Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Hunt

“Fine,” she said. “Then I’ll come with you.”

Lana nodded. “No problem.”

The two of them moved together, soon encountering their first ghosts.

These spirits had no more than ten years of cultivation. With their combined strength, they dealt with them easily.

Layla watched in shock as Lana dispatched a ten-year-old ghost with ease.

’How is this possible?’ she wondered.

Lana only had yellow mystic energy and was at the yellow mystic rank.

When Layla had been at that level, she struggled terribly against ten-year-old ghosts.

In the beginning, she had often been beaten badly, sometimes even possessed, so frightened that she had nearly given up.

And yet, Lana handled it effortlessly.

When the exorcism ended, they were each awarded five points.

Lana frowned. “I got ten points the last time I dealt with a ten-year-old ghost.”

Layla chuckled.

“That’s because you stayed calm even when you were being tricked. Keeping composure is a rare and valuable trait. Every mystic cultivator is taught to develop it so they make fewer mistakes.”

She continued thoughtfully, “After all mystic cultivation also depends on karma.”

Lana froze. Karma? This was the first time she had heard such a thing.

As they walked on, Layla explained,

“When I was in my second year, I attended a workshop by a famous mystic cultivator. He said that some people have immense talent but still fail to reach their potential. It’s not because they’re cultivating incorrectly or lacking effort.”

She glanced at Lana. “Sometimes, it’s simply karma. Mystic cultivation is mysterious like that. It’s deeply connected to it.”

“As long as someone has done good deeds throughout their life,” Layla continued, her voice calm as the cold night breeze brushed past them, “their mystical cultivation remains stable and grows at a steady pace. But those who have only committed evil find their cultivation stagnant. Breaking through becomes extremely difficult for them, because all the wrong they’ve done eventually comes back to bite them at the moment of advancement.”

Lana fell silent, the crunch of dry leaves under her boots the only sound for a few seconds.

Layla went on, “With this karmic connection tied to mystic cultivation, it actually becomes easier to identify evil cultivators.”

“That’s impossible,” Lana muttered, her brows knitting together.

Layla turned to her immediately. “Why do you think that?”

“If karma truly had such a direct link with cultivation,” Lana replied slowly, choosing her words, “then most top-tier mystical cultivators would have to be good people. But I know for a fact that there’s at least one extremely famous mystical cultivator who isn’t.”

Layla stopped walking. Her eyes widened slightly, then curved with faint amusement. “Oh? Who?”

“Traven,” Lana answered without hesitation.

“If I’m not mistaken, he’s considered one of the most powerful mystical cultivators alive.”

Layla stared at her, interest flickering in her gaze. “Why do you think that?”

If Lana had looked closely, she might have noticed how excited Layla seemed, but Lana was already lost in her own thoughts.

“I can’t explain the reason,” she said. “But I can say this much with certainty…Traven isn’t a good person.”

Those words lit a spark of hope in Layla’s eyes. “If that’s true,” she pressed, “then what do you think about Traven’s illegitimate child?”

Lana frowned in confusion.

“What about them? I can’t comment. I don’t know them personally, so how would I know what kind of person they are?”

Realizing she had pushed too far, Layla inhaled deeply.

“Then what if one day,” she said quietly, “one of Traven’s illegitimate children comes to you asking for help?”

Lana laughed softly. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were Traven’s illegitimate child.”

Layla’s head dropped instantly. The night seemed to grow heavier around them.

After a moment, she looked up again, her voice subdued.

“I can’t tell you the truth, even if you’re curious. There’s only one condition.”

Lana raised an eyebrow. “And that is?”

“You’d have to help me after knowing it.”

Lana forced a polite smile. “I’m not curious enough to get dragged into someone else’s family problems.”

The words struck Layla harder than she expected.

Disappointment flickered across her face as she looked away, her shoulders slumping slightly.

“You’re right,” she said with a weak smile. “Who would want to know about my affairs anyway?”

Seeing her expression, so much like a hurt puppy trying to hide its pain, Lana sighed inwardly and shook her head.

Lana looked at Layla before speaking in a calm, measured voice.

“Even though I consider you my friend, that doesn’t change one thing. In the end, we’re not close enough for me to risk everything.”

At those words, a faint flicker of emotion flashed through Layla’s eyes.

Her expression darkened as she looked straight at Lana. “What if I tell you everything on my own accord?”

Lana let out a soft chuckle, her fingers never stopping their work.

“I never said I don’t want to know,” she replied lightly.

“If risk isn’t involved, I don’t mind listening. But if risk is involved, I won’t hear a single word. Still, if you want to share it, I won’t stop you.”

Layla fell silent. The night air felt heavier around her, carrying a faint chill that crawled along her spine.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice low. “What I want to say is extremely private. If you know it, there’s a high chance you’ll get dragged into trouble.”

Lana exhaled slowly, then shook her head. “Then I’m not interested.”

With that, she continued working, her posture calm but firm.

Mr. Grover shifted slightly on Lana’s shoulder, understanding immediately.

He knew her well enough by now.

Even if Lana wanted to help, she would never ignore danger when the risk outweighed the reward. Safeguarding herself always came first.

Layla stared at Lana’s back for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh. “I’ll make sure you won’t get into trouble just by knowing the story.”

Lana paused.

She turned around slowly and looked straight at Layla.

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