I Want to Go Home First

"Well..."

"Um?"

"Do you still have... that... what... hereditary skill?"

"No, get out!"

The above dialogue took place between Kang De and Tagelise.

Previously Duke of Tiling opened Kang De's bloodline limit with a single finger... well, it's more like Phoenix Vision. In any case, it's something similar, all relying on some kind of mysterious aura or bloodline for inheritance. It's a very intelligent and human-like foolproof skill awakening program, full of the flavor of bloodline theory.

Just like how the descendants of the Hokage will definitely be the Hokage, and the descendants of the Medicine King will definitely be the Medicine King, they learn everything very quickly. All the ridiculously fast leveling and learning speeds can be explained in one sentence, "You have the blood of XXX flowing in your veins." To be honest, when watching Japanese anime, Kang De thought this kind of setting was lazy and boring, overemphasizing the historical process and ignoring the subjective initiative of the masses.

However, when he experienced it firsthand...

It smells amazing, fucking amazing.

And they even want more.

After all, firsthand experience and observation are two different things. Just like when reading a novel, you might hate the overpowered and brainless plot of Long Aotian is too strong, finding it unreasonable. But if you were to transmigrate yourself, of course the more overpowered and brainless the protagonist is, the better.

"Didn't that Phoenix King pass down any other ninjutsu? Or did she leave behind any divine artifacts or anything like that? Look, I am, after all, her reincarnation. Shouldn't you pass on her legacy to me as well?"

"--So what is ninjutsu? There's no such thing!"

Tagelise, of course, refused.

After making the agreement, Tagelise frequently met with Kang De in private these past two days, teaching him how to develop and use the Phoenix Vision. Although the elves didn't say anything, they were very concerned about Kang De's easy awakening of the Phoenix King's bloodline, and even secretly tried the activation procedures of other bloodline powers.

This result relieved him.

Kang De could not awaken the abilities he inherited from the bloodlines of other Phoenix King.

Otherwise, if he, a human, could awaken the power of the Phoenix King's bloodline as easily as eating and drinking, it would make Tagelise highly suspicious of elves, and he might actually believe in reincarnation...

It now seems that Kang De only possessed the bloodline of the Phoenix King, and it was for some mysterious reason unknown to Tagelise that he gained recognition and awakened his abilities.

This suggests that the other party has a close relationship with His Majesty the Phoenix King.

If that emperor were still alive, then I could...

At this thought, Tagelise felt a slight tremor in his heart, then subconsciously shook his head. Such a naive and foolish idea should theoretically never exist. He could only blame Kang De, that human being, for tempting him to become increasingly unrestrained these past few days, to the point where he no longer wanted to return to his former self...

He looked at the expectant Kang De and sighed, "Bloodline inheritance isn't that simple. Not all the power of the Phoenix King of past generations can be passed down. Otherwise, after so many years of accumulation, this generation of Phoenix King could single-handedly suppress the world... In fact, the conditions for this secret technique are extremely stringent, requiring immense effort to inscribe it into the bloodline and pass it down..."

"And that Phoenix King, whose reign was relatively short, though exceptionally talented and whom I admire and respect, was not spared by time... Yet even so, she still left behind invaluable treasures for the Dusk Moon Dynasty and the royal family Phoenix Vision, a legacy passed down through generations of Phoenix King, remains precious, no less valuable than the gifts of our ancestors. And what she left us is far more than that..."

Kang De listened intently, because he was probably 70-80% certain that the Phoenix King whom the other party admired and revered so much was most likely some wicked creature who had caused chaos on the Holy Seal Archipelago.

So I wasn't wrong.

Look, my status is that of a host. Even if they take advantage of me, I'm still an ancestor of these elves. It's good to be of a higher generation.

He smiled and pulled out a tube of gummy candies, handing it to him. "Here, have some candy."

Don't think you can bribe me with something like this.

Tagelise took it, unscrewed the cap, poured a dozen or so into his mouth, and began chewing them with a clattering sound, "You should feel honored! In Twilight Moon, if I agree to tutor someone's child, I guarantee that family will be mine forever from this day forward... Hmm, you simp!"

--This is also a consequence of deep communication with time travelers, namely, quickly learning some inappropriate words and very scary terms.

Kang De smiled and asked, "You just said that she left behind other wealth?"

Tagelise glared at him. "Can you stop being so vulgar? Her entire set of holy artifacts disappeared with her. The royal treasury doesn't have anything left for you to claim as your own. As for the rest, that's already the property of the elven royal family; you have no right to take it!"

Kang De chuckled and said, "But does marrying the Elf Queen qualify you for it?"

This time, Tagelise wasn't embarrassed at all. He rolled his eyes at him and said, "You're dreaming."

The two were currently lying in the garden of the Vidal Chamber of Commerce's backyard, gazing at the sky. The deck chairs, parasols, and iced cola made for a very pleasant scene. Tagelise swallowed the candy in his mouth and let out a long sigh, "We elves have the whole world at our disposal, with abundant produce and delicacies from all over the world for our use. I've eaten countless delicacies, so why does everything you bring out taste so good?"

Additives.

No matter how good or wonderful the food you eat is, it's all-natural. Just like how I'm used to junk food, I'd be amazed when I eat your exquisite cuisine. You're used to fine food, so of course it would taste delicious when you eat something made with modern technology and the hard work of hundreds of millions of people.

But you can't say that to the other person.

So Kang De simply smiled mysteriously and said, "It's a secret; you'd better not ask."

Tagelise rolled his eyes. "Kang De, you have more secrets than I do."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

Tagelise turned around, propped his head up with his hand, and lay on his side, looking at Kang De. A strand of hair brushed against his cheek and touched the corner of his mouth. His emerald green eyes reflected the mountains and looked over with shimmering light.

--As this guy becomes more and more unrestrained, he sometimes naturally reveals a beautiful posture, but with a face that leans towards femininity yet is still masculine... that's fatal.

Kang De couldn't stand it and quickly looked away.

Tagelise chuckled, finding Kang De's appearance quite amusing. He extended his finger, tracing Kang De's form in the air. "The elves have always maintained a considerable level of communication with Cathay... Although it took us a long time and various methods to make the Cathay court understand that we are a powerful nation in no way inferior to it in terms of culture, politics, territory, and land, they didn't treat us as tribute travelers..."

"Therefore, Kang De, we understand the Cathayan. We once regarded them as our greatest enemy, so we understand them better than anyone else. We spent two whole generations of elves trying to understand them."

That's really too long.

Kang De laughed and said, "And then?"

"And then?" Tagelise chuckled. "I don't think you're like Cathayan."

"Leaving aside the unheard-of methods of destroying armies and cities... your speech, your temperament, your ideas, your way of thinking—that is, the philosophical system you use to view the world and guide your words and actions—while having some similarities to the philosophical system of Cathay, also have many differences."

"And the weapons you used, as recorded in the war log; the alchemical war chariot that could transform into human form for combat; the various little things I've never seen before on your body; and all these endless delicacies."

He looked intently at Kang De: "I'm curious, you're not from Cathayan, so where are you from?"

Kang De smiled upon hearing this, then turned to look at the sky. "Not everyone with black hair, yellow skin, and who speaks the Zhendan Language is Cathayan, after all, the world is so big, right?"

--Don't panic, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm. He might not have figured it out. Who has such a wild imagination to think of this? Besides, even if he did, so what?

Kang De calmly adjusted his mindset.

And he recited the four-character mantra that our country has used to confidently face the world since the 1960s.

--I have a nuclear bomb! I have a nuclear bomb! I have a nuclear bomb! I have a nuclear bomb! I have a nuclear bomb!...

Tagelise looked at Kang De for a moment, shook his head and smiled, then changed the subject. "Didn't you ask earlier what valuable treasures His Majesty the Phoenix King left behind?"

He lay back down, gazing at the sky. "... It's some kind of will."

Those emerald green eyes transformed into raging flames, reflecting the sky within them in the color of fire.

"It was the will to protect this land, the will to protect the nation and the race, that is why she left behind the Phoenix Vision, that is why she always gazed at the sky during her life, because she said the sky was a vaster ocean, that the elves' voyage on this planet would one day come to an end, and then the sky would be a new journey."

She said the world is bigger and freer than we imagine, big enough to accommodate elves, humans, dwarves and orcs, even our sworn enemies. The starry sky is like a vast ocean, with tedious voyages, exciting discoveries, wealth, freedom, and new worlds.

"The route to this bright future is controlled by evil sea monsters. They treat this world like a small pond and us like fish. She said that the enemy of the elves, and indeed all races and nations in this world, should not be their neighbors, but the guardians of their prison. We have a common enemy and a common future."

"Therefore, she cultivated the Phoenix Vision to monitor, deter, and defend the heavens. She proposed the establishment and development of an air force, and many anti-aircraft magical technologies, tactical concepts, and military equipment developments were initiated during that era, and some were even personally involved in their design and promotion."

"Therefore, under her rule, our Civilization was open and prosperous. The elves of that era were not as powerful and domineering as they are now, but they had many good friends who fought side by side and had close relationships. Our achievements today are largely due to the foundation laid then. However, the immense power, wealth, and benefits have blinded many elves, causing them to see only the abundant food and bait before them, unaware that the lavish feast they enjoy today is nothing more than bait thrown out by some fellow outside the pond with a cold laugh."

Kang De listened intently, lost in thought.

In fact, he had already guessed which wicked creature on the island this Phoenix King was.

But the contrast is just too great.

Trapped on the island, their supernatural powers sealed, transformed into beast form, countless years have passed. Even the most dignified and powerful beings would have to let loose by now. Those with distorted character traits have become nothing more than thugs and bullies, harassing the island's inhabitants and committing all sorts of atrocities. Even Kang De, upon arriving on the island, was corrupted by them...

Therefore, it's impossible to imagine the majestic scene of that guy wearing royal robes and crowns, holding a sword and ruling the dynasty, let alone the image of the great and ambitious monarch that Tagelise admired and revered.

Hey, did you know your ancestral goddess has turned into a hooligan?

"She is my most revered and admired ancestor. I think, if I must do something, I will become an elf like her... not to find pleasure in expanding territory and accumulating wealth, but to see a farther and greater future, to fight for my country and my people... and even for this world."

"Therefore, Kang De..."

He turned and said, "So I believe you. I'll teach you the derivative applications of Phoenix Vision, I'll cooperate with you, I'll save your life... You must have some connection with that Phoenix King, perhaps even a close one. Although you're wary of me now and unwilling to tell me the truth, if my guess is correct, please don't let him down either. Don't betray the trust His Majesty placed in you and what he gave you."

Kang De blinked. "Why the sudden seriousness? But... okay."

For the sake of His Majesty the Phoenix King.

... But wait a minute, why did she enjoy killing elves so much on the island?

I'll go back next time I have time and ask in person.

Come to think of it, I kind of miss them.

Kang De looked at Tagelise and smiled slightly, "During the formal peace talks, I'll cut you short as a token of my gratitude for your honesty, goodwill, and help today."

Tagelise pursed his lips and said, "Then I have achieved my goal for today."

He stood up, shivering slightly. "Lunch break over! Let's continue practicing this afternoon! Let's solidify our ability to monitor celestial jumps, then learn a new application: observing and identifying energy structures..."

"I think we don't need to reinforce what we've learned; let's go straight to new material..."

"Huh? You're the teacher and I'm the teacher? What? You think you've mastered it all? Her Majesty the Phoenix King can monitor the skies of the entire continent. Any creature descending from the sky will be detected by her instantly. How far is your detection range?"

"It seems to be farther than yours..."

"... Smack!"

"Why are you hitting me! Corporal punishment is not allowed!"

"I'm going to hit you! Don't dodge! I'm trying to teach you, and you're picking and choosing!"

Not far away, A Xing leaned against the window, watching this side expressionlessly while eating sunflower seeds.

Duke of Tiling, who claimed to be the most powerful and learned spellcaster among the elves but had never taught any magical knowledge, relentlessly pounded on Kang De's head with anticipation, speed, and movements that Kang De could not dodge.

Until the disturbance came to an end.

Kang De was pinned to the ground by the elf, who kept flicking his forehead, making it impossible for him to get up. He angrily said, "Almost there! By the way, how come you're so skilled at this!"

The elf also picked up on this joke, laughing, "Of course, I've done it many times before."

Only when he was completely satisfied did the elf let Kang De go. He sat down on the other side, looking at the sky with a nostalgic and joyful smile on his face, "It's been so long since I've played like this... He's become so boring."

Kang De rolled over, glaring at the other man with a frustrated and angry expression.

The elf laughed again, "Yes, that's the expression, it's very funny."

The human and the elf, sitting and lying down, laughed together.

After a while, Kang De slowly stopped smiling, looked at Tagelise who was still laughing, and sighed softly, "I don't really want to be friends with you... at least not now."

The elf's smile faded slightly.

Kang De withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes. "Considering what you said today... so, don't lie to me, or I'll kill you."

"Yeah, I'm not kidding." Tagelise moved closer and held out his hand. "Let's pinky swear."

"Childish."

Kang De said this, and then stretched out his hand.

Meanwhile, to the north of Goth, Princess Tina placed a secretly delivered letter in her tent.

The Elf Expeditionary Force's series of tactical deceptions and troop movements, seemingly aimed at local defense and a possible attack by Kang De, were in reality a gathering of elite assault forces, heading straight for Goth's capital.

Those air force, anti-air magic defense, and mage units mobilized from the homeland were all prepared for someone who might participate in the war... By now, the elves' ambitions have gone beyond destroying Goth.

They wanted to resolve everything in the decisive battle.

This is a trap.

Tina's expression shifted as she looked to the side.

On the table lay another letter she had received some time earlier, a handwritten letter from Kang De. She read it many times every day. The letter didn't mention anything embarrassing and was rather formal, but the sincerity and goodwill contained in the words were just like when they first met.

She gently stroked the few sheets of paper, her face reflecting the emotions of a young girl.

Sometimes sweet, sometimes longing, sometimes worrying, sometimes in pain, sometimes hesitant.

Footsteps sounded outside the tent, and a moment later, the Sword Saint Cascading Snow entered. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

Tina said softly, "Auntie, I need to write a letter to Kang De and send him some things..."

"Write a letter?" The Sword Saint raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't it be better to just go directly?"

"No, no," Tina said, a blush creeping onto her face. "Although it's called an engagement, it's still quite embarrassing. It doesn't seem right to just go there directly. He wrote that the elves' terms require Teldrassil's involvement, so I want to ask my father's opinion first. Besides, that kind of thing... needs my father's approval. After all, something like this, which concerns lifelong happiness, needs the blessings of family."

"So..."

Goth's jewel revealed a bright smile, "I want to go home first."

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Time for bed... I fell asleep around 1 a. m. last night, but woke up at 7:30 a. m., probably because I slept all day yesterday... I'll see how things go tonight. Goodnight.