All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 144: The Last Tranquility (6)

Outside the door stood a graceful woman, still wearing a snow-white robe that fluttered like mist. Her white skirt swayed in the night breeze, resembling a blooming white lotus. The waist of her dress was adorned with gold thread embroidery, exquisite and elegant. The hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps, exuding an otherworldly ancient charm.

The Holy Maiden’s fair skin was flawless, as smooth and delicate as white jade. Her face was dignified and serene, her eyes deep and bright like twinkling stars, yet with a hint of shyness and bashfulness.

Zhanyue had seen many beautiful women. In terms of features, once beauty reaches a certain level, the differences aren’t that great. It’s more about the distinct aura. MuMu Lixi, having grown up in an environment of universal respect, naturally carried a holy and noble aura.

“May I come in?” MuMu Lixi asked.

Zhanyue snapped back to reality and hurriedly invited her in.

“It’s so late, do you have some urgent matter to discuss with me?” Zhanyue asked curiously. This girl coming to his room alone so late at night didn’t seem to worry about gossip.

“What, am I not welcome?” MuMu Lixi stared at Zhanyue, making him uncomfortable.

In the few years they hadn’t seen each other, the Holy Maiden had shed her youthful naivety and become more mature. Compared to her previous reserved nature, she had become much more proactive.

“Of course not, I’m just worried about what others might say if they see,” Zhanyue explained.

“Well…” Zhanyue hadn’t expected her to say that.

Seeing his flustered look, MuMu Lixi smiled brightly, like a blooming lotus. “Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. You’ve always been helping me, whether it’s the god-level cultivation technique, the ‘Phantom Sword Technique’, or the ‘Phantom Step’. You’ve been helping me, but I’ve never been able to help you. Now that you’re in danger, I happen to have something that can help you.”

With that, MuMu Lixi took out a mechanical bird from her storage ring. Even without activation, Zhanyue could feel a powerful energy fluctuation from the bird made of mysterious star iron.

“This mechanical divine bird, once activated, has the strength of a Spirit God Realm expert. With this, you’ll have a trump card,” MuMu Lixi explained.

“This?” Zhanyue didn’t accept it. This item was clearly meant to protect the Holy Maiden. This mechanical bird was equivalent to having a Spirit God Realm expert as a personal guard, invaluable. But Zhanyue didn’t need it. He had the Illumination Goddess secretly protecting him, making him safer than anyone. It was MuMu Lixi who needed this item’s protection.

“I can’t accept this,” Zhanyue declined. “You shouldn’t worry about my safety. You need this more. If anything happened to you, I’d be the one with endless regrets.”

Seeing Zhanyue’s refusal, a hint of disappointment flashed in MuMu Lixi’s eyes. She asked, “Is it because of another woman? Is that why you won’t accept it?”

“Another woman?” Zhanyue shook his head. He really didn’t need this treasure, while MuMu Lixi did. If taking it away put MuMu Lixi in danger, he would regret it.

“Really?” MuMu Lixi asked. Zhanyue looked at her expression, feeling like she knew something. Somehow, he felt he was about to be passively labeled as a scoundrel.

“Although we only spent a few days together years ago, those days changed my fate. I’ve never forgotten you. I’m grateful that heaven has brought you back to my side,” MuMu Lixi said seriously. “Please accept it. I can’t help you much, and this is the most useful thing I can think of for you.”

Zhanyue looked at MuMu Lixi’s watery eyes, feeling that if he didn’t accept, she might start crying. He reluctantly took the mechanical bird.

“This is mine now, right?” Zhanyue asked.

MuMu Lixi nodded. Although the item was precious, she didn’t care.

“So I can do whatever I want with it?” Zhanyue asked again.

MuMu Lixi nodded again, not understanding Zhanyue’s intention.

“Alright.” Zhanyue took one of MuMu Lixi’s hands and gave the mechanical bird back to her. “I’m giving this to you. I hope you like it.”

MuMu Lixi’s face froze, tears welling up in her eyes. She didn’t understand what Zhanyue meant. Was he disdaining her gift, determined to draw a clear line between them?

“Girl, why are you crying? This treasure was given to me by you, so it’s mine now, right? So naturally, I have the right to give it to you. Compared to me, you actually need its protection more. I’m in a much safer situation than you imagine,” Zhanyue reached out to wipe MuMu Lixi’s tears, surprised that the Holy Maiden, so holy and aloof in public, was no different from an ordinary girl in front of him.

MuMu Lixi quickly understood Zhanyue’s intention and the meaning behind his words. He wanted to accept her goodwill while ensuring the treasure stayed with her for protection.

“Do you really not need it? They even used that kind of poison against you. The power behind this must not be simple,” MuMu Lixi asked, her expression improving.

Zhanyue smiled slightly, and the Silver Moon Armor covered his body, his aura surging. “In this state, even high-level Sun Profound Realm experts would struggle to harm me. Look at this.” Zhanyue took out an identity token with the number ’16’ engraved on it. “This is the identity token of ‘Mad Blade’, ranked 16th among the Night Lord’s 99 demons.”

Zhanyue’s reliance was far more than just the Silver Moon Armor, but he couldn’t reveal the existence of the Illumination Goddess yet.

“Is this armor so powerful?” MuMu Lixi touched the beautiful armor, her eyes widening in curiosity. “It allows you to kill Sun Profound Realm experts without even entering the Profound Realm yourself?”

“Indeed. And it’s just one of my trump cards. I have many more, so don’t worry about me. Your identity is special, and I’ll feel more at ease if you keep the mechanical bird,” Zhanyue finally circled back to his point.

MuMu Lixi was now convinced and nodded. “What have you experienced in these years? How did you suddenly become so powerful?”

Zhanyue asked her to sit down, then closed the door. “Since you want to know, I’ll tell you everything in detail.”

Then, Zhanyue told MuMu Lixi about his experiences with the mountain demon clan, Ghost Island, and the Thousand Charms Empire. He didn’t even hide Baizhi’s existence, telling her everything in detail. As he narrated, dawn broke, and it was already the next morning.

MuMu Lixi looked at Zhanyue with a complex expression. They had done nothing that night except listen to Zhanyue’s experiences, but their relationship felt much closer.

“I really envy sister Baizhi. If there’s a chance, I’d like to meet her.”

“Meet her?” Zhanyue frowned, unable to imagine that scenario.

When MuMu Lixi opened the door to leave, she ran into Nangong Weilai, who had just arrived.

“Sister MuMu Lixi… you…” Nangong Weilai had a strange look on her face.

“What about me… let’s go,” MuMu Lixi’s face reddened, knowing Nangong Weilai had misunderstood. She had snuck out in the middle of the night and was now leaving Zhanyue’s room at dawn. Anyone would have thoughts seeing this.

“You… you’re moving too fast, isn’t this inappropriate?” Nangong Weilai patted her chest, worried that Wind Lord might blame her as the Holy Maiden’s personal guard.

“You’re thinking too much. We didn’t do anything,” MuMu Lixi explained.

“Really?” Nangong Weilai obviously didn’t believe it. The Holy Maiden was so beautiful; how could a man and woman spend a night alone and do nothing?

“Of course it’s true. Don’t ask anymore. I know my limits,” the Holy Maiden’s face turned serious. Nangong Weilai stuck out her tongue and said no more, but thought to herself, “With your behavior, you’re not afraid of people knowing you like Zhanyue. What limits?”

Zhanyue’s room still lingered with the Holy Maiden’s fragrance.

“You little rascal, you really are…” the Illumination Goddess sighed. She could see that MuMu Lixi had developed deep feelings for Zhanyue, although their time together wasn’t long. But some feelings, once fermented, only become more intoxicating with time, like wine.

“Sigh, I didn’t deceive her. I even told her everything about my relationship with Baizhi,” Zhanyue sighed. Whether in his past world or this one, it was his first time being pursued by a girl.

As he was worrying about this, a strong water element enveloped him. The Illumination Goddess was about to act, but Zhanyue quickly said, “Sister, don’t move. This person’s technique doesn’t seem intended to kill me. Let’s follow the trail and go along with the plan.”

Zhanyue’s entire body was enveloped in water, then sank into the ground and disappeared, leaving only a puddle of water in the room. Apart from the Illumination Goddess, no one in the Academy Town noticed this change.