The evening sky slowly darkened.
The last golden rays of sunlight slipped through the gaps between the mountains, illuminating the simple wooden house of the Lu family. A gentle breeze passed by, carrying the scent of soil and damp leaves.
Lu Chenyan sat in the backyard.
His posture was upright, legs crossed, breathing steady. The basic breathing technique taught by his father circulated within his body again and again—simple, unadorned, yet exceptionally stable.
Yet deep within his consciousness—
The seal trembled.
Extremely faint.
So weak that it was nearly impossible to perceive.
Lu Chenyan himself did not notice it.
But that did not mean no one did.
Inside the house, Lu Tianheng slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze sharpened.
"Yueyao," he said softly.
Shen Yueyao, who was pouring tea, froze for a brief moment. Without needing any explanation, she immediately understood.
That vibration… was too short.
Yet for the two of them, it was more than enough.
That night, after Chenyan had fallen asleep, they stood beside his bed.
Moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating the young man's calm face. His breathing was even, his expression peaceful—showing no sign that something hidden deep within his body could shake the outside world if ever revealed.
"A minor resonance," Shen Yueyao said quietly. "Less than a single breath."
Lu Tianheng nodded. "The seal is still eighty percent complete. No leakage. No instability."
"But enough to stir," Shen Yueyao continued. "Which means… fate has begun to move."
Lu Tianheng fell silent.
He looked at his son for a long time, as if trying to see beyond flesh and blood, into something far deeper.
"Then," he finally said, "we perfect it tonight."
Shen Yueyao was not surprised. From the beginning, she had known this moment would come.
They did not hesitate.
Lu Tianheng sat beside the bed and slowly raised one hand. Shen Yueyao stood opposite him, her fingers forming a sequence of intricate and ancient hand seals.
There was no dazzling light.
No overwhelming pressure.
Only a stream of power—perfectly restrained.
The seal within Lu Chenyan's consciousness responded.
Not with resistance—but with submission.
Because that seal… had been created for him.
Layer upon layer of ancient laws folded inward, locking themselves in place. The faint tremor from earlier vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
Eighty percent…
Ninety…
Ninety-five…
Until finally—
Perfect.
Shen Yueyao released a long breath. "One hundred percent."
Lu Tianheng withdrew his hand. "From this moment on, even the rulers of the heavens will be unable to sense anything from him."
"Fate still exists," Shen Yueyao said softly. "But it will no longer interfere with him directly."
Lu Tianheng gave a faint smile. "That is enough."
They looked at Chenyan once more, then quietly left the room.
---
The next morning, Chenyan woke up as usual.
There was no strange sensation.
No unsettling dreams.
No change at all.
He was still Lu Chenyan—the village youth who practiced his steps every day.
A few days later, the girl who had fallen from the sky finally regained full consciousness.
She sat on a wooden bench in the courtyard, a thin blanket draped over her shoulders. Her face was still pale, but her eyes were clear.
Shen Yueyao was preparing medicine nearby.
"Thank you," the girl said softly. "If not for you… I would probably be dead."
Shen Yueyao smiled gently. "No need to be so formal. Your body is still weak. Don't move too much."
The girl nodded. Then, almost unconsciously, her gaze shifted toward Chenyan, who was practicing his footwork in the distance.
His movements were… strange.
Not fast. Not slow. Yet for some reason, every step felt natural, as if he were moving in harmony with the wind itself.
"He's… your son?" the girl asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Shen Yueyao replied.
The girl fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "He… is not ordinary."
Shen Yueyao's smile deepened slightly. "Many things in this world appear ordinary… until the right moment arrives."
The girl did not pursue the topic further.
But deep in her heart, a thought quietly took root—
That young man…
would walk very far.
Extremely far.
And for some reason, she felt that their meeting… was not a coincidence.
In the distance, Chenyan suddenly stopped his practice.
Without knowing why, he turned his head—and his gaze met hers.
For an instant.
Then he calmly looked away and continued practicing as if nothing had happened.
No promises.
No oaths.
Only a foundation growing ever more solid…
and fate, silently waiting for its time.