The atmosphere in the dining room was warm and peaceful.
His mother, Gong Xinlan, had filled the table with dishes, all of them Luo Feng's favorites.
They were simple home-cooked dishes, but they were full of the taste of home.
Luo Feng had not had a drop of water all night, and he had also undergone a transformation that had remade him from the inside out and expended a great deal of energy.
Now that he had relaxed, his stomach felt empty, and his appetite was stronger than ever.
He was no longer weighed down with worries and lacking an appetite as he had been for the past few months.
Instead, he truly let himself go, eating great mouthfuls of food and savoring every bite.
"Slow down. Don't choke."
Gong Xinlan watched her son wolf down his food.
Both distressed and delighted, she kept putting more food on his plate.
His father, Luo Hongguo, did not say much, but the lines around his eyes and brows had eased considerably.
After eating and drinking his fill, Luo Feng helped his mother clear the dishes and chopsticks.
He also chatted with his father for a while, talking about everyday family matters and amusing stories from the dojo.
Seeing the renewed radiance on his parents' faces, Luo Feng felt the last trace of gloom in his heart completely dissipate.
"Dad, Mom, I have to go to the dojo this afternoon. There's some paperwork I need to take care of."
Luo Feng checked the time and stood up.
"Go on, go on. Important business comes first."
Luo Hongguo hurriedly waved him on.
"Don't worry about things at home."
"Will you be back for dinner?"
Gong Xinlan asked with concern.
"I will, Mom."
Luo Feng answered with a smile, then ruffled Luo Hua's hair beside him.
"A Hua, keep studying your stocks, but don't wear yourself out. Don't worry about me."
"Yeah! Don't worry about me, Bro!"
Luo Hua nodded vigorously, his eyes full of trust.
After saying goodbye to his family, Luo Feng walked out of the villa and took a deep breath of the fresh air in the residential area.
The sun was just right, and the breeze was gentle.
He set off toward the landmark Dojo of Limits building at the center of the Mingyue Residential Area.
Along the way, he inevitably ran into some Fighters and their family members who also lived in the residential area.
Quite a few people recognized Luo Feng. Their gazes lingered on him, and hushed discussions soon followed.
Some of those gazes held sympathy, some regret, and others curiosity.
There was also a trace of barely perceptible relief.
Relief that such misfortune had not befallen them.
Though their voices were quiet, Luo Feng's hearing was sharp enough now to catch a few snatches of their conversations.
Three months ago, hearing those discussions might have left him stung and embarrassed.
But now, Luo Feng's heart was perfectly calm. He even felt like laughing.
He looked straight ahead and walked with steady steps, seemingly oblivious to the gazes and discussions.
How could sparrows know the aspirations of a swan?
His sights had long since reached beyond this little Warrior Residential Area, beyond even Earth.
The vastness of the universe and the existence of his teacher, Lin Mo, had given him a breadth of vision and a state of mind far beyond those of his peers.
Those inconsequential discussions were like a gentle breeze brushing over a hill.
They did not stir the slightest ripple in his heart.
Before long, the magnificent gates of the Dojo of Limits appeared before him.
Luo Feng walked straight inside and made his way to the front desk with practiced ease.
"Hello, I'd like to contact Supervisor Zhuge Tao. I have something important to report."
Luo Feng spoke to the receptionist in a calm voice.
The receptionist recognized Luo Feng, and a trace of surprise and sympathy flashed in her eyes.
Professionalism quickly brought her back to her usual demeanor:
"Certainly, Mr. Luo Feng. Please wait a moment. I'll contact Supervisor Zhuge for you right away."
The call connected quickly, and Luo Feng took the communicator.
"Hello, Supervisor Zhuge. This is Luo Feng."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the communicator, followed by Zhuge Tao's steady voice, tinged with surprise:
"Luo Feng? You... what is it?"
His tone was gentle, with even a barely perceptible trace of regret.
As the supervisor who had personally signed Luo Feng back then,
he also deeply regretted what had happened to the young man.
"Supervisor, my strength has recovered."
Luo Feng did not beat around the bush. His voice was clear and certain.
"What?"
On the other end of the communicator, Zhuge Tao's voice faltered noticeably, as though he suspected he had misheard.
"Luo Feng, say that again? Did you just say you've recovered?"
"Yes, Supervisor Zhuge. My strength as a Fighter has recovered, and I've made some progress as well."
"I'd like to take an official test at the dojo to reconfirm my Fighter rank and benefits."
Luo Feng's tone was even, but it carried an unquestionable confidence.
A longer silence fell over the other end of the call. Only slightly heavy breathing could be heard.
Several seconds passed before Zhuge Tao's voice rang out again.
This time, it was full of astonishment and a trace of restrained excitement:
"Luo Feng, are you sure? This is no joke! Where are you now?"
"I'm in the lobby of the dojo in the Mingyue Residential Area."
"Good! Wait there. I'll come over right away! I'll personally arrange your test!"
"All right."
Luo Feng agreed.
After ending the call, Luo Feng could imagine Zhuge Tao's shock on the other end.
He did not wait idly in the lobby.
Instead, he asked the staff for a private training room and did a simple warm-up.
At the same time, he adjusted to and familiarized himself with his greatly increased strength and control.
About two hours later, the training room door was pushed open.
Zhuge Tao strode in.
Four young men and women in white suits followed behind him.
They were evidently staff members or inspectors from within the dojo.
At that moment, Zhuge Tao's face showed an eagerness and scrutiny he could barely conceal.
As soon as he entered, his gaze locked like a hawk's onto Luo Feng, who was loosening up his arms and legs.
The Luo Feng before him stood tall, his breathing steady and deep, his eyes bright and sharp.
He was like a sharp sword tucked inside its scabbard. Though it had not been drawn, a hint of its edge was already visible.
"Luo Feng!"
Zhuge Tao stepped forward with a professional smile, though the scrutiny in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
"I hear you've recovered? That's truly unexpected good news."
"Supervisor Zhuge."
Luo Feng stopped what he was doing and nodded slightly in greeting.
"Let's dispense with the pleasantries."
Zhuge Tao waved a hand and got straight to the point, his tone turning serious.
"Luo Feng, you should understand that your case could be considered the first of its kind."
"It must undergo the strictest and fairest testing and documentation."
"These are colleagues from headquarters' inspection department. They'll supervise and document the entire testing process."
"To ensure the results are genuine and valid. Is that a problem?"
"No problem."
Luo Feng answered frankly. He had expected this all along.
"Good!"
Zhuge Tao nodded, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.
"Then let's go straight to the second-floor training hall. It has the most complete equipment."
And so, the group came to the spacious training hall on the second floor.
It was normally where advanced trainees and Fighters trained and sparred, but it had now been cleared out.
The Punch Strength Tester, Speed Tester, Neural Reaction Tester, and other equipment had already been switched on, emitting a low hum.
Several high-definition cameras were aimed at the testing area from different angles, ensuring there were no blind spots in the recording.
The four men and women in white suits immediately got to work. Some held professional handheld computers, ready to record the data.
Others personally stepped forward to carefully check the precision and calibration of every testing instrument.
Their movements were practiced and meticulous.