High King

Su Wen

"In ancient times, people would live for a hundred years through the changing seasons, and yet they remained vigorous in body and movement." Ye Fan closed Huangdi Neijing, feeling a deep sense of wonder for the ancient era described in the Su Wen chapter.

There are no detailed or precise records of ancient times, and to modern people, it remains an era shrouded in mystery, a period of history lost in the fog of time, stirring boundless imagination.

A gentle breeze stirred the phoenix trees in the courtyard, their leaves rustling softly. Fresh air blew in from the window, bringing a sense of tranquility.

Ye Fan enjoyed reading books about mysterious tales and strange phenomena. Sipping on a cup of light green tea, he continued to leaf through the ancient text in his hands.

"People lived over a hundred years without showing signs of aging. What kind of mysterious ancient history could this have been during those ancient times..."

As a modern person, Ye Fan naturally didn’t believe in the long lifespan described in the Su Wen chapter. What intrigued him was why so many ancient texts alluded to this "ancient" era, as if there had been an advanced civilization, now long lost in the river of history, wrapped in endless mystery.

Could there really be an unknown ancient history? After a brief daydream, he returned to his reading.

Huangdi Neijing is a priceless ancient book, written thousands of years ago, and considered one of China’s three great classical texts. While not every part should be believed, overall, it holds invaluable wisdom.

"By aligning oneself with the universe, mastering the principles of yin and yang, breathing properly, and standing alone in spiritual stability, one’s body becomes as one. Thus, one can live as long as the heavens and the earth, with no end in sight; this is the way of life."

The Su Wen chapter frequently refers to ancient people who could comprehend the changes of the universe, refine their vital energy, and achieve immortality—something modern people would never believe.

Unconsciously, the red sun slowly descended in the sky, casting a soft, reddish glow over the courtyard trees and the grass outside the window.

Ye Fan closed Huangdi Neijing and prepared to attend an important reunion with his old classmates.

It had been three years since he left university. After graduation, he remained in the city, looking back at the simple, pure student days that were now gone forever.

Three years was neither long nor short. His old classmates had scattered far and wide, each pursuing their own paths in life.

The pleasant ringtone of his phone interrupted his thoughts—it was his classmate Lin Jia, a sharp and beautiful woman who had moved to a neighboring city after graduation. Her talents had earned her a promotion to department manager just a year ago.

As soon as he picked up, Lin Jia playfully teased him, showing the same ease of connection she had during university, where her excellent social skills had always brought her closer to others.

"What, you missed me?" Ye Fan responded with a lighthearted retort.

Her delightful laugh came from the other end. "I’m not too sure about the venue for the reunion—let’s go together."

After agreeing on a meeting place, Ye Fan got into his car. During their university days, he had once pursued Lin Jia, but she had gently turned him down, saying they were not a good match.

Lin Jia was an exceptionally beautiful woman, but her sharp mind and pragmatism surpassed even her looks. She knew clearly what she wanted in life and how to achieve it—one could say she was very realistic.

With ten minutes to spare, Ye Fan parked in front of Baisheng Mall and waited for Lin Jia on the sidewalk.

The entire city was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, with many buildings glowing in its soft hues. Cars flowed ceaselessly on the road, and people bustled everywhere.

Seven or eight minutes later, a Toyota pulled up by the curb, revealing Lin Jia's beautiful and delicate face. She got out of the car and walked over.

Ye Fan greeted her with a smile. "Wow, getting chauffeur service now, huh?"

"Stop teasing me, it’s just Liu Yunzhi from our class," she replied.

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

"How have you been these past two years?" Lin Jia's shoulder-length hair was sleek and shiny, and she had a pair of captivating almond-shaped eyes, giving her a natural charm and elegance.

"Not bad," Ye Fan smiled, teasing, "Lin Jia, with your beauty, it’s a waste that you didn’t go into acting."

"You want a slap?" she laughed, her almond eyes flashing, her lips red and alluring.

At that moment, the window of the Toyota lowered, revealing the familiar face of their old classmate Liu Yunzhi. Like Ye Fan, he had stayed in the city after graduation. With the help of a well-connected relative, he had started a small business and was regarded as quite successful among their classmates.

Though they lived in the same city, Ye Fan had hardly seen Liu Yunzhi since a fallout during their university days.

Liu Yunzhi didn’t get out of the car. He smiled faintly and said, "Long time no see."

"Yeah, we should catch up sometime," Ye Fan replied indifferently, sensing Liu Yunzhi’s lack of enthusiasm.

"You took a cab here?"

Not caring about the subtle condescension, Ye Fan casually replied.

Lin Jia, being sharp and perceptive, quickly picked up on the atmosphere and said with a smile, "I called all our classmates who stayed in the city. Let’s go together in Liu Yunzhi’s car."

Before Ye Fan could respond, Liu Yunzhi spoke up, sounding somewhat apologetic. "Sorry, I’ve already promised to pick up two other classmates just ahead, and it looks like we won’t have enough seats."

"No problem. I’ll catch up with you there," Ye Fan said, then turned to Lin Jia with a smile. "Want to ride with me, or...?"

Lin Jia hesitated briefly, but Liu Yunzhi interjected, "Lin, you better ride with me. Otherwise, I’ll be drowned in complaints!"

A few minutes later, as the Toyota drove off, Ye Fan heard Liu Yunzhi muttering under his breath, "Good luck finding a cab during rush hour!" before the car disappeared into the distance.

In university, Ye Fan had been somewhat of a prominent figure. Now, compared to Liu Yunzhi, he seemed more down-to-earth, even assumed to have arrived by taxi.

Ignoring Liu Yunzhi, Ye Fan was more surprised by Lin Jia's actions. But he understood that everyone had their own way of dealing with the realities of life—status, self-respect, and vanity all played a part. He didn’t hold any ill will.

The sun had set, and the blood-red horizon slowly dimmed. The entire city seemed draped in a layer of twilight, and night was beginning to fall.

At that very moment, nine colossal dragon corpses, dragging a bronze coffin, hovered motionless in the cold, dark universe—a sight frozen in time for eternity!

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station had already sent this world-shattering information back to Earth and were awaiting further instructions.