The End of the Wilderness

Su Luo wondered if things had gone too far.

To spare Nangong Xiyun any embarrassment, Su Luo decided to make a quick escape.

"Are you kidding me? I’d rather die than fall into your hands."

Yet the moment Su Luo uttered these words, the members of the Seven Stars Sword Sect grew even more frantic.

"Su Luo, don’t do anything reckless! Let’s talk this out."

"Hurry, Peak Master Nangong, you’re our only hope now!"

"Jiang Ningshu, don’t move, please!"

The others were even more baffled. How had things spiraled so out of control? Even if Su Luo held significant importance, was this level of panic really necessary?

Sure, capturing Su Luo alive would be ideal, but his death wouldn’t be a bad outcome either. Why the desperation?

Nangong Xiyun had had enough. She prepared to charge forward and snatch Su Luo away. She still had some strength left and could launch an attack.

Once Su Luo broke free, Jiang Ningshu’s threat would naturally dissolve.

But with a single strike, Jiang Ningshu forced Nangong Xiyun back.

Nangong Xiyun had already expended much of her energy battling the beast horde earlier and was no match for Jiang Ningshu now.

Cooling down, Nangong Xiyun realized charging in would only make her look foolish.

Still, she wasn’t entirely wrong—Su Luo was already planning his escape. Even with Jiang Ningshu gripping his neck, slipping away wouldn’t be an issue.

At that moment, Jiang Ningshu spoke to Su Luo, "Looks like you’ll die here today."

Su Luo smirked. "You can’t kill me."

"No!" The Seven Stars Sword Sect members shouted helplessly, forced to watch as Su Luo faced danger.

Then, Jiang Ningshu kissed Su Luo.

Su Luo, who had been about to flee, froze in shock.

What was Jiang Ningshu doing?

Nangong Xiyun faintly grasped Jiang Ningshu’s motive—killing Su Luo was never the plan. This was just a ploy to provoke her.

Well, it worked. Nangong Xiyun couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy, watching Jiang Ningshu kiss Su Luo so openly.

But here was the problem: Jiang Ningshu’s public stance was that she and Su Luo were sworn enemies. So why the sudden kiss?

This made no sense.

And indeed, it defied all logic. The onlookers were stunned. Killing Su Luo would have been understandable, but kissing him? What kind of madness was this?

Their minds reeled in confusion.

Jiang Ningshu pulled back, looking almost reluctant to stop, then turned to Nangong Xiyun. "Take another step, and I’ll kill him."

The crowd was utterly lost, unable to process anything.

Wait, hadn’t she just threatened to kill him earlier? And now again?

But this wasn’t killing—it was more like a reward for Su Luo. Was this some kind of joke?

Meanwhile, the Seven Stars Sword Sect members glanced at Li Siyi.

Everyone knew Su Luo loved Li Siyi, and Li Siyi loved Su Luo.

So how would Li Siyi react to this scene? She ought to be furious.

Though no one understood why Jiang Ningshu had kissed Su Luo, the act itself was undeniable. Could she have poisoned him through the kiss?

Unlikely. With Jiang Ningshu’s strength, a single sword strike would suffice.

Yet Li Siyi showed no reaction. She hadn’t expected Jiang Ningshu’s move, but it didn’t faze her. She knew the truth about Jiang Ningshu and Su Luo—why would she be surprised?

Besides, in public, Li Siyi and Su Luo were supposed to have no ties. Whatever happened to Su Luo shouldn’t concern her.

The Seven Stars Sword Sect members whispered among themselves.

"No reaction at all? What’s Li Siyi thinking?"

"Maybe she’s hiding her true feelings to avoid suspicion."

"Shame on us for overreacting. We need to stay calm and focus on saving Su Luo."

By then, Su Luo had snapped out of his daze. It was time to end this.

"You can’t kill me!"

With that, Su Luo vanished.

No explanations, just a dramatic exit line.

Though Jiang Ningshu’s actions were baffling, someone would surely justify them later.

No matter how they rationalized it, the truth remained elusive—they simply didn’t know enough.

With Su Luo gone, Jiang Ningshu took control of the situation.

"How boring."

Seeing Su Luo escape, Jiang Ningshu lost interest in sticking around.

But her words sent a chill through the crowd.

Their lives were still in her hands.

Yet Jiang Ningshu left without another word.

Everything about her was inexplicable—the kiss, the abrupt departure. None of it made sense.

What had she even come here for?

To save them? That was hard to believe.

No answers were forthcoming.

In the end, Di Haoran and the others returned, waiting for reinforcements from the Northern Heavenly Gate before finally relaxing.

Despite the chaos, their mission to the Wildlands had concluded successfully.

......

Su Luo had also left, but he lingered near the Northern Heavenly Gate.

Su Luo asked, "What was that kiss about earlier?"

"Just felt like teasing Nangong Xiyun. Got a problem with that?"

"Not really. But maybe tone it down next time. You’ve already confused everyone."

These small antics wouldn’t affect the grand scheme, so Su Luo didn’t mind much.

"Who cares what they think?"

"Fair enough."

At this point, Su Luo only cared about a select few.

After a while, Nangong Xiyun arrived, while Li Siyi stayed behind at the Northern Heavenly Gate to handle post-mission meetings. She’d join them later.

Su Luo and the others had deliberately waited here to regroup.

"Jiang Ningshu, what was that about?!" Nangong Xiyun demanded the moment she arrived.

"Got a problem?"

"You’re ruining Su Luo’s plans!"

"Am I, though?"

"Of course! Now they all suspect you."

"And?"

Nangong Xiyun faltered. Di Haoran and the others might find Jiang Ningshu’s behavior odd, but they couldn’t pinpoint why. Her motives were always inscrutable.

Still, Nangong Xiyun pressed on. "Don’t you think your actions were completely illogical?"

Jiang Ningshu smirked. "Forgotten already? I’m from the demonic path. Nothing I do should surprise you. But if you kissed Su Luo, now that would raise eyebrows."

Nangong Xiyun fell silent. She’d fantasized about kissing Su Luo openly too, but Jiang Ningshu had beaten her to it.

"Fine, you win."

Nangong Xiyun decided to drop the argument.

Instead, she dragged Su Luo away to settle things privately.

Jiang Ningshu followed, amused by the spectacle.

Little Yu stayed behind, too shy to join.

But a thought crossed her mind:

She was from the demonic path too. Wouldn’t it be normal for her to kiss Su Luo openly?

The idea pleased her.

But she quickly dismissed it. Kissing Su Luo in front of others? Too embarrassing.

Better to keep it secret.