Two nights later, Lu Fan and Xie Ren walked through the neon-lit streets of the industrial district, where rumors of strange disappearances had spread. It wasn't reported in the news, but whispers on underground forums said something dark was stalking people here at night.
Xie Ren tapped the side of his phone. "Got the location. Job board says it pays thirty thousand yuan if we can confirm and eliminate the threat."
Lu Fan nodded. "Let's try not to get killed."
"Yeah," Xie muttered, hand brushing against the hilt of a dagger tied under his jacket. "Would ruin the vibe."
They reached the entrance to an abandoned warehouse, rusted and silent. The city noise faded behind them.
Inside, the air was thick — with something unnatural.
Qi.
Faint, corrupted, and twisted.
A shadow leapt from the rafters — a spirit-warped beast, all claws and smoke.
Lu Fan didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward, Celestial Palm flaring with silver light. One strike shattered the beast's forelimb, and a second sent it flying into the wall.
Xie Ren charged in behind him, finishing the creature off with a focused palm to its core.
But just as the tension eased—another presence appeared.
From behind a shattered pillar stepped a girl, about their age. Her long black hair flowed like ink in the moonlight, her eyes sharp and unreadable. She wore a school uniform, but around her waist was a hidden talisman belt—each charm pulsing faintly with protective runes.
"You two are reckless," she said calmly.
Lu Fan and Xie tensed.
The girl held up her hand. "I'm not your enemy. I was tracking that thing. You killed it before it could lead me to the source."
Xie muttered, "You're welcome?"
She looked at Lu Fan with unnerving clarity. "You're hiding your cultivation. But I can feel the space around you bend. Impressive."
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
"Mo Yuyan," she said, bowing slightly. "I'm… like you. Not from a sect. No master. But not powerless."
She lifted her sleeve, revealing a burned sigil etched into her skin.
Xie inhaled sharply. "That's a Void Banishment Mark... You were exiled from a cultivation family."
Mo Yuyan's eyes turned cold. "Not exiled. Hunted. I've survived alone. And I heard about your little pact."
Lu Fan raised a brow. "How?"
"I listen better than most," she said simply. "And if you're smart, you'll let me join."
The air tensed for a moment—but Lu Fan smiled.
"We could use someone like you."
---
The Pact now had three.
A fallen heir.
A redeemed rival.
And a hidden genius with the knowledge of cursed blood.
And from the shadows, other powers stirred — awakened by their presence.