Gathering

Qin Cheng noticed that Professor Lin was staring absently at the woman in the photograph, as though reminiscing about the past.

Wang Xuan felt that Professor Lin was a man with stories to tell.

He had entered a pre-Qin tomb, obtained a Fangshi Inheritance, survived despite two gaping holes appearing in his chest, and even knew a stunning woman who had once been famous on New Star for a long time.

And those were only fragments of his experiences. From that, one could glimpse just how extraordinary Professor Lin had been back then.

"Professor, don't be sad. Isn't she just a woman? Let the past stay in the past." Qin Cheng spoke up, shattering the quiet atmosphere.

Professor Lin shook his head. "What are you two thinking? I was merely feeling a little sentimental today. Besides, this is purely appreciation, nothing else."

The words sounded familiar to Qin Cheng. Not Long Ago, he seemed to have said the words "pure appreciation" himself. He immediately thought of Zhao Qinghan.

"I understand you completely!" Qin Cheng said, putting on the look of someone who had encountered a kindred spirit.

Wang Xuan spoke: "The woman in the photograph... looks a little like Zhao Qinghan."

Qin Cheng examined it carefully upon hearing that. She really did resemble her somewhat.

The expression on his face instantly became spectacular. In the end, he sighed. "Professor, we have similar tastes in beauty. I think we could become friends despite our age difference!"

Professor Lin gave him a slap outright and told him that the woman in the photograph was Zhao Qinghan's grandmother.

At that, Qin Cheng's facial expression collapsed again. This was the Goddess's grandmother?!

Wang Xuan immediately understood why he had seen Zhao Qinghan at the door earlier. The two families had quite a history together. It was precisely because he had met an old acquaintance that Professor Lin had opened this photo album once more tonight.

Wang Xuan had already realized that Professor Lin might be planning to see that woman on his behalf, but he did not want the old man to shatter the spiritual tranquility he had maintained for so many years.

"Professor Lin, you needn't worry about my affairs. I already have a preliminary idea. I should be able to solve the problem myself."

Professor Lin was surprised. He had merely lowered his head to look at the photograph for a while, yet Wang Xuan had guessed what he intended to do. His reactions were sharp indeed; he was truly suited for the Old Arts path.

"In ancient times, Daoist Masters fought fierce beasts and wrestled with Heaven for their lives. Though born human, they dared to act, seeking to endure alongside the sun and moon and shine with them. I have received this inheritance and intend to walk the Old Arts path. If I cannot even solve such a small problem, then what will I do when I encounter a matter of life and death in the future?"

Wang Xuan was a grateful person. More than anything, he worried that if Professor Lin went to see an old acquaintance, it would stir up the past and disturb the calm detachment he had held in his heart for years. After all, there were things the old man had long since let go of; they should not be uncovered again.

"Good. Solve it yourself!" Professor Lin smiled. His own path had been cut short, and he dearly wanted to see someone who came after him walk the Old Arts path all the way to its end.

That night, they mostly discussed Old Arts. Wang Xuan studied the pre-Qin Fangshi Inheritance on the spot, becoming deeply engrossed in it.

This old method had unique aspects in Qi Gathering, internal nourishment, and meditation. It could be called extraordinary—truly astonishing.

Professor Lin told him that the Root Method taught in the Experimental Class was actually very strong as well, but it was incomplete. That was why it seemed unable to compare with this pre-Qin secret method.

Yet as Wang Xuan continued reading, he found it increasingly strenuous. The later records were exceedingly hazy. Could this truly be a viable Root Method?

For instance, the text mentioned a certain realm: before reaching it, all was barren wilderness; afterward, it spoke of black soil. As for what came later... the records grew even more ethereal.

Wang Xuan did not understand, so he asked Professor Lin for guidance on the spot.

"After you return, you'd best read some books related to the sects of the old era—the Daoist school's and the Buddhist school's. They contain discussions of terms, phenomena, and such from the pre-Qin period. Once you turn back to this method afterward, you'll gain something from it."

Professor Lin explained that some of the descriptions should be related to the "Yellow Court Inner Scenery Diagram."

The pre-Qin era was too distant from the present. Certain words, phrases, phenomena, and the like all required the help of later texts to be understood.

As Professor Lin explained, he also mentioned Ge Hong's "Baopuzi," as well as Chen Tuan's "Wuji Diagram," among other works.

Wang Xuan Nodded and carefully committed it all to memory.

Qin Cheng listened from the side until his head hurt. To learn a Fangshi Inheritance, did he first have to read through the entire Daoist Canon?

They talked until very late. Professor Lin told Wang Xuan everything he knew. Only after consulting vast quantities of ancient texts over the years had he been able to decipher the Fangshi Inheritance.

Wang Xuan gained enormously from it, but he felt that after returning, he still needed to read more books from the old era.

At dawn, Wang Xuan completely changed his Qi Gathering Technique and Internal Nourishment Method, practicing according to the Fangshi Inheritance. The results were tremendous.

Amid the Morning Glow, he sweated all over. His metabolism was faster than before, as though some impurities had been expelled from within his body, leaving his skin sticky.

He felt better than ever before—light and healthy, brimming with vigorous vitality, his spirit flourishing, with a powerful strength contained within him.

"I'm going to New Star!" His tone was resolute. In the near future, he would work hard to improve his strength and prepare for his journey to New Star.

"Wang Xuan!" someone called from afar.

Soon, Zhou Kun approached. His features were handsome and refined, and he still carried that faintly melancholy air. Yet after appearing here, he revealed a heartfelt smile.

"You really haven't left campus yet. You're actually still practicing Old Arts. You've truly gotten yourself stuck in it."

At this point, he lowered his voice. "Take my advice and start preparing early. Old Arts... has been abandoned by New Star. Something new has appeared."

Hearing him say this, Wang Xuan felt warmth in his heart. Though he had long since inferred it himself, he was still grateful to Zhou Kun.

"I'm moving out in two days, but I'll remain in this city. My job is basically confirmed, and I'll report for duty in five days."

Upon hearing that, Zhou Kun sighed. "I hope everything goes well for you. I hope we can gather again in the future."

Then he explained why he had come. There was a gathering that evening, and he asked Whether or Not Wang Xuan wanted to attend.

Those who had been selected would leave Old Earth in four days and head to New Star. They were planning to gather because, once they arrived at New Star, they would likely all go their separate ways and be parted.

Zhou Kun said, "Don't worry, it's just a simple gathering. Four years of classmates' friendship—there definitely won't be any bullshit. It's mainly to commemorate the end of the last four pure and beautiful years of our lives. From now on, we'll enter society's great dye vat and endure every kind of beating and corrosion."

Wang Xuan did not speak. He did not particularly care whether any bullshit would happen; he was only wondering whether he might bring trouble upon others.

"Go. The person you most want to see will be there," Zhou Kun said. He was quite willing to have a chat with Wang Xuan, then drink to their hearts' content one last time.

Wang Xuan was speechless. It seemed Zhou Kun had misunderstood. Who was there that he most wanted to see? So long as they did not provoke any trouble, that was enough.

"Some of the Experimental Class students who weren't selected, as well as some who haven't left yet, are still in this city," Wang Xuan told him.

Zhou Kun said, "I'll notify them all. But some people are watching you. They want to know whether you're going or not."

The people selected to go to New Star and the classmates remaining on Old Earth all knew one another well, and many had good relationships. Yet a gathering like this still seemed likely to make people feel awkward.

"Fine, I'll go." Wang Xuan nodded.

No sooner had Zhou Kun left than Qin Cheng called. "Old Wang, they're having a gathering and invited me too. I'm so conflicted. I'm not heading to New Star—I'm only going to New Moon. Are you going?"

Wang Xuan first corrected the way he addressed him before saying, "You'll be standing on the moon above their heads, looking down at them every day. What is there for you to be conflicted about? Come pick me up tonight, and we'll go together."

Qin Cheng immediately shouted cheerfully, "Alright! That's exactly what I was waiting to hear. I was actually afraid you wouldn't go!"