Feiluo’s Fiery Welcome and Frightful Report Card

“Master! I’m back!”

Feiluo burst through the main doors of the cultivation dwelling, her voice echoing with excitement.

Without even bothering to tidy her somewhat disheveled hair and clothes from her hurried run, Feiluo set down her gifts and dashed straight for the kitchen.

“Master, Master, what are we having for lunch today~”

Feiluo eagerly inquired as she burst into the kitchen.

Inside, a red-eyed maiden with a cascading waterfall of silver hair, adorned in an apron, stood before the stove, expertly stir-frying dishes.

Hearing Feiluo’s voice, Moxi turned, offering her a warm smile. “Today, we have your favorite Immortal Jade Pastries and Dragon Jiao Soup,” she announced.

“That’s amazing! Thank you, Master!”

Feiluo couldn’t help but embrace her master, snuggling and rubbing her cheek against Moxi’s repeatedly.

“Alright, alright,” Moxi chuckled, freeing one hand to gently ruffle Feiluo’s hair. “If you keep hugging me like this, the dishes will burn,” she said with a hint of exasperation.

“Okay~”

Feiluo reluctantly released her master; truly, the feeling of embracing her master was wonderful—fragrant and soft.

‘I wanted to hold her for just a little longer!’

‘Hmm…’

‘Perhaps tonight I could go to Master’s room and sleep with her!’

‘Not only that, but I could also bathe with Master before bed!’

As these thoughts crossed her mind, a look of eager anticipation bloomed on Feiluo’s small face.

Moxi remained oblivious to her disciple’s rebellious thoughts; though, had she known, she would have happily indulged them.

Skillfully, Moxi transferred the freshly stir-fried dishes from the wok onto the waiting plates. “Help me carry the dishes to the dining table, then wash your hands, and we can eat,” she instructed Feiluo.

“Okay~”

Feiluo swiftly carried the dishes to the dining table, then darted into the washroom to clean her hands.

She channeled spiritual energy, gathering it in her palms.

“Whoosh!”

In an instant, Feiluo’s palms were engulfed in flames.

These flames, golden-red with a golden exterior and a red core, were clearly no ordinary fire.

The scorching heat seemed to make the very air shimmer and tremble.

“Whack!”

“Ow!”

Moxi delivered a swift chop to Feiluo’s head, scolding her good-naturedly, “I told you not to play with fire inside the house!”

“Hehe~”

Feiluo stuck out her pink tongue, sheepishly admitting, “I just did it subconsciously.”

“Never mind,” Moxi sighed. “After all, you’re a little phoenix; it’s natural for you to instinctively use fire when you encounter water. But don’t do it again next time.”

“Got it.”

Feiluo hugged Moxi’s arm, gently tugging her towards the dining table. “Don’t be angry, Master; everything’s done now. Let’s just eat first,” she cajoled.

After the meal, Feiluo sprawled languidly in her chair, rubbing her slightly full belly.

Glancing at her noticeably rounder stomach, Feiluo murmured, “Ugh… I ate a little too much.”

Moxi, having cleared the dishes, sat beside Feiluo and gently wiped a speck of sauce from the corner of her mouth. “I told you, eating too much would make your stomach uncomfortable,” she chided softly.

Feiluo offered a sweet smile. “But Master’s cooking is so delicious, I just had to eat more~”

“Even if it’s delicious, you shouldn’t eat this much,” Moxi replied helplessly.

“Wuuu~”

Feiluo struggled to her feet. “Master, I’m going back to my room now.”

With that, she began to walk towards her room.

“Wait, you can’t go.”

Before Feiluo could take more than a few steps, Moxi’s voice halted her.

Feiluo turned back, a puzzled expression on her face.

Moxi stood smiling, a sheet of paper fluttering in her hand, adorned with black and red characters.

Thanks to her Nascent Soul stage cultivation and her nature as a young phoenix, Feiluo could clearly discern the words written on the paper—

Feiluo, Alchemy Grade (Fail), Talisman Grade (Fail), Formation Grade (Fail), Artifact Forging…

‘That’s her report card!’

Feiluo’s body instantly stiffened, her post-meal languor vanishing as a fine sheen of cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

‘This is bad!’

‘She had been so preoccupied with eating that she’d completely forgotten that after the assessment, report cards were always sent to each disciple’s master.’

‘Oh no, oh no, I’m definitely going to be punished now!’

‘Time to make a run for it!’

‘Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, running away is the best!’

Feiluo shuffled backward, and once a certain distance separated her from Moxi, she bolted, dashing towards the entrance of the cultivation dwelling.

“Freeze.”

Moxi’s calm voice drifted over, and Feiluo found herself utterly paralyzed, like a small bird trapped in amber.

Moxi slowly approached Feiluo, her steps measured and calm, devoid of any angry stomping, yet they instilled a profound panic in Feiluo’s heart.

Raising the report card in her hand, Moxi wore a ‘benevolent’ smile. “My dear obedient disciple, could you perhaps tell your master what this item is?”

Feiluo offered a forced laugh. “It’s a report card.”

“And what do the red characters on this report card signify?”

“They signify ‘Fail’,” Feiluo admitted, her face flushing with guilt.

“Then who was it that told me earlier this assessment would definitely not result in a fail?”

“That would be me,” Feiluo mumbled, her face contorted into a pitiful frown.

“Then, my obedient disciple, you must remember the punishment we agreed upon before, correct?”

Moxi’s smile grew increasingly radiant.

Feiluo knew this was the expression her master wore when she was about to administer punishment.

She quickly put on a pleading expression, her voice pathetic. “I’m sorry, Master, I know I was wrong. I promise to pass the next assessment. Could you please let me off this time?”

Feiluo bit her lip, forcing a few tears to well up in her eyes.

“Of course…” Moxi deliberately drew out her words.

‘Could there be a reprieve?!’

Hope rekindled in Feiluo’s eyes.

“…not a chance!” Moxi declared, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

‘My suspended hope has finally died.’

Feiluo’s gaze dimmed.

Moxi picked up Feiluo, carried her to the sofa, and gently placed her down. Then, she removed Feiluo’s small shoes.

A pair of delicate, jade-like feet emerged into the open air.

Moxi then lifted the restriction on Feiluo’s feet.

Feeling the chill of the air, Feiluo’s tender pink toes curled inward.

Moxi turned to the uneasy Feiluo and asked, “My obedient disciple, have you ever heard of ‘tickle torture’ (TL Note: ‘笑刑’ (xiào xíng), literally ‘laughing torture,’ refers to a form of torture involving tickling, often to the point of extreme discomfort or even death from exhaustion/asphyxiation caused by uncontrollable laughter.)?”

Without waiting for Feiluo’s reply, she continued, “It’s a cruel form of punishment. The method involves spreading honey or sugar on the soles of a captive’s feet, then bringing in a goat to continuously lick them.”

“During this process, the captive’s feet become incredibly itchy, causing them to laugh uncontrollably, eventually leading to death from oxygen deprivation due to excessive laughter.”

Upon hearing ‘death from oxygen deprivation,’ Feiluo’s small face instantly drained of all color.

Seeing Feiluo’s frightened expression, Moxi couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

“Of course, it’s just for disciplining a disciple; it certainly won’t go to that extreme.”

Only then did a bit of color return to Feiluo’s face.

“However…” Moxi mysteriously produced a feather from somewhere, giving Feiluo a mischievous smile. “While the death penalty may be avoided, the living punishment is inescapable. My obedient disciple, try not to faint now~”

Feiluo watched in horror as the feather steadily approached the sole of her foot. “No! Don’t! Master, I know I was wrong… wuwu!”

“Hahahahahahaha…”

The cultivation dwelling echoed with Feiluo’s laughter.