All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 98: Soul Possession

On the way, Zhanyue learned that the old woman’s surname was Zhao. The two discussed how to deal with Iron Bull later. Soon after, the two arrived at Mingchun Village. This quiet village was located not far from Hundred Birds City and was considered a safe zone for human habitation. But at night, enlightenment stone lamps were still needed to guard against the unexpected.

Birds circled in the sky, red, green, yellow, all sorts of varieties. There were a huge number of bird species near Hundred Birds City, which was how the city got its name. It was just that those bird calls now seemed very tense, as if foreboding an imminent change.

Mingchun Village only had about two hundred people. Everyone knew each other. Seeing Granny Zhao bring back a stranger, many people cast puzzled gazes.

“Auntie Zhao, who is this young man? How come I’ve never seen him before? He’s really handsome.” A passing woman asked. The woman looked to be in her forties or fifties. Her gaze sized up Zhanyue back and forth. At this moment, Zhanyue was dressed in white clothes. With his handsome looks, he truly seemed like the young master of some family, completely out of place with these villagers.

“A warm-hearted young man I met on the road. He helped me a lot. He’s trying to find Flying Cloud Post Station to the west but can’t find the way. It just so happens our village isn’t far from there, so I’m having him come over to rest a bit.” Granny Zhao explained. Zhanyue was indeed going to Flying Cloud Post Station. That was the starting point for flying across Sunset Gorge. Most people going to the Jade Rosy Kingdom would board an airship there.

Not long after, Granny Zhao returned home. She took a deep breath to calm herself before opening the door.

Iron Bull looked at his old mother who had returned, then at Zhanyue standing behind her. He couldn’t help but become alert in his heart.

“Mother, you’re back. Who is he?” Iron Bull asked.

As Iron Bull was sizing up Zhanyue, Zhanyue was also sizing him up. From the outside, Iron Bull looked no different from an ordinary person. Zhanyue didn’t know if it was an illusion, but he felt those eyes seemed to have experienced vicissitudes, definitely not something a farmer should have.

“I encountered a thief in the city. Fortunately, this young master helped. He happens to want to go to Flying Cloud Post, and our village is in that direction. After I make a meal later, eat lunch, then take him to Flying Cloud Post. He may not be able to find the way.” Granny Zhao said. She had Iron Bull in middle age and doted on him greatly. In order to figure out the situation with Iron Bull, she could be said to have put in a lot of effort.

“Alright.” Iron Bull nodded. He was displeased in his heart, secretly thinking it was really troublesome to use someone else’s identity. This white-clothed youth also had cultivation. He couldn’t let him see any flaws.

“How is it, Sister?” Zhanyue had long opened vision sharing. The illumination Goddess had a clear view of everything in front of him.

“I can sense there are indeed two soul auras inside him, one strong and one weak. But I haven’t detected the aura of a Nightmare. It’s not in the form of a Nightmare possessing a corpse. It’s more like soul possession recorded in ancient books. He was very likely possessed by some powerful soul.” The illumination Goddess quickly made a judgment.

“Soul possession? It’s actually soul possession.” Zhanyue didn’t expect to hear this term. “Is there still hope for Iron Bull?”

“That weak soul hasn’t disappeared. Perhaps this person’s strength hasn’t recovered yet and he hasn’t had time to completely refine the original soul. If his soul is peeled off now, Iron Bull should still have hope. It’s just… with soul damage, the best result is probably still an idiotic cripple.” The illumination Goddess said regretfully.

“Is that so.” Zhanyue thought of the old woman’s face and felt some heartache. “What is this person’s strength like now? Can I be his match?”

“On the surface, he won’t be your match. But since he’s someone who knows the art of soul possession, he probably has some hidden means. You can’t let your guard down.” The illumination Goddess reminded. The soul possession technique was an ancient art, not something everyone knew.

“I know. But if we delay too long, I’m afraid Iron Bull’s original soul will be completely refined and even gods and immortals won’t be able to save him.” Zhanyue said. As for how to force that soul to leave Iron Bull’s body, Zhanyue already had an idea – directly “cripple” Iron Bull. He didn’t believe that soul would occupy a scrapped body.

Not long after, Iron Bull’s mother finished preparing the meal. There was meat, fish, wine, letting Zhanyue have a hearty meal. The taste of this farmer’s cooking was quite different from that in restaurants.

“I’m full.” After eating, Iron Bull comfortably patted his belly. It had been a very, very long time since he experienced the taste of worldly delicacies.

Iron Bull’s mother had a smile at the corner of her mouth, but her eyes were a bit bleak. Although Iron Bull was sitting alive beside her, she could clearly distinguish he wasn’t her son. At this point, she could only place all her hopes on Zhanyue.

“Brother Iron Bull, sorry for the trouble. Take me to Flying Cloud Post.” Zhanyue said with a smile.

Iron Bull nodded. “No problem. Let’s go. I’ll treat it as exercise after a meal.”

“You guys hurry. Iron Bull, rest there at night. Only come back after dawn. Don’t travel at night.” Granny Zhao reminded.

Zhanyue exchanged glances with her, giving her a reassuring look, then followed Iron Bull out the door.

This Iron Bull only had a faint impression, knowing the direction of Flying Cloud Post but not completely clear on how to get there. He hadn’t completely refined Iron Bull’s memories and soul. He had been sealed for who knew how many years and was really too weak.

The two each harbored their own thoughts and left the village, arriving at a wilderness. Zhanyue didn’t want to make things difficult in the village. The villagers were all ordinary people. He was afraid of harming innocent lives. And this Iron Bull was on guard against Zhanyue, also not wanting to be exposed in the village. He was really too weak at the moment and still needed this identity as a cover. Once he recovered some strength and had the ability to protect himself, even if he slaughtered the village, what would it matter?

“Brother Iron Bull, is this road really the way to Flying Cloud Post?” Zhanyue asked doubtfully.

Iron Bull’s heart shook. This fellow saw through it so quickly? Looks like he can’t be allowed to live. I must kill him in one blow!

Iron Bull turned around, looking at Zhanyue with an honest face. However, behind him, a red cone-shaped magic treasure was floating in mid-air, blocked by his body.

“No problem. You see that tree? That tree is the marker.” Iron Bull pointed at a tree beside them.

Just as Zhanyue turned his head, Iron Bull let out half his body. The cone-shaped magic treasure behind him flew over at extreme speed, but the fatal red line pounced on empty air.

Zhanyue had already appeared behind Iron Bull. His knife hand became a sword, directly piercing through Iron Bull’s abdomen!

“You…” Iron Bull looked at the hole in his abdomen in disbelief. This body of his was only a mortal body. His own soul power hadn’t recovered. At this moment, he was at his weakest. He actually couldn’t even block a single move from Zhanyue.

“Your means aren’t bad. If I wasn’t on guard against you, your sneak attack would have succeeded.” Zhanyue said. That terrifying red cone-shaped magic treasure seemed very, very dangerous.

“This body can’t be used anymore. No, this old man will fight it out with him. I don’t believe his soul power can be stronger than mine!” Iron Bull pondered. Then he left Iron Bull’s body and turned into a mass of black qi, possessing Zhanyue’s body. He wanted to directly possess Zhanyue’s soul!

Zhanyue saw Iron Bull’s momentary soulless state and used State Reversal on him, healing his injuries and saving his life. Afterwards, he felt an evil and powerful force invading his soul.

In the soul world, that mass of black qi condensed into human form.