At this moment, Wang Mu fell into deep thought. He wasn't contemplating the immediate situation, nor the Green Frost Sword, nor Heroine Yan. It was the future he was pondering. If a mere name could elicit such a response, what would happen later… how could he possibly manage?

The Green Frost Sword was a Divine Sword, and Divine Swords possessed spirits. Whom it wished to kill, and whether murderous intent was present, were evident at a glance.

Wang Mu sensed a surge of murderous intent. He reached out and touched the sword's blade, trying to move it away, but found the Green Frost Sword as immovable as if embedded beside his neck.

Heroine Yan's gaze seemed to revert to how it was at their first encounter—an indifferent look that regarded all things as if they were filth.

As someone well-versed in the ways of a Love Saint, he knew this was definitely not the time to answer directly.

Wang Mu said earnestly, "A name is merely a label for a person. As we journey through the world, we hear countless names, as numerous as carp crossing a river, forgotten in the blink of an eye."

"Whether it sounds unpleasant isn't important; what truly matters is whether it's memorable."

Heroine Yan didn't respond or continue the conversation. Her expression remained indifferent. The Green Frost Sword didn't move an inch.

"Once..." Wang Mu said softly, "in my heart, there was such a name that left a deep impression."

Heroine Yan's expression remained unchanged.

"It was during our first encounter..." Wang Mu began. "When I was young, I was returning from the fields, caked in mud and carrying my farming tools, when I heard the distant sound of horse hooves."

"In our secluded little village, the sound of hooves was a rarity."

"I turned and saw a heroine dressed in a white gown, wearing a conical hat, and holding the Qingshui Treasure Sword."

"A breeze swept past, lifting the veil beneath her hat..."

"It was like a fleeting, stunning vision. I stood there dumbfounded. Dust and sand blew into my face, making my eyes sting, yet I didn't blink."

"With just that one look, I knew that even if I never learned her name, I would remember her for a lifetime."

"..." Heroine Yan.

"Saying this, I'm probably making a fool of myself in front of Heroine Yan..." Wang Mu's face showed a hint of embarrassment. "At that moment, I'd even thought of names for our future children and where they would be buried."

"So, the name is not important."

Heroine Yan said coldly, "Nonsense. You weren't like this back then."

"You weren't me back then. How could you know if I was like that or not?" Wang Mu shook his head.

Not bad, he'd successfully diverted the topic.

"Then tell me, what... what were the names you thought of for our future child back then?" Heroine Yan's voice was ice-cold.

But this icy voice brought a sigh of relief to Wang Mu.

Indifference signifies a lack of emotion. An icy voice, at least, is a manifestation of some emotion.

"Of course, I had them picked out..." Wang Mu nodded. "If it were a boy, he'd be named Dongfang Jinghong, because it was that stunning glimpse I would never forget. If it were a girl, she'd be Dongfang Qingshui, like the heroine's Qingshui Treasure Sword—pure and clear-hearted."

No, really. The protagonist in the game definitely didn't have such thoughts. This was Wang Mu the player's feeling when he first saw the female lead. Indeed, he had even thought of their child's name.

There was no helping it. Yan Qingwu was the first female lead to appear. She left a deep impression and was extremely beautiful, perfectly embodying a man's ideal Jianghu heroine: powerful, transcendently beautiful, and aloof. In the game, the protagonist merely glanced once... In reality, it would probably be just a glance before moving on. So, for the Heroine Yan of that time, it was likely just a chance encounter with a stranger, nothing special...

"Unpleasant," Heroine Yan said.

"..." Wang Mu.

"And then?" she asked.

"Could you perhaps put down the Green Frost Sword before we continue?" Wang Mu asked. "Holding it up for so long must be tiring, right?"

"Not tired."

"..." Wang Mu.

He touched the blade again and found it still unyielding.

Fortunately, it had at least moved a few centimeters away from his neck.

"And then..."

Wang Mu gazed up at the sky. "After that glimpse, I couldn't get her out of my mind. But I was just an ordinary mountain villager... Just when I was about to try and forget her, news spread through the village: the heroine was going to the mountain behind us to deal with the wild beasts attacking travelers."

"I grew worried. Those beasts were so ferocious... Many young heroes from the Jianghu had fallen victim to them... If something happened to the heroine..."

"But my own strength was so meager..."

"That night, I tossed and turned... I kept getting up and looking around..."

"The oil lamp in my room flickered, going out then reigniting, over and over..."

"By the next day, I couldn't bear it any longer. I grabbed an axe and followed her out of the village..."

Speaking of this, Wang Mu felt a wave of emotion.

Actually, when he first played the game, he felt something similar. However, as a player with a god's-eye view, he knew the protagonist would eventually help her, leading to a connection—a clichéd plot. But being immersed in the game at the time, he still felt a thrill of excitement. During his first playthrough, though, he lacked strength. By the time he reached the spot, he hadn't realized how tough those 'bandits' were, which led to some anxiety and insecurity. This anxiety quickly became reality, and he failed. He had no idea those 'bandits' were actually a giant black bear, and his Attributes and strength were far from sufficient.

"Lustful at first sight," Heroine Yan said.

"..." Wang Mu.

Could she not be so blunt? When a player sees their 2D wife, isn't it natural to be 'lustful at first sight'? What would be the point of playing otherwise?

"When you acted, your movements clearly showed mastery of martial arts. How could you have felt your strength was weak?" Heroine Yan said indifferently.

Hearing this, Wang Mu sighed softly, his gaze complex as he looked at Heroine Yan.

How could you know how many times I had to grind in the Newbie Village for that battle, how many times I died to that black bear's paws, just to gain enough strength to save you?