“Yes,” Guanyin said solemnly. “And Xi Wangmu.”
“They both have, ah, slightly evil tendencies,” Nezha supplied. “Therapy didn’t help.”
This was news to everyone except Ren and me, and it showed in the confused and horrified expressions on the warriors’ faces. I knew the gods had asked us to keep quiet about the Jade Emperor’s evil plans so the warriors could peacefully concentrate on their training without mass panic, but was this really a better solution? Now half of them looked on the verge of a heart attack.
“We didn’t reveal the Jade Emperor’s plot earlier, because we feared it would cause panic,” Guanyin explained, shaking her head.
“And what will you have us do now that we know, gods?” Xiong asked. His face was inscrutable, but the sweat shining on his brow gave away his nervousness. I hadn’t seen the master of the New Order look so out of sorts since the day we’d landed here in the midst of a battle.
Nezha’s face became serious. “With the Hungry Ghost Festival beginning, we don’t have a moment to waste. The Jade Emperor believes he and his deities can contain the demons as they regain their power, but he’s wrong.”
In a reassuring voice that reassured no one, Guanyin added, “Luckily, many of the deities have yet to choose a side. We must recruit as many as possible. If we don’t stop the demons during the Hungry Ghost Festival, even the gods won’t be able to withstand the evil that will wipe out the Earth.”
CHAPTER
4
A short, shocked silence filled the temple. Then the warriors murmured as the news sank in. Some sounded excited. Others, frightened.
Since the olden times, the greatest of warriors undertook tasks in service of the gods. That meant protecting the people of Earth from demons when the gods were busy with their important godly tasks, like ensuring peace in the world, controlling the weather, or channel surfing through their TV shows. (Yup, gods had their own TV channels.) There was the great general Yue Fei, who never lost a battle and once even defeated one hundred thousand enemy soldiers with only five hundred men. Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk who traveled to India to bring back a set of Buddhist scriptures to China. And you can’t forget the greatest of them all—the dude who invented dim sum. The list of heroes went on and on.
When Alex and I had undertaken a quest for the Jade Society during the Lunar New Year, we’d considered it an honor. Now, the thought of any warrior taking on such a dangerous and difficult task brought me no joy. Only bone-deep fear and horrible memories I’d locked away for months.
Ren’s face drained of color. “This—this is—”
“Awesome,” squeaked Jordan. “Fantastic. Great.” He paused, and his face brightened. “Does this mean I won’t have to be on laundry duty next week?”
Ashley jabbed her brother in the rib cage.
“Ow! What?”
“Don’t joke about something as serious as quests, dweeb.”
“I’m just trying to look on the bright side. Bright Tide, I mean.” He nudged his sister, who stared back at him, stone-faced. “Geddit? Tide? Like the laundry detergent? ’Cause I won’t be on laundry duty?”
“I’m gonna punch you,” Ashley threatened.
Erlang Shen cleared his throat and closed his eyes. A familiar, peaceful expression fell across his face—the same one he’d worn when he’d revealed the riddle for our first quest in the Jade Society.
“Bad poetry incoming,” I groaned.
“Bad poetry?” Ren and Jordan echoed in alarm.
“To seek the weapon of greatest power,
five warriors must search the highest heights and lowest depths,
and when darkness reaches its greatest hour,
an old ally will return from the brink of death.”
I had to give Erlang Shen some credit. His poetry had improved since the Lunar New Year. At least this one rhymed.
But why would Erlang Shen give us a riddle to solve instead of just telling us what to do—especially if we were short on time? Annoyance surged inside me. Even the gods who were on the warriors’ side wouldn’t stop making our lives difficult.
After Erlang Shen finished, the warriors began clapping and murmuring to one another. An old ally will return from the brink of death. My thoughts leapt immediately to my friend Moli, who’d died during our battle back on Peng Lai Island. Could that line refer to her?
Or Alex. Alex was a former ally, too. How safe was he really as the new Heaven Breaker and a fresh Heavenly General?
Or—Ba. He’d also come back from the brink of death. Maybe, somehow, this quest would restore Ba’s memories and return him to me.
I knew it was foolish thinking, but still, hope swelled in my chest.
“Three of the five warriors will be selected from the New Order,” Nezha declared, which set off more murmurs from the warriors.
“What about the other two?” Ren asked.
“They’re not gonna take some Jade Society clowns, are they?” Ashley muttered not so quietly. I shot her a dirty look.
“That is none of your concern.” Erlang Shen turned his three-eyed gaze to Ashley. That shut her up real quick.
A motion parted the crowd. The men, women, and children bowed their heads toward the person making his way past them—Xiong.
The old man got onto his knees, pressed the palms of his hands together, and bowed low to the gods.
“Guanyin, Nezha, Erlang Shen,” said Xiong. “Thank you for gracing our Chinatown with your presence and for delivering the news of the quest.”
“You’re welcome,” said Guanyin.
“We regard the gods with the utmost respect and welcome you to stay in the New Order for as long as you desire. To answer your call would be our greatest honor. Tonight, my young warriors will duel to determine which three are the worthiest of embarking on this quest.”
“D … duel?” I whispered to Ren.
“Sounds, uh.” He gulped. “Fun.”
“The Duels are a New Order tradition going back five hundred years. The young warriors—those who have yet to come of age—must challenge one another, prove their capabilities to their elders, and earn the right to go on a quest,” Xiong elaborated. “It’s been fifty years since we last hosted the Duels, warriors, and this, the Ninety-Sixth Duels, shall be the grandest yet.”
“Sweet. I’ve always wanted a fight to the death,” Ashley whispered.
“You’re joking,” Ren said shakily. “She’s joking, right? About fighting to the death?” He turned toward Jordan, sweat beading his forehead.
Jordan flashed a reassuring smile. “’Course Ashley’s joking. Worst that’s happened in the past were people getting hospitalized for months.”
“Well, that’s fine,” I squeaked.
“The Ninety-Sixth Duels will be a rigorous and dangerous process,” Xiong was saying to a rapt audience.
Ashley added in a pointed whisper, “Not something you’d want to try if you’ve only been here for half a year.”
I rolled my eyes. As if I even wanted to duel people to go on another quest for the gods. I didn’t have another brother to lose on this one.
“Very well,” said Erlang Shen. “We’ll soon see which of you young warriors are worthy to take on this quest for the gods. Don’t dally. Remember—you only have until tomorrow.”