Ch. 2 - Basic Questions

“The ancients lived through the spring and autumn of a hundred years, yet their vigor did not wane.” Ye Fan closed the Esoteric Scripture of The Yellow Emperor, feeling a deep fascination for the serene and mysterious era described in the Basic Questions section.

There are no detailed or accurate records about ancient times. To people today, that era is shrouded in endless mist, an ancient history that invites boundless imagination.

A gentle breeze stirred the courtyard. Several parasol trees swayed softly, and their dense leaves rustled. Fresh air blew in through the window.

Ye Fan loved reading books about strange legends and mysteries. With a cup of light green tea beside him, he continued flipping through the ancient text in his hands.

“Ordinary people could live beyond a hundred years, showing no signs of ageing… What kind of mysterious ancient era was that?”

As a modern man, Ye Fan naturally didn’t believe the lifespans recorded in the Basic Questions section. What intrigued him was why so many ancient texts vaguely referred to this “ancient era” as if there had been a lost civilization shrouded in mystery and forgotten by history.

Could there truly have been an unknown ancient chapter in human history? After briefly daydreaming, he returned to his reading.

The Esoteric Scripture of The Yellow Emperor is a treasured classic, written thousands of years ago. It is considered one of China’s three great mystical books. Though not everything it says can be believed, it holds immense historical and cultural value.

“To lift the heavens and grasp the forces of yin and yang, to breathe in essence and energy, to remain inwardly guarded, and let body and spirit become one, thus one can live as long as the heavens and earth, without end. This is the path to eternal life.”

The Basic Questions section frequently refers to ancient people who understood the changes of heaven and earth, cultivated their essence and spirit, and were said to be immortal, something modern people find impossible to accept.

Unnoticed, the red sun was slowly sinking in the west. The setting sun’s glow bathed the lawn and parasol trees outside the window in a soft red hue.

Ye Fan put down the Esoteric Scripture of The Yellow Emperor, preparing to attend an important class reunion.

It had been three years since he graduated from university. After finishing school, Ye Fan stayed in this city. Looking back, the simple and pure student days were now gone for good.

Three years wasn’t long, nor was it short. Old classmates had scattered in all directions, each following their own path in life.

A pleasant phone ringtone interrupted his thoughts. It was Lin Jia, a clever and beautiful classmate. After graduation, she moved to a neighboring city and, with her skill and capability, had already been promoted to department manager a year ago.

As soon as Ye Fan answered the call, Lin Jia teased him. She had always shown excellent social skills in college and could easily get close to others.

“What? Missing me already?” Ye Fan replied playfully.

A delightful, melodious laugh came from the other end. “I don’t quite know where the meetup is. Let’s go together later.”

After agreeing on a meeting spot, Ye Fan drove out. During college, he had pursued Lin Jia, but she had gently turned him down, saying they weren’t suitable for each other.

Lin Jia was stunning and charming, but her sharp mind and sense of practicality outshone even her beauty. She knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it, realistic to the core.

With ten minutes left before the agreed time, Ye Fan found a parking spot near the mall. He got out and waited for Lin Jia by the roadside.

The entire city was bathed in the afterglow of sunset. Many buildings were covered in a soft golden hue. Traffic flowed continuously, and people bustled along the sidewalks.

Seven or eight minutes later, a Toyota pulled up. A beautiful and refined face appeared, Lin Jia got out and walked over.

Ye Fan greeted her with a smile, “Got a chauffeur now?”

“Don’t tease me. That’s our classmate Liu Yunzhi,” she replied.

Though they had occasionally kept in touch over the past three years, they had only met once in person two years ago. Lin Jia was still as vibrant and attractive as ever. She was casually dressed, tight jeans and a purple T-shirt that accentuated her graceful, curvy figure.

“It’s been over two years. How have you been?” Lin Jia’s hair hung neatly at shoulder length, jet black and smooth. Her phoenix eyes, slightly upturned beneath long lashes, gave her a natural allure. She was captivating.

“I’m doing well,” Ye Fan smiled, joking, “With your looks, Lin Jia, it’s a shame you’re not in showbiz.”

“You’re asking for a beating,” Lin Jia laughed charmingly. Her eyes glimmered, her red lips seductive, exuding elegance and beauty.

Just then, the Toyota’s window rolled down, revealing a familiar face, Liu Yunzhi, their former classmate.

Like Ye Fan, he stayed in the same city after graduation. Thanks to a well-connected relative, he started a modest company and was considered one of the more successful among their classmates.

Although they lived in the same city, he and Ye Fan had barely kept in touch, mostly due to a conflict back in college.

Liu Yunzhi didn’t get out of the car. He simply smiled lightly and said, “It’s been a while.”

“Yeah. Let’s catch up sometime.” Since the other didn’t even step out, Ye Fan kept the greeting short and casual.

“You took a cab here?”

Sensing the subtle condescension, Ye Fan didn’t bother responding seriously and replied indifferently.

Lin Jia, being sharp and perceptive, could feel the tension and turned to Ye Fan with a smile. “This time I rushed back quickly and called several classmates still in town. Let’s ride with Liu Yunzhi.”

Before Ye Fan could say anything, Liu Yunzhi spoke first, apologetically: “Sorry, I already arranged to pick up two more classmates at the next intersection. I think the seats won’t be enough.”

“No worries, you go ahead. I’ll catch up,” Ye Fan said, then turned to Lin Jia and smiled, “You coming with me or...?”

Lin Jia hesitated briefly. Liu Yunzhi urged, “Come on, Lin the Beauty, hop in. Otherwise, I’ll be drowned in everyone’s complaints.”

After standing on the sidewalk for a few moments, Lin Jia apologized to Ye Fan and, under Liu Yunzhi’s urging, got into the Toyota.

Just as the window was rolling up, Ye Fan vaguely heard Liu Yunzhi mutter dismissively, “It’s rush hour now. Good luck finding a cab!” Then the car sped off.

In the past, Ye Fan had been something of a star back in university. But now, assumed to be arriving by taxi and compared to Liu Yunzhi’s apparent success, he seemed down and out.

Ye Fan ignored Liu Yunzhi’s behavior entirely. 

What caught him off guard was Lin Jia’s choice.

Still, everyone has their own way of handling life. After all, people live in the real world, where pragmatism, pride, and vanity are inevitable. Ye Fan didn’t feel any resentment.

The sun had sunk below the horizon. The blood-red sky was fading, and the entire city seemed draped in a thick gray coat as night prepared to fall.

At that very moment, nine massive dragon corpses pulling a bronze coffin floated through the cold and dark void of space. That shocking image seemed frozen in eternity.

Aboard the International Space Station, several astronauts had already transmitted this earth-shattering discovery to the ground and were now awaiting further instructions.

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