The cave hummed with the soft crackle of a campfire. Outside, the wind rustled the vines of the Verdant Nagalotus Ward, but inside, there was a fragile warmth—like holding a lit mango pit in cold hands.
Bright waved a half-eaten mango in the air, grinning. "You should've seen me back there! I threw a pit right at that guy's head—knocked him clean off his feet!" He paused, frowning. "Wait… which guy was that again?"
Nam rolled her eyes, shoving a jar of warm herb paste into Yara's hands. "Your memory's worse than a soggy mango. It was the one with the broken sword. And you missed." She glanced at Yara's arm, her tone softening. "Put this on thick. Master said it'll keep the venom from spreading."
Yara took the jar, her fingers brushing the cool ceramic. But as she twisted off the lid, she froze. Her gaze drifted to the faint green mark on her forearm—the Moon Venom Qi, still glowing faintly, like a smoldering ember. She blinked, confused. "Wait… how did Tong's mirror break through the ward earlier? I can't… I can't remember the worst part."
Tan Kai's head snapped up. He was across the fire, but he was at her side in a heartbeat, his hand wrapping around her wrist. His fingertips tingled with faint golden light, and when it touched the green mark, the venom dimmed—just for a second. Yara exhaled, like a weight had lifted from her chest.
"I remember," Tan Kai said, his voice tight. "He poured his blood on the mirror. The beam burned through the vines. But Master woke the ward. We stopped him." He stared at the green mark, his jaw set. "And I'm gonna get rid of this. I promise."
Yara's cheeks warmed, but there was a tightness in her chest. "What if I forget more? What if I forget… this? All of us?"
Bright plopped down beside her, bumping her shoulder. "Then I'll tell you! Every stupid thing we did—like the time I tried to cook mango over the campfire and burned Nam's favorite bowl. Or when Tan Kai tripped over his own staff during practice!" He grinned, but his eyes were soft. "We'll keep reminding you. Forever."
Nam nodded, crossing her arms. "Yeah. And if the venom makes you forget, I'll hit you with a mango pit. Hard. That'll jog your memory."
Yara laughed, a small, shaky sound. She squeezed Tan Kai's hand, and he squeezed back—warm, steady, like he was holding onto her, too.
Outside the ward, the forest was quiet. Too quiet.
Tong leaned against a gnarled tree, retching into the underbrush. His palm burned, the green veins from the Moon-Eye Mirror now snaking up his forearm, glowing faintly in the dark. Every breath tasted like sweet, sickly venom, and his head throbbed—visions of silver-green scales and burning vines flashing behind his eyes.
"Boss! Please!" His Strategist knelt in front of him, holding up a small, glowing green scale—Nagasith's emergency antidote charm. "Use the charm! It'll stop the venom! You're forgetting why we're here!"
Tong swatted the charm away, his fist slamming into the dirt. The charm skittered into the grass, its glow fading. "I'm not forgetting!" he snarled, his voice hoarse. "I'm here for the golden lotus! And when I get it… I'll cure this. I'll remember everything. I'll be stronger."
He fumbled for the dagger at his waist, the blade cold against his palm. With a scream of rage, he sliced open his hand—fresh blood welled up, and he pressed it to his forearm. The green veins hissed, retreating for a moment, but the pain only grew worse.
"I'm gonna get you, Tai Chu," he whispered, his eyes fixed on the faint green glow of the ward through the trees. "And that boy. And the lotus. All mine."
His Strategist watched him, tears in his eyes. He knew it was hopeless—but he followed anyway.
Not far away, Erlang Shen stood with the Moon-Eye Mirror in his hand. The silver-green surface glowed faintly, the venom inside it thrumming like a heartbeat. His third eye flickered between his brows, golden light cutting through the dark.
"Nagasith's venom," he murmured, turning the mirror in his hand. "It's not just poison. It's a bond. Ties the user to the Serpent King."
Ne Zha twirled his fire-tipped spear, the flame dancing at its tip. "Who cares about bonds? Let Tong die. Let the Serpent King come. The more chaos, the easier it is to grab the lotus—and that boy." He nodded toward the ward, where a faint golden light flickered. "Tan Kai's power… it's not just lotus energy. It's something older. The mirror could show us."
Erlang Shen smiled, cold and sharp. "Patience. Tong will break the ward for us. He's too stubborn to die before he gets what he wants." He set the mirror on the ground, the glow dimming. "And when he does… we'll step in. Take the lotus. Take the boy. Leave the rest to burn."
Ne Zha laughed, the sound sharp as a blade. "Finally. A real fight."
Back inside the cave, Master Tai Chu led Tan Kai and Yara to the stone array at the back. The array was carved into the floor, lines of green and gold twisting together like lotus vines wrapping around a serpent.
"Your lotus energy and her venom," Master Tai Chu said, tapping the array with his foot. "They're two sides of the same coin. The venom is Nagasith's power—dark, hungry. Your lotus is pure, life-giving. Together, they can wake this array."
Tan Kai frowned. "But my power is weak. I can barely hold it together."
Master Tai Chu shook his head. "You're not weak. You're just not using the 'link'." He nodded at Yara's arm. "Her venom is a map. It can lead your lotus energy to the source of the poison. And this array… it will amplify that link."
Yara stepped closer, her hand in Tan Kai's. "What do we do?"
"Stand in the center," Master Tai Chu said. "Hold hands. Let your energies flow together. Don't force it—let it happen."
Tan Kai and Yara stepped into the array. The stone beneath their feet was cold, but when their hands touched, warmth spread between them. Tan Kai closed his eyes, focusing on the golden energy in his chest. He felt it flow down his arm, into Yara's hand, and then—
He gasped.
It was like opening his eyes in the dark. He could see the venom in Yara's arm—green, twisting, snaking through her veins. And his lotus energy? It was drawn to it, like a moth to a flame. He guided the golden light toward the venom, and when they touched—
The array blazed to life.
Green and gold light exploded from the stone, wrapping around them like a cocoon. Yara gasped, but it wasn't pain—it was relief. The venom in her arm faded, the green mark shrinking to a faint dot.
Tan Kai opened his eyes, breathless. "Did… did we do it?"
Master Tai Chu smiled, his eyes bright. "You did more than that. You woke the array. This isn't just a ward anymore. It's a cage. And when they come… we'll lock them in."
Bright and Nam ran over, their eyes wide. "Whoa! That's so cool!" Bright yelled. "Can we help? I can carry rocks! Or throw mangoes! Or—"
"Help us move these," Nam cut in, pointing to a pile of smooth stones by the wall. Each stone was covered in faint lotus patterns, glowing faintly. "Master said they go in the array's grooves. To make it stronger."
Bright grinned, grabbing a stone. "Race you!"
Nam rolled her eyes, but she grabbed a stone too. "You'll trip over your own feet!"
Tan Kai and Yara watched them, smiling. Yara squeezed his hand, and he looked at her—her arm was still faintly marked, but her eyes were clear, no more confusion.
"I remember now," she said softly. "Everything. The mirror. The fire. You."
Tan Kai's heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth to speak—then the ward shuddered.
A loud, hissing crack echoed through the cave.
Master Tai Chu's smile faded. "They're here."
Outside, Tong's voice roared. "Tai Chu! Open the ward! Or I'll burn it down!"
The sound of wood cracking—then fire. Smoke seeped through the vines, thick and black.
Tan Kai grabbed his staff, the golden energy in his chest flaring. Yara stood beside him, her own staff in hand, her eyes sharp.
Bright and Nam dropped their stones, grabbing their weapons. "Ready!" Bright yelled, even though his voice was shaking.
Master Tai Chu stepped to the front of the array, his hands raised. The array glowed brighter, green and gold light swirling around him.
"Let them come," he said, his voice calm. "This cage is waiting."
Outside, the fire roared. Tong's screams mixed with the hissing of the ward. Erlang Shen and Ne Zha watched from the trees, their eyes fixed on the cave.
Inside, the array pulsed. Tan Kai and Yara stood side by side, their hands still touching. Bright and Nam stood behind them, ready.
The ward cracked again—louder, closer.
And then, silence.
For a heartbeat, nothing.
Then—
The vines shattered.
Fire and smoke poured into the cave. Tong stumbled in, his body covered in green veins, his eyes wild. Behind him, Erlang Shen and Ne Zha stepped through the wreckage, their weapons glowing.
"Found you," Erlang Shen said, his third eye blazing.
Tan Kai tightened his grip on his staff. The array beneath him hummed, warm and strong. Yara squeezed his hand.
"Let's finish this," she said.
Tan Kai nodded.
The fight was here.
The cage was closed.