As a stirring march rang out over the loudspeakers, the doors of the campus hospital's inpatient wing opened, and doctors and nurses poured out to treat the wounded.
Chapter 47: Free Day MVP
The doctors gave the "corpses" injections containing an antidote to the anesthetic effects of Frigg Bullets. For students who had suffered falls or scrapes during this live-action Counter-Strike match, they used ordinary medical supplies: disinfecting what needed disinfecting, bandaging what needed bandaging, and putting the seriously injured on stretchers.
A doctor approached Chu Zihang, who was sitting against a wall. Noticing the cuts left by a blade on his combat uniform, the doctor offered to treat his wounds, but Chu Zihang politely declined. He touched the slits that exposed his skin. Not a single stroke had actually injured him; each had merely sliced through the tough fabric of his combat uniform with perfect precision.
During the fight, he had had no time to check himself. Every attack he failed to block had carried a chill, and combined with those dreamlike visions, it had felt as though he really had been cut.
He silently looked toward Caesar on the other side, meeting his eyes. Both saw the same thing in the other's gaze: defeat.
They were swaggering club leaders, dragon slayers who considered themselves the elite, yet a freshman who had not even received the college's training had taught them a lesson.
Yes, a lesson, not a fight.
Each had watched the other fight Lu Mingfei, and it was obvious that Lu Mingfei had plenty to spare. If he had used that blindingly fast slash, Chu Zihang might not have been able to withstand even a single stroke. As for the deliberately restrained swordsmanship that had overwhelmed them, Caesar had no confidence he could find an opening in it either. They had been driven into a corner within moments, while their opponent seemed not to have finished warming up!
Was this what an S-rank was? It was as though the dragon-slaying heroes of distant ages from their history lessons had stepped into reality.
As the most active veteran S-rank, Principal Angers also possessed Time Zero, a Word Spirit superior to Moment. Surely he was even stronger than Lu Mingfei.
Perhaps only people like them could face dragons head-on without being overpowered.
A little old man with thin, round gold-rimmed glasses and a gleaming bald head walked toward the parking lot, holding a handkerchief over his nose and mouth. He frowned and sighed, and as he passed walls riddled with bullet marks, his sighs grew ever more heartfelt.
The battlefield strewn with bodies now had all the bustle of a sports meet. Doctors and nurses injected the people who had been shot one by one, then massaged the shoulders and backs of the "dead" who had twisted their joints when they fainted, recording their student numbers along the way. Once the dead took off their masks and woke up, the first thing they did was whisper to one another, trying to learn who had won. But they were all rather confused, because both leaders were still "alive," without any of the red stains left by exploding Frigg Bullets.
Some judged from the cuts on Chu Zihang's clothes that Caesar must have gained the upper hand, only to notice that the Student Union president did not look like a victor. Instead, he looked thoughtful and weary, just like the Lionheart Society president sitting across from him.
Surely Lu Mingfei hadn't won?
A sneak attack?
Had he blindsided them while they were busy fighting each other?
The students who thought this did not understand their own leaders. Neither Caesar nor Chu Zihang was the sort to crumble in the face of defeat. They had simply encountered a mirror named "Lu Mingfei" without warning. It reflected limits they could not escape, leaving them momentarily bewildered.
This was a warrior's most vulnerable stage, yet also the beginning of strength.
Professor Manstein approached, having seen many students with injuries as serious as broken bones along the way. In a stern, righteous tone, he warned the two club leaders, "You've violated the special rules for Free Day. I'm reporting this to the principal and having this event terminated!"
"The three special rules are: no using the alchemical equipment in the Ice Cellar, no causing casualties, and no bringing outsiders onto campus to look around. Correct?" Chu Zihang stood and asked calmly.
"They got hurt because they fell over by accident. Everyone falls over, don't they?" Caesar also stood, speaking languidly.
The two bitter rivals were as calm as team captains returning from a soccer game. Standing on either side of Manstein, they folded their arms in almost identical motions. Both had buried the crushing sense of defeat from their fights with Lu Mingfei, recovering their usual composure and confidence.
"Fine! Caesar, Chu Zihang, you've got some nerve! Just wait until I report this to the principal!" Professor Manstein's hands shook with anger as he pulled out his phone and dialed. Everyone fell silent. The college's principal clearly held an extraordinary place in the students' hearts, and all eyes converged on Professor Manstein's phone.
Looking as though he held all the power, Professor Manstein jabbed the speakerphone button.
"Hello, Manstein," Angers's voice rang out.
"Principal Angers, I'm sorry to disturb you, but we have an unusual situation. The students are suspected of violating the special rules during this year's Free Day. Members of the Lionheart Society and the Student Union used Frigg Bullets and turned the entire campus into a battlefield. They even used Norma's perimeter security equipment to fire smoke shells. Many people are injured. The situation is extremely serious!" Professor Manstein complained indignantly.
"Oh, Caesar has always been like that. You ought to be used to it by now, Manstein," Angers said mildly.
Professor Manstein hesitated for a moment. "There are also the enormous losses to consider... Our preliminary estimate puts the repair costs at roughly five hundred and forty thousand dollars... And that doesn't include replacing the lawn. They've trampled your favorite Bermuda Lawn until it looks like a field waiting to be plowed!"
"Oh, Caesar, as the wealthiest student at the college, you don't mind paying to have my beloved Bermuda Lawn replaced, do you?" the principal asked.
"As you wish." Caesar shrugged.
"Never mind, I was only joking. Take the money from the board's fund. After all, the students earned the annual anniversary Free Day from us through their own efforts. We old fellows won't go back on our word." The principal laughed heartily. "Once you've enjoyed the festivities, make sure you work hard at your studies too, my dear students. I wish I could be there to enjoy this happy Free Day with you."
The students exchanged glances, then applauded in unison. Cheering, they untied their armbands and tossed them into the air, slung their arms over one another's shoulders, and swayed, making mocking faces at Professor Manstein.
"Is Lu Mingfei still there? He hasn't gone straight to the library after the fight, has he?" Angers asked loudly over the phone.
Everyone froze, and the surroundings fell quiet.
"I'm here," Lu Mingfei answered from among the medical staff. He was wearing the plain field uniform issued by the Executive Department, unlike the students present. Combined with the fact that almost no one had seen his real face during the fighting, this had unexpectedly allowed him to go unnoticed.
Lu Mingfei had personally knocked down quite a few students. In the spirit of a warrior, he had joined the rescue team to lend a hand. The campus hospital's doctors had assumed this nimble young man was volunteering to earn credits and had even given him a set of medical supplies.
"You did very well. I hope Caesar and Chu Zihang learned a great deal from their duels with you!" The principal's voice echoed around them.
Chapter 48: The Gaming Addict
"Student Union president underestimates his opponent, narrowly loses to S-rank!"
"Chu Zihang fights Lu Mingfei to a standstill, falls short by a single move!"
Fingel's investment had earned him a return of nearly three hundred percent, and he promptly posted the security-camera footage of the fights on the Night Watch Forum. His choice of headlines revealed the survival philosophy of this eighth-year paparazzi chief. He was one of the biggest beneficiaries of this Free Day, and his deliberately misleading pre-match posts had not escaped attentive eyes. Unless his analysis of the fights pandered a little to Caesar's and Chu Zihang's supporters, he would have a hard time avoiding a mob attack.
A week had passed since Free Day, and Lu Mingfei's name had climbed to the top of the Cassell College Rankings. Every student and teacher now knew this boy, who looked so easy to bully in his headshot, with drooping eyes and an oversized school uniform. Even the cameras had failed to clearly capture his furious slash!
This also fit a meme inspired by a currently popular film or TV series: better to provoke a muscle-bound thug than a kindly old Chinese man with a white beard. The latter might put you on the ground in an instant, then help you up with a smile and ask what you had learned today.
Thus, Lu Mingfei earned his first nickname in the dragon-slaying world: "The Black Hidden World's Sword."
The recipient himself remained unaware. He had returned to his dull routine of shuttling between the library and his dorm, and even Constantine was leading a more colorful life. Constantine's alias, "Wang Wei," sounded ordinary, but his ancient Chinese manners and bearing, combined with the looks of a handsome young actor, had quickly made him the most popular freshman after Lu Mingfei and a Russian girl named Zero.
Norton Hall, the conference room.
Every member of the Student Union committee was present. Caesar, the current president, sat on the sofa before the fireplace, his hands supporting his chin as he stared ahead. The Gattuso Family's phoenix crest hung above his head. The silence had lasted a long time, and almost everyone had their heads lowered.
"For the first time in three years, we're losing the right to use Norton Hall. So this will be our last meeting here," Caesar said evenly. "For me, this is an unprecedented, crushing defeat."
Their dejection weighed on them like a mountain. Ever since Caesar had taken charge of the Student Union, they had always won Free Day. Under his leadership, the Student Union had finally become a club capable of rivaling Cassell College's most traditional fraternity, the Lionheart Society. Even the arrival of Chu Zihang, known as a "super A-rank," had failed to wrest Norton Hall from them. Yet now, incredibly, they had lost to a freshman.
"We didn't lose. This was a disgraceful rigged battle!" a senior committee member said. "Lu Mingfei could use his Word Spirit, and he even deployed the college's smoke shells!"
The committee members grew indignant, whispering among themselves.
"Stop!" Caesar raised a hand, his commanding voice quelling the uproar in the conference room.
"I refuse to speak to cowards. Only cowards refuse to admit defeat." Caesar's ice-blue eyes were expressionless. "Didn't you hear what Principal Angers said? This was an instructional battle held at his direction, and the only two students were Chu Zihang and me. Since it was instruction, fairness doesn't enter into it. The smoke blocked everyone's vision equally, and he didn't use a Word Spirit!"
The moment he heard Angers's remark, he had understood what Lu Mingfei had meant by "You passed."
It meant class was over.
"I've already rented Amber Hall next door as the Student Union's base for the coming year. Move our things out. This place belongs to Lu Mingfei now." He rose and poured himself a glass of cognac.
The committee members looked at one another without speaking, just as they had at the end of Free Day. After the principal's words, everyone, including Manstein, had fallen silent, chewing over their meaning. Only Lu Mingfei had walked over and replied calmly, "Then I've fulfilled my promise."
The implications were terrifying, which was why these senior Student Union members had refused to think too deeply about them. But now Caesar had ripped away the excuses they had hidden behind.
Their leader had settled the matter, and everyone had no choice but to get up and get to work.
In Dormitory 303, Building 1.
Lu Mingfei was reading, Constantine was playing StarCraft on Lu Mingfei's computer, and Fingel stood behind Constantine, watching with rapt interest.
Constantine always spent his free time in the dorm staring into space after finishing his homework. Lu Mingfei had decided to trust Lu Mingze for now, so he encouraged Constantine to expand his social circle and registered a social media account for him, hoping he might someday lure out a Dragon King. But Constantine was clearly more interested in games than flirting with strangers.
For some reason, Angers had happened to preinstall StarCraft on the computer he gave Lu Mingfei. Perhaps it was a thoughtful gesture from the old man. In Fingel's telling, it was an awkward expression of paternal affection from an older man who had always watched over his son.
After joining Cassell College, Lu Mingfei rarely logged into his old social media account. Many of his high school classmates had left messages, most dating back several months. The only person still active was an online friend from the StarCraft channel, who sent "Want a game?" every few days. It was hard to imagine what sort of person he was. Did he have no friends in real life?
The person currently playing against Constantine was this fellow named "Old Tang." At first, Constantine's skills had been nowhere near enough to keep pace with him. Only after Lu Mingfei found time to give him some pointers had Constantine improved to the point where he was just a little weaker than his opponent.
On the screen, Constantine's defenses collapsed, and his Terran forces fell back steadily. Swarming Zerg units of every kind crowded together and blew up his base.
"Great, bro! You've finally got your groove back. Otherwise, there'd barely be anyone left in our channel who could play a few rounds with me." Old Tang sounded pleased with himself. "You played well this time. Let's have another match later. I'll use Terran and teach you some tactics!"
"Okay," Constantine replied through Lu Mingfei's account.
There were actually very few active players left in the StarCraft channel Lu Mingfei and Old Tang belonged to. Apart from accepting Old Tang's invitations, Constantine spent the rest of his time playing against the computer.
After pressing the shutdown button, Constantine massaged his eyes with eye exercises, then went to the window to look into the distance. This was a rule Lu Mingfei had set for him. One day, Lu Mingfei had been out and returned to discover that Constantine had spent the entire day gaming. Only then had he realized what a terrible gaming addiction this former Dragon King had, and from then on, he had limited Constantine's gaming time.
By then, it was time for dinner.
Fingel had won quite a lot of money, but he had not given up the chance to sponge off Lu Mingfei's meal card. He often came over at dinnertime to wait for the two residents of Room 303 so they could eat together, and Lu Mingfei and Constantine had grown used to it.
As usual, the three opened the dorm room door, ready to head to the cafeteria, only to find two people standing outside.
The Student Union president and the Lionheart Society president.
Chapter 49: Dinner
Fingel came face-to-face with Chu Zihang, whose hand was raised in midair. Like a startled bird, he recoiled in alarm and retreated behind Lu Mingfei.
"Junior, your enemies have come knocking."
Lu Mingfei ignored him. He knew Caesar and Chu Zihang were not the sort to come back later to settle a score.
"Hello, you two." He met their gazes openly.
"Hello, Lu Mingfei. I'm here to give you my sword," Chu Zihang said calmly. He held the sheathed Murasame, but the cold, stern air he radiated made him look more like a mob debt collector arriving with a blade.
It was no wonder Fingel thought he had come for revenge.
"I already have Red Skies. I don't need a second weapon for now." Lu Mingfei shook his head. "I took part in Free Day because of a promise to Principal Angers, not for your wagers. Keep it and use it."
Chu Zihang had crossed blades with the alchemical sword called Red Skies and knew it was no worse than Murasame, so he could only lower the hand holding his sword.
Caesar chose that moment to join the conversation. "Mine is different. I know you don't have a vehicle. The Bugatti Veyron is already parked downstairs, and Norton Hall has been cleared out. What you do with the car and whether you live in Norton Hall are up to you. They have nothing to do with me anymore."
Lu Mingfei caught the car keys he tossed over.
Since Caesar had put it that way, there was no reason not to accept.
Caesar shot Chu Zihang a subtle glance, as though announcing his victory in yet another unspoken contest.
"You're not just here to deliver the spoils, are you?" Noticing that neither seemed inclined to leave, Lu Mingfei asked.
"That's right. Why don't we sit down and talk first?" Caesar shrugged. "I'll order dinner."
Lu Mingfei let them in. Cassell College's double dorm rooms were very spacious. The five sat around the desk, with Lu Mingfei and Constantine each sitting on his own bed. Fingel brought a chair over from his room-after some hesitation, he still could not bring himself to pass up a free meal.
It was Caesar's and Chu Zihang's first visit, and they looked around Lu Mingfei's room with some curiosity.
Clean and tidy, with plenty of library books, it looked like the room of a student devoted to theoretical coursework. In fact, Lu Mingfei's nominal major, Dragonology, really was a humanities subject, and Angers taught it.
But both men who had fought Lu Mingfei head-on knew how suffocating the quiet, composed boy before them became when he unleashed his killing intent.
The cafeteria delivered quickly. As before, there were white-clad waiters, an elegant dining table, silver cutlery, candles, and floral decorations. The difference was that, after asking everyone joining the meal for their preferences, Caesar had ordered mostly Italian dishes.
Dressed in a white suit, Caesar looked every bit the host of a small dinner party beside Chu Zihang, Lu Mingfei, and Constantine in their school uniforms, and Fingel in his loose shirt.