Ash staggered out of Derek's house, looking like a torn cabbage, with messy hair and dazed eyes, looking broken and depressed.

"Ash, who bullied you again?" Everyone in the village was used to it and joked with a smile.

Ash floated towards the people, showing his dimples, and then floated away again.

"Hahahaha." His appearance successfully amused everyone along the way.

Ash floated over to Mr. Nathan's place. Although a lot of things happened last night, he didn't plan to miss work because of it.

When I arrived at Mr. Nathan's door, I happened to meet Nathan who was walking out.

"Teacher." Ash immediately stood at attention and whispered, "I'm sorry I'm late today."

"It's okay. I heard from Derek that he wants to see you about something." Seeing Ash's cute little look, Nathan's usually serious face also showed a hint of smile, "I'll be out for a while, Ash, go to the pharmacy and prepare some digestive medicine. Many people ate too much last night, and they must all need this today."

Ash nodded, rolling up his sleeves as he habitually did before preparing the potion, and walked into the house.

When he walked past Nathan, Nathan suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"Hey, Ash, your arm...what is that?"

Ash was stunned, not knowing what Nathan was referring to. He subconsciously lowered his head and looked at his arm, and he also let out a slight exclamation in surprise.

What's this? !

On his originally smooth left forearm, there appeared a leaf-shaped mark. It was slender, dark red, small yet delicate, and even the veins of the leaf were clearly visible.

It looks like a red birthmark growing out of the skin.

What's this?

Ash couldn't help but wonder again. He carefully reached out his hand and touched it. The place where his fingertips touched was even colder and greasy compared to the surrounding skin.

Something strange had grown on his body. Normally, he should have felt panic and fear.

But when his fingertips touched the mark, Ash sighed in his heart, "It's so cold", and the next moment he recalled the tall young man in the moonlight, with an indifferent expression and his waist swaying slowly.

Without any basis, when he touched the mark, he thought of the young man.

Thinking of the young man, he felt relieved without any basis. Even though there were strange marks on his arm, he was not worried or panicked.

...Maybe, it was because that person saved him?

Ash didn't even realize that the two dimples on his cheeks had sunk slightly again.

However, Nathan noticed his smile and successfully interpreted it.

"Eh? Ash, are you in love?" Nathan suddenly realized, "Do you have someone you like?"

Ash was stunned. Wha, what?

Why do you suddenly say that?

"You young people." Nathan tapped his arm and laughed, "When you fall in love, you like to get these weird things tattooed on your body. Feelings should be expressed through actions. What's the point of a symbolic symbol?"

"..." Ash groaned, "...ah...oh."

He wanted to explain that it was not that he didn't have it, but suddenly realized that Teacher Nathan's statement made the appearance of the mark reasonable, and he didn't need to think of a reason anymore, so he silently accepted it.

"It's really rare that Ash finally got it." Nathan patted Ash's shoulder jokingly, "Which girl from our village is it?"

Ash naturally couldn't answer, his face turned red, and he could only shake his head.

Nathan thought about it. If it was a girl from the village, Ash would have liked her a long time ago. He wouldn't have realized it now. If it wasn't a girl from the village, the girl who came to the village recently...

Teacher Nathan suddenly realized something again.

He lowered his voice to comfort her: "Is it someone from the troupe last night?"

The girls in the troupe were indeed very pretty, so it was normal for them to attract Ash at his age.

"Don't be sad."

Just when he had developed a liking for her, she left with the troupe. No wonder Ash, who had always been well-behaved and honest, rebelliously tattooed that mark on his arm.

"If you really like me, we'll have a chance to see each other again in the future."

Teacher Nathan met Ash's confused gaze, and his powerful voice was like a beacon illuminating the way ahead, guiding the direction: "You are all still young, and the future has unlimited possibilities."

Ash: "...ah...yeah."

Teacher Nathan nodded with relief: "Okay, go prepare the potion. I'm going to go out and look for Master Rachel. I haven't seen him this morning." After saying that, he brushed past Ash and strode out.

Ash tilted his head and watched him go away, knowing that the teacher would return empty-handed, but he did not call out to the teacher.

On the one hand, Derek had already handed the matter over to him.

Second, is he in love? Someone he likes? ... Where did he show any signs of this that made Teacher Nathan so sure?

Does he like that young man?

Ash stood there belatedly, his fair cheeks quietly stained with a thin layer of red.

…

Throughout the long summer, Duogu Village was bustling with four topics.

First, Master Rachel, who was loved and respected by everyone, has passed away.

The village chief said that Master Rachel had something urgent to do on the night of the celebration and didn't want to disturb everyone's interest, so she left without saying goodbye. She only asked him to convey her apology for leaving without saying goodbye. Derek also said that he happened to see Rachel leaving and said goodbye to her properly.

The villagers who had received a lot of favors from Rachel could only feel regretful. They were so immersed in the celebration that night that they didn't notice Master Rachel's departure.

Now that summer has passed, everyone in the village still misses him.

Speaking of celebrations, the wonderful performance that night made the Starry Sky Theater the second most interesting topic for everyone.

Everyone was discussing inviting a theater troupe to perform in the village during the autumn Hunting Tooth Festival.

However, no one has found out the recent whereabouts of the Starry Sky Troupe, and I wonder if we can contact them before the Hunting Tooth Festival.

The third topic is also somewhat related to the celebration.

——After the celebration, Ash punched Derek and kicked Aubrey, and was invincible in the whole village, stealing the show.

The first sign of trouble came on the first morning after the celebration, when Ash ran around the village three times and managed to get Aubrey to lie down and admit defeat.

After that, things got out of control.

Here we must first mention the fourth topic: the trend of keeping fit has recently emerged in Duogu Village. It was proposed by the village chief and the hunting team's top management, who said, "Even Ash can beat Aubrey with a lot of effort, which shows that people's potential is immeasurable, especially young people. Wouldn't it be a pity to waste this potential?" So they organized all the young people in the village to train with the hunting team members every morning.

Other people in the village found it very interesting and started walking and twisting their bodies in the early morning. They felt more energetic throughout the day.

It was in such an atmosphere where everyone was exercising that Ash emerged as a rising star, displayed extraordinary bravery, and stunned his friends.

It's not just the physical strength and endurance shown before, but also the power, agility... all the physical qualities are outstanding, so good that it's astonishing.

Even when he was learning grappling and fighting techniques from the hunting team, he improved every day and learned very quickly. In just a few days, he had climbed from the bottom of the group to the top.

"Have you taken the medicine?" After being knocked to the ground by Ash again, Aubrey still couldn't accept the reality from the huge gap. He got up and quickly lifted Ash's shirt, revealing his white belly. His body, which used to be unremarkable, now has a thin layer of muscle outline, and the lines are very beautiful.

Aubrey looked angry and said, "Did you take the medicine? Did Master Rachel give you the transformation potion as a birthday present when she left?"

Ash shook his head. This was the result of a summer of constant training.

Before Ash could answer, Aubrey gasped again, "No way!"

What can't you do?

Ash was wondering when Aubrey quickly came over and compared their heads with his hands, saying incredulously: "Ash, you are almost as tall as me? When did you grow so tall secretly?"

Huh? Really?

Ash realized it later and looked down at the trousers he was wearing. The trouser legs had become much shorter recently, but since it was just the beginning of autumn and the weather was not very cold, he did not care too much.

It turns out that you have grown taller.

"You kid! You must have taken medicine!" Aubrey said angrily.

"Aubrey!" Shanna brought them some snacks and happened to see him pestering Ash again. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What are you making a fuss about? Can't Ash be better than you?"

Aubrey let go of Ash and jumped to Shanann's side. He patted his strong chest and pointed at Ash's still thin body with a depressed look on his face: "Shaanna, be fair, I can't beat him, does this make sense?"

Shanna: “…”Yes, that doesn’t make sense.

"So, my suspicion is justified!" Aubrey argued.

Shanna rolled her eyes in an unladylike manner, picked up a piece of dessert and stuffed it into her boyfriend's childish mouth, then waved at Ash: "Ash, the village chief wants to see you, he's at Uncle Derek's house."

Ash said "Oh" and ran towards the village entrance.

Shanna shouted behind him, "Eat a snack before you go over!", but Ash just quickly raised his hand and waved, indicating that it was not necessary, and his figure quickly disappeared among the houses.

Running in the wind, Ash habitually touched the leaf marks hidden under his sleeves.

Although Aubrey said he took the medicine jokingly, Ash always felt that this mark might be the medicine.

He grew taller and stronger, because of what Uncle Derek said, he entered a growth period and kept training.

But his strength, agility, stamina... these qualities have multiplied at a speed beyond common sense, and this is not just the result of simple growth and training.

Perhaps all the amazing and remarkable changes were given to him by this mark.

It was... the power that the young man lent him.