The Announcement
The elder announcer's voice rang sharp over the courtyard:
"Next round of the Poison Fang Tournament—
Shen Lian versus Zhao Yunhai!"
The words hit the crowd like a thunderclap.
⸻
The Crowd Explodes
Gasps, cheers, and jeers erupted all at once.
"At last! Zhao Yunhai will crush the cripple!"
"No—didn't you see? Shen Lian broke Bao Zhi. Maybe he can—"
"Silence! Yunhai is Kun's cousin. He'll tear him apart!"
The terraces shook with stamping feet and roars.
⸻
Zhao Yunhai
Zhao Yunhai's grin widened, his fists clenched, venom qi coiling thick around him like living serpents. His eyes locked onto Shen Lian across the courtyard.
"At last," he growled. "Kun, I'll avenge you. And I'll show this cripple what true strength is."
The air around him hissed as his qi surged.
⸻
Su Rou
Su Rou's breath caught, her hand trembling against her lips. She remembered Zhao Kun's broken, drained body—and now his cousin, stronger, crueler, would step onto the platform.
Her heart ached with terror. Shen Lian had survived every battle, but each time he returned more shadow than man.
This time… could he?
⸻
The Elders
In the Hall of Green Flames, the elders murmured furiously.
"Perfect. Yunhai will expose him."
"He'll be forced to bloom."
"Or he'll be crushed before he can."
Sect Master Hei Zong's face remained grim, unmoving.
Mo Xuan's smile widened faintly. "Yes," he whispered. "The serpent fangs meet the lotus petals. Let us see which poisons last longer."
⸻
Cliffhanger
On the platform, Shen Lian raised his head slowly, his gray eyes meeting Zhao Yunhai's blazing glare.
The lotus pulsed inside him, its petals trembling, whispering.
Blood of kin. Rage of kin. Feed us.
Shen Lian's lips curved faintly.
"Then let us see," he murmured, "who devours who."