old World.

Over twenty among them were chosen. They would soon be sent to the New World, where their lives would forever be changed. But a dozen of them were destined to stay. These students would soon leave the city for their hometowns.

Perhaps due to their previous hostility, Kong Yi’s words did not bear well with Qin Cheng. They sounded like sarcasm to his ears.

“Fresh my ass. I’ll tell you what’s fresh!” he snorted, “I’ll wake up before the first light and head to the Hulun Buir Grassland. That’s how I do it. I grab the fattest cow I can find and chomp on it. That’s when the meat is at its freshest.”

Kong Yi gaped at him, and even Wang Xuan was rendered speechless.

“Impressive.” a group of students entered the room, laughing as they came.

“Sure is fresh. I agree that this is probably the freshest meat you can get. I’ll have to try it when I get back home.” even Xu Bowen, who was known for being a cold fish, cracked a joke at his expense.

Kong Yi knew why they were here, “Do you really think that I’ll pick a fight at Wang Xuan at a time like this? I bet he’ll beat me up without breaking a sweat at this point. I’ve prepared some gifts for him to help with his study of the Old Arts.”

“I can vouch for him. He did put a lot of effort into it.” said Su Chan, “He wanted to reconcile with Wang Xuan before he leaves.”

“I know.” Wang Xuan nodded, “Let what happened in the past stay in the past. I’m already over it. May your future be a bright one.” he toasted Kong Yi.

Qin Cheng, with pieces of beef stuffed in his mouth, toasted his fellow student as well, “This tastes better than the beef from Hulun Buir.”

“You’re a good lad, Wang Xuan. We would’ve been good friends, you and I, if not for the thing with Ling Wei.” Kong Yi patted Wang Xuan on the back after the three of them emptied their glasses.

“It’s still not too late to be friends.”

“Ling Wei’s not here yet. I think she’ll be late.” Zhou Kun whispered.

The sight of Wang Xuan and Kong Yi emerging. from the mansion with their arms around each others’ shoulders was definitely a shock to onlookers. They stared at the duo with disbelief.

“Those two... They made up?”

“Well, I’ll be damned!”

Seeing the old enemies making up pumped a new wave of mirth and joy into the gathering. The drinking and the conversations continued into the night.

The students who would be migrating to the New World were already excited for the future prospects.

“Do you have any good places that I should visit?” asked one of them.

“When I settle down in Terra Nova, I want to build a mansion just like this in a spot yet untouched by civilization. Imagine the potential it has when the population increases.” he voiced out his wish as well.

“You’re probably not the only one who thought of that.” Wang Xuan chuckled, “The place you yearn for...”

Qin Cheng interjected, “The place I yearn for is by Zhao Qinghan’s side...”

“.... the place you yearn for, would already be crowded by that time.”

The crowd stared at Wang Xuan in awkward silence.

“You just have to ruin it.” He punched his friend on the shoulder.

But the crowd remained silent. It took Wang Xuan a moment to realize that they were not staring at him. They were staring at something behind him.

He turned around and saw...

Zhao Qinghan standing behind him.

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