The Heroine Must Die

The tortoise blinked. “Why activate it? Aunt said it shouldn’t be used unless absolutely necessary.”

“It is necessary,” Silent Fang said firmly. “Do it.”

Lauren pressed a hand against his arm. “Don’t rush. Those three were tricked into chasing the Demonic Lord. They probably won’t find this place anytime soon.”

Silent Fang hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. Prepare it, but don’t activate yet.”

The tortoise nodded and left.

“Tell the young ones to stay alert,” Silent Fang added. “If any powerful, unfamiliar cultivators intrude, report immediately.”

“Yes.”

After issuing orders, Silent Fang led Lauren into their clan’s so-called forbidden area.

It was just a cave. But inside, it glittered. Gemstones embedded in the walls. Pearls the size of fists. Crystals that refracted soft light in every direction.

At the very center rested a massive seashell. As Silent Fang approached, it slowly opened. Inside was a pool of luminous crystal essence.

He gently placed Edmund within. White mist immediately enveloped the small dragon’s body.

Lauren watched quietly. “How long will it take?” she asked.

“Ten days to two weeks,” Silent Fang replied.

Too long. She didn’t have that kind of time. “Take care of him,” she said finally. “I’m leaving.”

Silent Fang grabbed her sleeve. “Sister, where are you going? It’s safe here. Don’t go.”

Lauren pulled her arm free and sighed. “People from above have descended. The situation’s changing fast. I can’t hide here while everyone else deals with the fallout.”

Silent Fang’s eyes reddened. “Sister…”

She hesitated, then said softly, “If we succeed, everyone can ascend. We have to succeed.”

He nodded. “Where’s White?” he asked.

“With Dante. He’s safe.”

“Then be careful,” Silent Fang said firmly. “If they chase you, lure them here. My skin is thick—I’m not afraid.”

Lauren couldn’t help laughing despite herself.

“You big idiot.” But her tone softened. “I’ll remember.”

......

Lauren returned to the Thunder Sect. Wayne was by Tarot’s bedside, carefully helping him drink medicinal broth.

The boy, raised on flower dew and spirit nectar, had grown strikingly handsome. Though only nine, he already carried the air of a future sword immortal.

“Miss Lauren,” Wayne greeted quietly.

“Shh.” She gestured for him to step out. Wayne placed the bowl of elixirs on the table and left silently.

Lauren sat beside the bed. “Senior Brother.”

Tarot slowly opened his eyes. It took him a moment to focus on her face. “You’re back.”

“Yeah. How do you feel?”

He gave a weak smile. “Alive. Just… empty.”

“Empty?”

“My core.” He frowned faintly. “The Nascent Soul feels… deflated.”

Lauren stiffened. “That’s not good. I’ll go to the Sect Leader and ask him to find a pharmacist.”

“Don’t.” Tarot grabbed her sleeve.

“If a pharmacist examines me, my secret will be exposed. Master is in seclusion. He can’t be disturbed.”

Lauren rolled her eyes. “The Sect Leader already knows.”

Tarot blinked.

“No one would dare accuse Master of teaching demonic cultivation,” she continued calmly. “They’d rather question their own understanding than question him.”

Tarot chuckled weakly. “Fine. I’m too exhausted to argue anyway. You handle it.”

Lauren didn’t waste time. She went straight to find Gerald.

Gerald listened, his expression growing darker by the second, and immediately summoned the sect’s professional healer.

“I told you to have someone examine him earlier,” Gerald muttered as they walked. “He insisted on toughing it out. Now he can’t anymore?”

“My senior brother wanted to endure it,” Lauren said. “I insisted.”

Gerald snorted. “What the hell is he thinking? If something happens to him, how am I supposed to explain it to Mr. Drake?”

“He was worried it might cause misunderstandings,” Lauren said pointedly. “You know… he has a Dark Spirit Root.”

Gerald rolled his eyes. “I knew he had a Dark Spirit Root the day he entered the sect. It’s not some earth-shattering secret.”

“We know,” Lauren said calmly. “Outsiders don’t.”

The healer walking behind them: “…” Was that meant for him? Did they really think he was that narrow-minded? Tsk.

When the healer finally examined Tarot, Lauren hovered anxiously at his side.

“Well?” she asked.

“Fortunately, he received treatment in time,” the healer said. “He’ll recover.”

Lauren exhaled. “How long?”

“I’ll write a prescription. He needs to soak in this medicinal bath for two hours daily. Combine that with Blood-Generating Pills and Soul-Nourishing Pills. With proper care, he’ll be fully recovered in under six months.”

“Six months…” Lauren muttered. That was practically torture. “Thank you.”

“Nothing at all,” the healer replied.

Gerald escorted the healer out. The moment they were gone, Lauren immediately stuffed one of the pills into Tarot’s mouth.

“Swallow.”

Tarot complied weakly. She folded her arms and glared at him. “So? What the hell happened? How did you end up half-dead?”

Tarot lowered his gaze. After a long pause, he sighed. “I was training alone in the Demonic Cult’s territory. With a Dark Spirit Root, I don’t attract suspicion there. Later, while hunting a high-level demonic beast, I met Jocelyn.”

“Jocelyn?” Lauren repeated.

“She was around my cultivation level. We discussed techniques, cultivation insights… strengths and weaknesses. She showed me perspectives I’d never encountered before. It was helpful.”

“And then she tricked you?”

Tarot shot her a look. “Let me finish.”

“Fine. Go on.”

“She’s from Dark Castle. At first, she thought I belonged to Red Demon Castle. She got close to me to recruit me. Later, she secretly investigated my background and found out I wasn’t from Red Demon Castle.”

“But from the righteous sect,” Lauren said.

“Yes.”

“So she developed ulterior motives.”

Tarot’s jaw tightened. “Let me finish.”

“Alright, alright.”

“When she discovered I was from the righteous sect… she was even more interested. She wanted me to join Dark Castle instead. The Demonic Lord himself offered me the position of Dharma Protector.”

Lauren blinked. “Dharma Protector? What kind of official is that? Higher status than being Master’s disciple?”

Tarot gave her a flat look. “To put it nicely, a Dharma Protector is second only to the Demonic Lord. To put it bluntly? It’s the Demonic Lord’s dog.”

He continued coolly, “We are Master’s direct disciples. We inherit his legacy. How could that be the same?”

“Then you’d better recover properly,” she muttered. “You almost died. You almost became the successor.”

Tarot’s face darkened. “Stop interrupting. Where was I?”

“Jocelyn was delighted to know you were from the righteous sect and tried to recruit you.”

“Yes. She tried to recruit me.”

“Who exactly is Jocelyn?” Lauren asked casually.

“The woman you saw when you barged in,” Tarot said. “She’s ruthless. We got along well. But when she attacked me, she didn’t even blink.”

Lauren waved dismissively. “Don’t be upset. I avenged you. Killed her without blinking too.”

Tarot fell silent. His expression grew distant.

Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “What’s with that face?”

“Huh? Don’t interrupt. Let me finish.”

Lauren: “…” He was doing that on purpose now. Was he actually affected? Did he fall for a honey trap?

“Senior Brother,” she said sternly, “if there’s no woman in your heart, your sword will be steady. Focus on cultivation. Control your damn desires. Look at you—almost drained dry and dead.”

Tarot nearly choked on air. “I did not,” he snapped. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Then why—”

“Shut up. Do you want to hear or not?”

“…Fine. Continue.”

He took a breath. “She attacked me because I obtained a Demon Fruit.”

Lauren blinked. “A what?”

“A Demon Fruit. It contains enormous demonic energy. Eating it can cause a breakthrough.”

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