Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"The mission starts tomorrow," Lu Mingfei said, taking a sip of his pearl. "Are you nervous?"

Frillie shook her head: "I'm not nervous, but I have a feeling."

What premonition?

“I can’t quite explain it,” Frilian said, gazing at the dark surface of the river. “It’s like something is waiting for us.”

Remembering something, Lu Mingfei took a small box out of his pocket: "Oh right, this is for you."

Frillie opened the box, inside was a silver hair clip shaped like an exquisite maple leaf.

“When you went to Brooklyn, the pendant you wore was also maple leaf shaped,” Lu Mingfei said, scratching his head. “So, I asked Nuonuo where I could buy a hair clip like that.”

Frillie tucked the hair clip behind her ear. "Thank you."

They walked to a quiet spot on the riverbank and sat down. In the distance, the city lights twinkled like stars, and the river water lapped against the shore.

"Lu Mingfei, if one day you find out that I've been hiding something, will you be angry?"

"That depends on what it is."

Frillie paused. "It's a secret. But, in any case, I want you to know that meeting you is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me since I came into this world."

Lu Mingfei's face flushed. He wanted to say something, but his phone rang abruptly.

It was a message from Professor Mans: Meet at the dock at six o'clock tomorrow morning. Bring your equipment.

“It’s time to go back,” Lu Mingfei stood up and extended his hand to Frilian. “Tomorrow is a big day.”

Frillie took his hand and stood up, not letting go immediately: "Promise me one thing."

"what?"

"No matter what happens, don't force yourself. Some things are not something you should bear alone."

Lu Mingfei nodded, and they walked back to the hotel hand in hand, neither of them letting go first.

Six o'clock in the morning, Yichang Wharf.

Lu Mingfei yawned and stood on the shore with Frillie, waiting for Professor Mance and the others.

"What do you think the people in the Execution Department are like?" Lu Mingfei muttered to himself. "I heard they're all killers, with a 100% mission completion rate."

Frillie glanced at him: "You said yesterday that Senior Ye Sheng was a really nice guy."

“That’s in private! Who knows what might happen during a mission?” Lu Mingfei rubbed his arms. “Besides, this is a dragon ruin. What if a dragon suddenly appears? Wouldn’t we be doomed on the spot?”

"Lu Mingfei".

Lu Mingfei was so startled he almost jumped up. When he turned around, Professor Mans was looking at him with a half-smile, a pipe in his mouth.

Behind the professor, Ye Sheng and Jiu Deya stood side by side, both wearing the black combat uniforms of the Execution Department, looking capable and professional.

"Professor Mans!" Lu Mingfei stammered, "Good morning!"

Professor Mans exhaled a smoke ring: "Don't worry, we won't do anything to you 'on the spot,' at least not before the mission begins."

Lu Mingfei: "..."

Ye Sheng couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Don't be nervous. The Execution Department isn't as scary as you think."

Shudeya nodded with a smile: "This mission is mainly about detection and recording. We will be responsible for the really dangerous parts. You just need to observe and learn."

Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief and scratched his head: "That's good."

Frillie remained calm. "Good morning, Professor Mans. Senior Ye Sheng, Senior Aki."

Professor Mans glanced at her and nodded: "Frilian, right? Angers specifically instructed that your Word of Power is very special, and it might come in handy for this mission."

Frillie didn't say much, only giving a soft "hmm".

Since the equipment inspection would take time, Ye Sheng suggested that they go to a nearby breakfast shop to fill their stomachs first.

"Yichang's beef noodles are very famous," Ye Sheng introduced as he walked, "especially the kind with red oil broth, paired with freshly fried dough sticks, it's absolutely amazing."

Lu Mingfei's eyes lit up: "Really? Then I have to try it!"

Jiu Deya added, "Every time Ye Sheng comes back for a mission, the first thing he does is look for local delicacies."

“Of course,” Ye Sheng shrugged, “after all, you can’t get such an authentic taste in the United States.”

They found a noodle shop, a small place with steaming hot air wafting from the kitchen, carrying a rich aroma.

Lu Mingfei and Frilian sat by the window, Ye Sheng and Jiu Deya sat opposite them, and Professor Mans sat on the outermost side, flipping through documents while drinking soy milk.

“Speaking of which,” Ye Sheng began, “Aki and I have recently officially started dating.”

Mans coughed lightly. "The academy doesn't allow dating, so don't talk nonsense."

"Oh dear, Professor, Lu Mingfei and Frillie won't tell anyone."

Lu Mingfei, slurping his noodles, almost choked upon hearing this: "Huh? Really?"

Aki Shuto's face flushed slightly, but she still nodded: "Yes, we confirmed our relationship a few days ago."

Lu Mingfei blinked: "Weren't you guys like that before?"

“We were partners before,” Ye Sheng explained, “but now we’re more than just partners.”

Lu Mingfei glanced at Ye Sheng, then at Jiu Deya, their eyes filled with understanding and tenderness.

"Congratulations!" Lu Mingfei said sincerely, "However..."

"But what?" Ye Sheng raised an eyebrow.

Lu Mingfei hesitated for a moment: "Uh, well, don't you guys think it's a bit much to say this before going on a mission?"

"Is this setting a flag?" Ye Sheng said it for him, laughing heartily, "Don't worry, we're not supporting characters in a movie, we won't suddenly die just because we announce our relationship."

Shutoku Aki laughed too: "Besides, it's precisely because we don't know what will happen tomorrow that we should say what we want to say, right?"

Professor Mans looked up from the documents and snorted, "The academy doesn't allow its members to date. You two be careful not to get caught."

Ye Sheng didn't take it seriously: "Professor, didn't you do something similar when you were young?"

Professor Mans glared at him. "Stop talking nonsense and eat quickly."

After breakfast, with some time to spare before the official departure, Ye Sheng suggested taking a walk along the river.

Lu Mingfei walked with his hands in his pockets behind Ye Sheng and Jiu Deya, with Frilian walking beside him.

"How long have you two known each other?" Ye Sheng asked, turning around.

"Huh?" Lu Mingfei was taken aback. "Me and Frilian? Uh, not long ago?"

Ye Sheng gave a meaningful "Oh," and then said, "But I see you two have a pretty good relationship."

Shudeya couldn't hold back any longer: "Ye Sheng, stop teasing them."

Ye Sheng shrugged: "Okay, let's get serious. Lu Mingfei, your Word of Power is 'Time Zero,' right?"

Lu Mingfei nodded: "Yes, but I still can't control it very well."

"You'll get the hang of it gradually," Ye Sheng said, patting him on the shoulder.

Lu Mingfei asked curiously, "When are you planning to get married, senior?"

Shokuya was slightly taken aback. "There's no concrete plan yet. Maybe we'll wait until after this mission is over."

Ye Sheng put his arm around her shoulder and said in a relaxed tone, "Yes, we've already decided on each other, so it doesn't matter if it's sooner or later."

“That’s great,” Lu Mingfei said softly.

Frilian glanced at him but didn't say anything.

At the distant dock, Professor Mans beckoned them to return.

"Let's go," Ye Sheng stretched, "It's time to get to work."

Chapter 20 White Emperor City (Part 1)

Inside the cabin of the Moniach.

Professor Mans stood in front of the control panel, his fingers tapping on the keyboard, while underwater sonar images appeared on the screen.

"Are you ready?" he asked without turning his head.

Ye Sheng and Jiu Deya changed into diving suits, with oxygen devices and communication cables connected to their backs.

Jiudeyaji was holding a box in his arms, inside which was a sealed test tube—containing the blood of the "key," the pass to Baidi City.

"We can set off at any time," Ye Sheng said, adjusting his mask.

Lu Mingfei and Frilian stood aside, watching them do the final checks.

Lu Mingfei couldn't help but ask, "Professor, do we really need this vial of blood to open the door?"

Professor Mans glanced at him: "Dragon alchemy often uses blood as a medium. The blood of the 'key' can deceive the living beings of White Emperor City."

Frilian stared at the test tube, her emerald green eyes flickering slightly: "Blood Pact."

Professor Mans raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

“Using blood as a pass means that this city recognizes ‘bloodline’,” Frilian explained softly. “If the designers were careful enough, they might have set up other verification methods.”

Professor Mans pondered for a moment: "That makes sense. Ye Sheng, Ya Ji, stay alert once you're inside, and report any unusual activity immediately."

"Understood," they both said in unison.

The gate of the diving chamber slowly opened, and Ye Sheng and Jiu Deya stepped into the pressurized chamber, the watertight door closing behind them.

Lu Mingfei watched as their figures were gradually swallowed by the dark river.

Inside the command center of the Moniach, a large screen displays real-time footage of Ye Sheng and Jiu Deya's diving.

In the deep water, the beams of searchlights pierced through the murky river, illuminating the massive ruins of Baidi City ahead.

This is an ancient city that has been submerged for thousands of years, its surface covered with thick moss and scale.

"We've arrived," Ye Sheng said, releasing the 'Vacuum Serpent,' "and is approaching the city gate."

Lu Mingfei stared intently at the screen, his heart pounding. Frillie stood beside him, her expression calm, but her fingers were slightly clenched around the hem of her clothes.

Shudeya swam to the gate of the living spirit, carefully took out the test tube, and dripped the blood into the living spirit's mouth.

The blood is absorbed and seeps into the living organism the moment it comes into contact with it.