The Stars Beyond

Chapter 106: Meeting By Chance

The intense mystical aura of the ancient temple lingered in Wang Xuan's mind. Even as the hovercar carried him further away, he found himself frequently looking back, unable to let go of its allure. However, he knew that for now, a mere glimpse would suffice. He'd already encountered enough mysteries; further meddling might lead to unforeseen consequences.

Being on the moon meant there was no atmosphere, implying there would be no scattering or refraction of light. Whether day or night, the sky remained pitch black. Without atmospheric impurities, the moon offered an unadulterated view of space. However, there would never be a blue sky. The dark, silent expanse was the raw face of deep space. Stars were visible, but they didn't twinkle, a stark contrast to the view from the Old World or the New World.

"Is that the New World?" Wang Xuan inquired, gazing up at a notably large celestial body that seemed overwhelmingly vast from the moon's vantage point. "Yes, that's the New World," the hover car driver confirmed. He had ferried numerous passengers, and all of them, upon their first sight of the living planet from the moon, felt an undeniable sense of awe.

From the surface of the Old World, the moon visually appeared larger than any other celestial body save for the sun. But from the moon's surface, the New World appeared even more magnificent due to its radius being three to four times that of the moon. The planet seemed especially massive against the backdrop of space.

Interestingly, the New World looked eerily similar to the Old World when viewed from the moon. It stood out as a lone splash of blue in the inky blackness of space. Wang Xuan felt an odd sensation, as if he was staring at the Old World rather than the New World. The two planets, when observed from space, bore a striking resemblance to each other.

The hover car driver had transported people from the Old World before, so he was familiar with their mindset. Without hesitation, he mentioned, “The continental plates on the New World might differ from the Old World, but it too has abundant water resources. Additionally, its diameter and mass are strikingly similar to Old World.”

Wang Xuan nodded. This was crucial.

In the vast universe, humanity is so minuscule that it was not even comparable to dust. Life, consequently, appears incredibly fragile, relying heavily on its environment. If the mass and gravity of the New World varied significantly from the Old World, humans would be incapable of inhabiting and thriving there. The best scenario for a new home would be if the environments of both planets were nearly identical.

However, what stunned Wang Xuan was the uncanny resemblance between the two planets. They were almost like twin planets. He began to ponder. In the vast cosmos, the chances of finding two similar planets are slim. There had to be a more complex underlying reason for their similarities.

Naturally, he thought about how the New World was discovered.

In the past, when a war broke out in the Old World, some people fled to the moon. Soon after, there was a surge in advanced technology, enabling interstellar exploration. Not long after, the New World was discovered, and colonization commenced.

Many speculated about what humans might have discovered or inherited on the moon that led to the technological boom. In fact, many inhabitants of the New World believed that the latest technological advancements were still reaping the benefits of what was discovered on the moon years ago. It's still in the phase of understanding and decoding what they found.

Some even believe that the emergence of certain advanced technologies isn't truly original but is based on past findings.

With the ongoing unveiling of the "Lunar Legacy," today's humanity is becoming more confident. Technology is progressively advancing, and it's believed that one day, mankind will journey even deeper into space. However, at the current stage, the inhabitants of the New World seem to be primarily focused on replication. They struggle to understand the essence of certain aspects, making it challenging to utilize them to their full potential.

Naturally, there's a group of individuals filled with a mix of fear and reverence. Who left behind the technological inheritance on the moon? Where are they now? What became of them? As a precaution, the higher-ups of the New World have ensured that the stargates they built can be shut down or destroyed at a moment's notice, severing ties with the external universe completely.

Still, in recent years, a small subset of the population has been growing more confident, and their ambitions continue to expand. Qin Cheng works at a company called Top Martial. In reality, this is a vast organization primarily providing security services. The New Moon branch is just one part of the broader Top Martial establishment. The organization holds significant influence on New World, with rumors suggesting they have their own mercenary troop stationed on a desolate planet, ready to venture into "secret lands" when needed.

The defense of New Moon is primarily managed by the regular military. However, organizations like Top Martial play a supplemental role, ensuring no vulnerabilities exist. Top Martial's branch on New Moon isn't far from the misty, osmanthus-scented ancient buildings. So, Wang Xuan decided to alight from the hovercar a little earlier. He planned to explore the vicinity before walking over to meet Qin Cheng.

The Guanghan Palace is the most luxurious vacation spot on the moon, resembling a paradise with its dreamlike settings and unparalleled service. The hovercar driver couldn't hide his envy when Wang Xuan chose to disembark near it, mistakenly thinking Wang Xuan was staying there.

Wang Xuan shook his head, merely wanting to take a glance around. Qin Cheng had once written to him, explicitly stating how exorbitant the costs were at Guanghan Palace. Even though Qin Cheng's family was affluent, he emphasized "frugality," opting not to spend unnecessarily at such an extravagant place.

On the New Moon, one side always faces the New World. Although the moon itself rotates, it does so quite slowly, taking almost a month to complete one rotation. This means that the duration of day and night cycles is exceptionally long.

However, Guanghan Palace is different. Its overhead protective shield is specially treated to simulate the day-night cycles of New World. Inside, a white mist perpetually lingers.

"See that mist? Do you know what it is?" someone remarked, filled with awe. "It's moonlight silver, diluted and mixed with other beneficial substances in a precise ratio. It's always present in the Guanghan Palace."

Wang Xuan was taken aback. He recalled a previous discussion with old Chen about Earthly Immortal Grass. Chen had mentioned rare items, including mountain snails, golden mushrooms, and among them, moonlight silver. Moonlight silver is a rare mineral, found within specific rocks. Once the rock is broken, the mineral needs to be consumed immediately, or it will evaporate, fleeting like the radiant moonlight. It's known for revitalizing flesh, extending lifespan, and enhancing physical constitution—a genuinely invaluable tonic.

The fact that Guanghan Palace uses such a pricey mineral as "Immortal Mist" décor, even in a diluted form, speaks volumes of their opulence. Although the protective shield prevents the moonlight silver from escaping, there's still daily consumption, which is quite costly.

"They're emulating the Immortal Mist," Wang Xuan mused, realizing why even Qin Cheng, with his affluence, refrained from frequenting this place. The lavish use of moonlight silver said it all—it was sheer extravagance.

The entire architectural complex had an ethereal feel to it, with white mists swirling around, majestic buildings reminiscent of fairy tales, and osmanthus trees so vast they'd need several people to wrap their arms around them. Wang Xuan suspected these were fake trees. Such colossal osmanthus trees on New Moon seemed unlikely, given he hadn't seen ones this size even on the Old World.

As if confirming his thoughts, someone nearby questioned, "They're fake, aren't they?"

Many people travel to and from New Moon daily, and being such a renowned attraction, it's natural for crowds to gather nearby.

"It's a real tree," someone replied to the earlier query. "It was transplanted from Wangyue Cliff on New World. Rumor has it that the trees inside Guanghan Palace are even older than the one at the entrance."

Wang Xuan glanced around, realizing he couldn't gain entry. Feeling the visit was becoming pointless, he decided to leave.

However, as he turned, a middle-aged man emerged from the mist, looking radiant as though he'd just experienced a rejuvenating spa session. Upon spotting Wang Xuan, the man's demeanor changed instantly, his eyes radiating an intense, oppressive aura.

"It's you!" The man recognized Wang Xuan immediately and approached him briskly.

"Old Ling!" Wang Xuan blurted out, genuinely surprised to encounter Ling Wei's father, Ling Qiming, here.

Wang Xuan's memory of Ling Qiming was of a man with a formidable presence. The first time they'd met, Ling's decisive and firm character was unmistakable.

Ling Qiming paused momentarily, his gaze even sharper. Wang Xuan had once respectfully addressed him as "Uncle Ling." Now, he was just "Old Ling."

"How have you come here?" Ling Qiming demanded. True to his nature, even a simple question was posed with immense authority. His piercing eyes scrutinized Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan had initially wanted to explain his unintentional use of the informal address. But recalling Ling's earlier warning to stay away from the New World, he decided not to. Instead, he retorted, "Why can't I?"

Ling Qiming remained silent, his stern gaze locked onto Wang Xuan, radiating an intense energy. Two years ago, Wang Xuan was able to hold his own in a conversation with him. Now, he felt even more composed.

Lately, Old Wu had been reaching out to Wang Xuan quite frequently, looking to strengthen their bond. As a result, when Wang Xuan saw Old Ling, he felt that the man’s aura seemed diminished compared to the past. It no longer intimidated Wang Xuan anymore. Upon seeing Ling Qiming's stern glare, Wang Xuan didn't respond directly. Instead, his attention was drawn to a youthful figure behind Ling. The young individual had ear-length hair that shimmered brilliantly, captivating large eyes with long lashes, and a delicate, oval face. This teenager was strikingly attractive.

"What a handsome young boy!" Wang Xuan exclaimed, not addressing Old Ling but commenting on the teenager instead.

The corners of Ling Qiming's mouth twitched, but he said nothing. However, the "boy" took offense, stepped forward with head held high, and retorted in a clear, feminine voice, "Who are you calling a young boy?"

Wang Xuan was genuinely taken aback. The teen's short hair and neutral attire had misled him initially. He had not recognized her as a girl. As an attempt to make amends, he gently patted her head, but she moved away from his touch immediately and retreated to Ling Qiming's side.

Wang Xuan, not wanting to get entangled in an argument with a child, quickly clarified, "My apologies. You're a truly beautiful and adorable young lady." To lighten the mood, he added, aiming a compliment at Ling Qiming, "She somewhat resembles you."

The girl continued to glare at him, clearly irritated.

Upon hearing this, Ling Qiming's eyebrows raised. He felt that Wang Xuan was much more audacious than before, daring to casually comment on his daughter's appearance and then, to top it off, likening her to him.

......

"I meant to say that your family's genes are impressive, making you all good-looking. Just like you!" Wang Xuan added quickly.

Ling Qiming's face darkened, remaining silent.

Seeing this, Wang Xuan decided not to push any further. He waved dismissively and turned to leave, heading off to find Qin Cheng.

"Go, intercept your sister. Try to delay her for a bit. Don't let her come out for now," Ling Qiming instructed the young girl by his side once Wang Xuan was out of sight. "Do you recognize the man from earlier? Make sure your sister doesn't see him."

The little girl nodded rapidly, akin to a chick pecking at grains, before turning and dashing into the Guanghan Palace.

"Can't even have a peaceful vacation. How did that young man end up here?" Ling Qiming muttered to himself.

---

Upon arriving at the Top Martial organization's lunar branch, Wang Xuan stood outside the office building, wondering how to find his contact. To his surprise, he spotted him right away.

Qin Cheng was walking leisurely with a young woman trailing behind him, seemingly enjoying a casual stroll.

"Qin Cheng!"

Hearing his name, Qin Cheng instantly looked up, visibly shocked. He couldn't believe his eyes. How could Wang Xuan possibly be on the moon? Was he seeing things?