Dragon Clan: Lu Mingfei Returns from Japan

Chapter 736 Nuwa
The others nodded in agreement, expressing their understanding of the situation.

Although Lu Mingfei was very curious about the rather mysterious head of the Zhou family, it would be somewhat impolite for a guest to meet him abruptly without an invitation.

He will stay at the Zhou family's house for a while longer, and there will be opportunities to meet with Nuwa.

Just as she turned to leave, the wooden door creaked open again, and a young woman in flowing robes and flowing hair stepped out. Her veil covered the lower half of her face, revealing only her beautiful eyes as she surveyed the crowd.

"Are they distinguished guests from Kassel College?"

The young woman spoke, her voice clear and calm: "Nuwa said that it is fate that we have met you all at Fuxi Tower, so she would like to invite you all upstairs for a cup of tea and to enjoy the lake view together. I wonder if any of you gentlemen have the time?"

Lu Mingfei, Su Enxi, and Ling exchanged bewildered glances, surprised to receive a meeting invitation from Nuwa so quickly.

The middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then hurriedly said, "How can this be? Outsiders who wish to visit Nuwa should first go through the clan council..."

Before he could finish speaking, the masked girl interrupted him, saying, "The Nuwa Goddess said that these guests are friends who have come from afar. There's no need for such trouble when friends meet."

"but……"

"Or is it that you, the senior executive, wish to speak with Nuwa in person?" The masked girl's clear voice suddenly turned icy, as if the temperature had dropped dozens of degrees in an instant.

silence.

Lu Mingfei didn't know the relationship between the masked girl and Nuwa, but he figured she was probably Nuwa's personal maid or confidante, and her words and actions often conveyed Nuwa's own will.

Although Lu Mingze had said that the Zhou family was not a monolithic entity, and that the Zhou family council, like the board of directors of Kassel College, was divided among its members pursuing their own interests, Nuwa was, after all, the absolute head of the Zhou family. Even the clan council probably wouldn't dare to challenge Nuwa's authority.

The middle-aged man named Zhou Gao's expression changed, and he immediately bowed his head to the girl: "No... Since this is Nuwa's wish, then I will take my leave. I will not disturb Nuwa's meeting with the distinguished guests."

Zhou Gao left in a hurry. Lu Mingfei withdrew his gaze from her departing figure, and as soon as he turned his head, he saw the girl's beautiful eyes curving gently like the moon. Although her veil covered the lower half of her face, it was still clear that she was smiling. She stretched out her slender arm and gestured for Lu Mingfei and the others to "please".

Lu Mingfei's gaze fell on the girl's wrist, noticing that she was also wearing a bracelet, though it was slightly different from his. His bracelet had a small key-shaped pendant, while the girl's bracelet had a shield and sword charm wrapped in iron chains.

This pavilion is a multi-tiered wooden and stone structure with four doors and windows offering views of the shimmering lake outside. Its double eaves and carved beams are interwoven with painted rafters, and the walls are adorned with murals and inscribed poems. A magnificent bronze pillar stands at the very center of the pavilion, presumably the main support for the entire structure.

There seemed to be no one inside the building at the moment. A gentle summer breeze blew from the lake, rustling as it passed through the inner hall. The girl led Lu Mingfei and the others upstairs, and Lu Mingfei then noticed that although the layout of each floor was roughly the same, their functions seemed to differ.

The first floor had doors and windows on all four sides, and the walls were covered with murals and inscriptions; the second and third floors seemed to be a library. The light suddenly became dim the moment you stepped onto the second floor, and the bookshelves were full of books. Judging from the thread-woven spines, they seemed to be ancient books, which was quite in line with Lu Mingfei's stereotype of such an ancient family.

As you walk up the stairs to the fourth floor, the light becomes bright again.

The masked girl stopped at the top of the stairs on the fourth floor, turned around, bowed slightly to the group, and once again gestured for them to proceed. Lu Mingfei knew they had arrived.

Zhou Li nodded and smiled: "Thank you for leading the way, Xiao Tong."

The girl smiled and said, "Miss Li, you're too kind. It's just my duty."

Lu Mingfei recalled that the masked girl had previously addressed the middle-aged man as "Senior Executive," and at the time he had been somewhat puzzled as to why there would be an outsider within the Zhou family. Now, hearing the girl call Zhou Li "Miss Li," he suddenly understood.

It's probably because everyone in the Zhou family shares the same surname that addressing someone by their surname as "Manager Zhou" or "Miss Zhou" would be very confusing, as there are countless Miss Zhous in the Zhou family. That's why they address each other by their given names.

Just like in "Dream of the Red Chamber," Jia Baoyu is called "Second Master Bao" instead of "Second Master Jia," Jia Lian is called "Second Master Lian," and Jia Huan is called "Third Master Huan." Only Lin Daiyu, who is not related by surname, is called "Miss Lin."

Lu Mingfei politely nodded to the girl to express his gratitude for her leading the way. He followed Zhou Li up to the fourth floor.

A rosewood table and chair, both also made of rosewood, with a white chrysanthemum-patterned gauze curtain hanging above the table. At the end of the table are a charcoal stove and a ceramic teapot for brewing tea. This is an elegant room with a strong antique charm, and the owner of the room is naturally also elegant.

Through the white chrysanthemum-covered gauze curtain, Lu Mingfei could vaguely see that elegant and graceful figure behind it.

Zhou Li walked to the front seat at the wooden table first and gestured with her eyes for Lu Mingfei and the others to sit down.

Lu Mingfei looked at the four chairs around the table, and reluctantly sat down in the second seat, which was also almost directly opposite the figure behind the curtain. Ling and Su Enxi sat down in the third and fourth seats respectively. Zhou Li finally took the seat of honor. From here, one could have a direct view of the entire lake.

"Our distinguished guests have come from afar, and we should have met you on a more formal occasion."

The person behind the screen spoke, their voice like a sudden gust of wind tinkling silver bells, carrying a hint of apology that stirred the summer's chill:
"However, due to the upcoming Ghost Festival, family affairs have been busy, and I haven't been able to spare the time. That's why I postponed the formal meeting with you all. Just now, upstairs, I happened to see that you all seemed to want to come up for a visit, so I had Xiaotong come down to invite you all up for a cup of tea. It's not a formal meeting, just a friendly chat. I hope I haven't been too forward?"

If Lu Mingfei was still speculating just now, he is now certain that the girl behind the gauze curtain is the Zhou family's patriarch, Nuwa.

Su Enxi immediately smiled and said, "You're too kind. We were just wondering if we were being too forward by suddenly coming to visit you."

Nuwa smiled and said, "I just finished dealing with some matters and was planning to rest for a while in the Fuxi Tower to enjoy the lake view before going back. It just so happens that I ran into you all. It can be said that we are destined to meet."

Lu Mingfei listened quietly to the two girls' conversation and realized that Lu Mingze's decision to appoint Su Enxi as his assistant was indeed well-deserved; she could effortlessly pick up on common phrases in social situations. With each exchange between Lu Mingfei and Su Enxi, the atmosphere quickly became lively.

A masked girl named Xiaotong walked over from behind, nodding slightly as she passed Lu Mingfei and his companions. She then knelt at the far end of the long table, took out tea leaves, placed them in a ceramic teapot, and began brewing tea. The blue-and-white porcelain tea set, which appeared to be quite valuable, seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. A gurgling sound emanated from the teapot. Lu Mingfei sat upright, unsure where to look.

If you don't look in the direction of the goddess Nuwa during your first meeting, but instead look around aimlessly, it would be extremely disrespectful.

Although Nuwa seems to have lived for over a thousand years, and is old enough to be her great-great-grandmother, she is ultimately a woman, and her figure resembles that of a young girl. Even through a veil, staring at a young girl seems rather impolite.

After hesitating for a moment, he could only look straight ahead, his gaze landing a few centimeters above Nuwa's head, staring at the few white chrysanthemums painted in ink on the gauze curtain. It looked somewhat like an ancient ink painting of flowers and birds, with a poem inscribed on it.

At this moment, Nuwa suddenly spoke up: "Mr. Lu seems quite interested in this painting?"

Lu Mingfei was taken aback, realizing that Nuwa had noticed him staring at the painting on the gauze curtain, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Hmm... I think the painting on the gauze curtain is quite beautiful, very vivid," Lu Mingfei replied with a casual excuse.

Through the gauze curtain, Lu Mingfei vaguely saw Nuwa wink and smile, then turn to look at the masked girl kneeling at the end of the table brewing tea: "Xiaotong, the guest praised your painting as very beautiful."

Xiao Tong's eyes curved into crescent moons as she gracefully poured the brewed tea into a blue-and-white porcelain teacup, replying politely, "Thank you for your praise, Young Master Mingfei... Ah, I'm sorry, I'm used to calling the young masters and ladies by their names at home, and I subconsciously addressed you by your first name as well. I'm truly sorry."

"It's alright, it's alright," Lu Mingfei quickly said. He didn't really mind such a small matter; in fact, he found the name "Young Master Mingfei" more acceptable than "Mr. Lu."

Although calling him "Young Master" made him sound like a spoiled brat, calling him "Mr. Lu" like Zhou Li did made him sound too old... He was still a high school student in the prime of his youth.

"Miss Xiaotong really likes painting?" Lu Mingfei asked, feeling he had found a topic to discuss.

Firstly, it was to change the subject; secondly, leaving Su Enxi to deal with the Zhou family alone in social situations made him seem a bit like a hands-off manager, since he was the mission specialist for this mission, and Su Enxi and Ling were his assistants.

Xiao Tong gracefully walked to the group and served tea to each of them: "Young Master Mingfei, you can just call me Xiao Tong. It's just something I did to pass the time; it's not much of a work."

"Really? I think it's quite beautiful," Lu Mingfei said, taking a small sip of tea, his eyes lighting up. Although he knew nothing about tea, he could tell from the lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth that it was definitely a good tea.

Nuwa smiled and said, "Right? I also think Xiaotong's painting is very beautiful, which is why I specially hung this gauze curtain here."

The masked girl named Xiaotong seemed to be a maid of the Nuwa Goddess, but Lu Mingfei sensed a hint of...care in the Nuwa Goddess's tone.
"Mingfei."

Nuwa spoke up: "I hope it's alright if I just call you Mingfei? Other forms of address don't seem quite appropriate."

“It’s okay,” Lu Mingfei replied. “My elders all call me by my name.”

Although his only real elders at home were his uncle and aunt... his parents hadn't been home since he could remember, and they rarely even called him. Perhaps the principal could be considered an elder? After all, he was a companion of Lu Shanyan's great-great-grandfather; in ancient times, he'd probably be considered his great-great-grandfather in Angers? The principal also addressed him by his given name, Mingfei.

With a soft "pfft," Nuwa couldn't help but chuckle, then asked through the gauze curtain in a slightly resentful tone, "Does my voice sound that old?"

Lu Mingfei thought to himself, "Your voice doesn't sound that old, it sounds like a teenage girl... but the problem is, you're actually that old!"

The Zhou family has a history of thousands of years, and you are the head of the Zhou family... Your generation is probably about the same as my little dragon girl's.

However, Nuwa obviously didn't really blame Lu Mingfei. She then asked, "Mingfei, how long can you stay at the Zhou family this time? There shouldn't be any rush, right?"

Lu Mingfei replied, "No rush."

“Well, that’s good. I’ve already discussed with your school’s principal, Angers, the reason you came here. Don’t worry, that piece of dragon bone was cut off from Samson’s body by your own hands, so it was originally yours. Logically speaking, I should return it to its rightful owner as soon as possible.”

Nuwa said, "However, the Mirror Pavilion cannot be opened during the Zhongyuan Festival. Therefore, it is impossible to retrieve the dragon bones of Shensun. It will only take a little longer for you. The dragon bones of Shensun can only be returned to you, Mingfei, after the Zhongyuan Festival ends."

From Nuwa's words, Lu Mingfei deduced that the "Mirror Pavilion" was probably a place like the "ice cellar" of Kassel College, specifically used to store the college's precious collections. The dragon bone cross of Constantine was also stored in the ice cellar by the principal.

Lu Mingfei wasn't in a rush, but in his experience, the longer things dragged on, the more likely they were to go wrong.

The principal was wrong; if he had told us earlier that the Zhou family was holding a sacrificial ceremony, he should have arranged for him to carry out the task later!
Although there's no need to attend classes while on a mission, and the scenery of Zhou Garden is quite nice, with its Jingchu-style hard-gable roof and purlin-style architecture, it's much more pleasing to the eye than those random artificial ancient-style towns. It's not bad to consider it a study trip... But can a study trip without a girlfriend by your side really be called a study trip?

Suddenly, a faint bell rang out from afar, reminding Lu Mingfei of the time-telling bells in temples.

However, he immediately noticed the figure behind the gauze curtain move slightly. Xiao Tong, who was kneeling at the end of the table, stood up and walked back behind the gauze curtain. Nuwa smiled apologetically and said, "We had a very pleasant chat today, but it seems our casual conversation has to end here."

Lu Mingfei, recalling the earlier chime, realized that this sudden order to leave was probably related to the chime, and replied, "Please continue with your business."

"Okay. Xiao Li, why don't you take your guests for a good tour of the house?"

"Yes," Zhou Li replied.

……

(End of this chapter)