Early the next morning, Oscar stepped out of the courtyard and yawned into the cool breeze.
The moment his foot left the ground covered in Blue Silver Grass, his expression changed. He doubled over and braced a hand against the doorframe.
"Oscar, what's wrong?"
Ma Hongjun came up behind him, but before he could finish speaking, Oscar dropped to his knees. His forehead struck the ground with a dull thud.
"My dantian... it hurts. My Soul Power is leaking away."
"Sit down!"
Ning Rongrong hurried over to support him. As soon as the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda lit up, the pain in Oscar's abdomen intensified. His fourth Soul Ring flickered, and the Soul Power he had just gathered drained steadily through his meridians.
Tang San was checking on Yu Xiaogang beside the carriage. He turned at once when he heard the commotion.
"Nobody move."
He strode over, Blue Silver Grass extending from his palm. Its vines wrapped around Oscar's waist and abdomen.
Soul Power flowed through the Blue Silver Grass into Oscar's body, drawing his scattered energy back into his meridians. His fourth Soul Ring steadied. Oscar gasped several times before he could hold himself upright.
"What was that?" Ning Rongrong asked.
Oscar clutched his stomach.
"I don't know. It started hurting when I left the courtyard. The farther I went, the worse it got."
Unconvinced, Ma Hongjun leaped onto the wall.
"I'll try going out."
"Fatty, come back!" Tang San reached to stop him, but Ma Hongjun had already spread his arms.
The wings of the Evil Fire Phoenix had barely risen when their flames flickered across his shoulders and back, then the entire pair lost its support. He fell from the wall and struck the ground chest-first with a pained grunt.
"My Soul Power's gone." Ma Hongjun