Chapter Sixty-Seven: A Fine Dog! Truly a Fine Dog!

"Sigh, what a pity, we can’t see it anymore."
Lu Mingfei looked back into the distance, a stream of sadness and regret flowing through his heart. He hoped his senior would appreciate this final gift from him.

"It really is a shame," Su Xiaoqiang chimed in softly.

Her voice was quiet and light, still echoing with Chu Zihang’s words from earlier. The sight of Xia Mi boldly reaching out for love had ignited a blaze in her own heart. She couldn’t help but wonder: if I were a little braver, would I be able to...

Strange thoughts drifted through Su Xiaoqiang’s mind. She glanced at Lu Mingfei not far away, exhaled gently, gathered her courage, and began, "Lu Mingfei, actually—"

"Hey, there’s an internet café over there. Want to team up?" Lu Mingfei interrupted with a smile, pointing toward the café.

"...Sure, why not."

Ten minutes later.

"Hahaha, you’re awful! Playing the crocodile and still getting destroyed by Ji Xiaoman! Do you even know how to play Genshin Impact? Hilarious!" Lu Mingfei laughed maniacally at the computer screen, merciless in his mockery.

"...Damn," Su Xiaoqiang stared at the grayscale game over screen, listening to Lu Mingfei’s triumphant taunts. Any desire for romance was instantly shattered. Suddenly, being single didn’t seem so bad. If she really dated this guy, whose brain was consumed by games, she might just die of frustration.

On the other hand, Lu Mingfei cast a sidelong glance at Su Xiaoqiang, sighed softly, and then continued grinning, "Want another round? I’ll give you a chance to get revenge."

"Bring it on, I’ll make you cry!"

"Haha~"

As evening fell, Lu Mingfei, who had been gaming for hours, returned to the hotel alone. He gazed at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and gave a helpless smile. "Sorry, my heart is small—it can only hold one person."

He truly hadn’t noticed the strange feelings this girl harbored for him before. But after witnessing Chu Zihang and Xia Mi’s intimate moment, Su Xiaoqiang’s gaze was no longer the subtle, brotherly look he was used to. If he still couldn’t see it now, he might as well gouge out his eyes.

To turn a blind eye and continue flirting would be a betrayal of Furnina, and a betrayal of himself—something he could not tolerate.

After a brief moment of reflection, he quickly took out his phone and messaged his senior.

Lu Mingfei: Senior, how are things on your end... How’s it going now? Did you take Xia Mi home?

Chu Zihang: She’s staying at my place.

Lu Mingfei: Impressive.

Chu Zihang: She saw the dog you entrusted to me. I suspect she might do something to your dog, but it’s just a feeling, a special kind of intuition. I have no proof.

Lu Mingfei: If things get out of hand, just let the dog go. It’s innocent.

Chu Zihang: Alright.

An hour later.

Chu Zihang: She didn’t harm the dog.

Lu Mingfei: Oh, then it’s fine.

Chu Zihang: However, she named the dog Lu Mingfei. She’s training it to do backflips.

Lu Mingfei: ???

Chu Zihang: [Audio recording—Come on, Lu Mingfei, show me a backflip. Woof woof! Excellent! Here, eat up. Woof woof~ Good dog, such a good dog. When I have time I’ll take you out for a walk, hehehe.]

Lu Mingfei: !!!

Xia Mi, you’re the real dog here!

Lu Mingfei: Senior, didn’t it occur to you to stop her? What are you doing? Take action, do something!

Chu Zihang: Take action? That’s rich. Your senior is already mine! You expect him to stop me? Hahaha, that’s hilarious!

Lu Mingfei: WTF?!

At Chu Zihang’s place.

Xia Mi looked down from above at Chu Zihang, who was struggling to his feet after being knocked to the ground. She proudly crossed her legs, waving his phone in front of his eyes.

Chu Zihang:

He never imagined he’d be the victim of domestic violence by a next-generation hybrid. Although he had been holding back, Xia Mi’s strength was undeniable. Her control over her power far surpassed his; in a physical fight at home, she had the clear advantage.

Though he could have used his Word Spirit, unleashing Sovereign Flame indoors was obviously unwise.

"Chu Zihang, your power is too weak. You’re not worthy of the Dragon King title. Your grasp of power is as shallow as a child who’s only just gained an adult’s body—so much strength, but you can’t use it," Xia Mi said, barefoot in slippers, stepping up to him. She cradled his face in her hand, a smug smile on her lips. "But that’s alright. I’ll teach you how to use the Dragon King’s power. I’ll make you a true Dragon King."

"Norton will teach me..."

Chu Zihang murmured weakly.

"He’s nothing. What he teaches is useless; you can’t learn it, and you don’t even understand how a Dragon King’s power should be wielded! Look at yourself—after all this time with him, what have you learned? Have you improved at all?" Xia Mi sneered, her words sharp with arrogance.

The authority Chu Zihang possessed was originally hers—the King of Earth and Mountain’s authority. Trying to master it using the methods of the King of Bronze and Fire was doomed to fail.

"I know Sovereign Flame..."

"You always knew Sovereign Flame!"

"I..."

"Don’t talk, listen to me!"

"Oh..."

"As a Dragon King, the most important thing is to experience the sensation of wielding power, to feel the transformation of authority as you use it, to control power with authority, to attain mastery over your strength. That’s the true way to use a Dragon King’s power."

"But Norton said..."

"Hmm?" Xia Mi’s commanding gaze silenced him at once. This feeling of being bullied was new to him. Besides, sparring with a beautiful girl who could make his heart race—there was something oddly enjoyable about it.

As he followed Xia Mi’s guidance, sensing his own strength, his improvement far outstripped anything he’d achieved under Norton’s tutelage. Feeling his power grow rapidly, he couldn’t help but look at Xia Mi with new eyes.

He understood now.

Norton may be his brother and adept with the powers of the King of Bronze and Fire, but he was no teacher. Xia Mi was once his lover; she knew him best, understood exactly how he could progress fastest. Under her guidance, he advanced much more quickly than with Dragon King Norton.

Though she was only a next-generation hybrid, her understanding of the Dragon King’s authority was profound and unique—her methods seemed tailor-made for him. For Chu Zihang, it was as natural as moving his own limbs—simple, effective, and easy to master.

In some ways, Xia Mi truly had every right to look down on Norton—at least as a teacher, she was far superior.

Only a former lover

could understand me so well, right?

How lucky I am to have her.

(Today my mother dragged me to take the civil service exam, so the update was delayed a bit. Starting tomorrow, I’ll try to get back to daily ten-thousand-word updates.)

(End of chapter)