Release

It took less than a moment for the news of Reke returning to the Budaso Adventure Team building with injuries to reach every member of the team.

The reason it spread so quickly was that the entire team was in the middle of intensive training, with everyone following Four-Eyes to comprehend Qi.

It just so happened that one member had returned from running an errand and caught sight of Reke's wounds.

Once he rushed into the training room and broke the news, the place erupted into chaos; those who didn't know the extent of Reke's strength assumed someone was actively antagonizing their team.

They began clamoring to seek revenge, with one saying the team had never suffered such a loss, and another insisting that if they didn't teach the culprit a lesson, any stray cat or dog would think they could climb on their heads and defecate.

However, the few who were aware of Reke's true strength were stunned, completely ignoring the shouting of the other members.

They simply couldn't imagine how someone of Reke's caliber could be injured, or who could possibly be capable of harming him.

As the Leader, Four-Eyes was the first to lose his composure.

He stood up and paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan, wanting to go to Lola's room to ask Reke for the truth, yet he didn't dare.

The others surrounded the Leader, all looking at him with anxious and desperate eyes.

It was precisely because they knew Reke's strength that they understood the terror of the situation.

To Reke, they were barely any stronger than ants.

If the person who hurt him came looking for them, they would inevitably be caught in the crossfire and wiped out in an instant.

"Fifth, come here."

Feeling the weight of their gazes, Four-Eyes felt the pressure threatening to crush him. Seeing Fifth sitting in the corner, his eyes lit up and he shouted.

Fifth's expression was strangely calm, lacking both the anxiety of the Leader and the indignation and rage of the others.

"Leader, what do you need me to do?"

Fifth walked into the center of the group and asked.

Four-Eyes first pointed at Fifth's ears, then pointed toward the floor above.

Fifth understood the Leader's intent; he wanted him to listen for any movement in Lola's room.

Though Fifth understood, he shook his head and rejected the Leader's suggestion—this was the first time he had ever refused him.

Four-Eyes widened his eyes, looking at Fifth in disbelief, and asked, "Why?"

"Leader, you don't understand."

Fifth shook his head again, not intending to explain.

Seeing the Leader looking at him with an expression bordering on pleading, Fifth felt uneasy and let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh! Leader, come over to the side with me; I'll tell you alone." Fifth hadn't wanted to share his suspicions with anyone else, but he truly couldn't withstand the Leader's gaze.

The two walked out of the training room alone, and Fifth took a deep breath, as if trying to bolster his own courage.

Seeing Fifth's actions, Four-Eyes waited quietly; he truly didn't know how Fifth had become like this—it felt as if he were a different person entirely.

Fifth spoke: "Leader, I suspect that the roaring sound we heard that night was made by Reke."

"Boom!"

It was like a thunderclap exploding in his ears; Four-Eyes' mind was in turmoil. He couldn't fathom why Fifth would link Reke to that roar.

He had heard Reke himself describe the terror of the creature that made that sound, and he had always assumed they were two different entities. Now, Fifth had given him another answer—one he was unwilling to believe.

How could he accept this fact? Struggling as if in his final moments, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Why would you have that thought? The two shouldn't have anything in common, right? That roar was clearly the cry of a beast; it didn't sound like anything a human could produce."

"I don't know, I can't explain it clearly, but from the first moment I saw him, I had this feeling."

"To be honest, I don't want to see him. He gives me such a terrifying feeling that I try to avoid anything involving him, which is why I just refused you."

"Fifth, I really can't imagine your feeling. I can tell you that Reke previously tested himself with an energy reactor."

"At the time, the instrument had its limit removed, and when it reached 50,000, the device exploded."

"Furthermore, when he let us feel his aura, we couldn't even withstand one-tenth of it before we all passed out."

Four-Eyes poured out his inner thoughts, feeling much lighter afterward.

After the two confided in each other, the pressure on both of them eased significantly.

Four-Eyes' complexion looked much better, and having come to terms with it, he began to comfort Fifth in turn.

"Fifth, don't overthink it. Based on my interactions with him during this time, he is actually a very reasonable person."

"Look at the things he's taught us; they clearly aren't simple. My cultivation has felt more profound lately, and yesterday I did an energy reaction test—it increased by 200 compared to before."

"Can you believe it? In just a few short months, I've grown faster than I did in the previous few years. And I have a premonition that as my cultivation deepens, I will be able to reach heights I never dared to imagine before."

The more Four-Eyes spoke, the more excited he became, having cast aside his previous negative emotions.

Hearing this, a smile gradually appeared on Fifth's face.

Reke, for his part, had no idea that his injury had caused such an uproar within the adventure team.

Of course, even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.

He was currently pouring all his energy into battling his food, clearing a plate of meat in an instant.

As soon as the food entered his stomach, it was immediately digested, and he could feel waves of warmth spreading throughout his body, as if his injuries were already showing signs of healing.

Of course, to say he felt wrong wouldn't be entirely accurate.

The food he digested did indeed provide his body with a massive amount of energy, accelerating the division rate of his cells and genuinely alleviating his injuries.

Lola was on the verge of a breakdown; no sooner had she placed a dish on the table than it vanished into Reke's stomach, and he would immediately start pestering her for more.

An hour later, Lola didn't care whether Reke was full or not; she sat on the sofa, refusing to get up, too exhausted to move a muscle.

Seeing Lola's state, Reke didn't call for food again.

He rubbed his stomach and reached out to ask Lola for money.

"Lola, your stamina is lacking. I'm only half-full and you've already collapsed. Give me some money; I'll go out and eat on my own."

Upon hearing this, Lola thought to herself, I've worked myself to the bone, and not only did I get no thanks, I'm being mocked. She nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

She rolled her eyes at Reke, forced herself to stand, and fetched him a set of clothes and some cash. Pointing at his tattered combat suit, she said, "Go take a shower and change your clothes before you go."

Looking at Lola, Reke felt a warmth in his heart. Sensing her concern for him, he reached out to take the clothes and money, then walked into the bathroom.

When Reke finished his shower and came out, he saw Lola fast asleep on the sofa.

She was even muttering, "Coming, coming!"—the same response she gave when Reke urged her to serve the food. Her adorable appearance amused Reke.

"Heh!" Reke chuckled aloud. He paused, then sighed softly as if something had crossed his mind.

"Sigh! In the end, I have to leave."

He shook his head, put a smile back on his face, and walked out.