Lu Mingfei shot to his feet.
His eyes, fixed on Caesar, were full of unfamiliarity and suspicion. Then he looked at Finn, then Inuyama He, before finally settling his gaze on Minamoto Chisaki in the direction of the main hall. Suddenly, he broke into a stride, nearly rushing over.
"Elephant Tortoise."
He stood before Minamoto Chisaki, his voice slightly stiff, as though suppressing something.
"Where is Erii? I want to see Erii."
Minamoto Chisaki looked up.
Not long ago, he had used a Dragon Blood serum while fighting the Great Serpent. He had only just managed to stabilize himself somewhat, and he was weak now, his face slightly pale. Firelight danced across his features, painting that pallor in warm hues, but Lu Mingfei had no attention to spare for that.
He merely stared into Minamoto Chisaki's eyes.
Minamoto Chisaki was not displeased by his rudeness. He looked at Lu Mingfei in surprise. There was confusion and incomprehension in those eyes, but not the one thing Lu Mingfei wanted to see.
"Um... Lu Mingfei." Minamoto Chisaki's voice was a little weak, though it retained its usual steady tone. "I don't know who this Erii is that you're talking about. If necessary, I can mobilize the entire Eight Clans of the Serpent to help you find her."
Lu Mingfei froze.
He looked at Minamoto Chisaki, and his gaze slowly became foreign.
"You're all joining forces to fool me, aren't you? Can you stop playing around?"
Minamoto Chisaki saw the panic and unease in his eyes.
That look made Minamoto Chisaki pause—not anger, not accusation, but the look a child would have after getting lost in a crowd,
looking everywhere and failing to find a familiar face.
The excess expression left his face.
"Lu Mingfei." He spoke solemnly, his voice weak but each