The God Within Me

The fog in the valley thickened.

Lu Ming raised his lantern, ready to signal the descent, but a low hiss echoed from deep within the mist—like the labored breath of a beast snagged on jagged stone.

Han Ye instinctively drew his sword.

"Stay sharp! Something's there!"

Stone cracked somewhere ahead. A dark figure crouched between the rocks. Its eyes glowed green, four limbs clawing at the damp earth, its body swelling with the fog around it.

Yanzhi froze just a step behind Han Ye. The fragment in his arm boiled—its heat seeping through his skin. A voice sliced into his mind, soft and slick:

"Perfect. The guardian came on its own."

Yanzhi whispered, his voice trembling.

"What are you talking about?! Why is it here—"

The beast roared. Its black claws slashed at Han Ye. He blocked with his sword; blue sparks burst from the clash, but the beast didn't flinch. Its glowing eyes shifted toward Yanzhi instead.

Behind them, Lu Ming pressed down on the shoulders of the disciples.

"Hold formation! Don't let the fog scatter!"

Yanzhi stepped back, heat pulsing violently through his arm. The spirit inside him chuckled, like it was patting him on the back.

Spirit (low, sly, coaxing):

"Look at that. The old guardian came right to you. Now it's simple—accept it, or get ripped apart."

Yanzhi held his breath, gripping his robe tightly.

"You forced it out?! You broke the seal yourself, didn't you?!"

The beast roared again—and this time lunged straight at Yanzhi. Han Ye tried to intercept, but the fog around the creature swallowed his blade like mud.

Yanzhi stumbled back, slipping on the slick stones. The fragment in his arm flared deep blue, pulsing like it was alive.

The spirit sighed, voice curling against Yanzhi's neck:

"If you want to survive, don't resist. Let it in. Your body can hold it."

Yanzhi's eyes widened. His breath caught in panic.

"Are you insane?!"

The guardian was right in front of him now. Its green eyes glared straight into his, claws piercing through the mist, inches from his chest—then—

The fragment flashed. A burst of blue light shot out, cutting through the fog.

Spirit (commanding):

"Hold still. Let it in. Or die here."

Yanzhi gritted his teeth, shoulder trembling. He tried to resist, but the fog around the beast began to spiral—pulled into his arm, absorbed through the seal. In seconds, the beast's roar faded. Its body cracked, dissolving into vapor, as if sucked into the fragment.

Han Ye rushed forward, pulling Yanzhi back.

"Yanzhi! What the hell are you—"

Too late.

The guardian vanished before their eyes, leaving only a swirl of thinning mist that quickly faded beneath the glow of the blue lantern.

The fragment in Yanzhi's arm now pulsed twice as hot. He gasped for breath, shoulders shaking. The spirit whispered again, cold and sweet in his ear:

"Beautifully done. The old key has returned. Don't worry… we only need one more fracture."

Yanzhi clenched his jaw, his breaths still ragged.

"If you ever trick me again… I swear I'll—"

Han Ye stared at him, eyes sharp. Behind them, the fog began to creep back in—slowly sealing the mouth of the valley that had just devoured yet another secret.

---

The fog at the mouth of the valley slowly thinned, but the damp air still clung to their skin. The last echo of the guardian's roar faded like smoke.

Yanzhi stood at the front, her breaths short and uneven. Her sleeve trembled faintly—residual heat from the fragment still crawling beneath her skin.

Han Ye grabbed her shoulder, yanking her back roughly.

"What did you do? Why did that thing vanish?!"

Startled, Yanzhi's shoulder flinched. She glanced up at him, wide-eyed.

Yanzhi (stammering, trying not to panic):

"Me? How would I know?! I was standing right here—just like you!"

Lu Ming stepped forward, raising his lantern to shine against her chest, gaze sharp.

"You were near the altar. Did you touch the crack in the seal?"

Yanzhi swallowed hard. Her fingers gripped the edge of her sleeve unconsciously.

Yanzhi (forcing calm into her voice):

"I was only reinforcing the seal, Senior Lu Ming. There's no way it would just break like that."

Han Ye hissed under his breath, eyes narrowing.

"If you're hiding something, the sect won't go easy on you."

The spirit inside her hissed too—its tone cool and mocking, like a slap from the inside.

Spirit:

"Look at you now. All alone. Cornered. Beautiful, isn't it?"

Yanzhi (gritting her teeth, inwardly):

"Shut up. This is all your fault."

Lu Ming turned back toward the altar. He pressed his fingers to the cracked stone, feeling the chill left behind.

"This doesn't make sense. A seal this old doesn't just shatter on its own. If the guardian disappeared… something must've absorbed it."

Han Ye stepped in closer, his stare never leaving her face.

"Don't tell me you took something from this valley."

Yanzhi lowered her head slightly, voice clipped but steady.

"Do I look suicidal to you? If I had taken something, I wouldn't still be standing here."

The spirit coiled around her thoughts, whispering coldly into her ear.

Spirit:

"Good. Keep lying, girl. They won't believe you… at least, not yet."

Yanzhi bit down on her breath, fingers digging into the edge of her belt as if to ground herself—heat still rising from the fragment in her arm.

Lu Ming let out a quiet sigh, then turned to Han Ye.

"Get her out of here. If this path cracks again, I'll reseal it myself."

Han Ye stared hard at her, but after a moment, he pulled her forward.

"If you're hiding anything… I'll personally drag you to the punishment hall."

Yanzhi exhaled sharply, barely holding back the words burning on her tongue.

The spirit chuckled from deep within her skull.

Spirit:

"Oh, just tell them now. I'd love to see their faces."

Yanzhi (to herself, seething):

"Shut your damn mouth."

The fog swallowed their voices as the group slowly moved out of the valley.

The fragment in Yanzhi's arm throbbed faintly—like a whisper in her blood: The gate isn't fully closed yet.

---

A soft mist of rain clung to the rooftops as dusk settled over the Tianhan Sect's main courtyard. Inside the great hall, dim jade lanterns cast a pale green glow. Disciples lined the stone walls in silence, their shadows unmoving. Toward the back, those who had descended into the valley stood apart, still damp from the lingering fog.

Han Ye stood beside Yanzhi, one arm folded across his waist, gaze lowered, as if staring past the floor beneath them.

Atop the high seat, Elder Fan reclined, his old gray robe trailing across the floor like smoke. Below the stone steps, Lu Ming bowed slightly, one hand resting lightly on his sword's hilt.

Elder Fan (voice sharp, flat)

"Lu Ming. You led the valley path. What did you see down there?"

Lu Ming (calm, with restrained doubt)

"The seal's crack had widened slightly, Elder. The old pathway beneath the altar still responds. I assigned Han Ye and Yanzhi to reinforce the seal. The guardian creature emerged near the end, but by then we were already on our way out. I saw nothing in Yanzhi's hands."

Elder Fan narrowed his eyes at Yanzhi, gaze like a blade.

Elder Fan

"Then why did the crack spread? Why did the guardian vanish? Explain yourself."

Yanzhi knelt at the center of the hall, breath shallow. Her fingers dug into her knees, sleeves trembling with the pulse of something buried beneath her skin.

Yanzhi (softly, strained)

"I only examined the altar. The seal wasn't stable. Han Ye was right beside me. We didn't touch anything, Elder Fan."

Han Ye glanced toward the elder, lips parting slightly—

—but a soft footstep echoed at the side door. A guard disciple bowed low as another figure entered.

Wei Ren strode in with a slight hunch to his shoulders and a smirk curled faintly on his lips.

Wei Ren (smooth tone, voice lowered)

"Elder Fan, forgive my delay. I also descended the valley path. I thought... I should report."

Elder Fan (gaze hardening)

"Wei Ren? Who told you to go down?"

Wei Ren bowed his head just enough, eyes flicking sideways toward Yanzhi.

Wei Ren

"The fog was too thick. I was concerned the formation might scatter. Bai Lin and I stayed to guard the return path. But... I saw with my own eyes. Yanzhi stood too close to the altar. Too long. The guardian only appeared after that."

Yanzhi raised her head, eyes sharp.

Yanzhi (dry sigh, cold tone)

"You entered the fog to help? Or to spy?"

Wei Ren gave a short laugh.

"If nothing strange was happening, what would I need to spy on? If you didn't disturb the seal, then who did?"

Han Ye took a step forward, voice low and dangerous.

Han Ye

"You talk as if you were near the altar. You showed up when we were nearly out."

Wei Ren tilted his head, a half-shrug that hinted at mockery. His smile stayed, but his eyes narrowed.

Wei Ren

"I only said what I saw. The other disciples saw it too. If the guardian vanished, someone must've consumed it. And who stood closest to the altar? Yanzhi."

The hall fell silent. Elder Fan swept his gaze across the back rows. Several disciples exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared speak.

Inside Yanzhi's mind, the spirit's voice coiled like smoke, slick and pressing.

Spirit (only in her thoughts)

"See? That snake's tongue sharpens your chains for you."

Yanzhi's hands clenched her robes, her voice rising only within.

Yanzhi (tense, trembling inwardly)

"Shut up. Let me speak."

Lu Ming stepped forward slightly, voice calm but firm.

Lu Ming

"Your tongue's sharper than a guardian's claws, Wei Ren. You weren't part of the core team. Don't stir flames in the hall."

Wei Ren bowed mockingly, soft laughter in his breath.

Wei Ren

"Senior Lu Ming, I'm only reporting what I witnessed. If no one wants to hear it... I'll stay quiet."

Elder Fan finally looked up, gaze locked on Han Ye.

Elder Fan

"Han Ye. You were there. Can you swear Yanzhi didn't take anything?"

Han Ye met his gaze squarely, voice quiet but resolute.

Han Ye

"If she had, I would've seen it first. If she'd done anything out of line, I would've stopped her."

Wei Ren let out a short, mocking click of his tongue.

Wei Ren

"Stopped her? Yet she still walked out free, Han Ye."

Lu Ming took another step, shoulder angled protectively in front of Yanzhi.

Lu Ming

"I led that path. If she made a mistake, I'll take responsibility. But if she didn't—then you better be ready to face the consequences, Wei Ren."

Wei Ren shrugged, feigning humility.

Wei Ren

"I'm just speaking the truth. If there's nothing to hide, then why did the seal break again? Why is the guardian gone?"

Yanzhi looked up, her voice trembling but fierce.

Yanzhi

"I didn't touch anything! The altar mist moved on its own, the crack widened on its own! If you want to accuse me, go ahead! I didn't ask to be dragged into that place—"

Elder Fan raised a hand.

Elder Fan

"Enough."

The spirit chuckled softly in her mind, the sound like a tap on her skull.

Spirit

"Keep shouting. The louder you defend yourself, the more amusing their faces become."

Yanzhi swallowed a growl, teeth clenched.

Han Ye exhaled, stepping forward again, this time meeting Elder Fan's gaze directly.

Han Ye

"If you think Yanzhi needs watching, I'll take responsibility. I'll keep her in check. If she acts out, I'll answer for it."

Wei Ren snorted, clearly displeased.

Wei Ren

"Why not me? I was a witness too."

Lu Ming cut in, tone flat and final.

Lu Ming

"If she's left to you, your mouth would do more harm than any guardian beast. You'd turn rumor into rot. That's enough."

Wei Ren fell silent, jaw clenched, eyes burning into Yanzhi like he meant to swallow her whole.

Elder Fan tapped his fingers on the armrest of his seat, gaze ice-cold as it settled on the two disciples before him.

Elder Fan (closing judgment)

"Very well. Han Ye, you'll watch over her. Yanzhi, from tomorrow on, you will not leave the inner pavilion. If the seal breaks again, both of you will answer for it."

A breeze crept through the hall's wooden doors. The lanterns flickered, their glow wavering.

Yanzhi lowered her head, breath caught in her chest.

In her mind, the spirit laughed softly, dark and low.

Spirit (whispering inside her)

"Well done. Caged like a bird. But don't worry—I'll be with you."