The Stars Beyond

Chapter 97: His Old Flame

Wang Xuan, having understood the essence of a Grandmaster's consciousness, decided to leave the room. He felt a pressing need to wash away what remained of his freshly shed skin. Upon his return to the sickroom, he was met with a curious sight. Old Chen was preening in front of a mirror, fussing over his usually untamed short hair.

"What's the occasion?" Wang Xuan asked, looking at Qing Mu for an explanation.

"We have an esteemed guest arriving shortly," Qing Mu answered, his face hinting at something more.

A smirk tugged at Wang Xuan's lips. "An old flame of Old Chen?" No sooner had the words left his mouth than Old Chen's comb hurtled towards him, barely missing his forehead.

In due course, a spaceship touched down on the manor's landing pad. Qing Mu personally went to receive the visitor. A woman, looking to be in her vibrant mid-thirties, was led into the sickroom by Qing Mu. Her entourage was courteously ushered by the manor's staff to a dinner arrangement. Rising in respect, Wang Xuan greeted the woman. He was struck by her ageless beauty. Contrary to what he had envisioned, this 'old flame' was considerably younger than Old Chen, perhaps by nearly two decades. His gaze darted between the woman and Old Chen, eyes gleaming with playful astonishment. Recognizing Wang Xuan's obvious and yet unspoken tease, Old Chen rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, as if to say: Never underestimate the charm of experience.

In that brief moment, Old Chen felt an urge to school Wang Xuan on the virtues of silence.

"I'm actually the same age as Old Chen," the elegant woman interjected with a hint of amusement, having instantly read the playful exchanges between the two men.

"Sister... you look so young!" Wang Xuan praised genuinely, a glint of mischief in his eyes. He wondered, half-jokingly, if Old Chen's previous aged appearance was a result of him sacrificing some of his vitality to his beloved.

Old Chen introduced the woman as Guan Lin, a cherished friend he had known for over three decades. She had come personally to escort Old Chen to the capital to recover from his injuries. She was to attend the memorial of Olesha, a leading figure in the New Arts faction, the next morning. Otherwise, she would have embarked on the journey tonight.

In a hushed tone, Qing Mu confided in Wang Xuan. Throughout their explorations, they had encountered numerous lands full of mysteries. Old Chen had once risked his life, venturing into one such perilous zone, just to procure a rare flower for Guan Lin – a flower mentioned in ancient texts. This flower was possibly the reason behind Guan Lin's ageless beauty. Wang Xuan's eyes widened in astonishment. To think that Old Chen would brave such treacherous terrains, risking life and limb for a woman, their relationship must be something special. Wang Xuan's curiosity piqued, and he could not resist probing further.

Qing Mu shook his head, whispering, "My master has always been a loner. Sister Guan, as far as I know, has remained unmarried. Their past together is... intricate."

As Qing Mu chose not to delve into the details, Wang Xuan, sensing the depth of their history, chose not to pry any further. There was undoubtedly a tale waiting to be told.

Guan Lin's voice carried a hint of command. "Little Qing, will anyone from your side attend Olesha's memorial tomorrow? Given it happened on your watch, you should at least send a wreath as a gesture."

Wang Xuan nearly laughed hearing Qing Mu referred to as 'Little Qing'. But looking at Qing Mu, he found the man completely at ease, evidently used to this affectionate nickname.

Guan Lin's subtle authority was evident. She was advocating on behalf of Old Chen and Qing Mu, ensuring their stance was appropriately conveyed. With the recent pressures on Qing Mu to make a life-for-life trade, Guan Lin was the one to challenge such requests. Her insistence on a representative from the old arts realm at the memorial underscored her dominant position, hinting at silent tugs of power in the background.

Qing Mu offered a bashful smile. "My master suggested I go in his stead and present a wreath for Olesha."

Guan Lin shook her head gently. "That won't be needed. Wang Xuan can attend on behalf of all of you. I'll be there too, so rest assured."

A frown crossed Old Chen's features. "There won’t be any Grandmasters attending, will there?"

Guan Lin confirmed, "No. Lately, Grandmasters from the New Arts faction have faced peril when entering the Old World. They wouldn't dare risk it now."

Old Chen responded with a subtle nod, his eyes reflecting relief.

Guan Lin's gaze lingered on Wang Xuan, her expression suggesting she'd deduced something about his prowess. The next day, Wang Xuan, after his routine morning preparations, boarded a vehicle arranged by Qing Mu, destined for a funeral parlor in An City.

"Isn't that... someone from the Old Arts faction?" Recognizing Wang Xuan as he disembarked, a murmur rippled through the onlookers. The indelible image he'd left during the nocturnal rain battle still haunted many memories.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the funeral parlor, Wang Xuan recognized many familiar faces from the rural mansion. The entire entourage had seemingly relocated to this somber setting.

Old Wu, dressed in black, spotted Wang Xuan as he descended from his car. "Little Wang, why are you here?"

"To pay my last respects to Olesha. He's gone now, and I don’t want to harbor any grudges," Wang Xuan responded somberly.

Old Wu was momentarily taken aback. "Are you the one holding a grudge though? It's folks from the New Arts faction who might still be resentful."

Wu Yin, in a sharp black suit, hurried over, her silhouette impossible to hide. "Wang Xuan, you shouldn’t be here without a clear reason. I'm worried someone might pick a fight with you."

There was a sudden commotion as someone exclaimed, "Can you believe it? Mr. Zhong Yong, a representative of the megacorporations, personally penned a condolence note for Olesha!"

Old Wu snorted, "I bet that note was initially meant for Old Chen. But since Chen proved too resilient, the old man from the Zhong family just repurposed it for Olesha."

"We need to greet some old acquaintances. We'll catch up later, Wang Xuan," said Old Wu, leading Wu Yin away to mingle with the elite from the conglomerate circles.

On their way, Old Wu whispered to his niece, "I have a feeling Wang Xuan's confident presence here means one of two things. Either he's advanced his skills and is unafraid of any backlash from the New Arts faction's Grandmasters, or he has strong backing, signaling a defiant stance."

Finally, he added, "We should act quickly regarding the mysterious region. Wang Xuan seems reliable and kind-hearted. If he comes to regard you as a confidante, I believe he might assist us."

"Uncle, what exactly are you suggesting?" Wu Yin inquired, a hint of perplexity evident in her voice.

The influence of Olesha was undeniable, especially given his ability to extend the lives of the elite. This had attracted a multitude of dignitaries to the memorial.

Nearby, Zhong Cheng, ensconced in bandages, leaned in to whisper to Zhong Qing, "Sis, did you notice? Old Wu and Wu Yin seem quite keen on building a rapport with Wang Xuan. Perhaps you should too."

Zhong Qing offered him a fleeting, enigmatic glance but chose not to respond.

"With your charm and tactics," Zhong Cheng continued, his voice barely audible, "it shouldn’t be too challenging to have him regard you as a trusted confidante. Let me initiate the conversation, and you can join in shortly."

Without waiting for a response, he approached Wang Xuan, exuding a warmth, "Brother Wang!"

Wang Xuan, amused by Zhong Cheng's rather dramatic appearance, asked light-heartedly, "Been roughhousing lately?"

Zhong Cheng gave a hasty, embarrassed shush, glancing around, especially in the direction of his sister. "Mind your words. If she overhears, I might just end up in more bandages."

Wang Xuan chuckled, "Your sister has a delicate demeanor, but she's clearly not someone you’d want to mess with."

Zhong Cheng, attempting to steer the conversation, mentioned, "She's been wanting to have a chat with you."

Wang Xuan, always to the point, inquired, "Is she bringing any scriptures?"

Zhong Cheng was momentarily caught off guard by Wang Xuan's candidness.