A Benevolent Deception

“Yes, I am Francis. And you are?” Du Chen scrutinized the middle-aged man, who, despite his noble attire, exuded a commanding presence. His mind sifted through his memories, confirming he'd never encountered this individual before, then he responded with practiced noble etiquette.

The man offered a thin smile, one that seemed forced, suggesting he was usually stern-faced and unsmiling. “I am Ricardo, Guardian Battle God to Prince Arthur!”

Du Chen felt a slight easing of tension. He hadn't found Arthur in the lab last time, and had specifically checked into it later. It turned out Philip hadn't just given Du Chen the day off on March Third; he had also temporarily halted Arthur's experiments. That explained why Arthur hadn't been in the laboratory.

“So you are Prince Arthur's Guardian Battle God. How may I be of assistance?”

“I've come seeking your help! My ward, Prince Arthur, needs assistance,” Ricardo declared, executing a military salute—a right fist striking his chest—which appeared more a formality than a gesture of respect. “After Philip's disappearance, Prince Arthur once again lost all hope of altering his innate talent. He's now utterly despondent, refusing even food and water. I wish to ask you to speak with him, for His Royal Highness once said you were his only friend!”

As he spoke, he produced an iron plate, presenting it before Du Chen. “This is proof of my identity—the Lionheart Military Decoration, personally bestowed by Emperor Alonso of the Renault Empire. There is only one such medal in all the world!”

Carved upon the iron plate was a magnificent, lifelike lion. Its eyes were inlaid with crimson gemstones, a dazzling display that not only accentuated the medal's extraordinary prestige but also underscored the bearer's distinguished status!

Mina had mentioned earlier that Prince Arthur's accompanying Guardian Battle God to Battle God Isle was a general from the Renault Empire. It seemed this Ricardo was indeed that very man.

Poor Arthur! Du Chen sighed. “Very well, I'll prepare myself and accompany you immediately.”

Turning, Du Chen instructed Harry, “Don't leave the dormitory unless absolutely necessary. And if any more suspicious individuals come asking strange questions, you know how to answer them!”

Ricardo asked, surprised, “Have you encountered trouble?”

Du Chen shrugged helplessly. “Nothing major, just a few suspicious characters popping up lately. It seems to have started... ever since Vice Dean Philip's disappearance!” As he spoke, Du Chen subtly observed the dark red glint in Ricardo's eyes. Noticing the flicker of attention, a smirk played on Du Chen's lips internally. *Ah, General Ricardo, since you now seek my favor, perhaps you'll extend a little more 'concern' to my troubles!*

Arthur wasn't residing in the student dormitories but rather in a small villa specially allocated by Dean Zigurd, nestled halfway up Hot Spring Mountain.

As Ricardo opened a door within the villa, Du Chen was immediately taken aback. Even before seeing anyone, a foul, putrid stench assailed his nostrils—how long had it been since this room was last cleaned?

Immediately after, Arthur's hoarse roar echoed from within. “Get out! Ricardo, get out of here! I command you, as Prince Arthur!”

Ricardo sighed. Du Chen gently waved him off, indicating he could enter alone.

“Arthur, it's me! Francis!” Du Chen stepped into the reeking room.

Arthur, clad in a black robe, sat facing away from Du Chen, by the window. From his silhouette, he appeared significantly thinner than their last meeting, and his hair was a tangled mess, clearly unkempt for a long time. Scraps of leftover food littered the floor, bed, and table. Du Chen could easily imagine Arthur, in a fit of rage, smashing every meal brought by the servants.

“Francis?” Arthur mumbled, then slumped his head, still facing away from Du Chen, and said nothing further.

Du Chen moved to his side and looked. The once handsome Prince of Renault now resembled a man utterly broken, unkempt and gazing blankly at the scenery outside the window. Through the pane, Du Chen followed Arthur's gaze to Battle God Square—a place adorned with statues of Battle God Isle's past headmasters and great Battle Gods of every era!

Du Chen could fully comprehend Arthur's emotional state. To be a Wasted Royal Scion deemed a 'waste' since childhood, then suddenly offered the hope of becoming a normal person, even a genius—only for that hope to be utterly incinerated by fire. He had plummeted from the pinnacle of expectation to the depths of despair, a kind of disappointment few ordinary individuals could endure.

Patting Arthur's shoulder, Du Chen murmured, “Are you afraid of hardship?”

“Hardship? Hmph, do you think I haven't endured enough suffering over the years?” Arthur scoffed.

“So, you're not afraid of hardship then?”

“What good is not being afraid of hardship?” Arthur plunged his hands into his disheveled hair, scratching his scalp in agony. “Since I was five, I've known I was a Wasted Royal Scion, incapable of cultivating battle qi! It's been nearly ten years now. For a decade, I've slept only three or four hours a day, desperately pursuing other paths, simply to prove I wasn't a waste! But what's the result? Astrology, architecture, languages, commerce, military strategy... I mastered them all! Yet, in the eyes of Battle Gods, I'm still nothing but a waste!”

He stood abruptly, pointing to his chest, his eyes bloodshot. “If I were an ordinary man, my knowledge alone would earn me immense praise! But I am the grandson of the Lionheart King! His only grandson! The Renault Empire, the Azure Heaven Continent, even the entire world watches me. They wait for *me*, this useless waste, to inherit the throne, so they can witness the Renault Empire become a laughingstock!”

Du Chen nodded gravely. “Indeed, I understand your burden. But to be a good king does not require formidable battle qi!”

Arthur slumped back down. “You don't understand. Perhaps kings on other continents don't need battle qi, but on the Azure Heaven Continent, it's impossible. Truly impossible!”

Du Chen abruptly seized Arthur by the collar, yanking him upright. “If you wish for power, answer my question: Are you afraid of hardship? Can you endure it? It might mean enduring immense, unimaginable suffering!”

Arthur stared at Du Chen, a flicker of life returning to his vacant eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I simply wish to tell you one thing: I understand a principle. The supreme martial might of an ultimate powerhouse encompasses both strength and speed. And there's a crucial saying: 'In all the peerless techniques of the world, no move is unbreakable, save for speed alone!'”

Arthur's eyes flared with sudden brilliance, then dimmed as he lowered his head. “I understand the principle you speak of. Even without battle qi, I could focus on speed. But without battle qi to sustain it, my speed could never surpass that of a true Battle God!”

“That's why I asked if you can endure hardship! If you are certain you can, then I can tell you of a highly effective method! At the very least, it offers hope!”

“Tell me quickly!” Arthur nearly roared.

“Beyond battle qi, I know of another form of cultivation called 'External Arts'. It doesn't matter whether you possess battle qi in your body or not; as long as you have an exceptionally robust physique, can endure immense suffering, and possess extraordinary patience, you can absolutely cultivate fearsome strength! And the most crucial point is this: during this process, absolutely disregard what others say! If you're certain you can achieve all this, then starting tomorrow, carry a fifty-catty sandbag and run five laps around Battle God Isle. In your daily life, the sandbag must remain with you, except when bathing or sleeping. Once you are certain you have fully adapted to this state, then seek me out again!”

Du Chen gripped Arthur's shoulders, looking him squarely in the eye. “You can absolutely do this. Don't forget, during Intensive Training, you outran the fierce beastmen from the Great Plains!”

Du Chen had casually offered a method of progressive physical tempering from his previous life. He wasn't entirely confident himself; while such a regimen could certainly strengthen the body, increase power, and enhance speed, could it truly surpass the battle qi of the Battle God World?

Du Chen himself doubted such a possibility.

However, Arthur had fallen into such an extreme state of despair, having lost all belief, that offering him a glimmer of hope was still a good thing—even if it was a lie that wasn't quite a lie, a truly benevolent deception.

Arthur pondered for a moment, then declared, “Good. I'll try it tomorrow. No, I'll start today, right now! Ricardo, prepare the equipment for me!”

Du Chen retreated from the putrid room, a strange itch tingling on his backside. He mused, *Does this even count as a good deed? And such a significant itch for such a significant good deed!*

Ricardo, having instructed the servants to prepare the items, asked Du Chen with a puzzled expression, “Are the methods you just spoke of truly effective? Without communion with the Elemental Primal Force, can Prince Arthur truly possess abilities comparable to High-level Battle Gods?”

Du Chen shook his head, offering a wry smile. “I don't know either. But Arthur now, he's certainly stronger than he was moments ago, isn't he? As long as there's hope...”

Ricardo nodded silently. “But what if one day Prince Arthur discovers your method has no effect whatsoever, will he...”

“It won't be entirely without effect. For now, let's just give him this hope. What happens later, we'll deal with later!”

Ricardo considered this carefully. For now, it seemed, there was no other recourse.

Arthur departed, throwing himself into a near-masochistic regimen of physical training. Du Chen watched his retreating figure, shook his head with a sigh, and returned to his Dormitory Number Eighteen.

From that day forward, every morning on Battle God Isle, an individual whom ordinary folk considered a “madman” could be seen. He ran laps around the island, sandbag strapped to his back, from dawn till dusk. The sandbag never left him. Gradually, a ridiculous rumor spread throughout the academy: some new student had been driven insane by Dean Ricardo's Intensive Training and was now subjecting himself daily to self-inflicted torment, willingly undertaking training even more terrifying than the standard Intensive Training!

Poor Arthur. Perhaps he really shouldn't have told him such a benevolent deception! Du Chen slowly ascended to the administrative district on Hot Spring Mountain. He glanced down at the struggling figure, sandbag on back, running fervently at the foot of the mountain, shook his head, and then entered the Headmaster's office.

“Dean Zigurd, you wished to see me?” Du Chen stood respectfully before Zigurd.

“Yes, I have two matters to discuss with you. Please, sit.” Zigurd gestured to the plush chair opposite the mahogany desk. Once Du Chen was seated, he continued, “First, as you know, Vice Dean Philip has disappeared, and his laboratory was destroyed in a great fire! The academy's instructors are currently investigating this matter. Do you possess any information? After all, you were once the Vice Dean's student and assistant.”

“Dean, I only became Mentor Philip's assistant a few months ago. I truly don't know much! However, I am willing to assist the instructors in their investigation!”

“Your willingness is commendable. If there's a need, the instructors will seek you out! Furthermore, what I wished to say is this: since your mentor Philip has gone missing, what would you say to becoming my student?”

“Become your student?” Du Chen's heart swelled with delight.

Zigurd chuckled. “I originally had this intention, but at the time, I was afflicted with a potent poison and was busy in secluded cultivation to purge it. As a result, Philip seized the opportunity and 'snatched' you away.” He made a rare jest, then continued, “I know much about you. In the liberal arts, your memory is astonishing. In the battle qi disciplines, you possess the Heaven-Bestowed Hydro-Body, perfectly compatible with my water-elemental battle qi. Most remarkably, your conduct is impeccable; you are a student of truly perfect character! Therefore, you are more than qualified to become my personal disciple! At the same time, I am genuinely pleased to acquire a student of such outstanding character and talent.”

“Excellent, then from now on, I shall address you as Mentor!” Du Chen stood and bowed deeply.

Zigurd calmly accepted Du Chen's profound bow. “Very well, let us move to the second matter! You recently adopted a daughter, might you bring her for me to see?”