Chapter 73 — ILK Chapter 73

Classmates of the Past Capital Star. The Museum.

The building was shaped like an ancient bronze tripod, radiating a primitive and solemn greenish-bronze hue. It was said that the architect drew inspiration from sacrificial ritual vessels of the primordial era. Inside, every brick was an ancient fossil, some still containing the preserved specimens of long-extinct animals. The museum was a confluence of the ancient and the modern, a pinnacle of human cultural memory and linguistic heritage.

It had always been heavily guarded, especially after the theft that shocked the Capital Star years ago. Back then, who could have imagined a group of outlaws daring to steal from the heart of the Empire? And who could have guessed that the mastermind was Jiang Sili—once the star of the Imperial Military Academy and regarded as the premier candidate for fighting the Zerg?

After that incident, years of investigation yielded no trace.

The Museum had always been managed by the Qiu Family. The current curator, Qiu Lingxin, looked livid, her footsteps heavy enough to crush fossils. Her assistant beside her barely dared to breathe.

Recently, the Jiang family’s youngest daughter, Jiang Siwei, had launched several new food products. For some reason, her production volume had skyrocketed, seizing a significant portion of the market share. Originally, Qiu Lingxin didn't care; the Qiu and Jiang families operated on different planes. One followed the commercial logic of market expansion, while the other held the academic and economic discourse in the arts and culture sector, controlling the pricing of artifacts.

But whenever she thought of Jiang Sili, the Jiang family's pillar, her hatred flared. Everyone knew who stole those jewels, but the Empress had suppressed all dissent back then, exiling him to the Zerg border and letting bygones be bygones.

Qiu Lingxin had endured it all because the Empress, to appease both sides, allocated 80% of Jiang Sili’s compensation to the museum. But news from a few days ago had made her rage uncontrollable.

The Jiang family’s partner was that damned Guide! Sang Ye! The one who turned her sister into a vegetable!

Her sister, Qiu Linghua, was thirty years younger than her. Raised by Qiu Lingxin like a daughter, she was the family's pride.

"The Second Miss's vital signs are stable, and her spiritual form is calm. With regular grooming, she should wake up soon," the assistant reported. CLANG!!! Qiu Lingxin’s mental power erupted, striking the bronze bell in the center of the hall. The sound echoed throughout the museum. "She deserves to die," Qiu Lingxin hissed. "Both she and Jiang Sili deserve to die!"

"I should have dealt with her the day she arrived at Black Tower," she added with resentment. "Send more Guides to my sister. Twenty-four-hour mental infusion."

"Has the Little Duchess awakened?" Qiu Lingxin thought of that "wicked porcelain doll" and felt a headache. Melusine Caylen was unpredictable; she preferred chaos over profit. She was the one who traced the White Wolves’ money, yet she was also the one who balanced the books between the Museum and Jiang Sili to maintain a facade of peace.

"I don't believe Jiang Sili hasn't contacted the White Wolves in all these years. Once the Little Duchess wakes up, he won't be able to hide it." Qiu Lingxin calmed herself. "Didn't the auction house send some items over recently? I remember a set of wild black pearls from the Earth era?"

"Yes, sixteen pearls, 8mm. A one-of-a-kind treasure."

"Send them to Duchess Vera Caylen," Qiu Lingxin commanded. "No matter how chaotic the Little Duchess is, she always listens to her mother."

…

"You can't pull harder than me," Lin Changli smirked. "Even if you are strong."

Sang Ye tugged at her sleeve, her face red with frustration. "Are you a child? Let go!"

"No." Lin Changli gave another tug, and Sang Ye bumped right into his chest with a soft thud.

"Can we do something productive?" Sang Ye sighed. "My Master is about to arrive. It’ll look improper if she sees us like this."

"She has to know eventually," Lin Changli pouted. "It’s not like I’m a secret."

Sang Ye’s brow furrowed. She cared deeply about Du Yuan’s opinion. When Du Yuan finally descended from the warship, she looked like a celestial being from a classical painting, wearing a veiled hat with white gauze. Sang Ye felt her Master’s gaze sweeping between her and Lin Changli; even through the gauze, it felt like needles on her back.

"Hmph." Du Yuan ignored them both, walking right between them with a cold snort. Rong Cheng, following behind, wisely kept her mouth shut.

Inside, Du Yuan spoke first: "Jiang Siwei came by yesterday while you were away. I gave her some ingredients, and she mentioned someone from your past has awakened." She sighed, mentioning nothing else.

Sang Ye knew the "classmates" would likely hate her, but she didn't know the details. She decided to mention it to Lin Changli later so he could keep an eye out.

…

For dinner, Sang Ye made Pork and Vegetable Rice. She rendered lard from fatty pork until they became crispy cracklings, then sautéed lean meat with ginger, garlic, and greens. Finally, she tossed in steamed rice so that every grain was coated in savory lard.

Lin Changli prepared a fruit tea with apples, oranges, and lemons, simmering them with honey and water.

Rong Cheng sat by Du Yuan, trying to comfort her: "Master, it’s the Interstellar era. People have freedom to love. Maybe Senior Sister is just playing around and isn't serious."

Du Yuan closed her eyes, refusing to talk to her "silly" disciple.

After dinner, Sang Ye and Lin Changli took the Phoenix for a walk. "Why doesn't your Master like me?" Lin Changli asked, sounding a bit wronged.

"If a man showed up and told you he was dating your sister, would you be happy?" Sang Ye countered. Lin Changli shut his mouth, though he remained moody.

"Besides, my Master dislikes powerful men. She thinks they’re more likely to be unfaithful."

Sang Ye didn't tell him about Du Yuan’s past—how she had been high-born, betrayed by a husband when her family fell, and left for dead. If the Grandmaster hadn't saved her from the river that day, she wouldn't be here. That was why she pushed her disciples to be independent.

"People get sick and die all the time; isn't that normal?" Du Yuan had said once when Sang Ye asked what happened to the man who betrayed her.