The heavy-armored beast had stirred up the river, and having feasted to satisfaction, it swam back to its cave by the riverbank. There, it settled down to rest and digest.
Withdrawing his consciousness, Chen Chu glanced at the time. It was past five o'clock in the afternoon, and the orange-red sunset cast long, dappled shadows on the ground.
"It's getting late," Chen Chu remarked with a sigh.
Since releasing the heavy-armored beast, he felt as though time had flown by in a blur, as he had been deeply engrossed in managing his dual responsibilities. It seemed there was scarcely time for anything else.
At that moment, Luo Fei, seated across from him, closed her book, checked the time, and asked softly, "It's almost time. Shall we head back together?"
"Sure," Chen Chu agreed with a nod.
The two of them returned their books to their respective shelves, as they typically did, and then took the elevator out of the school building.
Walking on the school's tree-lined sidewalk, the setting sun filtered through the branches, casting dappled spots of light.
As they strolled side by side, Luo Fei suddenly asked, "After sweeping through all those 'genius' cultivators today, how do you feel?"
Chen Chu pondered for a moment and replied, "It feels like those people are actually quite formidable."
Luo Fei tilted her head and inquired, "Why do you say that?"
Chen Chu explained, "Didn't you notice that, despite being overwhelmed by my sheer power during our battles, they still managed to keep their composure?"
"Even though they were caught off guard by my sudden burst of strength, their instincts kicked in, and they didn't lose their cool when they were defeated."
"This suggests that they possess strong willpower and resilience. With more combat experience under their belts, their potential shouldn't be underestimated once they improve."
"Until you mentioned it, I hadn't really noticed," Luo Fei admitted, somewhat taken aback.
Upon reflection, she found that Chen Chu's assessment of the day's events seemed accurate. Despite being confronted with Chen Chu's overpowering might, those individuals had remained surprisingly level-headed.
In that moment, she also admired Chen Chu's keen observation.
Chatting along the way, the two exited the school grounds and walked down the road... Boom!
Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder rang out. Despite the still-visible sun in the sky and the absence of heavy dark clouds, bean-sized raindrops began to fall densely from above.
The unexpected thunderstorm took everyone by surprise. People flooded the streets, desperately seeking shelter from the rain, and it was nearly impossible to find a taxi.
Moreover, a strong wind accompanied the rain, making it difficult for people to keep their eyes open.
Chen Chu and Luo Fei, situated on the main road with no shelter in sight, were soon soaked. The nearest refuge from the rain was dozens of meters away.
"We can take shelter from the rain over there," Chen Chu said, hastily leading Luo Fei to a nearby spot.
Within a small roadside park stood a pavilion, originally intended for shade during the summer.
By the time they reached the pavilion, their clothes were thoroughly drenched. Chen Chu didn't seem to mind, simply wiping his face and shaking the water from his head.
However, Luo Fei appeared somewhat flustered. Her long, wet hair hung down behind her, entangling with the white butterfly ribbon, revealing her clean, beautiful face.
Her white long-sleeved shirt, now wet, clung tightly to her body. While this might have been acceptable under different circumstances, the fabric became slightly transparent when wet.
Vaguely, Chen Chu caught a glimpse of her outline and silhouette.
Additionally, her pants clung to her figure due to the wetness, showcasing her well-proportioned and slender legs, radiating an inexplicable allure.
"Look!" Luo Fei blushed and turned slightly away from Chen Chu, avoiding his direct gaze.
Chen Chu withdrew his appreciative gaze and chuckled, "Can't blame me, can you? You're beautiful, and you have a great figure."
His face didn't betray any of the embarrassment that a teenager might typically exhibit, and his candid demeanor seemed to put Luo Fei at ease, lessening her embarrassment and nervousness.
Chen Chu casually remarked, "I wonder how long this rain will last."
Luo Fei seemed a bit preoccupied as she raised her head and considered, "This type of thunderstorm usually subsides quickly. It might stop in half an hour."
Summer thunderstorms could come suddenly. One moment the sky would be clear, and in the blink of an eye, dark clouds would gather.
Even if the sun was shining brightly, heavy rain could catch people unawares.
As expected, it was much like Luo Fei predicted. The heavy rain began to taper off after about fifteen minutes, and then it transitioned into a light drizzle. The whole ordeal lasted less than half an hour.
As the strong wind died down and the rain ceased, small puddles formed all over the street, and leaves littered the ground. In the lingering twilight of the setting sun, there was a melancholic beauty in the aftermath of the storm.
Observing the sun that had yet to set, Chen Chu shook his head and remarked, "What unpredictable weather."
As he spoke, he began unbuttoning his wet clothes, causing Luo Fei to step back a few paces, alarmed. She asked cautiously, "What are you doing, Chen Chu?"
Chen Chu replied in exasperation, "What do you think? Do you believe you can walk back in this condition?"
He then casually glanced past her, and despite her efforts to cover up, her soaked clothes had left visible impressions. Not only were the outlines well-defined, but the shape was also rather attractive.
Luo Fei blushed profusely, hurriedly shielding herself with her hands.
At this point, Chen Chu had removed his shirt, revealing his well-toned upper body with clearly defined eight-pack abs, exuding an air of masculinity.
For individuals who practiced true martial arts, a little rain wouldn't hurt, and they wouldn't catch a cold.
"Don't look, just take it and put it on to cover up," Chen Chu said this time.
Luo Fei, feeling a bit embarrassed, averted her gaze and borrowed Chen Chu's clothes to wear over her own.
On their way back, pedestrians couldn't help but cast curious glances at Chen Chu, who walked shirtless, showcasing his well-defined physique. Especially the younger women would blush, while the married ones would continue to steal longing glances.
Upon reaching the intersection where their paths diverged, Luo Fei spoke with slight embarrassment, "I'll wash the clothes tomorrow and bring them to you."
"Okay," Chen Chu agreed with a nod.
Back at home, Chen Hu couldn't help but ask about Chen Chu not wearing a shirt, but Chen Chu brushed it off casually.
After dinner, Chen Chu diligently practiced both Dragon Elephant Kung Fu and Mind Eye Sword before taking a refreshing bath. Lying on his bed afterward, he let his consciousness sink and entered the mind of the Heavy Armored Beast.
It was already eleven o'clock at night, and he intended to have a substantial meal before resting.
Just as Chen Chu, through his mental connection, took control of the Heavy Armored Beast and had it emerge from its cave into the river, he suddenly heard distant vibrations and explosions.
The water surface trembled.
The abrupt change caused the Heavy Armored Beast to pause and cautiously extend its head above the water's surface.
Over a hundred meters away, on the bank of the river, more than a dozen figures engaged in a high-speed pursuit, their movements nearly imperceptible to the naked eye. They covered the ground rapidly, closing a distance of more than a hundred meters in the blink of an eye.
Several armored vehicles followed closely behind, their high-powered searchlights casting a blinding brightness over the area.
At that moment, one of the pursuers leaped high into the air, resembling a soaring hawk, and unleashed a powerful palm strike.
Boom!
In an instant, the air exploded, the violent force resembling a gale, tearing through the turf within a radius of over ten meters. The strength behind this strike was truly terrifying.
Facing this attack, the two individuals in front were left with no choice but to turn and defend themselves. They each emitted a crimson glow, manifesting two transparent blood-red pythons as thick as barrels in front of them.
Boom!
Under the impact of the palm strike, the two blood python phantoms exploded, releasing a red shockwave that swept across a range of over ten meters. The ground quaked, and debris was sent flying.
Simultaneously, as a result of this defense, the figures behind them moved with lightning speed, encircling the two individuals from all sides.