Chapter 32: Contract Agreement (1/1)
Snow Empress clenched her fingers tightly. Ice crystals slipped from between her fingertips.
In her ice-blue eyes, rage and hesitation intertwined like a frozen mist.
But she could clearly feel it—the origin of snow within her was surging violently. Every tremor carried destructive power, and also despair of mutual destruction.
"You…"
She gritted her teeth. Her voice trembled with coldness, but she said no more threats.
Jiang Li looked at her with a faint smile, already certain she would not die willingly, nor give up the chance to become human.
But it was still not enough.
So he decided to push further.
"Oh right, Snow Empress," Jiang Li suddenly said, "Ice Empress is about to face her 400,000-year tribulation, isn't she?"
Snow Empress's pupils contracted. Her expression turned cold.
"What do you intend to do to Bing'er?"
Jiang Li waved his hand casually. "Don't overthink it. I'm not interested in Ice Empress."
"Then why mention her?" Snow Empress frowned.
"Simple," Jiang Li said calmly. "I can help her survive the tribulation."
Snow Empress was skeptical, but said nothing.
Jiang Li smiled meaningfully. "Snow Empress, I assume you don't want Ice Empress to die in the tribulation?"
"You—"
She instantly realized his intent, but the words stuck in her throat.
After a moment of silence, her shoulders slightly relaxed, and her cold aura diminished.
She looked at Jiang Li with a complicated gaze.
"Tell me. What must I do to save her?"
Jiang Li smiled. "Same condition. Follow me, and I'll let you fully become human while also helping Ice Empress survive her tribulation."
Snow Empress stared at him, her icy voice carrying subtle scrutiny.
"You claim you can make me fully human while retaining peak strength. That defies the laws of soul beast transformation. How would you do it?"
Jiang Li smiled deeper.
Without wasting words, he tapped Xiao You, who poked out from his collar.
It understood immediately and spat out a white jade bottle.
Inside lay a pure white pill radiating glowing light.
The moment its aura leaked out, the entire ice cavern seemed to soften.
Jiang Li weighed the bottle lightly. "Creation Pill. A one-of-a-kind treasure in this world."
"Not only you—even a million-year soul beast would transform into a human after taking it, without losing origin or power."
"Creation Pill…" Snow Empress repeated softly.
Her breathing slightly quickened.
She could clearly feel the pure life origin within it. For her current state, it was salvation.
But precisely because of this, suspicion deepened.
"How did a human obtain such a treasure?" she asked.
Jiang Li shrugged. "That's not your concern. Just remember—if you want this pill and Ice Empress to survive, you follow me."
Snow Empress fell into deep hesitation.
Ice Empress's death flashed through her mind—that was her only attachment after tens of thousands of years.
Silence filled the ice cavern.
Finally, she spoke.
"Very well. I agree. From this day forward, I will follow you."
"But if you break your promise, even if my soul is destroyed, I will drag you down with me."
The cold authority of an emperor remained in her voice.
Jiang Li laughed.
"I like this attitude."
Then he added, "But let's make it official."
Xiao You spat out a yellowed parchment and a black ink brush.
"Contract agreement," Jiang Li said simply.
He pointed at the clauses:
Snow Empress follows Jiang Li indefinitely. Must assist when required. Jiang Li helps her fully transform and assists Ice Empress. All future earnings belong to Jiang Li.
"And a final clause," Jiang Li added, smiling.
"If you betray or attack me, your soul will be destroyed. If I break the promise, I suffer backlash too. Fair, right?"
Snow Empress frowned.
"Human methods are truly deceitful."
But she could see—it bound both sides.
After a moment, she took the brush.
She signed.
At the moment her name landed—
Golden light erupted.
The parchment dissolved, replaced by a faint golden chain linking her wrist to Jiang Li's palm.
She felt an undeniable soul connection form.
"It's done," Jiang Li said.
He handed her the pill.
Snow Empress held the bottle tightly, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Do you trust me that much? What if I break the contract?"
Jiang Li shrugged. "Try it if you want to die."
Then he added casually, "But I think you're not that kind of person."
Snow Empress froze slightly.
For a moment, she found herself thinking—
This human… maybe isn't so hateful after all.