THIP Chapter 37 V1

Ever since Mingli said those three love-laced words, the atmosphere had turned tense in an instant.

The memory of her deep kiss when she woke up flashed through Mu Liuyin’s mind. She closed her eyes, wanting to tell Mingli that it was all a misunderstanding. But how could it be, when the love in Mingli’s eyes was so raw, so intense, so completely unhidden?

Mu Liuyin’s lips parted slightly, yet she couldn’t say a single word.

“I want to rest for a bit,” she said, closing her eyes. Her voice was hoarse and low, tinged with exhaustion. “A-Li, could you give me some space?”

But Mingli’s beautiful crimson eyes lit up with joy. Her master hadn’t rejected her. Didn’t that mean… she had a chance?

She looked at her master with a soft, reluctant gaze but still replied with a quiet “okay.” Though she longed to stay by Mu Liuyin’s side after finally seeing her awake, she knew her master needed time.

Once Mingli left, Mu Liuyin opened her eyes. Her usually clear and composed gaze now brimmed with tears. She covered her eyes with one hand, and the tears slipped through her fingers, trailing down her cheeks.

Heh. Mu Liuyin, how could you be so indecisive? Why couldn’t you just say no?

Memories from the four previous mission worlds raced through her mind—those fiery, love-filled eyes, the feelings she thought had been erased by emotional-cleansing potions—all of them came flooding back. Her breath caught suddenly, and she clutched her chest as sharp pain struck her heart. Her face turned pale as a sheet.

Lin Xi, Chuchu, Xiao Bing… hadn’t they all suffered because they fell in love with you?

You talked about saving them, yet you pushed them deeper into despair every time.

This hesitation of yours… it only hurts everyone, including yourself.

Her breathing grew more ragged, and in her mind, Xiao Jiu was already sounding alarms like crazy.

Sweat mixed with tears slid down her cheeks. Mu Liuyin, white as a ghost, passed out.

When she woke up again, night had already fallen.

Though in the Demon Realm, there was no moonlight—just endless darkness beyond the window.

Mu Liuyin stared blankly for a moment, recalling what had happened before she lost consciousness. The overwhelming emotions from earlier had vanished entirely.

Xiao Jiu asked nervously, “Host, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Mu Liuyin replied quietly, her eyes still distant.

Xiao Jiu let out a sigh of relief. Good thing it reacted in time and knocked her out before things got worse.

Though Mingli still retained a trace of spiritual energy, she had lived as a demon for a hundred years. Re-cultivating spiritual energy and ascending to immortality again would be unimaginably painful. And to do it, she would have to return to the cultivation world, where everyone considered her an enemy. That road was nearly impossible.

Mu Liuyin thought for a moment, then said to Xiao Jiu, “If a mission fails… it resets, right?”

“That’s right,” Xiao Jiu answered, confused. “But your mission hasn’t failed yet.”

Restarting seemed easier than re-cultivating. With a calm voice, Mu Liuyin said, “I’m going to kill myself.”

Xiao Jiu: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ “Host, could you please not talk about suicide like it’s no big deal?! That hurts just thinking about it!”

But before Mu Liuyin could carry out her plan, Mingli arrived.

Mu Liuyin sat up and saw Mingli pulling out ingredients rich with spiritual energy from her storage ring. Mingli blinked her ruby-like eyes and said sweetly, “Master, I want to eat your cooking again.”

Mu Liuyin’s puppet body had always been in the form of a young boy. Now Mingli towered over her, and despite being the fearsome demon queen that terrified the entire cultivation world, here she was—batting her eyes and acting cute toward a “boy.” The scene was so absurdly jarring, it would’ve knocked anyone’s jaw to the floor.

But Mu Liuyin’s focus was elsewhere—on the spiritual energy radiating from the ingredients. She gave a wry smile. “You’ve already become a demon. Why are you still eating spirit food?”

Mingli’s heart immediately tensed. What she feared most was disappointing her master after waking up, after all the promises she once made—to ascend, to reach immortality, to fly with her master beyond the mortal realm.

Yet here she was, fallen from grace.

Her shoulders drooped as she lowered her gaze, looking pitiful and fragile. “There’s still some spiritual energy in me… Master, please don’t hate me. In a few days, I’ll go back to the cultivation world with you and start over.”

Mu Liuyin hadn’t expected her to say that. She couldn’t help but laugh softly, gazing at Mingli with gentle eyes full of unspoken affection. She reached out to pat Mingli’s head, but couldn’t quite reach. Pulling her hand back, she said, “Don’t overthink. I’m just worried that spiritual and demonic energies might clash in your body. It might make you feel unwell.”

“I don’t mind,” Mingli answered immediately.

Besides, if she used demonic-tainted ingredients, Mu Liuyin’s current puppet body, only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, could easily be corrupted.

Unable to argue with her, Mu Liuyin gave in and cooked the spirit meal.

As Mingli ate the familiar dishes, she smiled with pure contentment, eyes narrowing with happiness.

Mu Liuyin thought that Mingli, after becoming a demon, seemed far more emotionally expressive than she’d been as a cultivator.

After the meal, Mingli showed no signs of leaving. She looked like she wanted to stay the night.

“There’s only one bed. Where do you plan on sleeping?” Mu Liuyin asked irritably.

Mingli reached out and wrapped her arms around Mu Liuyin, resting her chin on her shoulder, voice soft as silk. “Master… can’t we sleep together?”

Mu Liuyin fell silent. She pulled away from Mingli’s embrace, turned around, and looked her directly in the eyes. Her voice was cold, and she spoke each word with precision:
“Mingli, I only see you as my disciple.”

Even though she had already decided to rewind everything and start over, Mu Liuyin still couldn’t bring herself to change the nature of their relationship. Because she knew—if she gave in once, she might give in a second time.

And who’s to say that if she gave in now, she’d still be able to see Mingli as just a disciple when they started over?

Mingli’s hopeful expression dimmed instantly. Her face paled. Just moments ago, she hadn’t rejected her. Just moments ago… she was sure her master had feelings for her too.

“Ali…” Mu Liuyin softened her tone, lowering her gaze. “You’ve already fallen into demonic cultivation. Even if there’s still spiritual energy left in you, it won’t be easy to cultivate again. So don’t try to start over.”