76. Natural Barrier (Part Four)
◎I want to kiss you…◎
"You blockhead, you not only obstruct my attempts to form contracts with the spirit beasts around me, but you also refuse to form a contract with me. What are you going to do about it?"
The number of disciples at Spirit Beast Mountain is increasing, and some have even completed their contracts. Ran Qinghe spent most of the day looking, but she couldn't choose a single one.
Hua Jin chuckled and shook his head, "Your spirit beast is far too jealous."
"Wood" shook his head blankly. Just as Hua Jin said, a cultivator's contract with a spirit beast is just like forming a Daoist partnership. For some reason, because of the dream that day, he was extremely unwilling for her to form a contract easily, whether it was a spirit beast contract or something else.
Other?
Yes, the spirit beast form is just his illusion technique, so he cannot form a spirit beast contract with her, but other contracts are not necessarily impossible.
The Discipline Hall has a special binding technique, which is special in that it can not only bind fugitives, but also bind the cultivators who are pursuing them.
Planting this technique can bind two people tightly together; if they are more than 100 meters apart, both will suffer a backlash.
Therefore, this special binding technique is also known as... the Unity Technique.
Thinking this, he nodded as if possessed.
Ran Qinghe was stunned. "You really mean it? But you're not..." She let go of the wood, which landed lightly on the ground. She looked up at her again and nodded once more.
She turned to the disciple steward beside her: "Excuse me, may I form a contract with it?"
The disciple in charge hesitated and said, "There has been a precedent for Fei Feng. If the spirit beast is not a sect spirit beast, the ceremony is usually presided over by the beast taming elder of the Spirit Beast Mountain."
He glanced at the obviously unusual piece of wood, "This disciple cannot discern its cultivation level, therefore..."
Hua Jin interjected, "It's alright, I'll take them to find Elder He. He specializes in beast contracts and has the most experience."
*
On the contract platform, Elder He, with his white hair and beard, circled the wooden board twice before saying, "I have seen countless exotic beasts in Feifeng, but I really can't discern the spirit beast's rank. Is this young friend truly willing to form a contract with a spirit beast of unknown origin and rank?"
Ran Qinghe didn't hesitate, "It's alright. When a fight breaks out, I can't expect this little guy to stand in front of me."
She entered Feifeng only to temporarily escape Qianzhong, and did not intend to stay in Feifeng for long. Whether the contracted spirit beast was powerful or not was not important to her.
Since this piece of wood has been attached to her since the beginning, it can be considered a kind of fate.
Elder He stroked his long beard and pondered for a moment: "Very well, since you are willing, I will activate this contract ritual for you. But let me make it clear beforehand that if the contract formation is activated abnormally or there is a backlash, it must be stopped immediately."
"Yes, thank you, Elder," Ran Qinghe replied.
Elder He stopped trying to persuade him and pointed to the circular jade pillar in the center of the contract platform. "Both parties inject their essence blood into the contract, and then stand on the array eye of the platform. If the contract is formed, the array patterns on the jade pillar will light up, and you and the spirit beast will be connected by a sense of connection."
Upon hearing this, Ran Qinghe gently bit her index finger, and a bead of bright red blood rolled down. The jade pillar lit up for a moment, then went out again.
When it was the wood's turn, it leaped onto the pillar, its sharp claws tearing through its claw pads before pressing itself against the jade pillar.
At the same time, a faint, almost imperceptible silver light flowed from its claws into the pillar, disappearing in an instant.
Elder He frowned slightly, his expression grave: "Enter the array's core."
Ran Qinghe and Mu Tou each stood still. At first, there was nothing unusual, until a gentle spiritual force completely connected Mu Tou and her.
Just then, a sudden change occurred. The array patterns on the side of the jade pillar were dim and lifeless, but the array eye where the two of them stood shone brightly.
What's even stranger is that the spiritual energy between the human and the beast seems to be in a state of fusion, as if it's not a master-servant relationship, but rather a deeper imprint of their souls.
"This...!" Elder He's expression changed drastically as he stared intently at the contract platform.
As the light gradually faded, he strode onto the stage, first carefully inspecting the array's core to confirm there were no problems, then suddenly looked at the wood as if he wanted to dissect it and see through it.
The wooden figure sat quietly, its glassy eyes meeting Elder He's scrutinizing gaze, its expression utterly calm.
Elder He's expression was unusually solemn, but he still said to Ran Qinghe first: "Although the contract is formed... this contract is quite special. You... will understand it for yourself."
He then turned to Hua Jin, his tone solemn: "Young Sect Master, please inform the Sect Leader immediately. I have important matters to discuss in person."
Hua Jin sensed something was amiss and suppressed her smile: "Yes, Qing He, take it back first."
Ran Qinghe vaguely sensed that Elder He seemed to be hiding something from her, but the contract had been made, and the clear connection between her and the wood could not be faked.
She bent down and picked up the piece of wood, only to find that its body was somewhat stiff.
"Elder He, please speak frankly."
Elder He gave the little beast in her arms a deep look and shook his head: "It's not that it's inappropriate, it's just... never mind, you should go back first, the sect leader may have questions."
*
No more than an hour after the man and beast returned to Tingfeng Garden, a disciple came to deliver a message: "Fellow Daoist Ran, the sect leader requests that you go to Lingxiao Palace immediately."
She had heard of this Sect Master Feifeng for a long time.
Legend has it that she single-handedly unified the various tribes of the Southern Frontier and founded the Crimson Maple Sect. She also slew the ferocious beast Qiongqi, which had slaughtered countless cultivators, and hung its head at the Crimson Maple Sect gate for three days and three nights.
This rumored Sect Master Feifeng seems to be not easy to deal with.
But what's meant to happen will happen. Ran Qinghe stroked the soft fur on the wooden back of the creature in her arms. It seemed to sense her feelings and nuzzled her wrist.
Lingxiao Palace is located at the highest point of the Crimson Maple Sect, offering a panoramic view overlooking the mountains covered in red maple leaves. The interior furnishings are not luxurious, but rather possess a rustic charm that reflects a return to simplicity.
The sect leader, Lin Ge, was a woman who looked to be no more than thirty years old. She wore a simple ochre-red casual dress, and her dark hair was tied up with only a long animal feather.
She sat in the main seat, holding a jade slip in her hand, with Elder He and Hua Jin standing on either side below her.
Upon seeing Ran Qinghe enter, Lin Ge put down the jade slip, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before turning to the snow-white little beast lying quietly in her arms.
"Ran Qinghe?" Lin Ge asked, his voice gentle and soothing.
"yes."
Lin Ge casually said, "No need for formalities. I heard from Hua Jin that you were originally from Qingxiao, but later entered Yunya Academy and became the champion of this academy competition?"
Then, she subtly changed the subject: "Qingxiao is known for its strictness, and Yunya Academy is full of talented people. You must have something special to stand out from them."
"no."
The hall fell silent for a moment. Ran Qinghe looked up and met Lin Ge's questioning gaze.
"I was not born in Qingxiao. I only studied there for two years. If we are talking about origin, I am from the Valley of Mortals."
Upon hearing the words "Valley of Mortals," Elder He's eyelids twitched slightly, and Hua Jin was also taken aback.
In the cultivation world, being born in a place lacking spiritual energy often means having a shallow foundation and limited potential, which is not something to boast about.
Lin Ge smiled, a faint smile that instantly dispelled the tense atmosphere in the hall.
"Very good." She only said one sentence, and the coldness in her eyes faded a lot, replaced by a bit more genuine appreciation. "Not hiding from one's background and having an open and honest nature is very rare."
She didn't press the issue of her background further, as if it were a trivial matter.
Then, her gaze returned to the wood, this time lingering for a longer period.
"Where did you get this spirit beast?"
"I found it by chance on the traveling fairy ship. It must have been separated from its clan."
A faint smile appeared on Lin Ge's lips: "Is that so?"
She suddenly stretched out a finger and gently tapped it from a distance.
The wooden figure in Ran Qinghe's arms suddenly tensed up, its fur seemingly about to stand on end, and a hidden wariness was clearly reflected in its usually calm, glassy eyes.
In just a brief moment, it forcibly relaxed and returned to its bewildered and quiet state.
The change was only momentary, yet it was noticed. Lin Ge's expression remained unchanged, as if he had merely made a casual probe.
She looked at Elder He and said, "Tell me more about the strange contract you mentioned earlier."
Elder He bowed and carefully described the unusual circumstances surrounding the signing of the contract, adding at the end:
"Sect Leader, I have been overseeing contracts for hundreds of years, and I can almost certainly say that the situation could not have been caused by a spirit beast contract."
Lin Ge replied, "Therefore, its existence may be a potential hidden danger for Fei Feng."
Ran Qinghe's heart sank, and she hugged the small body in her arms even tighter. "But right now, it's just my contracted spirit beast."
Lin Ge's gaze held an indescribable depth, and she finally said, "Very well, the contract is already made, it is fate. Fei Feng has never had a precedent of a spirit beast injuring its master."
She didn't press the matter further, and the undercurrent of tension abruptly ended.
*
Back at Tingfeng Garden, she closed the door, shutting herself off from the outside world. Ran Qinghe placed the piece of wood on the couch, then squatted down beside it, looking it in the eye.
“Now, it’s just the two of us.” She stared into its eyes. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
After the contract was made, she could clearly perceive that connection, and even its emotions.
Just now in the main hall, it was obviously overly nervous, as if it was afraid that Lin Ge would say something.
She doesn't like being lied to, she really, really doesn't.
The wood stared at her for a long time, then suddenly stretched out its paw, pulled her hand that was resting on her knee, and then lowered its head to gently press its furry forehead into her palm.
This is a posture that relies entirely on intimacy.
Ran Qinghe felt as if something had gently bumped into her heart, and a tingling sensation rose up her spine.
Suddenly, she didn't want to ask anything anymore. She gently rubbed its soft forehead with her fingertips, then stared blankly at the red mark on its forehead.
After a long while, he muttered to himself, "You spirit beasts don't have some kind of tribulation mark either, do you?"
She poked the tuft of red fur, then said mischievously, "That's troublesome. I was thinking of finding you a companion. I think Hua Jin's contracted spirit beast is quite good."
Unexpectedly, the wooden man had a temper. Upon hearing this, he immediately turned his head away and faced away from her, ignoring her no matter how she teased him.
Ran Qinghe could only coax, "Alright, alright, if you don't want to, then you can find it yourself."
The wood turned around, its eyes reflecting the faint light filtering through the window. It looked at her for a long while before nodding solemnly.
As night deepened, the Maple Garden fell silent, save for the soft rustling of maple leaves in the wind outside the window.
Ran Qinghe was already fast asleep, her breathing even and deep. Beside her, the snow-white figure silently opened her eyes, moved her body, and then lightly leaped off the bed.
After the contract was signed, the restlessness in his heart intensified. He restored his original body, sat by the bed, and simply watched her quietly.
Her sleeping face was peaceful, revealing a softness that showed no defenses. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was still pondering some problem in her dream. Her lips were unconsciously pursed, revealing a hint of stubbornness.
His gaze lingered on those pale pink lips for a long time.
“It has been found,” he replied.
[Author's Note]
[Let me see] This little angel is so diligent in updating daily, will any soft-hearted little angels give it a like, a comment, or some nutrient solution?
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