There was no final meeting.
No declaration of success.
The joint mission simply… dissolved.
Sect banners were lowered one by one. Campfires extinguished. Defensive formations shut down with orderly precision. Cultivators departed along different paths, each sect returning to its own rhythm.
The River Sect left first, slipping into mist-veiled waterways without fanfare.
The Star Sect followed, their light vessels rising into the sky at dawn, leaving faint trails that faded quickly.
The Mountain Sect remained last, dismantling the command center and sealing all remaining records.
Before departing, Mo Yun sought out Li Chen.
"You chose restraint when opportunity was present," Mo Yun said quietly. "That is not something many cultivators would do."
Li Chen inclined his head. "Opportunity attracts attention."
Mo Yun studied him. "If the heavens return… harder?"
Li Chen met his gaze evenly. "Then I will not be here."
They parted without ceremony.
Xu Ming joined Li Chen at the edge of the encampment as they prepared to leave.
"The pressure is gone," Xu Ming said softly. "I feel lighter."
Li Chen nodded. "That's when mistakes happen."
Xu Ming frowned but said nothing.
Trust did not require understanding.