Chapter 27 - Thunder Over Broken Stones

The grove trembled under the surge of energy. Each assassin lunged with sharpened qi, twisted weapons that hummed with poisoned intent. Yet every strike Jiang Hao met with calm precision, as if the world were merely a chessboard and he the bored player rearranging pieces.But the moment Seal Two was fully engaged, subtle cracks appeared—not in his enemies, but in himself.A sharp pang shot through his dantian. The world wobbled, like walking on a bridge made of jelly. He blinked, tasting copper on his tongue. Blood. Tiny, almost imperceptible streaks had appeared at the corners of his mouth."Ugh…" he muttered, forcing a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Wine… hits harder than I remember."Mei Ling's eyes went wide. She lunged toward him. "Senior Brother! You're bleeding!""I'm fine," he said, voice tight, forcing himself to stay upright. "Really. Just… spicy wine."Lin Xueyao scowled, seeing the faint shimmer of pain across his expression. She clenched her sword tighter. This isn't just exhaustion—his qi is rebounding. The seal…Before she could act, a trio of assassins charged in from different angles. They moved faster than before, weaving together their attacks. Jiang Hao's body twisted like smoke, deflecting one blade with his forearm, catching another between his fingers and snapping it in half, but the pain in his dantian flared, sharp as lightning.He faltered mid-step.Just for a fraction of a heartbeat, one assassin's dagger nicked his side. Pain bloomed, and the blood tasted bitter in his mouth. His elegant, immortal-like posture wavered, faltering just enough to betray the first crack in his invincibility."Senior Brother!" Mei Ling screamed, barreling toward him, javelin of her own throwing knife in hand, slicing the attacker in two.Jiang Hao forced a laugh. "See? I've got backup. Nothing to worry about."But his body betrayed him further. Tremors ran down his arms, subtle but unmissable. His steps became slightly uneven, and his vision shimmered as the qi strain from Seal Two pushed past the safe threshold. The immortal elegance that had stunned his enemies flickered, replaced by a faint pallor.Another bolt of lightning streaked down from the storm above, drawn by the residual aura of Seal Two. The assassins froze, their own qi trembling. Jiang Hao's eyes followed the bolt—but his heart pounded painfully. Every strike of Seal Two brought him closer to exhaustion than he had felt in decades.He clenched his fists, the veins on his forearms glowing faintly, almost painfully. If I overextend… I could damage my meridians. Lose control. Lose everything.And yet, he could not stop. Not while his companions were in danger.With a sharp exhale, he released another pulse of energy. The assassins screamed as their weapons shattered, thrown back by invisible force. Trees snapped like matchsticks; the ground split under the sheer qi pressure. Jiang Hao's aura flared, brilliance spilling from his silver-streaked hair, his starlit eyes blazing with unearthly light.But the cost came all at once.His knees buckled. His vision blurred. A wave of nausea slammed into him, and blood dribbled from his nose and mouth. Every bone in his chest felt like it had been fractured and remade. He tried to laugh, but it came out as a dry, rasping cough."Senior Brother!" Mei Ling's voice broke through the chaos as she threw herself beside him, supporting his trembling frame. Lin Xueyao rushed forward too, sword lowered, gaze sharp and worried.Jiang Hao forced a crooked smile, struggling to push his trembling hand away from Mei Ling's supportive hold. "Don't… fuss… I'm fine… really. Just… a small… wine hangover."Mei Ling's eyes narrowed. "A wine hangover that nearly killed you, Senior Brother?" She pressed her hands against his chest, her palm glowing with healing qi. "You idiot! You can't just throw yourself into a fight like this!"Jiang Hao closed his eyes, feeling the searing pain ebb slowly as her qi flowed into him. The assassination wave had been broken, the enemies defeated—but he could barely stand, trembling and gasping for breath. The immortal elegance he had just displayed was fading fast, replaced by the raw, vulnerable mortal beneath the seal.Even Lin Xueyao's lips twitched in a rare, almost invisible, smile—not because she was amused, but because she had finally realized just how far this man would go to protect them, and how fragile the godlike power could be once unleashed.The grove was silent now, save for the distant rumble of thunder and the shallow, uneven breaths of Jiang Hao."Low profile, huh?" Mei Ling muttered, brushing a strand of wet hair from his forehead. "You call this low profile? You just lit up a ruined forest like it was a festival lantern!"Jiang Hao weakly opened one eye, a smirk forming despite the pain. "Hey… the lights make the wine taste better."Mei Ling groaned, shaking her head, though her hand didn't leave his chest. Lin Xueyao quietly went to survey the remaining enemies, ensuring none were left alive, but her eyes lingered on Jiang Hao, concern etched deep beneath her calm exterior.The first release of Seal Two had come at a price. Pain, trembling, and the bitter taste of blood were proof that even the man who laughed at Heaven could be hurt.But even in the haze of exhaustion, Jiang Hao's mind was already calculating, planning, smiling faintly. Next time… I'll still have my wine. Just maybe less tasting first.And so, amidst ruined stones, blood, and fading thunder, the first chapter of his true immortal resurgence had begun.The forest lay quiet once more, but not in peace. Broken branches littered the ground, the air still tinged with ozone and scorched earth. Jiang Hao sank to a fallen stone, breathing shallowly, his chest heaving as the lingering qi backlash from Seal Two pulsed painfully through his body.Mei Ling hovered beside him, hands still glowing faintly with healing energy. "You really aren't going to lie down for five minutes? Even a little?" she scolded, her voice softening despite the annoyance."I'm fine," Jiang Hao said, though his voice cracked faintly. His fingers twitched involuntarily; veins glowed faintly under his skin, a ghostly shimmer of the immortal power he had just wielded. "Really. Just… adjusting my posture.""You call adjusting your posture this?" Mei Ling muttered, brushing a strand of damp hair from his forehead. "You're practically luminous—like some immortal fashion model who just lost a sword fight."Jiang Hao smirked weakly. "See? Even in suffering, I remain stylish." He coughed, tasting copper again, but laughed. The sound was ragged, but genuine.Lin Xueyao's expression was less amused. She knelt on the opposite side, quietly checking the surrounding area for remaining threats. Her sword glimmered faintly under the moonlight, her aura sharp. Yet her eyes kept flicking to him. "You pushed Seal Two too far," she said softly, almost to herself. "Even your strength has limits. You can't keep hiding behind jokes forever."Jiang Hao's lips twitched. "Who said I'm hiding? I'm just… doing things at a comfortable pace. Nine-to-five. That's all."Mei Ling snorted, trying to hide her smile. "Nine-to-five? You nearly turned a ruined forest into a fireworks display. That's your nine-to-five?""Exactly," Jiang Hao said with mock pride, "but with flair."Lin Xueyao rolled her eyes but stayed silent. She could feel it—his power was staggering, but the strain of the seal's release left him raw and vulnerable. If the Demon Sect had any cunning, they would have exploited that weakness.And that thought made her tighten her grip on her sword. He may be immortal… but he's still human in the end.Jiang Hao, despite the pain, chuckled softly and leaned back, letting his head rest against the moss-covered stone. "Alright," he said, voice low, "so what's next? Do we carry on like nothing happened, or do we start plotting vengeance?"Mei Ling rolled her eyes. "Revenge isn't our style… besides, you nearly died. I'm still figuring out whether I should lecture you or strangle you.""You could try both," he murmured, smirking faintly despite the ache.Her blush deepened. "You're impossible."He let the quiet stretch for a moment, feeling the warmth of their presence, the soft closeness despite the lingering danger. For a fleeting moment, he could almost pretend the world was simple—wine, laughter, companionship.But the bruised, trembling muscles reminded him otherwise. The Seal Two backlash was severe, and this was only the beginning. Each subsequent release would be more intense, more dangerous, more tempting—and the cost would increase exponentially.Even now, he could feel the subtle pull of power locked beneath his seven seals, urging him to release it, to solve problems with sheer overwhelming force rather than caution. But experience whispered: every shortcut carries a price.Mei Ling reached out and lightly tapped his chest, forcing him to look at her. "Senior Brother… promise me you'll be careful next time. You're not the only one here."He smiled faintly, wincing at the ache across his chest. "I promise… I'll be careful." He paused, then added, teasing: "But only after one more cup of wine. Consider it medicinal."Lin Xueyao groaned quietly, but there was a faint glimmer of warmth in her eyes. Even in his pain, his charm persisted—irritating, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.The night lingered around them, quiet except for the distant roll of receding thunder. Broken stones and scorched earth marked the site of the ambush, a reminder that the world was vast, dangerous, and full of enemies.Yet, even as the pain throbbed and his body trembled, Jiang Hao allowed himself a small smile. The wine was waiting, the company was loyal, and tomorrow, perhaps, the adventure would continue.Because this world—immortal, terrifying, and unpredictable—was not yet done testing him. And neither was he done living it on his own terms.By the time the last assassin had fled into the shadows—or been shattered by Jiang Hao's subtle yet devastating Seal Two strikes—the grove was eerily silent. Smoke from scorched earth curled lazily around broken trees, and the faint ozone tang of the tribulation-lightning hung in the air.Jiang Hao sank fully onto a moss-covered boulder, still trembling faintly from the seal's backlash. He let out a long, ragged sigh, pressing his hand against his chest as if to remind his body it was still his. His hair, faintly streaked with silver from the seal's release, clung damply to his forehead.Mei Ling knelt beside him immediately, gently placing her hands on his shoulders, her gaze sharp with worry. "Senior Brother… don't even try to joke. That was… you could have died out here. Do you even feel how much you pushed yourself?"He cracked a faint smile through the pain, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I told you… I've survived worse paperwork than this."Mei Ling groaned, pressing her glowing palm to his chest to accelerate healing. The qi worked its way through him, easing some of the trembling, but not the deeper aches or the lingering strain in his dantian. "I swear," she muttered, "if you ever release that seal without telling me, I'll—""—lecture me, scold me, and then nurse me back to health?" Jiang Hao finished casually, teasing, though a hint of genuine fatigue slipped into his tone.Lin Xueyao, ever composed, finally stepped forward, eyes scanning the remaining shadows. She had already dispatched the last few lingering enemies with minimal effort—her swordwork precise, almost surgical—but she didn't take her eyes off Jiang Hao. "You pushed Seal Two too far," she said quietly, almost to herself. "If this had been a real battle… you might not have survived. Even your appearance now… it draws attention. You're not supposed to be noticed yet."He shifted slightly, the weight of her words pressing on him. "I know," he admitted softly. "But leaving you two to fight alone… that's worse than a little pain."Mei Ling frowned, half frustrated, half embarrassed. "You idiot… do you have to be so dramatic while you're dying slowly from your own power?"He gave her a faint wink, wincing at the subtle ache in his veins. "It's part of the charm, apparently."The grove fell into a brief calm. Broken stones, scorched earth, and twisted trees told the story of what had occurred. The ambush had been serious, the enemies stronger than expected—but the fight also revealed something else: the true power sleeping beneath Jiang Hao's seals, and the growing risk of revealing too much too soon."Senior Brother," Lin Xueyao finally said, lowering her sword and stepping closer, "we need to move. This forest isn't safe anymore. If word spreads that someone wielded that… that power, more enemies will come. And there's something else… something darker than just assassins."Jiang Hao raised an eyebrow, curiosity and faint amusement flickering through his exhaustion. "Oh? You've been holding out on me? A dark secret lurking in the shadows while I play sommelier and tea connoisseur?"Mei Ling elbowed him lightly, laughing through her worry. "You are impossible!"But Lin Xueyao ignored the teasing. "The Demon Sect… they're active here. Not just the foot soldiers you crushed. Higher-ranking cultivators. They're probing, searching. They know something about your presence. And… I sensed something else. A family… something connected to you, hidden, yet powerful."Jiang Hao's fingers twitched. A faint pang of memory—or premonition—flashed through his mind. Something old, buried, dangerous. He shook it off, forcing a casual tone. "Hidden family, powerful enemies… sounds like another day at the office."Mei Ling's blush deepened. "Don't make jokes! You're bleeding internally and exhausted. And now there's… a family secret? Are we seriously going to survive all of this?"He chuckled softly, ignoring the pain shooting through his body. "Don't worry. That's why I have you two. You're both annoying, but capable. Perfect companions for a nine-to-five life… with occasional overwork."Lin Xueyao sighed, though her lips curved ever so slightly. "Nine-to-five, huh? If this is nine-to-five, I dread what overtime looks like."The moon climbed higher, casting a pale glow across the destroyed grove. The distant roll of thunder reminded them that danger still lingered, not yet gone. The ambush had been a warning, a test—and the Demon Sect's true plans were still hidden.Jiang Hao slowly rose to his feet, leaning slightly on Mei Ling's support. The faint glow of his Seal Two release shimmered beneath his skin, subtle now, but unmistakable."Tomorrow," he said, voice steady despite the exhaustion, "we explore further. There are secrets here, waiting… and I intend to enjoy the wine along the way."Mei Ling groaned. "You just can't stop teasing, can you?"Jiang Hao's smirk returned, faintly, through the lingering pain. "Never. And that's why life with me is… interesting."Lin Xueyao glanced at him, a mixture of exasperation and quiet admiration in her eyes. For all his teasing and overconfidence, she knew the truth: this man's power was terrifying, and the cost of unleashing it was only beginning to reveal itself.And somewhere in the shadows, unseen, faint sparks of energy whispered, as if acknowledging the seal's awakening—and the secrets still hidden in the world… and in Jiang Hao's own past.The night deepened. Broken stones, faint moonlight, and the scent of wine and blood lingered. Tomorrow, the world would demand more of him. And Jiang Hao, ever calm, ever teasing, ever handsome, would rise to meet it—one carefully measured step at a time.