Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 357 Special Arrangements

After the ceremony, Rowan and Silvermoon went to the lounge of the field agents' department. The room was elegant, with comfortable sofas and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire city.

"Where do you plan to go during your two-week vacation?" Silver Moon asked. She had changed back into casual clothes and looked even gentler than when she was wearing her combat uniform.

Rowan thought for a moment: "I originally wanted to go back to Earth to see my friends, but the round trip would take up most of the two weeks, leaving me with very little actual time at home."

"That's indeed a bit of a pity." Silver Moon nodded in understanding. "Earth is just too far away from here."

"And you? Do you have any plans?" Rowan asked in return.

A hint of longing flashed in Silvermoon's eyes: "I want to go back to the Silverblue Empire. It's been three years since I've been home. Since becoming a field agent, I've been constantly on various missions and have rarely had time to go back."

Upon hearing the name Silverblue Empire, Rowan felt a surge of curiosity. The Silverblue Empire was a renowned swordsmanship civilization in the universe, where swordsmen possessed extremely high levels of skill and a profound cultural heritage.

"The Silver Blue Empire must be very beautiful, right?" Rowan said with some longing.

“It is indeed beautiful.” A warm smile appeared on Silvermoon’s face. “It has a unique swordsmanship culture and many magnificent natural landscapes. Silvermoon Lake, in particular, is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire universe.”

"Silver Moon Lake? The same as your name?"

“That’s right, the code name Silver Moon comes from my hometown,” Silver Moon explained. “My real name is Su Silver Moon, and I grew up by Silver Moon Lake.”

Looking into Yin Yue's eyes and seeing the longing in them, Luo Wen suddenly had an idea. But he hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to bring it up.

Silvermoon seemed to sense Rowan's thoughts and offered, "Rowan, if you don't mind, would you like to come with me to the Silverblue Empire?"

"Really?" Rowan was a little surprised, but he was really looking forward to it.

“Of course,” Silvermoon smiled. “And I’d like to introduce my partner to my family, to the hero who saved my life.”

Rowan felt a surge of warmth; Silvermoon's invitation made him feel genuine friendship and trust. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. I really want to experience the sword culture of the Silverblue Empire."

"Great!" Silvermoon seemed very happy. "We'll leave tomorrow, and I'll arrange the itinerary."

The next morning, Rowan and Silver Moon met at the Virtual Universe Company's private spaceport. Silver Moon had changed into a silver-blue casual outfit, looking both elegant and with a touch of her hometown. Rowan, on the other hand, wore simple travel clothes and carried a small travel bag.

“This is the company's dedicated spaceship for us,” Silvermoon said, pointing to a medium-sized spaceship not far away. “It takes about three days to get from here to the Silverblue Empire.”

The spaceship is elegantly designed, its silver-white hull shimmering in the sunlight, and bearing the logo of Virtual Universe Corporation. The interior is well-equipped, featuring a comfortable lounge, entertainment facilities, and an observation deck.

“Wow, this is much more luxurious than I imagined,” Rowan exclaimed.

"The company really treats its meritorious employees well," Yin Yue said with satisfaction. "This will make our journey very comfortable."

After the spaceship started up, it slowly left the spaceport and flew towards the Silver Blue Empire. Through the huge glass windows of the observation deck, one could see the boundless starry sky and distant nebulae.

During the flight, Silvermoon gave Rowan a detailed introduction to the Silver Blue Empire.

"The Silverblue Empire is an ancient civilization, established over 30,000 years ago," Silvermoon said, pointing to a region on the star map. "The entire empire consists of seven main planets, with the capital planet, Silvershine Star, serving as its political and cultural center."

"Where is your hometown?" Rowan asked curiously.

“On the third planet, called Sword Heart Star,” Silver Moon said, a longing look in her eyes. “It’s the holy land of swordsmanship in the Silver Blue Empire, with the best swordsmanship academies and training grounds. I learned swordsmanship there from a young age.”

"That sounds impressive. When did you start learning swordsmanship?"

“Three years old,” Silvermoon smiled. “In the Silverblue Empire, almost every child learns swordsmanship; it’s our tradition. However, very few truly reach the level of a Sword Saint.”

"So, are all your family members swordsmen too?"

“Yes, my father is a sword master on Swordheart Star, and my mother is also a high-level swordsman,” Silver Moon said with pride. “I also have a younger brother who just became a full-fledged swordsman this year.”

Rowan grew increasingly interested in the sword culture of the Silver Blue Empire. In his imagination, it must be a place brimming with martial spirit and ancient wisdom.

The three-day voyage passed quickly amidst relaxed conversation. As the spaceship approached the border of the Silver Blue Empire, Rowan saw a breathtaking sight through the window.

In the distant starry sky, seven beautiful planets are arranged in an elegant arc, each emitting a faint silver-blue glow. This is the Silver-Blue Empire, a nation renowned throughout the universe for its swordsmanship civilization.

"It's magnificent!" Rowan exclaimed sincerely.

"This is just the beginning," Silver Moon said with a smile. "You'll be even more surprised when you see Sword Heart Star's true colors."

The spaceship made a brief stop on the capital planet, Silvershine, to complete immigration procedures. Silvershine is a highly developed city-state, filled with towering buildings and bustling traffic. Yet, even in this modern city, one can still see many classical-style buildings, reflecting the profound cultural heritage of the Silver Blue Empire.

After completing the formalities, they transferred to the Silverblue Empire's internal transportation to Swordheart Star. This was a very special flying vehicle, shaped like a giant sword, leaving a silver-blue trail as it flew through the air.

"This is our traditional mode of transportation, called a sword boat," Silvermoon explained. "It's not only practical, but it also reflects our reverence for swordsmanship."

As the sword-ship approached Sword Heart Star, Rowan was deeply awestruck by the scenery before him. The planet's surface was mostly covered by dense forests, dotted with countless crystal-clear lakes. Most striking were the towering peaks, almost every summit adorned with elegant buildings—the legendary training grounds for swordsmanship.

“That’s Silvermoon Lake,” Silvermoon said, pointing to the largest lake on the planet’s surface. “Our home is right there by the lake.”

Silvermoon Lake is truly breathtaking. The water is crystal clear, reflecting a dreamlike silvery-blue hue under the sunlight. Surrounded by verdant mountains and ancient buildings, the entire scene resembles a perfect painting.

The sword boat slowly landed at a small harbor on the shore of Silvermoon Lake. As Rowan and Silvermoon stepped off the boat, a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and the fresh scent of the lake.

"Silver Moon!" A young voice came from not far away, and a young man who looked to be in his early twenties ran towards them quickly. He had silver hair and blue eyes similar to Silver Moon, a tall and straight figure, and exuded the sharp aura unique to swordsmen.

"Yin Hui!" Yin Yue excitedly went to greet him, and the brother and sister hugged each other tightly.

"Sister, you're finally back!" Yinhui exclaimed excitedly. "Father and Mother missed you so much, and so did I."

“I missed you all too.” Tears welled in Silver Moon’s eyes. “Oh, right, let me introduce you. This is my partner, Rowan. Rowan, this is my younger brother, Silver Glow.”

Silverlight scrutinized Rowan, his eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny. "Your sister's partner? The agent who worked with you on that important mission?"

“Yes, and he even saved my life,” Silvermoon said earnestly.

Yin Hui's expression immediately became respectful, and he bowed deeply to Luo Wen: "Thank you for saving my sister. Our whole family owes you a debt of gratitude."

"No need to be so polite." Rowan quickly helped Yin Hui up. "Yin Yue saved me too. We're partners, helping each other is only right."

“Come on, your father and mother are waiting for you at home,” Yinhui said happily. “They’ve prepared a sumptuous dinner to welcome you home.”

The three walked along the lakeside path toward Yinyue's house. The path was paved with rustic stone slabs, and unknown flowers and plants grew on both sides, filling the air with a faint fragrance. The distant mountains were like dark eyebrows, and the lake was as smooth as a mirror, giving the whole environment a sense of tranquility that transcended the mundane world.

"This place is truly beautiful," Rowan exclaimed sincerely. "No wonder the Silver Blue Empire can cultivate so many outstanding swordsmen; training in such an environment purifies one's mind."

“My father often said that swordsmanship training is not just about improving skills, but more importantly, about tempering one's mind,” Yin Hui said. “In our Silverblue Empire, swordsmen must not only possess great strength, but also noble character and a pure heart.”

After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at an elegant courtyard. The courtyard was built on a small hillside by the lake, surrounded by dense bamboo forests. Its architectural style was simple and elegant, giving people a sense of a secluded paradise.

The courtyard gate was built of special silver-blue wood, with exquisite sword-shaped carvings on it. Two people stood in front of the gate, a man and a woman, who were Silver Moon's parents.

Silvermoon's father looked to be in his fifties, with a tall and upright figure. Although he wore a simple robe, his every move exuded an air of authority and elegance. He was the sword master Silver Glow had mentioned.

Silvermoon's mother was a gentle woman who looked much younger than her actual age, perhaps one of the privileges of a high-ranking swordsman. Her eyes were full of kindness and wisdom.

"Silver Moon, my daughter!" The mother rushed forward excitedly and hugged Silver Moon tightly.

"Father, Mother, I'm back." In her parents' arms, Yinyue finally couldn't hold back her tears.

Although the father maintained a stern demeanor on the surface, the tenderness in his eyes betrayed his inner excitement. "My good child, you've worked hard."

Rowan felt warmed by the sight of his family reunited, but at the same time, he missed his friends on Earth.

“Father, Mother, this is my partner, Rowan.” Yinyue wiped away her tears and introduced Rowan to her parents. “We were able to return safely this time thanks to his help.”

Silver Moon's father approached Rowan, carefully examining the young man. As a master swordsman, he possessed keen insight and could sense the unique aura emanating from Rowan.

“Young man, I can sense the powerful spiritual energy within you.” The father nodded in approval. “To be Silvermoon’s partner, you must possess extraordinary strength.”

"You flatter me, senior," Luo Wen replied humbly. "Silver Moon is an exceptionally skilled swordswoman, and I have learned a great deal from her."

"Good, very good." The father nodded with satisfaction. "Polite, capable, and humble. Silver Moon's choice of partner is indeed excellent."

The mother stepped forward and took Rowan's hand: "Rowan, thank you for taking care of our daughter. From today onwards, you are a guest in our family, and also our friend."

"Thank you for your hospitality." Rowan felt the warmth of this family.

"Don't stand at the door, come inside!" Mother called to everyone. "I've prepared many delicious dishes, all specialties of the Silver Blue Empire."

As the group entered the courtyard, Rowan was deeply impressed by the scene before him. The courtyard was exquisitely laid out, with artificial hills, flowing water, flowers, trees, and shrubs—every detail reflecting the owner's taste and refinement. The most striking feature was a small lake in the center of the courtyard, its water crystal clear, with several silvery fish swimming within.

"This is where I've lived since I was a child," Yinyue explained. "That's my room, that's the training room, and that's my father's study."

"It's like a fairyland," Rowan exclaimed sincerely.

Dinner was sumptuous; the specialties of the Silver Blue Empire were truly unique. Most of the ingredients came from local mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, and the preparation methods were also distinctive, resulting in dishes that were both delicious and highly nutritious.

During the meal, Silvermoon recounted her recent experiences to her family in detail, including the mission to the Meteorite Group and the battle with a stellar-level powerhouse. When she heard that Silvermoon had been captured by the enemy, her mother nervously gripped her hand, while when she heard that Rowan had risked his life to rescue her, her father's eyes flashed with admiration.

"Rowan, your courage and loyalty in choosing to rescue Silvermoon even when facing a stellar-level powerhouse are truly admirable." Father raised his glass. "I propose a toast to true friendship!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses.

After the meal, Yin Hui suggested taking Rowan to visit a nearby kendo training ground. "Tomorrow is a rest day, and many swordsmen will come to the lake to practice. You can witness the swordsmanship of our Silver Blue Empire."

“Great, I’m looking forward to it.” Rowan agreed immediately.

The next morning, Rowan was awakened by the melodious chirping of birds. Opening the window, he was greeted by the fresh air, carrying the scents of lake water and flowers. Silver Moon Lake shimmered in the morning light, distant mountains appeared like dark eyebrows, and mist swirled around them—the whole scene was breathtakingly beautiful, like a fairyland.

"Rowan, wake up!" Silver Moon's voice came from the courtyard. "There's a special plan for today."

After quickly washing up, Luo Wen went to the courtyard. Yin Yue had already changed into a silver-blue cultivation outfit, looking quite dashing. Yin Hui was also standing beside him, dressed in the same cultivation outfit, holding a longsword.

"Good morning," Rowan greeted everyone.

"Good morning, Rowan." Silvermoon's mother approached with a beautifully presented breakfast. "This is a traditional breakfast from our Silverblue Empire. Please try it."

(End of this chapter)