Dragon Clan: Lu Mingfei Returns from Japan

Chapter 733 Zhou Family Meeting
"This mission will certainly not be easy," a voice suddenly said.

It wasn't from Su Enxi or Ling, but from a voice so familiar it couldn't be more so.

The momentary daze passed before Lu Mingfei looked up at the person diagonally opposite him. The person who should have been sitting there was now a smaller figure, dressed in a black suit with a white silk scarf, with pale golden eyes, and legs swaying back and forth in white square-toed leather shoes.

"Long time no see, brother." The boy greeted him with a bright smile. "How's the preparatory class going? It should be much easier than Shilan Middle School, right? After all, there aren't as many classes. Your wives are all with you too."

Well, he should have thought of that. They were about to go to the Zhou family, and it was indeed time for Lu Mingze to make his appearance. Just like in an RPG game, when the world map is about to change and a new main storyline is about to begin, the game's guiding NPC will definitely appear to tell the player about the upcoming mission and lay the groundwork for a new plot.

"Should I answer that I'm doing quite well in the preparatory course?" Lu Mingfei said, pursing his lips. "If possible, I really don't want to see you."

After all, to him, Lu Mingze was like a harbinger of misfortune; every time he appeared, it meant Lu Mingfei would soon encounter a troublesome and difficult situation. Conversely, if Lu Mingze didn't appear, it meant the next mission would be simple and easy.

Lu Mingze wasn't annoyed by Lu Mingfei's words, and still smiled faintly: "Brother, have you ever heard the saying 'objective laws are independent of human will'? It's not because I appeared that you'll be unlucky. It's because you'll be unlucky that I appeared to help you."

So you're still a little angel?

"You can call me that if you want, but brother, your preferred type of angel is probably the Victoria's Secret type, right? You don't like a traditional angel like me."

He really knows how to make sarcastic remarks, making Lu Mingfei almost think that the little devil might actually be his blood-related younger brother or something, even their talent for making sarcastic remarks is inherited.

Lu Mingze smiled and clapped his hands in front of him: "Let's end this chat here. After all, our work as devils is very busy. Casual chatting doesn't count as work time, and the higher-ups won't pay us."

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingfei also became serious and continued the previous topic: "You just said that this mission won't be easy, what do you mean...?"

"That's literally what it means."

Lu Mingze nodded, "Brother, your trip to borrow Samson's dragon bone from the Zhou family this time is fraught with danger, unexpected events, and opportunities, but of course, it will also have a happy ending in the end."

“But shouldn’t the principal have already discussed the specifics with the Zhou family? Our trip to the Zhou family this time is just a formality as representatives of the academy. We’ll complete the handover of the dragon bones with the Zhou family, and then the mission will be over,” Lu Mingfei said.

"Brother, how much do you know about the Zhou family?" Lu Mingze suddenly asked.

Lu Mingfei hesitated for a moment before answering, "...A very ancient mixed-race family, a native mixed-race power in China, with great influence in the mixed-race world of China?"

"anything else?"

"Um...they're mainly based in Xiangyang?"

Lu Mingze smiled and said, "Is that so? Brother, your understanding of the Zhou family is actually limited to this. How can you be sure that the Zhou family's previous promise to Angers to lend you Samson's dragon bones was not just a charade?"

Lu Mingfei was taken aback: "You mean... this mission is another trap?"

"Even if it's a trap, brother, you're not Liu Bang."

Lu Mingze said, crossing his hands on the table: "It's not quite a trap. It's just that Kassel College isn't a monolithic entity. There are huge conflicts between the board of directors, which is the decision-making body, and Angers, who is the management. Even among the board members, the different families have conflicting views and interests. Naturally, a large family like the Zhou family, which has been established for thousands of years, wouldn't be very united internally."

"You mean, there are people within the Zhou family who are willing to cooperate with the academy, and there are also people who are opposed to cooperating with the academy?"

"Brother, you're getting smarter and smarter."

The look of surprise in Lu Mingze's eyes seemed genuine. He smiled and said, "The head of the Zhou family is called 'Nuwa,' and she is also the nominal head of the Zhou family."

Nuwa.

Lu Mingfei silently repeated the name in his mind. For some reason, he felt that the name seemed familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

Lu Mingze continued, "But such a large family cannot be managed by just one young girl. Therefore, the Zhou family naturally developed an organization like the clan council. Nuwa is the nominal head of the Zhou family, but the clan council is the one that manages all the affairs of the Zhou family."

"Little girl? You mean Nuwa was a woman?"

"Yes, she's quite pretty. Brother, are you smitten again?"

"no!"

Lu Mingze smiled noncommittally and continued his introduction:

"The clan council is similar to the board of directors of Kassel College. As the Zhou family has developed to this point, factions within the clan have naturally become deeply entrenched. Based on the different interests of each faction, they can be roughly divided into conservatives and liberals."

"The conservatives believe that the Zhou family has no need to cooperate with the academy or the Secret Party. The Zhou family has been entrenched in China for thousands of years and has won several wars against the Dragon King's resurgence. This was true in the past and it will be true in the future. Therefore, there is no need to cooperate with foreign mixed-race forces like the Secret Party."

Lu Mingfei was somewhat shocked: "Wait, do you mean that the Zhou family once defeated the Dragon King on the battlefield?"

Lu Mingze smiled and said, "Xiangyang is a wonderful place. It is a place where the Chu and Xiang rivers meet and the Jingmen River flows through. If you know anything about it, you will know that Liu Xiu's rebel army was called Chunling Army, and Chunling is located in what is now Xiangyang."

"Are you saying that Liu Xiu was an emperor supported by the Zhou family?"

"It's not really about providing support; it's just a matter of each party getting what they need."

Lu Mingze shrugged: "The world was in chaos, and the Dragon King had resurrected. At that time, China was in a period of great historical upheaval. Humanity not only faced the pressure of the Dragon King's impending resurgence, but also considerable internal conflicts. A chosen one was needed to step forward, unify the chaotic world, and win the direct war against Norton. Liu Xiu had this ability, and being a member of the Han imperial family, the Zhou family naturally chose to cooperate with him." "Then why didn't the Zhou family ever consider becoming emperor themselves?"

"Emperors come and go, but powerful families remain constant. How can an emperor's empire be as secure as that of a powerful family? Moreover, the struggle for power is inherently fraught with uncertainty and chance. A mixed-race family like the Zhou family wouldn't just support one person; they would typically diversify their investments, casting a wide net to catch as many fish as possible. This way, no matter who succeeds in the end, they can enjoy the fruits of victory."

"That's really the behavior of an opportunist... No wonder Huang Chao wanted to establish the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families after the uprising."

"In fact, Huang Chao also suffered a crushing defeat in Xiangyang back then."

Lu Mingze spread his hands: "That's enough about the history lesson. In short, the biggest obstacle for you, brother, is the conservatives within the Zhou family. Samson's dragon bones aren't really a treasure to the Zhou family. The liberals think it's worthwhile to use them to gain the friendship of Kassel College, but the conservatives see this as pandering to Kassel College and betraying the pride of the Zhou family. Therefore, they oppose it."

Lu Mingfei blinked: "I see... So where is the stuff?"

"what?"

"Well..." Lu Mingfei rubbed his hands together, reaching out to Lu Mingze as if asking for something: "What kind of cheat code are you going to give me this time? When you come out at a time like this, don't you usually give me a cheat code to help me solve the difficulties I'll encounter next?"

Lu Mingze smiled wryly: "Brother, you really don't hold back... This time I don't have a suitable secret manual, but I'm giving you my smartest female secretary so she can help you. You'd better cherish her."

The female secretary... does that refer to Su Enxi?
Although Lu Mingfei had already guessed in his heart that whether it was Jiude Mai or Su Enxi, they probably had some connection with Lu Mingze before.

After all, when Jiu De Mai was in danger in Odin's Nibelungen, it was Lu Mingze who guided him into Nibelungen and rescued her. Later, when Lu Mingfei used the business tycoon experience card given to him by Lu Mingze, it was Jiu De Mai who disguised herself as his secretary.

However, this was the first time Lu Mingze had revealed his hand; Su Enxi and the others were indeed connected to him.

"However, there is indeed a way for you, brother, to overcome the opposition of the conservative faction in the Zhou family and successfully borrow the dragon bone," Lu Mingze suddenly said.

Lu Mingfei immediately asked, "What method?"

"No matter how powerful the Zhou family association is, or how stubborn the conservatives are, the actual person in charge of the Zhou family is always Nuwa. Nuwa has veto power over all matters of the Zhou family."

Lu Mingze grinned mischievously: "So as long as you win over Nuwa, not only will you get the dragon bones of Shensun, but half of the Zhou family will be given to you as Nuwa's dowry. That little girl is really quite pretty."

"Pah! I'm devoted to your sisters-in-law, okay!" Lu Mingfei knew that Lu Mingze's mouth couldn't produce anything decent.

"If you're truly devoted, would it be to your sisters-in-law?"

Lu Mingfei couldn't help but stand up, wanting to pinch Lu Mingze's face, who was sitting diagonally opposite him. This little devil really knew how to rub salt in the wound; who said having multiple girlfriends meant he couldn't be devoted?

Just as he reached out his hand, Lu Mingfei suddenly remembered something... He remembered where the little devil was sitting; in the real world, Su Enxi was sitting there.

Lu Mingfei had experienced this many times before. Every time, Lu Mingze would deliberately provoke him into getting angry and attacking him. Then, the moment Lu Mingfei reached out, the little devil would immediately disappear, turning the situation into a romantic comedy where Lu Mingfei would reach out to flirt with other girls.

Realizing something was terribly wrong, Lu Mingfei immediately tried to pull his hand back... but it was too late.

Because the beautiful eyes behind the glasses were already showing a stunned expression, staring blankly at Lu Mingfei's hand that was only a few centimeters away from her cheek, and her pretty face was already faintly flushed.

In an instant, the person opposite him had become Su Enxi, and there was no trace of Lu Mingze left.
Su Enxi was stunned when Lu Mingfei suddenly stood up and extended his hand towards her, not knowing what he wanted to do...

Is it because he's been horny since leaving his girlfriends? But he's only been away from home for less than a day, right? Besides, even if he's horny, shouldn't he be targeting a nobody, not himself? There's never been any mention of an assistant/specialist providing this kind of service.
Or is it because I just kept scolding Lu Mingfei for driving the Impact car at night and disturbing the peace, and he got angry and wanted to drag me to the party as revenge... No way!

But judging from Lu Mingfei's actions, it seems he just wanted to pinch his own face?

For some inexplicable reason, Su Enxi suddenly moved her face closer to Lu Mingfei's hand... If just pinching her cheek would satisfy Lu Mingfei, she could accept it. After all, Mai had pinched her quite a bit, as long as she wasn't asked to join the party.

Lu Mingfei was also suddenly stunned.

His brain was still racing, trying to figure out how to explain the misunderstanding. He finally came up with a lame excuse: "I saw something dirty on your face and wanted to help you remove it." But before he could even utter the excuse, Su Enxi, her pretty face slightly flushed, proactively brought her cheek close to his hand.

The girl's cheeks still had some baby fat from puberty, smooth and soft, and slightly warm.

Lu Mingfei didn't actually have a habit of pinching his girlfriend's cheeks, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a urge to pinch Su Enxi's cheeks... However, he stopped himself the moment the thought crossed his mind. After all, his relationship with Su Enxi wasn't one where he could pinch her cheeks.

...But it doesn't seem like it's a relationship where you can touch someone's face?
For some reason, both of them subconsciously glanced at Zero beside them. The Ice Princess watched their interaction expressionlessly, her delicate face as cold as ever, unperturbed by any change in circumstances.

A few hours later, the plane landed safely at Xiangyang Liuji Airport.

The shuttle bus transported Lu Mingfei and his group through the VIP entrance. The sky was a clear, bright blue, dotted with only a few white clouds.

Sunrise in the east, rain in the west. After a short nap on the plane, I woke up to find myself transported from a torrential downpour to a clear, bright sunny day – a truly magical experience.

When they exited the airport through the VIP passage, someone was already waiting at the entrance. Next to the red Panamera sports car, a figure in a white lab coat stood gracefully, her long black hair neatly combed, a calm and elegant smile on her lips, waving gently at Lu Mingfei and his group.

……

(End of this chapter)