"The Eternal Wishfish really is a miracle-worker!" Lily Bai exclaimed.
"Totally! There’s nothing in this world it doesn’t know," said Evan Lan.
"But what do you mean by that?" Lily asked. "Why do you need me to place the Spell Stones?"
"Because the Eternal Wishfish said all four stones must be placed exactly right, or they’ll burn to ash. In other words, we only get one shot at this."
Lily glanced down at the four Spell Stones on the ground. "So, you’re saying you don’t know which stone goes in which slot?"
"Exactly."
"Ha! Why not just ask the Eternal Wishfish to do it for you?"
"It said this array is a bioelectric shifting formation. It changes all the time, and only someone with bioelectric senses can place the stones correctly," Evan explained. "The array’s electric field is beyond even its range—only the ocean’s most electro-sensitive creature can sense it."
"Oh, really?" Lily strolled over, picked up a Spell Stone, and could instantly feel the formation inside.
It really was a transmission array powered by bioelectric energy.
Maybe it was a dragon clan teleportation array.
After all, the dragon clan are water-dwellers.
"This is child’s play for me," Lily said, grinning. "If you’d come to me sooner, you wouldn’t have needed all this drama."
Evan and Mabel Ames Xiao’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? You can do it?"
"Of course I can!" Lily replied. "Just let my dad go first, and I’ll power up the array for you right away and send you on your way."
"Fine! Your dad’s not well—if we keep him tied up any longer, he might not make it! We’ll release him," said Mabel. "But to keep you honest, Evan Lan has to take his place as hostage."
"Why Evan?" Lily asked. "Would Eric Lan work instead?"
"Why me?" Eric Lan jumped up. "No way!"
"Because you’re way more important to me than Evan, dear cousin!" Lily winked at him.
"Ha! As if anyone believes that!" Eric rolled his eyes.
"No way," Mabel said. "It has to be Evan."
"Why does it have to be Evan?"
Mabel replied, "Because he’s the one you care about most!"
Lily shot Evan a look and smiled. "Ha! Mabel, we’re all gorgeous here, so why treat us like idiots?"
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"You just want me to open the portal array, then let the Eternal Wishfish use Evan’s life to fix your son’s legs, right?"
Mabel’s expression shifted. "Of course, you could refuse—if you don’t care about Benjamin Bai’s life."
"Hmm…" Lily shrugged. "Go ahead and kill him, then! He’s got cancer and won’t last much longer anyway. Just make it quick, thanks."
Mabel’s face twisted. "You really are an unfilial daughter!"
"I could never be as ‘filial’ as you, Mabel," Lily said with a smirk.
"Evan, what do you say?" Mabel turned to Evan Lan.
Evan said, "Fine. I’ll be the hostage."
Mabel and Evan exchanged a glance. "You’re sure?"
He nodded.
"Perfect," Mabel said, pointing. "Then get in that cage."
The Aura Concealment Cage that Sandy once broke had been fixed and hauled to the mountaintop.
Evan didn’t say a word and stepped into the cage.
A layer of Red Light quickly shimmered over the cage.
He was locked inside.