The Stars Beyond

Chapter 48: A Letter From Across The Space

Old Chen was beaten up all night?!

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan didn't find it pitiable. For some reason, he had the overwhelming urge to burst into laughter. But to avoid provoking Old Chen, he held back, pretending instead to massage his temples and rubbed his face. He was afraid that Old Chen would take it out on him after seeing his laughter.

Using this as a distraction, Wang Xuan was able to contain his laughter before putting on a solemn face to look at Old Chen. There was no choice, Old Chen was in an extremely agitated state, he had to appear serious.

"Old Chen," Wang Xuan began, "You have to understand that the world is balanced. When you gain something, you are also sacrificing something in return. To acquire a martial art technique that surpasses the Vajra Fist isn't easy." To emphasize his point, Wang Xuan sighed heavily at the end.

As someone who was intelligent and strong, Old Chen could not be easily fooled. He sneered, "What about you? Why weren't you beaten?"

Wang Xuan was puzzled. Why did the same method, which worked for him, backfire for Old Chen, leading him to be thrashed by the old monk?

In reality, Wang Xuan wanted to suggest it might be due to a difference in their character, implying Old Chen's might be questionable. But he did not dare bring that up and instead insisted, "I paid a price too!"

Old Chen would have been better off not hearing that. Upon listening, he grew even more irate. His voice turned icy as he retorted, "What did you sacrifice? From the female practitioner to a ghost monk, it seems the one paying the price is always me!"

Old Chen was filled with resentment. The more he thought about it, the clearer it became - every single time, he was left holding the short end of the stick. Anticipated benefits eluded him, and instead, he seemed to face an unfair share of tribulations.

"Come on, Old Chen," Wang Xuan chided, "No need to lay it on so thick." Naturally, he wasn’t going to accept any blame. He had to paint his own experiences in even darker hues to keep the balance of pity in his favor. After regaling Old Chen with a long list of his supposedly sorrow-filled episodes, Wang Xuan added, “And if we're going by your reasoning, Old Chen, then you dragged Qing Mu into this as well.”

Old Chen's expression shifted to one of offense. "Are you implying that you threw both of us under the bus?"

Wang Xuan found himself genuinely baffled as to why it was Old Chen who bore the brunt of the old monk's ire. Was it some form of karmic transfer? The monk might have been exacting his revenge on Old Chen.

"Listen, Old Chen," Wang Xuan began earnestly, "I can swear that all I did was give him a light smack, and everything fell into place! But let’s not jump to conclusions. Share your side of the story, and we’ll brainstorm a solution."

A dangerous glint appeared in Old Chen's eyes. "Are you just fishing for the juicy details of my misadventures?"

Even though Wang Xuan's curiosity was piqued, he chose safety over satisfaction. He swiftly changed the topic of their discussion, "By the way, do you know which Buddhist lineage Pufa Temple is associated with?"

“Eh?” Old Chen blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, as realization dawned, he became grave, sensing the heart of their conundrum.

Wang Xuan, in passing, intended to delve into the ancient roots of the millennium-old temple to find more clues. But once the words left his lips, a lightbulb went off.

“Zen Buddhism!” They declared in unison.

“The mind itself is Buddha!”

“To see one’s nature is to become a Buddha!”

The Sixth Patriarch's Platform Sutra records: Upon hearing the word, one attains great enlightenment and instantly sees the true nature; all truths lie within this nature.

“Old Chen,” Wang Xuan began, “Zen is all about sudden enlightenment and following one’s heart. Like when I acted on instinct – even though it might've seemed a bit impertinent – it was... accepted. You, on the other hand, were clearly harboring ulterior motives, trying to glean their scriptures, and yet, you feigned righteousness and went so far as to smack them. If I were that monk, I'd be peeved at you too! Why wouldn’t I give you a proper thrashing?”

Old Chen just looked skyward, seemingly drained of words, letting out a long, forlorn sigh. The mere mention of Zen had made everything crystal clear. Without another word, he turned to leave.

“Old Chen,” Wang Xuan called out enthusiastically, “Want me to show you the remaining moves?”

“No need,” Old Chen retorted disdainfully, “I fear your form might not be up to par.” He had made up his mind to face the ghostly monk that night, with intentions to acquire every last bit of scripture from him. True to his prowess, Old Chen achieved his goal that very night. Moreover, he no longer suffered from insomnia. From then on, he secluded himself in a small courtyard outside the city, shutting himself off from visitors, to diligently practice that martial art.

As for Qing Mu and the others, they had ventured deep into the Greater Khingan range and had not been heard from for quite a while.

With Old Chen engrossed in his training, Wang Xuan found his days quieter. Thanks to Old Chen, he was given extended leave, granting him ample time to delve into ancient arts. He also sifted through the Taoist scriptures. Not so much to unearth legacy teachings but more to decipher obscure terms and specialized nomenclatures, enabling a deeper understanding of even older mystical practices.

At one point, Wang Xuan returned home to have a heartfelt conversation with his parents. He told them the company appreciated his performance so much that they wanted to send him for advanced studies on the New World, a rare and golden opportunity he did not want to miss. To his surprise, his parents were wholly supportive. No sentimentality, no reluctance. It made all the comforting words he had prepared seem redundant. Reflecting on his past, his parents had always been this way – broad-minded, without a hint of melancholy. This eased Wang Xuan's heart. If they had shed tears and couldn't eat for sorrow, he might have hesitated and delayed his departure.

Soon, news came from Qing Mu. In his messages, he conveyed that he was suffering miserably. He was experiencing firsthand the torments Old Chen endured at night. He experienced many sleepless nights and, shockingly, was actually struck by lightning! As he explained, he was the unlucky fish caught in the net. He suffered the consequences of others' actions.

The female Taoist practitioner's ability to manipulate the current world grew ever more astounding. In an underground laboratory, she subjected everyone to massive "spiritual lightning" assaults. Researchers from the New World initially dismissed these events as hallucinations caused by some super-material factors. They brought their most advanced equipment from the New World to differentiate, detect, record, observe, and research.

Furthermore, neither Ms. Zheng, the founder of the Origin Research Institute from the New World nor certain individuals from the Old World, wanted to halt the experiments. Both harbored great hopes for the subject of life extension.

Clearly, the experiments at the research institute would either be pushed to their limits, or the female Taoist's interference in the present world would escalate further, allowing both Ms. Zheng from the New World and individuals from the Old World to experience these phenomena firsthand.

The situation reached an impasse, much to the surprise of many.

Wang Xuan, however, remained patient. He bided his time, awaiting any word from Old Chen and Qing Mu. Every day, he dedicated himself to mastering the ancient arts and the old monk's martial techniques.

After a little over a week, a few letters from afar found their way to him. The first letter was from Qin Cheng, delivered to Wang Xuan through a deep-space trading team collaborating with Qin's family.

"Old Wang," the letter began, "I've firmly planted my feet here. Through a twist of fate, I had the chance to recommend you. If successful, I can arrange for you to come to the New Moon."

Qin Cheng provided an address within the letter. It was the local branch of a company from the new star, suggesting Wang Xuan initiate contact himself to increase the chances of success.

"Old Wang," the letter continued, "The New Moon has treasures. There are several rare and precious plants undergoing mutation experiments and being cultivated on a large scale. Every day, a certain number of plants are allowed to die. I find both pain and joy in this. Due to my limitations, I can't handle the potent effects of what they call the 'Tiger Wolf Elixir'. Consuming one every half a month is already pushing my body to its limits."

Wang Xuan's heart raced. Just what is this Tiger Wolf Elixir? It sounds very potent!

"The New Moon even has its own Guanghan Palace. I nearly lost my mind when I arrived. It's touted as the most luxurious resort in deep space. It's worth a visit. But with my limited wealth, I can only gaze at it longingly from afar," the letter concluded.

Qin Cheng's letter was filled with more than just key details; it also delved into some peculiarities.

"On the New Moon, there's something odd. There's an ancient temple claiming a history of two thousand years, supposedly transferred from the Old World. Also, one of the ancestral homes of Taoism has been reconstructed here. They say every brick and tile was transported from the original site. I have a feeling there's a secret behind this."

Upon reading this, Wang Xuan was both intrigued and puzzled.

The subsequent letters were from Su Chan and Zhou Kun, informing Wang Xuan about the unexpected deaths of two of their classmates. They wrote with a tone of sorrow and did not elaborate on the causes of death. However, Wang Xuan could infer that behind the allure of the New Moon, there was a cruel price to pay. He sighed deeply. In less than a month, two of his peers had tragically passed away. The news was unexpected and unsettling. Wang Xuan recalled the last night they had all gathered together, celebrating the upcoming journey to the New Moon. Everyone had been brimming with hope, ambition, and youthful exuberance. How had such misfortune befallen them so quickly? It was heartbreaking.

As Wang Xuan prepared for his own journey, he reminded himself to be cautious and vigilant.

He also received a personal letter from Zhao Qinghan, confirming the deaths of their classmates. Once again, Zhao broached the subject of collaboration.

Two days later, Qing Mu returned, indicating that the matters in the underground of Greater Khingan Range had temporarily concluded, though he did not elaborate. Instead, he focused on Wang Xuan's situation. With a solemn expression, he said, "There's been an unexpected development. Someone wants to keep you anchored to the Old World and prevent you from ever stepping foot on the New Moon or the New World."

Wang Xuan frowned. Some people were simply just insufferably bold. Their meddling hands were everywhere. Their efforts to stonewall his journey to the New World was impressive.

When Old Chen got wind of Qing Mu's return, he finally stepped out of his seclusion, his complexion flush with excitement. "The monk's martial arts techniques are simply brilliant," he said, a twinkle in his eye, "I've gained so much and see a clear path now."

Wang Xuan observed him with a hint of amusement. The same Old Chen who not so long ago had cursed the "ghost monk" was now singing praises of the "divine monk." He would not be surprised if, in time, he would be referring to him as a deity.

"To think that they’re trying to keep Little Wang grounded in the Old World? They're delusional. They’ll not succeed. Not if I have something to say about it." Old Chen scoffed.

He then addressed Wang Xuan, his voice dripping with intrigue. "There's a storm on the horizon. You've always wondered about my real capabilities, haven't you? Curious about the 'new arts'? Join me, and you shall see."

Qing Mu's face was drained of color at this. "Master, it's far too risky this time. It's not about pride or ego; a single mistake could be fatal."

Old Chen leaned in, his voice low and intense. "It's been years since I've shown my true strength. With my old comrades fading away, they believe that the practitioners of the Old Arts are a dying breed, looking down on us. If this continues, the Old Art's legacy will crumble. Moreover, that artifact has emerged once more. I'm bound for this journey."

Finally, locking eyes with Wang Xuan, he whispered, "Join me, and witness my real strength."

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