Chapter Two: The Broken Pact The snow was falling harder.
Yue Yao stood in silence, hands hidden in her sleeves, fingers curled tightly.
The presence behind her grew heavier, soul energy pressing like a coiled snake, cold and poisonous.
"You shouldn't be here, Yue Yao."
The voice was low and rough, slicing through the wind like a dull blade.
A man stepped from the shadows. He wore a black cloak and a half-mask carved with soul patterns.
At his waist hung a soulblade, sheathed but radiating murderous intent.
"You should have died on the Awakening Stage," he said. "Since you didn't, I'll finish it now."
Yue Yao turned and looked at him, eyes calm, lips parting slightly.
"Do it."
As if this was a conversation, not an execution.
But inside her sleeve, her palms were slick with sweat.
—She didn't know how to fight.
She'd studied the theory of soul cultivation, memorized diagrams and meditation patterns, but she had never fought, never drawn power into her hands, never stood in front of death. "Wow," Xuan Jin muttered in her mind. "That's some confidence. What's the plan? Die quickly and hope he writes you a nice epitaph?" "Shut up." "So touchy." The man drew his soulblade. It hissed as it left the sheath, pale blue flame dancing along its edge.
He rushed forward.
Yue Yao stepped back instinctively—too far, too fast. Her boot slipped on snow.
The blade slashed through the air, fast as lightning. She twisted away, but not fast enough.
A sharp pain tore across her shoulder. Blood splattered the ground.
She didn't cry out. Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Xuan Jin," she whispered. "Here." His voice dropped its teasing edge. "Focus. Open your soul sense. Left hand forward. Do NOT force it—your flow is a mess." She forced her mind inward, focusing on the sealed flame within her chest.
Something cracked.
Power surged up her arm. Boom. Black fire burst from her palm, curling like smoke, sharp like broken glass.
It slithered into the snow, forming a fox-shaped shadow with eyes that burned silver.
Her attacker froze. "A… soul spirit?! You—"
He stepped back—but too late.
The fox took form.
Xuan Jin appeared in semi-spiritual form beside her, long coat fluttering, smile sharp as a blade.
"First fight, huh?" he said. "Hope your tuition was worth it."
Yue Yao wanted to answer, but her chest convulsed.
The power was too much. Too wild. Her control snapped. "Your energy's collapsing!" Xuan Jin barked. "Pull back—now!" "I—can't—" "Too late!" Her soul force exploded outward.
The fox shattered into a shockwave, slamming into the enemy. He stumbled, thrown backward. His blade cracked.
Yue Yao dropped to one knee, gasping.
She coughed, and blood hit the snow. "I told you not to overdo it." Xuan Jin knelt beside her, pressing a finger to her forehead. "You're lucky I caught the backlash. Stand still." "I'm… fine." "You're shaking." "Shut up."
He rose. "I'll handle the rest."
He flew forward, dark flames trailing his spirit form.
The man lifted his broken weapon, trying to defend, but Xuan Jin's fox-flame crashed into him, warping the air with heat and power. "Think you can attack my contractor and walk away?"
Chains of soul energy wrapped around the man's body.
There was a wet sound—flesh tearing, bone cracking.
Blood painted the snow.
The man collapsed ten steps away, dead.
Yue Yao stood still.
The world blurred.
She had killed someone.
Her hands were stained. Her soul had spoken death.
She didn't know if it was her who did it, or him.
All she knew was that it was over.
The snow fell silently over blood.
Xuan Jin returned, half-formed, his voice lighter again.
"First kill. Not bad."
She said nothing.
She looked calm. Too calm.
But her fingers were twitching.
Her breath came shallow.
Her knuckles were white.
He looked at her and frowned.
"You're cold."
She nodded. "I know."
"You're afraid."
"I know that too."
He paused.
"…I was like that, too," he said softly.
She looked at him.
"The first time I killed someone," Xuan Jin continued, "I laughed like an idiot.
Then I threw up for hours."
He turned away, staring at the corpse.
"You're still trembling. That means you're still human."
She was quiet for a long time.
Then, hoarsely: "What now?"
"We keep learning," he said. "How to fight. How to survive. How to make them afraid next time."
She lifted her eyes.
"You'll stay?"
"As long as the contract lives, so do I."
She swallowed. "Then teach me."
A flicker of light returned to her eyes.
Xuan Jin smiled.
"Lesson one: stop tripping over your own feet."
"Shut up."
"Got it."
He started walking. "By the way—that last move? Looked badass."
Yue Yao stayed still for a moment longer, feeling the warmth fading from her palm.
Then she followed him into the snow.