In the hall, Diviner Qing sat with Lee Min and Zhou Ming.
The air had grown thick—heavy with unspoken thoughts and cautious anticipation. None of the three men spoke for a moment; the quiet settled like a gentle weight upon their shoulders.
Then—Diviner Qing broke it.
A single sentence, soft yet carrying the weight of destiny, made both fathers stiffen where they sat.
"...Have you considered uniting their futures formally?"
Lee Min blinked as if he hadn't heard correctly."Uniting? What do you—"
"A bond," Diviner Qing clarified, voice calm and even. "An engagement. The kind arranged between families when the children are still very young."
Both men froze.The implications hit them instantly.
Zhou Ming's mind blanked for a heartbeat."Senior Qing… these children are far too young. Kai is barely several months old, and my Rai has seen only two years."
Qing did not dispute that.
"I am not saying it must be decided immediately," he replied gently. "But fate has already tied them together. Whether we acknowledge it or not, their lives will intersect. If properly guided, that connection could protect them… stabilize their destinies."
His gaze deepened.
"Perhaps, in a future none of us can yet see, that bond may help them overcome a great and unknown hurdle."
Lee Min exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose."This is… a tremendous decision. One that affects both families, and the children most of all."
"Exactly why it must not be rushed," Diviner Qing said. His tone softened further. "Discuss it slowly over time. Allow the families to interact. Observe how the children grow. If their bond naturally strengthens, only then should a decision be made."
A quiet, thoughtful silence settled over the hall.
Finally, Zhou Ming nodded."We will think on it."
"And revisit the matter," Lee Min added, "when the time is appropriate."
Diviner Qing gave a faint smile.
It was subtle—almost invisible—but relief glimmered beneath it.As though a weight he had been carrying for a long time had finally eased.
That is all I ask, he thought, his mind flickering briefly to the instructions his own leader had entrusted to him.Half of his task was already complete.
—
After some time, Su Yan quietly stepped out of the hall, holding Kai close against her shoulder. The shift from the serious atmosphere inside to the gentler air of the inner gardens felt like breathing fresh life into her lungs. Beside her walked Zhou Ming's wife, Zhou Rui, guiding little Rai with a gentle but firm hand.
The two children couldn't have been more different.
Rai toddled forward with bright, restless enthusiasm, her tiny hands grasping at air, stones, stray petals—anything that caught her attention.Kai, meanwhile, remained nestled calmly in Su Yan's arms, observing the surroundings in steady, unhurried silence, his dark eyes half-lidded but sharp.
Behind them, the muffled discussions of fate and future slowly faded.
Zhou Rui inhaled deeply, her expression softening."Your sect… it has such a distinct peace. Even the silence feels alive."
Su Yan chuckled lightly."You get used to it. In time, the entire environment becomes a part of you. Everything here breathes cultivation—every leaf, every stone."
Rai suddenly lunged forward with a squeal, attempting to chase a drifting spirit butterfly. Her arms windmilled wildly.Kai simply shifted his gaze, following the butterfly's path with calm solemnity—as though trying to understand why it moved the way it did.
Their steps eventually carried them out of the enclosed garden and onto one of the main pathways of the sect.
Soon, the space opened up into the Front Plaza, and Zhou Rui came to a complete stop.
Even for someone born into a great ancient family, the sight was impressive.
White stone tiles stretched across a vast square, each one etched with faint spiritual patterns that pulsed gently beneath the sunlight.
Dozens of disciples moved through the plaza—some practicing footwork in synchronous lines, others sitting cross-legged in sparse groups, cultivating in silence. The atmosphere vibrated with quiet discipline.
Rai's eyes widened so much it seemed they might pop out.
She spun in a full circle, pointing frantically at everything—flowing robes, fluttering banners, the glint of swords under the sun.
"Ah! Ah—!!"
Zhou Rui laughed softly."She may refuse to go home after this."
Anyone looking at Rai wouldn't believe she came from a venerable cultivation family. But without cultivation yet, she was simply a child—easily amazed, easily delighted.
Su Yan smiled."Most children react like this the first time. The openness of the sect draws them in."
Kai, however, remained composed. His gaze moved slowly from one group of disciples to the next—calm, observant, absorbing every detail without fidgeting or fuss.
The women talked quietly as they walked, letting the children explore with their eyes.
Soon, they came upon a towering structure.
The Main Martial Hall rose before them like a guardian of the sect—steep jade-green rooftops, sweeping eaves, and pillars carved with spiraling dragons. Its presence was commanding, a place where countless important decisions had been made.
Zhou Rui looked up in awe."This is the hall used for major gatherings?"
Su Yan nodded."Yes. Most of our crucial matters are decided there."
She offered no lecture—this wasn't a formal tour. Just a peaceful walk.
But the sight alone left its own impression.
Then, past the hall, something far more striking appeared.
A staircase carved straight into the mountain—broad, ancient, and rising so high that the upper steps vanished into drifting mist.
The Grand Stairway of Ascension.
The stairway connected the Main Peak to the surrounding peaks, stretching like a stone river through the sky.
Even seasoned cultivators found it breathtaking.
Rai stopped dead in her tracks.
Her small mouth hung open. Her eyes sparkled like stars.Both arms shot forward as if she wanted to grasp the entire stairway and pull it closer.
"Ah! Ah!!"
Her entire face shone with excitement.
Zhou Rui nearly burst out laughing."You want to climb that? Even adult disciples hesitate before taking on those steps!"
Rai puffed her cheeks indignantly, clearly offended.
Su Yan covered her mouth, smiling."She's spirited. If we look away for even a moment, I'm certain she'd try to climb halfway up."
She genuinely enjoyed the little girl's vibrant energy.
Lantern pillars lined the stairway, each bearing spiritual flames that flickered even under the noonday sun.
The faint glow reflected in Kai's eyes. He stared silently, unblinking, as though the rhythmic dance of the flames was speaking to him.
Zhou Rui leaned closer to Su Yan, whispering,"They're such opposites… one lively and the other quiet as still water."
Su Yan adjusted her hold on Kai."Yes. And who knows how they'll grow? Maybe they will change… or stay exactly as they are."
Conversation flowed easily between the two mothers as they admired the monumental stairway.
The four of them stood there for a long moment—two women, two children, gazing up at the steps that had carried generations of cultivators toward their futures.
None of them could know it then…
But perhaps someday, these very steps would bear their children through storms capable of shaking the heavens themselves.