Qin Cheng noticed that Professor Lin looked a little lost in thought as he stared at the woman in the photograph, as if reminiscing about the past.
Wang Xuan felt that Professor Lin was a man with a story.
He had entered a pre-Qin tomb, inherited the legacy of a Fangshi, survived two large holes through his chest, and even knew a stunningly beautiful woman who had once been famous on the Nova.
And that was only the tip of the iceberg. Clearly, Professor Lin had led an extraordinary life.
"Professor, don't be so sentimental. It's just a woman. Let the past stay in the past," Qin Cheng said, breaking the quiet atmosphere.
Professor Lin shook his head. "You've misunderstood. I'm just feeling a bit nostalgic. That's all. This is nothing more than pure appreciation."
Qin Cheng felt those words were familiar—hadn't he said something similar recently? Then he immediately thought of Zhao Qinghan.
"I completely understand you!" Qin Cheng said, putting on a look as if he'd found a kindred spirit.
Wang Xuan added, "The woman in the photo... she kind of looks like Zhao Qinghan."
Qin Cheng looked carefully and realized they did resemble each other.
His expression changed dramatically, finally sighing, "Professor, our taste in beauty is quite similar. I think we can become friends across generations!"
Professor Lin slapped him lightly and said that the woman in the photo was Zhao Qinghan's grandmother.
Qin Cheng's face instantly fell. That's the goddess's grandma?!
Wang Xuan immediately understood why Zhao Qinghan had been at the gate earlier. Their families had deep ties, and after seeing an old acquaintance, Professor Lin had reopened the photo album that night.
Wang Xuan had a hunch: Professor Lin might be planning to meet this woman because of him. But Wang Xuan didn't want the old man's years of inner peace to be disrupted.
"Professor Lin, you don't need to worry about my situation. I already have a preliminary plan. I think I can handle it myself."
Professor Lin was surprised. He had only been silently looking at the photo, yet Wang Xuan already guessed his intentions. Such sharp intuition—he truly was well-suited to the path of the ancient arts.
"In ancient times, Fangshi fought beasts, defied fate, and though they were mere mortals, they dared to rival the sun and moon. Since I've inherited this legacy and chosen the path of the old techniques, if I can't handle even a minor issue like this, how will I face real life-and-death crises in the future?"
Wang Xuan was a grateful person. He mainly didn't want Professor Lin to revisit the past, which might stir up old emotions long since laid to rest. Some things were better left untouched.
"Alright, you handle it yourself," Professor Lin smiled. His own path had ended, but he was eager to see a successor carry the old techniques to their full potential.
That night, most of their conversation revolved around the ancient arts. Wang Xuan immersed himself in the study of Fangshi techniques from the pre-Qin era.
The techniques for absorbing qi, inner cultivation, and meditation all had unique approaches. This legacy was exceptional—profound and extraordinary.
Professor Lin told him that the root method in the experimental class was also powerful, but incomplete, which is why it seemed inferior compared to this pre-Qin secret method.
However, as Wang Xuan continued reading, he found the latter parts increasingly difficult to comprehend. The writings became vague and obscure—was this truly a usable root method?
For example, the text mentioned a certain domain that, before reaching it, appeared barren. Later, it spoke of "black soil," and beyond that... the records became even more mystical.
Wang Xuan didn't understand and asked Professor Lin on the spot.
"When you get back, you'd better read some books about ancient sects—Taoist and Buddhist ones. They offer some interpretations of terms and phenomena from the pre-Qin era. After that, you'll gain more insight when revisiting this method."
Professor Lin explained that some of the descriptions were likely related to the Huangting Neijing Tu (The Inner Landscape Diagram of the Yellow Court).
The pre-Qin period was simply too distant. Some words and phenomena required references from later classical texts for proper interpretation.
As he elaborated, Professor Lin also mentioned Baopuzi by Ge Hong and Wu Ji Tu by Chen Tuan.
Wang Xuan nodded and took note seriously.
Qin Cheng, listening beside them, felt a headache coming on. So to learn Fangshi techniques, did one really have to read the entire Taoist Canon?
They talked late into the night. Professor Lin shared everything he knew. After years of research and reading countless texts, he had finally been able to decipher the Fangshi legacy.
Wang Xuan gained a great deal, but he still felt it necessary to dive deeper into ancient books when he returned.
…
At dawn, Wang Xuan completely overhauled his qi absorption and inner cultivation methods, training according to the Fangshi legacy—and the results were phenomenal.
Bathed in the morning glow, he broke out into a sweat. His metabolism was faster than ever, as if purging impurities from within. His skin felt sticky from the discharge.
He had never felt better—light, agile, full of life, and his spirit brimming with energy. His body was infused with a potent strength.
"I must go to Nova!" he declared with conviction. In the coming days, he would focus on improving his strength to prepare for the journey.
"Wang Xuan!" someone called out from afar.
Zhou Kun soon approached, his face still soft-featured with a slightly melancholic air. But seeing Wang Xuan here, he offered a genuine smile.
"You really haven't left campus. Still practicing the ancient arts—I see you've fallen deep into it."
He lowered his voice, "Take my advice: get ready early. The ancient arts… have been abandoned by those on Nova. There's something new now."
Wang Xuan felt warm hearing this. Though he had already guessed it himself, he still appreciated Zhou Kun's reminder.
"I'm moving out in two days, but I'll stay in this city. My job's confirmed—I report in five days."
Zhou Kun sighed, "I hope everything goes well for you. I'd love for us to meet again someday."
Then he explained why he came—there was a gathering tonight. He asked if Wang Xuan would like to come.
The selected students would leave for Nova in four days. They wanted to gather one last time, since once on Nova, everyone would go their separate ways.
Zhou Kun said, "Don't worry, it's just a simple get-together. Four years of friendship—there won't be any drama. It's just a way to commemorate the final, pure years of our youth. From here on, we step into the real world, where society will beat and grind us down."
Wang Xuan didn't respond right away. It wasn't about fearing trouble—he just didn't want to bring unnecessary problems to others.
"Come on, someone you most want to see will be there," Zhou Kun teased, clearly eager to have one last good drink and chat with Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan chuckled to himself. He misunderstood. There's no one I particularly want to see. I just hope no drama unfolds.
"Some students from the experimental class who weren't selected are still in the city," Wang Xuan said.
Zhou Kun replied, "I'll invite them too. But, some people are watching to see if you'll show up."
Though they were all familiar classmates—many even close friends—this type of gathering between those going to Nova and those staying behind felt... different.
"Alright, I'll go," Wang Xuan nodded.
Just as Zhou Kun left, Qin Cheng called. "Old Wang, they're having a gathering and invited me too. But I'm torn—I'm not going to Nova, just the New Moon. Are you going?"
Wang Xuan first corrected how Qin Cheng addressed him, then said, "You'll be on the moon above their heads, looking down on them every day. What's there to be conflicted about? Come pick me up tonight—we'll go together."
Qin Cheng shouted joyfully, "Great! I was waiting for you to say that. Honestly, I was worried you wouldn't go!"
(End of Chapter)