Chapter 101: Attack on a Rainy Night

At Kassel Academy, within the strategic conference room, a massive screen displayed four main perspectives along with twelve secondary angles, all capturing the conversation between Lu Mingfei and Chen Motong. Their dialogue was amplified through speakers so everyone present could hear clearly.

This was a strategy related to the Dragon King, so every attendee paid close attention, scrutinizing every subtle movement Lu Mingfei made.

The atmosphere was solemn and tense, befitting the gravity of the Dragon King mission. Yet, at some point, that seriousness began to erode.

Perhaps it was due to someone’s uncontrollable laughter.

Or maybe the vice principal’s darkening expression.

Or possibly the sound of Caesar crushing a paper cup.

Who could say?

In the front row sat the academy’s most important figures, though their number was relatively small. Lu Mingfei’s identity was questionable, and the importance of monitoring him paled compared to that of Xiami and Old Tang, who were the true focus of attention.

But few in number did not mean the absence of significant individuals watching Lu Mingfei—among them was the academy’s vice principal, the Night Watcher.

Nicholas Flamel.

Though older than Anje, he was a witty and spirited cowboy, his heart burning with fervor. His unyielding passion for dragon slaying, combined with powerful bloodline and word spirits, had carried him to where he was now.

“Hah~” he sighed.

In other words, from the very beginning, he was fully visible to Lu Mingfei; the invisibility from the “Dark Illumination” was ineffective.

However, when the opponent actively uses a word spirit to conceal their form, even Lu Mingfei would find it difficult to detect them. A word spirit capable of hiding one’s shape would most likely be the “Dark Illumination.”

Few senior staff and mentors attended, so the second row was occupied by some of the academy’s best students, including the student council president, Caesar Gattuso.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, jolting the ever-alert Chen Motong, who instinctively flinched, fearing a bullet might pierce her at any moment.

The old cowboy’s expression brightened as if recalling something delightful. “Oh, by the way, if I’m not mistaken, Lu Mingfei’s grandfather’s word spirit was also the Scythe Weasel, right? Ha ha ha, how fascinating!”

Chen Motong firmly declined, silently chastising herself: I must be crazy to suspect this guy is the fabled King of Sky and Wind. Which Dragon King idly recruits minions? Are you out of your mind?

A green signal blocked the way.

Thankfully, Caesar had left earlier; otherwise, his expression would have darkened even further now.

“Already discovered?”

This was terrible.

The “Dark Illumination” was a powerful word spirit, but its weakness was that it could only distort light; it couldn’t mask sound, breath, or heat. Those could be detected through lens analysis or profiling.

“When did you realize?”

Lu Mingfei shrugged, sighing helplessly like a child wronged.

A pale yellow glow shimmered on the boy’s hand. The moment the bullet touched his arm, it shattered with a crisp sound, flying harmlessly aside.

Dark Illumination
Word Spirit Rank: 69
Bloodline Origin: King of Sky and Wind
Effect: Creates a small domain centered on the user where light refracts in an astonishing manner, producing an invisibility-like effect.

Though this man had already taken control of the situation, rendering both Lu Mingfei and Chen Motong unable to detect him, he still chose to sacrifice himself. Why?

Why did he suddenly appear? Why was I his target? What was his purpose?

“Hand me the gun.”

On the rainy night, something hit the ground. Looking closely, a dwarf lay in a pool of blood behind a bench, an evil smile on his near-death face, as if his death was merely part of a larger plan.

Chen Motong clenched her teeth, instinctively glancing at Lu Mingfei beside her. Doubt crept into her mind—was everything happening now orchestrated by him? Could he truly be the King of Sky and Wind, able to manipulate the weather through authority and send a hybrid wielding his own line of word spirits to attack her?

She turned to look at Lu Mingfei, whose face slowly revealed the confident smile of youth. “Not considering becoming my underling? Call me ‘big brother’—even if Odin came, he wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you.”

Chen Motong instantly grew wary, her gaze burning as she stared at the direction Lu Mingfei pointed. The grassy area appeared empty on the surface, but from a profiling perspective, there was a stark incongruity.

“The lens spirit’s observation, learning, and analysis abilities are top-tier. Even without auxiliary word spirits, it’s still extremely powerful.”

‘Such fast reflexes.’

Chen Motong couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. Although her life was on the line, she barely had time to feel fear before safety was assured. Lu Mingfei’s reaction speed and sensory ability far exceeded her expectations.

“Such keen perception. I originally planned to act after you left, but now, it seems I have no choice but to act a bit early.”

“Is he dead?”

Yet, at this moment—

Profiling was not omnipotent. Chen Motong had been so focused on Lu Mingfei that she hadn’t paid much attention to her surroundings. After all, she was the one who had hidden herself in advance—how could she not know if someone was nearby?

After a brief silence, she shook off the chaotic thoughts and reassured herself: Although my profiling and the lens spirit’s passive are similar, Caesar’s Scythe Weasel isn’t any stronger than the lens spirit’s passive!

Caesar apologized, pulling a tissue from his pocket to clean the table with smooth, practiced movements.

Chen Motong instinctively tightened her grip on her pistol, highly alert as she aimed in a certain direction. After a difficult scan, her gaze swiftly shifted elsewhere.

The dwarf fingered the trigger. A bullet shot out, flying straight toward Chen Motong’s forehead amidst the furious and tense gazes of those present.

Hiss.

Something felt off.

Lens spirit’s passive. My profiling?

The vice principal’s strength had grown and his tone became amused as he continued, “So for him, the Scythe Weasel’s long-range can’t match the sniper lens; mid-range combat falls short against the lens spirit’s passive; even in close quarters, the lens spirit’s passive analysis and prediction surpass the Scythe Weasel’s active listening. So... I can’t really fault his thinking.”

Chen Motong stared cautiously into the void.

Caesar’s anger gradually subsided as he silently comforted himself: Even the vice principal dares to mock him, which means Lu Mingfei is just a reckless kid—he shouldn’t be angry.

“Hm?”

“Hm, that guy just arrived, lurking over there listening to us. At first, I thought he was an ally, so I ignored him. But when he showed hostility toward you, I pointed him out directly,” Lu Mingfei replied.

“Heh heh.”

In the park—

He was hiding something!

“Bang!”

“Sorry, I lost my composure just now.”

Today, in front of the screen, that boy brimming with youthful vigor actually said his word spirit was useless, as if it didn’t exist. How amusing.

“No interest. I’m leaving.”

The small dwarf’s expression shifted slightly. After a moment’s thought, he melted back into the darkness and disappeared.

Meanwhile, inside Kassel Academy, Lu Mingfei’s words had stirred a massive commotion. His suggestion to recruit Chen Motong as his underling was merely on a whim, without any deeper intent, but others saw it as a very clear signal.

Amid Chen Motong’s surprised but not yet fearful gaze, the boy’s hand swiftly reached out, shielding her. Along with him came a softly whispered word spirit: “Immortality.”

“Ding!”

Still, Caesar’s mood was far from good. Though he said nothing, the crushed paper cup in his hand was undeniable evidence. Water spilled from the cup, soaking the table and dripping onto the floor.

Her nerves were taut—an armed enemy could strike from behind at any moment. She was a living target. Lu Mingfei had immortality to protect him, so even a direct hit was no big deal. But she was an ordinary person; one bullet to a vital spot and it was over.

“Well then, sigh.”

“Plop!”

He tried changing speed, stopping, then dashing suddenly, but it was useless. Lu Mingfei seemed to see right through him; no matter where he ran, Lu Mingfei’s gaze followed.

His eyes darted constantly, shifting and locking onto various directions.

“Damn!”

Rain began to fall in a steady drizzle, accompanied by distant rumbles of thunder. The dark rain concealed the dwarf’s form, masking both temperature and sound. Now, the Dark Illumination’s effect was at its peak.

“Heh heh.”

The engine—why does it feel even worse now?

He seemed to have used a word spirit just now—if I recall correctly, it was Immortality. Did he copy such an advanced word spirit? And to release a copied word spirit through the lens spirit—is it really that easy for him?

A cold laugh echoed softly. From the shadows of the grass emerged a small man—the dwarf—holding a gun with its muzzle aimed at Chen Motong. He spoke:

In the park, the person under the greatest pressure was not Chen Motong facing the unknown threat, but the dwarf, gun in hand, ready to strike. From the start, Lu Mingfei’s gaze had been fixed on him without losing track. Wherever the dwarf ran, Lu Mingfei followed.

Caesar in the second row stood up abruptly, walking swiftly toward the guard. “Sorry, I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back soon.”

“Bang!”

“Why do I feel like what he said just now might have some merit?” A small voice came from the back row, but Caesar couldn’t tell who spoke.

Concealed?

In Lu Mingfei’s perception, turning on the Dark Illumination was like a camera’s flash going off. It was impossible to ignore. He turned it off, making it slightly harder to spot him in the rain.

Though the vice principal was trying to reassure him, Caesar sensed something was off. The old cowboy’s eyes gleamed with mischief, as though savoring some unknown delight.

“Blocked?”

She really didn’t know.

Someone was hiding over there!

Being publicly exposed before so many was an intensely humiliating experience.

His hand moved too quickly!

And he blocked the bullet with his hand?

A rustling laughter broke out.

The vice principal smiled kindly, crossing his legs and leaning back, looking playfully over his shoulder.

His pride had been pricked.

After a moment’s thought, Caesar also concluded the Scythe Weasel wasn’t very useful. His marksmanship was top-notch; the Scythe Weasel was merely auxiliary, never the crucial boost. Close combat depended more on his own skill than on any word spirit’s effect.

Chen Motong looked at the dwarf in the blood pool, confirming with profiling that this was indeed the same dwarf from earlier. She didn’t understand why he had so inexplicably taken his own life.

Because the Scythe Weasel was active, not passive.

“He’s not wrong to think that way. The lens spirit really is an unreasonable word spirit,” the vice principal reassured Caesar.

As the target, Chen Motong was desperately trying to dodge by turning her head, but her body had limits. Though she sensed danger, her reaction speed was insufficient to avoid the bullet.

Though the shot had been blocked, judging by the caliber and model of the dwarf’s handgun, its power was no joke—it was just that Lu Mingfei was too strong, making the handgun seem harmless.

“Senior, why not become my underling? I’ll have your back. Just call me ‘big brother.’ Even if the Dragon King shows up, he won’t touch a hair on your head,” Lu Mingfei said with a confident smile.

“No way!”

The cause of the current situation was simple: Lu Mingfei had a strong elemental perception. When the dwarf created his domain, the elements inside differed from the normal space. He recognized this immediately.

As others exchanged teasing smiles, Lu Mingfei pointed at the grass and asked, “Hey, that guy over there—is he from Kassel Academy too? Sent to monitor me?”

“Already discovered,” Chen Motong said as she turned to leave.

‘Disappeared again?’

Chen Motong now realized the dwarf had likely used a word spirit to conceal himself, similar to now. Such word spirits weren’t invincible. Lu Mingfei’s lens spirit could replicate effects akin to her profiling, analyzing inconsistencies to detect him.

“Clatter, clatter, clatter.”

Of course, for ordinary people with little sensitivity to elemental changes, the Dark Illumination was quite effective. But for the Dragon King, it was a mere joke.

Dark Illumination was useless against Lu Mingfei!

He answered matter-of-factly.

She couldn’t understand.

Suddenly, to Chen Motong’s astonishment, Lu Mingfei snatched the pistol from her hand, aimed it at the dwarf lying on the ground, and pulled the trigger.

“Bang!”

(End of chapter)