New Arts

Zhao Qinghan was tall and slender. Tonight, she wore a white dress cinched at the waist and falling above her knees, displaying her beautiful figure without reservation—curves rising and falling, legs long and graceful.

The night wind stirred a lock of her sleek black hair. Her gleaming white oval face was lovely; she had originally looked sweet and delicate, with a smile on her lips, but now... that smile had frozen.

The scene fell silent. No one moved.

Zhao Qinghan, in her white dress—even a woman like her, accustomed to all sorts of occasions and possessed of high emotional intelligence, had fallen into a momentary silence. One could imagine just how strange the atmosphere was.

Wang Xuan turned around and happened to find himself standing face-to-face with her.

The maple trees on the mountain blazed red, the scenery was beautiful, and the city lights below shone brilliantly. Like the backdrop of a painting, they lent the people present a tranquil beauty.

Wang Xuan truly had not expected Zhao Qinghan to appear so suddenly.

Most importantly, Qin Cheng had butted in recklessly, causing the whole picture to take a sudden turn.

"You're late. Punish yourself with a drink," Wang Xuan spoke.

No one had expected him to be so composed. Without the slightest hesitation, he raised the wine cup in hand and smiled at Zhao Qinghan before him.

Though Zhao Qinghan was usually poised and confident, frequently attended all kinds of events, and had seen grand spectacles, her body had indeed stiffened slightly just now.

She instinctively started to raise the red wine cup in hand, but quickly calmed down again.

When the cup was halfway raised, a smile bloomed across her face once more, brilliant as before. Yet she said nothing and did not clink cups with Wang Xuan, wanting to see how he would perform—what swift, clever response he could still make.

At this moment, Qin Cheng spoke. "Qing Han, don't misunderstand. Old Wang is a very reliable person. I was mainly speaking too hastily just now!"

The previously calm Wang Xuan was no longer calm. He desperately wanted to say, Brother, do you even know how to talk? Why are you butting in again?!

The best way to handle something like this was to let it pass as quickly as possible. There was nothing to explain, which was why Wang Xuan had kept a straight face just now, as though nothing had happened.

Zhao Qinghan was also speechless. She raised the wine cup in hand and lightly clinked it against Wang Xuan's, moistened her red lips with a shallow sip, then turned and left, leaving behind an elegant silhouette.

"Did I say something wrong?" Qin Cheng asked. He himself knew he had added legs to a snake, only making the picture darker the more he drew.

Wang Xuan patted his shoulder and said, "You said nothing wrong. See? You directly sent her away, so no one has to feel awkward."

Qin Cheng breathed out the scent of wine. "No, I meant to speak with her alone for a bit and have a drink. But she's already gone. Who am I supposed to go find?"

"Just go over there. She hasn't left yet," Kong Yi advised him.

Then he pulled Wang Xuan away and came to the Edge Area at the mountaintop, leaning against the railing as they looked towards the lights scattered across the distant land.

"Someone spoke up for you this time, wanting to bring you to New Star." Kong Yi placed both hands on the railing and said this.

Wang Xuan already knew that Professor Lin had approached the investors.

However, he felt Kong Yi had not sought him out merely to tell him this, and could not help turning his head to look at him.

"The person in charge of the Old Arts research project remembers you. Although your circumstances don't meet the selection criteria, your performance in Old Arts has been somewhat astonishing, so they want to make an exception and take you away."

Sure enough, there was more to it. Kong Yi had sought him out alone because he had something to say.

"Ling Wei's family intervened. They want to keep you suppressed on Old Earth and prevent you from going to New Star."

Those words boomed by Wang Xuan's ears like thunder, sobering him instantly. His gaze turned incomparably sharp as he stared at Kong Yi.

Kong Yi had always been forceful and refused to yield. He turned to face Wang Xuan directly and said, "If you don't believe me, find someone to investigate. There will always be traces left behind. Besides, since I know about this, others must know as well."

"Why are you telling me this?" Wang Xuan asked.

Kong Yi said in a deep voice, "I'm afraid you'll get only scraps of information, learn that someone is suppressing you, and then mistakenly pin it on me. I won't carry that black pot!"

Before turning to leave, he added in a low voice, "Ling Wei's family has far greater power and influence than you imagine!"

Watching his back disappear amid the villa lights, Wang Xuan remained where he was, turning once more to look towards the glittering city below.

"Have I thought too well of people?" he murmured.

Earlier, Qin Cheng had suspected that perhaps his ex-girlfriend's family had exerted influence to keep him suppressed on Old Earth. At the time, Wang Xuan had shaken his head, believing they would not go that far.

Wang Xuan had met Ling Wei's father. More accurately, that middle-aged man had taken the initiative to find him and pressure him.

When they first met, Ling Qiming had been stern, but he had another side as well. His face had been full of a father's worry and care for his daughter, afraid that she would choose the wrong man.

At the time, Wang Xuan had been scrutinized by him, and Ling Qiming had questioned him in a sharp tone, but Wang Xuan had not gotten angry.

Putting himself in the other man's shoes, if he had a daughter who found a boyfriend on another planet, Wang Xuan felt that he too would be worried and would charge over to Go Take a Look.

Ling Qiming's presence had been far too overwhelming. By the end, Wang Xuan had indeed found it somewhat unbearable, having been warned Again and Again.

Yet at That Time, no matter how imposing Ling Qiming had been, he had not secretly used his connections against Wang Xuan. This had left Wang Xuan with a not entirely bad impression of him.

Wang Xuan had never liked judging others with malice. He always tried to put himself in their place, believing this was a forceful father protecting his daughter. Though excessive, it was barely understandable.

Only now did he feel that he had thought too beautifully of certain people and matters.

He shook his head, exhaled a breath of foul air, and walked back. He did not want to remain Conflicted over what had already happened. People had to keep looking forward.

"Wang Xuan, come over here!" Zhou Kun called him over for a drink.

Wang Xuan's expression immediately turned strange. He knew very well that once Zhou Kun drank, he would Go Wild, as if becoming another person, and his mouth would never stop talking.

Zhou Kun did not care. "Didn't I tell you when I went to find you? Tonight, I'm going to drink to my heart's content with you and have a good talk."

Not Far Away, Su Chan, Xu Wenbo, and the others' eyelids twitched slightly. Zhou Kun was taking the initiative to leak secrets. Once he got drunk, he became a chatterbox who answered every question.

"He's doing it on purpose, isn't he?" Li Qingzhu whispered.

Su Chan curled her lip. "Let him. New Arts aren't some secret anymore. Before long, they'll definitely spread to Old Earth."

Wang Xuan understood that Zhou Kun was using drunkenness as an excuse to voluntarily tell him some things.

At this moment, Qin Cheng sidled over with a beaming face. "I just had a drink alone with the Goddess. She said that when she has time, she'll come visit me on the moon. Oh, and she also asked about you, Old Wang—what level your Old Arts have reached. I told her: roughly equivalent to 9.8 Kong Yis, 12.5 Zhou Kuns, and 11.6 Xu Wenbos."

Zhou Kun had originally been preparing to get drunk, but upon hearing this, he immediately objected. "Qin Cheng, is that any way to compare people?"

Kong Yi also walked over, his expression unpleasant. "Do you even know how to talk?!"

Even the aloof Xu Wenbo could not hold it in. The corners of his mouth twitched twice as he said, "Qin Cheng, is that any way to measure things? I've become a unit of measurement?"

"I was just saying it casually. Drink up. What are grown men fussing over?" Qin Cheng grabbed Zhou Kun and said, "I like drinking with you most. Come on, let's have a toast!"

Zhou Kun shot him a sidelong glance. Qin Cheng was absolutely trying to get him drunk and pry secrets out of him, unaware that he actually intended to voluntarily "leak secrets" to Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan hurriedly stopped Qin Cheng, afraid he would truly drink Zhou Kun under the table. "Drink slowly."

Qin Cheng was surprised. After Zhou Kun drank half a cup of wine, he gradually began to Go Wild.

"I'm telling you, New Star has developed New Arts, also called Super Arts. Some people even hope to call them Divine Arts..."

"Zhou Kun, you've got some nerve, casually talking nonsense outside. Some matters are still in the confidential stage. Is what you're doing appropriate?"

An abrupt voice rang out as someone strode over.

It was a Young Man with short hair and a robust build, around 185 centimeters tall. His eyes were exceptionally bright, sharp enough to sting.

"Brother Yun, I'm drunk. I'll watch myself next time." Zhou Kun sobered up, but he was not nervous. Clearly, he knew this man.

The newcomer was a few years older than Zhou Kun, Xu Wenbo, and the others. His wheat-colored skin gleamed, and he was very forceful, speaking without tact. Staring at Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng, he said, "You two really dare to do this. Trying to pry for information? Want to get Zhou Kun drunk so you can learn some things from him?"

Zhou Kun immediately stopped him. "Brother Yun, this is a gathering among classmates. If you want a drink, go inside!"

Kong Yi, Xu Wenbo, and the others also immediately came over, blocking his path and urging him not to act this way.

"Who the hell are you? Why are you talking so aggressively? Did you swallow gunpowder?!" Qin Cheng did not indulge him at all and questioned him directly.

When Brother Yun saw Su Chan, Li Qingzhu, and the others also come over, he immediately smiled. "Why are you all so nervous? Am I such an unreasonable person?"

Zhao Qinghan walked over and said, "Brother Yun, I know why you're here. Don't do this, all right?"

Brother Yun smiled. "I didn't come today to make trouble. Well, I heard someone here was quite good at Old Arts, so I wanted to spar."

"Wang Xuan, aren't you very curious about New Arts? Come, spar with me. I'll demonstrate them for you!" The man called Brother Yun actually said such a thing.

For a moment, not only Were Both Shocked—the students from Old Earth—but even their classmates from New Star were shocked. He had actually... mastered New Arts?!

Wang Xuan was very calm. He had long noticed that this man had arrived in a small airship, parked on the slightly smaller open ground Not Far Away from the two flying saucers.

The moment he appeared, he had walked straight in this direction.

Wang Xuan realized this man had come for him, because his gaze had fallen on Wang Xuan many times, repeatedly sweeping over and observing him.

Now, this young man had even called his name directly.

"A simple spar. Do you dare to have a match? Old Arts against New Arts—do you have confidence?" the young man called Brother Yun asked again.

Wang Xuan looked at his face, deep in thought.

On an ordinary day, if someone inexplicably challenged him, Wang Xuan would most likely ignore them, Too Lazy to pay them any attention.

But this young man stirred his interest. He had actually mastered these so-called New Arts, and Wang Xuan very much wanted to Take a Look at what kind of path they truly were!

"New Arts are also called Super Arts. Some people would rather call them Divine Arts."

The forceful man spoke on his own, then added, "Old Arts are on the verge of being officially eliminated on New Star. Some people have now started calling them Crude Arts."

He beckoned Wang Xuan over. "Do you want to prove it? Take a Look at whether Old Arts can still shine with renewed brilliance."