Chapter Thirty-Two: The Water God's Assassination

Lu Mingfei didn't agree, and Chu Zihang didn't try to persuade him further. He had always been a man of efficiency, so in the end, he simply left one final remark: before you officially choose a university after graduating high school, you will have the chance to join Cassell College.

He left his contact details so that Lu Mingfei could reach out if he ever changed his mind. Although Chu Zihang didn't think he would, following procedure was necessary—it was a matter of professional attitude.

“Sigh, it's really difficult,”

After Chu Zihang left, Lu Mingfei lay alone on the hotel bed, staring at the ceiling and mumbling to himself.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Funina asked curiously.

Lu Mingfei recounted everything that had happened, sharing his genuine feelings: “Honestly, I do want to go. After all, I can't make money on my own yet, and the more I spend, the less I have. Once I start university, I'll probably have to rent a place near campus. I don’t even know if the interest from my savings will be enough for daily expenses… sigh.”

“Hmm…” Funina thought for a moment, then said, “The money you’re using now comes from your aunt, and your aunt gets it from your parents. Since that’s the case, why don’t you ask your parents directly? They should be well-off, right?”

“But they ignore me. They just dumped me at my aunt’s place. How could I rely on them? I’d sooner rely on you,” Lu Mingfei replied helplessly.

“Ah, well…”

“So, I’m planning to stall for now, see if I can get some information about hybrids from Senior Chu Zihang. If I can confirm there’s no danger ahead, joining Cassell College might not be a bad choice.”

Lu Mingfei actually knew what he was doing. Chatting with Funina was more about sharing his predicament than seeking help.

Ask for help?

He didn’t want to trouble Funina. She was so fragile, pretending to be a water goddess and must be under immense psychological pressure. She was a girl who also needed care, and though she didn’t say it, after some time Lu Mingfei could sense it.

Let me settle myself for a while. When all is ready, then I’ll set out on my journey.

“Mm, if you think it’s doable, then there shouldn’t be a problem,” Funina replied, understanding his thoughts. She was strolling down the street as she spoke, and by chance, she spotted a little black-and-white kitten.

A smile instantly blossomed on her face, and she exclaimed in her heart, “Look, there’s such a cute kitten over there! Oh, I really want to pick it up and cuddle it. Mingfei, come and see!”

“All right, all right~” Lu Mingfei quickly linked his senses with hers. Their connection had grown stronger lately, enough that he could faintly perceive what was near her, so he could more or less “see” the kitten Funina mentioned.

“Oh? You little thing, come here~”

“Meow~” In the night, the girl skipped over to the kitten and reached out her hand. The shy kitten immediately turned and ran, but not too far—it simply sat a short distance away, quietly watching Funina.

“How dare you run? Hold it right there!” Funina approached the kitten again, a knowing smile on her face. But just then, the kitten suddenly stood up, lifted a forepaw, and stared behind her with a look of terror. At that very moment, Lu Mingfei’s urgent shout rang out:

“Watch your back!!”

“Huh?” Funina froze, instinctively turning her head. Behind her, a masked figure dressed in black lunged at her. An overwhelming sense of terror exploded in her heart as the merciless hand pierced her body.

And so, the vision Lu Mingfei perceived through their bond was abruptly cut off, his mind shattered.

He had watched, powerless, as that shadowy figure in black drove a hand through Funina’s body. He saw it—he saw it with his own eyes—but he could do nothing to stop it. He couldn’t rush to her side, couldn’t protect her, could only scream warnings in his heart like a useless fool and watch the vision dissolve, despair consuming him utterly.

Why… why am I still so useless?

What can I protect? What am I capable of protecting?

“Don’t kill me… please don’t kill me! I’ve been acting for nearly five hundred years. If I’m exposed now… if I’m exposed now, Fontaine is doomed. All my five centuries of effort will be wasted! Don’t kill me! I can’t die!”

Funina’s voice rang out again. In this life-or-death moment, she could no longer hide her true thoughts—they burst forth uncontrollably.

Hearing her, fury and despair ignited the dragon blood within Lu Mingfei. His heart teetered on the edge of madness, burning hotter than ever before. His molten golden eyes silently blazed, scorching through the black contacts, their gaze threatening to pierce the boundaries of the world.

She’s going to die!

She’s really going to die!

What can I do?

What am I capable of doing?!

Sinister black dragon scales surfaced on his skin, his hands morphing into claws, ever more draconic features emerging. Yet all he could do was listen, helpless, furious and desperate—just listen!

I… I…

I can do nothing!

Only moments ago, Funina had pulled him from the depths of sorrow and despair, granting him a chance to transform. They had just made promises for an enduring future together. Only a second earlier, he had been dreaming of a beautiful life with Funina—and now, she…

Come kill me instead, damn you!

Take my life! Take it!

Just don’t lay a finger on Funina!

…

His mind sank into a long, deathly silence.

Quiet—so quiet it was deafening.

“Rage and madness are the fuel for a dragon’s power. Human calm and contemplation only slow my growth. I… I was too complacent before.” In utter despair, Lu Mingfei felt the surging strength within, thinking silently to himself.

Suppress the human side, and the dragon’s power will surge forth, insanity overwhelming the mind, draconic blood and might seizing control.

This is… blood eruption!

Others walk the path to godhood—

Lu Mingfei returns to his origin.

The cruelest thing in this world is to rescue a youth from the abyss of sorrow and despair with supreme happiness, only to tear that happiness to pieces before his very eyes.

That is a pain worse than death.

“I’ll kill you… kill you… kill you…”

Highly draconized, Lu Mingfei sat on the sofa, whispering these words over and over. His fury and despair left the little devil in disbelief.

The little devil simply could not understand why he suddenly snapped, muttering in this highly draconized state, yet not attacking anyone.

Perhaps, as he himself had said, he was just someone prone to madness at times?

Alas, brother has lost his mind, completely lost it.

That night, the youth who had just shed his cowardice and looked to the future with hope died. In his place remained a king reborn in fire, sitting silently on the sofa, his black hair burned of all its luster by anger, fading to a dull gray.