Chapter 12: A Gentle Gaze from Above

Zhou Yun doubled over in agony, clutching his abdomen as though he'd been struck by a hooked shrimp. He squatted low, his spine stiff and half-paralyzed from a heavy palm strike.

Wang Xuan, exhausted, sat directly on Zhou Yun's back, using him as a makeshift stool.

A middle-aged man in a Tang-style suit descended from the airship. Though slightly overweight, his presence was commanding. His face turned cold the moment he saw the scene.

He said nothing, but his sharp gaze swept over like a blade—an intimidation tactic most people wouldn't withstand.

But Wang Xuan paid him no attention and remained seated on Zhou Yun.

Behind the middle-aged man followed a group of burly men in black—clearly bodyguards, all visibly armed with advanced firearms. One of them barked at Wang Xuan, "Get up!"

Wang Xuan didn't respond. His right hand hung casually at his side, with two fingers lightly touching Zhou Yun's temple. Everyone present had trained in old-style martial arts and knew exactly what that gesture implied.

At Wang Xuan's level, even in a sudden death situation, his fingers alone could pierce a vital point through sheer instinct and explosive vitality.

"I didn't expect you to show up too. Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Zhao Qinghan stepped forward.

Zhou Kun, Kong Yi, Su Chan, and the others also greeted the man politely. Clearly, they all knew who he was.

The middle-aged man glanced back coldly at his bodyguards. They immediately fell silent and withdrew to the airship.

"Wang Xuan won... and is using Zhou Yun as a stool?"

A young woman trailing behind the man, who had been walking with a scowl and head down, snapped out of her daze, stunned by the sight.

She knew very well how strong Zhou Yun was—he often spoke of the supernatural.

In the past, he had repeatedly spoken with great ambition: a new era was dawning, and immortals might one day walk the world again.

Yet now, this man who had trained in the new techniques, who dreamed of the transcendent, had been utterly defeated—turned into a seat by the very person he had targeted.

"Wang Xuan, get off him!" the young woman shouted angrily, glaring at him with indignation.

Still seated, Wang Xuan ignored her and quietly activated his ancient cultivation technique. Bathed in faint moonlight, his weary body gradually recovered its strength and vitality.

The middle-aged man looked on, visibly intrigued. He didn't practice the old arts himself, but he had enough life experience to recognize what he was seeing.

"You're young, yet you've reached this level with the old techniques?" he said at last. His voice softened as he addressed Wang Xuan. "Would you mind standing up so we can talk?"

At those words, Wang Xuan rose. The fatigue melted from him, and under the moonlight, he stood tall and radiant, his eyes bright and steady.

Since the man had spoken politely and offered a proper dialogue, Wang Xuan saw no need to be confrontational. His earlier silence was only to assert that they stood on equal footing.

Wang Xuan had always maintained this stance with powerful, controlling types—calm and self-assured, never servile.

Qin Cheng quickly walked over to stand beside him.

The young woman, Zhou Yun's sister Zhou Ting, rushed forward to help her brother, checking his injuries.

"What should I call you?" Wang Xuan asked respectfully.

"My surname is Zhou. You can call me Uncle Zhou," the middle-aged man replied, eyeing him as though trying to see into his soul.

Wang Xuan remained composed. Not even Ling Wei's powerful father had managed to suppress him, let alone this slightly inferior presence.

Qin Cheng nudged Zhou Kun and whispered, "Are all these people surnamed Zhou part of your family?"

"Of course not," Zhou Kun shook his head. "The New Star's a big place. Just because they share a surname doesn't mean they're related to us. That's Ling Wei's uncle, Zhou Mingxuan."

Zhou Yun, who had started learning new techniques, was Zhou Mingxuan's eldest son—and Ling Wei's cousin.

And the "dreamwalking" girl earlier? That was Zhou Yun's younger sister, Zhou Ting.

Zhou Mingxuan stared at Wang Xuan for three full minutes. Eventually, even he felt the tension in his own body. With a faint smile of defeat, he said:

"Youth truly is a gift. I've heard of you before, and now that I've seen you in person, I'm impressed."

Wang Xuan simply smiled. Compliments like these? He didn't take them too seriously.

"Uncle Zhou, what brings you here tonight?" Su Chan asked, voicing what many were thinking. After all, this was supposed to be their class reunion—and Zhou Yun had clearly come to stir up trouble.

Zhou Mingxuan sighed. "I'm here for Zhou Yun. He's barely scratched the surface of the new techniques, yet he's been picking fights everywhere, battling more than ten people over the past few days. When I heard he was here, I came to drag him back myself. He won't be leaving the house for the next six months."

In the distance, Zhou Yun's body stiffened.

Zhou Ting pouted. Sure, her brother had come here on his own to provoke Wang Xuan, but claiming their father rushed over just to discipline him was a stretch. On the way, their father had clearly expected Zhou Yun to win—and had even asked her to apologize afterward to save face for the Zhou family.

"Uncle Zhou, what brings you to the Old Territory?" Kong Yi asked.

"Business," Zhou Mingxuan replied casually. "Also, I came to check on Ling Wei for her parents."

"I heard from Ling Wei that her parents are planning to visit in a few days," Zhao Qinghan added nonchalantly.

"Oh, yes," Zhou Mingxuan said, "they'll be arriving soon to take her home themselves. She won't be traveling back with you all."

Zhao Qinghan's clear, intelligent eyes locked onto him. "Uncle Zhou, are the Zhou and Ling families here because of something you've found in the Old Territory?"

Zhou Mingxuan laughed. "You're too sharp, always connecting the dots. But no, nothing like that. Just routine trade business. You know our families do a lot of work here."

Then he added, "There's nothing left in the Old Territory. The tombs of the immortals and pre-Qin alchemists have long since been emptied. The underground's barren. These days, all the big powers—governments, corporations, secret organizations—are turning their attention to deep space. That's where the real discoveries are now."

He paused, realizing some Old Territory students were nearby, and decided to change the subject.

Turning back to Wang Xuan with a kind smile, he said, "I heard you're very dedicated to the old arts. I used to know a master who could punch through steel with his bare hands. If you show me your form, and I see that same spirit, I'll gift you a classic text."

"This uncle's pretty generous, huh?" Qin Cheng whispered.

Wang Xuan smiled. "I doubt I can compare to your old acquaintance. I just practice for personal growth."

"You're too modest. Go on—demonstrate your style. You don't need a sparring partner. Just use a robot. It won't fight back, just defend itself. Let me see your technique."

Wang Xuan replied calmly, "I'm too tired today. I'd rather not embarrass myself."

Zhou Mingxuan was about to speak when Zhou Yun called out. He smiled and nodded at Wang Xuan before walking away.

Qin Cheng leaned in. "That guy's definitely holding some high-level texts. Doesn't matter what he's up to—you should've shown off and taken the prize."

Wang Xuan said, "You think he'll hand me a pre-Qin treasure after I just flattened his son? At best, it'll be something ordinary. And don't forget—he's Ling Wei's uncle, same side as her father. Why the sudden interest in me?"

He added, "This guy's playing the long game."

"How so?" Qin Cheng asked.

"He's using a 'gentle gaze from above.' Pretending to be a gracious elder offering you a chance—when in truth, he's gently pressing down on you. There are no robots here except Zhao Qinghan's, or maybe some cleaning droids in his ship. If I show off against a janitor bot, and he gives me a random book in return, the message is clear: we're not in the same league."

Qin Cheng nodded, face serious. "He's way tougher than his son. Hard to deal with... next time, I'll just beat up his son again."

Nearby, Su Chan and Zhao Qinghan burst out laughing at his last comment.

Wang Xuan called out, "Uncle Zhou, I'm not in shape tonight to demonstrate my skills. But thank you for the offer."

Zhou Mingxuan's smile froze for a moment, then he nodded warmly. "No worries. I'll look forward to it next time."

He waved to someone to bring over a manual.

Qin Cheng was stunned. Then he turned to Wang Xuan, eyes wide. "You got it anyway? You really pulled it off—got a free book without lifting a finger!"

Zhou Mingxuan returned, smiling as he handed Wang Xuan an old paperbound volume.

"Young man, not bad at all. It's a shame you weren't chosen, but now that you've stayed here, keep cultivating. Make something of this old art."

With that, he turned and left with Zhou Yun and Zhou Ting, boarding the small airship that soon vanished into the night.

"We should head out too," Wang Xuan said to Qin Cheng.

Zhou Kun asked, "Not waiting for Ling Wei? She probably got held up by her uncle. She'll be here soon."

Wang Xuan shook his head. "I've said it many times—there's nothing between us now. We've been apart for over a year. You've seen how her family acts. It's better this way. We'll go our separate ways."

(End of Chapter)