Chapter 106 Unexpected Encounter
The mysterious aura of the ancient temple lingered in Wang Xuan's mind long after the hovering vehicle had moved away. He kept glancing back, feeling a profound reluctance to leave. However, he understood that it was wise to keep his distance—too much recklessness could lead to unforeseen consequences.
The moon lacked an atmosphere, which meant there would be no scattering or refraction of light. Whether by day or night, the sky remained a deep black. Here, so close to space, one could see stars without any impurities in the way, but they would never twinkle as they did when gazing at them from Old Earth or New Star.
"Is that New Star?" Wang Xuan asked, lifting his gaze to the vast darkness where a large planet loomed. From the moon, it appeared incredibly imposing.
"Yes, that's New Star," the driver confirmed.
He had driven many passengers, and he noted that everyone who stood on the moon for the first time felt an overwhelming sense of awe when they beheld the life-sustaining planet.
From the surface of Old Earth, the moon seemed larger than any star except the sun. But from the moon, New Star appeared even more majestic, as its radius was three to four times that of the moon. Observing it from this vantage point made it seem all the more colossal!
New Star was a deep blue against the pitch-black sky, similar to Old Earth. For a moment, Wang Xuan felt a strange illusion that he was looking at Old Earth rather than New Star, as they shared an uncanny resemblance in the vastness of space.
The driver, familiar with the feelings of those from Old Earth, spoke up, "The continental plates on New Star might be different from those on Old Earth, but it still has abundant water resources. Additionally, its diameter and mass are quite similar to those of Old Earth."
Wang Xuan nodded; this was crucial information.
Humans were insignificant compared to cosmic celestial bodies, so life itself seemed especially fragile, heavily reliant on its environment. If New Star's mass and gravitational differences were too vast, humans would struggle to survive and adapt. It was fortunate that the environments were relatively similar, making it the ideal new home.
To his surprise, many parameters between the two planets were strikingly close—practically sister planets!
He pondered this implication. In the vastness of the universe, finding such closely matched planets must be exceedingly rare, likely hinting at more complex underlying reasons.
He began to wonder how New Star had been discovered. In the past, during the heated wars on Old Earth, some people had fled to the moon. Soon after, breakthroughs in advanced technology led to interstellar exploration and the discovery of New Star, followed by migration.
Many speculated that humanity had uncovered and inherited something on the moon that led to their current advancements. Even many inhabitants of New Star believed that the latest research findings were still reaping the benefits of the moon's legacy, stuck in a phase of rediscovery.
Some emerging black technologies might not even be original!
With the gradual unlocking of the "lunar heritage," humanity had grown more confident, and technology was steadily upgrading, inching closer to venturing further into deep space.
However, the people of New Star seemed to be predominantly imitating rather than innovating, struggling to decipher some problems and deeply utilize the knowledge they had.
Of course, there were those who harbored fears and reverence, wondering about the source of the technological inheritance on the moon, its current whereabouts, and its state.
Thus, the upper echelons of New Star remained cautious, capable of shutting down and self-destructing their star gates at any moment, effectively severing all connections with the outside world.
Nevertheless, in recent years, a small faction had gained confidence, taking bolder steps forward.
Qin Cheng worked for a company called Dingwu, which was, in fact, a substantial organization primarily offering security services. The branch on New Moon was merely a part of this larger entity.
Dingwu held considerable influence on New Star, and rumors suggested it even had its own mercenary corps stationed on desolate planets, ready to explore "the Secret Realm" when needed.
New Moon's defense was managed by the regular military, supplemented by organizations like Dingwu to fill in the gaps.
Dingwu's branch was located not far from the ethereal ancient architecture rich with osmanthus fragrance, so Wang Xuan decided to get off early. He planned to explore a bit before walking to find Qin Cheng.
Grand Palace of Cold Radiance, the most luxurious resort on the moon, resembled a fairyland, boasting various dreamlike scenes and exquisite services.
The driver was envious when he saw Wang Xuan getting out, assuming he would be staying there.
Wang Xuan shook his head; he was only here to take a look. Qin Cheng had written to him, clearly stating that the costs here were staggering. Although Qin Cheng's family was well-off, he had opted for "frugality," avoiding unnecessary expenses at Grand Palace.
New Moon was tidally locked, always presenting one face to New Star, though the moon did rotate, completing a turn approximately once a month, resulting in long periods of day and night.
Grand Palace, however, was different; the protective dome above was treated with special light technology, simulating day and night cycles akin to those of New Star, perpetually shrouded in swirling mists.
"Do you see that? Do you know what that mist is? It's diluted Moonlight Silver, mixed with other beneficial substances in precise ratios, constantly permeating the Grand Palace," someone remarked, sounding somewhat awed.
Wang Xuan was taken aback. He recalled when Old Chen had mentioned various mystical herbs, including Moonlight Silver, which was considered rare.
Moonlight Silver was a mineral hidden within unique rocks. Once extracted, it needed to be consumed immediately; otherwise, it would quickly evaporate, escaping like silvery moonlight. It was known to invigorate flesh, prolong life, and enhance physical strength—an immensely precious tonic.
Wang Xuan was taken aback to see that the Grand Palace was using such an extravagant mineral as "celestial mist." Although it was diluted, he could still sense the grandiosity of their display. While the protective dome prevented Moonlight Silver from dissipating too much, there was still a significant daily loss, making the costs enormous.
"This is an imitation of celestial mist," Wang Xuan remarked, finally understanding why Qin Cheng had avoided spending here; the lavishness was evident from just the Moonlight Silver alone.
The entire ancient architectural complex radiated an ethereal vibe, shrouded in mist, with exquisite towers rising majestically. The osmanthus trees at the entrance were so large that it would take several people to embrace one.
Wang Xuan suspected the tree might be fake; he had never seen such a large osmanthus tree, even on Old Earth. Sure enough, someone nearby echoed his thoughts, asking, "Is it real?"
With many people coming and going, it was a well-known tourist attraction, and naturally, curious visitors were loitering nearby.
"It's a real tree, excavated from the Moon Watching Cliff on New Star. It's said that there are even older osmanthus trees inside the Grand Palace," someone explained.
Wang Xuan looked around, finding little interest in lingering since he couldn't enter. Just as he was about to leave, a figure emerged from the swirling mist, a middle-aged man with a radiant complexion, as if he had just indulged in some revitalizing tonic. He spotted Wang Xuan and his demeanor changed instantly, exuding a palpable pressure.
"It's you!" he exclaimed, striding over with purpose.
"Old Ling!" Wang Xuan blurted out, genuinely surprised to encounter Ling Qiming, the father of Ling Wei, here.
In Wang Xuan's memory, Ling Qiming had a powerful aura. When they first met, he had immediately recognized the man's decisive and strong character.
Ling Qiming paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing sharply. Two years ago, he had referred to him as "Uncle Ling," but now Wang Xuan had casually called him "Old Ling."
"How did you get here?" Ling Qiming demanded, his authoritative presence still intact, his eyes scrutinizing.
Wang Xuan initially considered explaining his informal address but recalled how Old Ling had previously warned him not to come to New Star. He chose not to correct his words and instead replied, "Why can't I be here?"
Ling Qiming remained serious, his gaze intense and unyielding, silently assessing him.
Two years ago, Wang Xuan had felt at ease discussing things with him, not intimidated by his presence. Now, he felt even more composed. Recently, Old Wu had frequently reached out to him, fostering a sense of camaraderie that made Ling Qiming seem a bit less imposing.
After a moment of silence, Ling Qiming's focus shifted from Wang Xuan to a young boy, about fifteen or sixteen, who had followed him.
The boy had glossy hair, big eyes, and long eyelashes, a youthful oval face that was quite striking—one might even say he was exceptionally handsome.
"Who's this little boy?" Wang Xuan remarked, momentarily ignoring Old Ling.
Ling Qiming's lips twitched slightly, clearly irritated but saying nothing. The young boy, however, stepped forward, puffing out his chest and looking up at Wang Xuan. In a clear, high-pitched voice, he said, "Who are you calling a little boy?"
Wang Xuan was taken aback. The "little boy" turned out to be a girl with short, stylish hair, dressed in a neutral manner that had made him mistake her identity.
He playfully ruffled her hair, prompting her to pout in annoyance and scurry back behind Ling Qiming.
Wang Xuan, wishing to avoid a conflict with a child, quickly added, "My mistake! You're a lovely young lady."
To ease the tension, he also complimented Old Ling, "You must be proud; she looks just like you."
The girl glared at him, cheeks puffed out in indignation.
Ling Qiming raised an eyebrow, his expression tightening at Wang Xuan's boldness, wondering how this young man could so casually compliment his daughter and even imply she resembled him.
"I meant to say that your family has strong genes, and everyone is handsome, including you!" Wang Xuan hastily clarified.
Ling Qiming remained silent, his expression darkening.
Seeing the tension, Wang Xuan decided it was best not to prolong the interaction. He waved goodbye and turned to leave, heading off to find Qin Cheng.
"Go, block your sister! Find a way to keep her inside for a while; don't let her see him," Ling Qiming instructed his daughter after Wang Xuan disappeared from view. "Do you know who that man was?"
The young girl nodded vigorously, then dashed toward the Grand Palace.
"Can't even enjoy a vacation in peace; how did he end up here?" Ling Qiming muttered under his breath.
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Wang Xuan arrived at Dingwu's branch office on the moon, pondering how to find someone when he spotted Qin Cheng approaching.
Qin Cheng looked relaxed, strolling back with a young woman beside him.
"Qin Cheng!"
At the sound of his name, Qin Cheng's head snapped up, his expression shifting to shock. "Old Wang? What are you doing here on New Moon?" He could hardly believe his eyes.