CHAPTER 32: MASTER AND DISCIPLE

Mu Qinxue nodded slowly after hearing Tian Lei’s story. Her face didn’t show much, but her gaze grew sharp, like a drawn sword.

"If you want," she said casually, her tone cool as ever, "I can destroy that sect for you. Think of it as a little gift for becoming my disciple."

Tian Lei immediately shook his head, firm and resolute.

"I’ll kill them myself," he replied. "That’s my responsibility. I made that promise, and I’ll see it through."

Mu Qinxue’s lips curled into a faint smirk. "Hmph. So stubborn."

He nodded again and looked at her with quiet determination. "Besides, haven’t you already given me enough, Master? This Immortal Cave, the robes, your name protecting me..."

Mu Qinxue blinked once, then scoffed. It was playful, but carried a hint of royal arrogance.

"So what if I did? I can give what I want, whenever I feel like it." She leaned in slightly, her voice smooth but teasing. "You really think you’re only worth one gift? You should be thankful I haven’t buried you under a mountain of treasure yet."

Before he could reply, her hand casually reached out and patted his head.

It was soft, casual—like someone rewarding a well-trained pet.

"You should just accept it like a good little disciple," she added with a soft laugh, fingers ruffling his hair.

Tian Lei froze. A twitch formed in his jaw. The way her hand just declared ownership of his head made his pride scream.

"...Why are you patting me like I’m a dog?" he muttered, sweat forming on his forehead—not from fear, but from struggling not to yell at her.

She tilted her head, pretending to look confused.

"Because you’re cute."

"I’m not cute."

"You kinda are."

He let out a long, deep sigh, the type that sounded like he was preparing to fight off the urges of a thousand lifetimes.

Mu Qinxue chuckled quietly behind her sleeve, clearly enjoying herself.

"Come on. Let’s get to your real training. Time to see if you’re worthy of being the disciple of the Void Lotus Empress."

"Huh? Who’s that? I mean... people did call you the Soul-Stealing Demon—"

CRACK!

"ARGHH—!"

Tian Lei reeled forward, clutching his head where a very painful chop had just landed.

"Ow! What was that for?!" he yelped, glaring up at her.

Mu Qinxue stood with her arms crossed, eyes narrowed like she was judging his entire existence.

"That," she said coolly, "was for calling me a demon. And who told you it was okay to use that awful ’Soul-Stealing’ title?"

Still rubbing his head, Tian Lei looked up, sounding pitiful. "I just... heard rumors! That’s what people call you!"

Mu Qinxue let out a slow sigh, brushing back a strand of her silver hair, her eyes looking off into the distance.

"Whatever. I can’t control what people say. If I could, I’d make them all shut up."

Her voice softened slightly. There was something heavy in it—a calm bitterness. Just for a second, Tian Lei saw it in her eyes.

Pain.

He didn’t say anything. He just watched. Maybe, just maybe, her powerful body wasn’t the blessing everyone thought it was.

For a brief moment, her shoulders tensed... then relaxed again.

The mood passed, and she turned back to him, her usual teasing tone returning.

"Anyway, idiot disciple, less talking. Say something dumb again, and I’ll beat the soul out of you."

"...Noted," Tian Lei muttered, quietly fixing his robes.

"Good." She nodded, then snapped her fingers.

The floating garden around them shimmered. Glowing runes lit up beneath his feet, forming a wide formation circle.

"Now let’s see if you’re worthy of being my first—and last—personal disciple. Get in the center. Try not to die."

"...Wait, what do you mean don’t die?!"

She smiled sweetly. "You’ll see."

Tian Lei hesitated, wondering if stepping in was the worst idea of his life. But she suddenly shoved him in.

"I don’t have all day."

The moment he stepped into the center of the formation, the runes pulsed once... twice...

Then exploded into blinding white flame.

"GRAAAAHHH!" Tian Lei screamed, stumbling as the light swallowed him.

It didn’t feel like normal fire—there was no heat, no smoke. But the pain was very real. It felt like something deep inside him was being torn apart and melted down.

"What... is this?!" he shouted, voice strained.

Mu Qinxue stood calmly outside the formation, arms folded.

Her voice cut through the chaos.

"Endure."

Tian Lei clenched his teeth. The light scorched through his limbs, stabbed into his bones, and surged along his veins. It wasn’t fire—it was light. Pure, merciless, and inescapable.

"I said endure!" she shouted. "That pain isn’t killing you—it’s cleaning you. These are purification flames. They burn away all the garbage inside you that will mess up your cultivation. Everything that would hold you back—this fire removes it."

Tian Lei’s thoughts swirled. Purification...?

She continued, her tone sharp. "Your body has to be refined. Your soul has to be clean. If you can’t survive this, then forget revenge. Forget reaching any higher. You’ll stay weak and broken forever."

Her words hit just as hard as the flames.

Tian Lei dropped to his knees—but didn’t fall flat.

He forced himself upright again.

His sweat dripped like rain. His teeth ached from clenching. His vision blurred, but he stayed calm—his breath deep and steady.

Then, slowly, he sat cross-legged. Straight-backed. Focused.

The white light around him began to shift.

It still hurt—but it wasn’t attacking anymore. It flowed with him, as if it accepted his effort.

Mu Qinxue allowed herself a tiny smile. "Good," she said softly.

Tian Lei didn’t respond. He couldn’t.

The pain was still there, strong and unending. But he kept going.

He had no idea how long it had been—but it felt like forever. The fire wasn’t fading. If anything, it was getting worse, digging deeper, burning sharper.

He felt his mind slipping. His thoughts were starting to vanish.

Then Mu Qinxue’s voice came again, cold and sharp.

"Is this all you’ve got?"

He didn’t answer.

"I get it," she said, her tone dropping to something more serious. "This is your first time going through pain like this. But tell me... is this really your limit? Is this how far your promise to Yuyan goes?"

Tian Lei’s hands trembled. He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

No.

He made that promise with more than words—with his soul.

He forced his eyes open. They stung, but he kept them open. He remembered the breathing techniques he’d learned growing up—slow, focused, steady.

Mu Qinxue’s voice returned, lower now. "Keep going. The more you endure, the more you’ll gain. The fire will dig deeper. It will clean more."

She stepped back slightly, watching carefully.

’This boy... he’s stronger than I thought,’ she mused. ’Most people pass out in under a minute. It’s been ten... and he’s still holding on.’

Tian Lei’s body shook violently. His jaw was locked. But he didn’t fall.

Because in his heart...

Giving up wasn’t an option.