The jade vessel shattered into a thousand glittering shards, each one dissolving into motes of golden light that spiraled into the sky. The chamber fell silent, save for the ragged sound of Jiang Hao's breath. His chest heaved, blood dripping down his chin, yet his back remained unbowed.The remnants of the vessel's power rippled outward, flowing through the underground cavern like tidal waves. The walls groaned, stone cracking under the strain of ancient energies set loose. In that instant, it felt as though the world itself was holding its breath.Yunxi was the first to move. She rushed to Jiang Hao's side, her hands trembling as she pressed a healing talisman against his shoulder. "Idiot! You could have been torn apart! Why didn't you let me—" Her voice caught, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.Meiyun stood a few steps away, her usual composure shaken. Her gaze was locked not on Jiang Hao, but on the fading lights drifting into the cavern ceiling. "That vessel was not just a relic. It was… a seal." She spoke slowly, as though afraid of the weight her own words carried. "Breaking it means someone — or something — has been freed."At that, the ground trembled once more, a low hum echoing like a giant's heartbeat. The motes of light vanished into the earth, leaving behind only silence and a yawning sense of dread.Jiang Hao exhaled, wincing as a fresh wave of pain tore through his body. The backlash from his seal was worse than before. His limbs felt like molten iron, his veins burned as though filled with fire. He barely managed to stay upright.Yet even so, he smirked faintly at Yunxi, as if to brush off her panic. "Nine to five, remember? This is just… unpaid overtime." His lips curved, but the humor was brittle, a mask for the agony clawing at him.Yunxi swatted his arm with wet eyes. "Don't joke now!"Meiyun turned to him, her expression sharp. "You're not telling us everything. Your power—your seals—they're not ordinary restrictions, are they?"Jiang Hao's golden eyes dimmed back to their usual deep black, his aura sinking into nothingness. He forced his breathing steady, then lowered himself to sit cross-legged. "Later," he murmured. "I'll explain later. Right now… we need to leave. This place won't stay quiet for long."As if to punctuate his words, a distant roar echoed through the stone corridors, so deep it rattled their bones. The sound was not human, nor beast, but something older — something awakened.The three of them exchanged a look, and for the first time, none of them tried to argue. They helped Jiang Hao to his feet, and together, they began the long climb out of the ruined chamber.Behind them, hidden within the shadows of the cracked altar, faint golden symbols flared briefly, then faded back into the rock. Unseen, a whisper stirred the air — low, almost reverent."The first seal has been broken."The path out of the cavern was a jagged ruin. Chunks of stone lay scattered across the floor, walls groaning as if the mountain itself had been wounded. Yunxi kept one of Jiang Hao's arms slung around her shoulder, half-carrying him despite his quiet protests. Each step sent jolts of pain through his body — pain he refused to show, though the thin line of blood at the corner of his lips betrayed him.Meiyun led the way, her blade drawn, eyes darting at every flicker of shadow. The roar they'd heard still reverberated in their bones, but since then, there had only been silence. And that silence was worse than noise. It was the silence of something watching.At one point, the corridor opened into a hollow chamber where luminescent moss cast pale green light. Jiang Hao paused, leaning against the wall. His breaths were shallow, his face pale enough to make Yunxi's heart twist."Sit. Just for a moment," she said firmly, pushing him down onto a boulder."I'm fine." His voice was steady, but when he shifted, his hand trembled. He curled his fingers into a fist, hiding it. "We don't have time."Yunxi knelt in front of him, her brows knitting. "Fine? You're burning up. Your pulse is irregular. And your aura—" She bit her lip. "It feels like you're being torn apart."Meiyun turned sharply, her gaze unwavering as it landed on him. "This is the backlash of your seal, isn't it?"The words hung heavy in the damp air. Jiang Hao looked at them both, then leaned his head back against the wall. For once, he didn't deflect with humor. His voice came low, tired."Yes. The seals… they weren't made for gentle use. Every time I release one, I borrow strength I shouldn't touch. And it makes me pay." He lifted a hand, fingers trembling as faint golden cracks glimmered beneath his skin. "The more seals I release, the heavier the price. Seal One leaves me drained. Seal Two burns me from the inside out. By the time I reach Seven…" His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "I might not even be human anymore."Yunxi's chest tightened. She reached for his hand, but he pulled it back, hiding it in his sleeve."That's why I don't fight unless I have to," Jiang Hao continued. "Why I work quietly, live quietly. Power always comes with a cost. Mine more than most."For a long moment, neither woman spoke. Then Meiyun's voice broke the silence, cold but trembling beneath. "You fool. Carrying this burden alone — do you think it makes you strong?"Jiang Hao's gaze softened. "It makes me survive."Before Yunxi could respond, a sound slithered into the chamber — the scrape of claws against stone. The three of them turned as one. From the tunnel behind them, two eyes gleamed, reflecting the moss-light.A shadow detached itself from the wall, massive and wrong. Its limbs were too long, its jaw stretched unnaturally wide, rows of teeth gleaming as it stalked forward. The roar from before returned, quieter now but thick with hunger.Meiyun raised her blade. Yunxi helped Jiang Hao stand, though he shook his head, teeth gritted against the pain."No," he murmured, straightening despite the agony. His golden eyes flashed faintly in the gloom. "I'll fight. Even if the backlash kills me, I'll fight."The creature stepped fully into the light — and the chamber trembled once more.
