Breaking an Arrow to Swear an Oath

Kang De sensed this when the elven mage named Garcia began anchoring in space.

The Crimson Scroll, kept close to his body, emitted a faint light and warmth, its power of time and space originating from Akatum, reacting to subtle changes in the surrounding space.

Kang De was already preparing to leave, but this change made him change his mind.

On one side is the Elf Master who has been exploring the rules of space for many years; on the other side is the head of all gods and the Dragon of Space and Time.

Even with only a trace of divine power, the difference in strength is immediately apparent. He attempted to communicate with the White Mist World, and the resonance from the divine power of spacetime in his chest clearly told him one thing.

--The opponent is painstakingly constructing a paper-based spatial defense line, but the great Dragon of Space and Time, Dio, can turn him into a Higgs boson.

In an instant, Kang De changed his mind. If he opened fire now, he didn't know how many of these elves he could kill, but he probably couldn't kill an elven mage who was skilled in spatial magic. He would have to wait until that bastard had completed his defensive line and completely blocked Kang De's way before he could finally kill this jerk.

So waiting a while won't hurt.

The elf clearly had ill intentions, but the fact that the other party secretly anchored itself in space suggests that the elf would not attack until the trap was complete, lest it allow the other party to escape.

Then let's wait a while; we can take the opportunity to yell at them a few more times.

Kang De and the elf went along with the pretense while waiting for the other to finish. But Master Garcia was doing such a good job, progressing so quickly that he soon had to use his ultimate move and return to town. There was nothing he could do about it. Otherwise, if he waited for the elven mage to fully reinforce the space, and then chatted and laughed with the elves while waiting for the other to make his move, it would be like dancing on a tightrope, which Kang De would not do.

As Kang De had predicted, the outcome was very smooth. After uttering a string of profanities, he successfully escaped and returned to the White Mist World unharmed. Meanwhile, Garcia's masterpiece was torn open by the power of spacetime. Before the Elf Master could react, Kang De, despite his spatial constraints, connected to the portal to the White Mist World, and the power of the entire universe rebounded back.

The elven mage died in a way and state unimaginable to mortals; this kind of death was even more prestigious than the solar system consuming the two-dimensional foil.

A flash of light appeared, a rift opened, and Kang De appeared on the bed in the bedroom.

He lay on the bed, motionless, only glancing at the Crimson Scroll he held in his hand.

The scroll's scorching glow had not yet dissipated.

He used to travel back and forth, crossing the world in a way he couldn't understand. The process was like wandering in a dark ocean, swimming from one bubble to another. The feeling was subtle and indescribable, like using a computer. You can operate it at will and do many things, but you don't know how it works, and you don't understand how many complex calculations and changes are behind the simple operations.

But this time, for the first time, he used the divine power of space and time to clear a path, and for the first time, he broke through the enemy's magical power to open the gate. The inner principles and the external obstacles, the supreme and profound laws, revealed a trace of the essential mystery to Kang De due to the interference and effect of external forces, making him thoughtful and enlightened.

"That's a door..."

Kang De slowly raised the scroll in his hand. He could feel the flow of divine power within it. This scroll, which he had obtained from the Holy Seal Archipelago, given to Tina, and miraculously returned to his own hands, had given him amazing abilities: manipulating the flow of time within his body, controlling the time anchors in the White Mist World, setting teleportation points... Each of these abilities was very useful, but he felt that there was definitely more to it than that.

Because the divine power within the Crimson Scroll remains surging and abundant.

"What are you going to teach me this time?" Kang De murmured, "And how am I supposed to acquire it?"

According to his conjecture, the rules of inheritance of the Crimson Scroll are probably an idealistic mechanism. Akatum is considered a benevolent god symbolizing justice and mercy. Perhaps in order to gain the recognition of the Crimson Scroll and the power of time and space, one must possess these two precious qualities... This is a conjecture that Kang De, a modern young man who has been exposed to countless online novels and games, could make.

But the problem is...

"Born in the new China, raised in an environment of the Four Modernizations, and as upright young people with ideals, morality, culture, and discipline, we firmly remember the Eight Honors and Eight Shames, and have developed a set of positive values under enlightened education and a good family environment..."

Kang De muttered to himself, "Do I not possess the qualities of justice and compassion now? What a joke! With my abilities and superpowers, if I stayed on Earth, I could have anything—power, money, women—wouldn't I have gotten? Yet I returned to this other world to help Goth fight the elves. This kind of fearless internationalism... no, interdimensionalism, already deserves the five words 'benevolence, righteousness, courage, wisdom, and trustworthiness,' right? It should be in textbooks from now on."

He shook his head, got out of bed, and stood up. He should have returned to the other world immediately, but after hesitating, he opened the bedroom door and walked into the living room. This was not Earth, but a mirror world, yet everything was exactly the same as Earth, so he was able to feel emotions from the scene.

Looking at his familiar home, the view outside the window—skyscrapers, bustling traffic—everything about modern society was the place and home he had lived in. He grew up here, each day similar yet different, always peaceful and undisturbed. However, a year ago, his world was turned upside down.

Even if a bridge is built between the two worlds, allowing him to return to his hometown at any time, everything will ultimately be different.

He stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the buildings across the Valentan, but his thoughts were on the walls of Valentine, ravaged by elven magic, congealed with blood, and scorched by flames. He gazed at the cars stopped on the road, thinking of the Autobots rampaging through the elven army, and of the fierce and frenzied battles on the walls, the rain of arrows, the roar of magic, and the countless lives that withered away in an instant.

Unlike Glittering Sand, this is a real war.

The floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the view outside and also reflected his faint image. Kang De reached out and touched the cold glass, suddenly feeling a nameless fear.

Only at this moment did he understand what deciding to return to the other world truly meant.

This means that his soul is drifting away from Earth and moving towards another world.

In this war-torn world, true Civilization has not yet been born. Human life is as worthless as grass, and the stark hierarchy and distinctions between superiors and inferiors are blatantly exposed. In times of war, morality is a joke.

Nick, as Goth bureaucrat, doesn't care about ordinary people; the elf, as a racist and aggressor, doesn't care about human life either. On Earth, so-called human rights and equality have become tools, and have long been distorted under the manipulation of the West. But in another world, Kang De misses them.

At least on Earth, those principles, even if only superficial, are deeply ingrained in people's hearts. In another world, if you talk about these things, about compassion, equality, and peace, you'll be seen as a fool.

A seven-to-one time ratio means that, at least for now, he will have spent far more time in the other world than on Earth. How to balance life in both worlds, how to avoid being affected by the other world... so many questions he suddenly realizes now, questions that cannot be concealed by successive victories.

Moreover... it can hardly be called a victory.

Kang De sighed silently, pressed his right hand against the glass window, and closed his eyes.

Space shattered, a halo appeared, and he was separated from this world.

The next moment, the world turned upside down, spanning time and space. Kang De opened his eyes to find himself on a soft bed. From afar, a sound like thunder could be heard outside the window. This was the Vidal Chamber of Commerce.

Kang De got out of bed, opened the door, and Leona stood opposite, staring intently at the door like a puppy. Seeing Kang De, she paused, then exclaimed, "You..."

The girl's voice was choked with emotion, startling even herself. Leona looked at Kang De, her eyes filled with unspoken words, yet she didn't know what to say.

Before venturing into danger, Kang De confidently asserted that there were no problems whatsoever, but who, besides himself, would have felt assured?

You're not allowed to do that again!

Leona's eyes welled with tears, and perhaps realizing her tone was a bit ambiguous, she retorted angrily, "If you die out there, then all the risks I took to get here, all the hardships I endured for you, and all this trouble from that bastard Nick and the rest of the town—wouldn't it all be a loss?"

"Okay, okay," Kang De readily agreed, but his mind was elsewhere. "How's it going? Has a fight broken out?"

"You!"

Leona was taken aback, feeling that all her concern and worry had been wasted. She even ignored the vivid warning of the axe, the vast difference in their fighting abilities, and Kang De's unwavering masculine sentimentality, and kicked Kang De in the shin.

The outcome was obvious. Although Kang De wouldn't actually sweep Leona down with a leg sweep, even if he didn't move, the forces were still mutual. The delicate young lady's physical strength was not equal to that of the tough-skinned Master Kang, whose body had been absurdly enhanced by the Black Beast crystal.

Leona's kick landed as if she'd hit a brick wall. She yelled and clutched her foot, her anger flaring even more. Ignoring Kang De's concern, she hopped on one leg and jumped against the wall in the opposite direction.

He jumped up and down, cursing, "How the hell should I know! After I heard you were missing, I ran back to wait for you. How was I supposed to know what happened? What happened is none of my business! I'm an imperial pig, Goth People die as many as they want, you might as well die out there too, damn it!"

Kang De stood there, stunned for a long time, and then sighed.

He quickly caught up with Leona, hoisted her up by the waist, and carried her like a mountain bandit abducting his wife. Ignoring Leona's struggles and kicks, he ran back to his room and put the girl on the bed.

He reached out and pulled off Leona's shoes, threw them away, pulled back the covers, Kang De reached out and vigorously rubbed Leona's face, making Eldest Miss Vidar's beautiful face look extremely comical.

He rubbed her back while comforting her, saying, "Alright, alright, don't be angry. Thank you for your concern. That's enough. I admit I was wrong, I'm sorry, okay? Anyway, it's all my fault. You lie here and rest for a bit. I need to go to the city wall. We'll talk about it later, later..."

After saying that, he opened the window, jumped out, and ran towards the city wall.

Leona lay on her back on the bed, her face flushed red from being rubbed, and even a little drool was running down her cheeks. She stared blankly at the ceiling for a long while before suddenly snapping out of her daze.

"He's carrying her like a pig..." she exclaimed. "Doesn't this scoundrel know how to hold a woman?!"

After a while, Leona's body trembled again. "... What the hell did he just say to me?"

She grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her head, then started rolling and kicking wildly on the bed.

Kang De had already rushed into the street and was running all the way.

He then remembered the walkie-talkie and asked, "Hey, how's the shelling going? Any movement from the elves?"

A moment later, Iron Son's voice rang out. "Father, you're back?"

Kang De asked, "Yes, what were the results?"

The Autobots replied, "I don't know. The shelling has raised a huge cloud of dust, and the enemy mages seem to have stirred up sandstorms that are obscuring their vision, making it impossible to determine the outcome. As for the enemy's movements, we don't know for now. The city walls are already prepared for defense, ready to deal with any possible siege..."

Kang De said, "Okay, I'll be there soon."

He ran along, and from the houses along the street came cries and commotion. As he passed a house, he even heard a child inside asking, "Mommy, is there going to be another war? Can't we stop?"

For the weak and powerless civilians, this period of peace since the elves retreated yesterday must have been the most beautiful and tranquil time... But this peace and beauty was shattered after the sound of artillery fire, and everyone knew what that meant.

Kang De suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, he didn't know why, perhaps it was a side effect of the melancholy that came with the White Mist World.

He ignored the superfluous noises, quickened his pace, and his figure swept across the street.

As a fire truck that was patrolling and dispatching vehicles passed by, someone on board shouted, "Sir..."

It was a somewhat familiar female voice, but Kang De only paused slightly without turning around, continuing on his way. He no longer had the leisure for that.

The municipal officials on the fire truck watched Kang De's frantic figure. The smallest of them looked at Kang De with envy and reverence and sighed.

During the first siege, she encountered Kang De, who came to her rescue amidst the burning fire. Only after the victory did she learn that he was the hero who had turned the tide and saved Valentan at the crucial moment.

I was thinking of thanking him...

But he probably doesn't remember me, since I wasn't very polite back then.

"Don't be disappointed, he's just too busy. After all, there's going to be another battle," his companion comforted him. "He's been patrolling since early morning, he must be tired. Does he want to take a break?"

"I'm not tired," the girl said. "I could work all day."

At the intersection near the city wall, Humvee rumbled out. "Father."

It transformed into human form, raised its right hand, and lifted Kang De onto the city wall. The soldiers were stunned to see that Prince Kang De, who had left the city, had returned safely. Then they cheered in unison.

Hong San and Preston ran over.

"Sir," the Cathayan said, "The elves haven't launched their attack yet, so we don't know the outcome."

Preston sighed, "It's a pity that Valentan's forces are too weak; otherwise, we could have even launched a surprise attack... Alas."

Kang De exchanged a few pleasantries with the group when suddenly someone shouted, "Look!"

Everyone turned to look, and saw a small troop of cavalry galloping towards them amidst the rising dust in the distance. The order was given, and the soldiers stood ready for battle. But no one believed that these few dozen cavalrymen were there to attack the city.

It wasn't true after all.

The elven cavalry, showing no fear, had already approached within range of the city's weapons; the soldiers on the walls could even see their faces clearly. The mage conjured a whirlwind, amplifying the sound, and the cavalry shouted in unison, "Humans of Valentan, listen up!"

"Our Lord Selendron, having taken pity on your lives, invited your Princess Tina's husband, Kang De of Cathayan, to come out of the city to negotiate a mutually beneficial outcome. But as you have seen, Kang De chose war! He is utterly shameless and dishonest, resorting to treacherous schemes that have killed many of our soldiers. We came with peace and promises, only to be met with this result, our warriors dying without honor. Such disgrace can only be washed away with blood. By order of Lord Selendron, we issue an ultimatum to Valentan!"

"I command you humans to capture the despicable and faithless Cathayan Kang De, and the city of Valentan will be spared. Whoever captures Kang De will be fully qualified to rule Valentan and will be honored and granted titles by the dynasty. If you resist stubbornly, I, on behalf of the Dusk Warband, hereby swear an oath: after the city falls, the entire city will be slaughtered, not a single one will be spared!"

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PS1: Update, one chapter owed, going to sleep. I haven't been sleeping well lately, and when I'm not feeling well, I get writer's block, damn it.