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

Lu Mingfei stood at the door, staring at the child in the suit on the bed. He had a million things to say, but in the end, he managed to squeeze out one sentence.

"So you finally decided to come back?"

Lu Mingze swirled his wine glass, looking completely innocent. "Brother, your welcome was so unenthusiastic. I slept in your spiritual sea for so long, and the first thing I did when I woke up was to come see you, and this is how you treat me?"

Lu Mingfei closed the door, pulled up a chair and sat down, looking Lu Mingze up and down.

This kid looks different from before. Although it's still the same face, he has a more indescribable and genuine quality about him.

When I saw him in the sea of ​​consciousness before, I always felt he was like a phantom that could disappear at any moment. Now he sits on the bed, and the mattress has been slightly dented from his sitting on it.

"What exactly happened to you?" Lu Mingfei asked.

"You disappeared after saying goodbye that day; I thought you were dead."

Lu Mingze placed the wine glass on the bedside table, crossed his hands on his knees, and looked like a little adult: "I told you, I won't die, I'm just too tired and fell asleep. I gave you too much power that day, so I overdid it."

"Tell me yourself, you're not even a second-tier city dweller, and you tried to use that level of strength. Could your body have held up? If I hadn't helped you, you'd be lying in a cemetery right now, with a tombstone that says 'Lu Mingfei, died from overconfidence.'"

Lu Mingfei remained silent.

He knew Lu Mingze was telling the truth.

"Then why did you wake up again?" Lu Mingfei asked.

"I'll wake up when I've had enough sleep," Lu Mingze said, shrugging.

"You've been having a pretty busy time lately. You became a disciple of a Super Douluo, entered the Inner Academy, and even started learning about soul tools. I can feel the changes in you even when I'm sleeping."

"You can feel it?"

"Of course."

Lu Mingze smiled: "I am your martial soul, brother. I know when you're happy, and I know when you're sad."

"So you have a physical form now?"

Lu Mingfei stared at him for a long time, then suddenly reached out and pinched Lu Mingze's cheek.

It feels real, warm, and elastic, just like a real person.

"Holy crap, I can really touch it," Lu Mingfei muttered.

Lu Mingze slapped his hand away: "Nonsense, of course I can touch you, but I'm not a physical entity, I'm just an external manifestation of your spiritual sea."

"That's a bit too high-class, so outsiders can't see you?"

Lu Mingze nodded and said, "That's right."

Lu Mingfei imagined it for a moment, then his lips twitched: "Wouldn't that be really weird? What if other people saw me talking to thin air or something?"

"That's why I don't usually go out casually." Lu Mingze sat back on the bed and picked up his wine glass again.

"I only showed myself today so it would be easier for me to talk to you. Normally I stay in your spiritual sea; just call me in your mind when you want to find me."

Lu Mingfei was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "Lu Mingze, thank you for what happened that day."

Lu Mingze blinked: "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for helping me," Lu Mingfei said.

He spoke softly and in a flat tone, but Lu Mingze could tell he was serious.

Lu Mingze put down his wine glass, stood up, walked to Lu Mingfei, and looked up at him. Although he looked like a child, there was a maturity in his eyes that was completely out of character for his age.

"Brother, remember one thing."

"you say."

"If you live, I can live. If you become stronger, I can become stronger," Lu Mingze said.

"So you don't need to feel like you owe me anything. Helping you is helping myself."

Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt tight.

Lu Mingze patted his knee: "Alright, alright, stop making that face. We're like brothers, aren't we? From now on, just focus on your cultivation and don't show off all the time. That's the biggest thanks you can give me."

"Okay." Lu Mingfei nodded. "I definitely won't try to be a hero again."

Lu Mingze nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject: "By the way, bro, when do you guys get your vacation?"

Lu Mingfei thought for a moment: "It should be soon. The freshman assessment just ended, and the holiday will start in a while. What's up?"

Lu Mingze's eyes lit up: "After the holiday, let's go to the far north."

Lu Mingfei was stunned: "Where?"

"The far north."

"Are you crazy?" Lu Mingfei stared wide-eyed.

"Is that a place even fit for humans? It's tens of degrees below zero, enough to freeze a person into an icicle. I heard there are even 100,000-year-old soul beasts roaming there; any one of them could easily eat me as a snack."

"No way, I'd rather die than go."

Lu Mingze wasn't in a hurry, and slowly said, "Brother, do you know what's in the far north?"

"There is ice, there is snow, and there is a freezing wind."

There's still a chance.

Lu Mingze said, "This is a great opportunity. If you get it, your cultivation speed will at least double."

Lu Mingfei's expression shifted slightly, but he still shook his head: "No. I'm doing fine now. Old Song is teaching me, and Uncle Qian is teaching me soul tools. I'm living a fulfilling life. So what if it doubles? I'm not in a hurry."

"Brother, you're not in a hurry now, but have you thought about this?" Lu Mingze's tone became serious.

"You became a disciple of a level 97 Super Douluo, entered the inner academy, and received so many resources. But your soul power still hasn't broken through to the second ring. Elder Song is good to you, Qian Duoduo is good to you, but can they be good to you forever?"

Lu Mingfei remained silent.

"Shrek Academy never supports idlers," Lu Mingze continued.

"You're only able to stay in the inner courtyard now because Elder Mu spoke up and Elder Song was willing to take you in. But if you continue like this for a year, two years, or three years, and your soul power is still at the bottom, do you think the inner courtyard will still keep you?"

Lu Mingfei lowered his head and looked at his hands.

"Brother, I'm not forcing you."

Lu Mingze's voice softened: "I just wanted to tell you that this opportunity is truly rare. Although the far north is dangerous, with me here, you won't die. Besides, that opportunity is too important to you; if you miss it this time, who knows when you'll get another one."

Lu Mingfei bit his lip and thought for a long time.

Lu Mingze didn't urge him, but sat quietly to the side, sipping his red wine.

The scene looked particularly incongruous—a child in a suit, sitting with his legs crossed, drinking red wine, his expression more composed than that of an adult.

"Are you sure you won't die?" Lu Mingfei finally asked.

"Sure."

"Are you sure that so-called 'opportunity' really works?"

"Sure."

Are you sure you can protect me?

"Brother, when have I ever lied to you?"

Lu Mingfei thought about it and realized that there really wasn't one.

Although Lu Mingze always led him into trouble, he never truly harmed him. Whenever he was in danger, Lu Mingze would step in to help.

"Fine," Lu Mingfei gritted his teeth. "I'll go! What's there to be afraid of!"