The first sensation Jiang Hao knew was pain. His body throbbed with it, every breath searing like a blade dragged across raw flesh. His chest rose slowly, stubbornly, as if lungs and ribs were at war with each other. The faint scent of herbs clung to the air, bitter and sharp, and a cool hand pressed against his forehead.He opened his eyes.The ceiling above was carved wood, faint lantern-light flickering against its grain. He lay on a soft bed layered with talismans, their glowing runes pulsing gently in rhythm with his heartbeat. Every inch of him ached, but at least he was alive.A voice trembled at his side. "You're awake."He turned his head and saw Yunxi. Her eyes were swollen, reddened from tears. She tried to smile, but it came out cracked. She leaned forward, pressing a fresh towel against his brow. "Do you have any idea how close you came to dying?"Before he could answer, Meiyun's voice cut in from the other side. "Too close. If Yunxi hadn't kept forcing her qi into you, and if I hadn't kept the backlash from eating through your meridians… you'd be gone."She stood with arms crossed, her expression as sharp as always, but there was no mistaking the pallor in her face, or the faint tremor in her hand as she gripped her sleeve.Jiang Hao exhaled slowly, his lips curving faintly. "So the overtime pay isn't worth it after all, huh?"Yunxi's jaw dropped, then she slapped his shoulder—not hard, but enough to make him wince. "You idiot! You nearly killed yourself and you're still making jokes?"Her voice cracked at the end, her head bowing so her hair fell to hide her face. Jiang Hao felt the wetness of her tears dripping onto his hand.Meiyun stepped closer, her tone quieter, almost hesitant. "You said… Seal Two burns you alive from within. And you still chose to use it." She studied him with piercing eyes. "Why?"He closed his eyes, letting silence stretch a moment before speaking. "Because you were both there. And because if I didn't… we'd all be dead."The room was quiet after that, except for the crackle of the lantern flame.Yunxi sniffled, wiping her eyes, then glared at him with damp lashes. "If you ever do something that reckless again, I'll— I'll drag you back from the underworld just to kill you myself!"A dry laugh escaped Jiang Hao, but it turned into a cough. His body shuddered, pain lancing through him. Yunxi panicked, grabbing his shoulders, while Meiyun stepped forward and pressed a hand against his chest, her qi stabilizing his erratic flow.When the fit subsided, Jiang Hao lay back against the pillows, pale but breathing easier. His gaze flicked between them both, softening despite the exhaustion. "Sorry. I made you worry."Neither woman replied at first. Yunxi's lips trembled, and Meiyun's eyes shifted away. But the silence between them carried something unspoken — something fragile, raw, and painfully human.Outside the window, the world seemed deceptively calm. Lanterns swayed in the breeze, and the distant hum of disciples training filled the night air. Yet beneath that calm, the ripples of what had happened in the cavern had already begun to spread.Somewhere deep within the sect, elders whispered of ancient seals. Somewhere further still, unseen eyes marked Jiang Hao's name in their ledgers of fate.And within his own body, buried deep in his blood and bones, the second seal pulsed faintly — hungry, restless, promising pain to come.Jiang Hao had barely managed to sip a bowl of bitter medicinal broth — Yunxi practically force-fed it to him, ignoring his weak complaints about the taste — when the knock came at the door.It wasn't a disciple's hesitant rap, but the firm, measured knock of someone used to authority.Meiyun's eyes narrowed, her hand immediately going to her sword. Yunxi rose, opening the door cautiously.Standing there was none other than Elder Su, Jiang Hao's master. His figure filled the doorway, tall and robed in deep azure, his aura subdued yet carrying the weight of mountains. His hair, long and streaked with silver, framed a face lined by both wisdom and battle scars.The instant his gaze landed on Jiang Hao, the sternness melted. He stepped forward swiftly, one large hand reaching to grip Jiang Hao's shoulder. "You foolish boy," Elder Su said, voice rough with restrained emotion. "I warned you never to push your body like that."Jiang Hao winced under the elder's grip, offering a faint smile. "Master, you always told me to protect my colleagues. I just… followed instructions."Elder Su's brows knit, equal parts frustration and pride flickering in his eyes. He released Jiang Hao reluctantly, then straightened, his aura pressing faintly against the room. "The Sect Master wishes to see you. Word has already spread. That cavern wasn't merely a relic chamber — it was an ancient seal site. Breaking it has shaken the foundation of our mountain."Meiyun and Yunxi exchanged quick looks. Their eyes mirrored the same thought: so the elders know."Let him rest," Yunxi protested, stepping between Jiang Hao and his master. "He can't even stand, let alone appear before the Sect Master!"Elder Su's stern gaze softened as he regarded her, then Jiang Hao. "I bought you time. A few days, no more. But Jiang Hao…" His eyes hardened again. "You can't hide your strength any longer. The sect will want answers. And so will others."His words left a heavy silence behind.When Elder Su finally departed, Meiyun shut the door and turned back to Jiang Hao. "He's right. This won't stay buried. Disciples saw the golden light, felt the mountain shake. If the sect doesn't control the story, rumors will."Jiang Hao leaned back against the pillow, closing his eyes for a moment. "Then let them. I don't need fame. I don't want it."Yunxi sat back at his bedside, frowning. "But what if hiding makes things worse? What if the Sect Master thinks you're concealing danger?"For once, Jiang Hao didn't reply with humor. His expression was shadowed, thoughtful. The truth was, Yunxi wasn't wrong. The more he tried to stay low, the more suspicious it might appear. Yet every secret he revealed chipped away at the fragile peace he had built.Finally, he exhaled, his lips curving faintly. "One problem at a time. First, I recover. Then… I'll deal with the Sect Master. For now…" He cracked one eye open at Yunxi, a teasing glimmer breaking through the fatigue. "…maybe another bowl of that bitter medicine. It's awful, but it's working."Yunxi flushed, her cheeks puffing indignantly, but she poured another bowl anyway. Meiyun shook her head, though her lips curved just slightly.The moment felt fragile, almost normal. Yet outside the small room, the sect churned with whispers. Disciples debated what they had seen. Elders convened in shadowed halls. And in distant sects, carried on unseen winds, news of golden light breaking from the mountain spread like wildfire.Unbeknownst to Jiang Hao, his name had already reached ears that would one day call him either ally — or enemy.
