Who Was She?

"The elf messengers are coming; we've received the message."

Upon hearing Hong San's words, Kang De was taken aback.

Then I came to my senses.

They instantly got into the zone.

Although he had enjoyed a relatively leisurely few days on Earth, this did not mean that he had let his guard down. The war between Goth and the elves was not over yet, and the main force of the Elf Expeditionary Force had not suffered devastating damage and still had the ability to launch large-scale battles.

Besides, this was just an expeditionary force.

The country to which the expeditionary force belonged was still a world hegemon with a military force that could deter the world at that time.

The war is not over, it is far from over.

Compared to this, what's happening on Earth is just a minor skirmish.

Before he could say anything, Hong San added, "... although it was a bit fast."

Kang De asked in surprise, "Quickly?"

Hong San was even more surprised. "Not fast?"

"... oh."

Time difference, oh, this is a real time difference.

The disparity between the seven-to-one time flow was truly staggering. He had already spent five days on Earth, while less than a day had passed in this other world. Kang De looked out the window; it was only the early morning, barely dawn. No wonder A Xing's eyes were a little sleepy; he hadn't quite grasped it yet.

He glanced at Hong San's appearance and asked, "How was your rest?"

Hong San smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Have you forgotten? I told you, my sect has a technique that allows for more efficient rest through meditation, so I feel quite well now."

"But proper rest and relaxation are still necessary... You need to give yourself a break too," Kang De said. "You've really worked hard these past few days."

As he spoke, he felt a pang of regret.

When you get tired of playing, you can switch the balance and go back to Earth to relax, order takeout, take a nap, chat online, browse Weibo, and shop on Taobao. Seven days in the other world is equivalent to one day in another world. The long holiday is incredibly enjoyable. When you feel bored, you can also grind some elite monsters to cultivate your mind and refine your temperament.

But Hong San was different.

Since encountering the Heaven and Earth Society, he has never stopped, leading more and more people to travel east and west, avoiding the elven army and the threat of war. Arriving in Valentan City was not the beginning of a peaceful life, but the beginning of hardship and suffering. He devoted himself to defending the city, his mood fluctuating greatly. He fought to the death, putting his life on the line, and finally won the victory. But even after the victory, he still had to keep busy.

Moreover, most of his busy work was done on behalf of Kang De.

As Kang De's chief steward, he dealt with Goth's officials, various provinces, opposition figures, and even various forces, coordinating the reconstruction of Valentan. He had to arrange everything in an orderly manner. You know, after his Valentan National Cemetery Speech, Kang De talked with the crowd of people from all walks of life for two or three hours and was already feeling dizzy and annoyed. Heaven knows how Hong San managed to handle everything so well.

Thinking of this, Kang De felt somewhat guilty.

I even felt a little guilty.

He felt he should end his vacation as soon as possible and return to his great career of controlling elves.

At least don't put all the work on Hong San's shoulders.

He said, "I need to give you a break as soon as possible."

Hong San smiled and said, "That's enough. There's no rush. It's nothing. I'm used to it. I'm just born to be busy. Once I have free time, I don't know what to do."

Kang De reached out and patted his arm. "I'm good at this. I can stay idle for a whole year and still have something to do. I'll introduce you to some fun things to do then."

It's a pity that the other world can't connect to Earth's internet, otherwise Hong San could help him kick the can.

Hong San didn't know what Kang De was thinking, but that didn't stop him from being happy. In fact, having such a relaxed and pleasant conversation with Kang De was already very good news for him.

The two sat down, A Xing half-squeezed in, half-laying down, and hugged Kang De's arm to catch up on some sleep. Kang De shrugged and said to Hong San, "Tell me about the elf messenger."

"The news came around 3 a. m."

Hong San said, "The elves have complicated etiquette and many rules. They regard diplomacy as a major matter and are extremely concerned about their face. Therefore, they will characterize this mission as an unofficial meeting, that is, not a diplomatic negotiation between the two countries, but a personal visit and exchange with you—after all, they have suffered such a great loss, and diplomatic dialogue means showing weakness."

Kang De laughed upon hearing this, "Isn't this a sign of weakness?"

Hong San blinked. "Your Highness, this is the essence of diplomacy."

Kang De smiled and shook his head, indicating that he understood.

He continued, "The elves went to great lengths. Since it was an unofficial meeting, they wouldn't contact you through Goth's official channels. So they went through a long and winding route, passing the message from the dwarven royal family to the dwarven royal merchants, and then to their partners in the human world, layer by layer, until finally, they sent the message through an honorary duke of the empire. This ensured that the proposal for dialogue had nothing to do with the official channels, and also prevented the request from appearing shabby or shabby—after all, he was a duke, even if it was just an honorary title."

Kang De sighed, "That's fucking annoying."

"Your Highness, given that you will be dealing with elves frequently in the future, it would be best to start getting used to their way of doing things now, as they often get caught up in inexplicable things and procrastinate."

After saying the above with a solemn expression, Hong San said in a low voice, "By the way, I think so too."

The two looked at each other and burst out laughing.

After laughing for a moment, Kang De asked again, "Then, who is this so-called messenger?"

Hong San shook his head and said, "I don't know. The letter from that honorary duke only said that he was a 'noble person whose etiquette and status matched His Highness Kang De's and who would never bring shame to the Dusk Moon Dynasty.'"

He sighed, "Elves wouldn't tamper with such things. If anything goes wrong, they'll be the ones who lose face. I bet it's a member of the elven royal family, a prince or princess."

"Because Your Highness is the son-in-law of Goth, and the victory at the Battle of Valentan has added to your glory and prestige, those who correspond to you must also be people of equal nobility in the elven world. Therefore, it is normal to keep your name confidential. Although this conversation has been embellished, it is actually still a show of submission and negotiation. The elven authorities will not acknowledge this conversation, nor will they allow that member of the royal family to have his reputation tarnished."

Kang De changed his position to make the A Xing nestled in his arms more comfortable.

Then he asked, "With all this effort... will this negotiation go smoothly?"

Hong San replied, "That depends on how you define 'smoothly.' If it's just about selling the elven corpses in the battlefield ruins for a good price, then we'll definitely get what we want. The elves are a world hegemon, a superpower. They care more about appearances than substance, and they're not short of money. Extorting them will definitely be very pleasant."

Kang De pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "What if it's a ceasefire?"

Hong San did not answer immediately, but pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Uncertain... It's not entirely impossible. If Your Highness desires a temporary ceasefire or even a formal ceasefire, it depends on the outcome of the power struggle between the pro-war and pro-peace factions within the Elven kingdom. We have very little information on this matter."

"But signs can still be found in some details."

"For example..."

He looked at Kang De and said softly, "The stance and attitude displayed by this elven envoy."

Kang De nodded slowly.

Thinking of those brave men who died in the Battle of Valentan, they were the brightest hope and the backbone of this nation, but the more sincere and courageous they were, the sooner they would sacrifice themselves.

He sighed, "I hope peace will come soon, and I hope this negotiation is a good start."

Although he possessed the powerful weapon of Mass Projection, he didn't want to use it a second time if he could, because it meant the continuation of the war, and more sacrifices. Even if he could kill more elves, the country had already suffered more damage... He hoped that more Nick could survive.

I hope so.

Hong San nodded and said in a low voice, "I understand your pity, but I must remind you that it's best to prepare for the worst in these situations."

Kang De nodded slightly, his gaze turning cold.

"I know."

He said calmly, "Given the current situation, it's very difficult to force the elves to surrender unconditionally. However, we can still change the course of the war, intervene in the power struggle between the elven peace faction and the war faction, and even promote the conclusion of a peace agreement..."

Hong San nodded solemnly upon hearing this. "Yes, of course we can."

Kang De glanced out the window. "When exactly will the elf messenger arrive?"

Hong San replied, "Judging from that letter, it should be here in the next day or two. The royal family travels by phoenix; their speed is extremely fast."

Seeing Kang De remain silent in thought, Hong San said again, "Even if he comes, it's alright to let him wait a bit."

Kang De's expression shifted slightly, he calculated the days in his mind, and nodded.

He has decided to end his vacation and shift his focus back to the other world.

Firstly, the elf messenger is about to arrive, and we must get started on dealing with this new matter.

Secondly... Kang De's mother will be returning to China soon. Staying on Earth any longer would be a waste of time in the other world. He needs to finish the urgent and important matters in the other world before his mother returns.

Even so, he still needed to return to Earth to finish things up.

This included spending some time with Old Wang, saying goodbye, and signing for all the items I bought on Taobao. In addition, Xie Liqian was an unexpected bonus. This big capitalist had been deeply involved in the business world for forty years, with extensive connections, connections to the highest levels, and seemingly endless resources. More importantly, he was now under Xie Liqian's control.

Of course, we should take advantage of the honeymoon period to make the most of the deals.

"If the elven messenger comes, then help me deal with him, and you can decide the exact extent of the situation yourself." Kang De paused here, "Is that alright?"

He was naturally a little worried, after all, he knew what Hong San was like before—although Hong San had been reborn, the person who came was an elven royal family member, and he didn't know if he knew what to do.

Hong San laughed nonchalantly, "There's no problem at all. When I'm out in the world, people respect me, fear me, and fawn over me, simply because I represent your will. I understand this better than they do, and I will never bring shame to Your Highness. Today's Hong San is not yesterday's. I wouldn't even kneel to Your Highness, so why would I kneel to them?"

Kang De paused for a moment, then quickly waved his hand. "I didn't mean that."

Hong San smiled as before, "I understand, you're worried I'm going too far... No problem, I follow Your Highness, I regard you as my benefactor and role model, and I'm learning from your style."

Kang De rolled his eyes. "I hope you didn't learn any swear words."

Hong San blinked. "You don't need to learn this. Master taught it to you. Would you like to hear it?"

"... Give me a break."

After chatting and laughing for a while, Hong San asked about the support Kang De had previously needed, and Kang De described it to him.

Hong San said he would keep an eye out, but it would be troublesome and he would have to search for it secretly.

"Or we could blackmail the elf."

Kang De clapped his hands and said, "Great idea!"

Hong San stood up, bowed, and said, "The elves are wealthy and powerful. The Dusk Moon Dynasty has conquered many countries and regions, accumulating countless rare treasures over hundreds and thousands of years. This kind of opportunity to take advantage of you is a once-in-a-century event. You can freely imagine and list your wishes, and let the elves pay for them."

Extortion is something that always brings a sense of pleasure.

Kang De nodded and said, "I will."

"Oh, right... there's one more thing."

Hong San said, "The gold and jewelry you asked me to collect yesterday... have yielded some results. I traded some battlefield fragments, which have collectible but no practical value, with several collectors for gold bricks produced by the dwarves. They are extremely pure, with only a small amount of pure copper and pure silver added to maintain their hardness."

"There are also some natural jewels and ornaments, without any Magic Power hidden within them. They are not hard to find because it's a popular trend. Jewelry and ornaments without any Magic Power hidden within them represent the most original and purest natural beauty, perfectly reflecting the simple craftsmanship of the artisans."

He explained, "Everything's already packed. Shall I bring it over to you?"

Kang De nodded.

So the box was brought over, carried by two people; it was very heavy. After the servants left, Hong San also took his leave. Kang De looked at him and asked, "Aren't you curious?"

Hong San stood by the door and bowed gracefully to him. "Please don't forget my past, Your Highness. Although it is a painful past, it is not all useless memories. At least I have learned to keep secrets and restrain my curiosity. After all, everyone has their own secrets."

"And I believe that the reason you didn't tell me must be because it wasn't appropriate or meaningful. Since that's the case, why should I take it to heart? You know, there's more to it than just this."

Yes, including the various magical props and performances during the defense of the city, the strange things that came out one after another, the connection with the Greenskins, the terrifying weapons that had never been heard of before, and even the terrifying power that destroyed the five warbands.

There were just too many things that piqued Hong San's curiosity, but he never asked any of them.

As Kang De's thoughts were wandering, Hong San said, "For example, I'm more curious about what will happen when Your Highness meets Princess Tina."

Kang De was startled; Hong San had already closed the door and ran away.

"... Hold."

Kang De spoke with the A Xing for a while, promising to return soon, then packed his suitcase and left.

Back to Earth.

The living room light was on, but it was pitch black outside. It was almost midnight. Kang De got up and found Xiaoman lying on the sofa, fast asleep, with his phone in her hand.

He stepped forward, looked at Xiaoman's sleeping face, and felt at ease with her familiar and beautiful features. He smiled, gently picked her up, carried her to the bedroom, put her down, and covered her with a blanket.

Then he sat on the edge of the bed and sighed softly.

It's time to go back.

He took the phone from Xiaoman's hand, turned it on, and originally intended to contact Xie Liqian, but suddenly he lost the mood to swagger around with this old bastard.

It's time to go back.

Say goodbye to the peaceful days on this side of Earth.

Go to that other world that holds so many memories.

Kang De slowly exhaled.

Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, I even began to reminisce about the past.

Stop and look back.

He opened his phone's photo album, the bright screen illuminating his face. Photos can freeze time, and are especially useful in moments of loneliness. He had taken more photos in the past twenty years than he had in a single year in the other world. He scrolled down, from top to bottom: photos of Valentan Speech, cities ravaged by war, Goth's landscapes, photos of the Iron Son, and further on, the scenery within the Empire, and the ruins of Glittering Sand.

Before that, there was the complete Glittering Sand.

It's the Penguin's journey adrift at sea, with its enthusiastic and straightforward crew, the sky and the sea, the birds and the waves, a uniquely charming ship, dinners, games, wrestling, and everything in between.

The sailors, laughing wildly together, the somewhat reserved captain, and the head maid who always wore the same expression and posture—their voices and smiles were frozen in a data stream composed of 1s and 0s.

And that person.

And then there was Tina, who was innocent, kind, beautiful, and pure at the time.

And there was also the hopeful and optimistic version of myself back then.

Turning the page further back, you'll find the Holy Seal Archipelago.

A commemorative group photo to say goodbye to the magical creatures. Every animal has one, necks exposed, bright smiles, and all sorts of animal faces, some grinning, some rolling their eyes, some disdainful.

And his home, the traces he left during his year there, the scenery and landscapes of the Holy Seal Archipelago.

Further ahead lay that battle, the first battle I had ever experienced.

The captured Wings of Wayne, the cleaned-up battlefield, and the raging rift.

Further ahead lies that memory that has already died.

On the battlefield, her graceful figure in a red dress, wielding a sharp blade, with a few drops of blood on her face, and her long boots treading on corpses and blood-soaked mud, exuded an eerie beauty.

Kang De once used these photos and videos as a source of amusement that could blackmail someone for a lifetime.

But who can say for sure about the unpredictable nature of human destiny?

Looking at you again, I can no longer laugh...

Just then, Kang De, who was immersed in his memories, suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Turn your head.

Then they saw Wang Xiaoman had been fast asleep, now open her eyes and looking in their direction.

The bedroom was dark, with only the phone screen illuminating Xiaoman's profile, while the other side remained hidden in darkness, making her expression appear somewhat strange... or rather, eerie.

"Who is she?"

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PS1: 5000 words, time for bed.