Lu Mingfei, how can you slay a dragon if you don't play the villain?

While everyone else was focused on his power, his decisions, and even who was around him, only Zero's gaze pierced through the halo of the "celestial being" and landed on the state of "Lu Mingfei" himself.

Lu Mingfei was slightly taken aback, and then a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He walked over to the single sofa next to Zero, sat down, placed his water glass on the coffee table, and leaned back comfortably against the soft backrest.

"Yes, a little," he admitted, a tired smile on his face.

"And you?" Lu Mingfei turned to look at her. "How were you feeling today? Did you get along well with Xia Mi and Erii?"

He was referring to the peculiar "communication" they had in the rest area that afternoon, led by Natsumi, with Erii's spirit echoing and Zero responding only occasionally.

“Xia Mi… is noisy.” Zero’s voice was flat, but Lu Mingfei subtly caught a hint of helplessness in it. “Eri… is trying very hard.”

She paused, as if searching for a more accurate description, "She...is using 'voice' to express herself."

She acknowledged that Erii was trying to adapt to the new way of communicating.

Lu Mingfei couldn't help but laugh: "Xia Mi is indeed like an over-energetic little bird, but with her around, Erii seems to have become much more lively."

"Hmm." Zero responded faintly, her gaze returning to Lu Mingfei's face. "You need... quiet."

She wasn't describing her own situation, but rather pinpointing Lu Mingfei's needs once again.

She could tell that he was tired and needed rest, not continued lively company.

Lu Mingfei felt a deeper warmth in his heart.

Zero's approach to care is so unique and direct, without any embellishment, hitting the core.

“Indeed,” he admitted frankly, “I just want to sit here right now, watch the snow, and not think about anything.”

Zero didn't speak again, but sat even more quietly, as if trying to transform himself into a silent piece of furniture, minimizing his presence as much as possible, just to provide him with a purely "quiet" environment.

Her breathing was shallow, and even her aura carried a kind of icy coldness and purity.

This silent companionship, like a clear spring, gently flowed through Lu Mingfei's somewhat agitated and weary mind.

Time flows on in silence.

Snowflakes fell silently outside the window, and the only sound inside was the occasional soft tapping of Su Enxi's keyboard in the corner.

After an unknown amount of time, Zero suddenly stood up.

Lu Mingfei's gaze unconsciously followed her.

Zero walked towards the bar.

The top floor of Genji Heavy Industries is fully equipped, with a bar offering a variety of fine wines and beverages.

Zero's gaze swept over the dazzling array of wine bottles, finally settling on a transparent glass jug filled with purified water.

She took out a clean glass and poured half a glass of water into it.

Then, she did something that surprised Lu Mingfei.

She opened the freezer compartment, took out a few ice cubes, carefully picked up two with ice tongs, and gently placed them into a glass of water.

The ice cubes struck the glass, making a crisp "ding-dong" sound that was particularly clear in the silence.

She carried the glass of iced water to Lu Mingfei's side and handed it to him.

Lu Mingfei looked at the ice cubes floating in the glass, then at Ling's calm and expressionless face.

He got it.

Zero probably felt that the warm water he drank earlier wasn't "refreshing" or "cooling" enough?

Or perhaps she was simply used to the feel of ice water and subconsciously assumed that this was what Lu Mingfei needed?

Her logic was always so simple and direct, with her uniquely clumsy thoughtfulness.

Lu Mingfei did not refuse and took the cup.

As my fingertips touched the cold glass, a refreshing coolness instantly washed over me.

He took a sip, and the ice water slid down his throat, bringing a sense of clarity and relief.

He looked up at Zero and smiled, "Thank you, it's very comfortable."

Zero's lips seemed to twitch upwards very slightly, so quickly it was almost an illusion.

She nodded, sat back down in her seat, and continued to fulfill her duty of "quiet companionship."

The next morning.

As dawn broke, the snow from last night blanketed Tokyo in a pure, silvery-white hue.

The huge observation deck on the top floor was empty and quiet, with a chill in the air.

Lu Mingfei, dressed in simple sportswear, stood in the center of the platform.

He didn't use any effort to ward off the cold, but instead enjoyed the refreshing feeling brought by the crisp morning air.

He needs to stretch his muscles.

Just then, he noticed a fellow early riser.

Zero was already standing there at some point.

She changed into a black, tight-fitting training outfit that allowed for easy movement, outlining her slender yet incredibly powerful physique.

Her platinum blonde hair was still neatly tied up.

She held no weapon in her hand, simply standing quietly, her gaze fixed on the distant, awakening city skyline, her posture as upright as a pine tree in the snow.

Chapter 158 The Road and Below Zero

"Good morning, Zero," Lu Mingfei greeted.

Ling turned around at the sound, her icy blue eyes like newly melted snow: "Good morning."

"Want to stretch your legs a bit?" Lu Mingfei suggested.

He knew that Zero was exceptionally strong. They had fought many times on the isolated island, though those battles were fought with Lu Mingfei suppressing his power.

Zero didn't answer "good" or "bad," but simply nodded slightly, then naturally lowered his center of gravity, assuming a standard fighting stance.

His movements were clean and swift, without the slightest excess; he was like a cold blade drawn from its sheath in an instant.

Lu Mingfei's eyes narrowed slightly.

He hadn't had a proper sparring session with Zero in a long time.

He also abandoned his casual demeanor, lowered his aura, and assumed a fighting stance.

The invisible aura between the two instantly became heavy.

No signal, they started up almost simultaneously!

Zero's figure vanished from the spot in an instant, approaching Lu Mingfei like a ghost, his speed leaving a faint afterimage in the air.

A sharp chop to the neck slicing through the air! The angle was tricky, and the timing was precise.

Lu Mingfei's pupils contracted slightly, and his body shifted to the side with an incredibly small amplitude. At the same time, his left arm parried like a serpent, precisely deflecting the fatal blow.

The impact produced a dull thud, and the air vibrated as it struck.

When Ling missed his first strike, he used the momentum to spin around and his long, powerful leg swept out like a steel whip, aiming at Lu Mingfei's supporting leg!

The offensive was relentless, ruthless, and efficient, a style entirely suited for killing, with no element of performance.

Instead of retreating, Lu Mingfei advanced, his body suddenly leaning forward as if it had lost its weight, narrowly dodging the sweeping leg. His right hand formed a claw and reached out towards Zero's shoulder joint with lightning speed!

He deliberately suppressed his strength and reaction speed, keeping them within the range that zero could handle, turning this sparring match into a pure contest of skill and reflexes.

Zero's body was incredibly flexible, like a boneless cat. She twisted at an angle that defied human ergonomics, barely avoiding Lu Mingfei's grappling. At the same time, she pointed her other hand like a sword and thrust it straight at Lu Mingfei's ribs!

On the viewing platform, two figures moved with lightning speed, colliding with each other.

There were no dazzling lights, no earth-shattering roars, only dazzling exchanges of offense and defense, muffled thuds of bones colliding, and sharp whistles of clothes tearing through the wind.

Zero's attacks were like a whirlwind, ruthless and cold, each move aimed straight for the vital points.

Lu Mingfei's defense and counter-attacks are like a mountain stream, steady and solid, always able to neutralize the most fierce attacks with the smallest movements.

Both of their movements possessed an indescribable beauty, an instinct honed through countless life-or-death battles and etched into their very bones.

Time seemed to lose its meaning in this fierce confrontation.

As the first true rays of dawn pierced through the clouds and shone on the platform, the two of them stopped simultaneously in perfect unison.

Ling was breathing slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, glistening in the morning light.

Lu Mingfei looked at Zero, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration:

"Your fighting skills are very strong!"

In terms of pure technique, Zero is almost on par with him, but his strength, speed, and defense are all superior to Zero's, which is why he was able to easily withstand her deadly attacks.

Ling raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, the movement swift and decisive.

She looked at Lu Mingfei, her cool voice carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation:

"You... are stronger."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts, and added, "But... the power was suppressed." She knew Lu Mingfei hadn't used his full strength.

Lu Mingfei laughed: "Fighting with you using brute force would be too boring. I like watching you fight; it's beautiful, every movement is like dancing!"

He used the word "beautiful" to describe Zero's sharp and deadly fighting skills.

Zero seemed somewhat surprised by the assessment. She blinked her icy blue eyes, her long eyelashes casting fine shadows in the morning light.

She didn't respond to the word "beautiful," but simply turned her head slightly to look at the rising sun in the distance, her profile appearing softer in the golden light.

But a faint blush seemed to creep up her ears, disappearing in an instant.

"Go back, wash up, it's time for breakfast," Lu Mingfei said, breaking the brief, delicate atmosphere.

Zero nodded and silently followed behind him.

The two walked back into the warm indoors, one after the other, leaving the morning chill behind.

The afternoon sun lazily spilled into a corner of the rest area.

Lu Mingfei was facing an open laptop screen, his fingertips rapidly tapping on the virtual keyboard.