The massive explosion outside the Water Temple echoed through the ocean.
Without wasting another second, Yuna stepped forward and raised her hand.
Yuna: "Everyone, hold my hand. We're teleporting out of here."
Everyone quickly grabbed each other's hands.
Just before the teleportation activated—
Leo: "Oh my God... does that mean... I don't have to fight the Poison Girl again this time?"
Silence.
Everyone slowly turned toward him.
Leo froze.
"..."
Then he realized what had just come out of his mouth.
Cold sweat rolled down his face.
Lily's aura slowly exploded.
Lily: "...What did you just say?"
The water around them started shaking.
Leo immediately waved both hands.
Leo: "W-Wait! That's not what I meant! I was talking about the Martial Artist Killer! I swear!"
Chen Wei: "Seriously...? NOW you two want to start a married couple argument?"
He grabbed Leo's shoulder.
Chen Wei: "Mission first. Domestic problems later."
Yuna: "Hold on tight."
Blue light surrounded everyone.
WHOOSH!!
In the next instant...
They disappeared from the Water Temple.
---
They reappeared outside the Water Park.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Then, almost at the same time...
Leo and Chen Wei looked toward the shy Water Guardian.
Both spoke together.
Leo & Chen Wei: "...By the way... what's your name?"
The girl immediately hid behind Raika again.
Raika smiled gently.
Raika: "Go on."
The girl softly answered,
"...Mizuna."
Leo smiled.
Leo: "Mizuna... that's a beautiful name."
Mizuna's face instantly turned red.
She quietly hid behind Raika once again.
Sahara laughed.
Sahara: "She's still as shy as ever."
---
Meanwhile...
Inside the Water Temple...
The Poison Girl and the Martial Artist Killer finally arrived.
The gigantic Octopus Guardian blocked the entrance.
Octopus Guardian: "No one shall pass."
The Martial Artist Killer didn't even reply.
He slowly unsheathed his sword.
One step.
One swing.
SHIIIIING!!
A terrifying sword slash cut through the ocean itself.
For a brief second...
The water separated into two halves.
The slash passed straight through the Octopus Guardian.
Silence.
Then—
BOOM!!
The Octopus Guardian collapsed.
The sea slowly closed again.
The Martial Artist Killer calmly sheathed his sword.
Poison Girl: "Let's go."
They entered the temple.
Empty.
No guardians.
No Water Core.
Nothing.
The Poison Girl clicked her tongue.
Poison Girl: "Pathetic..."
"We're late again."
The Martial Artist Killer looked toward the empty chamber.
"...Then we'll have to capture the Weapon Guardian."
"The strongest among the five sisters."
"If we control her..."
"...the others will eventually follow."
The Poison Girl smiled.
"Exactly."
---
Back outside...
Leo suddenly opened his backpack.
"...Huh?"
He searched once.
Twice.
Three times.
His expression slowly changed.
"...No way."
He shoved both hands deeper into the bag.
Nothing.
His eyes widened.
Then—
LEO: "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Everyone jumped.
Chen Wei rushed over.
Chen Wei: "Have you gone insane?!"
THAP!
He smacked Leo on the head.
"This is a Water Park! Why are you screaming like that?!"
Leo nervously looked around before whispering,
"...Please don't tell anyone."
"I..."
"...lost the Wind Temple Key."
Chen Wei blinked.
"...What?"
Leo repeated it.
"...I lost the Wind Temple Key."
Chen Wei's face twisted.
He slowly inhaled...
Then—
CHEN WEI: "WHAAAAAT?!?!"
People inside the Water Park turned to look at them.
Chen Wei grabbed Leo's shoulders.
"If the girls find out..."
"...WE'RE BOTH DEAD!!"
Leo awkwardly laughed.
"...Hehehe..."
Chen Wei stared at him.
"...This isn't the time to laugh."
---
Leo immediately turned toward the three guardians.
Leo: "Sahara... Raika... Mizuna."
"I want the three of you to return to Headquarters."
"It's too dangerous to stay with us."
"My butler will escort you safely."
Mizuna timidly raised her hand.
Mizuna: "...Why are you gathering all of us together?"
Sahara smiled.
"I'll explain everything later."
Raika gently patted Mizuna's head.
"Don't worry."
"We'll stay together."
Leo nodded before making another call.
Leo: "Jonathan."
"Take these three safely to Headquarters."
Jonathan replied immediately.
Jonathan: "Understood, Young Master."
The luxury car drove away with the three guardians.
---
Chen Wei slowly looked toward Leo.
"...Should I tell Lily and Yuna..."
"...or will you?"
Before Leo could answer—
A hand suddenly grabbed his ear.
TWIST!!
Leo: "AAAAAAHHHH!!"
Lily smiled...
A terrifying smile.
Lily: "You lost..."
"...the Wind Temple Key?"
Leo almost cried.
"I-I don't know how!"
"It was inside my bag!"
"The moment we entered the Water Temple..."
"...it disappeared!"
Yuna sighed while facepalming.
"I knew something like this would happen someday..."
---
Leo quickly called Headquarters.
The call connected.
On the other side...
Chen Wei's mother was holding little Leon.
Leo: "MOM!!"
"I lost the Wind Temple Key!!"
Instead of panicking...
She laughed.
"Hahaha..."
Leo froze.
"...Why are you laughing?"
She smiled.
"I wanted to tell you before."
"But you left too quickly."
"The Wind Temple Key..."
"...has its own consciousness."
Leo blinked.
"...What?"
"It never stays in one place."
"It loves flying."
"Sometimes it sneaks onto airplanes."
"Sometimes it disappears into the clouds."
Leo stood there in complete disbelief.
"...WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME EARLIER?!"
She continued calmly.
"I already booked tickets for you."
"The Wind Temple is hidden above the clouds..."
"...over one of China's largest cities."
"There is a secret civilization living in the sky."
"A Wind Martial Arts Clan."
"They specialize only in long-range combat."
"They don't punch."
"They don't kick."
"They fight using compressed wind."
"One mistake..."
"...and your body will be sliced apart before you even realize it."
Everyone listening became silent.
Even Chen Wei looked serious.
Lily quietly swallowed.
"...That sounds dangerous."
Chen Wei nodded.
"...Very dangerous."
Leo sighed.
"...Looks like our next mission just became harder."
Before he could end the call—
Lily gently took the phone from his hand.
Lily: "Mom..."
"...How's Leon?"
Chen Wei's mother looked down.
Little Leon was crawling around the room...
Trying to bite a steel wrench.
She quickly took it away.
"...He's perfectly fine."
"I'll take good care of him."
"You just focus on your mission."
Lily smiled softly.
"Thank you."
The call ended.
Leo looked toward the distant sky.
Hidden somewhere...
Above the clouds...
The Wind Temple was waiting.
And so...
Their next journey began.
---
Author Note
Thank you so much for reading! ❤️
The next arc will take us to the Wind Temple, which is completely different from the previous temples. There will be aerial battles, mysterious martial artists, and many new secrets waiting above the clouds.
See you all in the next chapter! 🌪️