The hospital waiting room smelled like antiseptic and burnt coffee. Rui sat on a plastic chair, her legs crossed, flipping through her notebook. The pages were filled with sketches of runes, talismans, and maps—notes from their cases, clues to future ones. She'd just finished drawing the Yin Nest's layout when Ye walked out of Dao Feng's exam room, a small smile on his face.
"He's awake," Ye said, pulling up a chair beside her. "Doctor says he's dehydrated and malnourished, but nothing a few good meals won't fix. He's asking for you."
Rui closed her notebook, standing. "Let's go."
Dao Feng's room was small, with a window overlooking the hospital's parking lot. He lay in the bed, an IV in his arm, a hospital gown draped over his thin frame. When he saw Rui, his face lit up.
"Agent Rui," he said, his voice stronger than before. "Thank you. For saving me. For not giving up on Shaoyang."
Rui pulled up a chair, sitting beside the bed. "I didn't do anything Ye couldn't have done alone. He's the one who refused to believe you were dead." She paused, nodding at the whole Xuanqing Whisk, which lay on the nightstand. "That's quite a treasure. Ye says it's from Xuanqing Mountain."
Dao Feng smiled, reaching for the whisk. He ran his fingers over its silver bristles, his eyes softening. "It was our master's—Qingyunzi. He gave it to me when I became his senior disciple. Said it's made from the wood of a 500-year-old peach tree on the mountain. It can control Yin energy, seal spirits… even open the Underworld, if used wrong." He looked at her, his voice serious. "That's why Feng Xinyu wanted it. She thought it could bring her family back. But it doesn't work that way—opening the Underworld only lets more spirits out. More pain."
Ye leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Master always said the whisk was a responsibility, not a weapon. Dao Feng forgot that, once. Tried to use it to seal a powerful spirit in Sichuan. Almost got himself killed."
Dao Feng laughed, a quiet, hoarse sound. "I was young. Stupid. Thought I could save everyone." He looked at Rui, his gaze shifting to the jade pendant around her neck. "That's Guan Yin. Good choice—she's the goddess of mercy. Her energy calms Yin spirits."
Rui touched the pendant, surprised he'd noticed it. "Ye gave it to me. Back when we first met."
Ye's cheeks turned pink, and he looked away. "It was just a trinket. Nothing special."
Dao Feng raised an eyebrow. "A 'trinket' that's been blessed by three Taoist monks? Shaoyang, you've never given anyone a blessed pendant before. Not even me."
Rui laughed, and Ye glared at his brother. "Shut up, Dao Feng. You're still recovering—you shouldn't be teasing me."
Before Dao Feng could respond, there was a knock on the door. Lao Guo poked his head in, holding a paper bag. "Brought soup. Chicken and ginseng—good for rebuilding yang energy." He set the bag on the nightstand, his eyes lingering on the whisk. "Master Qingyunzi would be proud. You brought it back."
Dao Feng nodded, his smile fading. "Master… is he okay? I haven't heard from him in ten years."
Lao Guo's face softened. "He's fine. Still on Xuanqing Mountain, drinking too much rice wine and forgetting to water his plants. He's been worried about you—sent Shaoyang to New York to find you, even though he knew it was dangerous."
Ye crossed his arms. "Master said if I didn't find you, he'd send Dao Feng's favorite dumplings to the Underworld. Said you'd come back just to steal them."
Dao Feng laughed, wincing slightly. "Sounds like him. I need to call him. Tell him I'm okay."
Lao Guo pulled out a phone from his apron pocket. "Already did. He's ecstatic. Said he'll send you a care package—rice wine, dumpling mix, and a new set of talismans. Said you'll need them." He paused, his voice serious. "He also said… there's trouble on the mountain. A group of ex-disciples, led by Zhou Lin, are trying to steal the zombie king's seal. They want to use it to take over the mountain."
Ye's jaw tightened. "Zhou Lin. I remember him. He was exiled ten years ago for trying to steal the whisk. Master said he'd never come back."
Dao Feng shook his head. "Zhou Lin's greedy. He'll stop at nothing to get power. If he breaks the zombie king's seal… the zombie king will escape. He'll spread Yin energy across China. Maybe even the world."
Rui sat up straight, her notebook in hand. "Zombie king? What's that?"
Dao Feng sighed. "A powerful spirit, trapped in a Ming Dynasty tomb on Xuanqing Mountain. He was a warlord in life—killed thousands, then came back as a zombie, feeding on Yin energy. Our ancestors sealed him 500 years ago. The seal's weakening, though. Zhou Lin wants to break it, control the zombie king, and rule over all spirits."
Ye ran a hand through his hair. "We need to go to Xuanqing Mountain. Stop Zhou Lin before he breaks the seal."
Rui looked at him, her heart sinking. "When?"
"Once Dao Feng's better," Ye said, his eyes meeting hers. "In a week, maybe two. I don't want to leave you, but—"
Rui cut him off, placing a hand on his arm. "I'm coming with you. The SPU can handle New York's cases. You need a medium, remember? And someone to keep you from getting into trouble with your master."
Ye's face lit up. "Really? You'd come to China with me?"
"Of course," Rui said, smiling. "We're partners. Partners stick together."
Dao Feng cleared his throat, grinning. "Can we not have a moment of brotherly reunion without you two flirting? I'm still in a hospital bed, you know."
Ye and Rui's cheeks turned pink, and they both looked away. Lao Guo laughed, handing Dao Feng a bowl of soup. "Eat. You need to get strong. We've got a mountain to save."
They stayed for an hour, talking about Xuanqing Mountain—its pine forests, its Taoist temples, the way the sunrise painted the peaks pink. Dao Feng told stories of Ye as a kid: how he'd snuck out to watch movies in the nearby town, how he'd cried when his first peachwood sword broke, how he'd once tried to feed a stray cat ginseng (and gotten scolded by Master Qingyunzi).
When it was time to leave, Ye leaned down, hugging Dao Feng. "Rest. We'll be back tomorrow."
Dao Feng nodded, squeezing his brother's hand. "Be careful. And take care of Rui. She's too good for you."
Ye rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "Shut up."
Rui said goodbye to Dao Feng and Lao Guo, then walked out of the hospital with Ye. The night air was cool, the stars bright above. Ye took her hand, his fingers lacing with hers.
"Thank you," he said, his voice soft. "For wanting to come with me. For everything."
Rui squeezed his hand. "Always, Ye. Always."
They walked to Ye's bike, the night quiet around them. As they climbed on, Rui thought about Xuanqing Mountain, about the zombie king, about Zhou Lin. It would be dangerous—more dangerous than anything they'd faced yet. But she wasn't scared.
She had Ye. She had a partner.
And together, they could face anything.