Chapter 2667

Reese almost instinctively knocked his head on the ground three times in reverence. Fredwyn stood up and gently helped him back to his feet. Reese looked at Fredwyn like a child seeking guidance.

"Master..." Reese muttered softly.

Fredwyn smiled warmly, then slowly led Reese outside. As they left, Reese glanced back at the Mythism totem. It was still as sacred as before, its glow illuminating his mind.

...

From that day on, Reese began a new routine. He followed Fredwyn in daily meditation and chanting. It felt strange to him. He had come in pursuit of strength, yet here, his heart found peace.

He had stopped worrying and stopped thinking too much. Gradually, he became accustomed to the serene and solitary life there, finding comfort in its simplicity.

Three years passed, and at the age of 24, Reese had become a different person from the brash youth who had first arrived.

In those three years, he had time to reflect on many things that he had not had the chance to think about in the past 20 years. As a result, Reese now felt much lighter.

He still pursued strength, but he was no longer overly aggressive about it. To him, power had become just an added bonus in life as there were many more things he wanted to ponder and experience.

However, Reese's peaceful days were disrupted as he faced a situation he did not anticipate not long after. One day, while cleaning the gate at the entrance, he noticed something unusual. Upon a closer look, he saw that it was a child!

Caught off guard, Reese was at a loss for what to do. Fredwyn and his fellow disciples were deep in their own seclusion and training. It was not the time to disturb anyone. However, this was a serious matter, and he did not dare decide without consulting Fredwyn.

He hesitated at the gate, his mind racing. The monastery had strict rules-any matter involving outsiders had to be reported to the head, who would make the final decision. If he brought the child to the mountain, it would be a clear violation of those rules, potentially ending his tranquil life there.

Reese was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Fredwyn and the others would be in seclusion for another two days. The weather was frigid, and if he did nothing, the child would surely freeze to death outside.

Just as he stood there, paralyzed with indecision, a familiar shadow flashed before him. It was his former self, the hot-headed young man. "Take him to the mountain!" the shadow insisted, pointing at the child as if commanding him to act.

Looking at his past self, Reese felt a mix of disdain and regret. "No! If I take him up and keep him there for more than a day, it'll be a clear violation of the rules!" he replied firmly.

The other Reese remained silent as he continued to point at the child, urging him to take the boy up the mountain.

"Are you the past version of me?" Reese asked.

"I am you," the other Reese replied.

"I can't listen to you!" Reese retorted.

"Don't you want strength? What is strength? Didn't Fredwyn already tell you?" the other Reese suddenly questioned.

Reese recalled that day when he sought out Fredwyn. What did it mean to be strong? Why did he give up the pursuit of ultimate power back then? It was because he had understood something fundamental.

What he sought as strength was not simply supreme martial prowess but the ability to protect others and the capacity for compassion. On that day, Fredwyn showed him what true strength really was-enduring all hardships oneself so that others did not need to suffer anymore.

In the end, Reese took the child up the mountain, knowing it would lead to consequences. He was soon expelled for violating the monastery's rules.

However, before he left, Fredwyn handed him something-a finely crafted redwood box. Inside was a piece of equipment resembling a protective arm guard.