Ch. 4 - Bronze Engravings

Night had long fallen. Neon lights flashed on both sides of the road. The city, even at night, radiated boundless energy. Skyscrapers stood shoulder to shoulder, reaching high into the sky.

But from the vantage point of space, all of it seemed trivial, nothing more than a speck of land.

This was no ordinary night. It was destined to be turbulent. Dozens of main control rooms on Earth were now locked onto the dark firmament above.

In the silent void of space, nine dragon corpses gleamed with a metallic, icy luster. Their bodies were covered in black scales the size of palm fans, shimmering with dark light.

Dragons, mythical beings that shouldn’t exist in the real world, were now truly lying in the skies.

The footage captured from space was soul-stirring, awe-inspiring. Massive dragon horns branched like ancient trees, evoking both power and mystery. Their bodies, like mountain ridges, exuded strength and grandeur. Their blade-like scales flashed with cold light, majestic and fearsome.

These nine enormous, lifeless corpses were a tremendous shock to human understanding, shattering some long-held beliefs.

“Ye Fan, how have things been for you over the past three years?” Many people showed concern, asking him warmly.

“Not bad. Life's been pretty uneventful. Nothing too special happened in these three years...” Ye Fan replied.

Just then, the group around Liu Yunzhi came over to make a toast. They offered kind words, clinked glasses, and created a lively atmosphere.

Those who earlier wanted to “punish” Ye Fan with drinks didn’t approach him directly until later, when Lin Jia and Wang Ziwen each came over to share a drink with him individually.

Eventually, most people were tipsy. The group moved on to karaoke, and the singing seemed to transport everyone back to their youthful college days.

“Many loved your youthful beauty, but who would stay when time changes all? So many came and went by your side, who would truly stay for a lifetime…”

Maybe it was the alcohol, but a pair of former college sweethearts, who had broken up reluctantly after graduation, sat silently beside each other. As the song played, the woman suddenly lost control. Tears filled her eyes and she broke down sobbing. Everyone gathered around to console her.

For various reasons, none of the couples from college ended up together after graduation. Though many had carefully tended those campus romances, none of them lasted. Graduation often meant goodbye. It had become a kind of curse, a tragedy that played out among new graduates every year.

Sadly, that tragedy is likely to persist, for reasons tied to youth, impulse, job pressure, the state of society… and more.

Almost everyone chose to sing songs from three years ago. Some sang with heartfelt emotion, pulling everyone’s memories back to those college days, as if they had never left.

Then came the “mic hog” – a drunken classmate who refused to let go of the microphone. His voice was unbearable, ear-shattering and ghostly, but his wild performance created a hilarious atmosphere that had everyone laughing nonstop.

It was very late when the group finally left Bright Moon Above The Sea. There were more events planned for tomorrow, they would be visiting their alma mater.

Classmates who had traveled in from other cities were mostly booked into the same hotel. A few who had cars volunteered to drive them there.

“Lin Jia, I’ll drive you back to the hotel.” Liu Yunzhi pulled up in his Toyota next to her.

Some classmates considered taking taxis. A few cars had limited seats, and they were hesitant to ask for a ride from Liu Yunzhi or others.

Just then, a Mercedes-Benz pulled up by the roadside. Ye Fan stepped out and walked over to the tired-looking female classmate, saying, “Let me drive you back.”

Ye Fan felt sympathy for this classmate. Back in college, she had been a cheerful, innocent girl who loved cheering for her classmates from the sidelines of the soccer field, sometimes even shyly bringing them bottles of water.

Now, however, life had clearly worn her down. Her complexion was pale and weary, and she had barely spoken all evening.

Seeing Ye Fan stop and offer her a ride left her both touched and flustered. She hadn’t received any attention all night, and now she felt awkward under the curious gazes of the others.

On the other side, Liu Yunzhi saw Ye Fan arrive in a car and was momentarily stunned. Then his expression darkened.

Around them, people’s faces showed a mix of confusion, surprise, and curiosity.

Everyone now realized the truth was completely different from what Liu Yunzhi had implied earlier.

At that moment, Liu Yunzhi’s face burned with shame, like he’d been slapped in public. The classmates who had earlier lectured Ye Fan from their high horses now also felt deeply awkward. They wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to begin.

Some people looked amused. Especially those who had toasted with Ye Fan earlier, this unexpected scene seemed to knock Liu Yunzhi’s little clique down a peg.

Then two other classmates came over and got into the Mercedes. They were close friends of Ye Fan.

The car slowly drove off with the group inside, while many still stood frozen on the sidewalk.

Liu Yunzhi sat stiffly, feeling like a needle was pricking his back under all the strange looks.

At the same time, far away in outer space, the astronauts aboard the International Space Station looked grim, their nerves stretched tight, extremely tense.

In the cold and dark cosmos, nine enormous dragon corpses floated like eternal guardians. Thick iron chains stretched through the void, connecting them to a single, ancient bronze coffin, evoking a sense of boundless age and desolation.

On Earth, high-level decision-makers had long agreed: if any major change occurred, the nine dragon corpses and the mysterious bronze coffin would be destroyed immediately.

But no one wanted that outcome.

Nine dragons pulling a coffin, drifting from the dark, silent depths of the universe, its value and significance were immeasurable.

Suddenly, the main control center inside the International Space Station captured a mysterious signal, an unusual fluctuation. The source was shockingly close: the bronze coffin being dragged by the nine dragon corpses. Strange pulses were emanating from its ancient, faded carvings.

“Uncrackable…” The signal was sent back to Earth and run through the most advanced supercomputers, but no one could make sense of it.

The carvings on the coffin were corroded with verdigris, making them hard to fully decipher.

“Preliminary analysis suggests the bronze engravings are linked to ancient Chinese mythology.”

Even though they had partially identified the bronze engravings, the mysterious signal remained a complete enigma, impossible to decode.

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