About ten kilometers from the foot of Sword God Mountain stood a small-town bullet train station.

Nan Mengling trailed closely behind Zhou Jiuyu, glancing left and right as she walked, her eyes sparkling with fresh wonder.

Everything here felt worlds apart from Sword God Mountain. Though the station was modest, it couldn’t quell her curiosity—snacks, clothes, bags in the shop windows were all utterly unfamiliar.

Zhou Jiuyu watched her expression from the side. *So naive. So easy to fool…*

“Never seen these before?” he asked.

“I… don’t remember. It’s been too long,” Nan Mengling replied, her voice ethereal and clear.

Her vintage white robes and the sword at her waist drew lingering glances from passersby. Their first thought? *Where did this celestial maiden descend from?*

But to Zhou Jiuyu? Just a country bumpkin in the city.

“Didn’t your master ever bring you down the mountain?”

Nan Mengling shook her head, still absorbing every detail around her.

Maybe she’d seen such things long ago—but she was too young to recall. Over a decade had passed since her father’s death at age five or six. Her mother brought her to Sword God Mountain soon after… and she never left. Her world beyond came only from her master’s words and scraps left by visitors.

So even this tiny station felt like a dazzling, neon-lit alleyway to her.

Whirr…

The train’s hum swelled into a roar. Nan Mengling stared at the steel beast sliding into view, her rosy lips parting slightly in awe.

She remained dazed long after it halted.

“Come on, silly girl… or should I say, country bumpkin?” Zhou Jiuyu poked her waist.

*Damn. So soft.*

“Oh.”

She followed him into the business class cabin—empty except for them. Remote area. Few passengers. Even fewer with business class tickets.

Coincidentally, Zhou Jiuyu was one of them.

But Nan Mengling hesitated before sitting.

“What? Prefer standing? These seats recline!” Zhou Jiuyu leaned back, legs crossed.

“So big… too big…” she murmured, gaze distant.

Zhou Jiuyu: “?”

“When Mother brought me to Sword God Mountain… we were squeezed into a corner of the seat.”

She sat slowly, voice dimming. At the mention of her mother, silence settled on her face.

Then she lifted her head. “Can you really uncover the truth behind my parents’ deaths?”

Zhou Jiuyu smirked. A longsword flickered into his hand, pressing against her neck. She froze. Before she could react—the blade passed straight through.

Nan Mengling clutched her throat. No wound. Not even a scratch. Her eyes widened in confusion.

“You believed me? Honestly, I’ve got zero real skills. Just flashy effects—call it… an illusion.” He shrugged.

*If he truly had this power, he wouldn’t need this trip. Just conjure the evidence, slap it in her face: “Your master’s the culprit, that old bastard. Take him out. We rule Sword God Mountain—you as Sword God’s lady…” Ahem. Drifting.*

Truth was, this was a dream cheat granted by 【Xiao Lü】. His dream. He could summon gods, ghosts, anything.

But one fatal flaw: hollow inside. Purely visual. Swords? Zero damage.

All flash, no substance.

Except money—no function needed. That’s why business class felt effortless now. *Dreams rock.* In reality? Standing tickets. Sitting miserably on the aisle floor.

“I call you naive, and you doubt me?” Zhou Jiuyu shrugged again.

Nan Mengling froze—then her hand shot to her White Moon Longsword. A killing glare locked onto him. “I. Am. Not. Naive.”

“You lied,” she whispered, voice tight with hurt.

“But I only said *my abilities* were fake. Did I ever say the promise to find your parents’ killer was a lie? Think—your master’s words… Could I have forced him to speak?” Zhou Jiuyu’s tone shifted, a light chuckle trailing.

Her grip on the hilt loosened. Bewilderment clouded her eyes.

“Oh.”

She sheathed the sword and sat back down, obedient.

“I call you naive—you doubt me? How do you know *this* isn’t another lie?”

“…You!”

Her hand twitched toward the sword again.

His voice dropped low beside her ear: “Too late to jump ship. We’re far from Sword God Mountain. Could you make it back alone? A girl dressed like you? Patrol officers would stop you in seconds. And if you returned… your master might strip you, force you to crawl… *discipline* you.”

“Or kill me. I can’t stop you. Forget I risked my life saving you… I understand.”

Nan Mengling hesitated. *He’s… not wrong.*

Her mind short-circuited.

Zhou Jiuyu watched her flustered face. *Even if the Sword God’s kind, sending this girl down the mountain? She’d get tricked again in a heartbeat. She really needs me.*

He smoothed his smile, pulled a blanket over himself, yawned. “Relax. This train goes straight to your hometown—the place where your father died.”

Nan Mengling turned. Her eyes were dazed, but her hand had fallen back to her lap.

*Even if he’s a liar… who else is there?*

She didn’t know.

Hands resting on her knees, she gazed out the window—captivated again by the rushing scenery.

Zhou Jiuyu wasn’t asleep. He watched her: foolishly earnest, quietly obedient. A faint ache stirred in his chest.

*She wasn’t easy to fool.*

*Just obedient.*

*Obedient as a doll.*