Helen's Story (Part 1)

Clutching the small box Phil had left behind, Du Chen settled the bill and exited the tavern. The more he thought about it, the more exasperated he became. Who would have thought people would stoop to swindling a meal for a few copper coins? And a professor among them, no less! They must be truly destitute.

Yet, his irritation was short-lived. As Du Chen settled the tab, his ‘Butt Blossoms’ began to itch—a sure sign that Professor Jemison and Bovin were truly penniless. While he might have been played for a fool, wasn't this, in a roundabout way, an act of charity towards the impoverished?

With no classes scheduled for the afternoon, Du Chen performed a few good deeds on his way back to his Water River dormitory—helping push carts and carrying water for others—before returning home.

"Master, you've returned!" Shieb's keen senses detected Du Chen from afar, and he was already waiting at the entrance. "While you were out, two people came to see you: Professor Mina and Jason. Professor Mina didn't state her purpose, but Jason asked me to inform you that the list of new student council inductees has been released, and you've been selected for the General Student Assembly."

"I'm in the student council?" Du Chen offered a faint smile. Selections for the student council were based on student votes, with final approval from the faculty. Given how much Du Chen had assisted his classmates during Intensive Training, he had cultivated considerable goodwill, making his induction a perfectly natural outcome.

"Yes, congratulations, Master. Jason was also selected, and he invites you to attend an induction meeting tonight at Hot Spring Mountain."

"Hmm, did Professor Mina leave any message?"

Shieb shook his head. Trailing closely behind Du Chen into the courtyard, he softly whispered after closing the door, "Master, I pressed Jason for a few more details. He mentioned that the Demoness next door has also entered the General Student Assembly."

Du Chen's steps faltered for a moment. He nodded, "You did well. I need to rest. Do not disturb me!"

Damn it all! Helen was truly a persistent specter, now even becoming his colleague!

Ever since school began, apart from the Mudslide incident, Helen had used her proximity as a neighbor to repeatedly test Du Chen with minor provocations, much to his growing exasperation.

Returning to his room, Du Chen locked the door and opened the box Phil had left behind.

Inside, there were no exotic treasures, only a few introductory alchemy textbooks and Phil's personal notes on the art.

As Du Chen perused his "mother's" notes, a sense of wistful melancholy settled in his heart. It was said that Phil had been exceptionally kind to Francis in life, a caring and loving mother. Alas, even across his two lifetimes, Du Chen had never truly known maternal affection.

"Natural Concentrates for Skin Restoration!" Du Chen casually flipped through the pages, only to stumble upon this passage: "The human body is also composed of five basic elements. Can Natural Concentrates be used to repair physical damage...?" Below this was a string of alchemical jargon Du Chen couldn't decipher. The passage concluded: "Hehe, if I could regenerate skin, wouldn't he be absolutely furious?"

These were Phil's writings from her maiden years, playful in tone, almost like diary entries. Yet, they profoundly startled Du Chen.

Regenerate skin, and *he'd* be furious? Read in reverse, this last sentence implied: "He" flayed someone, and Phil regenerated their skin, which must have thoroughly vexed "him."

Mother Phil! You are indeed connected to the Flaying Battle God!

Du Chen hastily re-examined the notes from beginning to end, discovering several more similar passages. All unequivocally hinted at an extremely intimate relationship between the Flaying Battle God and Phil!

Furthermore, amidst the fragmented clues, it was vaguely revealed that this flaying technique was part of some ritual!

Clutching the notes tightly, Du Chen felt a jolt of alarm. To an ordinary person, this was merely a common notebook, but in the hands of someone with discerning intent, it was an absolutely priceless piece of intelligence!

Philip hadn't secretly buried this item; instead, he had given it to Du Chen, clearly intending for him to discover its contents. What was he hinting at now!?

...Immersed in studying the notes, Du Chen skipped dinner entirely, secluding himself in his room until nightfall, when Shieb's voice boomed from outside, "Master, it's time for the meeting!"

Du Chen let out a long breath, secreted the notes onto his Precious Lotus Scripture, specifically at the elbow position, and then pushed open the door to leave.

Shieb Harry was visibly nervous, standing timidly outside the door as he whispered, "Master, Annie is waiting outside. She wishes to accompany you!"

Damn it! That girl truly was an unshakeable presence! He absolutely *had* to find a way to stop her from pestering him!

Helen, dressed in a simple gown and adorned with light makeup, stood smiling at the door, awaiting Du Chen. "Francis, congratulations on your induction into the student council!"

"Aren't you as well?" Du Chen replied flatly, then sealed his lips and headed towards Hot Spring Mountain.

Helen quietly followed behind Du Chen, saying nothing. Along the Water River path, where willows swayed in the breeze and moonlight shimmered upon the water, the sight of the white-clad, golden-haired young man and woman walking together stirred envy in many passersby.

"Annie, why do you keep following me?"

"We're going the same way, Francis! And this isn't Intensive Training now, so you won't run off again, will you?" Helen chuckled.

Damn it all! He didn't want to run; he wanted to kick her into the river! Alas, this lady was powerful enough to contend with Zigurd, and could casually conjure a Mudslide onto Hot Spring Mountain...

Helen suddenly smiled. "The path ahead is long. I have a story. Would you like to hear it?"

"Whatever," Du Chen shrugged indifferently.

"Very well, I'll tell it slowly. There was once a little girl born into a very happy family. Her parents adored her, and all her elders doted on her! But she was blind!"

Helen recounted the story in an even tone. "A carefree childhood is always beautiful. Even though she couldn't see, with the love of her family, she still felt like the happiest person. Until one day, her parents, after exhausting all their efforts, found medicine to heal her eyes, allowing her to see..."

Helen paused. "What do you think the little girl saw first?"

Du Chen casually retorted, "Obvious! Her parents, of course!"

"You're right, with one small difference," Helen's tone remained flat. "After opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was her father in front of her, his chest pierced by a longsword. The second thing, when she turned back, was her mother, who had taken a blow for her, severed in two!"

Du Chen was stunned. What was Helen's intention?

Had she, seeing that her previous attempts to probe him were ineffective, resorted to a different method—using a tragic story to elicit his sympathy?