If Only We Met for the First Time

“Annie!” Beibei immediately rushed forward, nuzzling into Annie’s embrace, giggling joyfully.

“Beibei, you’ve grown even prettier, hehe! Let big sister give you a kiss!” Annie bent down, scooped up the little one, and lightly kissed her, then stroked her forehead. “You’re still as adorable as ever, darling, but why haven’t you grown taller? Has your daddy not been buying you lots and lots of sweets lately?”

Beibei puffed out her rosy cheeks, pouting plaintively, “That’s right! If Beibei doesn’t get enough snacks, of course I won’t grow!” She winked at Annie, looking utterly pitiful.

“You little imp, are you trying to get your big sister to buy you snacks?” Annie saw right through the little girl’s ploy. Holding the child with one arm, she subtly waved her other hand behind her back, facing the massive purple-golden vessel in the sea breeze. “Fetch the blue casket from my study!”

“As you command, Miss Annie!”

Several figures, following Annie’s order, rose from the ship’s rail, air-stepping gracefully before slowly descending onto the Belkus’s deck. Dressed uniformly in black formal attire with white gloves, they moved with precise, small steps. The lead figure, carrying a small blue casket, stood ramrod straight, then knelt on one knee before Annie, opening the casket and raising it high above his head with both hands.

Beibei’s face lit up with joy. “So many pastries! Thank you, Annie! Now Beibei can finally grow taller!”

Annie offered a faint smile, the subtle yet elegant grin of a noble lady, utterly captivating.

Du Chen’s heart stirred with an inexplicable strangeness. In his memory, Annie was the meek girl who would blush at the slightest provocation. Frankly, apart from her family’s insufferable arrogance, Du Chen held no ill feelings towards the young lass.

But the Annie before him now, clad in a resplendent purple-gold gown with her golden hair elegantly coiled at the back of her head, strands swaying gently in the sea breeze, exuded a noble, graceful maturity that no ordinary person could ever emulate. It was as if... Du Chen pondered for a long moment before a thought suddenly surfaced: *This* was the true bearing of a Batuk Divine Scion, an heir to the Five Families of Fallen Gods, a Divine Princess, and a millennium-old noble!

Smiling, Du Chen stepped forward to greet her. “Miss Annie, it has been many years. You’ve changed so much!”

Annie instructed Beibei to share the snacks with her brother, then turned, offered a slight bow, and smiled. “Old classmate, since when did you become so formal? When you and I first met, I was just a fifteen-year-old child. Now... neither of us are children anymore.” A barely perceptible sigh escaped her.

Hearing the subtle double meaning in her sigh, Du Chen offered a faint smile in return. “Indeed, we are no longer children...”

The past was the past. They were no longer the innocent, naïve youths of yesteryear. Each now bore the weight of their family, nation, and faction—they were all... adults!

For some reason, Du Chen suddenly yearned intensely for the golden-haired lass of their youth. Yet, he knew full well that the pliant fifteen-year-old girl was gone forever. The nineteen-year-old Annie was no longer the runaway child recklessly pursuing marriage, but a rising star of the Batuk Family, an Eminence standing at the pinnacle of the Three Continents’ future.

Du Chen inquired, “Are you headed to...”

Annie lightly brushed a strand of hair aside, her sky-blue eyes appraising Du Chen. She chuckled softly, “Three months ago, after my graduation, I took charge of our family’s Southern Sea Affairs. In a few days, it will be my ancestor’s birthday, and I’m heading home to participate in the grand ancestral ceremony... Old classmate, I hear you are now Du Chen, the Divine Envoy. I hope Du Chen, the Divine, would grace my ancestor’s two-thousandth birthday with your esteemed presence!” Their sky-blue eyes met. Annie’s deep-set eyes twinkled. “If your matters on Bog Island aren’t critical, I’d still urge you to attend. Heh, my family has some connections with the Sea King, so I could entrust the Sea Clan to handle your affairs on Bog Island.”

Du Chen touched his nose.

“My Divine Master has ventured far into the Labyrinth of Life to investigate Fiendkind movements and likely won’t be able to return. However, I am willing to attend the ceremony on his behalf. But as for the matters on Bog Island, I wouldn’t trouble an old classmate like you!”

“Then I shall await your arrival at home.” Annie suddenly pointed towards the southern sea. “Have you seen Arthur?”

“Arthur?” Du Chen exclaimed in surprise. “Is Arthur also in these waters?”

“Old classmate, that’s where you’re wrong!” Annie chastised him. “Arthur thinks of you, his old brother, every single day and even asked me to inquire about your news, yet you don’t even know his current situation?”

After a joke that made Du Chen blush, Annie stated calmly, “Arthur has been in the military for three years and is now a Marshal of the Reno Northern Fleet. Two months ago, he utterly decimated the combined forces of the Sober Empire’s four fleets in the Golden Sands Cape waters, personally slaying Conleavis, one of the Sober Guardian Battle Gods, shaking the Skylands with his might. He even expanded Reno’s maritime territory by a thousand li. Currently... he and his two hundred thousand strong naval forces are confronting the Sea King’s Garrison Fleet south of Bog Island, and I met with him when I was dispatched to mediate the dispute.”

*Hmph*, to think that lad is already on the path to becoming a hegemon of the Skylands! Du Chen listened, his heart filled with longing, then couldn’t help but ask, “Arthur is capable of personally slaying a Sober Guardian Battle God? Has his strength truly reached such a level?”

Annie cast a strange glance at Du Chen. “Shouldn’t you know this better than I? Arthur’s strength has advanced by leaps and bounds over these past three years. For others, the higher their cultivation, the more difficult it becomes, but for him, ever since he broke through to a strength equivalent to a Six-Star Battle God, his progress has actually become easier. He’s now rapidly approaching the Sealed Title Realm. Within the Skylands, aside from the Lionheart King, he has no peer!”

Du Chen listened, utterly dumbfounded. *This... how is this possible?*

“It’s strange, Arthur said that everything he has was given to him by Francis. How could you not know about his progress in strength?”

Du Chen offered a flimsy excuse to brush her off, but his heart was reeling with shock. He knew perfectly well what he had taught Arthur back then: merely some common body-refining Secret Techniques from his previous life in the Rogue Sect. How could they lead to a cultivation level so close to the Sealed Title Realm?

Moreover, Du Chen was intimately familiar with Arthur’s background. He was the son of Xue Ji, Seventh Sister, and Choba, a descendant of Wolf and Lady Aro. His talent was remarkably similar to Du Chen’s, and he had endured a similar fate, being crippled by Margaret using the Molten Heart... Even back then, Arthur’s progress after acquiring those body-refining Secret Techniques had defied all conventional reasoning. Could there be some other secret hidden within his brother?

Unable to comprehend it, Arthur’s advancement was a mystery beyond Du Chen’s understanding! Nevertheless, Du Chen felt nothing but pleasant surprise. From Annie’s words, it was clear that despite the years apart, Arthur still held his brother dear in his heart! The phrase, “Everything I have was given to me by Francis,” particularly warmed Du Chen’s heart.

“So, the waters south of Bog Island, all the way to Golden Sands Cape, right? If I get the chance, I will certainly go see him!” Du Chen said earnestly.

Annie chuckled. “No need to go to such trouble. Arthur will also be attending the ancestral birthday celebration on behalf of the Lionheart King. You brothers will meet then.” She paused, then suddenly asked, “Is the reason for your visit to Bog Island convenient for you to share?”

“There’s nothing inconvenient about it. The Miki Goddess’s Palace was destroyed by fire, and the Papal Curia and Holy Alliance couldn’t stand to lose face. So, His Holiness the Pontiff commanded me to investigate the rebuilding of the Goddess’s Palace.”

Annie nodded slightly, then fell silent for a moment. She then inexplicably stated, “The Sea King is a very strange individual. He’s been on Bog Island recently, guarding the World’s Core’s heart!” Du Chen froze, wanting to press further, but Annie merely smiled and shook her head, indicating she had said all she would. However, with the Batuk Family being allies of the Sea King, Annie’s words surely held a profound meaning.

The World’s Core’s heart. Du Chen made a mental note of that location!

The two reminisced further, discussing their old friends from back then. Jason and Sem had yet to graduate, while Frinda had entered the Pantheon Institute for further studies after graduation and hadn’t left Battle God Isle. After half a day, Annie politely declined Du Chen’s lunch invitation, waving her hand lightly. “Return home!”

“As you command, Miss Annie!”

The servants who had previously delivered snacks to Beibei flew suspended between the two ships. From the purple-golden vessel, gold-inlaid planks descended. The servants held the planks, and Annie gracefully walked back onto her ship. She turned, waved goodbye, and offered a slight, acknowledging smile as the grand vessel sailed away...

The sheer luxury and noble etiquette left Gode utterly dumbfounded. “Damn it all! I’d heard the Batuk family had many rules, but never imagined it was this extensive... I want that too! My family has all this stuff!”

Annie’s contrasting approaches, both her open pleasantries and veiled warnings, registered clearly in Porter’s eyes. With a woman’s keen perceptiveness, she offered a bitter smile. *Too late, we are all too late...*

Du Chen watched Annie depart until the great ship vanished below the horizon, then he let out a sigh. Beibei scampered over from the side, burrowing into her father’s embrace. “Daddy, Annie has become so amazing! Her body is that of a Six-Star Battle God, but her Spiritual Power, somehow, has also advanced to the six-rank level! A dual Six-Star Battle God can even defeat a Seventh-Star!”

Du Chen looked surprised. “So Annie specializes in Spiritual Power now?”

“Yes! Beibei saw it! When Annie was talking to you, her mind was working so fast, especially when she mentioned the World’s Core’s heart! Oh, and Daddy, Annie’s Spiritual Secret Technique is very similar to Aunt Betty’s. They’re both penetrative Secret Techniques. They don’t have confusing illusions, but they’re best for seeing through an enemy’s emotions!”

Du Chen suddenly understood. With Annie’s talent and the guidance of Aunt Betty, the Gambler, if she truly applied herself, progress was inevitable! Spiritual Power wasn’t battle qi; its cultivation depended entirely on innate talent!

“Old classmates, old friends make the path easier!” Porter suddenly mused, smiling at Du Chen’s surprised look. “Did you understand Annie’s true purpose in seeking you out this time?”

That was precisely what Du Chen had sighed about earlier. Annie was indeed no longer the docile girl of yesteryear; her words could no longer be taken at face value. Du Chen nodded. “She was warning me that Bog Island isn’t a place I should meddle with. It’s the Sea King’s and Batuk family’s territory. I’d best behave myself, attend the ceremony in Emerald City, and avoid trouble, otherwise, the Batuk Family won’t stand idly by if someone causes a disturbance on their turf!”

Gode cried out, “Master, that woman dares to threaten you!?”

Du Chen waved a hand dismissively. “But she also told me that if I *do* run into trouble, I can seek Arthur’s help! This blend of softness and hardness, combining severity with gentleness, no wonder she could manage such a major undertaking right after graduation! She really has changed so much over these years!”

Porter remained silent.

After half a day’s journey, Bog Island was now clearly in sight, its docks faintly visible. Upon seeing the Holy Church’s banner, the Sea Clan guards had already fired a salute!

On deck, Du Chen commanded, “Everyone gather! Annie just informed me that the Sea King himself is currently commanding a large army on Bog Island, and there’s a dangerous place called the World’s Core’s heart. Let’s discuss our strategy!”

The group gathered, secretly deliberating for a while, then Du Chen began assigning tasks. “Porter and Lancy, you’ll pose as sailors and remain off the island for now. That old turtle beside the Sea King possesses formidable Spiritual Power; we can’t take risks! Deboning, Andy, you two will change into Holy Church attire with me. When we meet the Sea King, constantly invoke His Holiness the Pontiff’s name. Be careful. Beibei, Anya...”

Beibei sweetly smiled, “Daddy, Beibei knows! Beibei needs to keep an eye on that old turtle and counter his Spiritual Power!”

Alex covered his forehead, eyes slightly closed, a sneer on his lips. “The Master needs no instructions!”

Du Chen’s gaze fell upon Gode. The Little Prince declared, “Master, rest assured, I’ll kill the Sea King eventually, but not right now!”

Du Chen nodded with a smile. Just then, Snoopy, perched on Andy, jumped out. “Hey, what about me, Grandpa?”

Du Chen smacked him back with a swift blow. “Just stay put on Andy, pretending to be a flea! Many Sea Clan races are long-lived; that old turtle might have met Wolf and know what you really are!”

“A flea? You want Grandpa to be a flea? Hey, I’m a rabbit, but I’m not afraid of you, come on...”

“Silence! The Sea King is here!”

Du Chen sharply turned his head, staring at the mid-air above Bog Island. Snoopy’s mouth snapped shut. From body to soul, he thoroughly transformed into a flea, clinging to Andy’s ear. The little fellow might have a fiery temper, but he still understood timing, which was why Du Chen had always tolerated his bad disposition.

From the distant sea came peals of hearty laughter. “Who do we have here? If it isn’t Francis! Haha, my Bog Island doesn’t permit humans other than slaves to land, but those who have defeated me in the past are an exception!” The boisterous laughter was as characteristic as ever, but then the Sea King’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Francis, have you come to reminisce with an old friend, or to be the Pontiff’s dog!?”