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.

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!”

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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.

Many among those who would be left behind would of course feel dejected. They have all heard the rumors. Failing to secure a spot in the New World mattered to them a great deal, especially when they knew that there was something going on over there . They have missed a once in a livetime opportunity.

A number of them knew about the discovery of the supernatural. If any of their classmates were to keep ahead of the times in this era of new discovery, a bright future lay ahead of them.

“Wang Xuan!” The students who did not make the selection greeted Wang Xuan. They were surprised that he did not make the cut as well.

Wang Xuan returned their greetings, and they talked. About the future, and about the opportunities they lost. He genuinely felt sad for his classmates. They have clung on to hope. The hope that new names would be added to the list during the final selection. But in the end, they were disappointed.

But this was also a testimony of their confidence as well. It was a sign of their resolve. Many among them were able to achieve certain degrees of success in the study of the Old Arts.

It was still not enough. These criterias were simply not what the investors were looking for during the selection process.

“I’ve heard a rumor that our blood samples were brought to Terra Nova for some sort of test. That’s one of the deciding factors during selection.” said one of the students who did not make the cut.

Wang Xuan was surprised. He thought he had it all figured out, but it seemed that there were still factors in place that he had simply overlooked.

“Whatever. Let that be a thing of the past.” Qin Cheng joked in an attempt to console his classmates, “If we can’t enter the realm of the occult, we’ll just work hard enough that we form megacorporations of our own. We’ll be their bosses instead.”

The students erupted into laughter.

Night fell, but the city, illuminated by countless lights, was still visible from the hilltop. The bustling of the city at night was a beautiful sight from afar.

Many of them have been drinking. Some have gotten tipsy, while there were those among them who had gotten drunk. Spirits were high that night.

Those who would be leaving were excited. A bright future awaited them. They could see themselves as individuals capable of wielding great power once they have stepped into the realm of the supernatural. They were the ones who truly went all out with the drinks that night.

Students born in the Old World who would soon depart and those who came from the New World made a promise. They wanted to see classmates again, and they would do their best to help those who were left behind.

The city far away continued to flood the horizon with its dazzling display. Its sea of light blended perfectly with the sea of stars in the night sky above. It was as if the sky had become one with the land.

Someone began to cry. He was one of those who were not selected to go to the New World. The long night of drinking had finally broken the dams holding back his sorrows.

Wang Xuan and some of his classmates immediately snapped out of their stupor. They carried the sobbing man to one of the rooms. “Here, take a rest. You’ve drunk too much.”

Someone made his way towards Wang Xuan, gently swirling the wine in his glass. Qin Cheng immediately stood beside his best friend when he saw the approaching man.

“Kong Yi, don’t you dare,” he warned.

The student was someone with slightly long hair. He was not one would call handsome, but the looks in his eyes were something that could leave a lasting impression. They gave him an imposing air.

He was perhaps the only student in the department that shared a rough relationship with Wang Xuan. And the only reason conflict arose between the two classmates was because of Wang Xuan’s ex-girlfriend. Kong Yi had fallen for Ling Wei when they first enrolled in the programme. But it was Wang Xuan who ended up becoming her boyfriend.

“Do you think of me as an oaf who can’t read the air?” Kong Yi retorted.

“Come, let’s have a toast.” Wang Xuan nudged Qin Cheng aside and raised his glass, “We’re from the same class. Let bygones be bygones. This might be the last time our paths cross.”

Kong Yi cast a sideway glance at Qin Cheng and raised his glass, “This way. I have prepared some delicacies from the New World for you. Think of them as my parting gift.” he gestured with his hand after gulping down the wine.

Qin Cheng, worried for his best friend, tagged along.

“Look at this. Mackerel caught from the deep sea. I’m sure you haven’t seen it before. This is rare stuff even on Terra Nova.”

“And these are meat from snow cows found on the plains at the feet of the snowy mountains on Terra Nova. The quality of their meat is spectacular. I’ve made sure that they were selected from the best parts. They make top grade sashimi over there with these for some old men with nothing to do with their money. Have a taste. They’re very fresh.”

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.