Then, It's My Turn

Both sides entered a state of gathering energy, their invisible clash growing increasingly intense.

Neither was in a hurry to strike, waiting instead for the right moment.

Their expressions were deadly serious, eyes locked onto each other as if nothing else in the world existed.

A towering tree collapsed—and that was the signal.

They moved simultaneously.

Nangong Xiyun: "Seven Stars Descend."

The normally composed Nangong Xiyun became ferocious the instant she swung her sword.

The arc of her blade carved out a stretch of starry sky.

The power imbued in the strike felt as though it carried the weight of seven blazing stars.

An exaggeration, perhaps, but it didn’t change the fact that, in Su Luo’s eyes, this was an overwhelmingly powerful attack.

Su Luo acted—not by drawing his sword, but by raising a small shield with his right hand.

The devastating strike met the shield, yet nothing happened.

Nangong Xiyun’s attack was effortlessly neutralized.

This was largely thanks to the perfection of her technique—none of the force scattered, all of it concentrated along the blade’s edge.

The tiny shield was just enough to cover the entire attack range.

But there was no time to celebrate.

Su Luo withdrew the shield and gripped his sword with both hands again.

"Now, it’s my turn."

From the start, Su Luo had no intention of confronting Nangong Xiyun head-on. Winning was all that mattered—whether it was dishonorable didn’t concern him.

He knew full well that, as he was now, he couldn’t match her in a direct clash.

Without hesitation, Su Luo brought his sword down.

"Sky-Piercing Slash."

In contrast to Nangong Xiyun’s technique, the fierce aura surrounding Su Luo’s sword, Xia Ying, faded as he swung, leaving behind only a simple, unadorned strike.

Plain, yet clean, precise, and graceful.

Nangong Xiyun was momentarily stunned—she hadn’t expected Su Luo to possess such a formidable shield—but she quickly twisted away, putting distance between them before countering with a sweeping slash.

Su Luo clicked his tongue in frustration. "Even now, she can still retaliate?"

In his initial plan, Nangong Xiyun would, at best, barely manage to block in such a short time. But here she was, striking back.

At this point, Su Luo couldn’t stop either.

BOOM!

Their blades collided, unleashing a deafening explosion.

This was their most violent clash yet. Beneath their feet, a massive crater formed, spreading wider by the second.

Nangong Xiyun hadn’t charged this strike—but her skill was monstrous.

Even in that split second, she could deliver a force strong enough to firmly halt Su Luo’s attack.

And so, it became a battle of attrition.

Once this state was reached, whoever faltered first would lose.

Su Luo had no retreat now. Trying to escape would only leave him riddled with openings.

He had no choice but to pour everything into his assault—yet he still couldn’t overpower Nangong Xiyun.

He could absorb her energy, but not all of it. Even if he won, his body wouldn’t survive.

That outcome was meaningless to Su Luo. He wanted to defeat Nangong Xiyun—and live to see it.

The stalemate continued.

"Su Luo, I had no idea you were this strong." Today, Nangong Xiyun finally grasped the extent of Su Luo’s power.

Truthfully, she was astonished.

Yet her expression remained as calm as ever, prompting Su Luo to remark:

"If you’re shocked, you could at least look a little more exaggerated. Sound more surprised. That’d make it more entertaining."

"I am shocked."

"Yeah, no one can tell."

Su Luo was too exhausted to even sigh. If only he could see Nangong Xiyun react like those background characters witnessing a protagonist’s grand moment—that would’ve been satisfying.

It would’ve been the ultimate acknowledgment of his strength.

Before this, Su Luo had never once earned Nangong Xiyun’s genuine attention.

(And no, he didn’t mean that in the literal sense.)

Time passed, and Su Luo finally drained the last of his spiritual energy. Even then, victory remained beyond his grasp.

His grip failed, and Xia Ying clattered to the ground.

Su Luo let out a bitter laugh.

He had abandoned all notions of honor, used every trick at his disposal—and still lost.

Maybe, deep down, he had believed he could win. That was why he hadn’t fled.

Only in the heat of battle had he realized—he wasn’t strong enough yet.

The power granted by the diary had made him overconfident.

"I lose." Su Luo gave up resisting—or rather, he no longer had the strength to resist.

At that moment, Nangong Xiyun also stopped. Her sword fell, and she staggered back a few steps before steadying herself.

Su Luo: "......"

"You held back. Why?"

He had lost the contest of force. What awaited him should’ve been her finishing strike—yet she had withdrawn.

There was no way Nangong Xiyun had exhausted herself in that exchange. Su Luo wasn’t so delusional as to believe that.

Caught, Nangong Xiyun didn’t hesitate. "You were never my target."

"Same difference. I’m from the Heavenly Demon Sect. If I lose, I should die—"

Su Luo swayed, his strength spent, and collapsed.

Nangong Xiyun stepped forward, shrinking the distance between them in an instant, and caught him before he hit the ground.

Su Luo murmured weakly, "If you could... just make it quick... I’d be grateful."

Instead of answering, Nangong Xiyun’s voice softened. "You’ve done well."

"No need to console me."

"There is."

"...Why?"

"Because I’ve taken a liking to you."

Su Luo’s head rested against Nangong Xiyun’s shoulder, so he couldn’t see her face—nor could he imagine what expression she might be wearing while saying such a thing.

The thought alone nearly made him laugh.

Though when he tried, even his laughter was faint.

"Hah... That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard..."

Every word dripped with disbelief.

Then, darkness took him.

In the end... he had still lost.

That was Su Luo’s final thought before slipping into unconsciousness.

Nangong Xiyun sighed. Of course Su Luo wouldn’t believe her—especially given her identity and how little time they’d spent together.

But she could no longer deny it. She did have feelings for him.

If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have lingered by his side for so long.

Yet this raised a problem—what if her true identity was exposed?

Would Su Luo despise her for deceiving him? How would he see her then?

For the first time, Nangong Xiyun felt that maintaining a disguise wasn’t entirely a good thing.

Well... she’d delay the truth for as long as possible.

She wasn’t ready to lay everything bare yet.

Gazing at the unconscious Su Luo, she gently ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing it down.

Then, she cupped his face, softly easing the tension from his furrowed brow.

"Losing once doesn’t mean you should be so disheartened. In time, even I might not be your match."

With that, Nangong Xiyun lifted Su Luo into her arms and carried him away.