Lu Mingfei, who had read Dragon Clan before slaying the dragon

"It's not Kazama Ruri." Su Enxi said softly, "But the person hiding in the secret door is definitely capable of stopping the actions of either Fuma Kotaro or Sakurai Nanami... Seeing that person appear in Takama-ga-hara, Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami might be frightened."

……

Due to heavy rain, the Summer Room on the fourth floor was not open, so Su Enxi arranged the Spring Flower Room on the third floor for Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami.

The waiter led the two heads of the Sheqi Eight Families to the door of the Spring Flower Room, gently pushed open the two wooden doors, bowed deeply, and then said goodbye. Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami took off their wooden clogs at the door and slowly stepped onto the tatami in the private room.

The Spring Flower Room is one of the most luxurious private rooms in Takama-ga-hara. Crystal orchids, golden sand chrysanthemums, Juliet roses, Tang Dynasty phoenix feathers... a wide variety of precious plants from all over the world are in full bloom on both sides of the box... These are real flowers, and there are special gardeners who water and prune them regularly every day. Just maintaining these flowers and trees will cost a considerable amount of money throughout the year.

A stream runs through the center of the spring flowers, and an ancient wooden bridge stands above the stream. It is hard to imagine that there is actually a male escort club that would build something as charming yet pretentious as a small bridge and flowing water in the private rooms. Perhaps in the whole of Tokyo, only the humpback whale with the aesthetic sense can think of such a design.

However, Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami had no intention of enjoying the scenery. They walked across the wooden bridge, and in front of them appeared a simple and elegant screen embroidered with mountain flowers and bamboo sparrows. Through the warm halo among the spring flowers, they could see a vague figure reflected behind the screen... This was probably the person who would represent Takama-ga-hara in negotiations with the Snake Eight Families today.

Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami went around from the left and right sides to the back of the screen. Behind the screen was a long sunken wood table, on which were placed exquisite and delicious ingredients and drinks, from common sashimi and sushi rolls to precious caviar and foie gras, champagne and red wine, hookahs and cigars... everything was available on the table.

There was a person sitting at the end of the long table opposite Fuma Kotaro and the other man. When the two family heads saw the figure sitting opposite the table, they both showed unexpected expressions.

"Are you the one who is negotiating with us on behalf of Takama-ga-hara today?" Fuma Kotaro sat at the end of the long table close to the screen.

"It's me, Mr. Fengmo." The man at the other end of the long table smiled and nodded.

"Why isn't Caesar the one in charge of the negotiations?" Sakurai Nanami sat beside Fuma Kotaro, her sharp eyes fixed on the young man at the end of the long table. "Can you represent Kassel Academy?"

"My senior brothers are busy entertaining guests. It's not that they don't value the two heads of the family, but it's more appropriate for me to be the negotiator this time." Facing Sakurai Nanami's sharp gaze, the young man met her gaze impartially. "Ms. Sakurai, I never said I could represent Kassel Academy. I am sitting here negotiating with you only to represent my personal position, Lu Mingfei."

The person at the end of the long table was Lu Mingfei. He was wearing a loose cherry pink kimono and had light makeup on his face. He looked like a Kabuki actor who was about to go on stage...but this kimono was too big and didn't seem to fit him well.

It's not that Lu Mingfei deliberately wanted to dress so flamboyantly, it was a helpless decision... If you lift up Lu Mingfei's sleeves and collar, you can see purple blood vessels all over his arms and neck. The blood vessels are twisting restlessly like snakes, and manic blood is flowing rapidly in his body. The makeup on Lu Mingfei's face is also to cover up his pale complexion. His hands hidden in his sleeves can't stop shaking.

This was the aftereffect of the blood transfusion. The "royal blood" belonging to the descendants of the White King was like scalding boiling water, burning and corroding his blood vessels all the time. If Lu Mingfei did not possess a strong physique and self-healing ability, his blood vessels would have burst in his body... But his body had entered an unprecedented period of weakness. Just as Lu Mingze had said, his current combat effectiveness was probably not even as good as those gangsters armed with knives and guns outside Takama-ga-hara. This was pain that ordinary people could hardly endure. The fact that Lu Mingfei could hold on without showing any expression of pain was already a testament to his strong willpower.

"What's your stance?" Sakurai Nanami looked at Lu Mingfei, her voice sinking. "In the face of the general trend, can your stance alone make a difference? What qualifications do you have to negotiate on an equal footing with the Sheqi Eight Clan?"

"Ahem... I think I'm qualified, Master Sakurai." Lu Mingfei coughed twice, pinching his arm with his fingers in his sleeve, forcing himself to speak with less weakness. "Have you forgotten what I have in my hand... the bargaining chip that all of you, the Eight Snake Clans and the Fierce Ghosts, have to surrender to."

As soon as Lu Mingfei said this, both Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami changed their expressions.

"Do you admit that the situation at Hongjing has something to do with you?" Sakurai Nanami questioned Lu Mingfei, "Where is Ryoma Genichirō? Did you kill the head of the Ryoma family?"

"Don't be so nervous... Master Sakurai." Lu Mingfei said slowly, "There is a misunderstanding between us... We have said more than once that Kassel Academy is not the enemy of the Snake Eight Families, and neither are we. Master Longma is fine, just a little injured. He is being settled somewhere outside the Tamagawa area."

Upon hearing that Ryoma Genichirō was not dead, Sakurai Nanami's expression finally eased a little.

"Mr. Lu, before we enter into formal negotiations, I have a question in my mind that I would like you to answer," said Fuma Kotaro.

"I can answer you, Mr. Fuma, but answering questions is based on trust." Lu Mingfei said to Fuma Kotaro, "If you believe my answer, then ask."

Fuma Kotaro nodded, looked into Lu Mingfei's eyes, and slowly asked, "What is your relationship with Su Sang? Or is Su Sang one of the representatives of a certain force behind Kassel Academy?"

"Oh, I can answer this question very sincerely," Lu Mingfei said. "The Su Sang you mentioned is Su Enxi. She has nothing to do with Kassel Academy. She is neither a student of Kassel Academy nor a member of some ancient dragon-slaying family... Su Enxi is just my personal friend, nothing more."

"A personal friend?" Fuma Kotaro said noncommittally. "So you know that Susan invested in our Snake Eight Clan for the White Emperor's legacy from the very beginning? I originally thought that the White King's bloodline, Takama-ga-hara, and the 'God' were top secrets of the family, but they were unknowingly known to so many people: the Ghost Clan, Kassel Academy, and Susan... I didn't expect the family to be infiltrated so deeply. No wonder the plan to kill the 'God' hasn't been going smoothly, and the family is on the verge of splitting up. This situation is really hard to muster up any fighting spirit."

"Master Fengma, you've done your best." Lu Mingfei looked at Fengma Kotaro and said something meaningful. "As an ordinary person, or even a gangster, you've done a lot of absurd things in your life, made mistakes, and killed people. Maybe you're not a good person. As long as you're human, you can't avoid making mistakes... But as one of the heads of the Sheqi Eight Clans, your loyalty to the family is unquestionable. You shoulder the great cause, which is why I've always emphasized that you are not our enemy, and the Sheqi Eight Clans are certainly not our enemies."

"Not an enemy?" Sakurai Nanami asked coldly, "Really not an enemy? Have you forgotten what your Kassel Academy did to the Snake Eight Clan?"

Chapter 564 Fate, Destiny

"If he's not your enemy, why did you try to assassinate Mr. Masamune?" Sakurai Nanami's questions bombarded Lu Mingfei like a barrage of cannonballs. "Not only Mr. Masamune, but also the head of the Uesugi family. Why did you take him away? And why did you hide Kazama Ruri? You clearly knew that Kazama Ruri was the Dragon King of the Demonic Clan, and that the Demonic Clan was the family's mortal enemy, yet you openly hid Kazama Ruri in Takama-ga-hara... and now you tell us that you are not the enemy of the Snake Eight Clan."

"This matter has been reiterated many times. We were not the ones who killed your Mr. Masamune. I know my brother. Chu Zihang would not deny it even if he tried to assassinate her. If we really intended to kill Tachibana Masamune, I would have had the opportunity to kill her when I first sneaked into the Genji Heavy Industries Building, and in front of you." Lu Mingfei said to Sakurai Nanami, "But I didn't do that. Remember, Master Sakurai, on the day Deadpool attacked the Genji Heavy Industries Building, I only blinded one of Tachibana Masamune's eyes. If that knife had landed on his neck or chest, I guarantee he would not have survived. You don't think I'm incapable of doing that, do you?"

"If you had really killed Mr. Masamune that time, you wouldn't have been able to escape." Sakurai Nanami retorted coldly to Lu Mingfei, "If you hadn't used Mr. Masamune's danger of falling into the hands of the Deadpools to lure us away, the Inuyama family head and I would not have let you go... Do you think you could have successfully escaped from the siege of the two family heads?"

"The siege by the two family heads... Does Master Sakurai really think so?" Lu Mingfei said noncommittally, "Let's skip this topic. Since Master Sakurai thinks we are the enemies of the Sheqi Eight Clan, can Master Sakurai tell me why, when the Sheqi Eight Clan was attacked by the Deadpools, it was my two senior brothers who stepped forward to help your head of the family eliminate all the Deadpools and resolve the crisis at Genji Heavy Industries?"

"Master Sakurai, do you know how your patriarch, Nagase Chisei, humbled himself to ask for the favor of the boss and my senior brother?" Lu Mingfei looked at Sakurai Nanami. "Do you know how much effort Caesar and Chu Zihang put into this battle? And do you know how much my senior brother paid?"

Sakurai Nanami opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.

"Master Sakurai, you haven't experienced this firsthand, so of course you don't know. You've always had a prejudice against us at Kassel Academy, or rather, against Caesar, Chu Zihang, and me. Following the guidance and framing of certain people, in your eyes, we are undoubtedly unforgivable and guilty of countless crimes," Lu Mingfei coaxed. "But apart from being falsely accused of assassinating Tachibana Masamune, have we ever truly done anything to harm the Snake Eight Clan?"

"Perhaps you and Eri aren't too familiar with Master Fuma and Master Sakurai, but you all know what Master Uesugi means to the Snake Family, and you all know Eri's abilities." Lu Mingfei looked at Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami. "Ask yourselves, is there anyone who has the ability to take a super-hybrid stronger than the Emperor away from Genji Heavy Industries against her will?"

Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami looked at each other. Although they had previously thought that Lu Mingfei might have used some method to bewitch Uesugi Eriya and then took her away from Genji Heavy Industries, they had to admit that... the statement that Eriya voluntarily left the Snake Eight Clan was obviously more plausible.

"Eryi came with me of her own free will. There was no deception or deception involved. If she wanted to return to the Snake Eight Clan, I could have sent her back to Genji Heavy Industries at any time." Lu Mingfei's voice was weak but resounding. "Because I respect that girl's character more than any of you. In my eyes, Eryi is neither a secret weapon nor a humanoid monster, nor a vassal of that organization... Eryi is Eryi, a free individual, a girl who can't be replaced by anyone."

A trace of guilt flashed across Fuma Kotaro's face. As an elder of the family, he certainly knew how much the family owed that girl. Apart from the empty status of the family, the Yaki Eight Clan gave Uesugi Eriya not preferential treatment, but exploitation.

After hearing what Lu Mingfei said, Sakurai Nanami's face turned a little unnatural. As a woman, she certainly couldn't imagine a life of being completely imprisoned, being completely manipulated, not seeing any freedom at all, and being regarded as an outsider and a monster by others.

"Finally, let's talk about the other two heads of your Sheqi Eight Families." Lu Mingfei said, "Miyamoto Shio and Ryoma Genichirō, who you sent to lead the Tamagawa area, Fuma and Sakurai, you should have received a call from Miyamoto. The Tamagawa area... to be more precise, Hongjing, has been completely taken over by my people."

When this matter was mentioned, Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami's faces became extremely ugly.

"Has the head of the Miyamoto family arrived home?" Lu Mingfei asked.

Fuma Kotaro nodded: "Patriarch Miyamoto just returned to the family at noon today, but because of the strong mental shock he received, he is still in a coma."

"So, Master Miyamoto's life is safe, right?" Lu Mingfei looked at Fuma Kotaro. "I didn't lie to you. Master Ryoma is still alive, as are the Self-Defense Force under Master Ryoma, the ninjas from your Fuma family, and the researchers from the Ganliu Research Institute. Everyone is alive. My friend didn't kill any of the Snake Eight Clan members, but all the Menggui members who rushed to the Tama River area were wiped out by them, including the Kanto and Kansai branches that had already betrayed them."

Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami were obviously shocked. This was information that Miyamoto Shio did not mention on the phone. The Kanto branch and Kansai branch that broke away from the family have always been a major concern for the Yaki family.

Especially the Kanto branch, which is known as a gathering place for lunatics, and the team leaders headed by Asuya are particularly difficult to deal with. If they suddenly stab the Yaki Eight Family in the back at the critical moment, it may cause a fatal blow to the already weathered family.

But just a few days ago, Asuya was easily defeated by Chu Zihang in the battle to hunt down Lu Mingfei and Uesugi Eriya, and now, even those battle-crazed team leaders of the Kanto branch and the elders of the Kansai branch who knew many secrets of the Snake Eight Families were all defeated by Lu Mingfei's friends?

No wonder even Ryoma Genichirō's Self-Defense Forces and the Fuma family's ninjas suffered successive defeats... Even those battle maniacs from the Kanto branch couldn't defeat them. It seems that Lu Mingfei's friends are equally capable.

"The two family heads should know better than me what kind of people the leaders of the Kanto branch are. Being able to kill people from the Kanto branch is enough to prove the ability of my friends." Lu Mingfei slowly looked at Sakurai Nanami, "Master Sakurai, if it is true as you said, that we are enemies of the Snake Eight Families, then why didn't my friends kill Master Miyamoto and Master Ryoma?"

Facing Lu Mingfei's question, Sakurai Nanami remained silent, with an expression between dejection and embarrassment on her face.

"With Masamune Tachibana dead and the head of the Uesugi family gone, how big a blow would the loss of two more heads be to the Snake Eight Families? You shouldn't be able to understand this, head of the Sakurai family?" Lu Mingfei continued, "And then there's the Self-Defense Forces under head of the Ryoma family, the ninjas of the Fuma family, the researchers at the Ganliu Research Institute... If all these capable subordinates were killed, how difficult would the situation of the Snake Eight Families be?"

Lu Mingfei's voice remained calm throughout, but the content of his words was so aggressive. These questions were like sharp knives one after another, piercing Sakurai Nanami's heart.

"In Takama-ga-hara right now, apart from my senior brothers and Kazama Ruri, the rest are either gigolos trying to make a living or socialites in Tokyo's upper echelons... but ultimately, they're not half-bloods, just ordinary people, Japanese citizens who should be protected by you, the Eight Snake Families, when catastrophe strikes," Lu Mingfei said. "But if my guess is correct, there are at least two thousand gangsters all around Takama-ga-hara right now, with swords and guns pointed at the gates of our Takama-ga-hara. If absolutely necessary, they'll even attack those unsuspecting guests... and all of this is at the behest of you two family heads, right?"

Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami were speechless. From their dark expressions, it could be seen that what Lu Mingfei said was true.

"Caesar, Chu Zihang, me, and Kazama Ruri... If any one of us wanted to leave Takama-ga-hara, you wouldn't be able to stop us." Lu Mingfei raised four fingers to Fuuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami, "But none of us escaped. There were only four of us, while you, the Eight Snake Families, mobilized thousands of people and even blocked off the entire Shinjuku area."

"Two family heads, who do you think is the less confident one?" Lu Mingfei calmly picked up a glass of strong brandy on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

There was also a glass of wine on the table in front of Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami, but neither of them had the leisure to drink.

"Finally, I want to tell the two Patriarchs...Kassel Academy is not a charity. We've never been taught to show mercy to our enemies." Lu Mingfei placed his empty wine glass on the table and spoke in a calm, yet brutal tone. "On the contrary, the ace specialists trained by us in the Executive Bureau are even more resolute and decisive than the team leaders of your Kanto branch."

"Or to put it more directly... ahem." Lu Mingfei coughed twice and said slowly, "If Kassel Academy regarded you, the Eight Snake Families, as enemies, we would have countless opportunities to destroy you... and you two family heads would never have the chance to sit across from me and negotiate with me on an equal footing."

After Lu Mingfei finished speaking, the entire Chunhua Garden fell into a long silence.

The atmosphere was dead silent as if frozen, with only the sound of heavy breathing echoing in the private room... Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami's chests were rising and falling violently. They were suppressing the anger in their hearts, and the expressions on their faces were difficult to see.

The more direct the words are, the more hurtful they are, but words that can sting the heart often prove that these words are indisputable facts.

Before the negotiations began, Nanami Sakurai had bluntly stated that Lu Mingfei's personal position did not qualify him to sit at the same level of negotiation as the Eight Snake Families. But now Lu Mingfei said more directly that it was not him who was not qualified, but Fuma Kotaro and Nanami Sakurai herself. The two family heads were unable to refute Lu Mingfei's words.

It seemed that not long after the negotiations began, the balance of victory quickly tilted towards the side that turned against the Sheqi Eight Families.

"Lu Jun, you are right." After a long silence, Fuma Kotaro suppressed all his anger and sighed deeply, "The Snake Eight Clan has reached a moment of life and death."

"Master Fuma..." Sakurai Nanami spoke, trying to interrupt Fuma Kotaro's words that seemed to show weakness, but was drowned out by Fuma Kotaro's voice.

"Master Sakurai!" Fuma Kotaro shouted sharply, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about! The Sheqi Eight Clan is now on the verge of disintegration. Pretending to be strong is just bluffing! The family has reached a desperate moment. We have no way out and there is nothing to fear. We must bet everything on the gamble to have a chance of winning! Regardless of whether Lu Jun is our enemy or not, if we lose the courage to show our cards now, the Sheqi Eight Clan will truly fall into the abyss."

"Well said, Mr. Fuma." Lu Mingfei clapped his hands softly. "You are a man who truly upholds the moral principles of the Japanese underworld. I believe you truly have the resolve to fight to the death."

"All seals will eventually break, even the Black Emperor's seal is no exception. Things sealed in the dust are immortal. The ancient emperor will eventually see the light of day again." Fuma Kotaro lamented, "This is something we cannot stop... This is a predetermined fate."

"No." Lu Mingfei shook his head. "This isn't fate...it's destiny."

"Fate... destiny..." Fuma Kotaro muttered these two words, "Then may I ask, Lu Jun, what is the difference between fate and destiny in your opinion?"

"Fate is something that's determined at birth, like who your parents are and what kind of family you were born into," Lu Mingfei explained to Fuma Kotaro. "And destiny is something that's about to happen, like who you'll meet, what kind of stories will happen between you and them, and what kind of children you'll have with your significant other... If fate is a giant gear, then destiny is the teeth on that ring. You can't decide which tooth you'll start turning on, but you can choose to jump to the tooth you want to go to."

"That's very well said. I've lived for so long, but this is the first time I've heard such a novel and philosophical explanation." Fuma Kotaro nodded to Lu Mingfei. "You have a term in Chinese called 'a teacher of one word.' I've benefited a lot from Mr. Lu's words tonight."

"Thank you, Mr. Fengmo," Lu Mingfei said modestly. "You've lived so long, so of course you have your own opinions on this kind of thing. We just have different understandings."

"So, Mr. Lu, you think the White Emperor's revival is fate, and fate can be changed, right?" Fuma Kotaro stared at Lu Mingfei's eyes.

Chapter 565 Lu Mingfei, Danger

There was a strange light in Fuma Kotaro's eyes when he looked at Lu Mingfei. It was a probing look... At this juncture, it no longer mattered whether Lu Mingfei, or Kassel Academy, was an enemy of the Sheqi Eight Families. What mattered was how the other party viewed the "God" who was about to revive.

Kill "God"... or resurrect "God"?

Is he going to bury the dangerous emperor once and for all... or is he trying to claim the dragon clan's legacy for himself?

"Maybe it's fate, maybe it's destiny. Everyone has their own view on fate and destiny." Lu Mingfei said to Fuma Kotaro, "But if there really is such a thing as a wheel of fate in this world, it must be somewhere we can't see, turning all the time. Even as you and I are talking, that wheel is moving along the trajectory of history."

Fuma Kotaro was stunned. He didn't expect Lu Mingfei to give him such an answer. The old man slowly lowered his head and thought about Lu Mingfei's words seriously.

"And the Wheel of Destiny, represented by the White Emperor, must be immense. Compared to that towering wheel, most people in this world are so tiny. Standing in front of the Wheel of Destiny is like a mantis trying to support a gigantic wheel with its arms." Lu Mingfei said slowly, "Their power is unable to stop that enormous wheel, let alone turn it. They can only be chased by the moving wheel, running endlessly on the jagged edges... Isn't this the life of the vast majority of people in this world? They have few choices, and at critical crossroads, they can only be pushed forward by fate, exhausted and numb, and spend their lives in mediocrity."

"Lu Jun's words are very profound." Fuma Kotaro nodded seriously. "Do I understand that Lu Jun believes that the resurrection of the 'God' is not an inevitable event. If no one intervenes, it will be pushed by the gears of fate. There are indeed people who can prevent the resurrection of the 'God', but those who possess this ability are very few. The others can only wait and watch helplessly as that moment happens."

"Master Fengmo can understand it this way." Lu Mingfei nodded.

"Then who do you think are the ones who have the ability to stop the revival of 'God'?" Fuma Kotaro asked tentatively.

"I can't answer this question in detail, Mr. Fengmo." Lu Mingfei paused, "But I can only tell you that you don't have this ability, and neither do the other family heads. Even if the entire Sheqi Eight Clan exerts its full might, there's no chance of stopping the revival of the 'God'."

Hearing Lu Mingfei's words, Fuuma Kotaro took a deep breath, his expression not becoming dejected. The old man simply looked deeply into Lu Mingfei's eyes, which were sometimes lifeless and sometimes deep. Fuuma Kotaro asked in a low voice: "What about Lu Jun? Is Lu Jun the one who has the ability to stop the revival of the 'God'?"

"Is there any point in saying this now?" Lu Mingfei said expressionlessly, "This has nothing to do with my ability. The resurrection of 'God' is unstoppable. Destiny can be changed, but what has already happened is called fate."

"What do you mean by that, Lu-kun?" Fuma Kotaro was stunned, his expression changed drastically. "What has already happened... Are you saying that the 'God' has resurrected?"

"Perhaps. Many major events always happen when people least expect them. If everyone could foresee the coming of a disaster, would it still be called a disaster?" Lu Mingfei said softly. "Even more so, something as monumental as the resurrection of a 'God'. Such a thing is no longer a disaster... It should be called a catastrophe."

"Yes, if the 'God' really revives, it will definitely be an inescapable catastrophe." Fuma Kotaro nodded heavily.

"But has Patriarch Fuma ever considered this? As you and I sit in Takama-ga-hara's finest private room, the table before us is filled with exquisite food and wine. Meanwhile, on the first-floor dance floor, gigolos and guests are singing and dancing enthusiastically. Everyone is immersed in a joyful and festive atmosphere. Everything seems so harmonious and dreamlike." Lu Mingfei described what was happening in Takama-ga-hara in a relaxed tone. Suddenly, his voice lowered. "At the moment when no one expects it, such as when the guests are drunk and unconscious, or when the atmosphere on the dance floor reaches its peak, disaster may strike unexpectedly in the next second."

Fuma Kotaro suddenly woke up, and he suddenly realized that a huge crisis might be brewing in the red well not far away. Just as Lu Mingfei said, perhaps in the near future, when everyone is unprepared, a huge catastrophe will suddenly come.

Time... Time is the most important thing now. Now is not the time to try to chat and talk about everything.

"Lu Jun, you're right. A massive catastrophe is brewing. It might engulf all of Japan in the next moment. We don't have much time left." Fuma Kotaro exhaled a long, turbid breath. "You said that even with all the might of the Snake Eight Clan, it's impossible to stop the 'God' from awakening. And since this thing is unstoppable, then let's just treat it as a predetermined fate... Then what's next? Where will our fate, the fate of the Snake Eight Clan... and the fate of Japan go?"

"It all depends on your own choices," Lu Mingfei said. "In the face of a great catastrophe, some people don't have the right to choose, such as the gigolos in Takama-ga-hara, the guests reveling in the dance floor, and the ordinary people in thousands of Japanese households. But some people do have the right to choose, such as you, Master Fuma and Master Sakurai, as well as the eight Snake families and the fierce ghosts behind you."

"Our choice?" Fuma Kotaro was stunned. "We have only one choice from the beginning to the end. You should know very well, Lu Jun, that the Sheqi Eight Clan are more unwilling to see the revival of the 'God' than any other force or person."

"No, Master Fengmo, you misunderstood me. What I want to know is that your choice is not related to 'God', but to me." Lu Mingfei shook his head. "I want to know... Master Fengmo, do you choose to trust me, or do you still regard me as an enemy of the Sheqi Eight Clans as you did at the beginning?"

"Honestly, whether it's the abduction of Miss Eri, the harboring of Kazama Ruri, or even the assassination of Mr. Masamune... even if these things were done by you, Lu Jun, or instructed by Kassel Academy, these cannot be used as a basis for judging whether you and Kassel Academy have become enemies of the family." Fuma Kotaro looked at Lu Mingfei, "It's not about whether we consider you an enemy of the family, but whether you, Lu Jun, are standing on the opposite side of the family... There is only one basis for judging this matter."

Lu Mingfei quietly picked up a glass of sake on the table in front of him. He could guess what Fuma Kotaro was going to say next, but he did not interrupt or ask anything. He just waited quietly for Fuma Kotaro's next words.

"The 'God' is a terrifying being. Not only is she a curse passed down through our clan for generations, she's also a calamity of untold magnitude," Fuuma Kotaro said. "Even if we, the Snake Eight Clan, can't stop the 'God' from crawling out of Hell, we must send her back, no matter how tragic or heroic the price... She doesn't belong in this world."

"What about you, Lu Jun? Lu Jun, you think it's too late to stop the revival of 'God', and this is something that none of us can do anything about." Fuma Kotaro's eyes gradually became sharper, and he stared at Lu Mingfei's eyes intently, "Then what about facing the resurrected 'God'? Lu Jun, aren't your friends in the Red Well? What will your friends do with the 'God' in the Red Well next? What is your ultimate goal? Do you hope that 'God' can be liberated... or bury her completely?"

"Two of my friends who are currently at Hongjing are called Lao Tang and Xia Mi. One of them is my brother, and the other is my junior apprentice." Lu Mingfei said slowly, "Lao Tang and Xia Mi belong to the small group of people I mentioned who can turn the wheel of fate. They themselves are extremely special beings. Even their contact with the 'gods' can directly change the 'gods' state."

Hearing Lu Mingfei's words, Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami subconsciously held their breath... Being able to deal with the elite troops of the Kanto branch and the Oni Clan, the two family heads already felt that Lu Mingfei's friends were no simple characters, but they never imagined that Lu Mingfei's friends even had the ability to influence "God".

"As for your question, Master Fengmo," Lu Mingfei said slowly, "I asked my friend to go to Hongjing... to speed up the revival of the 'God'."

As soon as Lu Mingfei said this, the entire Chunhua Room fell into deathly silence. Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami stared at the young man across the long table, their eyes becoming increasingly colder.

Time passed slowly, Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami remained silent, and Lu Mingfei did not make any move. Gradually, the two family heads discovered that Lu Mingfei did not seem to be joking... about what he said about asking his friends to speed up the revival of "God".

Lu Mingfei was serious. He really intended to liberate the "God" and even accelerate the revival of the "God"!

A fierce murderous aura gradually emanated from Fuma Kotaro and Sakurai Nanami. Even though they knew that Mr. Masamune was assassinated by people from Kassel Academy, or that the head of the Uesugi family was abducted by Lu Mingfei, or that the Dragon King Kazama Ruri was harboring the fierce ghosts in Takama-ga-hara, the two heads of the family had never harbored such a strong murderous intention towards Lu Mingfei.

"God" must not be allowed to be liberated! Not to mention resurrected! If that thing really crawls out of hell and regains her power!

Otherwise, that kind of thing will wantonly slaughter the world a thousand years from now, and the eight Sheqi families will never be able to get rid of the vicious curse buried in their bloodline, and the entire human world will be turned into a purgatory of devastation by this thing!

"Mr. Lu, give me a reason." Fuma Kotaro stared at Lu Mingfei's eyes, "Tell me why you want to resurrect 'God'!"

Lu Mingfei slowly placed the wine glass on the table in front of him, and used his other hand to hold down the trembling palm holding the glass.

The aftereffects of the blood transfusion were extremely severe. The pain surged like a tide, and fine beads of sweat gradually seeped out of Lu Mingfei's forehead. He tried his best to suppress the trembling in his voice and said as calmly as possible: "I have things I must do, and I have my own plans... and the revival of the 'God' is an indispensable part of my plan... Only by fully resurrecting that thing and giving it power comparable to its heyday... and only by allowing someone to replace the old 'God' and ascend the new throne... will my plan have a chance of success..."

"Is there any need to continue?" Sakurai Nanami shouted, coldly interrupting Lu Mingfei's narration. She looked at Fuma Kotaro, "Assassinating Mr. Masamune, taking away Miss Eriya, harboring Kazama Ruri... For the sake of the family's righteousness, we can let these things go, but 'God' is the family's last bottom line, a red line that cannot be crossed... Now even this bottom line has been broken, is there any need to continue this negotiation!"