Lu Mingfei, why are you slaying dragons if you're not involved!

Chapter 163 The Truman Show: Who is the Hunter, and Who is the Prey? (Two-in-One)

[Warning, it's time to get up...]

In a daze, Lu Mingfei opened his eyes.

He had only slept for three hours all day, and it seemed he had reached his physical limit again. A long-lost weariness quietly emerged, and he subconsciously craved the soft and warm bed.

But as the warning message "Warning, electric shock countdown" sounded, this lingering weariness quickly melted away like frost meeting the sun.

Fully awake, Lu Mingfei jumped out of bed like a slice of bread from a toaster. Just as he was about to finish his morning routine as usual, he paused slightly.

He recalled the things he had discovered last night... no, to be precise, before going to sleep early this morning, using [electromagnetic induction].

Without a doubt, those were listening devices and hidden cameras, in such an outrageous number!
The moment Lu Mingfei realized this, he thought of a movie called "The Truman Show".

The protagonist of the story is the lead actor in a popular soap opera. Everything around him is fake; his family and friends are all actors, and everything he experiences is broadcast to the outside world through various cameras, but he himself is completely unaware of this.

That was a completely artificial, fabricated world!

Am I also a "Truman"?
The idea was so terrifying that Lu Mingfei immediately felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

But he quickly realized that this was impossible.

To create a completely fake yet flawless world, just so that one cannot detect it? Putting aside whether it's even possible, even if the other party truly has this ability, what's the point?

In comparison, another reason is more likely.

Lu Mingfei recalled something Ye Sheng had mentioned earlier—important hybrids with a bloodline grade of S generally have comprehensive, high-level protection measures…

Surely this couldn't have been done by the International Cooperation Division, could it? Lu Mingfei didn't think Ye Sheng and Professor Zhang Shanfeng would do something like this.

Could it be the main campus of Kassel College?

If that's the case, then the gangs from other places are really being incredibly rude!
Of course, there's also the possibility that there are other hidden individuals with ulterior motives...

Lu Mingfei hadn't forgotten the time when he was targeted by someone suspected to be Deadpool, who even manipulated a truck driver to try and send him to his death. However, when that plan failed, the other party never made a move again, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, patiently waiting to deliver a truly fatal blow.

In any case, this matter must be resolved eventually; Lu Mingfei has no penchant for being "The Truman"!

But three hours ago, Lu Mingfei simply didn't have the energy to solve this problem.

He was already somewhat tired, and then he used a lot of his energy while using [Electromagnetic Induction]. Although the amount of energy consumed was not as exaggerated as being completely drained in ten seconds, Lu Mingfei was shocked and used it for a long time in order to find and memorize the locations of those bugging devices.

In the end, Lu Mingfei himself couldn't recall whether he had been completely drained and passed out, or whether he had deliberately ended the [Electromagnetic Induction] entry and chosen to fall asleep...

"But now, I can begin..."

He took his phone with him when he went to the bathroom in his room. While washing up, he found Chu Zihang's contact information.

If asked to find someone he could absolutely trust among his acquaintances, someone he would never doubt under any circumstances, Lu Mingfei would give one answer without hesitation—Senior Brother Chu.

In one's life, there will be several times when one feels as if the gates of heaven have been opened.

Back then, Chen Wenwen opened up a little to Lu Mingfei, but not completely. Until that afternoon at the Qingning Basketball Hall indoor basketball court, that unexpected encounter with Chu Zihang, it was as if the gates of heaven had been completely blasted open.

Since then, despite the beautiful scenery and lovely angels along the way as he struggled to climb, Chu Zihang was the first person to lend a helping hand to him while he was still in the dark hell... the most important person.

In Lu Mingfei's words, they were true brothers who were "almost ready to swear an oath of brotherhood in the Peach Garden, vowing not to be born on the same day, month, and year, but to die on the same day, month, and year!"
It was a little past four in the morning. Most normal humans, even mixed-race individuals, would be resting at this time. Lu Mingfei didn't make a direct phone call; instead, he typed a text message.

[Senior, are you coming for lunch? We can rehearse the show one more time while we're at it.]

After he finished editing, he reviewed it again before pressing send.

Explaining the situation directly in a text message was out of the question; Lu Mingfei felt extremely insecure right now… He seriously suspected that his phone was being monitored!
So he used this perfectly reasonable excuse, planning to wait until noon, find a secluded and absolutely safe place, and then explain the details to Chu Zihang so that the two could discuss a solution together.

To Lu Mingfei's surprise, as soon as he put his phone down after sending the message, it vibrated and lit up automatically when it touched the porcelain sink, indicating that he had received a text message.

That was... Chu Zihang's reply.

【it is good. 】

As always, it was simple and direct, which suited Chu Zihang's style, but the problem was... it was four in the morning!
Lu Mingfei couldn't help but send another text message to inquire.

[Senior, do you usually get up this early?]

Chu Zihang's reply came quickly: [No, I'm a light sleeper; even a text message vibration will wake me up.]

Lu Mingfei suddenly realized: "Oh, okay, then you can continue sleeping, see you at noon!"

【it is good. 】

The text message conversation has ended.

Chu Zihang waited a while longer, making sure that Lu Mingfei wasn't preparing to send any more random comments or other things he hadn't said yet, before putting his phone aside and closing his eyes.

His sleep is indeed rather light, but not so light that he would wake up from a text message vibration. The reason he was able to wake up promptly and reply to Lu Mingfei's message... was because he had set a special notification sound.

Whether it's a text message or a phone call from Lu Mingfei, we will ensure that we can detect and receive it immediately.

Of course, Lu Mingfei wasn't the only one to receive this treatment; his mother, Su Xiaoyan, also did.

Danger had been absent for several days, and everything seemed safe. But Chu Zihang dared not relax for a moment; he could vaguely sense that this was not complete safety, but rather the calm before the storm.

But there was no evidence for this premonition. Just as he hadn't told Kassel College even though he had met Odin... without evidence, given his strength and status, discussing such a significant matter wouldn't end well.

Odin is a terrifying enemy. He is terrifying because he is not only incredibly powerful but also incredibly patient. He has remained hidden in this city for so long without being discovered, like a venomous snake in the shadows. When he strikes, it is deadly.

"But what exactly does He want to do..."

Chu Zihang thought to himself.

……

After washing up, Lu Mingfei selectively ignored the cameras and listening devices, and did not deliberately avoid wearing clothes with listening devices.

Having all the coats meant there was no way to avoid it, which was one reason. Another reason was that revealing one's discovery before finding the most suitable and proper solution would undoubtedly be foolish!

Previously, the situation was one where the enemy was in the dark and we were in the light. Hunters often hide in the shadows, while Lu Mingfei was the prey in the open.

But now, the prey has discovered the hunter.

Will they immediately reveal themselves by baring their teeth and activating their "Spinosaurus" form, or will they feign ignorance, secretly set a trap, and switch roles, turning from prey to hunter?

This can't even be considered a multiple-choice question.

Therefore, he had to pretend to have completely forgotten about it and act as if everything was normal. Strictly speaking, the winter break make-up classes at Shilan Middle School had already ended.

However, Lu Mingfei still needs to go for his morning run, though he doesn't need to run directly to Shilan Middle School. According to the schedule, as long as the distance remains the same, that is, five kilometers, it's fine.

The good news is that he no longer needs to carry a backpack and a change of clothes, which will definitely make things much easier.

"Let's run towards the school again today, the same route as before, but we'll turn back halfway. How about that?"

Lu Mingfei looked at Zero beside him.

"Okay," Zero said calmly.

Just as Lu Ming was about to put on his shoes, Ling stopped him.

"What's wrong?" Lu Mingfei asked, surprised.

"Wear these."

Zero handed over a brand new pair of Salomon Speedcross 2 GTX shoes. These shoes, with their impact-resistant toe caps and arrow-shaped lugs, looked distinctly different from ordinary shoes.

He instinctively flipped it over and glanced at it, noticing the wolf-tooth-like anti-slip texture.

Why would you suddenly make yourself wear non-slip shoes?
"Oh……"

Although Lu Mingfei found it a bit strange, he still obediently changed into it.

They fit perfectly.

Seeing that Zero had also changed into the same women's style, the two prepared to go out.

When Lu Mingfei pushed open the door, a strange chill crept in through the crack and squeezed into the comfortably warm radiator inside.

"Wow……"

He stepped outside and uttered a subconscious sigh.

The perceived temperature was significantly lower than yesterday, and the most noticeable change was in the humidity.

The air seemed to be saturated with a heavy, damp chill, not a biting, dry cold, but a viscous, almost wet cold that you could wring water out of it. The night was as thick as ink that couldn't be dissolved, and the mist appeared and disappeared in the dim light of the streetlights.

Everything in sight—the ground, the lampposts, even the fences and the greenery—was covered with a layer of silvery-white frost, thicker than it had been the day before or the day before.

The entire city seemed to be dragged into a cold and quiet atmosphere by the frost, frozen into a huge, cold print.

"As reported in the weather forecast, a strong cold air mass from the north is moving south, and the meteorological observatory has issued a yellow frost warning for a wide area."

Zero walked to his side, her tone as calm as ever, yet it brought an irresistible warmth.

"So you changed my shoes to non-slip ones..." Lu Mingfei suddenly realized.

Do all cold, aloof people have the trait of being "meticulous"? Chu Zihang is like that, and so is Ling. It seems like there's nothing they haven't considered!

The two jogged into the road. The frost did not affect Lu Mingfei's running rhythm in the slightest thanks to his professional-grade anti-slip shoes. If it weren't for that... Lu Mingfei seriously doubted whether he would have fallen.

At this point, Zero spoke up.

What is the physical principle behind frost formation?

"Huh?" Lu Mingfei was taken aback.

"Call me Teacher Ling."

Lu Mingfei understood. This meant that Ling had begun to get into the role. She was going to start being a teacher right now, testing and teaching during the running process!
"Teacher Zero."

Lu Mingfei called out first, and then answered.

"When the air near the ground cools below the dew point temperature, water vapor skips the liquid stage and directly sublimates into solid ice crystals, which adhere to the surface of low-temperature objects to form white frost..."

After answering, he couldn't help but feel a little doubtful—wasn't this middle school level physics? Was this kind of zero-question question underestimating him a bit? After all, he was someone who had a complete grasp of high school physics...

"Ah."

Ling nodded slightly.

"During frost formation, supercooled water vapor (gas phase) needs to overcome an energy barrier to sublimate into ice crystals (solid phase). Considering a temperature of..."

Given that the molar volume of ice is... the molar gas constant of water vapor is... the interfacial tension between ice and water vapor is... the molar enthalpy of fusion of ice is...

Please prove that the equilibrium vapor pressure on the surface of a curved ice crystal satisfies the Kelvin formula…

"Wait, wait a minute, did I skip a few minutes? Or is there something wrong with this world?"

Lu Mingfei was shocked.

Why did we jump directly to this stage?

Weren't we just answering those childish middle school physics questions? How did we suddenly jump to university-level thermodynamics problems? It even involves metastable phase transition dynamics and extreme step free energy surface analysis, and requires the application of the Clapeyron equation and Kelvin formula…

This feeling is similar to that joke circulating online—

A freshman in college thought his advanced mathematics class was easy at first, so he looked down to pick up a pen. When he looked up again, he couldn't understand anything at all. He didn't understand a single lesson by the end of the course! And unsurprisingly, he failed the course.

Of course, given the difficulty of "Advanced Mathematics," it shouldn't be this level. Most people who fail this course didn't just pick up their pens once; they missed more than ten classes and didn't pay attention to the teacher's "pre-exam review of key points."

If someone isn't even willing to look at the original questions, who else but them should be punished?

But there are plenty of examples that fit this description! Especially in more advanced disciplines like quantum physics and topology, you really enter the world of "formal cultivation" at that point. Everything before that is just "cultivating qi" and laying the foundation.

"Don't you?" Zero asked casually.

She was running, yet her breathing remained perfectly steady. In that instant, she looked like a stern, aloof teacher sitting there, pointer in hand, casting disappointed glances at her wayward students…

"Yes! Let me think about it." Lu Mingfei answered subconsciously.

How could he say he didn't know at a time like this? Although physics, like mathematics, has the property of "if you don't know, you don't know"... Lu Mingfei was confident in that!

It just needs a little time... He's still running, and the brain can't operate at full power during aerobic activity!
And so, I ran and pondered.

Day 12 has begun!

(End of this chapter)