All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 44

In the vast world, thunder rumbled, and large raindrops fell on the tent, making continuous pattering sounds. At first, the family of three was still apprehensive, but looking at Zhanyue’s reassuring figure, the three, unable to resist the fatigue of the day, gradually fell asleep.

This small space was like a little boat floating in the vast ocean, where even a small wave could overturn it. But the ‘boatman’ steering this small boat was extremely skilled, making this boat the safest place in the vast night sea.

Looking at the sleeping family of three behind him, tightly embracing each other, Zhanyue experienced for the first time the sense of achievement called ‘protection’. With his meager strength, he could only protect this family of three in the dark night, while the illumination Goddess had once sheltered the entire human race with her own power. Thinking of this, Zhanyue became increasingly admiring of the illumination Goddess.

“I wonder what sister is busy with now,” Zhanyue pondered.

A moment later, he noticed the little girl’s face was flushed red, looking pained. Placing his hand on her forehead, it was burning hot.

“A fever? Well, she was in the rain for so long and then in the cold wind.” Zhanyue woke up the man and handed a pill to A Dong, “This pill isn’t specifically for treating fever, it can only ease her discomfort. When you reach Thousand Feather City tomorrow, still find a doctor to check her.”

“Th-thank you,” the man took the pill. Not knowing what kind of medicine it was, but realizing this great person had no reason to harm his daughter, he gave it to the girl, followed by some water. Then he wiped the sweat from the girl’s forehead with a pained expression.

When I had a fever as a child, my father must have cared for me like this, Zhanyue recalled, watching the scene before him.

Suddenly, the girl woke up struggling, “Daddy, my eyes, my eyes hurt so much.”

A moment later, Meng Xiao Die opened her eyes. Her originally bright black eyes had now turned fiery red, looking very strange.

“Sir, this sir, please look at my daughter’s eyes, she… what happened to her?” the two asked anxiously.

Zhanyue walked to the little girl’s side and carefully examined her. His face was filled with shock. He actually detected a slight fluctuation of contractor power from the girl? She had contracted, just now? But what was the contract object?

Zhanyue looked at those fiery red eyes, “Could it be these eyes? But… I’ve never heard of this.”

Those who awaken as contractors naturally gain knowledge of their innate abilities in their minds. The little girl stared at Zhanyue, feeling that a few strands of his hair were too long. If they were shorter, this big brother would look even more handsome. In an instant, a blood-colored blade of light cut off those few strands of hair without harming anything else.

Zhanyue was startled and quickly said, “Little girl, you can’t use your ability recklessly, or you might accidentally hurt others.” Then he found a tree branch by the roadside, “Try cutting this.”

The little girl stared at the branch in Zhanyue’s hand, and indeed, a blood-colored blade of light, incredibly sharp, cut the branch. The blood blade disappeared after cutting the branch, not harming anything else.

“What a terrifying ability,” Zhanyue drew in a sharp breath. This little girl was only a few years old, had just awakened her ability, and her contract object was actually her own eyes?

“She’s fine. It’s a blessing in disguise. She has become a contractor,” Zhanyue said to the dumbfounded couple.

“Ah? Sir… you mean Xiao Die… Xiao Die has become a contractor?” The parents said excitedly. How could they not know what becoming a contractor meant? It was truly a sparrow turning into a phoenix, a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

“This is indeed quite a remarkable karmic connection,” Zhanyue sighed, wondering if that old monk had foreseen this little girl’s awakening.

“Sister, nowadays contractors are divided into spirit contractors, beast contractors, weapon contractors, and miscellaneous contractors. This little girl’s contract object is her own eyes. How should she be classified?” Zhanyue asked, puzzled.

Soon after, the illumination Goddess replied, “I’ve long had some issues with this contractor classification. A long time ago, they lumped all the small number of unclassifiable people into the miscellaneous category, which is clearly unreasonable. Actually, besides these, there are also plant contractors and body contractors, though fewer in number, who have always been classified as miscellaneous contractors. Contracting with plants is much rarer than beast contractors, and contracting with one’s own organs is even rarer.”

“Everyone is born with a contract potential, some haven’t awakened, some haven’t found it yet. Body contractors are likely to need a trigger to awaken. It seems this little girl is quite lucky,” the illumination Goddess explained.

“Plant contractors, body contractors? Indeed, I still don’t know enough about the world of contractors,” Zhanyue sighed.

In the latter half of the night, the family of three didn’t continue sleeping. The couple was too excited to sleep, while the little girl kept asking Zhanyue all sorts of questions, as she roughly understood that she and Zhanyue belonged to the same world now.

As the sun rose, Zhanyue escorted the three to Thousand Feather City without further incident.

“Sir, you have saved the lives of our family of three. We can’t express our gratitude in words, and I know I can’t repay you anything, but our whole family will remember your great kindness for a lifetime,” the man thanked again.

Zhanyue waved his hand, but looked towards the little girl.

“Your daughter’s awakened ability is extraordinary and needs proper guidance, but I don’t have the time or ability. Keep this letter safe,” Zhanyue took out a letter and handed it to the man along with some purple crystal coins. “Here’s some travel money. You’d better follow some merchant caravans to Sun City. There, find a garrison officer named ‘Cheng Lu’. After reading this letter, he will take care of this girl.”

Zhanyue also wanted to take this opportunity to let Cheng Lu know he was safe, to prevent him from feeling guilty. At the same time, this little girl’s talent was very high. If the Eastern Kingdom nurtured her well, she would surely become a prodigy of her generation. It wasn’t appropriate to have them directly seek the city lord, but through Cheng Lu, the little girl’s situation could be made known to the Sun City lord. Then naturally, someone would come to guide this little girl.

Holding this letter, the man’s hand trembled slightly. How could he not understand what Zhanyue intended with this letter? As a man without power or influence, although his daughter had awakened as a contractor, she was too young, and he had no idea what to do. But Zhanyue had paved the way for them.

“Big brother, what’s your name?” Before parting, the little girl asked with her strange red eyes. The little girl was in plain clothes but was exquisitely beautiful, with two small buns on her head, incredibly cute. One couldn’t help but wonder how she would grow up to look.

“Zhanyue,” Zhanyue patted the little girl’s head, not concealing it. Seeing the little girl’s sincere gaze, he didn’t want to lie. The little girl firmly remembered the name and appearance of this person who had saved her whole family’s lives, then followed her parents away.

Watching the backs of this family of three, Zhanyue let out a long breath. “I’ve certainly gone above and beyond. Old monk, I don’t owe you anything anymore,” Zhanyue said, touching the prayer beads on his wrist.

He stayed in Thousand Feather City only to collect herbs for refining third-grade alchemys, aiming to become a third-grade alchemist. The Mountain Goblin territory wasn’t large and didn’t have all kinds of herbs, but Thousand Feather City was a big city after all, and finding materials for third-grade alchemys wasn’t difficult. But moving up from third grade wasn’t so simple. There was a huge gap between third-grade and fourth-grade alchemists, just like the difference between ordinary contractors and Profound Beings.