The Lotus Blooms From Ash

Ne Zha could only replay every moment of anger and resentment he had felt towards his parents in his mind again and again.

The birthday celebration, which he had thought was a cruel joke at his expense, now took on a new, heartbreaking meaning. His father wasn't celebrating his demise; he was trying to give Ne Zha one last moment of joy before sacrificing himself as a final act of his love. 

Taiyi knelt beside his former student, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Ne Zha, your parents' love for you has never wavered. They have always wanted to protect you, even at great cost to themselves."

Ne Zha ground his teeth in frustration. "I have to go back," he declared. "I have to stop my father from sacrificing himself. I have to make things right."

Taiyi's eyes widened. "What will you do?"

Ne Zha shook his head, allowing the crimson armillary sash to weave its way around his arms. "I won't let anyone else suffer because of me, It's time I faced my destiny head-on."

"Thank you, Master Taiyi," Ne Zha said, bowing quickly to his teacher.

With that, Ne Zha summoned his wind and fire wheels, the golden rings swooping under his feet. He grabbed his fire-tipped spear and prepared to take off.

Ne Zha raced towards the village, his wind and fire wheels making him look like a comet in the sky. 

As the village came into view, Ne Zha's eyes widened in shock. Above the town, a massive sheet of ice hovered ominously, casting a dark shadow over the panicked villagers below. Atop this frozen monstrith, Ne Zha spotted a familiar draconic form - Ao Bing in his true dragon state.

"Ao Bing?" Ne Zha gasped, momentarily thrown off by the sight. "What is he doing?"

Realization dawned on Ne Zha as he watched Ao Bing using his immense weight and momentum to force the frozen mass downwards. The dragon's intention became horrifyingly clear - he meant to entomb the entire village under a crushing layer of ice.

Ne Zha cursed, gritting his teeth. He adjusted his course, aiming directly for the massive ice sheet and the dragon atop it.

As he approached, Ne Zha pondered the complexity of the situation. Ao Bing wasn't just acting out of malice; he couldn't be, there had to be a reason for this drastic action. Ne Zha remembered their friendship, the moments they had shared. There had to be a reason, there's no way Ao Bing would do something like this.

As Ne Zha hurtled towards the massive sheet of ice, his body erupted into a blazing fireball, the intensity of his power causing him to glow like a second sun in the sky. Ao Bing, still in his dragon form atop the ice, only saw this massive fireball approaching and braced himself for impact.

However, at the last moment, Ne Zha swooped underneath the enormous ice sheet. With a grunt of exertion, he pressed his hands against the underside of the ice, his muscles straining as he attempted to halt its descent. The heat emanating from his body began to melt the ice where he touched it, creating a cloud of steam around him.

Ne Zha found himself bearing not just the tremendous weight of the ice, but also the additional force of Ao Bing's massive dragon form pressing down on him from above. The strain was immense, far greater than anything Ne Zha had ever experienced before. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, and sweat poured down his face, instantly turning to steam in the intense heat he was generating.

"Ao Bing!" Ne Zha shouted, "Stop this!"

From above, Ao Bing was momentarily confused by the sudden resistance. He pressed down harder, not realizing it was Ne Zha beneath the ice. The added pressure caused Ne Zha to sink slightly, the wheels under his feet spinning rapidly as he struggled to maintain his position.

In the village below, people began to notice the massive sheet of ice had stopped descending. They looked up in awe and fear, wondering what force could possibly be holding back such an immense weight.

Ne Zha gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't hold this position forever. He had to find a way to reach Ao Bing, to make him understand. But with every passing second, the weight seemed to increase, and Ne Zha's strength was rapidly depleting.

"Ao Bing!" he cried out again, louder this time. "It's me, Ne Zha!"

As the weight of the ice and Ao Bing's dragon form continued to press down, Ne Zha realized he was rapidly approaching his limit. His arms trembled with exertion, and he could feel his strength waning with each passing second. He knew he had to do something drastic, or the entire village would be crushed.

In that moment of desperation, Ne Zha made a critical decision. He began to chant, his voice resonating with the power of ancient magic. The universe collar around his neck began to glow and loosen as arcs of golden energy swirled around it.

With a final burst of power, the collar broke free, clattering against the ice above him. Ne Zha quickly grabbed it with one hand, maintaining his hold on the ice with the other. In a swift motion, he attached the collar to his wrist instead of his neck.

The effect was immediate and intense. Ne Zha felt a surge of power course through his body, his muscles bulging and his form growing. He transformed into his true form - that of a young man with dark red hair that swirled upwards like living flames. His eyes blazed with newfound strength, but unlike before, they retained their focus and clarity.

Ne Zha hoped that by wearing the collar on his wrist instead of his neck, he could access his full power while maintaining control over his actions. It was a risky gambit, but one he felt was necessary to save everyone.

With his enhanced strength, Ne Zha pushed against the ice with renewed vigor. The massive sheet began to slowly rise, moving away from the village below. Ao Bing, still atop the ice, felt the sudden shift and realized something had changed.

"Ao Bing!" Ne Zha called out a third time, his voice deeper now than it had been before, resonant in his true form.

Ao Bing, hearing Ne Zha's voice from beneath the ice, paused in his efforts. He called back, his dragon voice rumbling with a mix of anger and pain.

"Ne Zha? Is that you? Why are you defending these people? They fear us, hate us! They think we're monsters!"

Ne Zha's chest heaved as he continued to hold up the massive ice sheet. "And what do you think you're doing right now, Ao Bing? You're only proving them right!"

Ao Bing's tail lashed in frustration atop the ice. "You don't understand! If they find out about the Spirit Pearl, all of dragonkind will be condemned. I have to protect my people!"

"By becoming the very monster they fear?" Ne Zha shouted back. "Listen to me, Ao Bing. I know what it's like to be seen as a demon, to have everyone fear you. But this isn't the answer!"

Ne Zha's voice grew passionate as he continued, "I've been where you are. I've felt that anger, that desire to lash out. But it only leads to more pain, more fear. You're not protecting anyone like this - you're just creating more suffering!"

Ao Bing hesitated, Ne Zha's words striking a chord within him. "But what other choice do I have? I can't let my people pay for my incompetence."

"There's always another way," Ne Zha insisted. "We can find it together, but not like this. You're my friend, Ao Bing. Don't make me fight you!"

As their argument continued, Ne Zha could feel the collar on his wrist pulsing with energy. He knew he was walking a dangerous line, using this much power. But he had to make Ao Bing understand, had to find a way to resolve this without more destruction.

Suddenly, Ne Zha felt the pressure on the ice lessen as Ao Bing lifted off. For a brief moment, he thought his words might have gotten through. But that hope was short-lived.

With a deafening roar, Ao Bing circled around and slammed his massive dragon body into the ice from above. The impact was crushing, and Ne Zha felt himself buckle under the renewed pressure.

"Ao Bing, stop!" Ne Zha demanded again.

Ao Bing roared back, ignoring Ne Zha's pleas. "This is my destiny, Ne Zha! And yours... yours is to die! That's what they made sure of because of what you are!"

Ne Zha felt a surge of anger at those words. "That's bullshit!" he screamed, "I'm the master of my own destiny!"

As his rage and determination peaked, Ne Zha felt a strange sensation. Four additional arms burst from his back, each muscular and radiating with power. All six of his arms slammed against the ice above, pushing with renewed strength.

Ne Zha began to propel himself upward, his body glowing with intense heat. The wind and fire wheels beneath his feet spun faster, producing more and more flames. Soon, the entire bottom of the ice sheet was engulfed in a raging inferno.

From atop the ice, Ao Bing noticed a red glow growing beneath him. The fire spread rapidly, curling around the edges of the ice. To his amazement and horror, the flames took shape, forming an enormous, blazing lotus flower that encompassed the entire ice sheet.

The sight was both terrifying and beautiful - a manifestation of Ne Zha's incredible power and indomitable will. The lotus of fire continued to grow, its petals reaching towards the sky, threatening to engulf both Ne Zha and Ao Bing in its scorching embrace.

The inferno raged, engulfing the entire ice sheet. Steam billowed into the air, creating a thick fog that obscured both Ne Zha and Ao Bing's vision. For a moment, everything was chaos - the hiss of melting ice, the roar of flames, and the heavy mist surrounding them.

As the steam partially cleared, Ao Bing looked up to see Ne Zha hovering above, his six arms spread wide, eyes blazing with power. Panic gripped the dragon prince, and he turned to flee, his serpentine body twisting as he attempted to fly away.

But Ne Zha was faster. With a mere lift of his hand, the crimson armillary sash sprang to life. It shot through the steam like a living thing, chasing after Ao Bing. Before the dragon could react, the sash had wrapped itself tightly around his body, halting his escape.

Ao Bing struggled against the magical bonds, his dragon form twisting and turning. Suddenly, he saw a fireball hurtling towards him through the mist. His eyes widened in fear, believing this to be the end.

But the fireball stopped abruptly, mere inches from his face. As the flames dissipated, Ao Bing found himself staring down the length of Ne Zha's fire-tipped spear. The point hovered a hairsbreadth from his eye, so close he could feel the heat radiating from it.

Ne Zha floated before him, his expression a mix of determination and sorrow. The six arms held steady, keeping the spear in place. Steam swirled around them, creating an otherworldly scene - the demon prince and the dragon, suspended in this moment of truth.

In a shimmer of scales and magic, Ao Bing reverted to his human form. He twisted uncomfortably in the grip of the armillary sash, which remained tight around his body despite his transformation. His long, flowing hair whipped around his face as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Ne Zha, still hovering before him with his six arms spread wide, reached out with one hand. He gently pinched Ao Bing's chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing the dragon prince to meet his gaze.

"Look at me, you idiot," Ne Zha growled, his voice a mix of frustration and concern. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Ao Bing's finally looked up, eyes locking onto Ne Zha's. The demon prince continued, his words sharp but understanding.

"We've both been screwed over by fate, told what we're supposed to be. But screw that! We don't have to play by their rules."

Ne Zha's other hands remained steady, keeping the spear in place and maintaining control of the sash.

Seeing Ao Bing bow his head in defeat, Ne Zha reached out with another of his hands. Now, with two hands gently but firmly holding either side of Ao Bing's face, he forced the dragon prince to look at him again. When their eyes met, Ne Zha was taken aback by the mistiness in Ao Bing's gaze, the raw emotion threatening to spill over.

Ao Bing shook his head, "How can you say that, Ne Zha? You're already condemned to death just for having the audacity to be born the way you are."

Ne Zha's eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed. He leaned in closer, his voice low and intense.

"You think I give a damn about that?" Ne Zha growled. "So what if they say I'm supposed to die? I'm still here, aren't I? Still fighting!"

He tightened his grip slightly, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Listen to me, Ao Bing. We're more than what they say we are. More than some stupid prophecy or curse. You think I'm just gonna roll over and accept my fate? Hell no!"

Ne Zha's voice rose, filled with passion and a touch of his characteristic recklessness. "And neither should you! So what if I wasn't supposed to exist? I'm here now, and I'm gonna make them deal with it!"

He released Ao Bing's face with one hand, using it to gesture wildly at the world around them. "Screw destiny. Screw what everyone else thinks. What matters is what we choose to do right now."

Ao Bings expression shifted from despair to shock as he processed Ne Zhas words. His eyes darted across Ne Zhas face, searching for something perhaps sincerity, perhaps hope.

"Why..." Ao Bing whispered, "Why didn't you just kill me?"

Ne Zha scoffed, a sound somewhere between amusement and exasperation. Without warning, he tugged on the armillary sash, pulling Ao Bing closer to him. With one of his hands, Ne Zha reached out and placed it on the small of Ao Bing's back.

In a fluid motion, Ne Zha pulled Ao Bing even closer, pressing their foreheads together. The yin and yang symbols on their foreheads touched, creating a strange sensation of warmth and connection between them.

"You idiot," Ne Zha murmured, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "Haven't you been listening? You're my friend. My only friend."

The steam swirled around them as they hovered there, foreheads pressed together, Ne Zha's multiple arms still maintaining control of the situation but now also offering a strange sort of embrace.

"We're two halves of the same whole, you and me" Ne Zha continued, his voice low and intense. "Fate might have screwed us both over, but that doesn't mean we can't fight it together."

As they remained in this intimate position, the chaos of the earlier battle seemed to fade away.

Ao Bing's breath came in ragged gasps, hyper-aware of Ne Zha's closeness. Their foreheads remained pressed together, the yin and yang symbols a point of connection between them.

"Ne Zha," Ao Bing said, "you're going to die."

There was a moment of silence, heavy with the weight of that statement. Then, Ne Zha let out a short, humorless laugh.

"Yeah, probably," Ne Zha chuckled, "But you know what? I'm not gonna let someone else take the fall for me. Not my old man, not you, not anyone."

Ne Zha's grip on Ao Bing tightened slightly, his determination palpable in the air between them.

"I'm gonna face that wolf head-on," Ne Zha declared, "If I'm gonna go out, it'll be on my own terms. No one else is gonna suffer because of me."

The steam continued to swirl around them, creating a cocoon that separated them from the world below. In this moment, suspended in the air, it was just the two of them - the demon prince and the dragon prince, bound by fate and friendship.

Ne Zha's words hung in the air, a testament to his bravery and his growth. The reckless child who had once lashed out at the world was now willing to face his destiny to protect others. 

Ao Bing remained silent, processing Ne Zha's words. The choice before him was clear - continue down the path of destruction, or stand with Ne Zha and face whatever came next together.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Ne Zha finally pulled away from Ao Bing, releasing him from the constricting grip of the armillary sash. Slowly, Ne Zha lowered himself to the ground, his six arms gradually retracting back into his body as he descended.

As soon as his feet touched the earth, his parents, Li Jing and Lady Yin, rushed towards him. Ne Zha embraced them, wrapping his arms around them in a tight, encompassing hug. For a moment, they stood there, a family reunited amidst the chaos.

But then, Ne Zha pulled away. With a flick of his wrist, he called the armillary sash back to him. In a swift motion, he used it to bind his parents together, much to their confusion and dismay.

Ne Zha's face was a mask of determination as he reached down and plucked the talisman from his pants. Holding it up, he locked eyes with his parents. Then, without hesitation, he crushed the talisman between his fingers, flames erupting from his hand and reducing it to ashes.

The realization of what this meant hit Li Jing and Lady Yin like a physical blow. They began to scream, their voices filled with anguish and desperation. They yelled and cried, begging Ne Zha to reconsider, to let them protect him as they had always tried to do.

Ne Zha stood there, listening to their pleas, his face a mixture of pain and resolve. Then, slowly, he sank to his knees before them. He bent forward, pressing his forehead to the ground in a deep kowtow. The sound of his head hitting the floor echoed in the sudden silence.

"Thank you," Ne Zha said.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me. For loving me when no one else would. But I can't let you sacrifice yourselves for me anymore."

He remained in that position, his body trembling slightly as only a scared child's would as he continued, "This is my fate to face. My choice to make. Please... let me protect you this time."

The scene was heart-wrenching - Ne Zha prostrating before his bound parents, Ao Bing watching from a distance, and the villagers slowly gathering around.

Ne Zha rose from his kowtow, the echo of his parents' screams ringing in his ears. He turned away from them, his jaw locked and his eyes narrowed. As he walked, he could hear the ominous crackle of thunder in the distance, growing louder with each step.

His parents' cries followed him, but Ne Zha didn't look back.

As he continued his solitary march, a figure appeared before him - Taiyi, his master. Ne Zha paused, expecting perhaps one last attempt to stop him. But to his surprise, Taiyi simply bowed deeply, a gesture of profound respect. He stepped aside, allowing Ne Zha to pass.

Ne Zha returned the bow, a silent exchange of understanding passing between student and master. Then, without a word, he continued on his path.

He walked just far enough to ensure the impending lightning wouldn't reach his parents or the villagers. The air around him crackled with energy, the hairs on his arms standing on end as the heavenly tribunal approached.

Finally, Ne Zha stopped. He lifted his gaze to the darkening sky, watching as storm clouds gathered overhead, flashes of lightning illuminating their ominous forms. The wind whipped around him, but Ne Zha stood firm, his feet planted solidly on the ground.

With a deep breath, Ne Zha closed his eyes. His face, usually so full of mischief and defiance, was now calm and resolute. He stood there, arms at his sides, accepting whatever fate the heavens had in store for him.

The thunder grew louder, the flashes of lightning more frequent. The air hummed with divine energy as the heavenly tribunal prepared to deliver its judgment. In this moment, Ne Zha was no longer the demon child or the mischievous prince, but a young man facing his destiny with courage and acceptance.

The sky above Ne Zha churned with angry clouds, swirling into a vortex of divine fury. From the center of this maelstrom, a cloud formation took shape, resembling a stern, judgmental face. Its eyes flashed with celestial power as its mouth gaped open.

In an instant, a massive bolt of purple lightning shot down from the cloud-face's maw. It struck Ne Zha with full force, completely engulfing him in its brilliant, destructive light. The intensity of the strike obscured him entirely from view, leaving his parents and the onlookers blind to his fate.

Despite the overwhelming assault, Ne Zha remained standing. His screams of agony pierced through the crackling of the lightning, his teeth clenched as he endured unimaginable pain. Every fiber of his being felt as if it were being torn apart and reforged in the crucible of divine judgment.

The torment seemed endless, each second stretching into an eternity of suffering. Just as it appeared Ne Zha might finally break under the onslaught, a flash of blue suddenly appeared beside him.

Through the haze of pain, Ne Zha managed to turn his head slightly. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he saw Ao Bing standing there, shoulder to shoulder with him. The dragon prince's face was contorted in agony, his body trembling as he too was engulfed by the punishing lightning.

Despite the overwhelming pain, Ne Zha managed to turn his head towards Ao Bing.

"What... what are you doing?" Ne Zha gasped out, "Are you crazy?"

Ao Bing, his body writhing under the assault of divine lightning, smiled weakly at Ne Zha. "Only a crazy person... would be friends with you," he replied, his voice barely carrying over the torrent of energy surrounding them.

Ne Zha let out a painful chuckle, the sound more a grunt than a laugh. Even in this moment of extreme agony, a spark of his usual spirit shone through.

With tremendous effort, Ne Zha reached out his hand towards Ao Bing. His arm shook violently, every movement a battle against the searing pain coursing through his body. But still, he extended his hand and offered it to his friend.

"Then... let's be crazy together," Ne Zha managed to say, his eyes meeting Ao Bing's.

As their hands connected, a brilliant flash of light erupted from the point of contact. The essence of the Spirit Pearl within Ao Bing and the Demon Orb within Ne Zha surged forth, intertwining in a dazzling display of power. The two energies, once separate, now merged into a singular, harmonious whole - the Chaos Pearl reborn.

With this union, Ne Zha and Ao Bing felt a sudden rush of power coursing through them. Their bodies began to absorb the divine lightning at an incredible rate, the destructive energy fueling them instead of destroying them.

However, Taiyi, watching from afar with growing concern, realized that even this newfound power wasn't enough. The mortal bodies of Ne Zha and Ao Bing, extraordinary as they were, simply couldn't withstand this level of divine energy for long. Their physical forms were rapidly deteriorating under the strain.

Acting quickly, Taiyi reached into his robes and pulled out a sacred relic - a lotus flower of exquisite beauty and mystical power. With a swift motion, he hurled it towards the two young men.

As the lotus flower soared through the air, it began to glow with an otherworldly light. Just as it reached Ne Zha and Ao Bing, the flower burst open, its petals unfurling in a cascade of spiritual energy.

In that crucial moment, as Ne Zha and Ao Bing's physical bodies finally succumbed to the overwhelming divine force, the lotus enveloped their souls. Their essences were drawn into the safety of the flower's embrace, preserved even as their mortal forms were reduced to ash.

The lightning strike ended, leaving behind a scene of destruction. Where Ne Zha and Ao Bing had stood, there was now only scorched earth and the gently floating lotus flower, pulsing with the combined life force of the two friends.

Taiyi approached the lotus, his face a mixture of relief and concern. He knew that while their souls had been saved, the challenges ahead were far from over. The fate of Ne Zha and Ao Bing, now more intertwined than ever, remained uncertain.

As the lightning dissipated, the onlookers were left staring at a scene of devastation. Where Ne Zha and Ao Bing had stood, there was now only a scorched patch of earth and scattered ashes. Ne Zha's mother broke free from her bindings and ran towards the spot, her anguished wails piercing the air.

But just as she reached the site, the lotus flower that Taiyi had thrown began to open. Its petals unfurled, revealing the translucent, ethereal forms of Ne Zha and Ao Bing. Ne Zha appeared in his adult form, stripped down to his most basic, true essence. Ao Bing stood beside him, equally ethereal.

Seeing her son in this state, Ne Zha's mother collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "You little monster!" she cried, her voice a mixture of relief, anger, and overwhelming love. "Do you know how worried I was?"

Ao Bing chuckled softly at the scene, standing close to Ne Zha in their shared spectral state.

Ne Zha, still trying to process what had happened, turned to Taiyi. "Master," he said, his voice echoing strangely in his non-corporeal form, "what happened?"

Taiyi stepped forward, his face etched with both concern and relief. "I wasn't able to save your physical bodies," he explained, gesturing to the lotus. "But this sacred lotus preserved your souls. The divine lightning caused significant damage, but you're safe now."

He paused, looking at the two young men with a mixture of pride and worry. "Depending on the extent of the damage to your souls, it will take some time - perhaps a few years - but the lotus will gradually reform your bodies. You'll be reborn, in a sense."

Ne Zha and Ao Bing exchanged glances, the weight of this information settling over them. They were alive, but in a state of limbo, waiting for their physical forms to be reconstructed.

"So, we're stuck like this for now?" Ne Zha asked, looking down at his translucent hands.

Taiyi nodded solemnly. "Yes, but you're alive. And you're together. That's more than we could have hoped for when the heavenly tribunal struck."

As the reality of their situation sank in, Ne Zha and Ao Bing stood side by side in their spectral forms, facing an uncertain future but grateful for the second chance they had been given. The onlookers, including Ne Zha's parents and the villagers, watched in awe, trying to comprehend the miracle they had just witnessed.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​