Tang San had sat in the Sea God Temple for half a day, with three wooden plaques beside his chair. Bo Saixi had personally written "head," "left leg," and "torso" on them, then pushed a fourth plaque toward him.
"The Eight Spider Lances don't count here," she said. "Tang Hao has been keeping the right leg bone your mother left behind. He hasn't decided when to give it to you."
Tang San nodded. Ah Yin had sacrificed herself to protect Tang Hao, and the bone she had left behind was bound up with their family's past. He did not want to press his father to hand it over merely because a trial required it. That evening, Tang Hao came to the island by boat on his own, carrying a pot of Blue Silver Grass, with Tang Xiao following behind him.
"When your mother heard you'd killed that whale, her leaves shook for ages." Tang Hao set the flowerpot on the table. "I told her you were still short a few Spirit Bones, and she wrapped herself around my hand."
Ah Yin's leaves reached over the edge of the table and gently touched Tang San's fingertips. Tang Hao took the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone from the wooden case he carried and placed it before her. Her leaves first rested against the bone, then reached over to Tang San's wrist.
"Mom, I'll put it to good use," Tang San said.
Tang Hao did not urge him to absorb it. Instead, he closed the wooden case again and asked about his injuries from the battle with the Demon Whale. Tang San admitted that his breastbone still hurt, so Tang Hao pressed him back into his chair. Father and son remained there, one sitting and one standing, with Ah Yin between them.