Both of them knew very well—trying to shake off an eighth-tier martial artist in such an unfamiliar space was nearly impossible.
It was only a matter of time before Liang San caught up.
And once he did—there would be no chance of survival.
“He’s after me. Su Nan, you know it. The two of us can’t escape together.”
Gu Lian looked at Su Nan, her eyes filled with resolve.
In the dim light, her face looked slightly pale.
The shadows softened her flawless features and snowy skin, giving her an ethereal beauty.
Su Nan stopped.
He knew she was serious. She truly meant every word.
“It’s too soon to say that. We still have a chance,” he smiled gently, his tone comforting.
In this moment, the place Gu Lian held in Su Nan’s heart began to subtly shift.
“Don’t lie to me,”
Gu Lian shook her head.
“There’s no such chance.”
“Su Nan, you’re strong. You have amazing talent. If you don’t die here, you’re destined to become a true powerhouse—slaying spirits, saving lives.”
“You don’t need to die here… for me.”
She looked at him, her determined gaze tinged with affection.
In that moment, all Gu Lian could see was Su Nan’s face. The looming threat seemed far away—forgotten.
“If time could just stop right now… how wonderful that would be.”
Her cheeks flushed red, heart beating faster.
Suddenly—
“Quick! Confess to me!”
Su Nan stepped forward, grabbing Gu Lian with both hands, resorting to a final desperate move.
Gu Lian blinked, stunned—but her heart immediately softened.
‘So he likes me too…’
‘Even at a time like this… he’s thinking of that…?’
Her cheeks turned scarlet, her heart racing.
She had never disliked him.
Her cold demeanor before was just the awkward pride of a girl unsure how to face her feelings.
After all, even her ideal role model—her mother—had praised this boy.
How could she not be moved?
And now, he was risking his life just to be with her.
Who wouldn’t fall for that?
Now, with death hanging over them, Gu Lian finally lowered her guard.
She stepped forward, wrapping her soft, snow-white arms around Su Nan’s neck.
Then, with a hint of shyness in her eyes, she tiptoed—and pressed her lips to his.
A deep kiss—sending tremors through them both.
Su Nan, no stranger to kisses, was still utterly shocked.
Gu Lian, clinging to his chest, began breathing harder and harder.
At last, she released him, her cheeks blazing red as she whispered:
“Su Nan… I like you. I really like you. I like you so, so much~!!”
As her sweet voice faded, the long-silent system rang out:
“Gentle Reminder!”
“Major Notification!”
“Congratulations, Host! You’ve been successfully confessed to by a school-beauty-level girl!”
“Current Confession Progress: 1/3”
“Given the life-threatening scenario, the system awards you: Evil Nemesis Skill – Thunder Breathing Technique: First Flash of Thunder!“
“Confession target detected as high value, and due to unexpected kiss + emotional confession, you’ve triggered a critical bonus!“
“Thunder Breathing instantly mastered. Cultivation realm elevated—to Peak Postnatal Perfection!”
The system’s voice trembled with excitement.
Su Nan wasted no time. He instantly absorbed and refined the Thunder Breathing Technique: First Flash of Thunder.
Thanks to the system, mastering it required no effort at all.
He immediately enhanced the technique.
A surge of power erupted inside him—pure and explosive.
Energy roared through him like a storm.
Flushed with energy, Su Nan glanced down at the girl in his arms and smiled softly.
Gu Lian clung tightly to him, as though never wanting to let go.
But soon, Gu Lian pushed him away, face crimson, and said:
“Su Nan, you need to go—now!”
“Liang San will be here any moment!”
Her tone was resolute. Having said that, she turned—ready to face Liang San alone.
But before she could move—a dark figure dropped in front of them.
It was Liang San.
A sinister aura surrounded him, his expression cold and menacing.
“Run? You think you can run from me?”
“This is my domain. You want to play hide and seek on my turf?”
His voice was casual—clearly, he never considered Su Nan or Gu Lian a threat.
“Liang San! You want me, not him—leave others out of it!”
Gu Lian stepped forward and shouted.
At the same time, she turned and tried to push Su Nan away.
“Go, now!”
But Su Nan caught her wrist and smiled gently.
“How could I leave you at a time like this?”
With a smooth pull, he brought Gu Lian behind him, stepping forward to face Liang San head-on.
Gu Lian’s heart trembled. She cried out anxiously:
“Su Nan, you—!”
“Enough. Don’t speak.”
Su Nan’s gaze was sharp as a blade.
“From here on… leave everything to me.”
Though his words were harsh, Gu Lian felt a profound sense of safety.
A warmth spread in her heart.
She felt the pure yang energy from Su Nan’s body—and her mind grew hazy.
For a fleeting second, she truly believed—
As long as Su Nan was here, no danger could reach her.
As long as Su Nan was here, no storm could break her.
As long as Su Nan was here—
Everything would be alright.
Gu Lian’s face turned a deep red.
She said nothing more.
Rationally, she knew Su Nan staying meant risking death.
Even together, they might not beat Liang San.
But in this moment—her heart yearned to fight beside him, no matter the outcome.
Even if thorns lay ahead.
“Hahaha! What a touching little scene—hero saving the beauty!”
Liang San’s sinister laughter broke her thoughts.
She looked forward—Liang San’s entire body now shrouded in red mist.
The icy air around him deepened.
From the mist came wave after wave of screams—so shrill, so agonizing, they seemed to rise from the depths of her soul.
An unbearable cold spread everywhere.
Gu Lian instinctively grabbed Su Nan’s sleeve, her face tense with fear.