"If there's nothing to change, then let things stay as they are. Eventually, you'll encounter something you must do," Su Luo remarked, knowing full well that betrayal would come later, forcing his hand.
"How about I help you?" Jiang Ningshu offered.
"Help me? There’s nothing I need help with."
"You do. Though I don’t know why, you’re working toward something unavoidable."
"Not really," Su Luo denied.
"If not, you wouldn’t have asked me to head north. And before that, the method you gave me to restore my strength—these are all signs of something you must do."
The Demon Lord’s certainty stemmed from the diary. Su Luo was aware of what was coming but refused to alter events, preferring they unfold exactly as he had written.
There had to be a reason for this.
Su Luo fell silent, caught in Jiang Ningshu’s accurate deduction.
"Fine, I do. If you want to help, go ahead."
He had no choice but to agree. It might even be for the best—if Jiang Ningshu strayed from the script later, he could steer her back.
"So, you’re not going to tell me your plan?"
"No."
"I figured."
Jiang Ningshu had considered confronting Su Luo with the diary before, thinking it wouldn’t matter if she revealed it.
But then she realized her strength wasn’t fully restored yet—there was still time to wait.
She’d also pondered the consequences of telling Su Luo.
He might ignore her and keep writing.
Or fabricate false entries.
Or stop writing altogether.
She was curious which path he’d take.
But for now, it wasn’t the right moment. She’d wait and see.
Let Su Luo write a few more truthful entries first.
The two lay side by side in the sea of flowers, silence stretching between them once more.
Su Luo stole a glance at Jiang Ningshu and saw her eyes closed, basking in the tranquility.
She seemed much more at ease.
"What are you looking at?"
"Seeing the Demon Lord in better spirits makes me happy too."
"That sounds suspiciously like flattery."
Bingo. Su Luo felt like he was channeling Yun—treating Jiang Ningshu the way Yun treated him.
But this was how he was supposed to act in the story. No deviations, perfectly in line with the original.
"Not at all. Every word is sincere."
"I already said I’d help you. No need for this attitude, right?"
Hearing this, Su Luo paused before replying, "Alright."
Then silence again.
Su Luo wouldn’t take the initiative—he wasn’t Little Yu, Yun, or Li Siyi. By all accounts, he and the Demon Lord shouldn’t be this familiar.
Jiang Ningshu, too, struggled to find words. She wasn’t one to start conversations—others usually led.
The awkwardness grew thicker than before.
But it didn’t matter. Jiang Ningshu found this shared silence rather pleasant.
They stayed like that for a full day and night.
Jiang Ningshu’s mood improved even further.
"Su Luo, having you around is… nice."
"What’s so special about it?" Su Luo hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
"No wonder Little Yu and..." Yun are so close to you.
Jiang Ningshu cut herself off, remembering Yun’s unusual nature.
What was someone so powerful doing by Su Luo’s side? What was her goal?
Did Su Luo even know?
Su Luo, noticing her hesitation, asked, "What’s wrong? Why stop there?"
"Su Luo, that woman Yun beside you… she’s not simple."
So that was it. Su Luo had thought it was something serious.
The Demon Lord was sharp—she’d seen through the Seven Stars Sword Sect’s disguise on Yun after only a few encounters.
It had taken Su Luo years of experience and reaching the Hollow Void stage to barely notice. The illusion was masterfully crafted.
Su Luo shrugged. "I know. And I know her intentions too."
"Then I overthought it. But from your tone, she’s not your ally?"
"Heh, hard to say. But everything’s under control. Don’t interfere or expose her."
"Understood."
Jiang Ningshu realized she’d underestimated Su Luo.
Keeping someone so powerful—yet not fully trustworthy—by his side? That took nerve.
Their conversation meandered a bit longer, though it remained surface-level.
Su Luo finally said, "Let’s go. We’ve seen enough here. Time to move on."
"Mm."
Despite their talk, their relationship hadn’t deepened much.
Su Luo and Jiang Ningshu spoke when they had something to say, lapsed into silence when they didn’t.
No jokes, no teasing.
Utterly ordinary.
Along the way, they encountered plenty of incidents.
A sudden onslaught of demonic beasts, savage and bloodthirsty, lunging to tear into them.
Su Luo swatted them aside effortlessly.
Jiang Ningshu eyed him. "What’s your real strength? You don’t feel like an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. How did you even fool me?"
"Not as strong as you."
"Current me?" Unlikely. A peak Nascent Soul wouldn’t be this overwhelming.
"Peak you."
"That tells me nothing." Jiang Ningshu wasn’t boasting—at her prime, she’d been unbeatable.
They also ran into allied sect members questioning Su Luo’s identity.
He brushed them off with casual lies.
"You’re surprisingly smooth. Just talked your way past them."
"Smooth? That’s called experience."
"I thought we’d have to fight."
"They were just doing their job, polite and proper. No need for violence."
Naturally, they crossed paths with the Heavenly Demon Sect too.
But upon seeing Su Luo, the disciples bowed respectfully.
As a titled Heavenly Demon, he commanded such treatment.
They even begged him to lead them on a raid. Su Luo directed them toward certain death instead.
"If I recall, that place is treacherous," Jiang Ningshu remarked. Though unfamiliar with the north, she’d visited before and recognized some landmarks.
"Exactly. They love excitement—this should suit them."
"You’ve got a grudge against the Heavenly Demon Sect, don’t you?"
"Obviously. Going to stop me?"
Su Luo held no love for the sect. Too many painful memories—the agony of cultivation alone was enough to sour him, let alone everything else.
"No. I’ve moved on."
"Good." That’s for the best—you’ll defect from them eventually anyway.
As they traveled on, Jiang Ningshu found Su Luo fascinating. He didn’t seem to do much, yet his presence was oddly comforting.
The ease between them lifted her spirits further.
Suddenly, Su Luo halted.
"What is it?"
"Ran into an acquaintance."
In the distance, his senses picked up Li Siyi and a group battling the bewitching fox demon, Hu Yirong.