Long Fei's breath caught in his throat. The tranquil oasis shattered. Sweltering air pressed in as the sky bled crimson and ash. Dark clouds churned above.
To his surprise, he was tackled along with Shui Yi from the streambed, knocking them out of the water. Ling Yue yelped as she got off them, "Hot! Hot! I don't want to become boiled sashimi."
Long Fei turned to see the serene waters, bubbling with terrifying intensity. Fish floated belly-up in the boiling water, their scales curling from the heat. His eyes widened. That could have been them.
The ground continued to crack open, deep fissures spreading across the earth as crimson fiery balls rained down, striking with earth-shattering force.
She narrowed her eyes, surveying the chaos. "This is getting ridiculous," she muttered. "Someone has a flair for drama."
The ground quaked violently as trees collapsed into the widening cracks. He instinctively tugged the mermaid closer to him, guarding her from the chaos around them. But the tremors were too severe. She lost her balance, stumbling as the ground buckled beneath their feet.
His balance wavered, but he quickly regained his bearings and scooped her into his arms. She buried her face against his shoulder, her arms wrapped tight around his neck as the ground crumbled beneath them.
Ling Yue flicked a sharp glance between them, then back to the chaos surrounding them. "You've got your hands full again."
Another fireball shot down from the sky, exploding just inches from where they stood. He shielded the mermaid, cradling her securely in his arms as he followed his guardian, bounding off fallen trees. She glanced back, her smirk never wavering. "Keep up, or I'll leave you two to get roasted."
A piece of burning debris plummeted towards them, and he swiftly kicked it aside, his foot catching fire as he did. He instantly snuffed the flames out on the earth. His gaze flicked to the mermaid, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The crimson fireballs. The intense heat. But how had they located him? This realm should have been out of their reach.
The sky crackled as another fireball crashed, exploding nearby. They darted through the smoke and over burnt carcasses of two-headed rabbits. His determination surged with each step, but his mind couldn't quiet the unease gnawing at him. It's too soon. Shui Yi needs more time. He tightened his grip on her as she coughed. We promised not to tell her. Our word is our bond.
Ling Yue's voice pulled him back to reality. "Master, I can see a patch of clear skies."
He nodded, subduing the unsettled feeling. We must stick to the plan. She was right; a patch of lush grass shimmered at the mountaintop ahead, untainted by terror. They hurried to the sanctuary of the unperturbed mountain. She shook her fist at the sky. "Way to ruin a moment!"
As they landed on safe ground, he observed the fiery landscape. This was a declaration. And he knew exactly who sent it. Why must they go this far?
"Master, after this quest can I show them a piece of my mind?"
He shook his head, hushed her with his glance, and pointed his head toward the mermaid. His guardian caught the cue and groaned, dragging a hand down her face. She sniffed, then pulled a new pair of boots from her mystical satchel and handed them to him.
***
Shui Yi's legs ached from the steep climb up the mountain. The air cooled as they ascended, mist curling around the jagged rocks. Trailing behind Long Fei, she clung to his arm with cautious steps, her eyes darting around as though expecting something to leap out at her.
A hiss broke the silence. Before she could react, a massive serpent shot out from the underbrush, fangs bared. She barely had time to scream before instinct took over—launching herself into his arms, clinging to his neck like a startled cat. He staggered, caught off guard, but quickly steadied himself.
A flash of steel. The snake's head was impaled mid-air. The creature convulsed before slumping to the ground, its lifeless body coiling on itself just as the guardian sheathed her blade. "Next lesson for survival: how to cook a snake."
Still draped over him, she gawked at the carcass. "That's edible?"
He exhaled and gently pried her off him. "I'll gather firewood."
She quickly let go, her face reddening as she smoothed her hair, feigning composure. "Right, of course."
The mermaid watched in disbelief as the guardian knelt and swiftly carved into the serpent's head, tossing white pieces to the side. The ground sizzled as the venom soaked it.
Ling Yue arched a brow, her smirk widening, as she wiped her blade. "Relax, I'm on top of the food chain here."
She twirled the dagger before placing the handle into her grip and gesturing to the snake. "Now, time to learn. I've done the hard part of removing the venom sacs, you just need to dice and season it."
Shui Yi recoiled from the dead snake, still twitching. "You expect me to cut that?"
Reluctantly, she crouched beside her, wrinkling her nose as she tried to follow the instructions. Her grip was clumsy.
Ling Yue sighed, then reached into her mystical satchel, pulling out a small jar and popping it open.
"Here, sniff this. Trust me, sprinkle this, and anything will taste divine."
Shui Yi took a cautious sniff—then sneezed violently, the powder exploding into her face.
Ling Yue pressed her lips together, barely holding back laughter. "Oops. Wrong jar." She hummed innocently and handed her another jar. "Try this one."
Shui Yi scowled, wiping at the spice now dusted over her skin. "You did that on purpose."
She eyed her suspiciously this time. Instead of sniffing, she dabbed a finger into the powder and licked it.
A beat passed. Then her tongue burned. She gasped, flailing as she fanned her mouth. "Water! Water—!"
Her cheeky companion doubled over, laughing so hard she nearly toppled over.
Long Fei returned to find her in a disheveled mess—face covered in spice, silver hair damp with sweat, tongue hanging out as she gasped for air. He stopped mid-step, eyes widening slightly.
She turned to him, her expression pleading.
He took one look and, without a word, stepped back.
Ling Yue collapsed into another fit of laughter.
As he stacked the firewood, he noticed the mountain wind, once crisp, had gone too still. Ling Yue had stopped laughing. The mirth in her eyes faded as she met his gaze.
They share a knowing nod. She swiftly packed everything. "Playtime is over."