Entire clusters of demonic beasts turned into ice statues at the thresholds, locked mid-struggle.

  The sight left everyone stunned.

  Those who reacted quickly escaped the Icefield Secret Realm entirely. A few reckless fools who stayed behind to “investigate” were frozen solid where they stood, entombed forever in the silent white.

  Within days, the surviving cultivators gathered outside the entrance.

  “Damn… good thing I ran fast. I’d be a corpse-sicle otherwise.”

  “What the hell happened? Why did it suddenly get that cold?”

  “No idea. Anyone know?”

  ......

  “Miss Lauren!”

  Dante and the others hurried over.

  “You wouldn’t let us follow you. Are you alright?”

  Lauren smiled lightly. “I’m fine. It was a private task Master assigned me. Sorry.”

  Dante exhaled in relief. “As long as you’re safe. Let’s head back to the sect.”

  “Alright.”

  They returned to the sect together. After a brief farewell in the plaza, everyone split off toward their respective peaks to report to their masters.

  ......

  Starfell Hall

  “Master, your disciple has returned.”

  Lauren stood outside Starfell Hall and bowed.

  “Enter.”

  The doors opened.

  Lauren stepped inside calmly—

  And froze.

  Herbert.

  Timothy.

  Why are they here?

  “Master… you—he—what are they doing here?”

  “They are my guests.”

  Guests?

  Lauren’s eyes widened.

  Guests?!

  Her enemies… were guests?

  All the joy she’d been holding in—ready to share her successful mission and rewards—burst like a soap bubble.

  Timothy knelt quietly behind Herbert, pale and sickly.

  Herbert, meanwhile, was all smiles.

  “Mr. Drake, Lauren grows more impressive by the day. You’ve raised her well. Unlike me—my disciple only brings me trouble.”

  Drake’s expression remained composed, but a faint trace of pride flickered in his eyes.

  “You’ve returned from the Icefield Secret Realm,” Drake said calmly. “You had completed the task I assigned you. Which level did you enter?”

  Lauren kept her tone steady.

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Reporting to Master, I entered the fifth level.”

  “The fifth level?” Herbert exclaimed, then chuckled lightly. “Well, it’s good to gain experience there. If Timothy hadn’t been seriously injured, he certainly wouldn’t have missed this trip. He could have remained on the fifth level alone for at least a day or two.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes.

  “Master, I stayed alone on the fifth level for half a month.”

  Herbert’s smile froze.

  “Half a month?” he repeated stiffly. “That’s impossible.”

  “I would never lie to Master.”

  Herbert’s face darkened.

  Half a month? Alone?

  He refused to believe it.

  Drake’s gaze flicked briefly toward Herbert, unreadable.

  “What are you doing here with Timothy?” Lauren asked bluntly.

  “He’s recovering from his injuries.”

  Lauren’s temper flared.

  “Recovering from his injuries? Doesn’t your Moonlit Sect have a place for that?”

  Herbert’s expression turned cold.

  “Silence. You have no right to speak. I’m talking to your master.”

  Lauren clenched her jaw but said nothing.

  Herbert turned back to Drake, smile returning instantly.

  “Mr. Drake, what do you think of my proposal?”

  Drake remained impassive.

  Inside, Lauren screamed.

  Don’t agree. Don’t you dare agree.

  Herbert produced a storage bag and offered it forward.

  “Of course, we won’t stay for free.”

  Drake glanced at it lazily. “Starfell Summit does not lack spirit stones. Take it back.”

  “It isn’t spirit stones,” Herbert said quickly. “Please, take a look.”

  Drake opened the bag.

  Inside lay a jade slip and a key.

  He read the jade slip.

  For the first time, his expression shifted.

  Only slightly.

  But Lauren saw it.

  After a moment of silence, Drake closed the storage bag and kept it.

  “Lauren,” he said calmly, “take Timothy to the guest quarters.”

  What?

  “What?! Master, Timothy—”

  “Go. I have my reasons.”

  Lauren stopped herself mid-protest.

  Her fists tightened inside her sleeves.

  She did not want Timothy staying at Starfell Summit.

  Not under their roof.

  Not on their mountain.

  Whatever was written in that jade slip… It was enough to convince her master.

  And that was what made it so damn infuriating.

  “Timothy. Please.”

  Timothy looked like he couldn’t even stand.

  Herbert frowned, stepped forward, and hauled him up himself. Then he shot Lauren a look.

  “Help him. You beat him so badly he can’t even walk.”

  Lauren stared at him.

  I have to help him?

  “Please wait a moment.”

  She turned and strode outside. A sharp crack echoed through the courtyard as she chopped down two sturdy tree branches.

  She returned and shoved them into Timothy’s hands.

  “There’s a difference between men and women. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to support you. Timothy, you can use these as crutches.”

  Herbert: “…”

  Timothy said nothing.

  He looked fragile—so frail that a strong breeze might topple him over. Nothing like the arrogant, domineering young master Lauren had first met.

  That Timothy had been proud, sharp-tongued, insufferable.

  This one looked… broken.

  Almost like a different person.

  And somehow, that made him far less annoying.

  Although she refused to physically support him, Lauren discreetly used a thread of spiritual power to steady him as he descended the steps.

  Inside the hall, Herbert was still grumbling.

  “She’s talented, just a bit narrow-minded. That’s why I don’t like taking young girls as disciples. Most of them are petty.”

  Drake replied evenly, “Indiana is a young man?”

  “…” Herbert choked. “Mr. Drake, must you bring that up? I regret it enough already.”

  Drake tapped his fingers lightly against the storage bag resting on the table.

  “So,” he said calmly, “what exactly are you planning?”

  Herbert sighed heavily, wiping at his eyes in exaggerated misery.

  “I kept saying I wanted to go into seclusion. But how can I, with this weighing on my mind? Timothy is half-dead. I had no choice but to come to you.”

  “You expelled her from your sect,” Drake said. “Why take her back?”

  “Please, let me explain. I have my reasons.”

  Herbert leaned forward.

  “A few days ago, she suddenly produced a Soul-Forging and Meridian-Continuing Pill.”

  Drake’s eyes sharpened faintly.

  “That pill could save Timothy. I couldn’t ignore it. After he took it, he woke up. With proper rest, he should recover completely.”

  He paused.

  “In this matter… she has made amends. Many disciples pleaded on her behalf. I couldn’t continue to hold the line.”

  Drake regarded him silently.

  “There’s another reason,” Herbert added quickly. “She’s only been gone a few days. Where did she get such a pill? Isn’t that suspicious?”

  “Mm.”

  “Exactly. It’s strange. I thought about it. Rather than leave her wandering outside with whatever secrets she’s hiding, it’s better to bring her back and keep her under watch. That way, I can sleep at night.”

  “You’re going into seclusion,” Drake said. “So who’s watching her?”

  “I am going into seclusion,” Herbert insisted. “But I’ve punished her. I’ve sent her to Desolate Valley.”

  He gestured toward the storage bag.

  “Only I have the key. That key is inside. I’m about to enter closed cultivation. I trust you to hold it.”

  Drake’s gaze cooled.

  “So you came today to hand me two burning coals.”

  Herbert froze for a second.

  Then he abruptly rose—

  And kowtowed.

  “Mr. Drake, I beg you. These matters are too dangerous. I must tread carefully. My fellow sect elders lack the insight to grasp the implications. If I leave Timothy and the key with them, they might make the wrong decision and destroy themselves.”

  Drake watched him quietly for a long moment.

  Then:

  “Get up. Return to your seclusion.”

  Herbert exhaled in relief.

  “Thank you, Mr. Drake. Whether we ascend to heaven or fall into hell depends entirely on you now.”