The ambush begins and fails instantly inside the shrine alley, with festival light behind them.

Ling Suyin displays overwhelming sword control, but Qing He escapes by dirty tricks rather than strength.

The smoke parts around Ling Suyin. Her sacred persona cracks as the forbidden art appears openly for the first time.

The fight spills from the alley into festival stalls, scattering charms and wine bowls.

Qing He understands he was not kidnapping a victim. The panel language should feel humiliating, not romantic.

Both try to kill each other. Coincidence saves them in absurd but violent ways.

The first unmistakable supernatural interference: a red thread appears in midair between knife and sword, bending both trajectories.

The festival becomes hostile architecture. Red cords tighten across stalls and rooftops.

Ling tests the supernatural rule by cutting the red-thread charm instead of Qing He.

A wave of red cords drives both combatants through the street toward the Matchmaker God's old temple.

Qing He and Ling Suyin smash through the old Matchmaker temple doors together, weapons still aimed at each other, red cords dragging their ankles.