Lu Mingfei

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Lu Mingfei (路明非)
Alias(es)	Sakura; Scar of the Sunset
Species/Race	Human–Dragon hybrid; Soul Reaper powers fused with his mortal body
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Kassel College (early admit); Secret Party ally
Occupation/Role	Shilan High School student; former Soul Reaper captain; dragon-slaying recruit
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Reaper captain	1	After transmigrating to Soul Society, he became a Soul Reaper and rose through its ranks.
Final Zanshin	1	Turned himself into the blade and defeated Aizen with a black spiritual slash; using it exhausted all of his Soul Reaper power.
Returning Soul Reaper power	2	An unknown power reignited his depleted spiritual power, which began fusing with his physical body.
Hybrid bloodline awakening	9	Awakened a separate innate power associated with dragon blood; his pupils can become brilliant gold.
Shikai — Zanshin	15 20	Creates a domain that separates targets from their senses; its small black cross is the ability’s weakness.
Zanshin’s second form	50	Releases a stronger form that raises his strength and agility during his duel with Kazama Ruri.

Background / History

Lu Mingfei was originally a high school student whose parents lived abroad and sent money home periodically. He boarded with his aunt and uncle, sharing a room with his cousin Lu Mingze. Before his transmigration, he was socially isolated and mistook Chen Wenwen’s occasional attention for love. 1 2 8

He spent ten years in Soul Society, becoming a Soul Reaper and eventually a captain. During his final battle with Aizen, Lu used Final Zanshin despite knowing it would strip him of all Soul Reaper power; the technique defeated Aizen before Lu’s consciousness faded. He returned to his original classroom with only a split second having passed there. 1 3

Although he initially believed his powers were gone, his spiritual power began returning and merging into his physical body. While investigating this change, he also awakened a separate bloodline power, later identified as that of a human–dragon hybrid. 2 9 21

After defending his classmates from Dead Servants at Cangmang Mountain, Lu dismantled the organization creating Evolution Drugs and Dead Servants. Angers subsequently revealed that Lu’s parents had been members of the Secret Party, leading Lu to cooperate with Kassel College and accept early admission. 15 18 19 21

Appearance

Lu initially appeared unkempt, with tangled hair, a hunched posture, and a habit of avoiding eye contact. After grooming himself and getting a haircut, his refined features, clear eyes, upright bearing, and captain-like presence became immediately noticeable to his classmates. 3 11

• Usually described as tall, slim, and handsome after changing his appearance. 11 24
• Has clear eyes that become scorching golden pupils when his hybrid bloodline is active. 3 9 21
• Carries his Zanpakutō as a silver cross necklace in ordinary life. 2 20
• Wears a black Shihakushō and carries Zanshin at his waist during his Soul Society service. 31

Personality

Life in Soul Society made Lu more composed, self-assured, and detached from the approval he once sought from others. He quickly realizes that his former feelings for Chen Wenwen were rooted in loneliness rather than love, and he repeatedly refuses to resume his old role in the Literature Club. 1 3 11

He is playful, prone to deadpan jokes and exaggerated declarations, but also pragmatic. His decision to attend Kassel College is strongly influenced by its scholarship and guaranteed employment rather than its dragon-slaying mission. 3 21

Lu is protective toward people he considers friends, especially Su Xiaoqiang, and treats ordinary people as people rather than inferiors. Conversely, he is merciless toward those who exploit civilians or create Dead Servants, executing Li Yuan and the researchers after learning the nature of their experiments. 6 18 26

Abilities & Skills

Zanshin

Lu’s Zanpakutō manifests from his cross necklace. Its spirit appears as a young man in a black trench coat within Lu’s grayscale inner world. 2

• Final Zanshin — Lu becomes the blade itself and releases a black slash powerful enough to defeat Aizen, at the cost of all his Soul Reaper power. 1
• Shikai — By releasing “Part ways, Zanshin,” Lu creates a domain that can sever living targets from their senses. 15 20
• Shikai weakness — Touching the small black cross attached to the hilt’s cord grants immunity to the sensory-separation ability. 20
• Negative-effect dispelling — The black cross can dispel most negative effects when placed against a person’s forehead; Lu uses it to restore Su Xiaoqiang’s suppressed memories. 20
• Second form — Its later release significantly enhances Lu’s physical strength and agility. 50

Spiritual Pressure and Swordsmanship

Lu possesses immense Spiritual Pressure and extensive combat experience from Soul Society. He normally defeats lesser Dead Servants and armed opponents with a single sword strike. 14 16 17

• Vaporized a large group of Dead Servants with a controlled black spiritual slash. 16
• Cut through a thirty-centimeter-thick metal gate while entering Li Yuan’s base. 17
• Matched Kazama Ruri in close-quarters sword combat before Ruri’s dragon transformation forced him to use stronger techniques. 49 50
• Can use Spiritual Pressure to warm Su Xiaoqiang’s hands. 29

Flash Step and Utsusemi

Lu uses Flash Step for extreme-speed movement that appears as teleportation to observers. 1 14 16

• Rapidly crosses battlefields, pursues enemies, and carries Su Xiaoqiang to the top of Fuxin Tower. 14 16 30
• Evaded Kazama Ruri’s killing blow with Utsusemi, leaving only his coat behind as a decoy. 50

Kidō and Binding Arts

Lu can use Soul Reaper spells for restraint, tracking, concealment, and destructive attacks.

• Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō — Binds a target with six beams of light. 6
• Hadō #63: Raikōhō — A destructive thunder cannon used to eliminate Zhao Hao without leaving evidence. 6
• Bakudō #58: Grab Toe Sparrow Tracker — Tracks a target after Lu memorizes their aura. 16
• Bakudō #26: Curvature of Light — Conceals Lu and Su Xiaoqiang while he carries her through the city. 30
• Twin Lotus Blue Fire Crash — A powerful spell used against Kazama Ruri. 50

Hybrid Bloodline

Lu’s hybrid power is separate from his Soul Reaper abilities and manifests through golden pupils and enhanced physical ability. 9 21

• His awakened bloodline strengthens his body and gives him purer-looking golden pupils than the Dead Servants he encounters. 9 13
• Chu Zihang judges Lu’s bloodline rank to be much higher than his own. 21
• His immense soul power also lets him learn academic material unusually quickly; after reading his earlier textbooks once, he had essentially mastered them. 8

Gaming, Academics, and Languages

• Defeated Old Tang in six consecutive StarCraft matches after shaking off his rust, earning the internet café patrons’ admiration. 4
• Placed first in the Thirteen Cities Joint Examination. 27
• Speaks fluent Japanese and translates for his family in Tokyo. 34
• Won Akihabara’s World Martial Arts Tournament under the name “Sakura,” defeating Erii in the final through a perfect counter to her Hoyokusen. 36 39

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Zanshin — Zanpakutō carried in the form of a silver cross necklace; transforms into a black-bladed weapon upon release. 2 20
• Crescent moon necklace — A Reishi Positioning Device Lu gives Su Xiaoqiang so he can protect and locate her. 30
• iPhone 3G — Given to him by Su Xiaoqiang so he can contact others in emergencies. 25

Relationships

• Su Xiaoqiang — Former school rival who becomes Lu’s closest friend and confidante. He protects her from supernatural threats, restores her memories, and gives her a positioning necklace for her safety. 6 20 26 30
• Chu Zihang — Senior schoolmate, temporary combat ally, and guide to the hybrid world. Chu helps Lu understand Kassel College and recognizes the exceptional quality of his bloodline. 15 21
• Uesugi Erii — Tournament opponent turned friend. Lu helps her after she becomes separated from Yaksha, shelters her in Tokyo, and refuses Kazama Ruri’s demand to surrender her. 39 46 49
• Zanshin — Lu’s Zanpakutō spirit and source of guidance regarding his returning Soul Reaper power. 2
• Lu Mingze — His cousin and roommate. A mysterious entity bearing Lu Mingze’s appearance also calls itself Lu’s sole candidate for a “transaction.” 2
• Chen Wenwen — Lu’s former crush. Following his return, he no longer reciprocates her interest or attends Literature Club activities for her sake. 1 3 26
• Angers — Principal of Kassel College and leader of the Secret Party. He earns Lu’s tentative trust by revealing Lu’s parents’ connection to the organization. 19
• Jiu De Mai — Initially monitors Lu from the shadows, later accompanies him into Li Yuan’s base. Lu permits her to leave after the incident. 7 17 18

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Return from Soul Society — Defeats Aizen using Final Zanshin, loses his power, and abruptly returns to his former high school life. 1
• Returning powers and awakening — Discovers that his Soul Reaper powers are regenerating in his mortal body, then awakens his hybrid bloodline. 2 9
• Dead Servant incidents — Protects Su Xiaoqiang from Zhao Hao, investigates the cleaned-up scene, and realizes that hidden forces manage supernatural incidents. 6 7
• Cangmang Mountain attack — Leads the defense of his classmates against a Dead Servant swarm, releases Zanshin’s Shikai, tracks Bai Yan, and destroys Li Yuan’s Evolution Drug operation. 15 16 17 18
• Kassel College recruitment — Learns the truth about hybrids, dragons, and his parents’ Secret Party affiliation before agreeing to enroll at Kassel. 19 21
• Rise at Shilan High School — Becomes the top scorer in the Thirteen Cities Joint Examination and gains school-wide notoriety after defending students from bullies. 27
• Tokyo and the World Martial Arts Tournament — Travels to Japan, competes as Sakura, wins one million yen, and meets Erii. 34 36 39
• Night Rain Slaughter — Defends Erii against Kazama Ruri, escalating from an even sword duel to Zanshin’s stronger form and advanced Soul Reaper techniques. 49 50

Notable Quotes

“I was an ordinary person once, too, so I still have the emotions of an ordinary person. In my eyes, you are my best friend in this world right now.” 26

“A weakling like you has no right to negotiate with me.” 18

“I know his location now.” 16

Trivia

• Lu’s tournament alias, Sakura, was inspired by the falling cherry blossoms in 5 Centimeters per Second. 36
• He entered the World Martial Arts Tournament primarily to win enough money for an Asahina Mikuru figure. 36 37
• His outing with Su Xiaoqiang was his first visit to a movie theater outside school-organized screenings. 25