Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

The applause lasted a long time until the curtain was drawn back. Genji removed her phoenix crown and some of her heavy headdress, but still wore her bright yellow python robe, her makeup faded. Accompanied by Sakurai Kogure, she walked to the front of the stage to take her bow. Her expression had returned to calm, but with the weariness of someone relieved of a heavy burden, she bowed deeply to the audience.

Her gaze swept across the audience, lingering for a moment on Lu Mingfei and Frillie's faces. Genji gave a gentle, questioning smile, as if asking, "Are you two satisfied?"

Lu Mingfei nodded vigorously and mouthed, "That's awesome!"

Genji's smile deepened, she bowed again, and then retreated backstage accompanied by Kogure.

As the audience gradually dispersed, the courtyard returned to tranquility, leaving only the hazy glow of lanterns under the eaves after the stage lights were turned off.

Lu Mingfei touched the air; the lingering scents of perfume, wine, and the mournful echoes of the singing still lingered.

This is quite a show.

Lu Mingfei and Frilian hesitated whether to leave directly or say hello, when Sakurai Kogure appeared again.

“Mr. Lu, Miss Frillian,” she said, slightly out of breath, her face flushed from exercise, her eyes sparkling, “Lady Nakama has instructed that some light wine and snacks be prepared in the backyard to thank you for taking the time to come tonight. We hope you will do us the honor of joining us.”

Lu Mingfei was somewhat surprised and quickly waved his hand, "Ah? That's too kind! We should be thanking Mr. Yuan for his wonderful performance."

"My dear lady says that true friends are hard to find, and it's a joy to share your feelings after a play with a friend," Sakurai Kogure insisted, her attitude sincere.

Frillie glanced at Lu Mingfei, then at Xiao Mu, and nodded: "Thank you for your kindness."

Lu Mingfei also wanted to say a few words to Yuan Zhinu, who had just shone brightly on stage, so he agreed: "Then I'll have to bother you."

Xiao Mu led them through a moon gate to a more secluded courtyard behind the stage. In the courtyard was a stone table and several stone benches, surrounded by bamboo and banana trees. Several delicate dishes were already laid out on the table: salt-roasted ginkgo nuts, seaweed salad, grilled chicken in sauce, and a small dish of tempting pickled plums.

Several bottles and wine utensils of various shapes were placed on the table. There were elegant ceramic wine pots and transparent glass bottles, containing liquids that were either clear or slightly cloudy.

Genji changed into a comfortable dark blue yukata, his hair loosely tied back, and his makeup washed off, revealing his originally handsome face. He personally arranged the sake set, and upon seeing them enter, he immediately rose to greet them.

"Mr. Lu, Miss Frillian, welcome." His smile carried a sense of languor after a heavy burden had been lifted and genuine joy. "This was a hasty preparation, please excuse me. I hope it hasn't taken up too much of your time."

"Not at all, we've been bothering you," Lu Mingfei quickly said. Looking at Yuan Zhinu, he still found it hard to completely connect her with the stunningly beautiful imperial concubine on the stage. This strong contrast made him feel that Yuan Zhinu must have been a girl in her past life.

The four of them sat down. Sakurai Kogure naturally took on the role of pouring drinks.

“I’ve prepared a few kinds of sake from my hometown tonight. I wonder if they suit your tastes?” Genji pointed to the sake bottles on the table and introduced them gently. “This bottle is ‘Dassai,’ with a refreshing taste and a fruity aroma; this bottle is ‘Juyondai,’ which is mellow and sweet; and the bottle of cloudy sake next to it is ‘Sanrosugi,’ which has a more unique flavor. You can try them all, Mr. Ji. If you don’t like them, we’ve also prepared tea.”

Looking at the high-end-sounding Japanese sake, Lu Mingfei felt a little apprehensive. His alcohol tolerance was actually quite low; he'd mostly drunk beer before. He was worried he wouldn't be able to tell the quality of this expensive-looking sake and would waste their good intentions.

"I... I'm not a good drinker," he confessed honestly.

Chapter 244 The banquet was a good banquet, but not a trap.

Yuan Zhinu chuckled: "It's alright. The point of drinking is to enjoy it to the fullest, not to drink a lot. Xiao Mu, pour Lu Jun a cup of Otter Sacrifice first."

Sakurai Kogure respectfully responded, picked up the chilled ceramic sake bottle, and filled the glass in front of Lu Mingfei to about seven-tenths full. The sake was crystal clear, emitting a faint aroma of rice and a hint of coolness.

Frillie stared at the cloudy sake "Sanmorosugi" and gestured for Kogure to pour it for her. The milky white liquid poured into the glass certainly looked different from the others.

"First of all, thank you both for coming tonight." Genji raised her wine glass, which contained the same "Dassai" wine. "This glass is to my kindred spirit."

Lu Mingfei and Frilian also raised their glasses. Lu Mingfei imitated Yuan Zhinü and took a small sip. The cool liquor tasted light at first, but after swallowing, a long-lasting sweetness and fruity aroma lingered in his mouth. It was not spicy at all, but rather very smooth.

"Delicious!" he couldn't help but exclaim, as it was completely different from the burning sensation he had imagined from strong liquor.

Yuan Zhinü's smile deepened: "I'm glad you like it, Lu Jun. This sake needs to be sipped slowly and savored to truly appreciate its flavor."

He then looked at Frillie: "Miss Frillie, what do you think of this performance? Does it have anything in common with the art you know?"

Frilian held the cup of cloudy wine, but did not drink it immediately. Instead, she looked at Genji seriously and said, "Yes, they all transcended the performer himself."

Yuan Zhinv paused slightly, then chuckled: "Miss Frilian's insights are so unique. They transcend the performer's perspective, which is perhaps exactly what I'm looking for."

"Where's Lu Jun? Did he understand it clearly?"

Lu Mingfei was picking up a skewer of grilled chicken when he heard this and almost choked. He quickly put down his chopsticks and scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "I... I don't understand opera, so I can't say things as sophisticated as Frilian. I just think it's so beautiful and amazing! Zhi'er, you were a completely different person on stage. That imperial concubine, the sadness of waiting for the emperor, it made my heart ache just watching. And those movements, they were so difficult! You are really amazing!"

His praise was simple and unadorned, even somewhat inadequate in its expression, but his sincerity was evident.

Yuan Zhinv listened quietly, her eyes gentle, as if Lu Mingfei's clumsy praise pleased her more than any professional drama review.

“If I can make you feel ‘a tightness in your chest,’ then it means my performance wasn’t a failure,” he said softly. “The script is fictional, the story is old, but the emotions within are real. Being able to use fiction to express truth and touch the audience is the greatest comfort for us in this profession.”

After a few drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. Lu Mingfei's initial restraint dissipated considerably under the mild aftertaste of the sake and Yuan Zhinü's calm demeanor. He began to ask questions out of curiosity.

"Mr. Yuan, how long have you been learning opera? Was it particularly tough?"

"It's alright. As long as I'm interested in it, I don't feel it's hard. I've been doing it on and off for many years now."

"How do you practice those backbends? Won't you hurt your back?"

"You need to practice the basics from a young age, loosen your muscles, and progress step by step, day after day. You do need some talent."

Sakurai Kogure quietly poured drinks and served food, watching Genji's relaxed expression as she chatted with her friends, her eyes filled with happiness and contentment.

Yuan Zhinü, wanting to cheer Lu Mingfei up, had Sakurai Kogure switch to the "Juyondai" sake. This sake was indeed more mellow and sweet, smooth as honey on the palate. Lu Mingfei unknowingly drank several more cups, his face flushed, and he became more talkative.

He started talking about embarrassing things in his life, like how he messed up his teammates' games in high school, or how he misspelled a girl's name the first time he tried to write a love letter to her. These were things he would never easily tell anyone, things that carried a bit of self-consciousness, but in his slightly tipsy state, he just rambled on about them.

Yuan Zhinv listened quietly the whole time, without interrupting or commenting, only occasionally refilling his wine, her eyes full of understanding and a hint of pity. It was as if she saw a familiar shadow in Lu Mingfei's clumsy, failed fragments of youth.

"Actually, sometimes I'm quite envious of you two," Lu Mingfei said, holding his wine glass with a slightly dreamy look at Genjiro and the quiet Sakurai Kogure beside him. "Mr. Genjiro, you have such amazing talent, and Kogure is so gentle and considerate in accompanying you. You two look like a perfect couple from a play. It's so wonderful."

When he said this, his tone was pure envy, without jealousy, only a hint of self-deprecating loneliness.

Upon hearing this, Genji paused slightly, then looked at Sakurai Kogure beside him. Sakurai Kogure was also looking at him, and their eyes met, a thousand words flowing silently between them. Genji reached out and gently covered the back of Sakurai Kogure's hand, which was resting on the table.

"Yes, having Xiaomu by my side is the greatest fortune of my life." He wasn't saying this to Lu Mingfei, but rather it sounded more like a confession to Xiaomu.

Sakurai Kogure's face instantly turned red. She lowered her head, but couldn't help but smile.

Watching, Lu Mingfei felt a pang of envy that transformed into a sincere blessing. He raised his glass and exclaimed, "To Zhinu and Sister Xiaomu! Cheers!"

He drank it all in one gulp, and the "Fourteen Generations" in the cup was still as sweet as ever.

Frillie quietly savored the different sakes, all of them fine wines, probably flown in from Japan. If that's the case, then Minamoto no Chizuru's status among the demons is not low.

As night deepened, the moon shone high in the sky. The wine bottles on the stone table were mostly empty, and Lu Mingfei had finally reached his limit. He lay slumped on the stone table, his eyes glazed over, muttering "good wine" and "good show."

Looking at him, Yuan Zhinv felt helpless yet somewhat adorable. She said apologetically to Frilian, "It seems that you've had your fun, Lu-kun. Let's call it a night. I'll have Xiaomu take you back to your inn."

Frillie nodded, stood up, her steps steady, her eyes clear, as if she had drunk water rather than wine.

Sakurai Kogure called over the staff waiting outside the courtyard to help Lu Mingfei up.

Before leaving, Genji said solemnly to Frilian, "Miss Frilian, thank you for coming tonight. Please take good care of Lu Jun as well."

Frillie looked at him and nodded: "I will, Mingfei will grow on his own." After saying that, she followed the person who was helping Lu Mingfei out.

Minamoto no Chizuru stood in the courtyard, watching their departing figures, the night breeze ruffling the hem of his yukata. Sakurai Kogure gently draped an outer robe over him.

"My lady, you must be tired."

Yuan Zhinu shook her head, gazing at the cold moon in the sky, and murmured, "Xiao Mu, do you think there are many people like Lu Jun in this world? They have a lot of bitterness in their hearts, but they are still willing to sincerely cheer for the little bit of sweetness in others."

Kogure Sakurai didn't answer, but simply gripped his hand even tighter.

Chapter 245 Zihang, are you going out?

Around six o'clock in the evening, the city was bathed in a warm orange hue. Chu Zihang stood at his front door, meticulously tying his shoelaces. His figure was as upright as a pine tree, but upon closer inspection, one would notice that the usual coldness between his brows had softened slightly, revealing a hint of his usual sternness.

"Zihang, are you going out?" Su Xiaoyan, the mother, poked her head out from the living room, holding a half-eaten potato chip in her hand, dressed in comfortable home clothes.

Chu Zihang tied the last knot, stood up, and calmly replied, "Yes. Going to a classmate's house for dinner."

"A classmate's house?" Su Xiaoyan's eyes lit up instantly, like a little girl who had discovered a new continent.

She took a few steps closer to Chu Zihang, looked up at her son who was a head taller than her, and asked with a mischievous smile, "Which classmate? A boy or a girl?"

Chu Zihang's Adam's apple bobbed. He wasn't good at lying, nor was he used to it, especially about such trivial matters. After a second of silence, he chose to tell the truth: "A female classmate."

"Wow!" Su Xiaoyan let out a small cheer, clasped her hands together, and smiled as brightly as the last rays of the sunset outside the window. "Is she the girl our Zihang likes?"

Chu Zihang's ears burned slightly. Like? That word was far too complex and foreign to him. Xia Mi's image flashed through his mind—the girl who would secretly make faces at him in class, yet was as sharp as the wind on the battlefield. He couldn't define her with a simple "like" or "dislike."

He avoided his mother's direct questions and simply stated the facts: "Her name is Xia Mi. She lives with her younger brother. She invited me to dinner today."

"Xia Mi, what a beautiful name," Su Xiaoyan said to herself, then patted Chu Zihang's arm hard. "Son, keep it up! Do your best and seize the opportunity! Remember to be polite, offer help, and don't always have such a stern face. Smile more."

"Mom," Chu Zihang interrupted her rapid-fire admonitions with a sigh, "I know. I'll be careful."

"Alright, alright, I won't nag anymore," Su Xiaoyan said with a smile, pushing him towards the door. "Go on, don't be late. Have fun! Tell Mom about it when you get back tonight!"

Under his mother's expectant gaze, filled with a sense of pride that her son had grown up, Chu Zihang left home somewhat hastily. The evening breeze brushed his face, bringing a touch of coolness and slightly dispelling the embarrassment in his heart.

Following the address Xia Mi sent, Chu Zihang arrived at a somewhat old-looking residential complex. The buildings weren't tall, and there were some mottled marks on the walls, but the stairwells were very clean, and lush green plants adorned the windowsills, creating a lively atmosphere. He stood in front of a security door with a faded "福" (good fortune) character pasted on it, took a deep breath, and then raised his hand to ring the doorbell.

Almost as soon as the bell rang, the door was flung open from the inside with a "whoosh." Xia Mi was wearing an apron with a little yellow duck printed on it, her hair casually tied into a bun, with a few strands playfully hanging down her cheeks. Her face was dusted with flour, and her eyes sparkled with energy.

"Senior brother! You've finally arrived! Come in, come in!" she said cheerfully, stepping aside to make way for him.

Chu Zihang nodded and went inside. The room wasn't large, and the furnishings were simple, but it was clean and cozy. A beige sofa was covered with a crocheted blanket, a fruit bowl sat on the coffee table, and the plants on the balcony were thriving.

"Sister, is Senior Brother Chu here?" A slightly shy male voice came from the direction of the kitchen.

Immediately afterwards, a handsome young man peeked out from the kitchen. He looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with some resemblance to Xia Mi in his features, but his temperament was completely different, much calmer, and with a touch of timidity.

This is Xia Mi's younger brother, Xia Yan. Chu Zihang was later told by Frilian that his other name was Fenrir, one of the dragon kings who once lurked deep within the subway. At this moment, he was wearing the same apron as Xia Mi and holding a rolling pin, looking exactly like a well-behaved little brother next door.

"Hello, Xia Yan," Chu Zihang nodded to him.

Xia Yan smiled a little shyly: "Hello."

"Don't just stand there!" Xia Mi pushed Chu Zihang towards the living room. "Sit down for a bit, have some water. Xiao Yan and I are preparing a big meal! We'll let you taste our cooking today!"

Chu Zihang was pushed onto the sofa. Xia Mi poured him a glass of warm water, then rushed back to the kitchen. Chu Zihang's gaze involuntarily followed her figure, landing on the small, warm kitchen filled with the aroma of cooking.

In the kitchen, the siblings were busy. Xia Mi was in charge of preparing the filling and making dumplings, while Xia Yan was in charge of rolling out the dumpling wrappers.

"Xiao Yan, you have to turn the rolling pin like this, use your wrist, yes, just like that!" Xia Mi instructed her younger brother while skillfully stirring the meat filling in the bowl with chopsticks. The meat filling looked pink and tempting, mixed with bright green scallions and a touch of minced ginger.

Xia Yan studied very diligently, his lips pursed, completely focused on the dough and rolling pin in his hands. His movements were initially a bit clumsy, the rolled-out wrappers were irregular in shape and uneven in thickness. But he was very patient, and under Xia Mi's guidance, he gradually mastered the technique. His left hand held the edge of the dough and rotated it at a steady pace, while his right hand rhythmically rolled and flattened the dough with the rolling pin. One by one, round dumpling wrappers, slightly thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges, flew from his hands like magic, landing neatly on the lid beside him.

"Wow! Our Xiaoyan is amazing! She's getting more and more professional at rolling out dumpling wrappers!"

Xia Yan's face flushed slightly, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up. She was very pleased with her sister's praise.

Chu Zihang watched this scene quietly. It was completely different from the world he was familiar with. There was no bloodshed, no killing, no booming of clashing spiritual words, only the "tap-tap" of the rolling pin hitting the cutting board, the "rustling" of chopsticks stirring the minced meat, and the occasional conversation and laughter of the siblings.

This ordinary, warm scene brought him an almost luxurious sense of tranquility. His killing instincts and the responsibilities he bore as the leader of the Lionheart Society were all quietly soothed by the warmth of the everyday life.

"Senior brother! Don't just sit there!" Xia Mi's voice pulled him back from his thoughts. "Come on, let's make dumplings together! Many hands make light work!"