Chapter One: The Mysterious Figure in Carriage Ten

"Why isn't the train moving yet?" Lin Fei muttered impatiently from her second-class seat on the high-speed rail. She was already in a foul mood for missing out on a first-class ticket, and now the endless delay was making her ever more irritable.

To make matters worse, several men around her kept casting lewd glances at her chest and thighs. One could hardly blame them—the sight was difficult to ignore. Lin Fei was dressed in a black, off-the-shoulder, cropped top that revealed her midriff, the snug fabric accentuating her proud figure and exquisite curves to perfection.

With a figure like that, who wouldn't be spellbound?

At last, unable to bear it any longer, Lin Fei snatched up her purse and stood, forcing herself to ignore her disgust as she made her way toward the rear cars. If she stayed any longer, she feared those men would strip her bare with their eyes.

She considered finding a train attendant to pay for an upgrade to first class—no matter the cost, she was willing to pay. She couldn't stand another moment in her original seat.

After a while, she reached Car 10, where the first-class section was located, only to find two tall, beautiful attendants standing guard at the entrance, as if they'd been stationed there for some time.

"Excuse me, miss, you can't go any further," one of the attendants said with a polite smile.

Lin Fei frowned slightly and glanced ahead. The car was completely empty. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Hello, I'd like to pay for a first-class upgrade."

"I'm sorry, miss," the attendant replied, shaking her head. "There are no first-class seats available. Please return to your original seat."

Lin Fei was stunned. The car was plainly empty, yet they claimed there were no tickets left. It was a blatant insult to her intelligence.

"Are you people being serious? It's obvious there's not a soul in there. If you don't let me upgrade, I'll report you for fraud," Lin Fei declared, removing her sunglasses and protesting in righteous indignation.

She thought her objection would force the attendants to relent, but the attendant remained composed. "You're within your rights to file a complaint, miss, but there truly are no first-class seats available. Please return to your seat."

With that, the other attendant closed the connecting door and drew the blinds.

"What on earth is going on?" Lin Fei muttered.

Just then, she noticed something astonishing through the window: dozens of soldiers in camouflage uniforms had appeared at the station, forming two lines at the entrance to Car 10.

What truly left her dumbstruck was that all of these soldiers were armed and ready.

"Has there been some sort of terror incident nearby?" Lin Fei wondered.

Suddenly, a commanding voice shattered her thoughts.

"Salute!"

The soldiers, faces solemn and movements synchronized, all raised their right hands in salute. Due to their stature and the angle, Lin Fei could only vaguely make out two figures passing through.

A short time later, the train began to move slowly.

In that moment, Lin Fei realized the entire delay had been for these two people. What kind of VIPs warranted such treatment?

Inside Car 10—

"Until we reach East City, no one is to enter this car. If a single word about today leaks, it will be considered treason. Understood?" A lean, resolute man addressed the two female attendants with a stern warning.

He was known as Qilin, the trusted right hand of the Hades King.

The two attendants stiffened and nodded fervently.

Satisfied, the man returned to the center of the car, his gaze settling on the man resting with his eyes closed. This was none other than Chen Fan, the Hades King—foremost war god of Jiuzhou.

"Lord Hades," he said respectfully, "everything is arranged. We’ll reach East City in three hours—you can rest a while longer."

Not long ago, the two of them had led a raid to destroy a massive border drug syndicate. Chen Fan hadn't slept for three days and nights; bloodshot veins laced his eyes.

"Qilin, how do you measure a person's true heart?" Chen Fan asked suddenly.

"My lord, why do you ask?"

"I have five fiancées, and for the life of me, I can't decide."

"Isn't there a saying, 'true feelings are revealed in hardship'?"

"Is that so?"

At that moment, the door to the car was struck sharply. Soon after, one of the female attendants entered, speaking cautiously. "A baby on board has suddenly begun foaming at the mouth and fallen into a coma. A doctor suggested that, since Car 10 is nearly empty and better ventilated, they bring the child here for emergency treatment."

As she spoke, she snuck a glance at the still-resting Chen Fan, eyes closed.

She couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

The man’s profile was striking—handsome, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, his tall figure reclining gracefully like a male version of Sleeping Beauty. The masculine allure he radiated threatened to draw her in entirely; even her breath caught in her throat.

"Qilin, go see what's happening. If you can help, do so, but don't let anyone disturb me," Chen Fan said with a wave of his hand.

Qilin nodded, then turned to the love-struck attendant and cleared his throat. "You and your colleague will accompany me. The commander dislikes being disturbed."

Confronted by Qilin’s unyielding gaze, the attendant dared not object.

When the door was opened, a group outside prepared to carry the unconscious child inside. Qilin blocked their way. "No entry. Someone is resting inside."

This immediately angered the crowd. A life was at stake—how could he prioritize rest?

"Even if the King of Heaven himself were inside, he should know that saving lives comes first!" Lin Fei, a doctor herself, was incensed at such blatant disregard for human life. Fueled by her earlier frustration, she shouted at Qilin.

She tried to push past him, ready to accuse him of harassment if he laid a finger on her.

But in the next instant, she froze.

Not only Lin Fei, but everyone around her fell into stunned silence.

Qilin had drawn a silver firearm, his expression icy. "I said, no one goes in."

"Just because you have a gun, you think you can do as you please? For all I know, it's just a toy meant to scare us!" Lin Fei retorted defiantly.

Before her words had faded, Qilin raised the weapon and fired a shot into the train's ceiling. The deafening sound left everyone dumbfounded—especially Lin Fei, who was utterly aghast.

With the crowd subdued, Qilin addressed the child’s mother. "Let me see the child."

The mother, already beside herself with panic, looked instinctively to Lin Fei for guidance.

"What are you going to do?" Lin Fei demanded.

Qilin replied calmly, "Naturally, I'll try to save him. If I fail, you can take my life in exchange."