Chapter 32: Forming the Contract. The Ugly Wife Meets the Wicked In-Laws, Mutual Dislike…
The pavilions filled with clusters of lotus flowers vanished from sight, falling into nothingness.
Xiao Jianming stood below the high platform, watching the youth on the stage holding his mother’s corpse. A trace of emptiness and bewilderment appeared in his snow-bright eyes.
He couldn’t help stepping forward. Suddenly, a wave of sadness welled up in his heart, like tiny streams rushing from all directions. Thousands of streams converged into a majestic black sea, possessing the force to crumble mountains and destroy earth, weighing heavily on his heart and making him breathless.
“Mother…”
Ji Buhuan murmured unconsciously. A fine crack slowly appeared on his face, and numerous cracks spread to all parts of his body.
Xiao Jianming’s pupils constricted. The last voice he heard suddenly rang in his ears—
“What are you doing! Huan-er only has half a soul; a forceful soul search will kill him!”
Like thunder piercing his ears, deafening and enlightening.
Rustle.
Suddenly, a piece lightly drifted away from Ji Buhuan’s pale face. His dark lashes fell, his snowy eyes closed, and his whole body slumped down weakly.
Xiao Jianming hurriedly rushed to catch him, only to be shocked that the soul collapse this time was even more severe than in the illusion!
Pale blue spiritual power wrapped around the soul, approaching the youth again, but he realized the speed of the double-soul nourishment couldn’t catch up to this rapid loss at all.
Xiao Jianming lowered his head.
He saw the youth’s figure beginning to turn transparent, turning into nothingness bit by bit, about to leave him once again.
A trace of water suddenly appeared on the face that was cracked more than halfway, sliding into the silver-white hair.
I’m sorry.
Xiao Jianming held Ji Buhuan’s hanging hand, bit by bit.
That hand was white and smooth as warm jade, the knuckles cold and distinct. It had once gently stroked the top of his head and roasted delicious fish for him.
I’m sorry.
Mother.
I cannot watch Brother Buhuan die because of me.
Even if I am doomed eternally because of this in the future, I accept it.
Xiao Jianming circulated his spiritual power. Pale blue spiritual power surrounded the unconscious youth, hooking out a wisp of golden light, then drawing out more golden light. The two merged, slowly drawing out a Divine Soul Contract between the two.
The merged spiritual power was sucked into it without any stagnation.
Seeing this, a flash of surprise crossed Xiao Jianming’s eyes.
He intended to sign the highest Dao Companion Contract, the Life and Death Contract, legendary for being irreversible even by immortals, with this broken half of Ji Buhuan’s soul.
Only in this way could he bind the two souls together without fear of anything, connecting their luck and sharing their fate from now on, pulling the soul that should have scattered due to incompleteness back from chaos. But this contract required both parties to be sincere for it to be successfully signed; otherwise, the Heavenly Dao would not recognize it.
He had thought he would have to burn his lifespan to forcibly violate the Heavenly Dao’s restrictions to succeed. He hadn’t expected that after the Spirit Contract appeared, he wouldn’t encounter a shred of resistance.
Although he didn’t know the reason, Xiao Jianming felt a myriad of emotions welling up in his heart.
He and Brother Buhuan will definitely be together always, never separating.
Little did he know, if he could read those dense characters, he would know that the spirit script above was not the blessing for an ordinary Dao Companion contract, but a prayer modified from a Dao Companion contract. It read—
[Benevolent God Venerable, I pray to you as a devout believer. I pray for your pitying gaze, I pray for you to love me in the next life.
I am willing to drive away all evils in the world for you, protecting you amidst human peace. I pray for you to love me.
I am willing to wash away the killing malice on you, supporting you within eternal vows. I pray for you to love me.
I am willing to give up the authority of a God for you, following you in endless reincarnation. I pray for you to love me…]
There were a total of one hundred and one sentences. The last sentence was slightly different from the previous text, appearing somewhat formal and classically elegant in comparison. It read:
[You have followed and not abandoned me for a hundred lives; my heart is deeply shaken. In the coming life, I wish to form a phoenix contract with you, inseparable in life and death.]
This was a pre-arranged contract from thousands of years ago, only to secure the fate of this life.
…
As spiritual power was input, the dim characters lit up word by word and sentence by sentence. When the last character lit up, the contract was established.
The moment the contract took effect, Xiao Jianming suddenly felt a trace of power belonging to him—both familiar and strange—flow back to the source through the contract from the other party’s soul, crashing into his origin spirit sea and disappearing.
He couldn’t help but be stunned.
Checking carefully, he realized the restriction that had once stopped him from entering deeper had disappeared. Doubts sprang up in clusters.
When did I place a restriction? Why do I have no memory of it at all?
While he was pondering, color gradually returned to the youth’s pale face. His long lashes trembled slightly, and he opened his eyes.
As soon as Su Huan regained a bit of consciousness, he abruptly sensed the Spirit Soul Contract seal that had suddenly appeared in his soul. The strange sensation in his soul blatantly announced to him that he and another person were inextricably bound from now on!
And this person was the Black Lotus beside him.
His mind uncontrollably recalled Xiao Jianming’s vile face and coercion in the illusion: “I also want you to be my forbidden plaything, to become my accessory…”
Mistaking that Xiao Jianming still harbored that thought and had forcibly branded him with the seal, he immediately pushed the person away. A touch of red quickly rose at the corners of his eyes, and he said in shame and anger: “You—how could you do this!”
Xiao Jianming was pushed to the ground. He froze for a moment, then looked at him cautiously: “I’m sorry, I…”
But no matter how much he said, it couldn’t erase the harm caused by the forced soul search, nor wipe away the pain of recovering memories for Ji Buhuan. Moreover, he had formed a contract with the person while they were unconscious.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jianming couldn’t say a word.
He turned his head away wretchedly, not daring to meet the youth’s clear eyes.
Su Chao was right. He shouldn’t have let Brother Buhuan remember this past.
Sorry?
Su Huan was a bit dazed. Is this still the solipsistic, vindictive Black Lotus from the original work?
He actually apologized?
But no matter what, I can’t really let myself become a forbidden plaything.
Su Huan was flabbergasted and wanted to cry but had no tears. He pushed him anxiously: “Quickly undo this Spirit Contract!”
Hearing this, Xiao Jianming turned his head abruptly. The look he gave Su Huan was filled with deep pain. Brother Buhuan is actually so unwilling to become Dao Companions with me… But fortunately: “Once the contract takes effect, it cannot be undone.”
What?!
Su Huan heard the bad news like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. He was so angry he fell back, his entire Spirit Platform trembling with him.
But he fell unexpectedly into a spacious embrace, meeting a pair of black eyes that could be described as gentle.
Su Huan felt terrified instinctively. Just as he was about to struggle, he suddenly heard the Black Lotus call out hesitantly and cautiously, like a young boy tasting love for the first time: “Brother Buhuan…”
“I will treat you well. Don’t detest me, okay?”
Su Huan shivered directly.
Help! This doesn’t sound like something a certain site’s male lead would say at all. The Black Lotus has mutated!
And what on earth is the dog author writing? The original owner, a cannon fodder villain, actually has a dual identity, and is even a hidden villain who backstabs the male lead later on!
Is it because the villain—oh no, is it because my original ending wasn’t tragic enough, so they changed my identity to whip the corpse again!
If it were just that, it wouldn’t be a big deal. At worst, he just wouldn’t backstab the Black Lotus when the time came.
But the moment he turned his head, he ran into the extremely weird, gentle expression in the Black Lotus’s eyes now. Su Huan closed his eyes peacefully.
Haha. Must be a dream. It’ll be fine when I wake up.
At this moment, the contract seal in his soul poked his soul.
The movement was cautious, carrying a hint of ingratiation.
Su Huan exploded immediately. The salted fish flipped over, anger steaming like clouds.
Ah! Just let me die!
A perfectly good male lead from a certain site’s power fantasy suddenly wants to go gay with me, and I’m forced to become his forbidden plaything. What is this!
Sensing the turbulent emotions coming from the other side of the contract seal, the light in Xiao Jianming’s eyes dimmed.
Brother Buhuan really detests me.
When Su Huan exited his consciousness and opened his eyes, he saw the figures of Su Chao and Ning Zhou. The two were arguing.
“Ah Chao, calm down. His soul breath is getting weaker and weaker; he can’t be saved…”
“Calm down? How can you ask me to calm down! Auntie loved me so much when she was alive; how can I bear to watch her child die in front of me! Besides, this is the brother I saved from that cannibalistic hell with so much difficulty…”
Su Chao nearly wept uncontrollably. He shoved away Ning Zhou, who was hugging and comforting him, and ran anxiously toward Su Huan: “No, I have to send Huan-er back to the Xuanji Sect as soon as possible. Master will surely have a way… Huan-er!”
Before he ran a few steps, he saw Su Huan, who was lying on the ground, sit up and regain consciousness. He ran over frantically to check him up and down. Confirming he was fine, he hugged him excitedly: “Great, Huan-er! It’s good that you’re fine, good that you’re fine…”
Su Huan wasn’t quite used to such intimate contact and felt a bit awkward. Just as he was about to reach out and hug this so-called cousin back, Su Chao suddenly pulled away, strode quickly behind him, and kicked out fiercely.
He kicked the Black Lotus who had just woken up.
Judging by the sound, it seemed he broke a few ribs.
Xiao Jianming flew several meters away, smashing heavily onto the ground. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, looking coldly at Su Chao like a sinister viper.
Su Chao was fearless. If Ning Zhou hadn’t stopped him, he probably would have added a few more kicks.
Su Huan was shocked.
Small body, big ferocity.
Little Brother Su prostrated himself in admiration.
Su Chao gritted his teeth in anger: “It was one thing for you to threaten Ah Zhou with me, but you dared to hurt my brother. Today I will make sure you come in vertical and go out horizontal!”
Xiao Jianming sneered, dismissive.
For a moment, the two were at daggers drawn, the atmosphere like dark clouds overhead.
Seeing they were about to fight, Su Huan anxiously stopped this cheap brother: “Brother, brother, brother! You can’t hit him!”
Although the Black Lotus deserves a beating, he is the novel’s protagonist. People who go against him get branded as villains and die in the end!
Su Chao didn’t understand: “Move aside. Why protect him! He almost killed you just now!”
At this time, Ning Zhou walked behind his Dao Companion. He intended to protect him secretly, but upon getting closer, he keenly sensed the change in Su Huan’s aura and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
Then he pulled the bristling Su Chao back with a smile, saying: “Ah Chao, take a closer look, and you’ll know why he’s protecting that brat.”
He cast a meaningful look at Su Huan.
Su Huan: “?” Baffling.
While he was racking his brains for a strategy to explain his behavior, his gaze inadvertently met Xiao Jianming’s. Unknown what the other thought of, the look directed at him was slightly moved and a bit scalding.
Su Huan didn’t understand and looked away awkwardly.
Too scary. I must find a way to break the contract.
Xiao Jianming stared fixedly at Su Huan, a softness crossing his heart.
Even if he detests me, he stands up to protect me… Brother Buhuan is truly wonderful.
After this interruption, Su Chao calmed down a bit and actually noticed some differences in Su Huan.
His cute and well-behaved cousin didn’t know how to restrain his aura. His body was surrounded by pure Metal spiritual power, but looking carefully, he faintly sensed another aura merging with it—icy cold, piercingly cool—
Identical to the aura on the brat on the ground.
Suddenly realizing this bad news, he nearly fainted from anger.
Heaven above, his family’s fresh, watery cabbage has been ruined by a pig!
Translator’s Note: “Dog Xiao” is a nickname for Xiao Jianming, implying he’s behaving like a dog (in a bad/scumbag way initially, or loyal/clingy way later). “Certain site” refers to Qidian/generic male-power fantasy sites where protagonists usually have harems or become gods, not get into BL relationships.
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