The last water sword over the sea plunged into darkness. Chen Wuya's body swayed. Bai Zhi immediately reached out to support him. His breathing was heavy, one arm draped over her shoulder as his full weight pressed down on her.
"Go," he said hoarsely. "We can't stop here."
Mo Feng ran out from behind the reef, carrying the broken frame of the mechanical bird in his hand. "There's a secret chamber on the island, used by the elders of every generation for secluded cultivation. In your condition, we need to check whether there's anything inside that can stabilize your meridians."
Chen Wuya said nothing, only nodded. Bai Zhi supported him as they made their way deeper into the island, step by step. The sand beneath their feet gradually gave way to bluestone stairs, damp moss clinging to the cracks and making them slippery underfoot.
After climbing a steep slope, the three found a stone door ahead. Several words were carved into it: "Only those whose hearts are bound as one may enter."
Mo Feng stopped. "Only people whose hearts truly understand each other can open this door. So many masters tried to force their way in before, and every one of them had their meridians injured by the backlash."
Chen Wuya looked at Bai Zhi. She was looking at him too.
They raised their hands at the same time, pressing their palms against either side of the stone door. Warmth flowed from their fingertips, as though something within their bodies were gently trembling. The door gave a muffled rumble and slowly slid inward.
There were no lamps inside. Only a few strands of faint light filtered down through cracks in the ceiling. A stone platform stood in the center, with a yellowed handwritten scroll resting atop it.
Bai Zhi released