Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"Ok?"

Frillie followed his gaze to the still curtain, her emerald green eyes narrowing slightly. After sensing for a moment, she shook her head: "I didn't see any obvious figures. Nor did I sense any strong malice or magical fluctuations. However, the atmosphere here is slightly unnatural."

Even Frillian sensed something was amiss? Lu Mingfei's heart sank even further. He looked again at the chef with the tattoo on his arm, only to see the chef still expressionlessly wiping his knives, seemingly oblivious to the commotion in the kitchen.

"Savior?" Lu Mingfei's mind was in turmoil. "What savior? Do I look like I can save people? This place is really eerie! Ghostly Japanese food, could there really be ghosts? Or something even more troublesome than ghosts?"

He suddenly found the food, which had just been incredibly delicious, hard to swallow. He quickly paid the bill: 800 yuan, quite expensive, but the chef's skill certainly justified the price. Lu Mingfei practically dragged Frilian away from the Japanese restaurant called "Fierce Ghost."

Chapter 222 The Fierce Ghosts

Lu Mingfei and Frilian disappeared outside the "Haunted" Japanese restaurant. The lingering sound of the crisp wind chimes had not yet faded when the originally quiet and slightly oppressive atmosphere inside the restaurant suddenly changed.

Behind the bar, the head chef, whose arms were covered in menacing tattoos and who exuded a powerful aura, slowly put down the gleaming yakiniku knife he had been polishing. The solemn expression on his face, previously focused on cooking, vanished, replaced by absolute respect and a chilling aura. He bowed slightly, facing the deep blue curtain at the far end of the bar.

In the private booth, the elegant elderly woman in a kimono, dining alone, gently wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief and slowly stood up. Her back was ramrod straight, her eyes no longer gentle, but sharp as a hawk's, and she walked steadily to the bar.

The two middle-aged Japanese men, who appeared to be businessmen, stopped their hushed conversation. The weariness on their faces vanished, and their eyes became sharp and alert. They also stood up and stood solemnly to the side.

The three young Japanese guests' playful expressions vanished, replaced by unusual quiet and obedience. They quickly cleared their table of dishes and then stood respectfully in the corner.

As if an invisible switch had been pressed, all the customers and employees in the store instantly shed their disguises and revealed their true identities. They were not ordinary diners, but members of the "Fierce Demon Clan," a dark organization of mixed Japanese blood, and direct subordinates of the highest-ranking executive, Genji.

The deep blue curtain was gently lifted by a slender, pale hand with distinct knuckles. The figure that had been glimpsed briefly behind the crack in the door slowly stepped out.

She was dressed in a magnificent purple kimono embroidered with subtle patterns, loosely draped with a haori. Her long, smooth, jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist. Her skin was almost translucent with its whiteness, and her features were as delicate as a doll's, especially her slightly upturned amber eyes, which possessed a breathtaking, androgynous beauty and eeriness.

It was Minamoto no Chiki, the Dragon King of the Demon Clan, an extremely evil demon, yet she possessed an appearance as pure and flawless as a virgin.

"My Lady!" Everyone, including the head chef, bowed deeply, their voices low and filled with awe.

Genji waved his hand gently and gracefully sat down in the central position at the bar that the chef had just prepared for him. His gaze swept over everyone and finally landed on the chef.

"Wang Ma, today's tuna belly is cut 0.3 millimeters too thick," said Genji's soft and pleasant voice, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

The head chef, Sakurai Ohma, one of the core combatants of the Oni Clan, immediately knelt on one knee, cold sweat beading on his forehead: "This subordinate has failed in his duty! Please punish me, Lady Child!"

“It’s alright,” Yuan Zhinv said calmly, her fingertips lightly tapping the smooth bar surface. “As long as the etiquette for entertaining guests is not neglected, it’s fine.”

At this moment, the elderly woman in the kimono, a senior officer in charge of intelligence and internal discipline within the Oni Clan, codenamed "Mother Yaksha," stepped forward and reported in her aged yet clear voice: "Lady Nagisa, it's confirmed. The two who just left are Lu Mingfei, an S-rank student from Kassel College, and Frilian, who recently appeared by his side and is rated A. Her origins are mysterious, and she is suspected of possessing special auxiliary incantations. She has been temporarily designated a Magician."

Yuan Zhinv picked up a glass of sake that had been filled at some point in time, swirled it gently, and her amber eyes gleamed with a complex light: "Lu Mingfei, Lu-kun. The new star of Kassel College, or rather, the monster."

Sakurai Kogure, the beautiful woman playing the role of a young guest, also restrained all her liveliness and respectfully added, "According to the intelligence we intercepted from within Kassel and the Japanese branch, although official records are vague, multiple pieces of evidence strongly suggest that Lu Mingfei was very likely deeply involved in, or even orchestrated, the fall of Norton, the King of Bronze and Fire, and Fenrir, the King of Earth and Mountains. His S-rank bloodline rating is by no means undeserved; he is suspected of possessing an extremely rare, time-related dangerous Word of Power, possibly Time Zero."

These words caused a subtle commotion in the quiet shop. Even though these were all elites of the Demon Clan, they were still shocked to hear about the feat of "killing two Dragon Kings." Dragon Kings were the nightmares of the hybrid world's pinnacle, symbols of power.

That seemingly timid, even ordinary young man, actually possessed such an astonishing record?

Genjiro downed the sake in her cup in one gulp, a cryptic smile playing on her lips: "Killing the Dragon King, huh? That old Herzog dreamed of, yet a boy from China has accomplished it all. How ironic."

His gaze deepened, as if piercing through walls to see Lu Mingfei disappearing into the distance. "Lu Jun, he seems different from the rumors. More like a frightened rabbit?"

He muttered to himself, then shook his head. "No, how could someone who is valued so highly by that old fox Angers and carries the blood of the Dragon King be simple? That appearance is probably just his best disguise."

"Lady Chijo, you just sent him a telepathic message," Sakurai Ohma asked cautiously, raising his head.

Yuan Zhinu put down her wine glass, her fingertips tracing the cold rim: "I just said hello. Isn't the title 'savior' quite fitting for him? For us, mired in the mire and yearning to break free from the shackles of fate, isn't someone capable of slaying dragons a potential savior?"

The old woman, known as the "Woman Demon," pondered, "Does Your Excellency mean to use Lu Mingfei's power to fight against the Snake Clan? Or rather, to fight against the patriarch hiding behind the scenes?"

“The Eight Serpent Clan?” Genji scoffed, her smile filled with endless sorrow and mockery. “They are nothing but pitiful creatures bound in outdated shackles, including my foolish brother. The true enemy always hides in the deeper darkness. Herzog, and the real nightmare slumbering in the destiny of the White King’s bloodline.”

He stood up, the hem of his kimono flowing like water: "The appearance of Lu Jun is a variable, a huge variable. He has the power to disrupt the balance. We need to contact him and understand him, but we must not disturb him, much less arouse the vigilance of Kassel College and the Snake Clan."

Genjiro's gaze swept over each of her subordinates present: "From today onwards, strengthen the surveillance of Lu Mingfei and Frilian's whereabouts, but be sure to keep your distance and absolutely not be detected. Ohma, your shop can be used as an informal base from now on. Kogure, use your channels to continue to gather all information about Frilian; I am very interested in her magical words."

"Yes, Lady Child!" everyone responded in unison.

Yuan Zhinv walked to the window, lifted a corner of the heavy curtain, gazed at the night view of the town outside, and murmured softly, as if asking herself, or as if asking someone far away:

"Lu Jun, when you learn that your reputation as a dragon slayer has spread to this far east, and that a group of ghosts see you as a possible hope, what will you think? Will you feel fear, disgust, or will you, like when you slew the Dragon King, eliminate us without hesitation?"

The shop was completely silent, with only the soft, melodious tune of the shamisen echoing in the background.

Chapter 223 Sakurai Kogure

With a gentle wave of her hand, Minamoto no Chiki, the Demoness, Ohma, and their other subordinates vanished silently from the demon-infested Japanese restaurant, leaving only silence and the lingering aroma of food. The heavy door was carefully closed by the last person to leave, shutting out everything from the outside world.

Under the dim yellow light inside the store, only Genjiro and Sakurai Kogure remained.

Yuan Zhinü leaned languidly against the bar, his gorgeous purple kimono making his skin appear even paler, and his breathtaking beauty now seemed fragile. He closed his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath them, as if he were somewhat tired.

"Xiao Mu," he called softly, his voice like a dream, "my shoulders are a little sore."

“Yes, Lady Chizuru,” Sakurai Kogure replied softly, her respectful expression tinged with tenderness and affection. She walked behind Minamoto Chizuru, reached out her hands, and gently placed them on his slender yet incredibly strong shoulders.

Her fingers were long and strong, with exceptionally soft fingertips. The massage began, her movements precise and rhythmic. First came gentle pressure to ease surface stiffness, then her fingertips gradually increased the pressure, kneading the tense muscle groups, searching for any knotted tendons. Her technique was professional; every press and every knead was just right, effectively relieving fatigue without causing discomfort.

In this soothing rhythm, Sakurai Kogure's thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the distant past, to that dark time she desperately wanted to forget, yet which had profoundly shaped her.

It was in a filthy, dilapidated alleyway, filled with the smell of cheap incense and the stench of old people, in a shop with a sign that read "Acupressure & Hypnosis." At that time, Sakurai Kogure was just a thin, terrified, and homeless girl, ostracized because of the dragon blood that occasionally went out of control within her. To survive, she was forced to learn a trade from a gaunt, cloudy-eyed old man.

The older man called himself "Master" and taught her two things: massage techniques, which he claimed were ancestral methods for relaxing muscles and tendons; and hypnosis, which he called "the art of soothing the mind." The massage practice was tedious and painful. The Master's hands often roamed over her body, euphemistically calling it "correcting her posture," but the sticky, cold touch made her feel nauseous. The hypnosis was even more terrifying. In the dimly lit room, listening to the Master's deep, repetitive instructions, she often felt her consciousness blur and her body out of control.

She vividly remembered that rainy night when her master, under the guise of testing her learning, had her give him a deep relaxation massage. The cheap sake and the rotten smell of the old man were nauseating. When she massaged the back of his neck, his withered hand suddenly grabbed her wrist with astonishing strength. His cloudy eyes were filled with desire.

"Xiao Mu, your skills are getting better and better," the master's voice was hoarse. "Let your master reward you properly."

Extreme fear and humiliation overwhelmed her instantly. But at that moment, the massage techniques she had been forced to learn and practice repeatedly over the years, as well as the knowledge about acupoints, meridians, and weaknesses of the human body, flashed clearly in her mind like a cold electric current.

She didn't scream or struggle. Instead, she used the most relaxing techniques her master had taught her, gently massaging the back of his neck and shoulder blades, even mimicking the soft tone used during hypnosis: "Master, relax, I will make you feel very comfortable."

The old man indeed relaxed his guard, letting out a satisfied groan, and loosened his grip on her wrist. In that moment of utter lapse in attention, Sakurai Kogure's eyes suddenly turned icy and sharp. With lightning speed, she ripped off the rough cloth binding her hair with her other hand, and with all her might, strangled her master's neck with it!

The old man's eyes widened in terror as he tried to struggle, but Sakurai Kogure knew every weakness of his body. She pressed her knee firmly against his lower back, crossed her arms, and tightened the cloth strap around his neck. She had learned how to quickly render someone unconscious by pressing pressure points on their neck. Suffocation turned the old man's face a deep purplish-red. He futilely scratched at the cloth strap around his neck, finally collapsing and falling silent.

The rain continued to fall, washing away the filth of the alley. Sakurai Kogure expressionlessly released her grip, watching the body that had brought her endless nightmares slide to the ground. She carefully cleaned the scene, taking the little money her master had saved and all the notes about massage and hypnosis. Then, without looking back, she walked into the rainy night, burying that sordid past along with the corpse, completely.

From that time on, she never used hypnosis again, but the massage technique, along with that bloody memory, was deeply imprinted in her soul and muscles. Until she met Genji, a being more beautiful and more powerful than herself. Only in his presence would she once again use this blood-stained technique, carefully dispelling his fatigue.

The feedback from her fingertips—the gradual relaxation of the young girl's neck and shoulder muscles—pulled Sakurai Kogure back to reality from her cold memories. She composed herself and focused even more intently on serving the monarch before her.

"Kogure's technique always makes people feel relaxed," Genji said softly, breaking the silence with her eyes closed.

"It's my honor to help you relieve your fatigue," Sakurai Kogure replied softly.

"What do you think of Lu Mingfei just now, Mr. Lu?" Yuan Zhinv changed the subject and returned to the main topic.

Sakurai Kogure's hands continued moving as she carefully organized her thoughts: "He seems very ordinary, even somewhat timid. This is completely different from the aura he was rumored to have when he killed the Dragon King. If it weren't for multiple cross-checking of information, it would be hard to believe that he did it. That Frilian is also strange; her aura is very restrained, and she doesn't seem to have any obvious aggression, but she has an unfathomable calmness."

Yuan Zhinu chuckled lightly, a hint of amusement in her voice: "Ordinary? Cowardly? Perhaps. But Angers and Kassel College aren't blind. Moreover, truly terrifying beasts often know best how to disguise themselves as harmless. Don't forget, we, the Fierce Ghost Clan, are also masters of disguise."

He paused, his tone tinged with complex emotion: "The Snake Clan is keeping an increasingly tight watch on my foolish brother and Uesugi Erii. That old monster Herzog is probably plotting something again. The fact that Kassel College sent Lu Mingfei to Japan at this time is definitely not just for making a movie."

"Do you believe that Lu Mingfei was an advance operative sent by Kassel?" Sakurai Kogure asked.

"Uncertain. But his arrival is a signal in itself, an opportunity to break the balance." Genji opened her eyes, her amber pupils flashing with an eerie light. "We need patience, Kogure. Just like when you strangled that old man, we need to seize the opportunity and strike decisively. Perhaps, this Lord Lu will be the best lever for us to pry open the stubborn rock of the Snake Clan and Herzog."

Kogure's fingers paused slightly as she massaged them, then resumed as usual: "Kogure understands. We will follow them like shadows, awaiting your instructions."

Yuan Zhinv closed her eyes again, and the store fell silent once more, with only the soft breathing of the two of them.

Chapter 224 Lu Mingze: Good morning, Lu Mingfei

The dawn, like a thief, crept in through the gaps in the hotel's not-so-thick curtains, casting a narrow beam of light on the dimly lit room floor.

Lu Mingfei slowly woke up, his consciousness rising slowly and laboriously like wreckage that had sunk into the deep sea.

First, he felt the supportive, not-so-soft, mattress beneath him, followed by the slight weight of the thin blanket covering his body. He let out a muffled nasal sound, somewhere between a groan and a sigh, and reluctantly opened his eyes.

My vision was initially blurry, but the simple outline of the ceiling light gradually became clear.

Lu Mingfei blinked, trying to dispel the stinging and sleepiness in his eyes. It was another new day, in a temporary dwelling that was neither entirely familiar nor completely unfamiliar. He slowly sat up, his bones making a series of faint "crackling" sounds, like rusty parts struggling to function. His hair was a mess, sticking up in a tangled mess; without even looking in a mirror, he knew his current appearance was probably not far removed from a bombed-out bird's nest.

He slipped on the slightly worn plastic slippers that were placed beside the bed, and walked unsteadily toward the small bathroom in the corner of the room, the wooden floor making a slight creaking sound under his feet.

"Clap."

The old-fashioned round switch was pressed, and a stark white light instantly filled the cramped space. The bathroom was small, but fairly clean. White tiles, a stainless steel sink, and a few water stains on the sink wall.

A square mirror with slightly rusted edges was facing him, clearly reflecting his current appearance.

really.

Lu Mingfei pursed his lips at his reflection in the mirror. His hair looked like it had been through a storm, his eyes were unfocused, and there were two faint dark circles under his eyes. There was also a suspicious trace of what looked like drool at the corner of his mouth. His whole face screamed "I haven't slept well" and "I don't want to face reality."

He turned on the tap, and icy water gushed out, splashing up tiny droplets. He scooped up a handful of water and splashed it forcefully on his face. The biting cold instantly penetrated his skin, making him shiver and dispelling most of his lingering sleepiness. He let out a long sigh, water droplets trickling down his cheeks and hair, dripping onto the edge of the sink and the collar of his pajamas.

He picked up the toothpaste provided by the hostel, which smelled of soap, squeezed a long strip onto his toothbrush, and began mechanically and rhythmically cleaning his teeth. His mouth full of foam made Lu Mingfei look like a dazed sea creature blowing bubbles. As he brushed, he idly glanced at himself in the mirror, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.

Things seem to be going well lately?

Nothing earth-shattering happened, and there was no imminent life-or-death crisis. This stable, almost mundane state of being was like a luxurious gift to him, who had experienced too many magnificent, or rather, thrilling, events.

With his mouth full of foam, he mumbled indistinctly at his reflection in the mirror, "Tsk, Lu Mingfei, Lu Mingfei, you, aren't you a bit, um, 'cheapskate'? You're too bland, which makes you seem unreal."

Lu Mingfei chuckled self-deprecatingly, foam almost spilling from the corner of his mouth. "But this feeling of unreality is quite comfortable. It would be best if it could stay like this forever."

Just as he was immersed in this slightly dazed self-deprecation, something unexpected happened.

The image in the mirror didn't freeze when he stopped speaking. The "Lu Mingfei" with messy hair and foamy mouth suddenly curled up a mocking smile that wasn't his own. Then, the person in the mirror's eyes changed; they were no longer unfocused and dull, but became deep and sharp.

Lu Mingfei's brushing motion abruptly froze, his pupils contracting. He stared intently at the mirror, his heart pounding as if gripped by an invisible hand. Even the foam in his mouth stopped expanding.

The "he" in the mirror slowly raised his hand to wipe away non-existent foam from the corner of his mouth. Then, that familiar voice, piercing through the sound of rushing water, resounded directly in his mind—no, it seemed to resonate in every corner of this small space:

Good morning, my dear brother.

Lu Mingfei sprayed all the foam from his mouth with a "pfft," making a mess of the mirror and sink.

He frantically turned on the faucet, coughed several times, and then pointed at the mirror, his voice trembling with shock: "Lu, Lu Mingze! You, you fucking pulled another surprise attack! Can't you ever make a normal entrance?! You know you can scare people to death!"

The image of Lu Mingze in the mirror had completely transformed into his own likeness. It was no longer Lu Mingfei's reflection, but a handsome young man wearing a well-fitting black suit with an elegant bow tie.

"A normal entrance?" Lu Mingze blinked his overly clear eyes, his tone innocent yet teasing. "Knocking on the door? And then saying, 'Brother, can I come in and watch you brush your teeth?' Wouldn't that make me seem more like a pervert?"

"You're already weird enough as you are!" Lu Mingfei said irritably, wiping his face and wet chest with a towel, still shaken. "You're like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace! Do you enjoy seeing me scared out of my wits? What kind of twisted pleasure is that?"

Lu Mingze chuckled softly, his clear laughter echoing in the cramped bathroom: "A perverse sense of humor? Not really. Just..."

He paused, a sly glint in his eyes. "I've been having some free time lately, so I've been catching up on some classic horror movies. Like *The Shining* and *Ju-on*. I have to say, mirrors are really a very expressive prop. That feeling of the boundaries of reality being blurred, of familiar images suddenly becoming strange, is quite interesting, isn't it?"