Jiang Xuan soon arrived at Moon Over the Sea City.
"Jiang Xuan?"
"It really is you—holy crap!"
The moment Jiang Xuan stepped into the reserved suite in Moon Over the Sea City, a surprised voice rang out.
"Zhou Yi, long time no see," Jiang Xuan responded with a faint smile, recognizing the man before him.
Zhou Yi—one of the initiators of this reunion. Jiang Xuan still remembered him vividly. In the original plotline, Zhou Yi's luck was nothing short of miraculous. He and another classmate, Lin Jia, had accidentally stepped into a formation and were transported to the abode of the Wood-Chopping Elder of the ancient Heavenly Court. By the time Ye Fan later sought out the remnants of the Heavenly Court, the two had already reached near-Emperor-level cultivation.
"Back in school, you were already the heartthrob, the so-called campus idol," Zhou Yi said with a dramatic sigh. "But three years later, you've somehow become even more good-looking! How are us ordinary guys supposed to compete?"
He studied Jiang Xuan closely, comparing the current version to his memory.
Indeed, Jiang Xuan had always been handsome, the kind voted by bored classmates as the campus heartthrob. But his current demeanor was completely different—elevated, transcendent. It was like looking at a Daoist sage walking amongst mortals.
A true cultivator who had grasped the Dao?
Yes, that was the feeling!
With Zhou Yi's greeting, the attention in the room naturally shifted to Jiang Xuan. The gazes that landed on him were filled with subtle astonishment.
"Jiang Xuan! Long time no see. Where are you working these days?" someone asked.
It was Liu Yunzhi—another initiator of the reunion.
He had some connections in the city and had started his own company, which, by all accounts, had grown to a decent size. Among their classmates, he was considered one of the most successful. He didn't flaunt his wealth, but it was clear he had it—hence, his enthusiastic support for the reunion.
Liu Yunzhi actually held a certain reverence for Jiang Xuan. Years ago, he had witnessed Jiang Xuan single-handedly lift a thug by the neck, effortlessly pinning him to the wall. Coupled with Jiang Xuan's extraordinary aura, Liu had long suspected that he came from some legendary martial arts family.
"Same as before," Jiang Xuan said with a calm smile. "Traveling, reading, working out. Not doing anything too serious."
In truth, Jiang Xuan had no shortage of money. He spent most of his time cultivating and studying the Primordial Treasure Codex embedded in his mind. After achieving moderate success in martial arts, he had returned to the Tianlong World multiple times—both to refine his skills and to exploit the knowledge gap between the two worlds by trading items for profit.
"Man, I'm jealous. Unlike you, the rest of us are just grinding through endless work. Day in, day out—it's just work, eat, and sleep. No end in sight," someone sighed.
"Tell me about it."
The room buzzed again with casual chatter, small complaints, and tired laughter.
Just as things were starting to feel a bit dull, another figure stepped into the suite—tall and broad-shouldered, yet with a lean, refined build and strikingly handsome features.
"Ye Fan!"
A classmate recognized him and greeted him warmly.
"You're finally here, Ye Fan! As the local host of this city, you sure made us wait. You know the rule—three shots as punishment for being late!" joked Wang Ziwen.
Wang Ziwen had a scholarly look about him and had done quite well for himself. Rumor had it he'd already bought a villa in a nearby city and accumulated considerable wealth.
More and more classmates arrived. Despite years apart, conversations flowed naturally. Small groups formed, laughter rose, and memories resurfaced.
It had been three years since graduation. Most were now twenty-five or twenty-six. Many had already stepped into the roles of parents.
Life had taken everyone in different directions, shaped by fate and circumstance. All in all, they were ordinary people. The grand dreams of youth had been worn down by the grind of life. Some might still recall their bold ambitions in the quiet of night, but by morning, reality took hold—and the daily struggle resumed.
Most had come to accept this: they were just regular people. Living steadily, peacefully, following the rhythm of life—this, in itself, was already a kind of success.
"Jiang Xuan. Wang Ziwen."
Ye Fan looked toward the two with a smile.
Wang Ziwen hadn't changed much, though he now carried a mature, confident air. His demeanor was more assertive than before—Ye Fan recognized the telltale signs. Money brings confidence.
Then Ye Fan turned to Jiang Xuan—and couldn't help but feel surprised.
Back in school, Ye Fan had been a standout figure. But since graduation, those things no longer mattered. In society, what counted was real achievement, career success. Despite his passion for exploring ancient civilizations, Ye Fan couldn't ignore the need to make a living. Like most people, he had to balance dreams with reality.
But Jiang Xuan—he was different.
Even during their school days, Jiang Xuan had always seemed detached from the scramble for benefits. He never competed for scholarships or school resources, never got involved in drama. Girls who confessed to him were politely turned away without exception.
Ye Fan had never been able to understand how someone could be so free of desire.
Now, three years later, this same classmate looked younger, more refined, and had an air about him that was… indescribable.
If he had to put it into words—
Floating like one untethered from the world, as if he had ascended beyond mortal bounds.
Yes, that ancient line described it best.
"Ye Fan, it's been a while," Jiang Xuan greeted with a calm nod.
Jiang Xuan smiled faintly. Though the man before him would one day become the legendary Emperor Ye Tian, Jiang Xuan had always maintained a calm and measured demeanor toward him. He never made a point to curry favor, yet perhaps due to their many shared traits, the two had always gotten along quite well.
The reunion was in full swing. Classmates naturally broke into smaller groups—some laughing as they recalled the past, others confiding in one another about the struggles of the present. Jiang Xuan, Ye Fan, Wang Ziwen, and Zhou Yi found themselves sharing a table. At another sat Liu Yunzhi, Wang Yan, Lin Jia, and a few others.
After a round of opening toasts and greetings, the atmosphere became more casual. Some enthusiastic classmates began moving from table to table offering drinks, while others gathered around certain standout figures—like Liu Yunzhi—showering them with flattery and praise.
Three years. Neither too short nor too long. Yet in that span of time, the trajectories of their lives had already diverged drastically. Some were basking in success; others carried invisible scars.
One complained bitterly about a tyrannical boss who demanded constant overtime—day and night—with paltry pay. After deducting basic living expenses, barely anything remained each month.
Another bragged that his girlfriend was the daughter of a company CEO, prompting a chorus of admiring praise that greatly satisfied his vanity.
"Jiang Xuan, I remember you always liked reading classical texts," Ye Fan suddenly asked. "What are you reading these days?"
"Just whatever I pick up," Jiang Xuan replied casually. "Recently, I've been going through The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine."
"Oh? I've been reading that too," Ye Fan said, his interest immediately piqued.
"I'm really curious about what the ancient world was like. Right at the beginning of the book, the Yellow Emperor asks Qi Bo: 'I've heard that in ancient times, people lived well over a hundred years without signs of aging or decline. But nowadays, people grow frail before reaching fifty. Is this because the times have changed—or because modern people don't know how to live properly?'
Qi Bo answered: 'In ancient times, those who understood the Dao of health nourished themselves by aligning with the natural laws of Heaven and Earth, following the cycles of yin and yang, and harmonizing their lives accordingly. They ate in moderation, kept regular schedules, neither overworked nor indulged excessively in sensual pleasures. As a result, their essence and spirit remained full and vibrant, their bodies and minds in harmony. Only after living out their full natural lifespan—well over a hundred years—did they pass away.
But people today aren't like that. They drink recklessly as though wine were water. They indulge their desires, exhaust their essence, squander their vital qi, and pursue fleeting pleasures without restraint. They ignore the need to preserve their energy or regulate their spirit. Their lives lack rhythm and harmony. So by the time they reach fifty, they are already old and frail.'"
Jiang Xuan nodded. "There's truth to that. Qi Bo said that those who understood health and lived in tune with nature could live as long as the ancients. In fact, if one could truly achieve that level of harmony, a lifespan of over a hundred years might be the least of what's possible."
"You seem to know more than I do," Ye Fan said, visibly intrigued. "Don't tell me there really is some kind of cultivation method?"
"Maybe," Jiang Xuan replied with a light chuckle. "The universe is vast and full of wonders. Five thousand years of civilization is but a drop in the endless ocean of time. It's perfectly natural that there are things we don't yet understand."
As the evening progressed, the next activity began: karaoke.
Some couples who had been forced apart after graduation found themselves face to face again, speechless, their eyes brimming with tears. Others who had managed to preserve their campus romance after entering society had still ended up parting ways, worn down by life's many challenges.
Each person had their own joys, their own regrets.
By the time the gathering came to an end, it was already late. There was no dramatic moment of Liu Yunzhi being humiliated by Ye Fan's flashy Mercedes, as some might've expected. Instead, people left in small groups, chatting quietly, some with nostalgia, some with laughter.
They agreed to meet again the next day—to climb Mount Tai together.