32 pairs of eyes were watching the soul lanterns flicker as the ship swayed. The large merchant vessel manned by experienced sailors lay at the pier, ready to set off at their command.

One of the lights flickered and died. Then another. One by one the lights flickered and died.

"Why couldn't they just accept it?" A girl she recognised only after a moment as one of the two famous ice beauties from the inner sect lamented. She didn't look much like an ice beauty right now. Her smeared make up and dirt obscured her fine features, her long, scruffy hair didn't even remotely resebmle her usual silken tresses and the dirty sect uniform had a long rip. The ice beauty looked sad, tired and hopeless, just like the rest of them.

The illetigimate young master who won the tournament just a few months before, who had a famous rivalry with his letigimate brother, was holding his unconscious hated rival in his arms. She had seen him carry that boy through the battle when the city was looted.

No servants were around the noble princess. They hadn't been able to keep up as they fled - and as servants they were safer without a hunted master.

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There were others. The 13 year old boy on her left had been brought to them by his grandfather before the honoured ancestor returned to die with his sect.

Another light flickered and died. "Mommy!" The cries grew louder.

Hurried steps from the pier announced the arrival of another person. Another girl. One of the most powerful Clan master's new concubines, no older than 16 and chosen for her talent just to leave numerous precious descendants. Two faint cries proved that the bundles in her arms were babies. They couldn't be hers.

"Do you think they'll come?" She whispered.

The ice beauty sighed. "They want to stay for revenge. They'll probably try to go to the other sects or challenge their fate somehow."

"As if pools of primordial liquid and secret heavenly manuals could be found anywhere and by anyone if they just wish for it hard enough."

Sighs were the only response.

A group of lights died. Not many were left now.

The first rays of sunlight rose over the horizon.

"Should we sail now?" The captain asked once again.

"Yes." She answered as the silence spread. "Before they find us again."

The ship set sail soon after. The teleportation treasure activated and the vessel disappeared.

When their sight cleared they saw sunlight. A warm glow, illuminating a lone mountain in the sea.

"This is home now." She whispered.