Zhou Jiuyu stood frozen for several seconds.

“What did you say? Where to? Sword God Mountain?!”

He fired off multiple messages to Xiao Lü.

But Xiao Lü avoided answering directly, replying only:

“Just take the high-speed train to Sword God Mountain. State your name at the gate—you’ll be let in. But this is only a chance. Whether they accept you? I can’t say.”

No matter how many more messages Zhou Jiuyu sent, Xiao Lü stayed silent.

Frowning, he opened his browser with a faint, inexplicable hope and searched “Sword God Mountain.”

Results showed the famous tourist spot: great for sightseeing, but the Sword Hall atop the peak remained closed to outsiders.

He found no mention of who owned the Sword Hall.

Then, almost by impulse, he searched “Nan Mengling.”

Only unrelated videos by namesakes appeared.

“Right… what was I even thinking?”

Zhou Jiuyu shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. How bored was he?

How could these places possibly connect? Just coincidence.

...

He took a taxi to the station—but bought a ticket to City No. 4, not Sword God Mountain.

Nan Mengling’s apartment was there.

The train sped onward.

Soon in City No. 4, he hailed another taxi to the commercial street near her building. He didn’t recall the exact address, but remembered the street name.

Yet everything had changed—sleek, futuristic storefronts replaced the familiar shops from his dream.

Except… that KFC.

“It’s really here…”

He hesitated. The layout, the sign—everything differed from the dream.

Following memory, he reached where her apartment should stand. Only a modern residential complex remained.

“What am I even thinking…”

Feeling like an idiot, he shook his head, returned to the station, and this time headed straight for Sword God Mountain.

At the summit, seeing the identical Sword Hall, Zhou Jiuyu’s pupils tightened.

“No… maybe I wasn’t wrong.”

“But the dream was based on *The Fallen Immortal Maiden* she showed me. A real reference location wouldn’t be strange.”

Just then, a familiar voice rang out behind him:

“We’re here! This is the Sword Hall. Simo, Jing classmate—I’ll find my sister to get you in!”

Zhou Jiuyu turned. Akizuki Airi approached with a couple walking close—likely classmates.

“Miss Akizuki?” he offered cautiously.

“Ugh, *you*?” Airi tsked, trying to brush past him.

Jing Yuansheng raised an eyebrow. “Airi, how do you know someone like *him*?”

“You know him?”

“No. But he cleaned our house once. Looked so unsophisticated.”

Airi rushed to distance herself: “I don’t really know him! He’s just a tenant my stepfather shoved into our place yesterday. I had no choice…”

“I see,” Jing nodded.

“But Yuansheng,” Simo chimed in, eyes bright, “he’s actually handsome—tall, slim, that white streak in his hair? So cool…”

Jing’s brows furrowed. His girlfriend praising another man’s looks?

He glanced again at Zhou Jiuyu. Clean casual clothes now framed a quiet, breeze-like handsomeness he’d never noticed before.

“Good looks don’t mean good character. Early entrants to society often lack refinement… Be careful, Airi,” Jing said pointedly—aimed at Simo.

“…Mm.” Airi murmured, flustered.

“We’re at the gate. Your sister’s a Sword God Mountain disciple, right? She’ll get us in,” Jing added.

“Counting on you, Airi~” Simo smiled gently.

“…Mm.”

Airi nodded stiffly, then nervously pulled the bell rope at the Sword Hall gate.

Truth was, she had zero confidence. She hadn’t dared tell her sister. But backing out now? Too embarrassing.

The gate opened. A stunning woman in gray-and-white Taoist robes stepped out.

“What do you need?”

“Are you Sword Immortal Lady Yu Lianyun? I’m Akizuki Airi… Marina Tsukizuki’s sister.”

“Oh—you’re Marina’s sister? Here for her? She’s not here today.”

Airi stammered under the woman’s crushing aura: “N-no! I brought two friends… They admire ancient sword arts. Could they try the trial? Just a chance?”

Jing Yuansheng and Lu Simo watched hopefully.

Yu Lianyun shook her head firmly. “No. Non-disciples without invitation may not enter.”

“Please… make an exception?” Airi pleaded.

“Rules are rules. Leave.” Her tone turned icy.

As she moved to close the gate—

“Wait, Lady Yu Lianyun!” Jing stepped forward. “Do you know the Jing family of City No. 3? My father is Jing Xiangtian, head of the main lineage. I’m a third-tier awakened psychic. Please—”

“Even if your father were mayor of City No. 3, it changes nothing. Leave.”

Silence fell. All three stood stiff, faces flushing red then pale.

Airi burned with embarrassment. Jing seethed—rejected publicly, in front of his girlfriend… and *that cleaner*.

“Please wait, Lady Yu Lianyun.”

Zhou Jiuyu finally spoke.

“I am not with them. I am Zhou Jiuyu. Referred here for the trial.”

At the name, Yu Lianyun’s coldness vanished. She paused, stroked her chin. “Ah. Yes. Enter.”

“Thank you, Lady Yu Lianyun.”

Zhou Jiuyu cupped his hands respectfully and stepped inside.

The three outside stood mouths agape.

Jing Yuansheng blinked hard. *The cleaner? How?!*

He caught Simo staring at Zhou Jiuyu—surprise flickering into quiet admiration. Jing’s face turned beet red.

Zhou Jiuyu paid them no mind.

But seeing Yu Lianyun’s face clearly… a deep disappointment settled in his chest.

He’d hoped it would be Nan Mengling opening the door.