"The senior I respected most, the captain of my Warband who guided my growth, was decorated with countless honors and deeply loved by his men. But he grew too obsessed with the honor brought by battle, the adoration of his comrades, the glory of combat... Finally, after one brutal battle, he accepted Khorne’s ’blessing’."
"Evil Gods are more terrifying than any Alien Race."
"You must be vigilant."
Though just a short passage, the words sent a tremor through Qin Feng’s heart.
’A fallen Believer of Khorne!’
His mind involuntarily flashed back to the perilous scene from decades ago on the Purgatory-IV Planet. The fallen veteran, Kro, had preyed on his spirit, and he had nearly been bewitched by the Terror Torture Evil God.
If the [Nail of Favor] hadn’t pulled him back at the last moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
That Master Wu Shangfeng would share such a painful, almost classified, personal story to guide him... This level of care was truly significant.
Qin Feng’s expression became incredibly solemn. He pondered for a long time before slowly replying.
[Qin Feng]: I will take my master’s teachings to heart. Power is the boat, and Will is the rudder. I shall never forget.
Finally, there was a message from Master Gu Yue.
This was the revered teacher who had given him the most guidance back at Qiming First High School, the one who had, in a sense, led him onto the true path of the Martial Dao. His message was much simpler, just a single sentence.
[Master Gu Yue]: Qin Feng, how is your cultivation progressing? Do not grow complacent.
The simplest of words, yet they held the deepest of expectations.
Qin Feng replied with equal solemnity.
[Qin Feng]: Master Gu Yue, I am happy to report that I have not failed you. I have finished opening my apertures.
After replying to all three of his revered teachers, Qin Feng continued scrolling down.
The remaining messages were a mixed bag.
One of them, in particular, held his gaze for a long time.
The sender was Hou Yuwei, the mysterious girl he had met once at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and later briefly crossed paths with again at Qi Yi High School.
Her message had been sent decades ago. Its content was rather baffling, tinged with a strong sense of loneliness.
Qin Feng didn’t know how to reply, so he decided not to reply at all.
’Loneliness is a pain that the strong must endure.’
’You can only rely on yourself to bear it, to slowly transform the torment of enduring loneliness into the enjoyment of solitude.’
Besides that, there were also messages from some former classmates from Qi Yi High School, like Zou Yun and Qin Lan, who had sent invitations to team up for missions.
But he had been in seclusion back then, so of course, he hadn’t seen them.
To these, Qin Feng simply replied, "Just got out of seclusion. Let’s catch up when we get the chance."
After finishing all that, he turned his attention back to the group chat with Lei Meng and the others and sent his own message.
[Qin Feng]: @everyone, I’m out of seclusion.
The instant he sent the message, the group chat, which had been silent for months, exploded with activity.
[Lei Meng]: Holy shit! Old Qin! You finally decided to come out! I thought you were planning to stay in seclusion until the end of time!
[Xiong Yanfu]: Qin Beast! You finally showed up! Quick, quick, Taotie Residence, the usual spot! I’ll book a table right now! We’re not going home until we’re drunk tonight!
[Tie Mu]: Welcome back.
[Shi Potian]: Come quickly.
The four replies were, as always, brimming with their distinct personalities.
A smile spread across Qin Feng’s face as he watched the messages continuously pop up on the screen.
[Qin Feng]: Alright. Taotie Residence. I’m on my way.
He stood up and stretched, his bones letting out a series of crisp cracks.
Seventeen years of sitting still had made his body feel a bit "rusty."
He took a quick shower, changed into a clean set of casual clothes, and strode out of his dorm.
The familiar hover-shuttles, the familiar scenery.
When Qin Feng arrived once again at the "Food God District," the residential area of Canaan Star Martial Arts University, he found it even more prosperous and lively than it had been decades ago. All sorts of restaurants and taverns with exotic, star-inspired decor lined the streets, and students bustled among them, full of life.
He navigated the familiar paths to a restaurant named "Taotie Residence," which was decorated in a quaint, traditional style.
Just as he stepped through the door, a booming voice echoed from a private room on the second floor.
"Old Qin! Over here!"
Qin Feng looked up and saw Lei Meng’s signature large, bald head poking out from over the railing, waving at him excitedly.
Qin Feng smiled and started up the stairs.
He pushed open the door to the private room. Lei Meng, Tie Mu, Shi Potian, and Shi Dang were already seated around a massive round table.
The table was already laden with all kinds of delicacies, most of them prime cuts from powerful Exotic Beasts, overflowing with Spiritual Qi.
Having not seen each other for forty years, they had all changed quite a bit.
Lei Meng’s frame had become even more burly, his bronze skin covered in a web of fine scars. He emanated the fierce aura of a battle-hardened veteran.
Tie Mu, on the other hand, was even more composed. He sat there quietly, like a silent Iron Mountain, his aura withdrawn to the absolute extreme. If not for the sharp glint that occasionally flashed in his eyes, one might almost overlook his presence.
But the one who had changed the most was Shi Potian.
He was still as handsome as ever, but his disposition had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
He no longer had that sharp, unconcealed edge of his youth; instead, he possessed the air of a Grandmaster who had returned to a state of simplicity. As he sat there, he seemed to merge with his surroundings, natural and harmonious.
As for Shi Dang, his edge was still as sharp as ever, radiating a fierce aura. His strength had improved at an astonishing rate.
"Old Qin!"
"Qin Feng!"
Seeing Qin Feng enter, both Lei Meng and Tie Mu stood up, their faces beaming with the joy of reunion.