A 'Good' Child Indeed; Why Does He Seem So Familiar?

“Senior Brother, I humbly request your guidance and care from this day forward. This junior brother is but a youth, naive and unseasoned; should my actions ever cause offense, I earnestly beg your utmost forbearance!” a seemingly demure child, one arm still bound in bandages, reverently addressed the towering figure before him.

The burly man gave a proud nod. From his place of honor, the vigorous elder, eyes faintly lidded, spoke with a soft inflection: “Third Sister, this child’s inherent aptitude is a rarity seen but once in a century. Yet, his street origins have instilled a tenacious, mischievous streak. See to his proper tutelage. Before my return, ensure he masters every fundamental technique!”

“Yes, Master!” The burly man turned, his gaze falling upon the child with a cool, appraising intensity. “Where do you currently reside!?”

The demure child offered a most polite smile, his reply deferential: “To report, Senior Brother, I typically reside with my esteemed teacher, but he has presently embarked on a distant journey!” He lowered his head with an air of profound embarrassment. “Might I perhaps impose upon your graciousness?!”

The burly man, rather taken by the child’s polite demeanor, nodded. “No imposition whatsoever. You may reside here with me.”

The young child spoke with feigned humility: “Senior Brother, your esteemed status is far from ordinary. I merely wonder if your distinguished household upholds any particular regulations…”

It was as if the earlier scene involving Cassian, Du Chen, and Zigurd had replayed itself in his mind. “Aha, I see it now!” Du Chen sat up abruptly in bed, letting out a wry chuckle. He murmured to himself, “I wondered why this brat seemed so familiar! Ha, wasn’t I precisely this sort of little scoundrel back in my day!?”

Du Chen’s thoughts drifted to his own initiation into the Clandestine Circles, a wave of profound emotion washing over him. He reflected with endless nostalgia: “Third Senior Brother, that genuinely lovable fool, took me in. And then… we ‘got along’ splendidly for a joyous period! Such fond memories… Wait, could that rascal Cassian also be plotting how to ‘get along’ with *me* in a similar fashion? Hmm, if he possesses the audacity and wit to pull that off, he’d truly possess the same caliber as my younger self! How utterly thrilling!!”

Casting a glance at the fish-belly white dawn unfurling in the eastern sky, Du Chen rose to perform his ablutions. As he passed Cassian’s room, a faint snore reached his ears. Unbidden, a peculiar fondness stirred within him for this young chap, who seemed, in so many ways, a reflection of his own past self.

On the eve of Cassian’s second day, after Du Chen had made various preparations to counter any potential pursuit from the Saint Baton Family, he made his way to his dormitory, a cloud of suspicion gathering in his mind. *Where is Flaying?* he wondered. His clandestine signal had been dispatched, yet Flaying had still not appeared to seek him out.

Furthermore, Avril’s actions were equally perplexing. By all rights, having pursued him all the way to Battle God Isle, she ought to have long since learned of his return. So why had she not yet sought him out?

The hour was late, nearing eight or nine bells. Seamen, weary from a day’s labor, now reveled in boisterous camaraderie and drinking games within the taverns lining the docks, their revelry painting a vibrant scene. Deeper within Battle God Isle, in the student quarters, numerous young couples strolled hand-in-hand beneath the moon’s tender glow, their murmured endearments sparking a flicker of profound irritation within Du Chen’s heart!

A little further, the glow of the dormitories along Water River already beckoned. Yet, at that precise moment, a familiar classmate hurried over, extending a folded note to Du Chen. “You’re Inspection Team Leader Francis, aren’t you? Someone requested I deliver this to you!” The student added with a knowing, ambiguous smile, “It’s from a truly beautiful female student!”

Instantly, Du Chen’s heart tightened with apprehension. *Damn it, could it be Avril?* he thought, a name he seemed unable to keep from his mind. *This letter… surely not another declaration of affection!?*

Unfolding the note, his suspicions were immediately confirmed. The elegant calligraphy, unmistakably feminine, conveyed a message both shy and ardent: *Dear Classmate Francis, would you grace me with your presence for a meeting in the Clear Stream Woods, downstream of the Water River?*

The letter bore no signature, and Du Chen had no familiarity with Avril’s script. Still, if it were truly Avril, it made little sense for her to address him as “Inspection Team Leader,” did it? Therefore…

“To hell with this nonsense!” Du Chen flung the note away with a dismissive flick of his wrist. The paper, upon impact with the ground, instantly crystallized into a scatter of shattered ice shards. Rolling his eyes, he strode onward, a fresh wave of irritation coiling in his gut.

Yet, after barely a hundred paces, a voice repeated, “You’re Inspection Team Leader Francis, aren’t you? Someone requested I deliver this to you!” The previous scene, to his exasperation, had replayed itself. It was another love letter, and judging by the script, it was penned by the very same hand! Moreover, beside the message, a portrait had been sketched—indeed, of a strikingly beautiful young woman!

Du Chen’s brow furrowed in confusion. *Which naive girl would be so foolish as to dispatch two identical love letters!?*

Nevertheless, a measure of relief settled upon him. Judging from the sketched likeness, the ardently infatuated girl seemed harmless enough; thus, he concluded, there was even less need to concern himself.

He casually discarded the missive. A recent string of vexing incidents had instilled within Du Chen an urge to strike anyone who presented him with a love letter!

Just as he reached his dormitory entrance, a voice hailed him from behind once more: “You are Inspection Team Leader Francis, aren’t you? There’s a letter for you!”

This time, Du Chen not only received yet another love letter, but it was accompanied by a meticulously sketched portrait of a beauty. He had to concede, the female student depicted in her academy uniform was indeed stunning, her eyes and brow exuding a captivating, almost coquettish allure. Undoubtedly, accepting such an invitation would very likely lead to an unforgettable amorous encounter!

Yet, at this precise moment, an amorous encounter was the last thing Du Chen desired!

He lifted a leg, poised to step into the courtyard, then froze.

*Something isn’t right,* he mused. These three love letters, all from the same hand, and delivered in such rapid succession… Could the girl who penned them have been shadowing him this entire time? Seeing him discard the first, she immediately composed a second, adding her portrait for good measure! And upon his dismissal of the second, she promptly arranged for the third to be delivered? What could this signify? Intriguing indeed!

Du Chen glanced back, a look of casual curiosity masking a deeper scrutiny. Along the banks of Water River, teachers and students alike were enjoying their post-dinner stroll. Though not a vast crowd, some thirty to forty individuals were visible, making it impossible to discern who, if anyone, might be clandestinely observing him.

With a discreet wave towards Harry, who had emerged from the courtyard to greet him, signaling him to withdraw, Du Chen turned and set off in the direction of the Clear Stream Woods.

He mused inwardly, *There are but two plausible scenarios. Firstly, someone is genuinely infatuated with me, incessantly sending love letters imploring a rendezvous. If so, this female student is undoubtedly another persistent, clingy girl, and I should immediately clarify the situation to avert future complications!*

*The second possibility, however, is… someone intends to lure me into a trap! Hmph, could it be the Saint Baton Family? If you aim to make your move within the Clear Stream Woods, you have grievously misjudged your location. Clear Stream Woods lies downstream of the Water River, and directly to its south is the Icy Jade Pool, the abode of my nominal master, Roland! Should that moment arrive, Deboning, concealed within the Precious Lotus Scripture, need only emerge to parry your thrusts for a mere two or three exchanges, and I can then, with a thunderous cry, summon forth the fabled Emperor of Swords, paramount among the Five Peaks of Myriad Streams!*

At this thought, Du Chen quickened his stride, yet a faint unease nagged at his spirit. *To think that one of the venerable Five Great Fallen God Families, descendants of the Undying Death God, would stoop to such a petty ruse as a ‘love letter bait’… isn’t that a trifle too farcical!?*

The Clear Stream Woods, neither vast nor confined, comprised a thousand-strong stand of poplar trees. Under the evening breeze, the uninhabited grove whispered with a rustling chorus, lending the air a distinctly eerie quality. As Du Chen reached the edge of the woods, he did indeed espy a female student, attired in her academy uniform.

“Senior Francis, you’ve finally arrived!” The female student, no older than sixteen or seventeen, possessed a delicate beauty, yet her features retained a certain youthful naivety. She hardly seemed the type to be a deeply cunning, malevolent schemer. Her expression, visibly relieved and tinged with a flicker of discomfiture, only reinforced this impression.

The female student’s demeanor was decidedly *not* the shy ardor of one encountering a dreamt-of lover. Rather, it held a subtle hint of cunning, born of a scheme’s success, coupled with a touch of panic, perhaps even guilt, at having perpetrated a deceit. *How utterly fascinating!* She turned and darted into the depths of the woods, her voice still an enticement to Du Chen: “Shall we speak further within the grove?”

Had Du Chen remained oblivious to the fact this was a trap, he would have been an utter fool. Yet…

*Could the Saint Baton Family truly employ such an emotionally transparent ‘pawn’—one whose every joy, anger, and worry was writ plain upon her face—to ensnare me!? Did they truly take me for an imbecile!?*

Du Chen’s voice cut through the stillness, cold and commanding: “Those who seek to confront me, reveal yourselves!”

“Damn it, he saw through our ruse! No matter, everyone, attack!” A furious roar erupted from the woods, its volume impressive, yet its timbre undeniably childish—the sound of a young boy issuing commands.

*Swoosh!* Seven or eight figures burst forth from the undergrowth, each wielding a bludgeon, clad in black, and masked. They projected an intimidating aura. However, two or three of these assailants possessed slender, underdeveloped physiques, unmistakably revealing them to be mere minors.

His confusion deepening, Du Chen slowly lowered his arm, refraining from summoning Deboning. *Was Deboning truly necessary for a few pathetic wretches such as these!?*

“Greetings, Senior Brother!” Another figure emerged from the woods—a boy of twelve or thirteen, with azure hair and golden eyes, clutching a formidable bludgeon. It was none other than Cassian!

Gone completely was the polite and decorous demeanor he had displayed earlier in the day. Upon his youthful face, a sinister grin now spread, and against the backdrop of the dark, wind-swept forest, he appeared cunning and utterly despicable to the extreme!

Du Chen suddenly grasped the true meaning behind “the Disaster of Pierre City.”

*Ha! Unbelievable! This brat is truly a spitting image of my younger self.* I, too, had ‘taught a lesson’ to my Third Senior Brother on my second day! But…

Du Chen observed Cassian with a glint of amusement in his eyes. *Junior Brother, your tactics are sorely outdated,* he mused. *Back in my day, I pilfered Fourth Senior Sister’s love letters and framed Third Senior Brother, allowing First Senior Brother—who secretly admired Fourth Senior Sister—to mercilessly deal with his ‘love rival’… Your approach utterly lacks sophistication! A dismal failure! Truly disgraceful!*

Cassian gestured, and the seven or eight masked figures swiftly surrounded Du Chen. A cold sneer twisted the boy’s lips. “Senior Brother, I am profoundly grateful for your esteemed care these past two days. This junior brother has specially come to express his heartfelt appreciation today! You will, of course, forgive this humble junior brother for any… unconventionalities, later, won’t you?!”

Du Chen rubbed his nose, his gaze sweeping over the seven or eight black-clad figures. With a newfound certainty blooming in his heart, he chuckled, “This method of ‘thanks’ is certainly… *interesting*. Haha, Cassian, you are indeed my junior brother! However, your preparations leave much to be desired!”

“To hell with ‘junior brother’! How dare you presume to lecture *me*!” Cassian’s demeanor shifted abruptly, his voice a furious snarl. “Francis, I summoned you here today to impart a vital lesson, to instill a fundamental truth! From this day forward, you will damn well obey my every command!”

“Oh!” Du Chen nodded, feigning a sudden epiphany. He inquired, “Very well, then, what precisely do you wish of me?”

Cassian snarled with venomous intent: “Listen closely! Those pig-headed old fools within the Nano Empire saw fit to pawn me off to Zigurd. And that old bastard Zigurd is no saint himself. Now, I reside within your household, and you will remember this…”

A wave of melancholy washed over Du Chen. *Ah, those fiercely loyal elder ministers of the Nano Empire, to think the very Crown Prince you toiled so arduously to rescue now dismisses you as ‘old bastards’…* A fresh surge of indignation then flared within him. Though Zigurd was indeed an obstinate old man, often unreasonable in his ways, he was, ultimately, Du Chen’s *Master*. *How dare this impudent little brat insult my Master!? To leave such insolence unpunished would be an affront to cosmic justice itself!*

The incessant pressure regarding his forced marriage had already pushed Du Chen’s temper to its breaking point. Now, to encounter such a ‘junior brother’… *This is nothing short of a divine blessing! What an exquisite vessel for venting my frustrations!*

He drew a deep breath, a cheerful, almost eager smile playing on his lips as he listened to Cassian continue his tirade: “Henceforth, whatever endeavors I undertake, you shall assist me. Dare to utter a single word of dissent, and I shall snap your wretched legs. And you are quite affluent, are you not…? Damn it, those old coots didn’t even leave me a single copper coin! Very well, from this moment on, you shall fully cover all my expenditures! Furthermore, should Zigurd inquire about my whereabouts, you ought to know precisely what to tell him, understand!?”

*Thump!

The wooden bludgeon in Cassian’s hand struck the nearest tree trunk with a heavy *thud*. He bellowed savagely, “First, commit these instructions to memory! Now, *attack him!* Give him a taste of what’s to come!”

“Hah!” To be subjected to a beating regardless of one’s actions—Du Chen found himself oddly amused, almost bursting into laughter. “My adorable little junior brother, you seem to have overlooked a crucial detail! A *very* important detail!”

Cassian faltered, momentarily taken aback. He was, after all, still a mere twelve-year-old boy; though his intentions were malicious, his planning was inevitably flawed. “What is it? Speak quickly! And furthermore, you damn little Earl, by what right do you address me as ‘junior brother’? Remember, from this day forth, you shall refer to me as His Respected Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!”

Du Chen rubbed his nose, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “What you *should* actually tell Teacher Zigurd, upon his return from his distant journey, is this: ‘I have recently absorbed a wealth of knowledge from Senior Brother. And Master, seeing your tireless devotion to your duties, this disciple’s heart cannot bear your burdens. Perhaps, from this day forward, Senior Brother could take charge of my fundamental instruction!’”

Cassian’s eyes gleamed with sudden insight, and he chuckled. “Excellent! You grasp it perfectly. I *will* declare that I’ve learned a great deal from you, and thus insist on remaining by your side, ha! That way, Zigurd will be powerless to interfere!” He suddenly halted, then bellowed, “What are you fools gawking at!? Let me tell you, until your opponent is beaten into utter submission, I refuse to believe a single word they utter!” This sagely principle had been drilled into him by the three influential ministers of the Nano Empire!

The black-clad figures advanced upon Du Chen.

“And *you* also grasp things rather quickly,” Du Chen retorted, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face. “Very well, then, your Senior Brother shall now impart the *first* lesson—the very important detail you so carelessly overlooked!” Du Chen crooked a finger, beckoning them. “Come, then. All of you, together!”