Chapter 2205 — The Contract Spirit Beast
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Woof, woof, woof…" Mighty General spoke up then too, barking twice as if to tell the Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast something.
The Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast did not speak again after hearing it. Instead it fell silent, lying alone at Wei Zhao's feet, and none could tell what it was turning over in its mind.
Mighty General and the Heavenly Thunder Pig said nothing more either, but waited quietly for the Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast's answer.
Puzzled as he was, Wei Zhao could guess that the Heavenly Thunder Pig and Mighty General had already hit upon a way to suppress the Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast—only the method was hard for the beast to accept, and so it hesitated, weighing its choice.
"ROAR—" At last the Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast raised its proud head and loosed a long cry at the sky. Then it turned to the Heavenly Thunder Pig and Mighty General and slowly nodded—though after nodding, as if to add a condition, it let out a string of "roar, roar, roar" cries in succession…
Mighty General and the Heavenly Thunder Pig exchanged a glance. Then the Heavenly Thunder Pig squealed "ji, ji, ji, ji," seemingly explaining something to the Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast. After a moment the beast nodded again, and the Heavenly Thunder Pig ran to Wei Zhao and pointed with its paw at a patch of soft sand not far off.
Wei Zhao knew the Heavenly Thunder Pig meant to write and so converse with him. He went with it to the soft sand, and the pig swiftly began tracing words there: "Since ancient times, there have been three ways for humans and spirit beasts to live together. The first is a natural friendship born of minds in accord, sharing sweetness and bitterness alike—like mine with Mighty General."
"The second is to forge a contract and make the spirit beast a human's slave. The human may drive the beast to do anything at all, and once the contract is forged, the beast cannot resist—it can only do whatever it is commanded. Put plainly, it becomes a puppet with a mind of its own."
"The third is to forge a contract of equals. This way is much like the first: mutual respect, the spirit beast a good friend to humans rather than a mere slave. So long as the beast does not betray its master, it keeps its own consciousness."
"The contract the Qianshan Sect establishes is of this third kind, and it is also the easiest to establish. The Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast says it can accept becoming your contract spirit beast, but it must be this kind—for to become a slave would be far too wretched."
"Oh, that kind will do," Wei Zhao said with a nod. "In truth, you and Mighty General are much the same as such contract beasts—only ours is a bond forged in shared hardship, while the Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast's time with me has been too short to prove its loyalty. This is the only way."
The Wind-Thunder Purple Lightning Beast had not expected Wei Zhao to agree so readily, and was somewhat taken aback. It had assumed Wei Zhao would seize the chance to press his advantage and demand the slave-style contract—and it had been utterly unwilling!
It wanted to advance, yes—but what meaning would advancement have if it cost it its very self?
In choosing the last option, it had even harbored the thought that if Wei Zhao refused, it would simply slip away in disappointment. That was why it had cried to the heavens and made its resolve. Who would have guessed Wei Zhao would be so easy to deal with? Had it known, it would have forged the contract with him long ago!
This contract imposed no burden on it whatsoever. While Wei Zhao lived, it would follow at his side; should Wei Zhao fall by mischance, it would regain its freedom, wholly unaffected. It had lived several thousand years and seen too many humans, yet one like Wei Zhao it had never met—so following him was no loss at all!