Mu Renxue placed her teacup down with a soft clink, the lingering aroma of spirit herbs curling gently through the breeze.
"But of course," she said lightly, "since you're my disciple, Spirit Stones won't be something you lack."
Tian Lei blinked.
She offered a serene smile. "Have you already forgotten? Just last week, I gave you over ten thousand high-grade Spirit Stones as a welcoming gift."
Tian Lei coughed lightly, slightly embarrassed. "Right… I didn't forget. I just… forgot to remember."
She arched a brow at his answer, amused but unimpressed.
"Then why bring up the reward pool at all?" he asked curiously. "Surely a hundred Spirit Stones mean nothing to us?"
"That's true," Mu Renxue acknowledged, her tone crisp. Then she leaned in ever so slightly, her gaze sharpening like a blade beneath silk. "But you're still participating."
He tilted his head. "Why?"
