Ch 198: The Outside World

“Uncle Qiao, the 113th batch of students has completed their training.”

An Xin Yan finished her report and fell silent.

Qiao Wen sat at his desk, and after listening, said:

“Good, you’ve worked hard. Give them a final test.”

“Filter out those with talent.”

An Xin Yan hummed in response and then left.

Qiao Wen fiddled with the pen on his desk, sighing.

21-year-old An Xin Yan has grown into a graceful young woman, but her personality hasn’t changed.

She remains aloof, introverted, and doesn’t like to talk.

Of course, she can’t be blamed. After what happened, anyone would collapse.

Even though An Xin Yan was still young then, she might not have fully understood sadness and grief.

“Haicheng, you must be very sad about your daughter like this.”

“Sigh.”

Qiao Wen shook his head and sighed softly, a slight pain in his heart.

An Haicheng was his best dude, and he often liked to share his family matters with Qiao Wen.

Including his worries about An Xin Yan’s extreme introversion as a child.

Since that incident, Qiao Wen had been looking for ways to make An Xin Yan happier.

To become more optimistic and cheerful. This would also comfort An Haicheng’s spirit in heaven, and he himself would feel better.

Qiao Wen worked at his desk, browsing various documents. Only by focusing on his work could he escape some of the pain.

As dusk approached, the Female Assistant knocked and entered the office.

“Bishop, it seems that Celestial Beings have arrived outside the city?”

The Female Assistant whispered, bowing her head.

Qiao Wen suddenly raised his head.

“Hmm?”

“What’s the situation?”

Qiao Wen immediately asked.

The Female Assistant replied:

“One man, walking on foot. He’s queuing at the City Gate to enter the city. He doesn’t seem to have any malice.”

After listening to the situation, Qiao Wen considered for a moment and said:

“Bring him to see me.”

…

In her solitary hut, An Xin Yan washed up and then went to the Celestial Being Sect Taoist Temple.

Today, she had to arrange the final assessment for the students.

Arriving at the Taoist Temple, the students were already seated neatly on the floor, waiting for An Xin Yan.

After announcing the assessment, ignoring the students’ complaints, An Xin Yan stood with her hands behind her back in front of them.

The assessment was simple: whoever could operate the Basic Techniques for the longest time would be the most accomplished, the most talented.

Dong dong.

Two footsteps came from downstairs.

A man and a woman came upstairs.

The woman was Qiao Wen’s Female Assistant; An Xin Yan recognized her at a glance.

The Female Assistant stepped forward and whispered:

“Bishop Qiao asked me to bring you a student.”

“He is a Celestial Being from the Outside World. Bishop Qiao wants you to teach him some quick methods to master Catastrophes.”

An Xin Yan turned her head, went around the Female Assistant, and glanced at the man standing aside, meeting his gaze.

Celestial Being?

This was the first time she had ever seen a Celestial Being.

She had thought that such creatures only existed in legends.

A very normal male human, with a good face, not the oddly shaped creatures Uncle Qiao described.

First impression: good…

After curiously examining him, An Xin Yan withdrew her gaze and replied:

“Okay.”

The Female Assistant left.

…

Qiao Wen chuckled.

“An Xin Yan, you’ve met the Celestial Being I brought you today, right?”

An Xin Yan nodded:

“Yes.”

“He seems like a very normal person.”

Qiao Wen chuckled, his fingers spinning the pen continuously:

“He is a rare Celestial Being with a kind heart. He’s a good person.”

An Xin Yan looked curiously at Qiao Wen and questioned:

“How do you know?”

Qiao Wen put down his pen:

“His face.”

“That kid looks like a good person, the kind who is calm and reserved.”

“And he’s honest. I asked him how many Celestial Beings had come, and he told me the truth. He even delivered a letter to their Leader for me.”

“Perhaps, this time it’s a friendly civilization.”

Qiao Wen seemed relatively relaxed.

In the past, when Celestial Beings invaded this world, he was always very nervous.

But after interacting with this person named Qiu Yi.

Qiao Wen felt that the opposite civilization was a gentle and friendly one. Perhaps, simply informing them that this place has an owner would be enough for them to leave.

“The Outside World…”

“A friendly civilization?…”

An Xin Yan muttered to herself.

Seeing this, Qiao Wen sat up straight:

“You could try contacting him, learning about the Outside World. It’s not a bad thing.”

Upon hearing this, An Xin Yan immediately shook her head:

“No.”

Qiao Wen wasn’t surprised by this answer:

“I’m not forcing you.”

At this point, it was as if Qiao Wen’s floodgates had opened. Regardless of whether An Xin Yan wanted to listen or not, Qiao Wen muttered to himself:

“The Seal on the Light Gate has loosened a bit more recently.”

“It’s estimated that it will disappear on its own in at most 20 years.”

“Then, the Catastrophe in the Light Gate will invade this world again.”

Qiao Wen rubbed his eyes, suddenly looking a bit haggard:

“This world is too small. If the Catastrophe invades…”

“Then we will have to repeat the mistakes of the past and seek a new world outside.”

An Xin Yan remained silent, her head bowed, her expression desolate.

Qiao Wen quickly added:

“Even if the Light Gate Seal is gone, we can still hold out for twenty or thirty years. Don’t worry.”

“And this isn’t necessarily the case. The Bishops in other regions probably won’t be willing to migrate again.”

“We need to discuss and decide on this matter together.”

…

“A friendly civilization…”

An Xin Yan looked at the cannons aimed at her, her expression calm.

The surroundings were a scene of carnage, corpses strewn about.

Those corpses were still alive and talking to her just now; they were her familiar elders.

“Again…”

An Xin Yan placed the unconscious girl beside her on her lap, her expression serene.

“Perhaps, I should have died a long time ago.”

There was no fear, only a strange sense of relief.

Boom, the sound of the laser explosion rang out.

Yet everything returned to calmness.

“Sister Xinian, what about my spaceship?”

A triumphant voice came. An Xin Yan opened her eyes and looked at Qiu Yi’s triumphant expression.

The spaceship in the sky was already falling, engulfed in flames. Qiu Yi stood before her, smiling.

“Impressive.”

An Xin Yan got up and helped the unconscious girl in her arms:

“Let’s save her first.”

…

Going to the Outside World, what painful consequences will this bring?

But this time is different. For everyone here, we need to find a new place to settle.

This time, we won’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

An Xin Yan made up her mind, a certain belief taking root in her heart.

She glanced at Qiu Yi. If possible, she would like to go to his world with him.

But it’s unlikely. He probably wouldn’t take her, a burden.

After everything calms down, they will probably separate, each going their own way.

Qiu Yi’s expression suddenly became nervous:

“Uh, would you like to go to our world?”

Looking at Qiu Yi’s embarrassed face, An Xin Yan smiled faintly:

“Okay.”