Fan Yumei then does just that She pricked a finger and drew fourth her soul power branding, a stamp mixed with her blood onto the back of the map.The others seeing this follow her lead after each taking their own rift maps and binding it and placing them away.
➤ Ping every thirty minutes
➤ No beast summon before the realm is clear
➤ Retreat signs: Two consecutive red burst flares
➤ Emergency rally: Any site marked with a triple-moon glyph
"And if we do get separated?" Kai Shi asked.
Fan Yumei looked him in the eye. "Use the scroll and don't die."
Jin Minhe the others giggled. "That's… encouraging."
"Also," she added, "If you see anything that looks like a white tree with spiral bark—leave it alone. I heard that it's not part of any realm but from the other side."
Everyone paused. The other side is how they referred to the original world. Most people don't know that this world is a realm that swallowed the Earth.
"Wait," Zhou Qian jumped as he said. "The Spiral lost tree?"
Fan Yumei nodded once.
"Fan-tastic," Min Zhao groaned. "First realm trip, and it's a cursed anomaly."
"Could be worse," Liang Chenwu said dryly. "Could be a peaceful realm."
They all stared at him.
He looked away. "Okay, that was dumb."
A crackle of thunder rolled through the clearing as Mystic stirred above them, her enormous form shifting gently overhead like a continent of cloud and light.
Fan Yumei layered sauce over the meat as it was slow-roasted over the fire.
Fan Yumei stood taking a look at her stew that was boiling in the pot and glanced up at her and the team. "Eat now. Fight later."
Liang Chenwu and Jin Minhe both nodded happily. "Yay, more food!"
Kai Shi hugged his knees to his chest, staring at the fire. "Not gonna lie, I've got my survival plan. Step one: don't die."
Min Zhao agreed, stating her plan—if you could call it one. "Step two: if we do, make sure someone brings the bodies back."
Zhou Qian fist-bumped the air. "With treasure, preferably!"
Fan Yumei's face turned so serious. "If it comes to that, make sure the family gets something—a core crystal, a beast fang, a beast egg. Something to say we tried."
Liang Chenwu joked, "No empty coffins for me, please. That's the only thing I'd ask for if I don't make it out."
Light from the fire flickered across their faces, casting shadows that hid their thoughts.
Jin Minhe broke the silence first:
"Don't look for mine."
"…What?" they all echoed, jumping up in shock.
"If I fall, don't waste time looking. I don't have anyone waiting."
"Jin…" Min Zhao murmured, losing her appetite.
"It's fine," Jin Minhe shrugged, biting into his food.
"You don't need to bring me back. I don't have anyone or family waiting for me anyway. But if I ever cross your mind, light incense. Pour tea. Leave food out for me to eat. That's enough."
Silence.
The fire pops.
Those words knocked the breath out of Fan Yumei. She broke the silence, whispering,
"You… you idiot—what about us? About me? Don't you call me your sister?"
She stood up, gaining everyone's attention.
"Haven't I already invested in you and your panda? Treated you like my own family and little brother that I want to raise to be nice and fat. Not just him but all of you—I've invested and plan to see you all leave the Secret alive."
She turned her head, blinking away tears.
Jin Minhe scoffed lightly, pouting slightly before replying,
"It's petty to deny the possibility of death—for me, or any of us."
Fan Yumei sighed softly. "You all can still count on me always. Even if no one's waiting. I'd be the one still—"
She stopped herself, feeling déjà vu from her last life, the same promise to lost comrades.
The vibe took a tense turn.
Liang Chenwu: "You'll come back. We all will. Otherwise, I'm going hunting—probably will target Shi."
"Cough—huh?!" Kai Shi choked on his drink, looking at Liang Chenwu in shock and confusion. "Hey!? What did I do?!"
Liang Chenwu ignored him, only saying, "Exactly."
That broke the tension; laughter returned.
Min Zhao smiled, waving her fingers in a spooky tone at Zhou Qian. "No ghosts. Just survivors—and maybe some loot."
Zhou Qian leaned back, swatting her hands from his face. "I'm holding you all to this. Even if you're limbless. Especially then."
Jin Minhe smiled faintly, laughter in his voice. "As long as you bring Form 38-G with the food offering."
Laughter filled the air once more.
They made a pact that night without realizing it: a pact to wait for one another, to avenge those who don't make it, and to bring home every fallen body, treasure in hand.
The crackle of fire and their soft conversations lulled the squad into a restless night —fear tempered by courage; isolation balanced with unwavering loyalty.
Beneath Mystic's drifting cloud, Fan Yumei slipped into her dome tent. Maxius rested on his portable hover-perch tree, eyes half-lidded; Lufei's antlers still crackled with healing and soul power.
Fan Yumei spent most of the night watching her friends enjoy themselves. While she kept thinking inwardly about what Jin Minhe said about truly having no one waiting for him. She knew that emptiness too and even in this life it still hurts, still matters.
Mystic's soft chime, a distant rumble through their bond before Fan Yumei had dozed off to sleep.
"He's not alone, nor are you anymore."