In a perfect world, you start by relying on your own strength.

Shi Geng leaned lazily against the recliner, quietly enjoying the peaceful moments amidst the hustle and bustle of the world.

A gentle evening breeze, carrying the faint warmth of everyday life, softened the harshness of his battle-hardened body. Before he knew it, he had fallen into a deep sleep.

He couldn't remember the last time he had slept so peacefully, without the constant tension and burden of atop the lighthouse.

This carefree and stress-free ease was something I never experienced before, even when I later became a hunter instructor at the Lighthouse.

He had a long and tender dream.

In a daze, it felt as if I had returned to my rural hometown from a previous life. Golden waves rippled across the rice paddies, the heavy ears of rice bowing low. Clear, murmuring streams flowed through the mountains, and lush greenery covered the landscape. A gentle breeze swept across the paddy fields, carrying the unique fragrance of rice. Distant mountains were shrouded in mist, and the nearby waters were veiled in hazy smoke—everywhere was the simple, peaceful charm of rural life.

There were no roars of the Devouring Beasts in my dream, only the peaceful years and tranquil landscape.

Until a sudden commotion shattered the gentle dream.

"Shanshihui! You brat, stop right there! How dare you betray your father! I'll beat your ass until it's bruised and battered!"

A loud, hoarse voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate, carrying a hint of exasperated anger.

Immediately following, a soft, childish voice protested, "Dad, it's really not my fault! If I hadn't told Mom where you were, I would have gotten a spanking by now!"

The sound grew louder and louder as it approached, and the next moment the courtyard gate was violently flung open with a loud bang.

Shan Da strode in angrily, his brows furrowed with embarrassment. He immediately spotted Shan Shi Hui, who was darting swiftly into the yard. The little figure quickly disappeared into a corner, peeking out with a head full of self-righteous indignation.

Shi Geng, who was lying on the recliner, was also gently awakened by the noise. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at this scene of everyday playful banter, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

"Hmm? You are...?"

Shan Da paused, his anger instantly freezing on his face. He stared blankly at Shi Geng, who was leisurely opening his eyes on the recliner.

I felt that this person had handsome features and an otherworldly air. He looked vaguely familiar, but after racking my brain, I couldn't remember where I had seen him before.

The limestone bushes nearby stopped running away, blinking their big eyes curiously as they looked Shi Gen up and down.

"Hey, who are you? What are you doing lying in my house?"

Shan Shihui looked up at Shi Gen with a wary expression, her little brows furrowed tightly.

Shan Da, standing to the side, suddenly widened his eyes, his impatience vanishing instantly, replaced by astonishment. He suddenly realized who this person was—the very same Beacon powerhouse who had single-handedly slain a King-level Devouring Beast a month ago!

"It's you! What are you doing in our Dragon Bone Village? Shan Shihui, you brat, get your ass over here right now!"

Shan Da's expression tightened. He kept a wary eye on Shi Geng while hurriedly beckoning to his son in a low voice.

The person before us is a terrifyingly powerful individual who can single-handedly kill a King-level Devouring Beast and single-handedly cut through an entire beast tide.

In the entire Dragon Bone Village, perhaps only Boss Bai has the confidence to stand up to them.

Instead of obediently moving closer after being called upon by his father, Shan Huishi playfully stuck out his tongue at Shan Da and made a face.

He then turned back, blinked his big, dark eyes at Shi Geng, and asked in a clear voice, "Hey, I don't think I've seen you before. Are you one of those people who came down from the lighthouse, like my little brother?"

"Oh? Your little brother?"

Shi Geng narrowed his eyes slightly, a playful smile playing on his lips, and looked at the little guy with great interest.

Shan Hui raised his little face, puffed out his chest with a smug look, and said with great arrogance, "It's Mark! He used to be the hunter commander of your Lighthouse. Now he's in our Dragonbone Village, and I'm protecting him. How about it? Interested in becoming my little brother?"

Before he could finish speaking, Shandong reached out and grabbed his ear, gently lifting it upwards.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" The limestone immediately grimaced and cried out.

With a stern face, Shan Da scolded impatiently, "You brat, always bragging everywhere, get inside and do your homework!"

Looking at the father and son bickering and arguing in front of him, Shi Geng narrowed his eyes slightly, a deep doubt passing through his mind.

Mark actually made it to Dragonbone Village.

He wondered to himself, could it be that after he was swept into the Blood Vortex Space, Mark ultimately couldn't escape his fate and became a Devouring Beast?

Just as he was deep in thought, a figure suddenly appeared silently at the courtyard gate.

His body was much taller and more robust than that of an ordinary person, with a slightly hunched back. His entire body was covered with a layer of hard, dark purple-black keratinous skin, with fine, dark red lines intertwined between the skin, exuding a bone-chillingly fierce aura.

His long hair was disheveled and could not cover most of his angular and ferocious face. His pupils had long lost their human color and turned into a deathly scarlet.

His arms were bulging with muscles, his hands had transformed into sharp beast claws, and his fingertips gleamed with a cold light. A faint, fishy mist swirled around him. This was Mark's Devouring Beast form after his complete mutation.

He stood silently at the courtyard gate, his figure imposing and menacing, surrounded by a faint, chilling mist. His pair of scarlet, icy eyes slowly swept across the courtyard, and when his gaze landed on Shi Geng on the recliner, he suddenly froze, clearly stunned.

A moment later, a hoarse, low voice, tinged with disbelief, slowly rang out: "Instructor Shi... you're not dead?"

During his time in Dragon Bone Village, Mark learned many hidden secrets, and he remained convinced that Shi Gen had no chance of survival after being caught in the vortex of bloodshed.

Unexpectedly, Instructor Shi, who should have perished in the vortex of blood, appeared unharmed in Dragon Bone Village, sitting calmly in the courtyard as if he had never experienced that life-or-death ordeal.

Shi Gen slowly sat up from the recliner, calmly looking at Mark, who had transformed into the Devouring Beast form. His expression showed no surprise or fear, but rather a hint of indifference.

"I'm tough, the whirlpool can't take me away."

Shi Geng slowly straightened up, his tone gentle and calm, his gaze falling on Mark's body in his Devouring Beast form, with a hint of inquiry.

"But what happened to you? What happened to you? Where's your adjutant?"

Mark's crimson eyes darkened slightly, his body paused for a moment, and a complex expression appeared on his face.

Shan Da, standing to the side, gripped the limestone tightly, held his breath, and listened quietly to the conversation between the two.

Ran Bing is dead.

Mark's burly body was taut, his scarlet eyes filled with complex emotions: sorrow, self-blame, loss, and a hint of indescribable bewilderment.