"Leaving in such a hurry?" Lin Xingshi glanced at him, "Aren’t you going to introduce yourself to the little sister?"

"You go ahead and introduce me." With that said, Zhong Wujiu followed Zhou Jiuya away.

Lin Xingshi shrugged, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

"Sorry, our Old Crow just has that kind of personality." Zhuge Hui waved a folding fan, "We’ve tried to teach him many times, but he just won’t change."

"It’s alright, I’m not familiar with him anyway." Su Zimai said nonchalantly.

Lin Xingshi suddenly said, "Let me introduce you to someone, his name is Zhong Wujiu, and his strength ranks second among us. His Celestial Driver theme is ’Mysterious Masks’, not sure if you’ve heard of such culture."

"Mysterious Masks?"

Su Zimai raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding. She had little knowledge of traditional culture, knowing only popular things like lion dances and the Nian Beast, but not about Mysterious Masks.

"You just need to know that it’s a pair of masks." Ke Qirui took a puff of smoke and explained, "It’s said that each pair of Zhong Wujiu’s masks seems to be related to creatures recorded in the ’Classic of Mountains and Seas’ and ’History of the Later Han Dynasty’. I don’t know the specifics; you could ask Xingshi if she’s willing to tell you about it."

"But wasn’t the ’Classic of Mountains and Seas’ written by ancient exorcists, and each monster really existed as a demon?" Su Zimai knew this much at least.

"It’s a long story, and Old Zhong doesn’t like us revealing his matters freely." Zhuge Hui teased, "He’s quite... reserved, you could say slow to warm up as a nicer way to put it."

Lin Xingshi also said, "When you become a Tier Three Exorcist someday, we might have a chance to work together. Then I’ll let you see Zhong Wujiu’s strength with your own eyes; there’s a reason he’s ranked second among us."

"Actually, I’m not that interested, but thank you for the kind gesture." Su Zimai nodded, "Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?" Lin Xingshi said indifferently, "Ask away."

"My captain mentioned you once ran away from home; why was that?" Su Zimai asked softly, "I ran away once too, so I’m curious."

Lin Xingshi raised an eyebrow slightly, thought for a moment with her head tilted, then said blandly, "Oh, it was nothing. I just didn’t really like the people in the family, and I was quite immature back then."

"Was it because they wanted you to act like a boy? You look very pretty." Su Zimai asked.

Lin Xingshi paused, raised her eyes to meet Su Zimai’s gaze, and smiled silently. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"So I guessed right?"

"What else?" Lin Xingshi tilted her head.

"But... you’re so skilled now, do you still need to let them manipulate you?" Su Zimai looked, puzzled, at Lin Xingshi’s outfit. "If you don’t like it, why go along with it?"

Lin Xingshi remained silent, slightly withdrawing the smile on her face.

Zhuge Hui folded his fan, chuckling softly, "The little sister is so straightforward. Even among ourselves, we wouldn’t dare to bring up such sensitive topics."

"Xiaomai, many things aren’t as simple as you think. The world is very complicated." Ke Qirui suddenly said, raising a hand to ruffle Su Zimai’s hair vigorously.

"Actually, it’s not that complicated. I hope you can stay this pure." Lin Xingshi chuckled softly, "In the eyes of the pure, the world is uncomplicated."

She spoke softly, slowly turning her gaze to the scene outside the train window, her fiery red braid swaying gently at her back.

Lin Xingshi found the chaotic temporal flow before her eyes intriguing and irresistible, the scenery seeming to be in a state of chaos and disarray.

Sometimes she could see images from her childhood, those old streets, ponds, and dilapidated houses stored in her memory, now no longer visible.

Thus, the experience was peculiar, like watching old yellowing photographs skip by, inadvertently pulling one’s thoughts towards a faded past.

Each time she witnessed such scenery, her mind sketched out a familiar yet strange figure — the boy with a tuft of purplish-red hair on his forehead.

"Miss Ke’s Train Demon is quite intriguing, and it’s an immensely enjoyable experience riding it." Lin Xingshi said.

"Is it?" Ke Qirui remarked, "I find it much like any ordinary train, except the scenery outside is rather unusual."

"It’s indeed unusual, scenes that are irretrievable." Lin Xingshi said nonchalantly.

"After all, times have changed so quickly; we’re living in a completely different world from when we were children." Ke Qirui said softly, glancing up at Lin Xingshi’s profile.

Lin Xingshi said nothing, her gaze vacant as she stared absentmindedly out the window.

"Is Miss Xingshi thinking of someone?" Ke Qirui asked curiously, a pipe in her mouth.

Lin Xingshi was silent for a while, then shook her head, "Just a friend who got lost."

Zhuge Hui said nothing, only waving his fan and chuckled lowly.

Su Zimai simply sat down and started playing with her phone, unconsciously typing the name "Black Cocoon" into an empty search box and staring blankly at her reflection on the screen.

The Train Demon continued roaring through the tunnel, the rumbling of the engine surrounding their ears, while the few people in the carriage each engaged in their own activities, as quietly as paper-cut figures.

....

...

In another corner of the world, deep in the forest behind Spirit Heart Lake on Hai Fan Mountain, the Little Nian Beast awoke at dusk on August 18, opening its eyes upon a massive branch and looking down at the Lantern Demon that had been drenched by its saliva.