Chapter 77: Norton’s Day of Trial Approaches

“Fufu, let me tell you, something big just happened.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Senior is definitely not the Dragon King, but Xia Mi is Jörmungandr, the genuine King of Earth and Mountains, do you know that? When I showed her Norton’s chat logs, her face turned green! Hahaha!”
“And that’s not even the best part, my senior did something even crazier. He doesn’t know Xia Mi is actually Jörmungandr; he thinks the one the little devil pretended to be was the real one, so he just whispered to Xia Mi, telling her what kind of person Norton thinks Jörmungandr is. I almost lost it right then.”
“Exactly, can you imagine it? After Xia Mi listened, her face turned as dark as that servant’s the other night! It was killing me! Hahaha, she was so angry but couldn’t show it directly, because her current persona in front of my senior is that of the strongest next-generation dragon. This is just too much fun!”
“Although she didn’t reveal her identity outright, she did demand that my senior stop calling Norton ‘brother.’ Hah, she’s gone this far—if I still can’t guess who she is, I’d be a complete fool!”
“And then? Then she pulled my senior away with her, and even kissed him before leaving. Heh heh, I took a picture of it—it was so sweet.”
“She said she’s going to the Three Gorges to search for the Ocean and Water King who devoured her dragon bones. Senior will probably be requesting leave from Kassel College in the next couple of days.”

Happiness is in sharing. When you experience joy alone, you have just one portion of it. But if you share it with someone else, it becomes two and a half portions, because in sharing, you relive that happiness as if tasting it all over again.

At the top floor of the Palace of Foam and Light, Fu Nina, who was still plotting the judgment of the servants, revealed a knowing smile. As expected, things had unfolded just as she anticipated, though there were a few unexpected twists along the way.

Somehow, Lu Mingfei’s world seemed to have turned into a game of “Guess Who I Am” starring the Dragon Kings, with herself cast in the role of the prophet.

“You said she insisted on going to the Three Gorges, and she wants Chu Zihang to go with her?” Fu Nina detected something critical, and a glint of wisdom flashed in her dual-colored eyes.

“Yes. Based on your earlier speculation, Xia Mi must have awakened a long time ago and has been gathering strength ever since. She might really know where the Ocean and Water King is,” Lu Mingfei said as he walked home, chatting and looking over the photos he’d just taken on the sly.

These are great shots!
Maybe I should send them to Old Tang?
Just thinking about it makes me laugh!

“Wait, isn’t it possible—just possible—that the Dragon King in the Three Gorges isn’t the Ocean and Water King, but actually the true King of Bronze and Fire?”

“Hm?”

“Think about it. Under what circumstances did Xia Mi decide to take Chu Zihang to the Three Gorges? She made the decision in a fit of rage, and she specifically forbade Chu Zihang from calling Norton ‘brother.’ It’s obvious—she’s out for revenge against Norton!” Fu Nina declared with absolute certainty.

“That… actually makes sense?”

Lu Mingfei’s hand trembled as he held his phone, looking at the photos he’d sent to Old Tang and the reply he’d just received. Suddenly, his hand shook even more.

Oh no, this really could get out of hand.

“Right? Right?”

At this moment, Fu Nina had no idea Lu Mingfei had sent Old Tang the intimate photos of Chu Zihang and Xia Mi. She continued her analysis: “I suspect that Jörmungandr—Xia Mi—actually knows where Constantine’s cocoon is hidden. After all, she awoke long before Norton and had plenty of opportunities to act. For her, gathering this information wouldn’t have been difficult.”

“Furthermore, Jörmungandr is the Dragon King most skilled in cunning and strategy. I don’t know how accurate this portrayal is, but let’s assume it’s true for now. If it is, then there’s a high chance Xia Mi is planning to intercept Constantine’s dragon bones by taking Chu Zihang with her.”

“If I’m not mistaken, the bones buried in the Three Gorges aren’t the Ocean and Water King’s, but those of the King of Bronze and Fire—Constantine.”

“Wait, let me process this.”

Lu Mingfei slumped onto a bench, clutching his face in despair. Peeking at his phone through his fingers, he stared at Norton’s latest message to him on QQ, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

The current situation is this: the brother Norton thinks is his is actually an impostor, and his real brother is about to have his dragon bones snatched by Xia Mi.

It’s hard to imagine Norton’s reaction when he descends and finds that Chu Zihang holds the King of Earth and Mountain’s bones, and Jörmungandr has devoured Constantine’s.

A fake Mountain King’s brother calls him “brother,” while Xia Mi, who stole his real brother’s dragon bones, also fans the flames and calls him “brother.” What a mess!

Even a love triangle couldn’t be this cruel!

“Yikes!”

Lu Mingfei sucked in a breath, already picturing how devastated Norton would be.

Old Tang is my brother, after all.
Maybe I should talk to him? See if I can help?

His hands shaking, he opened his chat with Xia Mi, nerves taut as he typed and sent his message.

Lu Mingfei: Are you planning to go after Constantine?
Xia Mi: Isn’t Constantine Chu Zihang?
Xia Mi: [Innocent smile]
Lu Mingfei: If you believe he’s Constantine, you might as well believe he’s Odin. That would make more sense.
Xia Mi: What are you talking about? [Grinning emoji]
Xia Mi: I really don’t understand, not even a little bit. Not-at-all. [Grinning emoji]

“Ugh…”

Judging from Xia Mi’s tone, Lu Mingfei was now almost certain she was going after Constantine. He patted his chest to calm down and continued typing.

Lu Mingfei: Then are you going after the Ocean King?
Xia Mi: Oh, don’t worry. Your senior and I won’t be in any danger. There’s no need for you to come; the two of us are enough.
Lu Mingfei: Can I come with you? No special reason, just want to take a trip.
Xia Mi: If you come, we’re not going. At worst, I’ll just blow everything to my brother and you, hmph!
Lu Mingfei:
So you’re relying on my senior for backup, not afraid that the little devil and I will expose you first? Even with your brother, you’re still no match for me and my brother!
You little…!

He knew full well that as the King of Desire and Lust, Xia Mi would never give up her romantic life with Chu Zihang. She was simply threatening him; she probably wouldn’t really do it. And Lu Mingfei wouldn’t confront her openly either—he knew when to give face.

But—
I’ve got something good in my hands!

Lu Mingfei: [Photo—Xia Mi and Chu Zihang]

Lu Mingfei: What do you think this is?

The other side clearly hesitated, and a mischievous grin spread across Lu Mingfei’s face. He was curious to see Xia Mi’s reaction upon realizing she’d been photographed with his senior.

She must have blown her top by now.
Oh, how interesting—

But—
Reality was different.

Xia Mi: Well done!
Xia Mi: Send a few more, I’ll edit them into a phone wallpaper and maybe a cover page. Great work.
Lu Mingfei: ?
Xia Mi: I get you, I really do. You’re the best paparazzi—always knowing what to do at just the right moment. I love these photos, Mingfei, you’re so wonderful!
Lu Mingfei: ???
Xia Mi: What are you waiting for? Keep sending!
Xia Mi: Senior is right here admiring them too. When I showed him, he even tried to dodge away—tsk tsk, so cute!
Xia Mi: Oh, you have no idea. Your senior’s face is so red right now—really—so adorable! I can’t help but want to pinch him a few more times.

Oh no, I’ve run into a real rascal!

Lu Mingfei rubbed his head in frustration, not sure whether to send more. He could already imagine his bashful senior being so easily manipulated by the King of Desire.

Sigh, life is just too hard!

Staring at his phone and Xia Mi’s messages, he finally replied helplessly: I won’t send any more, unless you send me a picture of my senior right now. One for one, fair deal.

Before long, Lu Mingfei, sitting on that bench, broke into a broad, happy grin. He was a man of his word—he sent all the photos he’d taken, marveling at the world’s beauty.

Oh, marvelous!
Wait, am I forgetting something? I feel like there was something really important…
Hmm, I can’t quite remember.
If I can’t recall, it probably wasn’t that important. Fine, forget it. I still have patrol duty tonight on my way home.

(End of chapter)