Chu Zihang

At night, Lu Mingfei slipped through the iron gate leading to the roof and sat beside the humming air-conditioning unit.

This was his secret hideout. He was usually the only one who came here.

In The Invisible City, it said that this city seemed to be everything to you. No desire went unfulfilled, and you yourself were part of it. Since she admired everything you didn't, you had no choice but to make your home among your desires and feel content.

He used to sit here often, gazing out at the city and taking in everything it had to offer.

Today, Lu Mingfei had come here because he'd noticed some changes in his body. He could feel a power within him that was different from Shinigami Power.

Was this the strange power the Zanpakuto had mentioned—the one that had helped him reconnect with his Shinigami Power?

Lu Mingfei fell into thought, wondering how he should guide this power.

He sat cross-legged on the rooftop, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed the changes in his body.

Using his Shinigami Power to reach out to that other force, Lu Mingfei sensed, as if by instinct, that it was the power of bloodline.

Just as children born to Quincy were naturally endowed with Quincy power.

This power, too, seemed to be something he'd possessed from birth.

When he opened his eyes, Lu Mingfei saw an iron-blue sky streaked with fire.

The only Giant Tree stood tall, its dead branches stretching in every direction to weave a dense web that held up the cracked sky.

The Wasteland was littered with bones. A Black Giant Beast rose from deep within a heap of skeletons, its wings draped with skulls. It spread its enormous membranous wings and roared black flames into the sky.

He could see crowds of people climbing up along the Dragon's wings. Those who reached the summit surrounded its head, driving sharp iron spikes into its skull and hammering at their ends with all their might.

Each time they bored a hole, white fluid gushed out like a fountain. It evaporated moments later into thick white vapor, and the people cheered and shouted at the top of their lungs.

Lu Mingfei stood on the Wasteland and watched it all. He knew it was an illusion.

Was this the source of that power? What a colossal war.

Suddenly, the black Dragon turned its head and looked at Lu Mingfei, its golden pupils narrowed to vertical slits.

A roar shook the sky, as if it were furious at Lu Mingfei's presence.

Lu Mingfei narrowed his eyes. A mere creature in an illusion dares to roar at me?

He drew his blade and slashed forward. The illusion shattered at once.

In the darkness, golden pupils lit up, blazing and bright.

Kassel College, Lionheart office.

Chu Zihang sat at his desk, expressionless as he worked.

He hadn't been at the school long before becoming the Lionheart president.

He still remembered the previous president clapping him on the shoulder and saying, "This year, Lionheart lost to the Student Union on Freedom Day. Sure, I was off-campus doing an internship and couldn't take part, but that's no excuse for our defeat."

Then the former president changed tack. "The people in Lionheart these days just aren't quite up to scratch. In my eyes, you're the best of them. I'm handing Lionheart over to you. I'll arrange for Suzy to assist you!"

And just like that, Chu Zihang somehow became the new Lionheart president. He was still a freshman, making this an unprecedented appointment.

At first, some members of Lionheart had voiced their dissatisfaction, but Chu Zihang's outstanding performance soon silenced them all.

Among this crowd of geniuses, Chu Zihang was the most gifted of them all. He earned A-Rank evaluations in every practical course, and his grades in every academic subject were A's as well.

The school's teachers and professors all praised Chu Zihang, calling him a model student.

Everyone in Lionheart had complete faith in him.

Even Kaiser, the Student Union president, had said Chu Zihang was worthy of being his rival.

"Beep, beep, beep." His phone rang.

Chu Zihang took it out and checked the message.

"Suzy, I'm leaving you in charge of Lionheart for now," Chu Zihang suddenly said to the girl beside him.

"Of course, President. May I ask if something's come up?"

A pretty girl with short black hair and a slender, graceful figure asked him.

"The school has assigned me a mission. It's in my hometown, so I'll need to go there. I'm leaving tomorrow."

"A mission? You've only been at the Academy for a few months. Why would the school assign you one?" Suzy asked in surprise.

"My mentor, Professor Schneider, requested it. He said the mission happens to be in my hometown, and I'm familiar with the area," Chu Zihang explained.

Suzy agreed.

As Chu Zihang's right-hand woman, she and Lancelot handled most of Lionheart's day-to-day operations. Chu Zihang was more of a figurehead, only making decisions on major matters.

He was only telling her that he'd be away for a while. That was all.

The next day.

By the time he got off the plane, it was already morning.

No one had come to pick him up. He'd messaged his mother yesterday to say he'd be coming home today, but she hadn't replied.

Still, Chu Zihang hadn't expected her to come pick him up. He'd only let her know in advance. His mother had never been very reliable; as far as he could remember, the most reliable thing she'd ever done for him was give birth to him.

Chu Zihang left the airport and hailed a taxi.

"Driver, take me to Peacock Mansion in the east of the city."

Chu Zihang got in and gave the driver the address. It was a well-known villa community in the city.

"Sure thing!" the driver replied briskly.

When he got home, Chu Zihang took out his key and unlocked the door.

Inside, he found his mother and several aunties sprawled across the living-room sofas, their clothes rumpled and their legs bared without a care.

As he walked past the sofa, he caught a heavy smell of alcohol.

They'd probably stayed out partying late the night before and only come home in the morning. No wonder his mother hadn't replied to his message.

"Oh! Zihang's here!" One of the aunties woke up and saw him standing by the sofa.

These aunties had watched Chu Zihang grow up. They were all envious of Su Xiaoyan for having such a handsome and considerate son, and wanted to take him home and raise him as their own.

"What? Zihang's here? Come over and let Auntie have a look! I haven't seen you in ages, not since you started college." The other aunties woke up too.

"Zihang, I'm thirsty!" Su Xiaoyan also woke up and gazed at her son pitifully.

"Just a moment."

While they chattered noisily, he fetched a few blankets and covered them with them.

Then Chu Zihang got several cartons of milk, heated them on low in the microwave for five minutes, and poured the milk into cups.

He brought over the warm milk and gave a cup to his mother and each of the aunties.

"Zihang, you're so thoughtful. Come be my son!" Aunt Annie called to him.

"No way. He's my son. If you want one, have another of your own."

Su Xiaoyan refused on Chu Zihang's behalf, sounding perfectly serious.

Chu Zihang felt a little helpless.

"Where's Aunt Tong?"

"She had some things to take care of at home, so I gave her a few days off," Su Xiaoyan said with a giggle.