Don't rank things like this

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Ningshu asked, "So, what do I need to do next?"

She hadn’t expected to be the one taking orders, but she didn’t mind it.

"Just keep hunting down members of the Heavenly Demon Sect. If you find it troublesome, you don’t have to go all out—just kill a couple occasionally. I’ll exaggerate the reports for you."

Su Luo understood Jiang Ningshu’s current mindset. She wasn’t particularly interested in the Heavenly Demon Sect, nor did she harbor the same hatred for them as in the original plot.

So, it didn’t matter. Su Luo’s standing in the Heavenly Demon Sect was high now, making his reports highly credible.

And there was also the Left Envoy—if he said Jiang Ningshu was relentlessly attacking the sect’s members, then that’s what was happening.

Anyone who doubted it?

Su Luo would simply kill random members of the Heavenly Demon Sect and pin it on Jiang Ningshu. Problem solved.

If anyone still doubted, he’d just eliminate them too.

Cutting the problem off at the root.

"It’s fine, I don’t mind."

Jiang Ningshu didn’t find it troublesome. Su Luo had already given her a method to restore her strength—this small favor was nothing in comparison.

"Do as you please."

"Can I visit you at the Heavenly Demon Sect?" Jiang Ningshu felt like meeting Su Luo had become oddly difficult.

"Better not. Others might recognize you easily."

"What a shame." Jiang Ningshu shook her head.

Nangong Xiyun giggled beside her. "That’s what you get for not being as good at hiding as I am."

Jiang Ningshu wasn’t about to take that lying down and immediately fired back.

"You can’t even touch Su Luo for a whole month. Don’t sneak over when I’m not around."

"Of course I won’t. A month is nothing." Nangong Xiyun genuinely believed that.

She’d been single for so long before—what was a month?

"You better mean that." Jiang Ningshu thought she was just bluffing.

From Jiang Ningshu’s perspective, it seemed like Nangong Xiyun had suddenly become addicted to Su Luo.

Even back when she was still "A-Yun," she hadn’t been like this.

At that moment, Little Yu returned.

"I’m back."

"How did it go?" Su Luo asked, referring to the escaped demonic cultivators.

"All taken care of."

There was no pressure at all—Little Yu was growing stronger by the day.

"Good. Let’s head back then."

With the matter resolved, they returned to the Nightshade Forest.

Just then, Little Yu wanted to hold Su Luo’s hand as they walked back, as she’d been doing lately.

But with others around now, she felt a little shy.

Even though they’d already done… certain things, she still couldn’t help blushing.

Su Luo, however, grabbed her hand without hesitation.

"Don’t worry. They’re not outsiders."

"Mm."

Little Yu kept her head down, not daring to look at Nangong Xiyun or Jiang Ningshu. She still wasn’t used to it.

But feeling the warmth of Su Luo’s hand, her shyness gradually melted into sweetness.

Jiang Ningshu watched the two of them and sensed that their relationship had deepened. They hadn’t been like this before.

What happened?

Suddenly, a possibility crossed her mind. She leaned toward Nangong Xiyun and whispered,

"Do you think they…?"

She was vague, but the implication was clear.

"Possibly. They were alone together for a month." Nangong Xiyun had already noticed but hadn’t gotten a straight answer from Su Luo or Little Yu.

"Oh? And you don’t feel anything about that?"

"What should I feel? Jealousy? Pfft. Do you know how long Little Yu has been with Su Luo? I’ve seen how she treats him."

From the Seven Stars Sword Sect to the Heavenly Demon Sect and now, Nangong Xiyun had witnessed everything between Su Luo and Little Yu. If anything, it was surprising it took this long for things to progress.

"I mean, aren’t you upset that she beat you to it? With your cultivation, you could’ve forced yourself on Su Luo back then—he wouldn’t have been able to resist."

"That has nothing to do with cultivation. I don’t care."

Well, truthfully, she hadn’t realized she liked Su Luo back then—she just found him interesting.

She also hadn’t thought physical intimacy was anything special.

But now that she thought about it… she did feel a twinge of regret.

Should she force herself on him now?

But Su Luo had grown much stronger. If he refused, she might not succeed.

Regrets… (╥﹏╥)

Jiang Ningshu seemed to see right through her. "You don’t care?"

"What are you laughing at?"

"The problem is, you can’t touch Su Luo for a month. What if I make a move on him? How would you handle that?"

?

"You wouldn’t dare!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, watch me. Then you’d be third in line."

Why rank something like this?! How childish!

Nangong Xiyun was fuming. Jiang Ningshu was truly insufferable.

"Hah, and you claim not to care." Jiang Ningshu was just teasing. She hadn’t known Su Luo for long and didn’t feel strongly enough to rush into anything physical.

Still, there were other things she could do.

"Su Luo, me too."

She grabbed his other hand and flashed a triumphant smile at Nangong Xiyun.

Nangong Xiyun was already reaching for her sword.

…Fine. She wouldn’t stoop to her level.

She pretended not to see Jiang Ningshu’s provocation, but her eyes kept drifting to Su Luo’s hand—that should’ve been hers.

The thought of not being able to touch him for a month made her sulk.

It’s fine. Just one month.

Su Luo sensed the tension between Jiang Ningshu and Nangong Xiyun.

After a month apart, their relationship hadn’t improved—but it hadn’t worsened either.

Now, there was just one problem.

With both hands occupied… was walking even possible?

Su Luo’s verdict: I’ll just fly.

……

Later, they spent hours chatting, sharing their recent experiences.

When it was time, they parted ways again—mainly because Jiang Ningshu had to act alone.

Meanwhile, news of the demonic alliance’s failure spread like wildfire.

Not only did the Heavenly Demon Sect decline, but the entire demonic path suffered as well.

Some demonic cultivators even blamed the Heavenly Demon Sect—they’d been dragged into this mess for nothing.

Now, not only had they failed, but they’d also suffered heavy losses.

The already struggling demonic path was now in dire straits.

For the foreseeable future, no demonic cultivator would dare strut around arrogantly.

The moment they showed their faces, they’d be targeted by righteous cultivators.

A tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs.

With the demonic path in decline, the cultivation world entered a period of peace.

Pillage and slaughter decreased drastically, and even interactions between cultivators became more amicable.

It was a rare golden age.

People began analyzing how such a situation had come about.

And they soon realized—Lin Xuan had played an indispensable role in this outcome.

His deeds were compiled into biographies and spread across the land, earning widespread recognition. This wasn’t just baseless praise.

Thus, Lin Xuan’s reputation soared.

The surge wasn’t solely due to his role in crushing the demonic alliance—it was the culmination of years of steady accomplishments.

Young, wealthy, highly skilled, virtuous…

Lin Xuan was at the peak of his influence.