The problem with surviving something dramatic was that people **expected explanations** afterward.
And Shen Yu had none.
They sat on the lower ledge like a group of very confused mountain goats.
Qiao Feng broke the silence first.
"So," he said cheerfully, dangling his legs over the edge, "which one of you did that?"
Lu Xinyi didn't look away from Shen Yu.
"You stepped on air."
Shen Yu frowned.
"I… placed my foot where the ground should have been."
Han Rui nodded seriously.
"That's not how falling works."
"According to gravity," Shen Yu said, "which has been wrong before."
Lu Xinyi exhaled sharply.
"You're saying you didn't *do* anything?"
"I breathed," Shen Yu offered.
That did not help.
Before she could interrogate him further, a calm voice floated down from above.
"Well," the voice said pleasantly, "that was poorly maintained."
They all looked up.
A blind old man stood at the broken path's edge, tapping the ground lightly with a bamboo cane. His clothes were old, patched, and smelled faintly of wine.
Qiao Feng squinted.
"…Did he just critique gravity?"
The old man smiled.
"Gravity works fine. Paths, however, require maintenance."
Lu Xinyi stood alert.
"Who are you?"
"A passerby."
Han Rui whispered,
"…On a boundary path?"
"Everyone passes boundaries eventually," the old man replied.
He turned his head — not his eyes — toward Shen Yu.
"And you," he said gently, "walk very politely."
Shen Yu blinked.
"Thank you?"
The old man chuckled.
"Come on," he said. "Before elders arrive and ask unpleasant questions."
"Wait," Lu Xinyi said sharply. "How do we get up?"
The old man tapped his cane once.
The air… thickened.
Not solid.
Just cooperative.
Shen Yu felt it immediately — like the world was **waiting** again.
The old man stepped down onto nothing.
And didn't fall.
Qiao Feng gasped.
"HEY. THAT'S MY MOVE NOW."
The old man waved his cane.
"Follow. Carefully."
They climbed.
Step by careful step.
Lu Xinyi's blades hummed softly, instinctively stabilizing her balance.
Han Rui focused on breathing, eyes squeezed shut.
Qiao Feng laughed the entire time.
Shen Yu moved last.
Each step felt… familiar.
As if space recognized him.
When they reached the top, the air released its tension all at once.
The old man turned.
"Well," he said, "you're alive. That's promising."
Lu Xinyi crossed her arms.
"You knew the path would collapse."
"I suspected."
"You let it happen."
"I allowed learning."
Qiao Feng nodded approvingly.
"Good teaching style."
Lu Xinyi glared at him.
The old man faced Shen Yu again.
"What did you feel?" he asked.
Shen Yu thought carefully.
"…Like the world paused to decide."
The old man's smile deepened.
Before he could respond, a sharp bell rang across the mountain.
Elder presence.
Lu Xinyi stiffened.
"We're in trouble."
"Ah," the old man said mildly. "Yes. Timing."
Elder Zhang appeared moments later, robes flapping, eyes sharp.
"What happened here?"
Qiao Feng opened his mouth.
Lu Xinyi kicked his foot.
Han Rui raised his hand timidly.
"The path… collapsed."
Elder Zhang frowned.
"It shouldn't."
The old man tapped his cane.
"It did."
Elder Zhang's gaze landed on him.
"…Senior?"
The old man bowed slightly.
"Passing through."
Elder Zhang hesitated — then bowed deeper.
"I will report the damage."
"Good," the old man said. "Also report that the disciples behaved admirably."
Elder Zhang blinked.
"…They did?"
"Yes. No one panicked excessively."
Qiao Feng beamed.
The elder nodded slowly.
"Very well."
When he left, silence returned.
Lu Xinyi rounded on Shen Yu again.
"You're hiding something."
Shen Yu sighed.
"If I knew what it was, I'd hide it better."
The old man laughed.
"I like him," he said. "He doesn't pretend."
He turned to leave.
"Wait!" Han Rui called. "Senior— your name?"
The old man paused.
"Names," he said softly, "are heavy things."
Then, almost teasingly:
"Call me **Old Mo**."
And he was gone.
Lu Xinyi stared at the empty path.
"That man," she said, "is dangerous."
Shen Yu nodded.
"Yes," he agreed cheerfully. "And polite."
Qiao Feng stretched.
"Well! That was exciting. Anyone else hungry again?"
Han Rui sighed in relief.
Lu Xinyi looked at Shen Yu.
This time, her voice was quieter.
"You stepped where there was nothing."
Shen Yu met her gaze.
"…It felt like there was room."
High above the sect, unseen by all —
A blank entry in the Sky Archive **trembled**.
For the first time, a note appeared beside it:
- "Observation required"