Travel is an enjoyable pursuit, and even unpleasant experiences were blocked by Hodal. He dealt with the troubles along the way, allowing them to enjoy a delightful journey.
Time does not stand still for any reason, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
The golden wheat fields had been harvested, the temperature was rising, seasonal vegetables began gracing the table, and migratory birds had long since returned, their presence visible everywhere.
The exhaustion from the trip had been rested off days ago, and their lives seemed to have returned to normal.
Their household had grown with a few new members: two Mastiffs and two white eagles. Through Zhao Lun's careful nurturing, these creatures had undergone significant changes and were no longer the same as before.
Avi and Grey Shadow had surpassed the size of a typical Labrador and continued to grow. In comparison, their bodies were more elongated and agile, resembling cheetahs, appearing well-suited for running. Their claws were sharp, retractable, and it seemed they could even climb trees. Their destructive power was formidable.
Many people, upon encountering them, mistook them for leopards, believing them to be a rare breed of leopard, only to realize it was a misunderstanding involving two dogs.
After returning, Monica and her group of beautiful women no longer focused on their fitness routines but instead followed Zhao Lun and Maria in martial arts training, aiming to sculpt their figures. Occasionally, they joined Hodal in hitting punching bags, and their days were lived with ease.
Aside from continuing his usual routine, Zhao Lun had added a new course: studying medical texts, delving into ancient Chinese medicine classics. These works were recorded in classical Chinese, difficult to comprehend. With no teacher or translator, he struggled, but he decided to push through, memorizing and absorbing what he could each day.
Initially, he struggled with frustration, but now he had settled into the rhythm, maintaining a calm demeanor while memorizing.
He had fully recovered from his previous malnutrition, and after a year, he had grown taller. Maria, too, had grown. The most significant change was Maria's newfound confidence. Her smile was more frequent, no longer the helpless girl she once was. She had learned to sing, dance, and whenever she felt inspired, she played a tune to showcase her talent and earn the praise of others.
During their free time, they fished by the sea or cast nets to catch fish. With Hodal's assistance, they harvested an abundance of seafood and enjoyed fresh catches every day.
As they regained their footing, they began shifting into work mode.
Considering future security, Monica suggested that Zhao Lun acquire the surrounding land and develop it into a future estate. If the neighboring villagers harbored no hostility, they would be allowed to work there; if there was hostility, they would pay them off and ask them to leave.
The wise had already left in advance, and now those who hesitated were beginning to realize it was time to settle accounts. After all, their courtyard had been attacked and looted without compensation, and the thief's identity remained unknown.
There were also some opportunists who, seeing Zhao Lun's rise, quickly scrambled to align with them and zealously aided in identifying the culprits.
Having decided to establish their presence, Monica and the others were eager to secure control of the area, seeking to create a stable foundation and avoid any disharmony.
The saying "A tall tree attracts the wind" was proving true, as some were already eyeing their business with envy. Recently, they had started targeting them with covert actions.
A group of troublemakers often came to their shop, causing disruptions. They had received threats both overtly and covertly, including a robbery attempt in the store.
Hodal proved to be quite effective; he had his men capture the troublemakers on the spot and neutralize the robbers, minimizing the losses in the store.
Although these incidents hadn't caused significant damage, they served as a wake-up call for Zhao Lun. He instructed Hodal to pay attention to this matter, and after a few days of monitoring, all seemed normal. However, Zhao Lun, sensing something was off, had Hodal personally oversee the situation.
The divine realm had once again expanded. When Zhao Lun practiced his martial arts previously, he had fully integrated some unknown mystical elements into his body, providing the divine realm with the nutrients needed for growth. The expansion speed had increased, and now there was sufficient space and power to protect him. Within the divine realm, he could gain several abilities.
The gloomy sky had cleared, transforming into a bright, clear sky. The climate remained as warm as spring.
Flowers bloomed throughout the space, their petals vibrant, and the scent of blossoms filled the air. A swarm of bees busily flitted between the flowers, gathering nectar.
The flower fairy, Aiya, danced amidst the blossoms, waving her delicate hands, releasing shimmering light like magic, making the flowers seem even more radiant. Under her care, these flowers appeared to be the crème de la crème of nature's offerings.
Near the spring, the most exquisite flowers resembled tiny trumpets with lids, growing in clusters.
Among the flowers were water-like droplets, clear and sparkling, resembling water diamonds. These were the floral elixirs crafted by Aiya, her favorite food. In addition to the flower nectar, there were also perfumes that she had made, now being sold through Monica's perfume company, which enjoyed immense popularity. The success of the flower fairy's perfumes was due entirely to Aiya's craftsmanship.
Perhaps the abundance of flowers had sparked a new level of awareness in Aiya, as recently, she refrained from acting foolishly.
After unlocking two more treasure chest passwords, Zhao Lun did not stop. Whenever he had the time, he continued solving puzzles. He realized that his martial arts practice had led to a significant boost in his power, allowing him to open new puzzles earlier than expected.
Though he hadn't reached the same level of power as before, he could sense himself growing stronger bit by bit. With each cycle of his blood flow, he gained a little more strength. Based on his calculations, in two or three years, this process would fully mature, and his entire bloodstream would undergo a transformation.
There was no rush now, as there was no immediate danger. Zhao Lun focused on silently accumulating strength, knowledge, and inner peace.
Days passed, and as the cold autumn approached, the sound of rain poured down. The sky had returned to its initial gloom, reminiscent of their first day here.
Sitting on the sofa by the window, Zhao Lun and Maria watched the rain, reminiscing about the past year with a touch of nostalgia. Time had passed in the blink of an eye, and their lives had undergone a drastic change.
No longer burdened by worries, they now lived joyfully every day, something to be envious of.
Beside the sofa, their two Labradors, Avi and Grey Shadow, lay quietly. Yet, they could no longer be called ordinary dogs, as the two had transcended their original breed. Even calling them leopards would be believed by many. Now, many knew about the two dogs, and some dog lovers even offered outrageous sums to purchase them. Zhao Lun paid no attention to the offers.
The two Mastiffs, White Snow and Prince, appeared as large as fully-grown mastiffs, though they were still growing. White Snow, a snow-white mastiff, had fur as pure as snow, while Prince, a yellow mastiff, had golden fur, making him look like a small lion.
Within the household, only Zhao Lun, Maria, Angela, Monica, Nicole, and Hodal could approach them. Anyone else who dared to come near would face a deadly assault.
Their territorial instincts were strong, and they were highly aggressive, never allowing intruders. Any strange entity that appeared in the vicinity would be relentlessly dealt with. Due to their remarkable performance, the humanoid monsters that had previously dug holes in the yard were obliterated, never to return.
Their favorite pastime was to stay close to Zhao Lun and Maria, even during playtime, remaining within their sight.
As the rain continued to fall, it reminded them of the events of last year, and their mood seemed to dampen, with the dogs quietly accompanying them.
It wasn't until the sound of high heels tapping on the stairs below that the mood was interrupted.
Hearing the footsteps, Zhao Lun knew who had arrived, and he composed himself, awaiting her arrival.
"Boss, there's been an incident at the game hall."
"Is that so? Were there any injuries?"
"The workers inside were injured, but it's not serious. However, the factory suffered some significant losses."
"That's good to hear. Make sure to compensate the workers well."
"Understood, boss."
"It seems the hidden rats can no longer hold back. Let's proceed with the plan and have Hodal take action without hesitation."