Chapter 34: Meeting New Faces

The itinerary for the Cassel trio was packed tight.

After resting overnight at the hotel arranged by the Japanese branch, they were woken early by a waiter to head to the dining hall for breakfast.

Lu Mingfei, who hadn’t slept well anyway, had just endured a real-life version of Fast & Furious the night before and had intended to sleep in this morning.

“The Japanese branch’s car is already waiting downstairs,” Chu Zihang reminded him.

Judging from the fax documents received at breakfast, every moment of today—including meals—had been meticulously scheduled.

This was why Lu Mingfei disliked the Japanese work style.

It was like clockwork, every second accounted for.

Inside the car

Lu Mingfei tidied his messy hair and gazed out the window at the scenery.

To be honest, he still hadn’t decided what to do next—go ahead and kill Ju Zhengzong early?

Who knew which one was his true body? He wouldn’t show himself until the very moment he harvested the fruit.

Besides, it would be hard for him alone.

Hui Liyi...

The girl’s fate in the story had broken his heart; if he could, he wanted to protect her this time.

But what kind of feelings did he truly hold for her?

Lu Mingfei hadn’t figured it out yet—he felt uneasy, tense.

He slapped his own face.

Wake up, Lu Mingfei. You haven’t even met her yet, and you’re already thinking about her sister.

You haven’t even seen her photo.

There’s too much to do. What should I do?

“Huh?” Lu Mingfei noticed the others staring at him through the car window: “Why are you all looking at me?”

“I get the feeling you’re unusually excited today,” Caesar raised an eyebrow, lounging lazily in the leather seat. “Like a kid hyped up the night before a school trip.”

“Unless something unexpected happens, you won’t be going to Akihabara today.”

Lu Mingfei fell silent for two seconds, then said: “That’s too bad.”

At the base of the Genji Heavy Industries building, its walls wrapped in iron-black glass, Genji Shishio’s assistant, Yabuki Sakura, was already waiting at the entrance to greet them.

She recounted the history of the Genji Heavy Industries tower.

Lu Mingfei trailed listlessly behind the group, pulling out his chat group to check messages.

Better than his phone—he didn’t have to worry about walking into something because he was looking down.

Hmm, a gathering?

He had to experience something like this.

“Excuse me, Miss Yabuki, where’s the restroom?”

“Turn right up ahead,” Yabuki Sakura pointed to a corner with a few potted plants.

“Chief, Senior Brother, sorry—I really need to pee.”

He’d come back once he figured out what to do next.

Come to think of it, should he pay a visit to the author of that Dragon Clan novel and nag him about the next plot?

What exactly was Lu Mingfei?

Emiya Shirou stepped out of the convenience store and rubbed his head, planning to head home and cook dinner—but he didn’t know that Miss Tohsaka had arrived at his doorstep with a suitcase.

Passing a park, he spotted a purple figure swinging alone on a swing.

So he sent a private message to Xiao Yan.

Emiya Shirou: “Brother Xiao Yan, could Master Yao help my sister with her health issue?”

Xiao Yan: “No problem. The Master agreed.”

Emiya Shirou: “Brother Su, can I bring a family member?”

Su Lin: “Sure. Last time, Luffy brought his companion over to visit.”

Emiya Shirou: “Thanks.”

He logged off immediately, off to do something else.

Xiao Yan: “You’re the first one to bring a girlfriend.”

Ye Fan: “Isn’t your snake one?”

Xiao Yan: “...”

Su Lin: “...”

Luffy: “Hmm... I’ll pass this time. I’d love to join the banquet, but something’s happened on this island.”

Zhongli: “Excellent. Then I shall trouble Brother Su Lin.”

Su Lin: “Don’t mention it—just call me Su Lin.”

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao were refining pills in a mountain range of green hills and clear waters.

“Oh, going to another world again? Last time I left in such a hurry, I never had a proper chance to exchange alchemical knowledge with you otherworldly friends. This time, I’ll stay longer.”

Thanks to the chat group, Xiao Yan’s current strength had reached Two-Star Dou Spirit.

The three-year pact? A few days ago, he suppressed his power to match Nalan Yanran’s level and won the challenge effortlessly.

But the Elder of Yunlan Sect seemed dissatisfied and was planning trouble.

Xiao Yan had merely sneered at the time, then returned to Wutan City, waiting for them to make their move.

If they didn’t come, he wouldn’t blame them for something that hadn’t happened just because of the novel.

If they did come—well, hehe.

Still, Yun Shan probably already had ties with the Soul Sect; the Xiao Clan would likely still face some trouble.

The aged medicinal herbs he’d bulk-bought from Han Li were nearly used up—he’d need to gather more nearby.

But... Xiao Yan turned his head to glance at Meiduona Queen, lying on a rock in the distance, basking in the sun.

Emmm.

Why hasn’t she switched back to Xiao Cai yet?

Xiao Cai, if you don’t show up now, don’t blame me for not bringing you good food this time.

Su Lin glanced at the current state of his home (Shuijing Peak).

Computers, chips, instant noodles, snacks, and drinks scattered everywhere—thanks to the historical projection, cleaning was taken care of.

Might as well gather outside first.

On a stone table by Shuijing Lake, Su Lin had laid out some recently acquired spiritual tea.

With Han Li’s little green bottle, the tea plants were growing rapidly.

The tea plants were, of course, a friendly gift from Ye Fan. Come to think of it, maybe someday he could plant a Wu Dao Tree here.

Not long after, a portal opened at the edge of the lake on Shuijing Peak.

One by one, the others arrived.

Three new faces joined this time.

A man dressed in a dark robe, loosely draped, his braid loosely tied at the back, glowing golden in the morning sun, revealing a faint brown hue; his eyes shimmered like molten gold, radiating both warmth and authority.

A young man in a T-shirt and jeans, timidly scanning his surroundings, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Su Lin thought: No need to guess—I know who this is.

Another moderately stout, good-looking man in a suit stepped onto Shuijing Peak. Su Lin froze—he recognized this as Zhou Mingrui’s appearance.

“I am Zhongli.”

“I’m Lu Mingfei.”

“Klein. Of course, you may also call me Zhou Mingrui.”

After everyone introduced themselves, and the Justice partner still hadn’t arrived, Su Lin invited them to sit and converse.

Thinking for a moment, Su Lin placed a pile of junk food and takeout delivered earlier by the projection on the table.

After all, Klein had only just become a Half-God of Rank Four—he couldn’t use the historical projection to recreate food he’d eaten before.

After so long, he must miss the taste of home.

That certain Lord Luo had “invented” many things, but none were quite complete.

“So this is Earth from a parallel world?” Klein looked around curiously, but noticed the surroundings didn’t match his memories of Earth.

“This is Brother Su’s sect, floating ten thousand meters above the city,” Ye Fan explained to Klein. “The city below is Ledu.”

“Over there are three portals,” Su Lin pointed toward a distant direction. “They lead to Rongcheng, Anqing, and Ledu.”

“If you want to explore the city later, take that one.”

“I’d like to experience the culture and urban life of this world,” Zhongli sipped his tea and said. “Brother Zhou, shall we go together?”

“Of course.”

Reconnecting with modern life was Klein’s goal—if possible, he wanted to buy some items to take back and test whether they could be mass-produced.

Like bicycles—surely that would make a profitable industry, earning plenty of pounds.