Another full day had passed.
During this time, Leo had attracted and absorbed nearly all the spiritual energy within a hundred kilometers of Zhengqi Villa, a mysterious place in this unfamiliar world.
Now, that spiritual energy was stored in every cell of his body.
Because of this, Leo had temporarily reached a bottleneck. With the surrounding natural energy completely depleted for now, there was no way to continue cultivating.
So...
As night fell,
Leo, who had spent almost the entire day perched quietly on the roof of Zhengqi Villa, finally descended.
For the first time, he joined Fu Qingfeng, Fu Yuechi, and a group of chivalrous men they had gathered — sitting together around a crackling fire.
"Brother Leo, I roasted this myself. Here, it's for you!"
Fu Yuechi's voice was cheerful and light as she walked toward Leo, holding out a piece of roasted rabbit meat toward him.
The rabbit had been caught during their daytime hunt, while Leo had remained on the rooftop, meditating and gathering Qi.
In truth, each member of this small group of heroes was remarkably skilled. Many of them were proficient in martial arts, and carried traditional weapons like bows and crossbows.
So catching wild game — rabbits, deer, or the like — was no challenge for them.
Leo looked at the steaming rabbit meat, its aroma wafting into the night air.
"...Thanks."
He paused for two or three seconds, before accepting the offering from Fu Yuechi with a calm nod.
Although Leo had long surpassed the boundaries of mortality — his body no longer needed food or water to survive — it didn't mean he couldn't enjoy a good meal.
Back in the world of Shinobi, he often sat down with old comrades like Madara and Izuna, sharing sake and roasted skewers after long days of sparring.
"You're welcome…" Fu Yuechi smiled, her gaze lingering briefly on Leo's unique Three Tomoe Sharingan, whose crimson glow added a touch of mystery and allure to his already striking face.
Watching the exchange from the side, Fu Qingfeng couldn't help but smile to himself.
Then, he stood up respectfully and addressed Leo:
"Brother Leo, what happened last night was truly a misunderstanding. We want to formally apologize to you."
He cupped his hands in the traditional martial salute, a sincere and solemn gesture.
Despite Leo's youthful appearance, he had lived through two lifetimes and was well over fifty years old. Everyone here felt it only proper to treat him as an elder and a respected leader.
"Yes, yes!"
"Brother Leo, we hope you won't hold it against us!"
"Haha... It was just a misunderstanding, Brother Leo. Please forgive us!"
One after another, the warriors seated around the fire bowed in apology, their tones laced with humility and a quiet reverence.
The awe they showed was not just from respect — but from fear, too.
They had witnessed Leo's terrifying power the night before, and none of them could forget it.
"It's fine," Leo said simply, taking a calm bite of the roasted rabbit meat.
"Haha! Brother Leo, you're truly a generous man!" someone said, relieved.
The mood lightened as laughter and chatter returned.
"What a pity there's no wine. If we had some, we'd toast to Brother Leo tonight!" a young swordsman joked with a grin.
"After we rescue Master Fu, how about we get drunk together under the moonlight?"
"Deal!"
"Count me in!"
They chuckled and shouted their agreement, raising imaginary cups in the firelight.
The night air was filled with warmth and camaraderie.
"Everyone, thank you," Fu Qingfeng spoke again, his voice steady and sincere. "Once my father is rescued, I promise to treat everyone to the finest wine and food. It's the least I can do."
"Good!"
"Haha, we'll hold you to that!"
The flames flickered, casting long shadows against the villa walls.
Everyone laughed heartily, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
As the conversation turned to battle plans and personal tales, Leo remained mostly quiet, observing.
He felt something unusual stirring inside himself.
He, who had long walked alone through life and war, found the warmth of this group oddly comforting. Foreign, yet familiar.
And though he didn't say much, he continued eating the rabbit meat slowly, as if savoring more than just the food.
As the fire crackled on,
Fu Yuechi sat near him again and asked softly:
"Brother Leo, do you... always fight alone?"
Leo turned slightly to glance at her.
Her question wasn't out of pity, but curiosity.
He didn't answer immediately.
After a moment, he said, "Not always. But most of the time… yes."
Fu Yuechi didn't press further. She just smiled, then leaned back to look at the stars.
Leo followed her gaze, and for a brief moment, his mind drifted.
The stars in this world were... different.
Yet somehow, they still reminded him of home.
And somewhere within, a sliver of something stirred.
Perhaps… this world held more for him than just battles.
Perhaps...
A new path was waiting to be carved.
---
The fire crackled.
Laughter filled the air.
And amidst it all, Leo sat — not as a warrior, not as a god — but simply as a man among others.
Unaware that the true boundaries of this world — and of himself — were only just beginning to reveal themselves.