Time Travel: Age of Discovery

His thoughts seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, dragging him quickly through the bustling streets. He rejected the enthusiastic invitation from his colleagues - those naval comrades - to have dinner together. Their laughter gradually faded away behind him, like the last sunset on the distant sea horizon.

There was only one thing in his mind: Tiger, that brave and fearless soul, had quietly embarked on a journey to explore the will of the revolutionary army, like a lone boat sailing towards the center of an unknown storm.

Although Tiger had casually mentioned on the phone that this trip was merely a fulfillment of an earlier agreement with Teya to visit the revolutionary army's territory to gather information and seek possible assistance, Teya's heart was shrouded in a dark cloud, and he was not optimistic about the prospects of this adventure. He knew that he must personally devote himself to the great cause of liberating the slaves, and he had to do it quietly, like a shadow in the night, leaving no trace.

However, Zephyr's return further complicates matters. Teya weighs the pros and cons. Being candid with Zephyr doesn't seem wise, considering this involves a covert operation that could shake the Navy's very foundations. But disappearing again without explanation would sow suspicion among the crowd, and even if Zephyr testifies, he'll likely face harsh questioning. Teya believes the ideal solution is to gain Zephyr's tacit approval. Even if he doesn't reveal the specifics of the operation, having him speak for him at crucial moments would be a solid backing.

But how to ask Zefa about this became a difficult problem before him, like an unsolvable puzzle. Just as Teya was reclining on the bed, lost in a vortex of thought, there was a gentle knock on the door, followed by Zefa's warm and familiar voice, with a hint of subtle worry: "Teya, why don't you go to dinner?"

Teya suddenly jumped up from the bed and hurriedly opened the door. Facing Zefa's inquiring eyes, he could only smile awkwardly and squeeze out a sentence: "Teacher Zefa, I'm not hungry yet." This excuse sounded so lame that even he found it ridiculous. His eyes wandered around the room, finally landing on a few apples on the table. He secretly thought that perhaps these sweet fruits could become his dinner tonight.

Zefa looked at Teya with his insightful eyes, but a gentle smile played on his lips, as if he could see through all disguises: "Boy, this is not like your style. Are you hiding something in your heart?" These words were like a breeze in spring, gentle yet with a power that could not be ignored. Teya's heart tightened, but he also felt unprecedented warmth and support.

"Oh, cultivation is like a pot of simmering magic soup. I need to take a break first, or I'm afraid the heat will evaporate." Teya rubbed his temple half-jokingly and winked at Zefa, trying to mask his inner turmoil with humor. In his eyes, Zefa seemed to have become the legendary "eye of the mind" that could see through the fog of people's hearts. Every subtle change in his emotions could not escape his sharp gaze.

Seeing this, Zefa smiled gently. Without further questioning, he simply patted Teya's broad shoulder, a gesture that conveyed both the kindness of an elder and the understanding of a comrade. "Kid, don't forget to eat. No matter how intense your training, don't starve yourself." With that, he turned and left, his figure lengthening in the setting sun, each step steady and resolute.

Teya closed the door, as if shutting out the outside noise, but the storm within him only grew more intense. Tiger's plan hung like a sword of Damocles over his head, reminding him of the urgency of time with every second. "He said it was a belated redemption, and only by carrying it out personally could the haze in his heart dissipate." Teya recalled Tiger's resolute gaze, feeling a mixture of unease and determination.

He fell back onto the bed and reached out, scooping up a bright red apple from the table, as if searching for a glimmer of life's sweetness to balance the bitterness within. The sheen of the apple's skin gleamed in the sunlight, like the ray of hope.

After careful consideration, Teja made a decision. He would sail alone and face the unknown storm. "If they question me one day when the truth comes out, then let them. Without solid evidence, everything is just speculation," he thought to himself, his eyes growing firmer.

Picking up the notebook on the table, Teya began to carefully plan his itinerary. Every time he turned a page, it was like paving a path for himself into the future. His finger slid across the calendar, finally stopping at a marked date. That was the day he would embark on his journey.

Meanwhile, Zefa, on his way to the Naval Academy, couldn't help but slow down his pace, frequently looking back toward home. His intuition told him that Teya's reaction today was unusual; from a quick glance at him at the dock, he sensed Teya's inner struggle. Zefa knew that Teya was a man who kept his worries deep inside, whether it was a bottleneck in his cultivation or an emotional entanglement, he was used to bearing them alone.

"Perhaps he's thinking of the past with Frevans," Zefa speculated. For Teja, that memory was both a painful past and an indelible mark on her growth. But he understood that everyone has a soft spot in their heart that they don't want to touch, and letting go at the right time is also a form of care.

Zefa shook his head, pushing these thoughts aside. He knew that while Thea might appear unruly, he was actually quite thoughtful and remembered everything with such clarity. All he could do was trust and support Thea, allowing him to solve the puzzles that troubled him in his own way.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, Zefa's figure gradually fades away, but his eyes always carry a subtle hint of worry and expectation, as if telling Teya: no matter what the road ahead holds, there will always be someone here, silently waiting. In the ledger of the mind, every stroke outlines the contours of action, giving everything just the right scale.

Zefa's heart felt like a delicate balance. No matter how he shied away from the norm, even pushing boundaries that would have shocked others, his trust in him remained unwavering. This wasn't blindness, but rather a profound understanding of his character. Those so-called "outliers" were merely shadows cast by decadent ideals, distorting the truth.

"Alas, this kid always stirs up trouble in his own way." Zefa sighed lightly, with a complicated smile on his lips, then turned and walked into the magnificent hall of the Naval Academy, immersing himself in the daily trivialities and sublimity.