The End

"Uh..."

Suddenly, a black blade pierced through Bai Yan's neck.

Bai Yan's expression froze. He reached for his neck, but blood kept pouring out.

After pulling out his Zanpakuto, Bai Yan collapsed to the ground, motionless. He hadn't even managed to beg for his life.

"Clap, clap, clap!" Applause rang out.

"Just as expected of a Half-Blood who wiped out so many of my experimental subjects. Your rank must be S-Rank, right?" Li Yuan's voice came through the loudspeaker.

Lu Mingfei didn't answer his question.

"You're not running because you're counting on these Dead Servants, aren't you?" Lu Mingfei said, pointing his blade at the group of snake-like Dead Servants.

They stood where they were, waiting for orders.

"How are they? Aren't my experimental subjects impressive? These are my masterpieces. Once I capture you, I'll turn you into an even stronger Dead Servant. I've never experimented on an S-Rank before. I can hardly wait."

Li Yuan stared at Lu Mingfei through the surveillance feed, his eyes full of longing, as though he were looking at some peerless delicacy.

Jiu De Mai rolled her eyes. In her heart, she had already started offering incense for the organization's leader.

An eerie whistle rang out through the loudspeaker.

The snake-like Dead Servants lifted their heads and looked at Lu Mingfei and Jiu De Mai.

Jiu De Mai instinctively drew the ninja swords from her thighs.

He really never learned his lesson. Lu Mingfei reached out to stop Jiu De Mai. Let's finish this quickly this time. He swung Zanshin forward.

"Five Senses Separation."

The Dead Servants, who had just started moving, stopped at once. It was as if they'd been sealed away, their senses filled with nothingness.

Lu Mingfei strolled casually among the snake-like Dead Servants. With only a light swing of his blade, one Dead Servant after another fell beneath it. They had no chance to fight back.

"That's all?" Lu Mingfei asked. "This doesn't even count as a warm-up."

Li Yuan stared at the surveillance feed in disbelief. How could his perfect creations be so utterly helpless? It had to be the effect of Lu Mingfei's unknown Spirit Word.

Damn it, why hadn't Bai Yan reported this information?

Li Yuan's expression shifted as he thought it over. At last, he said to the other researchers in the room, "Everyone, gather up the research materials. We'll escape through the secret passage."

Before he could finish speaking—

A thunderous crash rang out.

As the laboratory doors came crashing down, the entrance that Bai Yan had died trying to get through swung open.

"How is this possible? That door is on par with the underground vault of the Bank of Rome!" Li Yuan cried out.

"Have you finished packing?" Lu Mingfei asked with a broad smile.

Li Yuan fell silent for a moment, then stepped forward and smiled amiably. "Welcome, sir. I was presumptuous just now."

"You change your tune pretty quickly," Lu Mingfei said, casually surveying the laboratory.

"Strength is the foundation for speaking as equals. We were merely following the laws of the dragons just now. You've already proven your strength, so of course I'll treat you with the respect you deserve," Li Yuan explained.

"Besides, we can work together. With your incredible strength and my technology, we can join forces and become the new king!" Li Yuan painted a picture of their future for Lu Mingfei.

"Your technology is turning people into Dead Servants?" Lu Mingfei asked.

Seeing that Lu Mingfei seemed interested, Li Yuan's eyes lit up. Of course—who could resist the temptation of power?

Li Yuan began his explanation. "As everyone knows, once the dragon blood in a Half-Blood exceeds the critical limit of fifty percent, its power forcibly rewrites human genes into dragon genes. When the bloodline can no longer be brought below fifty percent, the Half-Blood gradually becomes a Dead Servant."

He paused briefly and glanced at Lu Mingfei's face. It remained expressionless.

Then Li Yuan continued, "The vast majority of people exposed to dragon-blood contamination become irrational monsters. But I've already developed a way to control these Dead Servants, and my Evolution Drug can turn ordinary people into stronger, more obedient Dead Servants."

Li Yuan sounded quite pleased with himself. This was his greatest research achievement. If the world of Half-Bloods learned of this technology, they'd fight like mad to seize it. He couldn't believe this young man wasn't tempted.

"There's one thing you said that was right," Lu Mingfei said, slowly walking over to him.

"What was that?" Li Yuan asked, puzzled.

A sharp whoosh cut through the air. Lu Mingfei swung his blade in a horizontal slash, and Li Yuan's head was severed from his body in an instant.

Li Yuan's head rolled to the ground, his expression still puzzled, as if he couldn't understand Lu Mingfei's choice.

"Strength is the foundation for speaking as equals. What makes a weakling like you think you can negotiate with me?" Lu Mingfei said coldly.

The remaining researchers saw their A-Rank leader killed so easily and hurried to beg for mercy.

One of them said, "I'm only a researcher. I had no part in the evil things they did. I was just conducting research."

"Then what were your research subjects?" Lu Mingfei looked at them coldly. "Ordinary people!"

"Filth like you don't deserve to be called human."

He swung his blade down, cleaving the man in two.

Jiu De Mai silently walked out of the laboratory.

She leaned against the wall beside the entrance, listening to the sounds from within.

Begging, cries for help, curses, and confessions rose and fell, one after another.

The sounds stopped. Lu Mingfei walked out of the laboratory and flicked his blade lightly. Its red edge immediately returned to its normal color.

He released Shikai. Zanshin reverted to an ordinary Zanpakuto. He sheathed it, and that was the end of things.

"Let's go," Lu Mingfei said to Jiu De Mai.

Jiu De Mai hurried over to his side.

Outside, the surrounding mountain forest was completely free of contamination. Looking up at the sky, they could see the stars twinkling in the peaceful night.

"What excuse should I use to slip away later?" Jiu De Mai wondered to herself.

"I want to ask you something," Lu Mingfei suddenly said to Jiu De Mai.

"Ask me anything!" Jiu De Mai thumped her chest boldly, as if she'd answer any question.

"Do I need to destroy this base? If we leave it like this, ordinary people might find it," Lu Mingfei said, thoughtfully studying the base's location.

"You don't need to worry about what happens next. You know Chu Zihang, right? The Kassel College behind him will take care of this kind of thing. They're professionals," Jiu De Mai quickly explained.

"Then that's fine." Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief. Aside from flattening the whole area, he had no idea how to cover it up.

Jiu De Mai followed Lu Mingfei for a while. In the distance, they could just make out the camp.

Jiu De Mai stopped.

"What's wrong?" Lu Mingfei asked.

"Um, could I maybe not go with you? Please?" Jiu De Mai clasped her hands together and looked at Lu Mingfei with sincere eyes.

Lu Mingfei thought she looked a little funny. It wasn't as if he were some evil villain.

"If you want to leave, go ahead. I won't stop you."

Jiu De Mai asked softly, "Then I'm off?"

Lu Mingfei waved his hand, signaling that she could go.

Jiu De Mai turned and left.

"Damn, I can finally get away from that butcher!"

"By the way," Lu Mingfei's voice called out.

Jiu De Mai froze.

"I haven't asked your name yet."

Jiu De Mai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jiu De Mai. My name is Jiu De Mai."

After answering, Jiu De Mai hurried away.