What Happened All of a Sudden

On the other hand, the Left Envoy led the remaining members of the Heavenly Demon Sect as they moved.

Before leaving Zongheng Valley, there was a minor incident.

It concerned Jiang Ningshu, the former Demon Lord.

She had disappeared.

Su Luo, of course, knew exactly what had happened, but he had to play his part to the fullest.

He flew into a rage, then issued an order: Jiang Ningshu must be captured alive if seen.

With that, the matter was put to rest.

After several days of travel, the Heavenly Demon Sect arrived at a secluded location—the Nightshade Forest.

This was a perilous place in the cultivation world, rarely visited by outsiders.

Once settled, the Left Envoy resumed his usual defeatist speeches.

"This will be our new base," he declared.

"We will recuperate here, but remember—we have not lost."

"In time, I will lead you back into the light."

"For now, we lie low and wait for the right moment."

...

And so, he went on with another long-winded monologue.

Su Luo couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The Left Envoy was just like this—given the chance to speak, he would milk it for all it was worth.

"Demon Lord! Demon Lord!"

Amid the cheers, the Left Envoy vanished from sight.

Having said all he needed to say, he found some excuse to leave.

When he reappeared, it was in the form of Su Luo.

Yet Su Luo sensed something amiss.

Where was Little Yu?

She had left ahead of him and should have arrived by now.

Su Luo hurriedly went out to search.

But within the Nightshade Forest, there was no sign of Little Yu.

Where could she have gone?

Found her.

Using a special tracking technique, Su Luo quickly pinpointed Little Yu’s location and rushed over.

At that moment, Little Yu was being blocked by someone.

She had been following Su Luo’s instructions to head to the Nightshade Forest when she encountered members of the Allied Sects along the way.

She had intended to avoid them, but someone recognized her immediately.

After all, Little Yu had once been quite famous in the Seven Stars Sword Sect.

Unsurprisingly, they surrounded her.

Expressionless, Little Yu fought back.

Having recently broken through, she dispatched these Golden Core cultivators with ease.

But then, a Nascent Soul-stage expert arrived.

Even so, Little Yu could handle it—she just needed a bit more time.

The Nascent Soul expert was baffled. How could this girl named Little Yu be so strong? Weren’t the rumors about her being part of the younger generation?

Even the Heavenly Demon Sect’s rapid cultivation methods shouldn’t produce such exaggerated results.

In the end, Little Yu defeated the Nascent Soul expert.

Just as she was about to leave, reinforcements from the Allied Sects arrived.

Little Yu drew her sword again, but this time, she spotted a familiar face among them.

Li Siyi.

Li Siyi hadn’t expected to run into Little Yu here, but now wasn’t the time for conversation.

She immediately launched an attack—while secretly signaling to Little Yu.

Having spent time together before, Little Yu understood her intent and played along.

Little Yu fought fiercely, knocking everyone else to the ground until only Li Siyi remained.

Then, the two of them continued their battle while gradually moving away.

Once they were far enough, they stopped.

"Where’s Su Luo?" Li Siyi asked. If Little Yu was here, Su Luo should be nearby.

"He hasn’t arrived yet."

"Really? Then why are you here alone?"

"Su Luo told me to come ahead."

After a brief exchange, Li Siyi realized Little Yu hadn’t changed much.

But this wasn’t the time for catching up.

Still, there was one thing Li Siyi wanted to advise her on.

"How are things between you and Su Luo?"

?

Little Yu blinked in confusion. "They’re fine."

"How fine?"

"Same as before."

"So nothing’s changed?"

Little Yu didn’t understand why Li Siyi was asking this. "Do we need to change?"

"You’re really not in a hurry, huh? Someone else might have already made a move on Su Luo."

"Ah!" Only then did Little Yu realize what Li Siyi meant.

That kind of change… no, there hadn’t been any.

"I’ve been trying," she admitted.

And she had a vague feeling someone was indeed pursuing Su Luo.

Li Siyi studied Little Yu. Just as she’d thought—if left to Little Yu’s efforts, it might take years.

Might as well give her a push.

At this point, Li Siyi had accepted that monopolizing Su Luo was impossible.

Besides, even her own master had already set her sights on him. What difference would one more make?

"Fine. Then let me tell you something. Maybe—just maybe—Su Luo will leave in eight or ten years."

Li Siyi wasn’t sure how much longer Su Luo’s story would last, but logically, it wouldn’t be too long.

"Why do you say that?" Little Yu frowned. "Leave? Where would he go?"

"Who knows? You don’t have to believe me. But if that day ever comes, don’t regret it."

Little Yu fell into deep thought.

"Is that really true?"

"No way to know. It depends on Su Luo. If you can persuade him otherwise, that’s a different story."

Little Yu felt persuading Su Luo might be difficult. When Su Luo set his mind to something, he always found a way to do it.

And she had never really tried to dissuade him before—she wasn’t sure if it would even work.

Li Siyi had said all she wanted to say and felt she had given Little Yu something to worry about. Still, it was better to worry now than later.

Before leaving, Li Siyi added, "Just so you know, the next time I see Su Luo, I’ll devour him whole."

Little Yu was puzzled again—what did "devour him whole" mean? Was Su Luo edible?

"Ahem." Li Siyi decided she’d better not elaborate. She had already teased Little Yu enough, and going into further detail wouldn’t be appropriate. "That’s all for now."

Li Siyi left first.

Little Yu also walked away but kept turning Li Siyi’s words over in her mind.

Su Luo would leave—the thought was unbearable.

For a moment, she even suspected Li Siyi was lying to her.

But she dismissed the idea. Li Siyi wouldn’t joke about something like this.

Looking back now, Su Luo had always been busy with something, but he’d never explained why.

Perhaps this was related.

Just then, Su Luo found Little Yu.

Seeing her, Su Luo was surprised—had she already broken through?

Had Little Yu grown so strong already?

When had she advanced?

"Your progress is a bit too fast, isn’t it?"

At the sight of Su Luo, Little Yu brightened slightly. "I’ve been working hard."

"But being fast has its advantages—at least you can protect yourself."

"Su Luo... are you going to leave?" Little Yu suddenly asked.

"Leave? Leave where?"

"Will you leave me?"

"Little Yu, that’s not an easy question to answer. The future is full of uncertainties. I can’t predict what will happen."

That much was true. Su Luo had experienced countless partings, big and small, so to him, it really wasn’t a simple matter.

Little Yu fell silent. Li Siyi had been right.

She hugged Su Luo tightly. "Can’t you stay with me?"

"What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?"