The Other Side of Deep Space

The sun set in the west, and the train departed, its rustling against the rails carrying with it vast swathes of withered yellow leaves and the chill of autumn.

Wang Xuan watched until the train gradually disappeared, then he withdrew his gaze and sent off a few more classmates.

From this farewell, they would each go their separate ways, unsure how many years it would be before they met again, or even if they would never see each other again.

Some around them waved slowly, lingering for a long time, while others remained silent, quite melancholy.

We had spent four years together in college, and the friendships we had built were always hard to let go.

The setting sun shone obliquely on the falling yellow leaves, their light and shadows woven together, evoking a sense of the passage of time.

A pretty girl turned away, silently wiping tears from behind her glasses.

In this special era, after graduation, they would each go their separate ways, perhaps never to meet again in this life.

The autumn wind blew, and the yellow leaves fluttered in a chaotic, swirling flutter.

In this season, some experienced disappointment, others triumphed. Four months have passed since graduation. Some have stayed in this city, their futures bright, while others wait anxiously, persevering. And many more have left with a sense of loss, returning to their hometowns.

Wang Xuan, walking home, wondered what his future held.

The streets were worn, and the plane trees lining the road had shed their leaves in large clumps, covering the ground.

Someone walking alongside him spoke up for him, saying, "You're not among those left behind. Why is this happening? They gave up on you!"

As a classmate and good friend, Qin Cheng knew that any spot offered Wang Xuan a spot; he was bound to be selected.

The results were announced, and many were filled with mixed feelings. Wang Xuan had surprisingly been eliminated.

"Let's not talk about me anymore. How are you? Did you get the result?" Wang Xuan asked.

Qin Cheng whispered to him that his family had used connections, and he might have to go to Xinyue.

"Xinyue, on the other side of deep space, I wonder if we'll ever see each other again." Wang Xuan paused, his friends around him all departing. He was tall, yet not frail, well-proportioned and powerful. In the sunset glow, his figure had a faint golden glow, and his eyes were clear and bright.

"I'll be back. We'll definitely meet again." Qin Cheng was a sentimental man, reluctant to leave his homeland, especially at the thought of never seeing his friends again. He felt a pang of pain.

"Call me when you come back!" Wang Xuan hugged him tightly.

"Call me when you come back!"

A choking sob rang in the wind. Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng turned to see a male classmate, overcome with emotion.

He was pale, sobbing, and shouting, "I really want to stay in this city. I want to wait for the last chance. I don't want to go back home like this!"

He had lived and studied here for four years, and he had worked so hard, striving, fighting, and planning his future, hoping to find his place, but in the end, he couldn't stay.

He burst into tears.

The autumn wind brought a chill, and some of his classmates felt downcast.

Even off to the side, a couple stopped and looked at each other, silent and weeping. They would part ways, separated from each other not by thousands of miles but by a starry sky, perhaps never to see each other again in this lifetime.

Their faces brimming with tears, they embraced one last time, and then only silence fell.

The city was large, yet somewhat dated, retaining traces of a bygone era. Many of the old trees along the road were thick, perhaps a century or two old.

Relatively speaking, the city itself retained its past style, preserved through the passage of time.

Elsewhere, some of the cities left over from the past were abandoned, long deserted, with vast expanses of desolate land covered in vines and thorns, gradually being swallowed by vegetation.

Back on campus, Qin Cheng, still upset about Wang Xuan, urged him to seek information about his passing and demand an explanation.

Even after graduation, they would be allowed to stay on campus until the final selections were finalized.

This was a rare opportunity; the chosen ones would remain in this city and wait, soon heading to Nova Star, where some extraordinary discovery seemed to have been made. Qin Cheng wasn't chosen either. His family, after much effort, had only given him the opportunity to enter deep space.

He would head to Xinyue, the moon orbiting Nova, the most important base outside Nova.

Qin Cheng whispered, "You know, even with just a few rumors about that place right now, those who got the inside scoop are already excited. No matter what, you must get a spot!"

Under the moonlight, shadows swayed as Wang Xuan stretched out on the lawn, practicing the ancient "scattering technique." His practice was so practical that he sent a flood of yellow leaves flying, filling the sky.

He didn't stop, his movements swift but his breathing steady. "I'm waiting for the final result."

Deep space is boundless, the universe vast, yet it is cold and dead. Besides Old Earth, people have only found one other life-bearing Nova.

However, many years ago, the gate to Nova was closed, making it difficult for ordinary people from Old Earth to enter.

In contrast to Nova, some people gradually began to refer to this place as Old Earth. Once upon a time, this place was called Earth, the birthplace of humanity.

Perhaps it was indeed a bit "old," with many deserted cities, overgrown with weeds, uninhabited.

All of this was caused by a war in the past.

When technology reaches a certain level, a hot war is horrific.

A prosperous world is destroyed, becoming desolate and desolate.

At that time, a large number of people fled into space.

In fact, human technology at that time was not as advanced as one might imagine. Bases on the moon had just begun to be established before the war.

Therefore, those who fled could only temporarily use the moon as a foothold.

It was under these circumstances that humanity suddenly achieved a mass migration, discovering and entering a new planet of life!

The people of the old land still find it incredible.

Many people can't help but wonder about that historical moment: what caused this sudden explosion of cutting-edge technology?

All parties are shrouded in secrecy.

Given the technological advancements of the time, neither steady-state wormholes nor warp drives, such cutting-edge technologies, could be realized in a short period of time. Some in Old Earth suspected that all the answers might lie on the moon!

Unfortunately, the consequences of the hot war were too severe, leaving the Earth half-destroyed. Old Earth has yet to recover, and its technology has regressed significantly, making lunar landings impossible for a long time.

Over a hundred years have passed, and Old Earth's population has only recovered to around one billion, a far cry from its former self. Many areas remain desolate to this day.

The early development of Nova Star took away many of Old Earth's survivors, and with them, a large number of talented individuals. This is one of the reasons for Old Earth's severe decline and prolonged recovery. This mass migration lasted for decades.

It wasn't until over a hundred years ago that Nova Star closed its doors.

Furthermore, the earth was devastated after the hot war, and the environment was extremely harsh. With few remaining Old Earth residents, recovery was no easy task.

Under the hazy moonlight, Wang Xuan was performing the "Dispersion Technique." His movements suddenly accelerated. With a thud, his right hand left a clear handprint on a large tree. The tree trembled violently, and yellow leaves fell like a waterfall. Qin Cheng was surprised. "Sanshu, you've actually achieved some prowess? They'll definitely regret giving up on you!"

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