High-level martial arts: Contract cashback, invincible starting from the Zerg.

After returning to the apartment where the Chen family lived.

To Chen Feng's surprise, it was his younger brother, Chen Shuo, who opened the door.

The little boy who used to follow behind him and hide under his wing whenever something happened has long since shed his childishness.

With the mechanical enhancements from the Combat Academy, Chen Shuo now had a tall and slender figure, sharp eyebrows and eyes, a taut jawline, and a pair of dark eyes that coldly stared at Chen Feng.

It contains an inescapable indifference and alienation.

"I'm back."

Chen Shuo spoke first, his voice flat and emotionless, revealing no emotion, as if he were addressing a complete stranger rather than his long-lost brother.

Looking at Chen Shuo's indifferent expression, Chen Feng felt a mix of emotions.

Chen Shuo, who was only seventeen years old at the time, was forced to grow up overnight, severing all his youthful spirit and taking on the heavy burden that should have belonged to Chen Feng.

Chen Feng raised the briefcase in his hand and smiled at Chen Shuo, saying, "This is a gift for you."

Chen Shuo frowned, but hesitated as he glanced at the briefcase in Chen Feng's hand.

It was a sealed, exquisite silver alloy briefcase.

The gift box has a heavy feel and is printed with special anti-counterfeiting patterns on the surface. Judging from its appearance, it is an extremely precious high-level enhancement potion set.

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Shuo finally reached out and accepted the heavy gift box.

Upon opening the silver briefcase, a layer of black shock-absorbing padding was revealed inside, with three vials of clear, shimmering white medicine displayed quietly.

"This is a mechanical fusion potion that I specially found for you, specifically adapted to your mechanical modification system at the Battle Academy."

"Its core function is to harmonize your physical body with mechanical components. It can penetrate the flesh and muscle layer by layer, soften the rejection reaction at the mechanical joints, greatly improve the integration and compatibility between the human body and the machine, and repair the hidden damage left by your forced integration over the past five years."

Chen Feng's voice was gentle and steady, yet every word seemed to strike at Chen Shuo's deepest weakness.

Chen Shuo's fingertips rested on the wall of the medicine tube, his eyes swirling with complex emotions that were hard to conceal.

No one understood the torment of mechanical modification better than him.

During this year.

In order to protect the Chen family and have the power to defend himself, he endured excruciating pain with every component addition and every functional upgrade.

The rejection reaction between the human body and the machine gradually eroded his body day by day.

Countless nights, the soreness, numbness, and itching at the joints flared up repeatedly, old wounds piled on top of new ones, and it had long since become a deeply rooted and stubborn ailment.

Even the instructors at the combat academy said that the hidden injuries left by the forced fusion would be incurable and would accompany the person for life, with each subsequent strengthening only increasing the pain.

The repair costs that the Martial God Academy could offer were astronomical, far beyond what the Chen family could afford at the moment.

So when Chen Shuo saw the mechanical fusion-specific potion that Chen Feng brought back, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

The resentment that had been sealed away in my heart for so long seemed to quietly loosen at this moment.

Chen Shuo looked up at Chen Feng, his expression still cold and hard, but his tone was slightly softer than before, less piercingly distant: "I know this thing is very precious."

He paused, a stubborn yet awkward smile curving his lips, and continued, "I'm accepting it not because I forgive you for leaving without saying goodbye back then."

Chen Feng smiled and shook his head.

"Little brother, the hardships you've endured, the pressure you've faced, and everything you've carried on your own this past year can't be erased by these medications. I owe you, I owe this family, and I will repay you slowly."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shuo silently closed the alloy briefcase, gripping the case tightly with his fingertips.

The cool metallic touch seemed to soothe the turbulent emotions surging in his heart.

......

Early the next morning.

Chen Feng was making breakfast in the kitchen early in the morning.

The morning sunlight streamed through the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, while the kitchen was filled with the gentle rustling of cooking oil and the soft, warm sounds of pots and pans clattering together, adding a touch of homely warmth to the ultra-modern apartment.

Chen Feng skillfully fried tender egg pancakes and cooked warm multigrain porridge, his movements practiced and natural.

This was a skill he learned at the TN71 military base, taught to him by his mentor and friend, Reija.

The door to the apartment's second bedroom was gently pulled open.

Chen Shuo came out dressed in a simple black loungewear outfit.

There was a very faint dark circle under his eyes, and although his posture was still upright, he seemed more relaxed and languid than usual.

In the past, the huge apartment was always deserted in the early morning.

Chen Shuo was always busy with his affairs and would go to the Martial God Academy early in the morning. His parents would take care of him and cook for him. This went on for a whole year.

However, today is an exception.

At this moment, Chen Feng was wearing a simple casual sweatshirt, calmly preparing an ordinary home-cooked breakfast. The sunlight fell on his silhouette, giving Chen Shuo a gentle, elder brotherly look.

"woke up?"

Chen Feng spoke in a gentle and natural tone.

"It'll be ready soon."

Chen Shuo gave a soft hum, his voice low and flat, revealing no emotion.

As Mr. and Mrs. Chen came out of the bedroom one after another, Chen Feng just brought the steaming hot breakfast to the table.

Golden and fluffy egg pancakes, soft and delicious multigrain porridge, and refreshing cold dishes—these seemingly simple home-cooked meals are far more heartwarming to the Chen family than delicacies from land and sea.

Looking at the steaming food on the table, Chen's mother's eyes were filled with relief and warmth.

"My Feng'er's cooking is still the best. The aroma makes the whole house feel warm and cozy. It tastes even more authentic than what we used to make."

Over the past year, the house has become so quiet and deserted. Either the elderly couple just make do with what they have, or Chen Shuo is alone, munching on cold nutritional supplements. It no longer feels like a warm and cozy home.

Now that Chen Feng has returned, he has personally prepared a breakfast.

This brought a surge of relief to Chen's mother, and her eyes were filled with undisguised tenderness.

Mr. Chen sat down as well, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite of the egg pancake.

They couldn't help but nod in admiration.

"I never expected you to have such good cooking skills. You used to be such a lazy boy at home who couldn't even be bothered to wash the dishes. Now you've really grown up."

A few simple words of praise, without any deliberate attempt to evoke emotion, yet they fully expressed the parents' heartfelt feelings.

Chen Feng sat at the dining table, smiled faintly upon hearing this, his eyes showing a gentle relief: "When you're wandering around, you have to learn to take care of yourself. I learned this skill at the TN71 military base, and I'm very grateful to someone who taught me carefully."

Chen Feng looked up and saw his parents eating breakfast with satisfaction, and Chen Shuo, who was silently drinking his porridge and deliberately avoiding eye contact with Chen Feng.

"Dad, Mom, my stay in Qianyuan Upper City this time is just a short rest granted by the military. I will be leaving Qianyuan Upper City soon."

Upon hearing this, the warm and cozy atmosphere at the dining table suddenly froze.