Mo Yuyan didn't speak much after joining the Pact.
But Lu Fan could see the weight in her eyes — pain buried under calm, the way a blade hides in silk.
That weekend, they sat together on the rooftop of an old high-rise, the city glowing beneath them like a sleeping dragon.
"Where did you learn those talismans?" Xie Ren asked, casually flipping one in his hand.
Mo Yuyan didn't smile. "My family. The Mo Clan."
Lu Fan glanced over. "A cultivation clan?"
"One of the hidden ones," she said. "But not noble. Not like the sects. We were hunters. Cursebreakers. We sealed what others feared."
She closed her eyes. "When I was ten, my brother unleashed a forbidden ritual. A thing born from the Void — it took him. And nearly me."
Her voice fell to a whisper.
"They blamed me. Said I led it in. So they marked me. Banished me. I've been running ever since."
The mark on her arm glowed faintly, and the shadows around her seemed to shiver.
Lu Fan reached out, gently touching her wrist. "You don't need to run anymore."
Xie nodded. "We're all messed up. But we've got each other."
Mo Yuyan looked away—but her lips curved into the barest smile.
"Then let's grow strong. Strong enough they never dare come near us again."
---
Days Later
Their trio became a force.
They hunted rogue spirits. Healed the wounded in secret. Learned from each other's strengths.
But Lu Fan knew — for true growth, they couldn't stay hidden forever.
So he proposed a bold plan: each of them would travel abroad, train in secret under different skies, gather techniques, and grow strong on their own.
"I'll go to Korea," Xie Ren said. "I heard rumors of spirit martial tournaments—underground, brutal, perfect for training."
"I'm going to Nepal," Mo Yuyan whispered. "There's a cursed monastery hidden in the Himalayas. The Void left pieces there. I need to understand it… or it'll destroy me."
Lu Fan nodded slowly. "I'll head west. Europe, maybe. Or Africa. Somewhere where spirit herbs still grow in the wild. I'll find power… and money. I'll send it home to my father."
They stood side by side on the airport rooftop, staring at the stars.
Xie cracked a grin. "When we reunite, we'll be monsters."
Mo Yuyan smirked. "Let's hope we don't have to fight each other."
Lu Fan simply smiled.
And then, with quiet steps, they each walked into the world — three shadows parting, carrying secrets, pain, and the seeds of destiny.