Chapter 4: The Seal's Echo
The ruins of the old temple still hummed with residual energy. Fu Gui stood in the center of the circle where the demon had once been sealed by his parents—Bai Jiu and Ying Yue. He clenched his fists as the silver sigils beneath his feet flickered faintly, as if whispering old truths.
"I know you're still here," he murmured to the empty silence. "I can feel you watching."
But the shadows gave no reply.
From the forest path, a quiet voice called, "Talking to ghosts?"
He turned. Mei Lin stood there, holding a small bundle of herbs in her arms, her long hair catching the light like woven fire. There was something ancient in her presence—something he couldn't quite explain.
"I was just... trying to understand," Fu Gui said.
Mei Lin stepped closer, her eyes briefly scanning the markings on the ground. "This place gives me chills," she admitted. "But also... comfort. Like I've been here before."
His gaze sharpened. "You've never said that before."
She hesitated, then gave a small shrug. "Dreams. That's all. I dream of fire... and wings. I thought it was nonsense."
Fu Gui stared at her, his heart thudding harder. Dreams of fire. Wings. A seal that had once bound the world together.
"Maybe it's not nonsense," he said softly. "Maybe it's a memory."