The next morning, Chengdu's sky was gray with smoke from the warehouse fire. Ye, Rui, and Dao Feng sat in the tea shop, drinking hot tea to warm their hands. Li Na had just left—she was coordinating with the fire department to search the debris for clues, but they all knew Zhou Lin was long gone.
"He's heading for the Black Tiger Tomb," Dao Feng said, staring into his tea cup. His voice was quiet, almost guilty. "I know it. The zombie king's seal is there. That's what he's been after all along."
Ye looked up, his eyebrows furrowed. "Black Tiger Tomb? I thought that was just a legend—something Master told us to scare us as kids."
"It's real," Dao Feng said, his fingers tightening around his cup. "Built during the Ming Dynasty. That's where the zombie king is sealed. I was there, once. Ten years ago, when the zombies first escaped. Master sent me to help seal them, but I messed up. Let three get away. That's how Zhou Lin found them—how he made the Earth Zombies."
Rui set down her tea, leaning forward. "What happened? Tell us."
Dao Feng took a deep breath, his eyes distant. "I was 18. Fresh from Xuanqing Mountain, full of pride. I thought I could handle anything. Master gave me the whisk, told me to seal the escaped zombies in the tomb. But Zhou Lin was there—he'd been exiled a year before, but he snuck back. He tricked me—said he wanted to help. I believed him. While I was drawing the seal, he released three zombies. They attacked me, and I dropped the whisk. I barely got away. Master was furious… but he never told anyone I'd failed. He just said the zombies had slipped through the cracks."
Tears welled in his eyes. "I've carried that guilt for ten years. Every time I thought about the zombies hurting people… I knew it was my fault. That's why I went after Feng Xinyu in New York. I thought if I could seal her, I could make up for it. But I got trapped in the Yin Nest instead."
Ye reached across the table, squeezing his brother's hand. "You were a kid, Dao Feng. Zhou Lin tricked you. That's not your fault."
Rui nodded. "And we're fixing it now. Together. We'll go to the Black Tiger Tomb, reinforce the seal, and stop Zhou Lin before he can break it."
Dao Feng smiled, wiping his eyes. "Thank you. Both of you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
They spent the afternoon preparing: Ye sharpened his peachwood sword and made more Soul-Inviting Talismans; Rui carved new rune chips (Algiz for protection, Sowilo for light) and refilled her holy water bottles; Dao Feng cleaned the Xuanqing Whisk, its silver bristles glowing brighter with each wipe. Li Na brought them a map of the Black Tiger Tomb—drawn by a local archaeologist who'd studied it decades ago.
"The tomb is hidden in the hills outside Chengdu," she said, pointing to a red X. "The entrance is covered in vines, but there's a stone door—carved with Taoist symbols. Be careful inside. The archaeologist's notes say the tomb is full of traps—poison darts, collapsing floors. And the Yin energy is off the charts."
Ye folded the map, tucking it into his bag. "We'll be careful. And we'll call you if we need backup."
They left Chengdu at dusk, driving Li Na's car up winding mountain roads. The sun set as they arrived, painting the hills pink and orange. The Black Tiger Tomb's entrance was exactly as Li Na had described: a stone door hidden behind thick vines, its surface carved with symbols of tigers and Taoist deities.
Ye cut the vines with his sword, revealing the door. Dao Feng stepped forward, placing his hand on the stone. "The seal is weak here," he said, his voice serious. "I can feel it. The zombie king is waking up."
Rui touched her jade pendant—it was glowing bright blue, the strongest it had ever been. The whispers were loud now, angry and hungry. Free me… blood… power…
Ye pushed the door open, and it creaked on its hinges. Inside, the tomb was dark, the only light coming from the Xuanqing Whisk. They stepped inside, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. The first chamber was small, with walls covered in murals—scenes of battles, of monks sealing a dark figure.
"This way," Dao Feng said, pointing to a narrow passage. "The main chamber—where the zombie king is sealed—is through here."
They walked through the passage, their steps echoing. The air grew colder, and Rui's breath fogged in front of her. Suddenly, the floor shook, and poison darts shot from the walls. Ye pulled Rui out of the way, his body shielding hers. Dao Feng swung the whisk, a silver light forming a shield around them. The darts bounced off, clattering to the floor.
"Thanks," Rui said, her heart racing.
Ye smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Always."
They reached the main chamber—a large, circular room with a domed ceiling. In the center, a stone altar stood, and on top of it was a wooden box—the zombie king's seal. The box was cracked, and black smoke seeped out, curling toward the ceiling.
"The seal is breaking," Dao Feng said, stepping forward. "We need to reinforce it—now."
Ye pulled out his talismans, placing them around the altar. "Rui, use your medium energy to calm the Yin energy. Dao Feng, use the whisk to channel yang energy. I'll draw the reinforcing symbols."
They got to work. Rui closed her eyes, her hands glowing blue. She sent waves of calm energy toward the seal, and the black smoke slowed. Dao Feng held the whisk over the box, its silver bristles glowing. Ye dipped his brush in cinnabar, drawing complex symbols on the altar—curved lines, sharp angles, circles that hummed with energy.
Suddenly, the door to the chamber slammed shut. Zhou Lin stood in the doorway, a grin on his face. "You're too late," he said. "The seal is already breaking. The zombie king will be mine."
He pulled out a dagger, lunging at Dao Feng. Dao Feng dodged, swinging the whisk. A burst of light hit Zhou Lin, and he stumbled back. "I'm not letting you win, Zhou Lin. Not this time."
The seal's box exploded, and a dark figure rose from the debris—tall, wearing ancient armor, his skin gray and rotting. The zombie king. He roared, a sound that shook the chamber, and lunged at Ye.
Ye swung his sword, cutting through the zombie king's arm. Black blood oozed out, but the king didn't slow down. "Rui! Now!" Ye yelled.
Rui threw a handful of rune chips, which exploded in a shower of blue light. The zombie king hissed, stepping back. Dao Feng swung the whisk, wrapping the king in silver light. "Seal him! Quick!"
Ye drew a final symbol on the altar, his brush moving fast. The symbol glowed gold, and the zombie king screamed. His body began to dissolve, black smoke curling upward. Zhou Lin yelled, running toward the king, but Ye tackled him to the ground.
"It's over," Ye said, his sword pressed to Zhou Lin's neck.
The zombie king dissolved completely, and the seal's box closed, its cracks disappearing. The chamber went quiet, except for Zhou Lin's ragged breathing.
Li Na burst through the door, her gun drawn. "Is it over?"
Ye nodded, standing. "It is. The zombie king is sealed. Zhou Lin's under arrest."
They dragged Zhou Lin out of the tomb, the sun rising as they emerged. The hills were bathed in golden light, and the air smelled like pine and fresh earth. Dao Feng looked at the tomb, a weight lifting from his shoulders.
"I finally made it right," he said, his voice soft.
Ye clapped him on the back. "You did. And we're proud of you."
Rui smiled, taking Ye's hand. "Let's go home. I think we've earned a break."
As they drove back to Chengdu, Dao Feng fell asleep in the backseat, the Xuanqing Whisk resting on his lap. Ye and Rui sat in the front, their hands laced together. The danger was over—for now. But they knew there would be more cases, more spirits, more adventures.
And they'd face them together.