The morning mist clung stubbornly to the broken stones and crumbling walls of the ruined outpost. Jiang Hao stretched, his body still tingling faintly from the backlash of Seal Two. He grinned faintly, a glimmer of mischief in his starlit eyes."Ah… nothing like a morning after surviving near-death," he muttered, raising a hand to brush damp hair from his forehead. "You know, some people pay extra for this kind of view and wine pairing. We get it for free, with a side of adrenaline."Mei Ling groaned beside him, balancing a small bundle of herbs she had gathered. "You are ridiculous. Your chest is still bruised, your arms are trembling, and you're smiling like a fool. Do you ever take anything seriously?"He gave her a lazy wink. "Only when necessary. Right now, survival counts as serious, so I'm enjoying the bonus."Lin Xueyao silently circled the perimeter, her eyes sharp as a hawk's. The ambush had left the place eerily quiet, but she could feel traces of lingering Demon Sect qi—residual tendrils of evil energy that whispered through the ruins like restless ghosts. "It's too quiet," she murmured. "The Demon Sect isn't done. They always leave breadcrumbs for the curious or the reckless."Jiang Hao leaned back against a shattered pillar, tilting his head as if pondering her words. "Breadcrumbs, eh? I like breadcrumbs. They usually lead to pastries, maybe a hidden wine stash… or, apparently, more enemies. Either way, it's exciting."Mei Ling rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "This is why no one lets him plan anything…"Yet her hand lingered near his sleeve, ready to jump in if the forest decided to erupt again.The trio moved cautiously through the ruins, each step taking them deeper into shadows where the broken stones whispered secrets of forgotten battles. Jiang Hao's eyes flicked over ancient murals and carvings partially hidden under moss and dirt. Some depicted humans in glorious battle, others—disturbingly—showed demonic figures with twisted, familiar silhouettes, their eyes almost alive under layers of paint.He paused. "Hmm… either I've stumbled into a secret Demon sect hall, or someone had an odd sense of interior decorating."Lin Xueyao's gaze hardened. "These markings aren't decorative. They're warnings, seals, and… traps."As if on cue, the earth trembled. Not a thunderstrike this time, but faint vibrations from below. A shard of stone broke underfoot. Jiang Hao's body tensed, subtle veins glowing as he instinctively reached for the faint power still lingering beneath Seal Two's influence."Senior Brother…" Mei Ling whispered."Relax," he said, voice calm, though his eyes scanned the shadows. "This isn't even the scary part. Let's see what the ruins are hiding."The shadows shifted, and from behind a collapsed wall, a figure emerged—small, slight, and strangely familiar.A girl. Younger than either Mei Ling or Lin Xueyao. Dark hair, mischievous eyes, and a presence that radiated quiet strength. Yet something about her felt… not entirely human.Jiang Hao's pulse quickened, a strange twinge tugging at his memory. He couldn't place her face yet, but the air around her seemed charged with hidden energy—a potent mixture of curiosity and danger."You…" Jiang Hao said, voice measured, "don't happen to belong to the Demon Sect, do you?"The girl smirked faintly. "Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. Maybe I'm here to see if the famous 'Nine-to-Five immortal' is worth the fuss."Mei Ling huffed, crossing her arms. "Nine-to-Five what now? Don't tell me you're flirting with every mysterious stranger that pops out of the shadows!"The girl tilted her head, eyes glinting like sharp daggers. "I'm not flirting. I'm observing. But your companions clearly are already worried."Jiang Hao smirked faintly, leaning casually against a pillar. "Observation's good. I like people who notice the finer points… like my impeccable sense of style even after fighting demons and surviving seal backlash."The girl laughed—a sound like wind chimes stirring in a storm. It was innocent, teasing, but there was an edge. "Interesting. You're more… alive than I expected. Most people my age would be trembling at the power you just displayed yesterday."Lin Xueyao's hand moved slightly toward her sword. Mei Ling's grip on Jiang Hao's sleeve tightened.Jiang Hao raised his hands. "Relax. She's small. Not threatening. Probably."The girl's smirk widened. "Probably is an interesting word. Maybe I'm here to help. Maybe to test. Maybe to watch you embarrass yourself with wine jokes again."Jiang Hao grinned, ignoring the faint pulse of pain from Seal Two. "Well, I do enjoy wine. And I enjoy surviving. So let's see which one I get to do today."The ruins seemed to hum softly around them, shadows deepening, secrets waiting, and somewhere—faint, almost imperceptible—a trace of demonic energy, old and dangerous, stirred in response to the girl's presence.And thus, the day's exploration began—not just of forgotten ruins, but of mysteries that might connect Jiang Hao's hidden past, his mysterious younger sister, and the powers the Demon Sect still sought to control.The journey, as always, promised laughter, teasing, danger, and perhaps… a hint of romance amidst the chaos.The forest around the ruined outpost seemed alive, watching them with quiet patience. Jiang Hao led the way, careful but deceptively casual, his eyes flicking over the moss-covered walls and shattered statues as if inspecting a fine tea set rather than a battleground.Mei Ling followed closely, hands still glowing faintly from healing qi, though her gaze darted nervously toward every shadow. "I don't like this, Senior Brother. Something about these ruins feels… wrong."Jiang Hao smiled faintly, veins still tingling from Seal Two's lingering energy. "Wrong? Everything in this world is wrong if you look at it the right way. Relax. We're fine… probably."Lin Xueyao, silent and observant, paused near a carved stone wall. "This place has traps. Ancient seals, likely set by the Demon Sect—or whoever built this outpost. Step carefully."Jiang Hao gave a lazy wave. "I like careful. Careful is very… boring. And besides, the danger makes wine taste better."Mei Ling groaned audibly. "You really are impossible. Do you ever take things seriously?"He smirked. "Only when necessary."No sooner had he spoken than a thin line of red light snaked across the ground—barely visible. A pressure plate, long inactive, now triggered."Trap!" Lin Xueyao barked, leaping backward.Jiang Hao moved instinctively. The world slowed around him, the faint shimmer of lingering Seal Two qi flaring as he dodged effortlessly. A burst of fire erupted where his foot had been moments before, scorching the moss but leaving him unharmed.Mei Ling's jaw dropped. "You're insane. Did you see that?!""I did," Jiang Hao said calmly, brushing dirt from his sleeve. "But it's fine. I like fire. Adds ambiance."Another trap activated, this time arrows shooting from hidden niches in the walls. He pivoted, using a subtle pulse of residual qi to deflect them, redirecting two into the stone ceiling. The arrows lodged harmlessly, clattering with soft metallic tones."Seriously, Senior Brother!" Mei Ling yelled, tugging at his sleeve. "You could actually die!"He grinned faintly. "If I die, you both inherit my wine stash. Think of it as motivation."Lin Xueyao's eyes narrowed. "Stop joking. Focus."Jiang Hao straightened, smirk fading slightly as he scanned the ruined hall. The girl from earlier—the younger, mysterious figure—appeared ahead, lightly stepping over broken stones. Her dark hair framed her face, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Careful," she said. "These ruins aren't just old. They're hungry."He raised an eyebrow. "Hungry, huh? Do they serve wine?"The girl rolled her eyes. "Only for those who survive."A faint tremor underfoot drew his attention next. The floor began to collapse subtly, revealing a hidden pit below. Inside, faint glimmers of demonic qi shimmered. His pulse quickened—not from danger, but from intrigue. This energy… it's dormant, but potent."Looks like we found something interesting," he muttered, stepping closer, hand glowing faintly with residual Seal Two qi.Mei Ling stepped in front, hands glowing. "Interesting? That's a bottomless pit of death, Senior Brother!"He smiled, leaning slightly toward her. "Exactly. Isn't exploring supposed to be fun?"Lin Xueyao's gaze softened faintly, almost imperceptibly, as she noticed the playful banter. Danger, laughter, teasing… it was all part of him, and she had long ago accepted that part of Jiang Hao.The girl moved closer to the pit's edge, eyes scanning the glimmering qi. "This energy… it's different from your seal. Ancient, predating even your strongest powers. Careful—provoke it too much, and even you might regret it."Jiang Hao chuckled, veins glowing faintly. "Ancient powers? Perfect. I've always liked a challenge."A faint crack echoed. The pit's edge shifted beneath their weight. In an instant, a surge of qi erupted, and Jiang Hao's hand instinctively released a subtle pulse from Seal Two—just enough to stabilize the ground beneath them without fully unleashing it. The tremor subsided.Mei Ling's eyes were wide. "You just… fixed the trap with your power… without even trying?"He smirked faintly, ignoring the ache that still throbbed across his chest. "Did I mention I enjoy wine? That makes me graceful. Also, I'm a little immortal. Helps with the dramatic entrances."The girl laughed lightly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You're braver than I expected… or just reckless."Jiang Hao winked at her. "Maybe both. Makes life more interesting."Lin Xueyao shook her head, though her lips twitched in the faintest smile. Mei Ling muttered, half in exasperation, half in awe, "This is why I survive with him… barely."The ruins stretched ahead, deeper and darker, secrets waiting in shadow. And as the group advanced, laughter, teasing, and camaraderie blended with the ever-present tension of danger. Somewhere below the moss and stone, the dormant demonic energy stirred, waiting for the curious—and daring—to awaken it.And Jiang Hao, playful and dangerous, leading the way, could feel the thrill of discovery—and the risk of the unknown teasing him like a lover.
