Chapter Five: The Reckless Mind-Reader

The next morning at eight-thirty, the phone rang, piercing the quiet rooftop.

Lu Mingfei awoke with a start, his pocketed N96 buzzing intensely, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Muttering curses, Lu Mingfei answered the call:

“Damn it! Are you out of your mind? Don’t you see what time it is?”

On the other end, Ye Sheng’s tone was calm and refined, official and courteous:

“Student Lu Mingfei, it is currently 8:30 a.m. Beijing time. We are pleased to inform you that you have passed our interview. There are a few matters we need to discuss in person. May I ask if you can come to the Regent Hotel now?”

After a brief pause, Ye Sheng added:

“Chinese high school classes typically begin at eight o’clock sharp.”

Lu Mingfei wasn’t really a lazybones; all of this was quite understandable.

He had been busy since the afternoon, working late into the night, diligently crafting three Spirit Sand Resurrection Talismans and several auxiliary talismans for minor spellcasting.

His body, untrained and fragile, directly affected his willpower and magical energy. For safety’s sake, Lu Mingfei refrained from attempting to create more demanding talismans.

However, once he arranged the magic altar and ritual, and contacted a few celestial deities to complete the “Talisman Reception,” everything would change.

As for whether those celestial deities might have other interests in the Earth Sovereign...

That was none of Mingfei’s concern. He possessed the Demon Capture and Spirit Binding Talismans, and Imperial Nectar (Golden Honey Wine). When the time came, he would simply migrate to another planet with the celestial spirits.

Ruffling his messy, bedhead hair, Lu Mingfei replied:

“All right, I understand, but I might be a little late. Please wait for me.”

Ye Sheng, clearly unprepared for Lu Liqin’s mind to have already wandered to which star he should flee to after Earth’s destruction in such a short span, spoke with a tone of relief at the task completed:

“Very well, thank you for your cooperation.”

After hanging up, Lu Mingfei got up and began to organize the “fruits of battle” from the previous night.

The conditions were rough; lacking funds to purchase proper tools to hold the talismans he drew, he had to lay them flat, roll them up, and carry them in plastic bags used for buying materials. The remaining yellow paper and cinnabar were mundane items and could be discarded directly.

.

.

At nine-thirty in the morning, Regent Hotel.

Because Lu Mingfei hadn’t handed the school-issued N96 to his uncle and aunt, there was some tension with them, and he didn’t return home or make a call all night.

But though the woman was greedy and harsh, she had raised him to some extent. Lu Mingfei couldn’t be bothered to argue and came alone to respond to the Kassel Academy’s invitation.

As soon as Lu Mingfei stepped through the hotel’s entrance, a well-dressed attendant promptly approached, leading him to the presidential suite and quietly asking what drink he preferred.

Lu Mingfei ordered a cup of invigorating black tea, found a spot directly under the air conditioning, and sat down to await the interviewers.

With a “ding,” the express elevator doors opened, and a robust elderly man with graying hair strode toward the window-side table. Ye Sheng stood to his left, Jiu De Yaji to his right—a striking pair, commanding and dignified.

The old man froze as he took in Lu Mingfei’s appearance.

This kid looked as if he had just finished hard labor at a construction site—haggard features, cloudy eyes, and a loose white T-shirt streaked with dust.

Geniuses were indeed different from the rest!

Guderian stepped forward briskly and grasped Lu Mingfei’s hand:

“Hello, Lu Mingfei! Where are your family? Didn’t they come?”

Lu Mingfei raised an eyebrow:

“My studies don’t have much to do with them. The decision is mine alone.”

Guderian clearly didn’t genuinely care about Lu Mingfei’s family; his eyes clung to Lu Mingfei as if he were a rare beauty:

“Let’s have breakfast first.”

The costly breakfast included salmon rolls and freshly squeezed lemon juice—luxuries Lu Mingfei hadn’t tasted since winning his revival match.

Though Kassel seemed to have some ulterior motive toward him, Lu Mingfei didn’t mind. His preparations yesterday were for situations ordinary people couldn’t handle. If Kassel only wanted to collaborate, he wouldn’t refuse.

At least Kassel was wealthy. Better to earn a sea turtle diploma and leave early to make money from the American devils than to be an ordinary person who’d get drained by his own wife later.

But if they bore him no ill will, then why would he bother arranging rituals to summon the Old Ones?

Ye Sheng came fully prepared, showing Lu Mingfei a copy of the officially registered university license from the U.S. Department of Education, followed by a photo album. One by one, he introduced Kassel Academy’s library, sports center, and music hall. The photos depicted an elegant, antiquated style, like a fully renovated ancient castle.

The possibility Lu Mingfei secretly hoped for was dispelled by Guderian’s warmth and friendliness. He sighed quietly, feeling a hollow emptiness inside, barely paying attention to Ye Sheng, focusing instead on eating faster.

“People should respond when others speak.”

A strange female voice cut into the conversation.

Lu Mingfei’s gaze fell upon a pair of purple running shoes, delicate ankles wrapped in white cotton socks.

Following upward, he saw jeans outlining slender legs, a white tank top tracing soft curves, a shining silver four-leaf clover pendant, and a radiant, strikingly beautiful but cold face.

Damn, modern society was truly wonderful.

In that cold, damp world resembling Europe’s industrial era, women were all bundled up tight, never offering such sights.

Chen Motong was naturally sharp-minded and perceptive; the petty thoughts of ordinary people were completely transparent to her. This ability brought her great distress, leaving her unable to make normal friends.

Her exceptional beauty no doubt attracted many lecherous types like Lu Mingfei, and she was used to their disgusting gazes.

But this time, something felt different.

Nono furrowed her lovely brow. Though accustomed to seeing through everything, this time she sensed a profound shadow on Lu Mingfei just beyond her sight.

She instinctively activated her ability—profiling.

A strange scent: cinnabar, salt.

Dust on his body, a slightly stiff right arm, a solitary personality, and the plastic bag he carried…

The rooftop!

Lu Mingfei hadn’t gone home last night; he had slept on the rooftop! The contents of the plastic bag were the direct reason he hadn’t returned home to sleep.

There was something else, a crucial clue yet undiscovered.

That, that must be...

Jiu De Yaji, standing beside her, well aware of his friend’s eccentric and unpredictable temperament, feared she might suddenly lose control and ruin the scene. Seeing her dazed and motionless, he gently tugged her sleeve, urging calm.

The reckless mind reader, affected by the external force, fell backward without resistance.

At that moment, Lu Mingfei just finished the last sip of his lemon juice.