Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Zhu Qi felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, so she moved closer to Zhu Ming, a hint of disgust flashing across her face.

Zhu Ming frowned almost imperceptibly, but his tone remained calm: "Mr. Viper, time is precious, let's get straight to the point."

“Sure,” Viper said, taking a swig of the beer that had been opened on the table. “What dirty work does Young Master Zhu want the brothers to do? As long as the price is right, anything is negotiable.”

He deliberately emphasized the words "dirty work," with a boastful and despicable air.

Zhu Ming took a photograph out of his suit pocket and pushed it in front of Viper. The photograph showed a rather peculiar pair: Lu Mingfei, a black-haired young man who looked somewhat ordinary and even slightly decadent, and Frilian, a silver-haired girl with stunning beauty and long, pointed ears, dressed in exotic clothing.

“These two,” Zhu Ming pointed to the photo, “I want you to cause me some trouble. The location is the commercial street where they frequent, and the best time is when they go out alone.”

Viper picked up the photo, squinted at it, and lingered on Frillie's face for a long time. He whistled, "Tsk, this chick's hot! More exciting than a movie star! Those ears, cosplay? Pretty fancy. The guy next to her looks like a coward."

A blond thug behind him sidled up and chuckled, "Boss, this is a great job, getting to play with such a pretty girl."

Zhu Ming ignored the foul language and said coldly, "Your task is to harass them, speak rudely, and physically assault them, trying to provoke them and create conflict. If you can force them to make the first move, or cause some minor trouble, that would be best."

“Got it, we’re experts at picking fights!” Viper patted his chest. “But, Young Master Zhu, if this guy isn’t easily scared, he might wet his pants and run away, or if this girl screams and attracts the cops.”

“That’s something you need to consider,” Zhu Ming interrupted him. “I want to see results. This amount after it’s done.”

He held up two fingers.

"Two hundred thousand?" Viper's eyes lit up.

"Twenty thousand. Ten thousand as a deposit, and the remaining ten thousand after the deal is done," Zhu Ming said calmly.

Viper's face darkened: "Young Master Zhu, isn't that a bit unfair? We brothers are risking our lives to do this, and you're offering 20,000? Are you trying to fob us off?"

His henchmen behind him also showed hostile expressions and subtly surrounded him, instantly making the atmosphere tense.

Zhu Qi grabbed Zhu Ming's arm in fear.

Zhu Ming laughed, a cold, contemptuous laugh. He slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the venomous snake. In that instant, an invisible yet immense pressure suddenly spread out from him.

The ferocity on Viper's and his henchmen's faces froze instantly, a fear emanating from the depths of their souls surfaced. They seemed to see a non-human golden glint flash deep within Zhu Ming's pupils, a gaze no longer that of a human scrutiny, but rather the stare of a prehistoric behemoth, filled with the majesty of a predator.

The surrounding air thickened, making it difficult for them to breathe. Their hearts felt as if they were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, almost stopping. A deep, majestic dragon roar resounded in their ears, directly assaulting their senses.

Hybrids have an absolute bloodline suppression over ordinary humans, a complete transcendence on a life level!

The beer bottle in Viper's hand clattered to the ground, splashing beer everywhere, but he was completely oblivious. His face turned deathly pale, his forehead instantly covered in cold sweat, and his body trembled uncontrollably. He tried to look away, but found it incredibly difficult to even move his eyes.

His once arrogant henchmen were now trembling with fear, two of them even nearly collapsing to their knees, clinging tightly to the table to keep from falling. It felt like being targeted by a natural enemy, their lives completely out of their control.

Zhu Ming slowly withdrew his gaze, the pressure instantly dissipating. The Poisonous Snakes and their companions, as if granted a pardon, gasped for breath, their eyes filled with indescribable fear as they looked at Zhu Ming, no longer daring to utter a single disrespect.

"Now, what do you think of this price?" Zhu Ming asked, but to the viper, it sounded like the whisper of death.

"No, no problem! Young Master Zhu! Everything will be done as you say!" Viper nodded and bowed repeatedly, his voice trembling. "We will definitely handle things perfectly! Please rest assured!"

“Very good.” Zhu Ming placed a stack of banknotes on the table. “This is the deposit. I’ll wait for your good news.”

After saying that, he stood up, straightened his suit, and left the booth with Zhu Qi without looking at Viper and the others again.

Only after Zhu Ming and his sister disappeared did the Poisonous Snake and the others completely collapse, looking at each other's pale faces with lingering fear.

"Boss, what was that just now?" the blond-haired man asked, his voice trembling.

"Shut up!" Viper interrupted sharply, wiping away cold sweat. "Damn it, this money isn't easy to earn, but it's even harder not to earn it! Do as he says! Everyone, get your attention! Target: the couple in the photo!"

Chapter 257 Provocation on the Street

The following afternoon, the sun shone brightly. The commercial street in the west of the city was as bustling and prosperous as ever, teeming with people. Lu Mingfei and Frilian walked side by side on the street, preparing to buy some daily necessities and some novelties from Yunnan that Frilian was interested in.

As for the flat, unpalatable "Jian Shou Qing" (a type of herb), it's best to go to a professional restaurant and have a professional chef prepare it for you.

Lu Mingfei still looked listless, his hands in his pockets, his eyes wandering as if he were thinking about something. Frilian was full of curiosity about everything around her, her clear emerald green eyes occasionally glancing at the shop windows along the street, casting an inquiring gaze at the dazzling array of goods, the flashing neon lights, and the hurried crowds.

Her extraordinary appearance and pointed ears made her stand out in the crowd, attracting many glances, but she was already used to it and simply followed quietly beside Lu Mingfei.

"Frilian, look over there's a shop that sells weird candies, wanna go check it out?" Lu Mingfei pointed to a brightly decorated shop not far away, trying to fulfill his duty as a tour guide.

Frillie nodded gently: "Mm."

Just as the two were about to head towards the candy store, several shady-looking figures deliberately bumped into them. It was Viper and his men, who had been lying in wait there for some time.

"Ouch! Can't you watch where you're going?" the blond thug shouted exaggeratedly. Although he had bumped into himself, he pretended to be the villain and shoved Lu Mingfei in the chest.

Lu Mingfei stumbled from the push, frowned, and looked at the group of clearly ill-intentioned people in front of him. He sighed inwardly, knowing trouble was brewing. He stepped aside, shielding Frillie slightly behind him.

"Kid, you bumped into me. Is saying sorry enough?" Viper stepped forward and said with a forced smile, his triangular eyes greedily scanning Frillie's body, his gaze seemingly filled with sticky filth that made one want to vomit.

"You were the ones who crashed into us," Lu Mingfei stated the facts. He didn't want to cause trouble, but he wouldn't let anyone bully him either.

"Hey! You dare talk back?" Another thug with a nose ring stepped forward, spitting almost onto Lu Mingfei's face. "Our boss said if it was a collision, it was a collision! What, you're not happy about it?"

Their loud voices immediately attracted the attention of passersby, but seeing the menacing appearance of the venomous snakes, most dared not speak out and simply walked around them.

The viper ignored Lu Mingfei and focused all his attention on Frillie. He licked his lips and gave a smile that he thought was charming but was actually extremely lewd: "Little sister, you're so pretty! Are those ears real or fake? Let your big brother touch them?"

As he spoke, he actually reached out and touched Frilian's cheek and ears.

Frillie's expression remained unchanged, calm and undisturbed, as if the filthy hand and its owner did not exist. However, she slightly tilted her head, avoiding the snake's touch.

Lu Mingfei's eyes turned cold. He grabbed the snake's outstretched wrist and said in a low voice, "Show some respect."

"Oh ho? Trying to be a hero?" Viper shook off Lu Mingfei's hand. Although he still harbored some lingering fear of Zhu Ming, he was now ready to pounce, and Lu Mingfei did indeed look ordinary. His arrogance returned. "Kid, let me tell you, this isn't over! Either you have your pretty companion come with us for a drink, apologize, and we'll call it even. Or..."

He grinned maliciously, cracking his knuckles as he moved them: "We'll loosen your bones for you, guys!"

The thugs behind him immediately started jeering:

"Exactly! What's wrong with playing with us for a bit?"

"Stop pretending to be high and mighty! Isn't dressing like this just for show?"

"Boss, why waste words with her? Let's just take her away!"

Foul language poured down like sewage, filled with lustful fantasies about Frillie and contempt for Lu Mingfei. Their behavior attracted a larger crowd, but due to the thugs' viciousness, no one dared to stop them. These scum of society, like maggots in a sewer, displayed their depravity in broad daylight.

Lu Mingfei took a deep breath; he knew things wouldn't end well today.

"We don't want trouble, please move aside," Lu Mingfei said in his last attempt to communicate, even though he knew the chances were slim.

"Get out of the way?" the viper laughed, as if he had heard the funniest joke. "Is this road yours? I can stand wherever I want! You're not leaving today without giving me an explanation!"

He gave a signal, and the blond-haired thug and the nose-ringed thug immediately moved in from either side, reaching out to grab Lu Mingfei's arms in an attempt to subdue him. Another thug seized the opportunity to reach out again, this time aiming directly at Frillie's shoulder, a lewd grin on his face.

The situation quickly spiraled out of control, and a conflict was imminent.

Lu Mingfei's words, "We don't want trouble, please step aside," were nothing more than the wail of a defeated dog in the ears of Viper and his cronies, only fueling their arrogance. These kinds of people have always believed in bullying the weak and fearing the strong, viewing others' concessions as proof of weakness and vulnerability.

The viper spat, almost landing on Lu Mingfei's shoe, his face contorted into an extremely ugly grin: "Don't want trouble? Hahaha! Kid, scared now? Too late!"

He deliberately raised his voice so that everyone around could hear him clearly, "Your girl hit me and you're still so arrogant. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, neither of you will leave this street alive!"

The blond-haired man behind him immediately chimed in, his voice sharp and sarcastic: "That's right! Our boss is a big shot around here. How can he save face if you guys rude to him like this?"

His lewd gaze lingered on Frillie again, his words becoming even more obscene, "I don't think your little body can protect such a pretty girl. Why don't you let her be our boss's concubine? Our boss will definitely 'treat' her well, a hundred times better than following a coward like you!"

The words "concubine" burned like a red-hot iron into Lu Mingfei's heart. He had only wanted to settle things peacefully and leave this troublesome place with Frilian as soon as possible. He knew that his and Frilian's identities were special and that it was not appropriate to cause too much of a commotion in front of ordinary people, especially in this bustling area that was clearly under the Zhu family's influence.

However, the other party's repeated provocations, especially the blatant and insulting words directed at Frillie at this moment, finally caused the anger that had been suppressed in his chest to rise uncontrollably.

He, Lu Mingfei, may seem a bit unlucky and complacent at times, but that does not mean he has no bottom line, nor is he so weak that he cannot even protect the people he cares about.

The training at Kassel College and the struggles on the brink of life and death in the Dragon World had already etched an indelible mark on his bones, making him a man who could not be trifled with.

His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched slightly, and the power within him began to surge like a dormant volcano. Lu Mingfei was determined to teach these fools a lesson they would never forget.

Just as Lu Mingfei was about to take a step forward, and the violent impulses within him were about to be ignited, a soft hand gently covered his clenched fist.

It's Frillie.

Chapter 258 Counterattack

Frillie turned slightly to face Lu Mingfei directly, her clear, emerald-green eyes, like those of a thousand-year-old glacial lake, calmly gazing at him as she shook her head. She saw right through Lu Mingfei's inner rage and impending actions, and she also saw through the shadows that loomed behind this seemingly accidental conflict.

Lu Mingfei paused, his boiling blood seemingly cooled slightly by the silent gaze and cool touch. He saw the message in Frilian's eyes—calmness and restraint.

Immediately afterwards, an extremely subtle mental fluctuation, like ripples on the surface of water, spread silently from Frilian as the center. This fluctuation was not directed at Lu Mingfei, but rather swept over Viper and his three henchmen.

For a fleeting moment as the ripple passed, the four venomous snakes were momentarily dazed, their eyes unfocused for a fraction of a second, but they quickly regained their arrogant and domineering demeanor, blinked, and did not notice anything unusual.

But Lu Mingfei sensed it. He possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to energy fluctuations, especially those with unusual properties. He immediately understood that Frilian had made her move. Not a physical attack, but a more covert method, more in line with her identity as an elven mage.

Perhaps it was the subtle curse she had mentioned before, acting on the level of the soul or destiny, or, in her more familiar terms, a kind of "witchcraft." This kind of spell wouldn't take effect immediately, nor would it cause any obvious physical harm, but it would be like a seed planted in the recipient's body, quietly taking root and sprouting at some point in the future, bringing misfortune, illness, or other coincidental punishments.

After doing all this, Frillian looked at Lu Mingfei again, her eyes calm and unwavering, as if she had merely brushed away a speck of dust.

She didn't speak, but Lu Mingfei had already fully understood her meaning: the real punishment had already been quietly sown, and there was no need to engage in a meaningless struggle with these ant-like thugs at this moment and in this place, nor was there any need to reveal too much strength and give the Zhu family hiding behind the scenes an opportunity to take advantage.

Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. The Zhu family was the local "local snake" who held sway over this area.

This seemingly accidental conflict was almost certainly a carefully planned provocation by the brother and sister Zhu Ming and Zhu Qi.

Their goal was likely to provoke Lu Mingfei and Frilian into taking action in the city center. Whether the result was injuring these thugs and attracting the sheriff's attention, or displaying superhuman strength and causing panic and attention, it would be entirely beneficial to the Zhu family. They could easily use this as an excuse to expel Lu Mingfei and Frilian under the pretext of "endangering public safety" or "suspicious identity," in conjunction with local forces, or at least put them in a very passive position.

Having figured this out, Lu Mingfei's last bit of hesitation vanished. Since he couldn't go all out or reveal his trump card, he would use the most ordinary method to temporarily resolve the immediate problem.

He took a deep breath, his previously tense body relaxing, but not in a retreating way; rather, it was the posture of a cheetah concentrating its power into a single point before striking. He looked at the venomous snake, regaining his previous calm, even with a hint of mockery: "I'll say it one last time, get out of the way."

Viper was taken aback by Lu Mingfei's sudden change of heart, but was enraged by the hint of mockery in the other's eyes. In his view, this was nothing more than the other's last struggle in a bluff.

"Damn it, he's asking for it! Brothers, get him! Hold this kid down and bring that girl over here!"

The blond-haired thug and the nose-ringed thug, unable to contain themselves any longer, immediately lunged forward with sinister grins. The blond-haired thug reached for Lu Mingfei's collar, his other fist aimed straight for Lu Mingfei's face—a rough, haphazard attack, but with the ruthlessness typical of street fighting. The nose-ringed thug was even more insidious, crouching down to grab Lu Mingfei's waist, attempting to throw him to the ground.

The crowd gasped in shock, and some of the more timid ones covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the thin-looking young man being brutally beaten by the group of thugs.

Faced with the blond-haired man's grabbing hand and slamming fist, Lu Mingfei merely turned his body slightly, a movement so subtle it was almost imperceptible, causing the blond-haired man's determined grab to miss. At the same time, his left hand, like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, swiftly seized the blond-haired man's wrist as he slammed it down, pressing and twisting it in the process.

"Crack!" A teeth-grinding cracking sound, accompanied by the yellow-haired man's pig-like scream, was heard as Lu Mingfei skillfully dislocated his wrist in an instant.

That wasn't all. With agile footwork, Lu Mingfei used the momentum of Huang Mao's charge to execute a perfect spin and trip, slamming his shoulder into Huang Mao's chest and throwing his 100-plus-pound body cleanly and neatly over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Bang!" The blond-haired man slammed heavily onto the hard ground, kicking up some dust. He clutched his twisted and deformed wrist, curled up on the ground, and could only wail in pain, unable to get up again.

Almost simultaneously with dealing with the blond-haired man, Lu Mingfei's right leg shot back like a whip, kicking the shinbone of the thug with the nose ring who was trying to grab his waist.

That was an extremely vulnerable part of the human body. The excruciating pain from the heavy blow caused the thug with the nose ring to scream in agony. His forward lunge instantly faltered, and he lost his balance, falling forward. Lu Mingfei didn't even look; his elbow slid back and struck the thug squarely in the back.

"Ugh!" The thug with the nose ring groaned and collapsed to the ground, unable to breathe for a while. He could only open his mouth in vain, like a fish out of water.