Ke Chongzhen looked at the Dark Scarlet Bell Deer nestled in Mu Shiyue's arms and was completely dumbfounded.
He had been tending to the Dark Scarlet Bell Deer with care since it was still inside its egg.
After it finally hatched with great effort, he carried it with him wherever he went, never leaving it for even a step.
He had always believed their feelings were mutual. But what is this situation now?!
"Big Brother, don't think too much."
Ke Chongbo came over and patted his brother's shoulder in consolation, "Sect Master Mu is universally effective on all spirit beasts!"
Unlike his stunned brother, Ke Chongbo had seen too much already.
Not just powerful spirit beasts like Hu Niu, even Xiao Qing, who already had a contractor, was extremely close to Mu Shiyue!
So for the Dark Scarlet Bell Deer to become attached to Mu Shiyue at first sight was perfectly normal.
"Zhizhi zhizhi!"
The Treasure-Seeking Mouse was furious, where had this little brat come from?! It was stealing its spot!
Although small in size, the Treasure-Seeking Mouse was indeed older and stronger than the fawn.
"Yoyo~"
Hearing the mouse's angry chattering, the little deer lifted its head. Its large, wet eyes looked at Mu Shiyue, filled with grievance and fear.
"It's alright, it's alright." Mu Shiyue stroked its head soothingly. "Don't be afraid."
Then she grabbed the Treasure-Seeking Mouse down in one hand, "No scolding."
"Zhizhi zhizhi…"
"And no scolding beasts either." She tapped its little nose in warning. "If you want to stay here, you have to live in harmony."
Only now did she realize this Treasure-Seeking Mouse was actually quite a chatterbox!
Perhaps it had been chased around by humans and beasts for too long, hiding and running for so long that something had twisted in its temperament.
Now it kept chattering nonstop.
And it was rather domineering.
It had just arrived itself, yet it was already rejecting the newly appeared Dark Scarlet Bell Deer.
That wouldn't do.
She wouldn't allow that kind of thing here.
Although the Dark Scarlet Bell Deer belonged to Ke Chongzhen and wouldn't stay here for long.
Since it's here, it had to follow the rules.
Peaceful coexistence is the most important thing!
She didn't want this place to turn into a slaughterhouse or hunting ground.
She had no grand ambition to make all spirit beasts in the world live peacefully, she wasn't foolish, nor that saintly.
But this is her retirement haven, it couldn't descend into chaos.
Here, whether flying or walking, carnivorous or herbivorous, natural enemies or allies, all of them need to properly get along!
Since it's her territory, they have to listen to her!
After being reprimanded, the Treasure-Seeking Mouse's head drooped. It was clearly dejected.
But there was no helping it, Mu Shiyue had laid down the rule.
"Yo~" The little deer called happily.
"Aowu~"
Little Tiger Baby, who had just sobered up, ran over curiously to look at the new companion.
"Ying!"
Little Sesame shook its head and wobbled over as well.
Ah Lang and Xiao Qing, of course, wouldn't miss the gathering.
Only now did Ke Chongzhen properly notice the cubs, and his heart churned with shock.
When he had first arrived, the cubs had all been drunk. Because they're the weakest among them, they also slept the longest.
The situation had been chaotic then, and he hadn't had time to observe closely.
Now he realized how small these cubs still were!
If one were to form a contract, it would be best to choose cubs this young!
Not because Ke Chongzhen had strange preferences, but because contracting cubs was the simplest. They wouldn't resist like adult beasts, and the difficulty wouldn't skyrocket.
Yet looking at how freely they moved about, and noting that none bore the mark of a contract.
He couldn't help but feel astonished.
Did the disciples here not wish to contract spirit beasts?
If he had asked, everyone would have told him: Yes. We very much want to!
But wishing for it doesn't make it true. They simply didn't have this fate.
Whether it was Little Sesame, Little Tiger Baby, or Ah Lang, all of them were beloved darlings here.
When they first arrived, no one had even thought of contracting them.
Later, as time passed, everyone's feelings for them deepened.
But how could one measure whose feelings were deepest?
So who would contract whom?
In the end, everyone simply stopped thinking about it.
If they could be like Chu Jingzhuo and obtain a cub that belonged uniquely to them, then they would contract it.
Watching Mu Shiyue surrounded by the cubs, Ke Chongzhen's determination grew stronger.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally found a chance to speak with Mu Shiyue privately.
"You want to form a contract with the little deer?"
Mu Shiyue wasn't surprised.
When she had seen the Dark Scarlet Bell Deer, she had already guessed.
If he brought a spirit beast here, it could only be for the purpose of contracting.
"Yes." Ke Chongzhen's expression was solemn, as though making an oath. "Please assist me, Senior Mu. For such great kindness, I will certainly repay you with utmost effort!"
Seeing how serious he looked, Mu Shiyue couldn't help laughing.
Though the brothers Ke Chongzhen and Ke Chongbo were born of the same parents, their temperaments were completely different.
Ke Chongbo was lively and impulsive. Ke Chongzhen, this elder brother, was rigid and methodical.
"There's no need to be so serious." Mu Shiyue smiled. "It's not such a big matter…"
"It is a big matter!" Ke Chongzhen interrupted solemnly. "If you help me form this contract, you are doing me an immense favor. This is a very serious matter!"
Mu Shiyue: "…"
"Moreover, forming a contract isn't a simple task. It must consume much of your strength. I cannot treat it lightly!"
His expression was grave and resolute.
At Myriad Beast Sect, he had learned that since he was at Spirit Severing Stage, it required a beast tamer at Spirit Severing Stage or above to form the contract for him. It would cost considerable effort.
So how could this be considered trivial?
"Uh… it's really not that serious."
Looking at his stiff, handsome face, Mu Shiyue twitched slightly, "It's not very difficult."
At those words, Ke Chongzhen instantly froze, "Not difficult?"
"Not difficult at all." Mu Shiyue shook her head honestly. "It's very simple."
The greater the difference in strength between the two parties, the easier the contract.
Ke Chongzhen was at Spirit Severing Stage. The Dark Scarlet Bell Deer had only just been born. Forming a contract would be extremely simple.
Of course, the premise was that both sides were willing.
If their strengths were similar, there would be unconscious resistance, that would be troublesome.
But before she could explain further, she saw Ke Chongzhen nod firmly, his expression growing even more solemn.
"I understand. Thank you, Senior!"
In his eyes, Mu Shiyue was merely downplaying the matter so he wouldn't feel burdened.
But how could such a thing be simple?
Senior Mu was really too generous!
Seeing the look of gratitude on his face, Mu Shiyue was full of question marks. What generous?
What exactly had he imagined?
As expected, wasn't it a whole family of overthinkers?