Lu Mingfei: What? They're all real!

He regretted it as soon as he said it.

"Unable to control it...that's really troublesome..." Lu Mingfei pondered the problem seriously, like a scholar. "Fundamentally speaking, this is a word of power governed by spiritual elements, which should be easier to control than the four elements, my friend..."

He raised his gaze to look at Yuan Zhisheng, his voice low, as if afraid of being overheard, "Is your bloodline unstable? Is it so high that it affects your mental state, right?"

Yuan Zhisheng nodded blankly. He was truly speechless. Such analytical ability was simply divine. He could arrive at the most accurate results from just a few words... He had never imagined that such a person existed.

Is this guy really only a first-year student? Are you sure he doesn't have a PhD from Kassel? His brain is way too sharp…

More importantly, this extraordinary person is not aligned with the academy. Judging from various pieces of evidence, Lu Mingfei is more like a blood relative to them. Both his incantations and his attitude point to this...

Genjiro was filled with renewed anticipation. Among the many issues that kept him awake at night, the one being discussed now was of paramount importance.

"Is there any solution?" he asked.

"What other options are there? Let's try to lower the bloodline." Lu Mingfei shrugged.

“This…” Genjiro’s temper instantly cooled down.

"Do you even need to say that?" Genji sighed silently, laughing at himself for actually thinking there was a solution to such a difficult problem.

There is absolutely no such thing as "lowering bloodline" in this world; it's simply not possible. Any mixed-race individual produces blood with a fixed concentration of blood from their bone marrow. Even if they undergo a blood transfusion, it will only temporarily lower the concentration, and they may even face greater risks later on.

The man's heart turned cold. He began to lament that he always had unrealistic expectations, which was why he was always disappointed.

But at this moment, Lu Mingfei was strangely agitated. He seemed to have remembered something, and was feeling restless and anxious...

When the topic of "changing bloodlines" came up, he recalled that he seemed to have changed the bloodline of Zero, who was then called "Renata". The vague memories of the past were gradually becoming clear. He touched on the bloody memories and saw the past, not only those from many years ago, but also those from even further back.

Lu Mingfei was completely lost in a long, distant memory, his expression pained and tormented. Unlike other ancient memories, this one weighed heavily on his soul; it was the source of all sorrow and tragedy, this evil blood—

"Lu Jun?" Yuan Zhisheng struggled to raise one arm, concerned about Lu Mingfei's current situation.

But the boy, who was in a state of stress, suddenly grabbed his arm, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light. Even during the fight, his eyes had not lit up, but now they radiated a dark golden light, which was terrifyingly deep.

Genji saw the boy's lips move almost imperceptibly, as if issuing some kind of command, and then something changed... Genji felt as if a hole had been opened in his soul, and the blood that carried his power seemed to gradually flow away, being drawn out of his body like a trickle of water.

Yuan Zhisheng desperately shook off Lu Mingfei's hand; this unknown situation brought fear.

"Don't worry, it's just a very slight change, and it's only temporary. The bloodline concentration will probably recover in about a month." The light in Lu Mingfei's eyes gradually faded, and his tone changed from a deep voice back to that of a young boy. He smiled wearily, "It's just a little trick, don't be afraid."

Half an hour ago, Genjiro had said that "fate brought us together" because he felt like he had "seen a blood relative". Now, he firmly believes in this as if it were a creed.

This was an unexpected and wonderful surprise for him, far exceeding his expectations. He felt as if the heavy burden he always carried was about to lift him off the ground.

In an instant, without time to think, a hammer fell from his heart, and he made a decision urgently yet firmly: he needed to win this person over, and he also needed to try something more important—

"Lu-kun?" Yuan Zhisheng's face was beaming with a smile, even showing a few wrinkles, like the waitress who had stood in front of Zero that day, eagerly asking for a tip—but he was completely unfamiliar with this kind of ingratiating and enthusiastic expression; he didn't seem to be a person who smiled often.

He asked Lu Mingfei, "Is Mr. Lu still single?"

-----------------

"Earth God, have you seen this girl?" Xia Mi squatted under a telephone pole by the roadside, casually holding up the photo in her hand, asking the question to the air as if she were idly slacking off.

Of course she knew that no earth god would jump out of the ground to answer the question, and that was exactly the effect she wanted... Asking a few questions to the ground, wasting her breath, was enough to do right by Lu Mingfei.

This doesn't mean they did nothing; it's just that the local earth god didn't answer!

Zero silently squatted beside her, tacitly approving of this absurd act. She defended herself, saying it wasn't betrayal at all... she just hoped the person she liked wouldn't always be preoccupied with trivial matters. Yes, that was it...

The girls, each with their own hidden agendas, squatted in front of the telephone pole, with a crowd of people coming and going behind them. Suddenly, footsteps stopped beside them, one, two, and then more. More than ten people spread out in an arc, surrounding the two girls.

"Damn it, who photoshopped the girl's picture?" A man emerged from the crowd, staring at the photo and cursing as he approached the two girls. He bent down and reached out as if to snatch the photo. "How could a girl smile so brightly? The boss would be smiling in his grave if he saw this!"

He reached out and unceremoniously tried to pull the girl's shoulder.

But suddenly, something strange happened.

Before the man could figure out what was going on, he flew out like a bowling ball, taking the crowd behind him flying in all directions. After tumbling several times, he finally saw that the taller of the two girls had somehow stood up and was still in a punching stance.

“Please don’t get too close to me,” the girl said, withdrawing her fist and laughing menacingly, “or I’ll kill someone.”

Chapter 140 Did she run away from home again?

"Single? Why do you ask?"

Lu Mingfei thought to himself, "Dude, your thinking is a bit too jumpy, and what's with that salesman-like smile on your face? It looks like you want to marry your daughter to me... Do you even have a daughter at your age?"

"Because I'm really curious." Genji seemed even more enthusiastic, his expression almost incongruous with his naturally cold and aloof face. "Of course, a question about an outstanding man like Lu-kun would pique anyone's curiosity, wouldn't it? Like that move just now, it's probably something no one has heard of in a thousand years, right?"

“Ah, this…” Lu Mingfei made a shushing gesture. Driven by his memories, he had just subconsciously revealed what he was thinking.

He recalled the matter of altering Zero's bloodline, countless memories of "blood" flooding his mind. Before being interrupted by Genjiro, he had already remembered quite a few things—

However, because his memory process was interrupted, the flow of knowledge also temporarily stopped. Currently, his incomplete abilities can only temporarily enhance or weaken bloodlines, and it requires skin-to-skin contact...

In battle, what enemy would allow you to hold their hand for long? This kind of thing only sounds fantastical; it's completely useless in actual combat... It'll only attract the attention of crazy scientists who want to study it.

“Of course, of course.” Genji nodded repeatedly. “I know. Secrets exchanged between men should be kept buried, just like how Lu-kun keeps my friends’ affairs a secret for me, right?”

That's absolutely true; secrets are always a great way to improve relationships.

Lu Mingfei changed the subject to other topics, but found that this topic was also difficult to answer. "Single...I guess I'd say single..."

“Oh—” Yuan Zhisheng nodded in satisfaction.

"You're not trying to introduce me to girls, are you?" Lu Mingfei shrugged and narrowed his eyes.

"No, no." Yuan Zhisheng shook his head vigorously, denying this statement.

He didn't actually have that thought; he just felt that... if things went as he hoped, he hoped that Lu Jun wouldn't have a girlfriend, otherwise things would be very troublesome... Even Yuan Zhisheng understood that jealousy from women was a troublesome thing, and it was definitely a good thing that Lu Jun didn't have a girlfriend.

However, being a meticulous person, he added in a low voice, "If I were to introduce you, what would you think, Mr. Lu?"

Perhaps using female allure to lure Lu Jun into joining is a good idea; boys his age are susceptible to that... No, no, that's too despicable, not just unjust at all.

Genjiro was torn between his inner thoughts and his own conscience.

"Not good at all!" Lu Mingfei shook his head vigorously with all his remaining strength. He knew this guy had no good intentions. He said, "To be honest, I actually came here as a tourist to find someone, to find a girl."

"Oh?"

"Well, we've talked long enough today, so let's just talk it out."

Lu Mingfei planned to continue doing what he had done on the street and keep trying his luck. Although he had been advised not to get involved with the members of the Japanese branch, he had already forgotten Angers' words and didn't care at all.

"Who is Mr. Lu looking for? I might be able to help," Yuan Zhisheng said, but his tone was slightly strange, as if there was a hint of disappointment in it.

“Hmm… I don’t know her name at all, but I do know her physical features.” Lu Mingfei stroked his chin. “She must be very pretty.”

"should?"

“Because I’ve never seen her before.” Lu Mingfei waved his hand, signaling the man to stop interrupting. He organized his thoughts and said, “She should have red hair… and she shouldn’t talk much, but she’s not mute, that’s important. She just doesn’t talk much for some reason…”

"Hmm, red hair, doesn't talk much, but isn't mute..."

Genji lowered his head, carefully studying these features, trying to piece together an image in his mind—

"Ok?"

He suddenly felt a ray of inspiration pass through his head, and he looked up and squinted at the boy beside him.

The characteristics this guy is describing are a bit too specific, aren't they?

“Also, she is probably—” Lu Mingfei was about to say something more, while secretly blaming Xia Mi for taking the photo, when he was suddenly interrupted by Yuan Zhisheng.

"Lu-kun, how...did you know this person?" Yuan Zhisheng asked earnestly.

"Spiritual vision," Lu Mingfei said, offering the reason he'd used countless times before. "You know, spiritual vision, it's that ability to—"

“Okay, Spirit Vision, I understand.” Yuan Zhisheng nodded. “Then why are you looking for this person?”

He inexplicably started to sound like he was interrogating someone.

“I can’t really explain it, it’s probably…” Lu Mingfei had asked himself this question countless times. He paused for a moment, then leaned against the wall behind him and looked up at the sky. “I guess I just want an answer… Do you know that feeling of something missing from your soul, that desperate, life-or-death desire to fill that gap?”

Yuan Zhisheng suddenly fell silent, as if he were experiencing the same thing.

“That feeling is very uncomfortable, like the phantom pain after amputation, as the medical term says. The non-existent limb can itch and hurt, but when you reach out to touch it, you can only touch a phantom, and then it becomes even more uncomfortable. Do you know how doctors treat this kind of condition?” Lu Mingfei spoke softly and eloquently.

He said, "Let you see the part of yourself that is missing, reflect it in a mirror, or build a prosthetic limb. In short, as long as you can see that missing part, you can find peace... I guess that's what I'm aiming for... to see the person you've never met but always miss, and to see what the missing part in your heart really is."

Strangely, Lu Mingfei had never spoken the truth to people he knew well, but he confided in a man he'd become acquainted with through a misunderstanding. In fact, some things are better said to strangers, because strangers will only listen and won't offer opinions based on their own interests.

“Lu Jun…” Yuan Zhisheng struggled to raise his arm and patted Lu Mingfei’s shoulder heavily. His face showed empathy and sorrow as he solemnly said, “If that’s the case, then I acknowledge your spirit.”

Approved?

Lu Mingfei felt that Director Yuan Zhisheng might have been using too much bureaucratic jargon, as his speech had a certain air about it.

Do I need your approval? That father-in-law-like tone makes it sound like you're that girl's dad!

If you're really moved, you should take out your phone right now and call the Japanese executive office, then say something like a domineering CEO: "Put this girl's information on my desk within three minutes," okay?

Just then, Yuan Zhisheng's phone rang. Still immersed in the sorrow of sharing the same feelings, the man reached into his pocket with difficulty and dejection, then clumsily took out his phone, put it to his ear, and said "hello" in a low and serious voice. At this moment, he was no longer the man who would lose control of his expression with joy or show pain and sorrow.

He reverted to being the cold-blooded executive who pointed a knife at Lu Mingfei.

"What? An attack? Our main family has sent four waves of reinforcements but still couldn't control it..." Genjiro calmly replied, "Wait a moment, I'll be there soon. Tonight is really turbulent, everyone be careful."

He's usually a calm man; his behavior just now was merely an accident.

But before he could put his phone down, a new ringtone started blaring.

But this time was different. Within seconds, Genji lost his composure.

"What? She ran away from home again?"

Chapter 141 Fate Guides Him

The girl put down the handle and listened quietly to the sounds outside the door.

She didn't know what had happened, but most people in the building seemed to have left for some reason, and it was empty. Her brother wasn't there either... This was her chance.

The girl stood up, opened the closet, and took out several toys. She hesitated for a while before taking a Rilakkuma and a rubber duck, her adventure companions, which she had to bring along.

There were still some people in the building, but the density was much lower than usual. The girl sneaked around and eventually went down to the first floor and slipped out.

She started running lightly.

This time, she was determined to see new sights.

……

Xia Mi and Ling shook off wave after wave of pursuers. Just as they turned the corner, they suddenly saw a strange sight. Xia Mi stared blankly at Ling's shoulder and pointed to the side ahead.

Ling looked in the direction and saw a girl squatting at the intersection, staring blankly ahead. She had long, dark red hair that cascaded down to the ground like a waterfall. She was dressed in thin clothes, and the weather was a bit chilly at the end of December; her body was shivering slightly.

"I...I didn't see wrong, did I?" Xia Mi lowered her voice, discussing with the girl next to her in utter surprise.

Zero didn't speak, but frowned. Earlier, she had answered a casual phone call from Potato Chips, where the caller said, "The boss suddenly came back to life! He said Lu Ming is destined for a fateful encounter, and we should be prepared. But Long Legs is already on a mission, running around pitifully..."

Zero felt uneasy at that time. What a fateful encounter, it sounded like she was about to find love...

But now, just as she turned the corner, she actually saw the red-haired girl, and her heart started racing instantly.

"Should we...should we go and take a look?" Xia Mi suggested, looking somewhat nervous herself.

They responded with action and took the lead.

Two girls walked over and stood casually to the side and slightly in front of the red-haired girl, occasionally glancing back—of course, they were observing the girl's face.

"Exactly the same!" Xia Mi tugged at Ling's sleeve and shook it, her voice soft and urgent. "Holy crap! There really is such a person!"

She never expected that there would actually be a girl who looked so much like Chen Motong. Although in her opinion, it wasn't quite to the extent that Lu Mingfei described them as "completely identical," it was definitely not an exaggeration to say that they looked the same.

That guy was telling the truth all along! There really is such a girl in this world!

Zero didn't speak, but simply shook off Xia Mi's hand. She felt only bitterness... Fate is such a cruel thing. It was almost the end, so why did this have to happen at the last minute?

"What do we do? What do we do?" Xia Mi asked frantically. "What should we do?"

"..." Zero thought for about three seconds, then nodded, "I'll go and control her."

"No, no, no—" Xia Mi grabbed Ling's sleeve again and shook her head vigorously, "Are you stupid? Why are you controlling her? Are we waiting for Lu Mingfei to come?"

Zero nodded naturally.

"Alright, then go ahead. I saw it clearly just now. The girl was holding a bear with a mark on it: Erii no Rilakkuma. Erii is probably her name—" Xia Mi began to scare Zero.

She bared her teeth and brandished her claws: "Do you know what this means? Let me tell you, writing your own name on a toy, that's typical of a possessive girl! Go ahead, go ahead. If she doesn't like Lu Mingfei, that's fine. But if she has some kind of destiny and likes him too, hmph, then you can say goodbye to your dear Lu Mingfei. You can forget about ever getting within ten meters of him again."

The leg that had taken zero steps suddenly stopped; this statement was very effective.