HIDE & SEEK PART 1

The week passed in a blur of shadow-stepping and existence-shifting, each day bleeding into the next until they could move through the world like thoughts through consciousness.

One evening, as the siblings sat around the low wooden table sharing their usual end-of-day tea, Li Wei's scholarly mind caught on a detail that had been nagging at him.

"We've only met six keepers," he observed, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against his cup.

"Yeah, isn't there supposed to be seven?" Li Hao straightened, curiosity breaking through his usual post-training lethargy.

The sound of a door sliding open drew their attention. Grandmaster Yu emerged from his room, his expression unreadable in the evening light. "Come," he said simply. "Let's take a trip."

The siblings exchanged glances but wasted no time rising to their feet.