Under the night sky, a silver streak of light flashed by, gradually drawing closer as it descended toward the depths of the campus.
"A flying saucer from the New Star—it must be the goddess returning!" Qin Cheng looked up and tugged on Wang Xuan's arm. "Come on, let's go take a look."
There was a helipad on campus, relatively well-equipped.
"That's your goddess, don't drag me along," Wang Xuan replied.
He felt that Qin Cheng could be sentimental when calm, but once excited, he became somewhat rash—like now, clearly not thinking straight.
"Come on, it's the same for you. Almost everyone agrees she's a goddess," Qin Cheng insisted, pulling him along.
According to him, chances to see her were dwindling—soon, they might never get to see her again, fated to part ways in this life.
Wang Xuan was speechless. What kind of logic is that? Is she really your goddess? It almost felt like they were going to view a memorial.
"Relax, I'm just appreciating from afar. I have a girlfriend, and I have principles!" Qin Cheng emphasized.
Wang Xuan thought for a moment. That area was close to Professor Lin's residence. He did want to visit—after all, the old professor would also be leaving the Old Earth soon.
In fact, a few days ago, Professor Lin had called, asking him to drop by when he had time.
Wang Xuan understood the old man's intention—he likely wanted to discuss ways to help Wang Xuan secure a spot to travel to the New Star.
Wang Xuan had always disliked troubling others, especially knowing the strong-arm style of the investors behind the ancient arts research program. Outsiders had little say.
He respected the professor deeply and, knowing the man's kindness, was even more unwilling to see him get rejected for his sake.
The campus was large, and it took some time to get there. By the time they approached the helipad, it had already fallen silent—most likely, everyone had already left.
Wang Xuan glanced at the silver-gray saucer and said to Qin Cheng, "You go on and greet your goddess. I'll stop by Professor Lin's place."
"Forget it. If I head over in the dark and get mistaken by Zhao Qinghan's bodyguards, I might end up getting beaten with no way to explain myself. I'll go with you to visit Professor Lin," Qin Cheng said, chickening out at the last second, deciding to be a good man of principle loyal to his girlfriend.
Professor Lin's residence was a small courtyard just a few hundred meters away. They arrived quickly, only to run into someone unexpected outside.
Zhao Qinghan—the so-called "goddess" in Qin Cheng's words—was incredibly popular on campus, and indeed, stunningly beautiful.
Under the streetlamp, a few strands of her shoulder-length hair floated in the breeze. Her fair, delicate face, bright and clear eyes, and glossy red lips radiated sweetness and charm.
She wore a white blouse with the top button undone, revealing a glimpse of her collarbone. Her casual pants completed a relaxed look.
Even so, she still left a breathtaking impression, dazzling even in the dim night.
"Zhao Qinghan!" Qin Cheng called out, surprised to see her outside Professor Lin's residence.
"Oh, it's you two? What a coincidence," Zhao Qinghan greeted them with a fresh and beautiful smile. "Professor Lin hasn't been back in a while. Someone asked me to bring him some local specialties from New Star."
It was clear that her casual outfit was for comfort, yet it did nothing to hide her excellent figure.
She stood around 170 cm tall, with striking curves and long, straight legs. Coupled with her rare beauty, she was undeniably captivating.
"New Star specialties, huh? Any for us?" Qin Cheng joked, trying to get friendly.
Several men in black quickly emerged, watching warily.
Qin Cheng's smile froze. Do I really give off such an unsafe vibe? He thought he looked decent and approachable—why the distrust?
"They're my classmates, no need to be so tense," Zhao Qinghan waved to calm the guards.
Then she smiled and waved to Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng. "I'll head out first. Just got back from New Star and I'm exhausted."
After walking some distance, Zhao Qinghan finally asked the guards, "Why were you so on edge just now?"
"That young man is dangerous. After he looked at us, we all felt uneasy," one of the guards replied.
Zhao Qinghan was stunned, then she smiled, blooming like a radiant flower in the night breeze.
"Qin Cheng? No way. If it came down to a fight, he's definitely no match for me."
If Qin Cheng had heard this, he would've been heartbroken—his beloved goddess saw him as weak and harmless.
The guard shook his head. "Not him. The other one—the quiet young man who barely spoke but greeted you with a smile. After he looked at us, we all felt something was off. He's strong."
"You mean Wang Xuan?" Zhao Qinghan nodded thoughtfully. "I always felt he wasn't as good as me in the ancient arts. But now… it seems while I was away, he managed to draw in Qi. Pity, I didn't observe closely earlier."
She recalled Wang Xuan—calm and composed, always smiling faintly, eyes bright and clear. There was an innate confidence and poise in him.
It even seemed like he hadn't looked at her much, focusing instead on the guards around her.
She glanced back and murmured, "I'll find a chance later…"
In that moment, she felt a subtle shift—as if someone far off in the darkness was watching her.
Zhao Qinghan turned and walked away. She had a feeling that when she glanced back toward Professor Lin's courtyard earlier, Wang Xuan had noticed and returned her gaze.
…
"I've never been labeled a threat before in my entire life!" Qin Cheng grumbled.
"They weren't wary of you. They were watching me," Wang Xuan replied.
"What did you do? Don't tell me you once did something to Zhao Qinghan?" Qin Cheng's imagination ran wild.
"What are you thinking? I just thought those guards had decent skills and wanted to see whether they practiced ancient arts or followed another path from New Star."
Qin Cheng perked up immediately. "Not bad, Lao Wang! Calm and silent, and you still managed to figure them out. So, what's the verdict?"
"Also, stop calling me that," Wang Xuan corrected him.
Qin Cheng just chuckled.
Wang Xuan thought for a moment. "It looked like ancient arts, but their movements, reflexes, and posture weren't pure. It seems they've combined it with another method."
He added, "And Zhao Qinghan isn't as fragile as you think—you're no match for her."
"No way… she's advanced that far in the ancient arts?" Qin Cheng's expression froze. "So I was the weakest one in that whole group just now?"
At that moment, the courtyard door opened, and Professor Lin appeared.
"I just saw Qinghan off and then heard voices outside. So it's you two."
Professor Lin had graying hair and looked to be in his sixties, slightly overweight.
He had once been a master of ancient arts but suffered serious injuries that never fully healed, rendering him unfit for combat.
Since then, he'd focused on the theoretical side—researching ancient scriptures and field evidence. Combined with his past combat experience, he had become quite renowned in the field.
Wang Xuan stepped forward and said, "Professor Lin, I've been meaning to visit but didn't want to bother you. That's why I put it off."
"You're too polite," the old man said, inviting them in. He shook his head. "I really tried, but I was turned down."
Wang Xuan was deeply moved. He understood—Professor Lin had swallowed his pride to seek help, but the investors were too domineering to show anyone face.
"Sorry for the trouble," Wang Xuan said earnestly. He hated the idea of Professor Lin being rejected because of him.
Professor Lin waved it off, not caring.
The courtyard was small, with some flowers and plants. On the right side was a fishpond with lotus leaves floating on the surface. Koi fish darted through the water, adding life to the garden.
The living room lights were soft. On the coffee table lay a photo album, slightly worn and full of history.
The open page showed a young woman in her prime—unusually beautiful.
"Professor Lin, who's this? She's stunning," Qin Cheng asked.
"A painter who also sang beautifully. She was famous for a long time. People from my generation all adored her," Lin explained.
Wang Xuan examined the photo carefully. Its edges were frayed, likely decades old. Yet Professor Lin still kept it.
Qin Cheng noticed too and joked, feeling close enough to tease. "You've really held on. Liked her for decades, huh?"
Professor Lin nodded. "Yes. I liked her in my senior year of high school. Now I've got high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol—and I still like her."
Both Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng were speechless.
"What are your plans now?" Professor Lin asked Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan told the truth—he would start working, but also continue pursuing the path of ancient arts.
"You have to go to New Star," Professor Lin said.
He then looked down at the photo album, thinking.
Wang Xuan quickly added, "Professor, you really don't need to go ask anyone else for me."
Professor Lin looked up and asked, "Do you two believe immortals once existed?"
Wang Xuan sharply noticed that the professor wasn't looking at the photo of the beautiful woman—but rather the one next to it.
It was an old, yellowed photograph, blurred and aged, likely taken underground. On a stone table lay a pile of bamboo slips.
Such slips were commonly found in large pre-Qin tombs. Wang Xuan's mind instantly filled with speculation.
Before he could answer, Professor Lin asked again, "What do you think they've really discovered on New Star?"