“With this,” he said, “you can train at home."

  They may not reach immortality, but they could strengthen their bodies and live long, healthy lives. And maybe protect their village a little.

  The grateful parents bowed repeatedly as Dante smiled and motioned for them to rise.

  Later, he sent Lauren, Nash, and Westin back to their rooms while he went off to speak with the village chief about the rumored Mermaid rebellion.

  As soon as Dante left, Nash turned to Lauren. “Actually, the main purpose of this trip is to hunt down those Mermaids.”

  Lauren froze. So that’s why the village chief asked if I was here to hunt them…

  At the time, she hadn’t known what he was talking about and had simply said she was meeting a friend. The chief hadn’t spoken to her since.

  “What exactly happened with the Mermaids?” she asked.

  Westin explained, “Usually, the Thunder Sect sends disciples out to help mortals fight off monsters. A few days ago, word came from the South Sea — a group of Mermaids have been attacking fishing boats, dragging people under, and eating their hearts to boost their cultivation. So, this mission is both training and service. We’re supposed to help exterminate them.”

  Lauren’s heart tightened as Edmund’s warning echoed in her mind — something about a powerful sea demon in this area, one strong enough that even Drake would have to step in personally.

  “I’m afraid,” she said slowly, “we might be biting off more than we can chew.”

  Nash waved it off with a grin. “If they’re too strong, we’ll just report it to the sect. It’s no big deal. There are plenty of Mermaids in the sea — we just need to kill a few. If each of us can get a Mermaid Pearl, we’ll have completed our mission.”

  Lauren stared at him, dumbfounded. Mermaid Pearls only came from fourth-rank or above Mermaids — equivalent to human cultivators in the Core Formation stage. A few, he said?

  Sure, for someone reckless, maybe killing a few fourth-rank monsters was “no big deal.” But if Edmund was right, and there really was a great demon here — a creature powerful enough to make even her master wary — then what if these Mermaids were its offspring?

  If they barged into his territory and started slaughtering his kind, would he really just let them walk away?

  As she was turning this over in her mind, Nash received a sound transmission.

  “Dante says he’ll be a while,” Nash said after listening. “Told us to rest for now.”

  Lauren exhaled. “That’s fine. We’ll plan our next move tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good.”

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  .......

  Lauren returned to her room. As soon as she closed the door, a shadow rippled in the air — and Edmund slithered out from his hiding spot.

  “The world of demonic beasts,” he said, his tone calm, “is no different from that of humans. There are good and evil among us as well. The ones who cultivate properly absorb the essence of the sun and moon, walking the path of righteousness. The wicked devour flesh — human, beast, even their own kind.”

  He stretched lazily, his golden eyes glinting faintly in the lamplight. “If those Mermaids really do eat human hearts to cultivate, killing them is no sin. It’s the same as a righteous cultivator slaying an evil one. The great demons won’t care. But remember—don’t kill the wrong one.”

  Lauren frowned. “And how am I supposed to tell the difference?”

  “Don’t worry,” Edmund replied, waving a clawed hand dismissively. “I can sense it. When the time comes, I’ll tell you which is which.”

  That was a relief.

  But then another thought struck her. “What about you, then?” she asked, eyes narrowing slightly. “You eat human Nascent Souls. Does that make you good or evil?”

  Edmund chuckled softly — a low, cold sound that carried a hint of mockery. “There’s no good or evil in this world,” he said. “Only right and wrong.”

  Lauren blinked. It wasn’t the first time he’d said something that felt like a slap to the face.

  He smiled — a smile that wasn’t kind at all. “And there’s another rule you should remember. What’s wrong for the weak can be right for the strong. Because in this world, justice belongs to the one with the strongest fist. It doesn’t matter how they became strong. The more powerful someone is, the more they embody the laws of nature — and they force everyone weaker to follow them.”

  He paused, then added almost lazily, “Of course, even nature has its boundaries. Those who are too righteous or too evil don’t last long. The ones who survive are those who can walk that razor’s edge, who know exactly where the line is — and dance on it without falling.”

  Lauren stared at him for a long moment. You must be talking about my master.

  “You’re still too young to understand that balance,” Edmund went on. “For now, just be careful. Learn slowly.”

  His words lingered in her mind long after he disappeared back into the shadows. The line between good and evil — so clear once — now blurred like ink in water.

  Maybe this world wasn’t black and white at all. Maybe it was gray, through and through.

  No wonder, when she’d first started cultivating, Drake had told her coldly that if she ever turned evil, he’d personally destroy her. And yet, when he’d summoned Tarot to teach her, the lessons Tarot gave were far different — practical, unsentimental, and ruthless.

  She didn’t believe for a moment that her master had reached his power without dirtying his hands. But in the Thunder Sect, Drake was justice. His word was law — and he’d strike anyone who dared question him.

  ......

  The next morning, Dante gathered everyone together. He’d spent most of the night talking with the village chief and the elders, gathering what information he could about the Mermaid attacks.

  “According to the villagers,” Dante began, “the Mermaids used to stay out at sea. They’d attack fishing boats from time to time, but if the fishermen avoided certain waters, they were usually safe. But for some reason, this past year they’ve grown bolder — even coming ashore to kill.”

  Nash’s eyes widened. “Coming ashore? I thought Mermaids couldn’t leave the water. Their strength fades the moment they set foot on land.”

  Dante nodded grimly. “That’s what makes it strange. The villagers say they appear once a month — during the full moon — and every time, people vanish. The bodies that are found later…” He hesitated. “Their hearts are gone.”

  Lauren frowned. “Hearts dug out — and only during full moons? That sounds like some kind of ritual.”

  Dante looked at her, thoughtful. “Ms. Lauren, that could be it. The victims were all young men — healthy, strong, in their prime.”

  Nash’s brow furrowed. “Why only men? What kind of ritual uses men’s hearts?”

  Lauren crossed her arms, her tone even but grim. “If I had to guess… men in their prime have the strongest life force. Maybe the Mermaids are using it to strengthen themselves — or to get someone else’s lifespan.”

  A heavy silence followed.

  If that was true, it wasn’t just monstrous — it was deeply sinister.