Chapter 63: Soul Promise

Thunder dragons bombarded the ground, roaring in the scolding rain for a while. When the lightning dissipated, the stone slabs those two people stood on were completely shattered.

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord endured the thunderstorm, his silver armour showing burn marks. He adjusted his shoulder and seemed finally intrigued by the tyrant before him, “Such a bad temper.”

Ming Zhuo had broken free and was nearby tending to his wounds, blood still flowing from where the ring had cut him. He touched the blood with his fingertips, frowning slightly, and said coldly, "Bad luck."

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord said, “The Ming family used to live in Changcheng, where they were protected by the Golden Crow of the sun god Tai Shao. But over a decade ago, your father insisted on moving the capital despite opposition. I didn't understand why at first, but now it seems it was for your sake.”

The Ming family, descendants of Tai Shao, had been fire prodigies since the reign of Queen Ming Yao. Over successive generations, every king had primarily practised fire magic. Ming Zhuo, rumoured to have "poor spiritual roots," had never used any fire-related spells since his awakening.

Ming Zhuo washed the blood from his fingertips with rainwater and said, “Don’t get it wrong. The Ming family is the ruler of the Six Prefectures and can live wherever they please. Perhaps if I’m in a good mood tomorrow, I might move the Divine Palace back to Changcheng.”

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord replied, “Changcheng is now in ruins, the Golden Crow shattered. Even if you move back, it would be difficult to restore the Ming family's glory.”

Ming Zhuo laughed, “Who wants to restore the Ming family’s glory? You? Ridiculous, ah. Even now, you're still pretending. Today, you and they conspired to make me endure an admonishment, right? Do you really think that if I go through the admonishment, I’ll have ‘come to my senses’ and reform like the previous kings?”

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord brushed the rain from his shoulder, saying, “Don't get it wrong. I don't care if you have an epiphany or reform. I'm here to verify something.”

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Guards, once loyal to Queen Ming Yao, only followed her commands. After her death, they continued to guard the Heavenly Sea, indifferent to the fates of subsequent kings. By now they had already been replaced by two generations. This current Imperial Lord, standing in the rain, contrary to his father, was rumoured to have never left the Heavenly Sea nor mingled with other sects' Tongshen.

He said he was here to verify something. What could it be?

The rain intensified. The silver chains on The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord's ring clinked softly as he looked at Ming Zhuo, his voice clear, “I’m here to verify a promise your father made to my father when the sun god Tai Shao faded—that his successor, regardless of gender, would form a contract with me.”

Ming Zhuo asked, “What contract?”

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord replied, “To promise their souls, life and death together.”

A “Soul-Promise Contract, life and death together” was a secret spell created by Ming Xi, the second king of the Baiwei Dynasty. It is said that this spell was specifically devised to imprison the beloved. Thus, when the spell takes effect, the souls and lives of the two individuals are permanently bound together. What was most cruel was that the one casting the spell, in order to make the other understand their deep affection, also embedded a sensation spell within it. When the caster experienced pain, the recipient would suffer alongside them.”

This spell was akin to a marriage contract, but the Ming family was known for their madness—they always cast the spell but were never the recipients of it.

Ming Zhuo’s fingers clenched, a burst of lightning blooming, “Absurd! If my father made that promise, you should look for him, not me.”

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord said, “I would, but your father is dead. Should I dig him up?”

Ming Zhuo said, “No need for that trouble. I'll send you to him directly.”

With a low growl, the leopard leapt from behind, aiming to bite the Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord’s shoulder. Unfortunately, a black panther intercepted, tackling the leopard to the ground. Rain sprayed as the two big cats tangled and bit each other, fur flying and blood splattering.

Suddenly, a sharp wind blade sliced toward Ming Zhuo’s neck. The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord was already in front of him, lightning in his palm, striking forward. 

Pēng!

This strike hit The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord's chest again, electric arcs scattering. The ground lit up with a circle of silver light, faintly forming a manji.

The manji was both a fire and a sun spell. During Mingyao's reign, it was used in rituals to summon fire not for killing but for blessings. Later, Tai Shao bestowed it upon the first Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord as a reward for their military achievements. Since then, only the Heavenly Sea Guards could use it.

The moment the symbol appeared, the sound of rain slowed. The lightning in Ming Zhuo’s palm dimmed, trapped by the restraint spell cast by The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord.

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord said coolly, “Have you agreed to the contract?”

Ming Zhuo retorted, “You chased me all this way just to become my dog?”

The order spell was no less than a leash, created not out of love but to satisfy the Ming family's desire for control. Once it took effect, the recipient could never escape.

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord suddenly grabbed Ming Zhuo's outstretched wrist and pulled him forward with force. He was wearing a helmet, his voice was low, making it hard to discern whether he was pleased or angry: "Have you agreed to the contract?"

Ming Zhuo replied, "What does it matter if I agree or not? Even if I agreed—"

Violet lightning surged again. Ming Zhuo swiftly moved his wrist, pressing his fingers onto The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord's shoulder, casting a golden prohibition spell on him. Immediately after, Ming Zhuo fiercely flipped the Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord onto the ground.

He returned the favour!

The golden prohibition spell seemed to take effect. Ming Zhuo, towering over him, slid his cold fingers over the armour of The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord, pressing him down on the ground. "Don't move, or I'll summon lightning. First, I'll kill that black panther, then I'll kill your Imperial Guards."

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord said, "Do you often threaten people like this?"

Ming Zhuo, with his eyes, lowered, as he leaned in closer, his captivating face intensified by the proximity, raindrops clinging to his eyelashes, didn't bother to wipe them away, only smiled faintly, "Yes, did you just realise? Not only do I often threaten people like this, but I also often kill them."

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord’s chest rose and fell slightly. He seemed to scrutinise Ming Zhuo, "Every time you threaten someone, is it in this posture, with this look?"

Ming Zhuo replied, "Which posture, which look?"

He was truly despicable, practically asking questions he already knew the answers to.

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord emphasised and bit down heavy words, "It's this posture right now, and this look."

Ming Zhuo didn't respond. Perhaps this angle pleased him, as he unexpectedly became a bit more patient, like a cat toying with a ball of yarn, no longer in a hurry to kill. His fingertips traced along the silver armour, sliding over The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord's throat, forcing him to lift his chin.

"Say," he teased, "are you going to show me?"

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord asked, "What will happen if I don't?"

Ming Zhuo couldn't be bothered to answer. He subtly hooked his fingertips, caught onto the helmet, and directly removed it. The sound of rain splattered, and the helmet was tossed aside with a “huālā”, rolling a few times on the ground before finally stopping in a puddle.

Their reflections also fell into the puddle, but unfortunately, the raindrops were too hasty, blurring their features, so they were only faintly visible between the ripples and splashes—

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord had silver hair.

It had been said earlier, that what the tyrant wished to see was never unseen. But it had never been said that what the tyrant saw would be entirely different from what he imagined.

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord lifted his eyelids lightly, whether intentional or unintentional was unclear. He seemed relaxed, and exceptionally handsome, and with Ming Zhuo gripping his chin, he appeared as though he harboured no ill intentions.

Appearances could be deceiving, but this was just a look.

Now without his helmet, his voice became clearer, "I've shown you. What will you give in return?"

Ming Zhuo replied, "I'll reward you with a delayed death."

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord seemed to chuckle, very lightly, and repeated, "So bad-tempered."

Ming Zhuo raised his chin, scrutinising him once again, "It seems the rumours are true, the people of the Heavenly Sea clan all have silver hair."

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord said, "Not going to ask my name?"

Ming Zhuo arrogantly replied, "People who are going to die can be called anything."

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Lord said, "It seems I must die today. Are you so angry?"

Ming Zhuo retorted, "I've said it before, you are colluding with them, they all deserve to die."

The Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord said, "Since that's the case, you can call me Luo Xu."

Ming Zhuo responded, "I don't want to know."

Luo Xu suddenly sat up, once again grabbing Ming Zhuo's wrist. Lightning almost immediately struck him, but he didn't react at all. "I, am, Luo, Xu—can you remember?"

This time, the force was extremely heavy, pulling Ming Zhuo closer. He leaned in, just as Ming Zhuo had scrutinised him moments before, examining Ming Zhuo meticulously. The black panther not far away revived its spirit, sinking its teeth into the neck of the leopard, then pressing it beneath its paws, growling softly.

Ming Zhuo angrily said, "Mix-breed, are you pretending to be unconscious?"

Luo Xu replied, "The fall was an act, but my words are true."

Ming Zhuo said, "With the golden prohibition spell on you, how can you still move?"

Luo Xu's gaze was insolent, perhaps he had been insolent long ago, but with the helmet just now, no one could see. He said in a low voice, "Even if you cast the prohibition spell on me a hundred or a thousand times, it's useless."

Ming Zhuo said, "You have a Spirit Restoration Talisman!"

The Spirit Restoration Talisman, a rescue talisman for the golden prohibition spell, contained ancient god-summoning spells, ensuring spiritual energy wasn’t restricted.

Lou Xu replied, “Wrong. I told you, I came to verify something, and now I know the answer.”

Ming Zhuo’s amber eyes widened in shock, “You mean the contract? You put an Order spell on me?”

“A Soul-Promise Contract” meant no restraint spells could work between them. Their lives were intertwined, with no mutual restraint possible. Yet Ming Zhuo had no memory of being spelt, though he might have been leashed before, but not like this.

Luo Xu guided Ming Zhuo’s hand to his neck. Nothing was there, yet Luo Xu’s dark eyes seemed as if he had been chained for a long time, wild and with ferocious intent, “You put the spell on me.”

No wonder he travelled to Pei Du, repeatedly asking, “Have you agreed to the contract?” Ming Zhuo had cast the spell on him!

Ming Zhuo’s hair and robe were soaked. He found the situation absurd. Struggling, he said coldly, “Ridiculous!”

Iron hooves approached through the rain. The black panther leapt over, and Luo Xu lifted Ming Zhuo onto its back.

Ming Zhuo prepared to summon lightning, but Lou Xu whispered, “Don’t move, or I’ll kill the leopard and then your Baiwei warriors.”

Ming Zhuo clenched his fingers, “Do you often threaten people like this?”

Luo Xu said, “Unfortunately, you were the first.”

The Heavenly Sea Guards ran to the city gate, the rain still pouring. The disciples outside, anxious and awaiting news, saw the gate open, and a group of orderly guards rushed out.

The disciples dared not approach. Someone called out through the rain, “Dare I ask what’s inside—”

Luo Xu didn’t respond. He took the captured Ming Zhuo and disappeared down an empty avenue.

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