WBICDPH Chapter 12 Part 2

Unlike the other two, San Zongyu’s response was straightforward—he simply gave Lin Jin a slight nod.

Enlightenment struck. Lin Jin immediately bowed to Zhe Yu.

“To receive the Sect Master’s assistance is this disciple’s good fortune!”

The smile at Zhe Yu’s lips deepened. He crooked a finger, signaling Lin Jin to step forward.

“There are three types of beast-taming contracts. Which will you choose?”

Lin Jin froze, staring at him blankly.

“Uh… what?”

Zhe Yu nearly laughed. Seeing that Lin Jin clearly understood nothing, he explained briefly:

“There are three kinds of beast-taming contracts. First, the master–servant contract. Once formed, you are the master and it is the servant. It cannot resist any of your commands and will serve you alone from life to death. Second, the life-and-death blood contract. This one is special—it requires both human and beast to be fully willing. Once formed, your lives are bound together; if one dies, the other perishes as well. Third, the equal contract. This is more like a friendship. Neither side can harm or force the other, and once formed, it can be dissolved at any time, as long as both agree.”

After a pause, Zhe Yu added:

“The life-and-death contract is out. I suggest the master–servant contract, since…”

He brushed the back of his fingers against the warm yet vulnerable neck of the puppy.

“…since your little dog likes to bare its teeth. Pressing it down completely would be safer for you.”

“…”
Xiao Lanqi, listening to Zhe Yu’s words, nearly wanted to turn his head and bite off those fingers, injuries be damned.

But Zhe Yu’s fingers were wrapped in condensed spiritual power, sharp as a blade. He made sure Xiao Lanqi sensed it—this was a warning that killing him would take no more than a flick of a finger.

Xiao Lanqi was close to spitting blood.

Even at the bottom of Ghost-Cry Cliff, what he suffered had been torture—not humiliation like this.

Zhe Yu! He dared to coerce him into forming a master–servant contract with this good-for-nothing fool who couldn’t even cast a basic cleaning spell—this lazy, troublemaking, useless furnace! He dared—

“I choose the equal contract.”

Lin Jin’s voice rang out, causing everyone to freeze.

There was a reason for their shock. From ancient times to the present, whether beast tamers or ordinary cultivators, everyone, without exception, chose master–servant contracts.

The equal contract was practically useless. After all, people sought assistance—obedience. Who would go through the trouble of raising a beast that might refuse orders and could leave at any time?

Good question.

Lin Jin would.

Seeing the wide-eyed stares around him, Lin Jin unconsciously lowered his voice as he explained:

“I’m not counting on him to do anything for me. If we can be friends, why be master and servant? Coming and going freely is better. When he grows up and wants to explore on his own, I’ll let him go. He was born to be himself, not my slave. I have no right to demand he risk his life for me.”

Some laughed at his childish innocence. Others nodded in agreement. Zhe Yu sat on the jade railing, pondered briefly, then agreed.

“Well said. We’ll do it your way.”

With that, Zhe Yu straightened slightly. With a casual hand seal, a wisp of red light wrapped in spiritual power drifted from the struggling puppy’s brow.

“Take a thread of soul blood from the spirit spring and give it to me.”

Just as Lin Jin was standing there watching as if it had nothing to do with him, Zhe Yu’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

In front of so many people, Zhe Yu hadn’t exposed his ignorance. Instead, he used voice transmission to guide him, leaving Lin Jin deeply moved. He hurriedly followed the instructions, awkwardly drawing out his soul blood and watching as his pearly-white spiritual power merged with Qiuqiu’s dark aura.

In that instant, he felt something indescribable—as if, on another level, he had become connected to another life. Even sensing Qiuqiu’s presence afterward felt far more intimate.

Lost in the wonder of the contract, Lin Jin completely failed to notice Zhe Yu’s brief hesitation after receiving his soul blood, or the thoughtful, probing look in his eyes.

Later, Zhe Yu returned Qiuqiu to Lin Jin.

As he released his grip on Xiao Lanqi’s nape, he also withdrew the razor-sharp spiritual power from his fingers.

Watching the puppy return to Lin Jin’s arms, Zhe Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Xiao Lanqi narrowed his eyes.

In those blue-green pupils was reflected the provocative smile on Zhe Yu’s lips.