I only wanted to kill a chicken, not split the heaven

The roar echoed across the Borderlands like a storm ripping the sky in half. Stones rattled, dust shot up, and Li Ming clung to the cracked altar like it was his last hope.

"Okay, okay, it's fine!" he shouted, voice cracking. "Big scary sound, collapsing ground, totally normal!"

Lan Yue pulled him upright. "Move! We can't stay here!"

From the broken altar, dark mist burst out in spirals, each wave colder than the last. Inside that swirling blackness, a pair of glowing eyes opened again—gold, ancient, watching.

Li Ming froze. "Oh no. It's looking at me. Why is it looking at me? Tell it to look somewhere else!"

Bai Guo fluttered nervously, feathers ruffled. "Descendant, don't panic! It can smell fear!"

"I'm made of fear!" Li Ming squeaked, backing up.

The ground beneath them cracked further, sending tremors across the plains. The air buzzed with power—thick, heavy, pressing down on them. The hooded figure had vanished into the shadows, leaving only faint traces of dark energy behind.

Lan Yue spun around, scanning the area. "He's gone."

"Good for him!" Li Ming yelled, tripping over a rock. "Can I vanish too?!"

"No," she snapped, grabbing his sleeve. "You stay with me. The seal inside you just opened something ancient. We need to get you out before it finishes waking up."

"Wait—finishes waking up?!" Li Ming's voice shot up an octave. "This isn't even its final form?!"

Another roar cut through the air. The Borderlands shook violently, a wave of dust rolling over them. The altar split completely in half, and from its center, a glowing rune shot into the sky.

Lan Yue shielded her eyes. "It's calling something!"

"Calling?!" Li Ming yelped. "What's it calling?!"

As if answering, the ground behind them exploded. A giant, shadowy claw burst out, slamming into the ground with a thunderous crack.

Li Ming froze, staring at it. "That's… a big hand. That's a really big hand."

Bai Guo gasped. "That… that can't be right… this thing was supposed to be sealed for another thousand years!"

Li Ming spun toward him. "Well, guess what, Bai Guo?! Your calendar's broken!"

The claw dug into the earth, pulling a massive shape upward. A head followed—huge, wreathed in mist, its body still half-buried beneath the ground. Two golden eyes blinked once, their gaze fixed squarely on Li Ming.

Lan Yue stepped forward, sword drawn, her aura blazing. "Stay back, Li Ming."

He didn't need to be told twice. He practically dove behind her.

The creature's growl shook the sky, rattling their bones. It wasn't just noise—it was power, echoing through their minds.

Bai Guo floated beside him, pale. "That's not a beast. That's an echo of the ancient guardians… the ones who kept the chaos sealed."

Li Ming blinked. "So it's… friendly?"

"No! It hates chaos!"

Li Ming looked down at the mark glowing on his chest. "Oh. So it hates me."

"Most likely, yes!" Bai Guo nodded solemnly.

Li Ming groaned. "Fantastic. I broke a prison and invited my own executioner."

The ground shuddered again as the beast fully rose, towering over them like a mountain made of smoke and gold. Its form wasn't solid—more like a spirit, half real, half memory.

Lan Yue slashed forward, her blade shining with azure light. "Move!"

The strike cut through the mist, buying them a moment. "Li Ming, can you move yet?"

"Define 'move'!"

"Run!"

That word he understood. He bolted, dragging Bai Guo by the wing. The ground split behind them, stones flying in every direction. The air felt alive—like it wanted to swallow them whole.

As they sprinted across the cracked plain, Li Ming glanced over his shoulder. The creature wasn't chasing. It was watching—just watching—eyes burning through the dust.

Lan Yue slowed, breathing hard. "It's not following."

Li Ming bent over, panting. "Good. Maybe it's tired. Or merciful. Or—"

The rune in the sky pulsed.

Li Ming stopped mid-sentence. "Oh no."

The sky above darkened, and beams of golden light shot upward. The ground rumbled once more, and the altar's remains sank into a pit of shadows.

Bai Guo floated up, eyes wide. "It's closing again. The gate's sealing itself."

Li Ming blinked. "Wait—it's just… going back to sleep?"

Lan Yue frowned. "No. It's waiting. Watching you."

He slowly turned toward her. "That's somehow worse."

As the tremors faded, silence fell over the Borderlands. The mist thinned. The golden light faded from his chest, leaving behind a faint warmth.

Li Ming looked down at the mark. "So… what now? I've got a dragon seal in my body, woke a giant spirit monster, and almost got vaporized. Do we just… walk home?"

Lan Yue exhaled slowly. "First, we leave this cursed place. Then, we find out what's inside you—before it awakens again."

Bai Guo nodded. "Agreed. You've got something ancient stuck in there. And it's not the kind that pays rent."

Li Ming groaned. "Great. I'm a walking landlord problem."

They started moving toward the horizon, the Borderlands quiet once more—too quiet.

For now, the danger was sealed. But as Li Ming glanced over his shoulder one last time, he saw the faint shimmer of those golden eyes beneath the earth, still watching.

He shivered. "Please don't follow me home."

Bai Guo patted his shoulder. "If it does, we'll… probably die."

Li Ming sighed. "Comforting as always, Bai Guo."

The three figures disappeared into the dusty light, the altar collapsing fully behind them, swallowed by silence.

But deep below, the golden eyes blinked once more—waiting.

----

The journey back to the sect felt… heavier.

Each step Li Ming took echoed like a heartbeat, slow and deep, resonating with the faint glow in his chest.

Bai Guo kept flapping nervously, glancing at the mark every few seconds. "Descendant, you're glowing again."

"I noticed," Li Ming muttered, clutching his chest. "It's like carrying a very angry firefly that wants to explode."

Lan Yue stayed ahead, silent and alert. Her usual calm expression was clouded. Even she could feel the energy rolling off him — unstable, ancient, restless.

They crossed the misty ridge, and the Azure Sky Sect's gates came into view. The familiar courtyard and mountain peaks should've felt like safety… but Li Ming couldn't shake the pressure building in his chest.

Disciples turned to stare. Whispers followed.

"Is that Li Ming? He looks like he wrestled a volcano!"

"Look at that mark… is that glowing?"

"Should we… be standing this close?"

Li Ming tried to wave casually. "Hey, nothing to worry about! I just… might explode!"

The crowd scattered immediately.

Lan Yue sighed. "You don't need to announce it."

They entered the main hall. Elder Rong — the sect's resident healer — was already waiting, his long white beard twitching as he frowned.

Lan Yue bowed. "Elder Rong. We need your help. A dark seal was activated during our mission."

Elder Rong's gaze swept over Li Ming, then froze at the mark pulsing on his chest. His brows furrowed deeper. "That is no ordinary curse… this is ancient."

Li Ming raised his hand sheepishly. "Quick question: can I… not die?"

Elder Rong didn't answer. Which was not comforting.

The old man turned toward Lan Yue. "You said a seal activated. Was it triggered by external energy?"

Lan Yue nodded. "A Shadow Valley talisman. But it reacted strangely — as if it was meant for him."

Elder Rong hummed, stroking his beard. "Meant… for him…" He leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Boy, do you feel… something calling from within?"

Li Ming blinked. "Yes. Mostly it's saying, 'Ow, ow, stop glowing!'"

Bai Guo flapped in place. "He's carrying something ancient! A piece of chaos itself!"

The elder's eyes widened. "Chaos?!" He straightened at once. "Bring him to the purification chamber. Now!"

Lan Yue nodded, pulling Li Ming by the sleeve. "You heard him. Move."

"Can we maybe talk about—no? Okay, we're going!"

They rushed through twisting halls until they reached a secluded cave. Inside, stone pillars circled a glowing pool of spiritual energy. The air buzzed with cleansing qi — calm, gentle, the opposite of what churned inside him.

Elder Rong raised his staff. "Stand in the center. Do not resist. We will attempt to draw the seal out."

Li Ming stepped forward, barefoot on cool stone. His hands trembled. He looked up at Lan Yue, eyes uneasy. "If I explode, you can have my buns."

Lan Yue smirked faintly. "Focus."

He nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay… let's do this."

The elder's chant filled the chamber, ancient words flowing like river currents. The light in the pool swirled, rising around Li Ming in soft ribbons of gold.

The seal on his chest flared — painfully bright.

Li Ming clenched his teeth, a hiss escaping. "It… burns…"

Lan Yue stepped closer, her hand hovering near her sword, ready in case things went wrong.

Bai Guo hovered near the ceiling, feathers puffed, muttering prayers to whoever might be listening.

The light thickened. The mark pulsed harder, as if resisting. The elder's voice grew louder. "By the power of the Azure Sky, I call upon balance—cast out the shadow!"

A surge of energy erupted. The air shook.

Li Ming gasped as the mark lifted from his skin — a glowing sigil, twisting mid-air like a living flame.

It screamed. A raw, echoing sound — not quite human, not quite beast.

Lan Yue's eyes narrowed. "There's… something inside it."

Elder Rong's staff slammed down. "Hold it!"

The sigil fought, thrashing violently. The glow turned from gold to deep red.

Li Ming staggered back, gripping his chest. "It's trying to stay! Why is it trying to stay?!"

"Because," Bai Guo whispered, "it's part of you now."

The elder gritted his teeth. "Then I'll separate it by force!"

He shouted one final chant — the pool's light surged upward — and with a burst of energy, the seal shattered.

A shockwave rippled through the room.

The glow faded. The air stilled. The mark was gone.

Li Ming dropped to his knees, panting. "It's… gone?"

Lan Yue rushed to his side, steadying him. "Are you alright?"

He nodded weakly. "I think so. I'm… lighter."

Elder Rong leaned on his staff, breathing hard. "The seal is removed… but not erased. That energy still lingers — bound to your spirit. Be cautious. It may return."

Li Ming slumped. "Of course it will…"

Bai Guo landed on his shoulder. "At least you're not glowing anymore!"

Li Ming managed a tired grin. "Yeah… small victory."

Elder Rong gave him a firm look. "Rest. You've meddled with powers far beyond your realm. Next time, don't."

"Trust me," Li Ming muttered, "I'm never touching glowing altars again."

Lan Yue exhaled, tension easing. "Come. You've earned some rest."

As they walked out of the chamber, the faintest shimmer of gold flickered in Li Ming's eyes—gone before anyone noticed.

He paused mid-step, frowning slightly. "Weird… did anyone else feel that?"

Lan Yue looked back. "Feel what?"

Li Ming shook his head. "Nothing. Probably just my imagination."

But deep in the chamber behind them, as the last ripples faded from the pool, a single rune flared faintly—then vanished.

Something had been watching.

And now… it knew his name.

To be continued...