Iron Hand was, indeed, a fairly decent man—but that was strictly relative. His goodwill was reserved for a select few: his fellow captains and his own subordinates in the Black Tortoise Division. To disciples from other divisions, his attitude was cold at best; to those outside the Law Enforcement Hall, he was a nightmare.

“You really don’t think so?” Han Lie asked.

“Uh…” Zhuo Hongyi rubbed her forehead, looking perplexed. “What actually happened in there? Logically speaking, Senior Brother Iron Hand shouldn’t have been so easy on you.”

“Exactly!” Su Mei chimed in, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Yesterday, Senior Sister Wuxin and I spoke to him until our throats were dry, and he still insisted on dragging you back. Why the sudden change of heart today?”

“Heh, it’s quite simple.” Han Lie leaned in and whispered a few choice words.

Understanding dawned on the two women instantly.

“As expected of you, little old man! To think you’d use a method like that!” Su Mei gave him a thumbs-up, clicking her tongue in genuine admiration.

“Indeed, that sounds exactly like something Senior Brother Iron Hand would go along with,” Zhuo Hongyi said, a relieved smile finally gracing her face. “If we had known it was that easy, Junior Sister Mei and I wouldn’t have spent the night worrying.”

Han Lie gave a wry, pained smile. “It’s easy, but it’s heartbreaking. I just earned sixty thousand Spirit Stones, and half of them are already gone!”

In his mind, he added this debt to Bai Ling’s ledger. He would make sure she paid it back with interest later!

“It’s alright, little old man,” Su Mei comforted him. “Spirit Stones can be earned again.”

While they spoke, a pair of sharp, clear eyes were fixed on Han Lie from a crevice in the rockery nearby. They were tinged with a faint, sinister aura. Within those beautiful eyes, there was a visible trace of confusion and bewilderment. Bai Ling seemingly couldn’t comprehend how the stubborn captain of the Black Tortoise Division had let Han Lie walk free.

“Hmm?”

Han Lie, who had been bantering with the two captains, suddenly narrowed his eyes. He snapped his head toward the rockery to his left.

“What is it?” Zhuo Hongyi and Su Mei asked in unison, immediately following his gaze. They saw nothing but weathered stones and moss.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just my imagination, I suppose,” Han Lie replied, shaking his head.

Though the feeling was fleeting, he was certain: Bai Ling had been watching him from the shadows.

Shortly after, Han Lie bid farewell to the two women and returned to his small wooden hut at the Violet Heaven Palace. He had barely stepped through the door when a tall, graceful figure in purple approached. Her steps were dignified and elegant, yet they carried the unmistakable weight of absolute authority.

“Sect Leader?” Han Lie was caught off guard. He hurried to greet her.

Ye Qingxuan didn’t say a word. She walked past him into the hut as if she owned it. Han Lie followed her inside, hurriedly wiping down a chair for her with practiced speed. She accepted the gesture and sat, her posture regal.

Han Lie quickly poured her a cup of hot tea. Ye Qingxuan took a small sip before setting it aside. Her voice was flat, masking all emotion.

“Golden Core Stage?”

“Yes, Sect Leader,” Han Lie answered with a nod, making no attempt to hide it.

“You returned quite quickly. This Senior expected you would need more time and effort to resolve that little entanglement,” she said, moving past the topic of his cultivation as if it were a minor detail.

Han Lie gave a bitter smile. “Sect Leader, were you truly not afraid that Captain Iron Hand would throw me into the Self-Immolation Tower?”

Ye Qingxuan let out a cold, dismissive sneer. “If you couldn’t even handle such a trivial matter, you wouldn’t be qualified to stand within the Violet Heaven Palace.”

She looked at him with icy eyes. “The perils This Senior faced in my early years were a hundredfold, a thousandfold worse than anything you’ve seen. And who do you think reached out a hand to help me then? No one.”

“The path to the summit has always been strewn with thorns. They will pierce you until you are drenched in blood; they will torment and attempt to shatter your will. A single misstep leads to the abyss. Whether you can bleed through those thorns to reach the peak is what distinguishes the strong from the weak.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Sect Leader. This Junior has learned much,” Han Lie said, cupping his hands respectfully. Her words were harsh, but they were the absolute truth of the cultivation world.

Overcoming these trials was the only way to become a power revered by millions. Those who failed were simply swept into the dustbin of history, their names forgotten and their lives reduced to a footnote in the continent’s annals.

Ye Qingxuan said nothing more. She raised her hand slightly.

“Meow!”

A pitch-black cat with two tails dashed into the room and leaped into her arms. Han Lie recognized the creature; it was a demon beast she had brought back from a trip long ago.

“This Senior is entering secluded cultivation for a time. This Hell Two-Tailed Cat is entrusted to your care. If it dies under your watch, This Senior will hold you personally accountable,” she instructed.

“…”

“Yes, Sect Leader,” Han Lie replied. He had no choice. Fortunately, he had some experience with cats in his previous life, though he doubted a “Hell Cat” followed the same rules.

Ye Qingxuan produced a storage ring. “The Hell Two-Tailed Cat consumes only Spirit Stones and rare natural treasures. Here are one hundred thousand Spirit Stones; they should suffice for its expenses over the next three years. Do not even think of using these resources for yourself. Take good care of it, and This Senior will not shortchange you.”

Han Lie’s eyelids twitched violently.

One hundred thousand stones for one pet? For three years? That was beyond extravagant! Most Golden Core Stage cultivators didn’t spend that much on their own cultivation in three years.

“Rest assured, Sect Leader. I will raise it until it’s plump and healthy!” Han Lie declared, patting his chest.

“Isn’t that how you raise something until it dies of obesity?” Ye Qingxuan remarked suddenly.

“Uh…” Han Lie was momentarily stunned. Was the cold, terrifying Sect Leader… making a joke?