Chapter 26 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

Translator's Note:

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Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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A Contract of Equals

 

 

The wind roared past, whipping around Ge Yan, filling his open mouth with a gust so forceful it cut off his words before he could even start. Left with no choice, he clamped his mouth shut, though a persistent, odd tingling crept across his scalp. Unable to ignore it, he glanced back, instantly locking eyes with a pair of large, gleaming, round black eyes that sparkled like onyx.

 

The creature looked up at him innocently, its mouth wide open against the relentless wind. Its face, puffed up like a balloon, looked comically twice its normal size, with two sharp teeth poking out—a far cry from intimidating, now almost silly. What left him speechless, though, was how this Shadow Winged Tiger somehow managed to cling to his hair with its tiny paws, bobbing up and down in the wind, occasionally kicking its hind legs as if it could stabilize itself better that way.

 

Ge Yan sheepishly admitted he'd somehow forgotten about it, preoccupied as he was with holding the egg. But who would've thought the tiger had such an instinct for self-preservation? It was impressive, if baffling. Watching it cling on with ease, he nearly wanted to ask if it belonged to some kind of circus troupe.

 

Finally, as the wind died down and Rex slowed to a halt, the Shadow Winged Tiger plopped down onto the back of his head. Clearly, it was no stranger to capitalizing on opportunities, settling itself shamelessly onto Ge Yan's shoulders, its face turned into the breeze, enjoying the view with a blissful, self-satisfied look that was far too smug.

 

Ge Yan's patience ran dry; he grabbed it by the scruff and pulled it off, darkening his face as he held it up. The little beast dangled from his hand, curling its limbs and gazing back with big, pure eyes that seemed almost too earnest. Just as it was about to utter a small cry, Ge Yan's gaze drifted lower, where a certain sausage-like appendage swayed gently back and forth. In a moment of unintended curiosity, he poked it lightly, watching it wiggle.

 

"How odd…" he muttered, puzzled.

 

Rex caught the whole scene from the corner of his eye and went silent. After a beat, Ge Yan noticed his gaze and gave a sheepish smile. "So it's male, huh? Here I was thinking it was female."

 

Rex stayed silent for a moment, then surprised him by asking, "Why did you think it was female?"

 

"Well, I figured it must've laid that egg it was carrying. I never thought it'd turn out to be male. Do magic beasts start having kids so early? I mean, look at him—he seems pretty young, but that egg's huge. It's pretty wild." Ge Yan adjusted the egg in his arms, the initial embarrassment gone as his mind conjured a rather awkward mental image.

 

Rex had nothing to say in response.

 

Ge Yan finally noticed. "What is it?"

 

Rex's gaze lingered on him for a second before he looked away. "No."

 

Something in his expression still felt off, but Ge Yan couldn't quite pin down what it was.

 

At that moment, the Shadow Winged Tiger's attention shifted to the egg in Ge Yan's arms. Its eyes gleamed with excitement, and with a triumphant yowl, it pounced, clinging to the egg with a delighted twitch of its tail as if reuniting with its most beloved possession. Taken aback, Ge Yan nearly stumbled back with the egg, its surprising weight forcing him to place the egg on the ground. The tiger promptly latched onto it, wagging its tail wildly.

 

"Look, Rex! It really is its child." Ge Yan's own smile softened as he crouched to stroke the tiger's soft head, which it nuzzled into his hand, eyes closed in pure bliss.

 

Hearing his own name spoken so easily, Rex's brow lifted slightly, though he stayed quiet.

 

"Wait a second!" Ge Yan suddenly sprang up. "That guy, Frank—he knows we have the Shadow Winged Tiger. What if he tells someone?"

 

"He will." Rex didn't hesitate for a second; he'd anticipated it from the moment Frank escaped.

 

Ge Yan had more to say but stopped at the sight of Rex's composed expression. Rex always looked serious, but there was a certain calm to him that put Ge Yan at ease.

 

"We've got the sacred beast. Should we leave the forest immediately, or hold back a bit?"

 

"No time to wait. By now, Captain Locke likely knows the sacred beast has slipped into someone else's hands. He may even close off Tasha Forest's entrance."

 

"The Black Wolf Mercenaries alone? Isn't he afraid of making enemies?"

 

"Not with the Ravens involved. With them, he has nothing to fear."

 

"But aren't they supposed to be rivals?"

 

Rex only looked mildly amused, unsurprised at Ge Yan's innocent question. "As long as there's profit, even the worst enemies will join forces."

 

"So what now?" Staying would mean certain death, but so would facing Locke head-on. The realization of their limited options made Ge Yan's anxiety spike, and despite himself, he knew they couldn't afford to encounter Captain Locke directly.

 

Rex's gaze lingered on him before he finally turned his attention to the tiger, who was cuddling the egg with oblivious joy. He pointed at it, and a sudden thought flashed in his eyes. "Try taming it."

 

Ge Yan blinked. "How exactly?"

 

"Channel your magic, try connecting with it. If it accepts, you'll know what to do."

 

Ge Yan hesitated, uncertain.

 

"What is it?"

 

"Um… how do I channel my magic?" Even as he asked, he felt embarrassed—it sounded so basic.

 

Rex: "…"

 

Seeing his silence, Ge Yan understood how foolish the question sounded. He explained, "You know I came from another world, right? In my previous life, there was no magic—it was just an ordinary world. I have no idea how this magic stuff works."

 

"Close your eyes. Try to feel if there's a warm current within you. Focus on it, gather it in your palms, and then pass it into the Shadow Winged Tiger."

 

Ge Yan was surprised at how straightforward it was. He had assumed it would be difficult, but to his amazement, his body remembered the process instinctively. Although Jimmy's soul was gone, the years of training in this body remained. As he channeled the magic into the Shadow Winged Tiger, it didn't resist; rather, it closed its eyes, stretched out comfortably, and even started to purr like a domesticated cat.

 

When he withdrew his magic, he felt an indescribable link with the creature. Emotions began flowing to him—joy, trust, and an unexpected fondness for him. The feelings were vivid, warm, and filled with an unmistakable sense of comfort.

 

"What's going on? It feels like we've formed a bond of sorts," he murmured, surprised that he'd achieved this by simply following his instincts.

 

"It's an equal contract," Rex explained, his gaze deepening. "When both parties willingly accept, the magic creates a contract of equals. If the contract holder has no intention of enslaving the beast, the bond will form on its own."

 

"What if it's unwilling?" Ge Yan asked.

 

"If the contract holder's will isn't stronger than the beast's, it will backfire. Contracts also include master-servant contracts and soul contracts. The latter links lives—if one dies, the other suffers the backlash. Each person can only form one soul contract with a beast."

 

Ge Yan nodded, then paused, frowning. "Wait a second… Isn't the Shadow Winged Tiger your sacred beast? How did it end up as my contract beast? Shouldn't it be bound to you? And can this be undone?"

 

"Equal and soul contracts cannot be undone, unlike master-servant contracts," Rex said, his expression steady.

 

Ge Yan's eyes widened, wondering if he had somehow stumbled into the destiny that should have belonged to the protagonist. He scrutinized Rex's face, trying to understand why he had let him form a bond that couldn't be broken, especially when Rex knew he was inexperienced with magic. Did he truly not care about a sacred beast, or was there another reason?

 

Rex seemed oblivious to Motto's internal struggle and continued guiding him. "You can now place your contract beast into your consciousness space."

 

"What's a consciousness space?"

 

"You might also call it a spiritual space. Only beasts bound by equal or soul contracts can enter it. Just focus your mind on it."

 

Ge Yan tried it, and the curious Shadow Winged Tiger vanished in a pulse of spiritual energy. He felt another wave of energy, and the creature reappeared, now eagerly pawing at his pant leg as if it wanted to play again. He repeated the process a few times, each time with greater ease, finally grasping why Rex had guided him to bond with the Shadow Winged Tiger. No wonder Rex was so calm—this incredible space gave them a secure way to keep the tiger.

 

"If only I could bond with the egg, I could store it there too."

 

What Ge Yan didn't know was that Rex had held back one detail—not everyone possessed a consciousness space; even Rex himself didn't have one. This rare gift belonged to only a select few across the entire continent of Azerla.

 

With the Shadow Winged Tiger issue resolved, Rex decided there was no reason to linger. They immediately set out to leave Tasha Forest.

 

Half a day later, they reached the forest's entrance, where, just as Rex had anticipated, it was heavily guarded by members of the Black Wolf and Raven Mercenary Corps. The two groups, totaling over twenty men, were inspecting everyone who tried to pass through. Some travelers, unwilling to risk offending the mercenaries, complied; others, however, felt it was unjust to be checked and openly voiced their discontent, sparking a small wave of solidarity among other adventurers. The tension escalated, and a fierce argument was underway, with heated voices echoing through the forest.

 

By the time Rex and Ge Yan arrived, the shouting had died down, but the atmosphere was charged, like a powder keg ready to explode. The situation was quite precarious.

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