Redefining It

I'm a little tired.

Looking up at the sky, Kang De slowly uttered these words.

Hong San was taken aback.

Because he heard the desolation and even loneliness in Kang De's tone, a kind of bone-chilling weariness, and a hint of wanting to retreat from the world, which Hong San had not expected.

After all, in his eyes, His Highness was in the prime of his youth, and once he achieved success and became famous throughout the world, he should be in the prime of his life and make the most of his talents to realize his ambitions.

Even recently, they had been talking all night about their future careers and prospects.

At Valentan's time, Hong San's awakening not only completed his own nirvana, but also allowed Kang De to confirm and realize his own beliefs. They were like two streams, meeting in humble beginnings and flowing through turbulent and dangerous riverbeds. They had made a promise to give a second chance to those in this world who also longed for change but could not change, so that everyone could become a real person, rather than a numb cow or sheep.

But now...

He said softly, "Has Your Highness encountered any difficult problems lately?"

Kang De didn't answer, but slowly exhaled. "Hong San, if you only consider yourself, without any ideals, ambitions, or responsibilities, what do you want to do in the future?"

Hong San paused for a moment, but thought about it seriously before replying, "It seems there's nothing else to do besides following Your Highness."

Kang De glanced at him. "What are you doing following me? I don't support freeloaders."

"Oh, that's a bit of a headache. We can't exactly go back to serving people."

Hong San smiled and said, "Then we can only save up some money in advance and buy a piece of land, preferably near where His Highness stays, not too far and not too close. Not so far that it would be too far for you to walk a long way to visit His Highness, nor so close that you would get annoyed to see me wandering around every day."

"Besides that, I also farm. I possess martial arts skills and strength far exceeding that of ordinary people. My master has also taught me farming and astrology. By farming, I can not only support my family but also send some to His Highness every now and then. Being a happy farmer like this sounds like an interesting thing..."

As he spoke, his face grew increasingly pleased, as if he were also delighted and looking forward to this picture of a secluded life. But the next moment, Hong San finally realized that this was not the point.

The Cathayan whispered, "Your Highness... wishes to retire into seclusion?"

"Think?" Kang De repeated the word, then suddenly chuckled. "Hong San, 'Think,' the word 'think' is truly the most beautiful word in the world. 'Think...' What do I think?"

He looked down at the ants slowly crawling across the ground.

This tiny insect knew nothing. It didn't know that a great war might break out in this area, nor did it know that a long-planned conspiracy was hidden deep underground. It didn't know that the world was vast, that there was a country called Goth, nor did it know that many extremely powerful creatures, which it couldn't understand, lived, interacted, prospered, and thrived outside its world. Its world was very small.

It knows nothing about anything else.

It had no idea that a giant creature far away could stomp on it and end its life instantly—even as it was going about its business as usual until the moment of death, it was completely unaware.

Kang De said softly, "Sometimes I even wonder if it would have been better if none of this had happened."

Hong San didn't know how to answer, because he vaguely realized that this concerned a deeper secret that His Highness carried, something that he himself had not fully understood, something that His Highness alone bore.

Kang De looked at his palm, where it was said that the lines on the palm could reveal a person's destiny.

"The Goth People are grateful to me, and you are grateful to me too. Without me, Tina and the others would have been killed at sea by the elven navy or trapped on the island. Goth would have perished, many people would have died, and you would still be wallowing in the dust and sinking into depravity. No one could stop the elves; I changed all of this."

"I was once grateful and proud of this, for upholding justice, walking the right path, being admired by the world, receiving glory, and achieving fame and success—how delightful that was!"

"I also made a promise to my departed friend to protect his beleaguered homeland; I also promised to the brave warriors who died in battle that the pitiful common people would no longer be cattle to be slaughtered."

"But Hong San, a promise is just a word, just a moment, but fulfilling it takes a very, very long time."

"Ambition can be worn down by trivial matters, and perseverance can be disturbed by the present. I once spoke eloquently to Tina and the others, but now it seems that their concerns were more realistic. I am busy in this world, and the things that entangle me are becoming more and more numerous. Even the most beautiful ideals are troubled by greater doubts."

"What am I here for, and how long will I be here? At first, I just wanted to end a war, then I wanted to protect a country, and now I find that I even have a responsibility to the world. I have to make decisions for the future of hundreds of millions of people, and I have to prepare for a powerful enemy that is unimaginable to most people."

"Recent events have even made me feel that I am just a wound-up puppet, my future already predetermined. The sudden changes, setbacks, pain, sorrow, and hardships I have experienced in the past year or two are merely a path foreseen by some great, unseen force. Everyone has expectations of me, hoping I will be a protector, a savior, or Destroyer..."

Kang De gave a bitter smile and shook his head, saying, "But sometimes I also think about being an ordinary mortal, living my life step by step, finishing university, finding a mediocre job, marrying a wife with normal values, and living a peaceful life..."

His smile gradually became complicated.

"I used to feel grateful that despite all the suffering I'd endured, I now possessed the power to control my destiny. I used that power to save my father, instead of anxiously waiting for news on my phone. I was so thankful for that. But now, I've even realized..."

Kang De reached out and rubbed his face, his smile even becoming somewhat manic.

"I even discovered that my father's fate might have been part of some predetermined destiny, because following that initial cause and effect, I eventually obtained Tacitus, made contact with the Hive, met that guy, and heard that damned voice—"

Do you know how I felt after I figured this out?

"Hold!"

"I was thinking, damn it, how could this happen?"

"I'm wondering, what the hell will happen next? Who'll be next?"

"I'm thinking, why me? Is it meaningful? Is it meaningful? Is it meaningful?"

He took a deep breath and then exhaled, each word escaping through his teeth.

"Ever since the Battle of Danfeng Lucerne, I've felt a bit empty inside. On one hand, there's a huge void and confusion, and on the other hand, there's a constant stream of things to do. Everyone is asking me for help, everyone is urging me to do things. They don't even say anything, just their eyes make you feel like you're committing a crime if you don't do something. But I have my own things to do too. Who the hell am I supposed to ask for help?"

He was panting, laughing, and clenching his fists.

"What's even more outrageous is that I don't know who to blame."

"I don't know who to hate, I don't know who to vent my anger on. I want to beat people up, but my reason is stopping me. I want to take my anger out on others, but my morality is stopping me. They tell me that every wrong has its perpetrator, but I can't find my real enemy—can you understand? Hong San, do you understand?"

He looked at his best friend.

Even though Hong San was known for his eloquence, he was now speechless.

"You probably don't understand, don't even mention you, I don't understand either." Kang De laughed, then sighed. "I don't know what I'm saying, I don't know what I want, I know you want to comfort me, but you see, it's useless, useless. In this world, words are the most useless thing."

Hong San said in a low voice, "Your Highness..."

"I just want an answer," Kang De interrupted him. "Can you give me an answer?"

Under his gaze, Hong San looked away and sighed softly.

"You see, this is the most frustrating part, there's no solution, absolutely no solution," Kang De shook his head and sighed. "But fortunately, in this Mortal World, most people just drift along, going with the flow. The answer isn't important; even without an answer, you can still make do and get by..."

"Like I told you, the word 'thinking' is the most beautiful word in the world, and of course, it's also the most useless... because thinking only exists in dreams; reality will still be what it is."

"What else can we do? There's no turning back now."

That's fine then.

He shrugged, his expression both carefree and casual, his smile becoming bright and genuine.

"Thanks, Hong San, I feel much better now."

"Time to get things done."

At this moment, a great unease rose in Hong San's heart.

He exclaimed in disbelief, "Your Highness!"

The next moment, a flash of black light appeared, and Kang De's figure disappeared through the Phase Gate.

Hong San grabbed at empty air, stood there dumbfounded for a moment, and then broke out in a cold sweat.

He cried out in despair, "Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!"

A moment later, a beautiful figure rushed out. Stella, carrying a scattered mechanical sphere, ran over in a panic. Seeing that Kang De was nowhere to be seen, she exclaimed in surprise, "Where did he go?"

Hong San covered his face and sighed, "Of course it's Danfeng Lucerne."

The second princess reacted much slower than Hong San; she stammered, "Where are we going?"

"You were the one who told him that the news had been leaked, Goth was under attack from multiple sides, and the Grand Duke and Princess Tina were facing pressure from various countries in Danfeng Lucerne, trying to buy time for His Highness..."

Hong San asked with a worried look, "What else can I do?"

A profound sense of anguish and regret filled the minds of the Cathayan.

He should have discovered it much sooner.

--It turns out that after the successful defense of Danfeng Lucerne and the retreat of the elves, His Highness's calm mind was not entirely at peace, but was only temporarily comforted, nothing more.

The portal opened, Kang De returned to Maple Leaf Fort, where he was in Tina's bedroom.

The refreshing fragrance filled his nostrils, a familiar scent, but the beloved was not there. Kang De looked around, strode out of the room, and the maids passing by in the corridor were first surprised, then bowed.

Kang De asked, "Where is Tina?"

The head maid bowed and replied, "It seems... it seems they went to a meeting..."

"Thanks."

The cold, brief words lingered in his ears; the wind rustled, and Kang De strode away.

After a long while, the maids finally stood up, looking relieved.

I felt that His Highness Kang De was quite frightening today.

It was also very unfamiliar.

A heated debate is taking place in the informal audience hall of the Maple Leaf Palace.

"When the Arcane Council established its Life Department, its philosophy was to transcend politics and national boundaries, and to join forces with all nations and races to resist malice and calamities from beyond the world. We request that Goth, in accordance with the ancient covenant, share with the Arcane Council the details of the corrosive energy discovered by your country near Qilin Cape in the Azure Waves Province, and open the borders to allow the Council's investigation team to enter and conduct an assessment..."

"Your Excellency, the contributions of the Arcane Council have never been forgotten by the nations. Goth is grateful for the Council's achievements, dedication, and sacrifices. However, please allow me to point out that while the Arcane Council transcends politics and national boundaries, it is not an organization that is superior to all nations. In accordance with your spirit and principles, it should avoid becoming a political tool, refrain from acting for private gain, and respect the independent sovereignty of every Civilization nation..."

"Before questioning the Council, please consider whether Goth's behavior was appropriate. There is evidence that your country chose to keep it secret immediately after discovering the invasion of alien corrupting energy, rather than reporting it to the Council. Is there some ulterior motive hidden behind this? I must remind you, Princess Tina, history teaches us that every gift from beyond our borders has a price!"

"According to the relevant regulations of the Arcane Council, if a country is capable of resolving an alien invasion on its own, it does not need to notify the Council or request external assistance; it only needs to report the matter afterward. Goth's actions are all in accordance with the rules of the ancient contract. On the contrary, the Council rushed to Goth with information from an unknown source. The importance they attach to Goth is truly overwhelming. However, what I am more curious about is, during the previous War of Song Moon, when Goth was ravaged by the war and the whole world watched coldly, where was the humane and righteous Council at that time?"

"We are now discussing the issue of alien energy! The Arcane Council demands Goth's cooperation; otherwise, for the sake of world peace and tranquility, we reserve the right to take further measures!"

"Is this the Arcane Council transcends nationality and politics? No matter what country or organization it is, if they use the banner of justice to harm Goth or seek personal gain, we will respond forcefully!"

"Your Highness, is Princess Tina's meaning the same as yours? Please think carefully. This incident is taken very seriously by all the nations. No matter how powerful the Forbidden Spell mage is, he is still just one person..."

"--What's wrong with me?"

A calm voice rang out from outside the audience hall, and the doors were flung open with a bang.

The people in the audience hall turned around in surprise, only to see a man with black hair and yellow skin stride in, his eyes looking down at them.

Tina's face lit up with joy at first, but her expression changed slightly after she saw Kang De's appearance clearly.

In the audience hall, the Grand Duke sat high, with Hilmeria standing beside him. Tina stood on the other side, arguing fiercely with two mages with deep-set eyes, high noses, and fair skin. Kang De glanced over and, in a moment, the expressions of the two spellcasters changed rapidly.

The ease of having victory in their grasp was replaced by astonishment. Faced with the condescending arrogance of the Goth People, they awkwardly withdrew their composure. As envoys of the Arcane Council, they could disdain the princess of a small country with exhausted troops and a broken land, but they had to bow down to an unparalleled powerhouse who intimidated the world with Forbidden Spell.

Because they are also monks.

The two messengers Council homage to the forerunners and great masters with the ancient rituals of the council.

Greetings, Sword of Deterrence, Dragon of Cathay, Great...

"--From the Council?"

Kang De has come before them.

--As expected of Cathayan, isn't there anyone to teach him the etiquette of a spellcaster?

One of the Council's envoys grumbled inwardly, but that was all; his face showed no displeasure. Instead, he smiled politely, his attitude completely different from before.

"The Council currently evaluating and reviewing Your Excellency's achievements and rank. I believe it won't be long before you receive three badges and a formal title of honor, Kang De Highness. We have come here today to..."

Kang De replied indifferently, "Who told you that?"

The envoy was momentarily speechless, then laughed and said, "The Council its own friends, but the problem now is..."

"I'm asking you, who told you what your friend's name is?"

"Your Highness, compared to this, I think the safety of the world and Goth's future are more important..."

"It's me now! The fucking! Questioner! Who! The fucking! Tell you this!"

Kang De swore, but he didn't look like he was cursing at all.

The envoy paused for two seconds, then smiled and said, "That's not important."

"This is important."

"Since things have come to this, Your Highness, please refrain from asking any further questions."

"Now that things have come to this, I want to know even more."

"Even if I knew that person's name, it wouldn't make any difference."

"It makes sense. I can kill him, chop him into a thousand pieces, burn him to ashes, and stuff him into your mouth."

You can't do it.

"Will you tell me or not?"

"Please excuse my refusal; furthermore, I do not have the authority to grant permission for this."

"Then get out," Kang De said, pointing to the door. "Go back and tell your people that the premise of any dialogue with Goth about this matter is based on this: give me the name, and we can talk; give me the person, and maybe you'll get a taste of the good life; otherwise, you won't even get a sip of shit."

The envoy had not expected things to turn out this way. One moment he was engaging in diplomatic maneuvering with Princess Goth, and the next he was cornered against the wall by Kang De, who had stepped on his face.

Even though the other party was a Forbidden Spell spellcaster, he still felt indignant.

"Your Highness Kang De, the chairmen of the Arcane Council will not be pleased with such a reply."

His tone contained a subtle threat and implication.

Kang De said calmly, "Then I'll go to your headquarters and make them happy?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present changed color.

The Council's envoy said coldly, "Excuse me for asking, but is this a threat?"

"If you're not intelligent enough to understand what I'm saying, then I can say it again—tell me who the whistleblower is, and I might consider talking to you. If you try to use force, then I'll use Forbidden Spell to scatter you and your mother's ashes into outer space. Now do you understand?"

The other party was so angry that they laughed instead.

"Good, good, good." The mage nodded repeatedly. "Your Kang De, it seems the power of the Forbidden Spell has blinded you. Do you know what you're doing? Do you know what the Arcane Council means? To single-handedly humiliate and desecrate the Council's dignity—do you know how ridiculous your actions are? It's like..."

"Joker?"

Kang De turned his neck and revealed a bright, enthusiastic smile.

Want to see me redefine the Joker?

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PS1: Update... Time for bed.