Douluo Continent: My name is Lu Mingfei, and my martial soul is Lu Mingze.

Lu Mingfei did not answer.

He stood there, his golden eyes looking at Wang Dong lying on the ground.

"Senior?" Huo Yuhao called out again.

Lu Mingfei still did not answer.

He raised his hand, and the greatsword reappeared in his grasp.

Golden flames burned on the sword.

He walked towards Wang Dong, step by step, very slowly and steadily.

Huo Yuhao finally noticed that something was wrong.

Lu Mingfei's eyes were golden, while Wang Dong lay motionless on the ground.

"Senior, what are you going to do?" Huo Yuhao asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Lu Mingfei ignored him and continued walking forward.

He walked up to Wang Dong and raised his greatsword.

The sword tip was aimed at Wang Dong's chest.

"Senior!" Huo Yuhao shouted.

Lu Mingfei paused for a moment, but didn't stop.

The sword tip fell downwards.

"Senior, no!"

Huo Yuhao's voice was almost a shout.

The sword tip stopped one centimeter above Wang Dong's chest.

The golden flames scorched Wang Dong's clothes, but did not harm his skin.

Lu Mingfei's hands were trembling.

The golden eyes flickered.

Huo Yuhao rushed over and grabbed Lu Mingfei's wrist.

"Senior, it's me, Huo Yuhao. Look closely, this is Wang Dong, our friend."

Lu Mingfei turned his head, his golden eyes looking at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao felt as if something was squeezing his heart.

It was as if the person standing in front of him was not Lu Mingfei, but a behemoth of a higher dimension, who gave him a feeling of unease just by looking at him.

"Senior, wake up," Huo Yuhao said, his voice trembling.

"I don't know what happened, but you can't hurt Wang Dong. He's not your enemy."

Lu Mingfei's eyes flickered again.

The gold color has faded a bit.

"Senior, do you remember? You guys practiced every day. Wang Dong always beat you down, but you never got angry. Every time, you would get up with a smile and say 'Let's do it again.'"

Huo Yuhao's voice was soft and gentle.

"You said you were partners. Partners shouldn't hurt each other."

Lu Mingfei's hands trembled even more violently.

The flames on the greatsword went out.

"Senior, put down your sword," Huo Yuhao said.

Please.

Lu Mingfei stood there, motionless.

After a long time, he finally let go of her hand.

The greatsword fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Then, Lu Mingfei closed his eyes.

He fell backward.

Huo Yuhao quickly reached out and caught him, holding him in his arms.

Lu Mingfei's breathing was steady, as if he were asleep.

But Huo Yuhao knew this wasn't sleeping.

He looked up at Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao was squatting down next to Wang Dong, frantically checking on his condition.

"How is Wang Dong?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"She's still alive," Xiao Xiao said, "but very weak, as if something has drained her of her strength."

Huo Yuhao breathed a sigh of relief.

Just live.

He looked down at Lu Mingfei in his arms, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

What exactly happened just now?

Why did Lu Mingfei turn out like that?

Why did Wang Dong suddenly collapse?

Why did things turn out like this in just a few seconds?

He had many questions he wanted to ask, but now was not the time to ask.

A commotion arose in the distance.

Someone has noticed what's going on here.

"Someone's coming," Xiao Xiao said.

Huo Yuhao nodded, just about to call for help.

A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

"Don't shout."

Huo Yuhao was taken aback and turned to look.

A girl was standing behind him.

The girl looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. She was tall with long black hair that fell over her shoulders, and her features were so delicate that they looked like they had been painted.

She was wearing a red school uniform with a badge pinned to her chest that had two words engraved on it.

Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted.

Students of Shrek Academy's Inner Court?

That was the strongest gathering place for Soul Masters on the entire continent; every Inner Court student was a monster among monsters.

"You are...?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"Don't ask so many questions," the girl said. "Come with me."

She bent down, grabbed Wang Dong's collar with one hand, and lifted him up like a chick.

"Hold that one tight." She glanced at Lu Mingfei in Huo Yuhao's arms.

"I'll lead the way."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance. Although they didn't know what had happened, they obediently followed.

The girl was fast, but every step she took was steady.

She led the three people through the training ground, through the woods, and along the path.

After walking for about ten minutes, the girl stopped in front of a small building.

The girl pushed open the door and went inside.

"Come in."

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao followed them inside.

The first floor is a living room, simply furnished with only a table, a few chairs, and a bookshelf.

The girl put Wang Dong on the sofa and then pointed to the room next door.

"Put him on the bed in that room."

Huo Yuhao nodded and carried Lu Mingfei into the room.

The room was small, with only a bed, a table, and a wardrobe.

He put Lu Mingfei on the bed and covered him with a blanket.

Lu Mingfei was sleeping soundly, breathing steadily, and his complexion was normal, so he seemed to be fine.

Huo Yuhao breathed a sigh of relief and walked out of the room.

The girl sat on the sofa, legs crossed, looking at Huo Yuhao.

"Please sit down."

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao sat opposite the girl.

"My name is Zhang Lexuan," the girl said.

"Hello, Senior Zhang." Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao said in unison.

Zhang Lexuan nodded.

"Tell me, what just happened?"

Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, then closed it again.

What should he say?

He didn't know what had happened either.

"We...we're not quite sure," Huo Yuhao said honestly.

"We were training at the time, and Senior Lu and Wang Dong were sparring. Then Wang Dong suddenly stopped moving, and Senior Lu told us to back off. Then... then a few seconds later, Wang Dong collapsed, and Senior Lu started acting strangely, almost... almost killed Wang Dong."

Zhang Lexuan frowned.

"A few seconds?"

"Yes, just a few seconds," Huo Yuhao said.

"I remember it clearly. We took about ten steps back, and before we could even stand up straight, we heard Senior Lu shout 'No!' When I turned around, Senior Wang was already lying on the ground."

Zhang Lexuan tapped her fingers on the armrest.

In just a few seconds, Wang Dong was severely injured and almost killed.

Moreover, Lu Mingfei's condition was clearly off; those golden eyes, that terrifying aura...

Even from a distance, she felt a sense of pressure.

What kind of power is that?

"You two go back first," Zhang Lexuan said.

"They can stay with me until they wake up, then we'll talk about it."

Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment.

"Senior, they..."

"Nothing will happen," Zhang Lexuan said. "I promise."

Huo Yuhao looked into Zhang Lexuan's eyes, which held no malice, only seriousness.

He nodded.

"Thank you for your help, senior."

"It's no trouble," Zhang Lexuan said. "You're freshmen, so the college will investigate if anything happens. But there are some things that are better left unsaid."

Huo Yuhao understood what she meant.

Lu Mingfei's behavior just now was clearly abnormal.

If the college finds out, they might make him a research subject.

"Thank you, senior." Huo Yuhao stood up.

Zhang Lexuan waved her hand.

"Go back. Remember, don't tell anyone about what happened today."

"clear."

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao left the small building.

Zhang Lexuan sat on the sofa, looking at the two unconscious people in the room, her brows furrowed.

The Martial Soul of the Body.

Golden eyes.

A terrifying power.

The battle ended in just a few seconds.

These clues, taken together, pointed to a fact she couldn't comprehend.

This freshman named Lu Mingfei harbors a great secret.