Morning light filtered through the canopy, dappling the forest floor with gold. The team stood at the cave's mouth, shouldering their packs—chaos still fresh in their minds, but new resolve bright in their eyes.
Bright dumped a handful of dried mangoes into his pocket, only for half to spill onto the grass. He knelt, scrambling to scoop them up. "If Nagasith's goons show up, I'm gonna pelt 'em with mango pits. Bet that'll teach 'em to ruin our cave."
Nam rolled her eyes, tucking small herb pouches into each pack. She tossed a bundle of sharp-smelling wakefulness grass at him. "Save the heroics. This is for venom mist—and if you doze off. Don't eat it, genius."
Tan Kai helped Yara wind vine around her wrist, for balance when climbing. Their arms brushed, and their lotus-serpent marks glowed faintly, warm as sunlight. Yara's cheeks pinked; she looked away, but Tan Kai caught her small smile.
A soft, wispy light flickered—Master Tai Chu's phantom. He chuckled as Bright fumbled another mango. "Bright," he said, "keep dropping those, and you'll have nothing left to throw at snakes."
His gaze shifted to Tan Kai, who stared at the half-pendant in his palm. It was warm to the touch. "Tan Kai," Master added gently, "the pendant will guide you. Trust it—and trust each other."
Tong stirred in the corner, eyes fluttering open. He froze at the sight of them, his arm twitching—Nagasith's mark glowed pale green, like a sickly star.
Nam stepped forward, pressing a lotus-dew-soaked cloth over his mouth. "One peep, and this swaps for poison ivy," she said flatly.
Master's phantom drifted to Tong, then back to the group. "Everyone," he said, "that mark's a double-edged sword. Nagasith tracks him—but we track Nagasith. Keep him close."
Bright snickered, sticking a tracking leaf to Tong's back. "Don't worry, we'll watch our 'snake bait.'"
The forest swallowed them whole. Tall trees loomed overhead, their branches weaving a dark roof that blocked most sunlight. The air smelled of damp earth and rot, with a faint, sickly sweetness—venom, faint but unmistakable.
Tan Kai's pendant pulsed hotter, thrumming against his palm. Every few steps, it glowed silver-green, pointing deeper into the woods.
Yara walked beside him, her hand brushing his occasionally, like she was checking he was there. "I feel it too," she whispered, glancing up. "Eyes. Watching."
A sharp eagle's cry cut through the silence. Tan Kai looked up, but only saw a flash of gold vanish into the leaves.
"Erlang Shen's scouts," Master's phantom said, voice tight. "Yara," he added, "your mark reacts to divine energy—stay alert. Nam," he nodded at her pouch, "be ready for fire arrows."
They didn't wait long.
A rustle in the underbrush—then a hiss. Dozens of silver-green snakes slithered out, fangs bared. Behind them, three black-robed figures stepped forward—Tong's old men, eyes blank, bodies wracked with Nagasith's venom.
"Get the pendant!" one roared, lunging at Tan Kai.
"Everyone, stay sharp!" Master's phantom shouted.
Bright acted first. He hurled a handful of dried mangoes at the snakes. They stopped, hissing, to snap at the fruit. "Distraction up!" he yelled. "Nam!"
Nam tossed a stick wrapped in poison herbs. It landed among the snakes, smoking. The reptiles reared back, choking. "Move!"
Tan Kai stepped in front of Yara as another robed man swung a sword at her. He blocked it with his staff, but the force sent him staggering.
Yara grabbed his arm, her mark glowing—she pushed a wave of venom energy at the man, knocking him back. But her knees buckled; she wasn't used to wielding the power alone.
"Yara, breathe!" Master's phantom said. "Tan Kai, don't force it—let your energy meet hers!"
Tan Kai nodded. He took Yara's hand, pressing their palms together. His lotus light flowed into her, wrapping around her venom energy like a ribbon. Together, they pushed—gold and green light burst forth, forming a shield that sent the man flying.
Master's phantom smiled. "There. That's what being bound means."
Before they could catch their breath, a whirring cut through the air. Arrows wreathed in golden fire rained down from the trees.
"Divine fire!" Master snapped. "Tan Kai, block them!"
Tan Kai held up his free hand, summoning a wall of lotus light. The arrows hit it, hissing out. One slipped past, grazing Bright's arm.
He yelped, clutching the burn. "Son of a—!"
Nam grabbed his arm, yanking out her healing balm. "Quit complaining. Lucky it didn't hit your mangoes."
Tan Kai picked up the fallen arrow. Tied to its tail was a scrap of paper: The path to Lotus Heart Valley is the path to heaven's judgment.
Master's phantom's face darkened. "All of you," he said, "Heaven won't let us uncover the truth. This is just the start."
The fight flared again. A robed man swung at Tan Kai's back. Tan Kai turned, but the blade nicked his hand—blood welled up, dripping onto the pendant.
Everything froze.
The pendant blazed gold, casting light over the forest. In the glow, a vision flickered: a young man with Tan Kai's eyes—Tan Agus—holding the other half of the pendant. He pulled a silver-green-haired girl—Lina—through the same woods, their hands clasped. Behind them, Heavenly Soldiers chased, spears glowing. Lina's arm bore a mark—just like Yara's, just like the valley's gate.
The vision faded. Tan Kai stumbled, gasping.
"Children," Master's phantom said, voice soft with emotion. "That's Agus and Lina. This is the path they walked—running, hiding, fighting for truth. Now it's yours."
The robed man roared, charging again. This time, he summoned venom into his blade, turning it into a hissing snake. He aimed not for Tan Kai—but for Tong. "The King wants his mark back!"
At the same time, more fire arrows fell—sharper, hotter. One grazed Bright's shoulder; another singed Nam's sleeve. The team was backed against a cliff, the drop steep behind them. No way out.
"Everyone, hold on!" Master shouted. "Trust each other—trust your bond!"
Tan Kai looked at Yara. Her eyes were bright, determined. He squeezed her hand. "Together."
"Together," she echoed.
They pressed their palms together, letting their energies weave. No hesitation this time—lotus light and venom energy twisted into a gold-green blade. They swung it together, yelling.
The blade cut through the venom sword, the arrows, the men's defenses. Snakes fled; the men stumbled back, wounded. Arrows burned out mid-air.
As the light faded, the pendant blazed silver-green—bright as a star—pointing to the cliff face.
Hidden by vines was a mark: the same lotus-serpent pattern as their marks, as the vision. The gate to Lotus Heart Valley.
"Tan Kai! Yara!" Master said, urgent. "Your energy opens the gate!"
They ran to the cliff, pressing their hands to the mark. Gold and green light flooded the stone. The cliff rumbled, splitting open to reveal a narrow crevice.
"Go! Hurry!"
They scrambled through—Tan Kai first, then Yara, then Nam (dragging Tong), then Bright (clutching his mangoes). Behind them, the cliff slammed shut with a thunderous crash, blocking the forest and pursuers.
Inside, it was cool and quiet. The air smelled of sweet lotus blossoms. Bright collapsed onto the stone floor, pulling out a mango. "Finally," he said, taking a huge bite. "Safe."
Master's phantom drifted to him, gaze soft on his burned arm. "Bright," he said, "let Nam put more balm on that. Don't be stubborn."
Nam was already kneeling beside him, balm in hand. "Told you you'd need this," she said, but her fingers were gentle as she dabbed it on his wound.
Tan Kai and Yara stood at the crevice's edge, looking out at the darkness beyond. The pendant in Tan Kai's palm pulsed softly, still warm.
Master's phantom joined them, his form flickering like a candle. "Years ago, Agus and Lina hid here," he said, voice faint. "I gave them a lotus heart jade—to calm her Naga blood. It's still here, somewhere. The pendant will lead you."
His light dimmed. "I can't stay long… save your strength. The valley holds answers… and dangers." He vanished before they could speak.
Tong shifted in his bonds, eyes darting to his arm—Nagasith's mark glowed brighter, a beacon. He reached for his waist, where a small bead was hidden.
Nam saw it. She kicked his hand away, eyes sharp. "Try that again, and you're staying here alone."
Tan Kai's pendant grew hot—so hot he nearly dropped it. A low hiss echoed from beyond the closed cliff, distant but clear.
Nagasith was coming.
Bright finished his mango, wiping his mouth. "Well," he grinned, "we've got mangoes. And each other. Snakes and gods don't stand a chance."
Yara squeezed Tan Kai's hand. Her mark glowed, matching his. "He's right. We're together."
Tan Kai looked at his friends—Bright's messy grin, Nam's determined scowl, Yara's steady eyes—and then at the pendant. The valley stretched ahead, dark but promising, full of secrets.
He took a deep breath, lotus scent filling his lungs.
"Rest up," he said. "When we're ready… we find the jade. We find the truth."
Outside, the hiss grew louder. Inside, the team sat together—tending wounds, sharing mangoes, preparing.
The hunt wasn't over. But for now, they had each other. And that was enough.