"Where are we going?" Nan Mengling asked as they walked.

"To your place. Then… investigate!" Zhou Jiuyu replied.

"Investigate who?"

"The surveillance footage! You think I’d investigate *you*?"

Zhou Jiuyu shot her a glance.

But Nan Mengling just blinked blankly. "Who is Surveillance?"

Zhou Jiuyu covered his forehead. *This silly girl is hopeless.* Still, he added softly, "Brace yourself. What you’re about to see might shatter your worldview again. After you’ve seen it all… I’ll tell you the truth."

"...Mm." Nan Mengling’s fingers tightened slightly. If even *this* scoundrel spoke so seriously, what awaited her… would be no less shocking than today’s "Sword Trial Assembly" on Sword God Mountain.

Zhou Jiuyu felt tense too. He feared the truth might push her into a full mental breakdown.

In *The Fallen Immoral Fairy*, Nan Mengling’s mother’s death was clearly stated—but only the direct cause. The indirect one? Never spelled out… yet Zhou Jiuyu had pieced it together.

Her mother degraded herself, yes—but *where*? On Sword God Mountain!

Could that have been her first time? Impossible.

If she’d done it there before… could the Sword God, master of the mountain, truly not have known?

The truth was glaringly obvious.

Zhou Jiuyu knew more than he’d say. Dumping it all on her now? He could’ve done that on the mountain. But could she bear it?

No. She needed evidence. A path to accept it herself.

"Wait…"

His thoughts snapped. Ahead, three suspicious figures slipped from behind them and hurried toward a car. Coincidence? Or sent by the Sword God?

*That old bastard.* Zhou Jiuyu nibbled his finger, smirking. "Still clinging to his plan. Destroy the evidence, and he’d win her trust back… But this? Proof he *left* something behind."

Honestly, he’d only guessed clues existed. Never expected the Sword God to *escort* them there.

"Silly girl, follow me. Move!"

"Oh…"

"Don’t ‘oh’—say ‘Yes, Young Master!’"

"Y-Yes, Young Master."

Watching her obey, Zhou Jiuyu felt wry amusement. Gullible? A strength. A weakness. Without solid proof, the Sword God could sweet-talk her right back to Sword God Mountain.

He hailed a taxi, pointed ahead. "Sir, follow that car."

The driver hesitated. "I don’t do dangerous—"

A thick stack of cash landed in his palm.

"Honored guests, hold tight! I won’t lose them!"

Hesitation vanished. Foot slammed the accelerator—*respect the money!*

Zhou Jiuyu buckled his seatbelt (rare for him), then turned to Nan Mengling. "Your swordsmanship—what tier?"

She held up six fingers.

"Good. If fighting starts… you protect *your* Young Master. Understand?" His tone was dead serious.

No joke. This dream felt too real. *What if dying here has consequences?*

"I will," she nodded firmly.

—

"They’re stopping. Driver, here’s fine… Silly girl, let’s go."

Zhou Jiuyu took her soft hand, trailing the men boldly up the stairs.

His power? Manifest anything he imagined—externally. Like the illusion that fooled the Sword God. *If that worked… these thugs? Easy.*

Nan Mengling stared up at the apartment building, memories flooding back. "This place…"

"Where you lived before?"

"Yes, Young Master."

They watched the three men in casual clothes whisper:

"Room number matches…"

"Better contact the Sword God first—"

"Pfft, no need! I came here often with him. Saw the young mistress? *Stunning.* Her mother? Even better! The Sword God ‘rewarded’ me once—I had her all night! Absolutely—"

*Thud.*

His head rolled. Blood splattered his companions.

Below, Nan Mengling stood icy-faced, White Moon Longsword drawn. Step by step up the stairs, killing intent thick as frost. Beneath her white robes, her body trembled slightly—rage boiling past control.

"You silly girl," Zhou Jiuyu murmured, hand on her shoulder. "I told you to stay calm. Now we lost intel."

She stayed silent.

The remaining two thugs flashed panic—then steeled themselves, drawing short swords. Too calm for grunts. Too fearless.

"Death-defying agents," Zhou Jiuyu realized. He raised a hand. Spears, swords, halberds materialized around them.

Unfazed, the thugs moved. One’s body cracked crimson—charging the illusions. The other lunged at Nan Mengling.

*Thud.*

Beheaded in one stroke. The Sword God taught her real skill—after all, watching the "Sword Fairy" truly fall into the "Immoral Fairy" was *more flavorful*.

Too bad that skill just became his undoing.

"These are… fake?!" the last thug gasped.

Zhou Jiuyu’s face paled. "Kill him! Now!"

"Hello? Status report! Is Mengling there? Are the tapes destroyed?!" Sword God’s voice crackled from the communicator.

The thug roared: "The boy’s power is fake, Sword God Ma—"

*Thud.*

Three heads on the floor.

Nan Mengling’s expression grew heavier, more tangled.

"Hello?! What happened?! Buzz—"

Zhou Jiuyu stomped the communicator to shards. His jaw tightened.

No more bluffing.

Things just got complicated.