The Heroine Must Die

Nothing was more real than its own power—the kind that blurred dreams and reality until the victim couldn’t tell the difference. Instead—

Briar grabbed Gerald’s wrist. A thin vine slid out and coiled around him.

Gerald froze. Then—

His expression softened. Drake had handed over the treasury to him. He stood in a grand auction hall, flinging spirit stones like dirt.

“Buy it!”

“Take it!”

“Everything in this hall is mine!”

He purchased every treasure he had ever wanted but couldn’t afford. Spirit stones poured out by the handful.

The room overflowed with treasures, golden light dazzling his eyes. Gerald threw his head back and laughed wildly.

Passersby stopped in their tracks.

“What’s wrong with the sect leader?”

“Why is he laughing like that? Did he stumble into a treasure cave?”

“Tens of millions of spirit stones, maybe.”

“That’s too much…”

Briar retracted its vine. Gerald snapped back to reality.

Why were so many people staring at him? His face darkened instantly.

“What are you all looking at? Don’t you have anything better to do? Is there something on my face?”

Everyone: “…”

How could the sect leader switch expressions that fast?

Gerald turned back to Briar, grinning again.

“You did that, didn’t you? Do it again. Let me dream a bit longer this time.”

“No.”

It had almost lost control just now. Another second and it might’ve eaten him.

“Come on,” Gerald coaxed. “Here, take this ball.”

“I don’t like it.”

“I have other treasures. Come back to Cloud Peak with me. I’ll let you pick whatever you want.”

Briar’s face flushed. It backed away quickly.

Terrifying. This old man was even scarier than the one above.

“Wayne,” it called urgently, grabbing his sleeve. “Let’s go. Back to the mountain. Now.”

Before Gerald could say another word, the two of them ran off.

Gerald stood there, still reluctant, clutching his transparent sphere.

What a pity.

Such a rare treasure— And he couldn’t keep it.

.......

Silent Fang nearly burst with joy when he saw Edmund appear in human form.

“Grandpa, is your soul finally whole?”

“Try speaking like a normal human.”

Silent Fang blinked. “I am speaking like a normal human. If I’m not, I can howl.”

Edmund rolled his eyes. “Don’t try to claim kinship. I’m not your grandfather.”

Silent Fang scratched the back of his head, looking awkward. “I know, but… I don't know how to address you by your generation.”

Edmund was instantly speechless.

“Oh, right!” Silent Fang added quickly. “I need to thank you for White. Luckily, the human girl with you saved her. Otherwise that giant python would’ve swallowed her whole.”

“So you do have a conscience.” Edmund folded his arms. “Good. Now’s your chance to repay the favor.”

Silent Fang thumped his chest. “Just say the word. I’ll do anything.”

“I don’t need you to do anything.”

At that moment, White swooped down from the sky and shifted into her human form the instant she touched the ground.

“Grandpa—uh… Ancestor, you’re here!”

Edmund: “…”

“Where’s Miss Lauren? Is she with you?”

“I came alone.”

White’s face fell. “I really wanted to thank Miss Lauren. I sold all the spirit herbs I gathered to her grandfather. He gave me a ton of spirit stones! I even bought a bunch of pills. Look—my cultivation’s advancing so much faster now.”

Edmund felt a headache brewing. These two beasts were insufferable. So much chatter. So much nonsense. And that stupidly earnest tone—

White tilted her head. “Ancestor, why do you look unhappy?”

“I’m not.”

Silent Fang leaned in. “Then why are you making that face?”

He exaggerated a sour expression.

White copied him, pulling an even more dramatic scowl. “Yeah, still like this.”

Edmund: “…”

He seriously wanted to punch them.

Somehow, that idiot Silent Fang had picked up a foolish little bird and raised her into a perfect reflection of himself. Same vacant enthusiasm. Same brainless energy.

“I didn’t come all this way to listen to you babble,” Edmund said flatly. “I have something important to tell you. Silent Fang—your chance to transform into a dragon is coming.”

Silent Fang froze. Then his eyes lit up like fireworks. “Grandpa—really?”

Edmund rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Yes. Really.”

“The Heavenly Gate can open? When?”

“The Heavenly Gate doesn’t open that easily.” Edmund’s gaze sharpened. “You need to do something for me.”

“Just tell me! One thing? I’ll do ten. A hundred!”

Edmund’s voice dropped. “My flesh and blood were sealed at the bottom of Coral Trench. Go retrieve them.”

Coral Trench wasn’t far from here, but—

Silent Fang’s excitement faltered. “Grandpa… I can’t leave. You know I’m at the critical point. If I step beyond this barrier, heavenly lightning will descend immediately. If the Heavenly Gate doesn’t open, I’ll be struck dead.”

Edmund stared at him like he was hopeless. “Then move this piece of junk farther back.”

Silent Fang blinked. Then blinked again.

And then slapped his own forehead. “Right! Why didn’t I think of that? Grandpa’s so smart.”

Edmund felt a twitch in his temple.

This old dragon might actually be insane.

Still… the spiritual energy flowing through Silent Fang was astonishingly pure. He had cultivated honestly, drawing from heaven and earth without cutting corners. No karmic burdens clung to him. For a beast of his kind, that was rare.

Very rare.

.......

Moonlit Sect

“Master… Master…”

Indiana had been imprisoned in Desolate Valley for a full year. When she finally saw a living person again, she almost collapsed from relief.

Herbert touched his nose, vaguely impressed. Even in this miserable state, she recognized him immediately.

“Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master,” Indiana said, kneeling with absolute reverence.

Herbert hovered in midair above the valley, looking down at her as if she were something stuck to his shoe. “Do you understand your mistake?”

Hope flared in Indiana’s eyes. Surely he had come to release her.

“I know my mistake. I truly do.” Tears streamed down her face. “Master… is Senior Brother feeling better?”

“Your medicine worked. He’s much improved.”

Her entire body trembled in relief. “Really? That’s wonderful.” She wiped her tears desperately. “Please, Master, let me see him.”

“See him?” Herbert snorted. “Forget it.”

Her heart dropped.

“You jinx. Nothing good follows you.” His voice was ice. “I won’t let you near him.”

Indiana’s face drained of color. “Master, I won’t cause him trouble anymore. I swear. Please believe me.”

“No.”

The refusal came without hesitation.

Since he couldn’t completely sever ties with her, he would keep her hanging—offer just enough hope to keep her obedient.

“Timothy is preparing to sever his spirit. No one may disturb him.” Herbert flicked his wrist, tossing down a wooden plaque. “He left this for you.”

Then he turned and left.

Indiana clutched the plaque to her chest, trembling as she unfolded the letter sealed within.

“As expected… it’s from Senior Brother…”

Tears blurred her vision. A low, unfamiliar voice echoed from within her body.

“What does it say?”

“He told me to wait. After he advances to Ascension, he’ll come find me.”

“You plan to stay in this shithole for that?”

Indiana looked around at the desolate wasteland. “What choice do I have? Desolate Valley is where the Moonlit Sect imprisons disciples who break the rules. The barrier is linked to the mountain-protecting array. It’s unbreakable.”

The voice let out a cold laugh.

Indiana’s eyes hardened. “I know you have a way to break it. But if I do that, I’ll sever ties with my master. I’ll become an enemy of the Moonlit Sect. Is that what you want?”

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