She Chased, He Fled

Only after Luo Li had finished massaging both sides of Lin Suchou's body did he stop pretending and slowly climb up from the stone bed.

"Thank you for the trouble, Luo Li."

"No need. We don't owe each other anything now."

It was her first time being in such close contact with a man, and the blush on Luo Li's face had yet to fade.

"But I saved your life too."

"Even if you hadn't helped me yesterday, I could have killed them before collapsing."

Seeing Lin Suchou trying to claim credit for his favor, Luo Li immediately drew the Luo Shen Sword again.

"Fine, we're even."

Lin Suchou hurriedly raised his hands and nodded repeatedly.

"Pfft."

Seeing his rather comical appearance, Luo Li suddenly smiled. Her beautiful eyes became livelier, carrying a little of the vigor a young girl ought to have, no longer so lifeless and gloomy.

"Luo Li, you actually smiled."

Lin Suchou looked at Luo Li's flower-like smile and said in delight.

Clearly, their relationship had taken another step forward. Otherwise, why would Luo Li smile at him?

After checking with the system and learning that his intimacy with Luo Li had reached 9 points, Lin Suchou was overjoyed.

Looks like my intuition was right this time!

She smiled at me... Could she like me?

"And? Why are you so happy?"

Luo Li's smile was fleeting, and she quickly returned to her usual cold demeanor.

"I wanted to say that you look even prettier when you smile."

Lin Suchou spoke these words to her with complete sincerity.

Seeing his earnest expression, Luo Li was momentarily stunned.

Ding! Congratulations to the host. Intimacy with Goddess Luo Li has reached 16. Reward: Sword-type Spirit Tools comprehension increased by 20%, Spirit Tool Enhancement Card x1.

Seeing the system's reward notification, Lin Suchou's persistence had not been in vain after all.

"Your injuries are healed, so I'm leaving too. Don't come near me again in the future, or don't blame my blade for having no eyes!"

As soon as Luo Li finished speaking, she turned to leave.

But Lin Suchou directly reached out and grabbed her small hand.

"You...!?"

"Luo Li, I like you."

Seeing the anger appear between the girl's brows as she turned around, Lin Suchou no longer concealed his feelings and boldly confessed his love.

They had only just met before, but now their intimacy had already reached 16.

And if he did not confess now, he might truly never get another chance to approach Luo Li again.

"But I... can't. I don't have time for a relationship."

As Luo Li spoke her final word, pain appeared on her pretty face.

Since childhood, she had been told that her duty was to restore the Luo Shen Clan's former glory.

That crushing burden rested upon her shoulders, bringing with it nothing but mountain-like pressure.

Thus, Luo Li had cultivated diligently since she was young, never wasting even a single moment.

"If there's something you need to do, I'll stay by your side no matter what. No matter how difficult or winding the road ahead may be."

Lin Suchou looked at Luo Li with unwavering determination.

Looking into his blazing eyes, Luo Li's heart, once focused solely on cultivation... suddenly fell into disarray.

Yesterday, she had been severely injured. After fleeing hundreds of miles, she was exhausted, poisoned, and had already resolved to die together with her enemies.

Yet at that moment, Lin Suchou had burst into her life like a divine soldier descending from the heavens.

Having spent many years alone, she unexpectedly felt a desire for companionship.

After seeing Lin Suchou kill every person pursuing her, the last thing she saw before collapsing was a face filled with panic.

Was this person... here to save her?

When she opened her eyes again, she saw Lin Suchou grilling fish. Her belt had been loosened and removed by someone.

Just as she thought Lin Suchou had taken liberties with her and placed her sword against his neck, he showed no reaction to save himself.

Instead, he gave her a grilled fish...

Although these things had happened over only two short days, they had added something to her once-empty heart.

She could neither explain nor understand it.

But suddenly, she found herself reluctant to leave Lin Suchou...

"You want to pursue me, right?"

"Yes. Does that mean you agree, Luo Li?"

Hearing Luo Li's words, Lin Suchou's face lit up with delight.

"No..."

Just as Lin Suchou thought there was no hope and his eyes dimmed once more, Luo Li's voice continued beside his ear.

"Now I'll hunt you down. As long as you make it alive into the Guardian Land, I'll agree to temporarily team up with you. If you die... hmph."

After a final cold snort, Luo Li looked at him seriously and said, "The countdown begins now. Three..."

"Luo Li, wait! I'm not ready yet..."

"Two."

Lin Suchou immediately bolted out of the cave, not even collecting the clothes on the stone bed and nearly tripping over himself.

"Pfft."

Watching his rather bedraggled figure, Luo Li smiled again. The warm sunlight of dawn fell upon her face, adding a touch of radiance, making her look like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.

"System, I want to use the Spirit Tool Enhancement Card!"

Turning back and seeing Luo Li take a step forward to begin chasing him, Lin Suchou shouted in his heart at the system.

But the system only told him how to use it...

"I have to do everything myself."

Lin Suchou flashed aside, dodging Luo Li's thrust.

Then he took out the Fiery Red Longsword. A golden card appeared in his hand, and he pressed it against the sword.

Buzz! Buzz!

The longsword soon began to tremble, as though it were reveling in the immense power brought by the card.

As the dazzling red glow flared and faded, the once dull, ordinary red one-handed sword underwent a complete transformation.

It was nearly five feet long, its entire body radiating scarlet flames, like a piece of divine equipment from a siege game.

As Lin Suchou ran, he suddenly took a wrong turn into a dead end.

Luo Li actually chased him in as well. Showing no regard for their past connection, she raised her hand and swung the Black Longsword at him.

Clang!

Lin Suchou raised his hand and blocked it. Even when Luo Li refused to believe it and thrust at him again, Lin Suchou caught the attack steadily.

It seemed that the 20% Sword-type Spirit Tools comprehension was taking effect.

But when Luo Li used a sword technique and dazzling sword light swept toward him, Lin Suchou could only flee once more.

There was no helping it. After all, he had never cultivated any Spirit Arts or techniques.

Like the Second Senior Brother after drinking wine, he had revealed his true form.

And so,

he fled, and she chased.

The two ran one after the other, drawing curious looks from some students.

As they chased and fled, they drew closer and closer to the people of the Fourth Guardian Land.

A month later, a vast city appeared before Lin Suchou's eyes.

"We're finally almost there..."

Before Lin Suchou could even rejoice, another streak of sword light slashed toward him from behind.

Clang! Clang!

Lin Suchou raised his hand and easily blocked it, neutralizing the attack.

Over the past month, Lin Suchou's swordsmanship had improved greatly under Luo Li's brutal pursuit.

It made Lin Suchou suspect that Luo Li had only claimed to be hunting him down in order to train him.

"Luo Li, I won!"

Lin Suchou pointed at the outline of the buildings ahead and smiled.

"You haven't gone inside yet."

The Silver-Haired Girl stepped in front of Lin Suchou's path. The Luo Shen Sword in her hand slowly rose, and even the world seemed to fall silent.

"Your swordsmanship has improved greatly this month. Let's see whether you can take three of my strikes."