Panlong's Worton

Chapter 7 Contract

The departure date is set for three days from now.

Linley was exceptionally busy these past three days. He trained as usual in the mornings, and went to Wushan in the afternoons to practice magic—he could now reliably cast "Earth Spike," although its power was still small, its accuracy was good. In the evenings, without fail, he went to feed Beibei and play with it for a while.

Walton mostly observed from the sidelines. He knew the plot point was approaching; Linley would be reluctant to part with Bebe, but for safety reasons, he wouldn't take it to Fenlai City. Then Bebe would catch up on its own, completing the equal contract along the way.

During dinner, Hogg explained the details of the trip: "Hillman will take you there; it will take two days on the road and one night. If you are accepted after the test, you will stay in Fenlay to prepare for the start of the semester. Hillman will come back to inform you."

Lin Lei nodded: "Understood."

Hogg then looked at Walton: "You need to be obedient at home, keep up with your literacy, and don't stop training."

"Hmm," Walton replied.

After dinner, Linley didn't go back to his room immediately but went to the backyard. Wharton followed and saw his brother squatting at the entrance of the old house's yard, holding a piece of roasted rabbit meat. Bebe darted out from a hole in the wall but didn't eat it right away. Instead, he circled around Linley, sniffing around with his little nose.

"I won't be coming tomorrow," Lin Lei said to Bebe. "I'm going on a long trip to the capital. It's a very far place."

Beibei stopped and tilted her head to look at him.

"Stay here and eat the mice if you get hungry." Lin Lei put down the rabbit meat, patted Bei Bei's head, and said, "I'll bring you something delicious when I come back."

Beibei made a "squeak," sounding a little down.

Lin Lei sat with it for a while longer before getting up to leave. Bei Bei didn't follow; it just stood at the gate and watched him walk away.

On the way back to the house, Linley remained silent. Wharton walked beside him without saying a word.

After entering the room, Linley finally spoke: "Wharton."

"Um?"

"If I get accepted into the magic academy, I might not be able to come back for a long time," Linley said, sitting on the bed. "Take good care of yourself at home."

"I will," Walton said. "You must be careful too. The capital is large and populated."

Lin Lei smiled and said, "Grandpa Delin will be with me, so it's alright."

After he finished speaking, he lay down, stared at the ceiling for a while, and suddenly asked, "Wharton, do you think Bebe will miss me?"

"meeting."

"What if it gets captured by someone else?"

Walton thought for a moment: "Bebe is very smart and fast; you usually can't catch her."

Lin Lei hummed in agreement and closed his eyes.

Walton returned to his room, closed the door, but didn't sleep. He went to the window and looked towards the backyard. In the moonlight, a small, dark figure was crouching on the roof, peering towards the main house.

Beibei didn't sleep either.

Hillman arrived the next day after lunch. He carried a cloth bag containing a simple change of clothes and some dry rations. Hogg gave Linley a small purse: "Inside are ten gold coins for the registration fee, and five more for the journey. Be careful."

"Yes." Lin Lei took the money bag and stuffed it into his pocket.

Ciri carried Wharton to the door. Hogg stood on the porch, looking at Linley: "Remember what I said. Whether it works out or not, you're a Baruch."

"I've got it."

Hillman patted Linley on the shoulder: "Let's go, we need to get to a place to rest before dark."

Linley nodded and turned to follow Hillman outside. When they reached the street corner, he glanced back—Hogg was still standing at the door, and Ciri was waving, holding Wharton. In the direction of the backyard, a small black dot perched motionless on the wall.

He turned around, took a deep breath, and started walking.

Walton, held in Ciri's arms, watched his brother's figure disappear around the street corner. He looked down at Ciri and said, "I want to go play in the backyard."

"Now? Your brother just left, are you in a bad mood?"

"Hmm," Walton replied.

Ciri sighed and carried him to the backyard. Wharton ran towards the old houses as soon as he landed, with Ciri following behind, calling out, "Slow down!"

Sure enough, Bebe was still in the yard. It wasn't chewing on the stones or sleeping; it was just squatting on the bluestone slab where Linley usually put his food, its tail drooping.

Wharton went over and sat down next to it.

Beibei glanced at him, but didn't run away.

"My brother is gone," Walton said.

Beibei made a "squeak".

"He'll be back," Walton added, "but if you want to be with him, you'd better go after him now."

Bebe's ears twitched, and her dark eyes stared at Walton, seemingly trying to process the meaning of his words.

Walton reached out and gently stroked its back: "Go on. You'll miss it if you're too late."

Beibei looked at him for a few more seconds, then "whoosh," she darted away, turning into a black shadow that swept over the courtyard wall and disappeared into the depths of the old houses.

Ciri walked over: "Young Master Wharton, what are you talking to the mouse about?"

"It's not a mouse," Walton stood up. "It's Bebe."

"Beibei? You named her?"

"My brother named him."

Ciri shook her head and didn't ask any more questions.

Linley and Hillman had already walked two miles out of Wushan Town. On either side of the road were harvested wheat fields, the withered stubble swaying gently in the wind. Hillman walked ahead, Linley following behind, neither of them speaking much.

Lin Lei was still thinking about Bei Bei. He wondered what Bei Bei was doing now. Was it back to chewing on rocks? Or had it already forgotten about him and gone off to catch field mice?

Just then, a faint rustling sound came from behind me.

Hillman whirled around, his hand on the hilt of his sword: "What is that?"

Linley turned around as well. The bushes by the roadside swayed, and a small black head peeked out—it was Bebe.

"Bebe?" Lin Lei was stunned.

Bebe darted out of the bushes, jumped a few steps to Linley's feet, stood up, hugged Linley's calves with its two front paws, looked up at him, and squeaked.

Hillman frowned: "Linley, how did this rat get here?"

"Its name is Bebe, it's a shadow mouse." Linley crouched down and picked Bebe up. "What brings you here?"

Beibei couldn't speak; she just rubbed her head against his hand.

Hillman walked over and examined it closely: "Shadow Rat? Warcraft?"

"Yes, Grandpa Delin said they are descendants of the Purple Shadow Mouse."

Hillman's expression changed: "A purple shadow rat? A level seven magical beast? This little thing?"

"You're still a toddler now; you'll reach level seven when you grow up."

Hillman stared at Bebe for a while, then shook his head: "What's it doing here? It's dangerous on the road. You should put it back."

Linley hesitated. He really couldn't bear to part with Bebe, but Hillman was right; the situation on the way to the capital was uncertain, and it would be inconvenient and dangerous to take Bebe with him.

"Bebe, go back." Linley put Bebe down. "Wait for me to come back."

Beibei refused and hugged his leg again.

Hillman sighed, "Why don't we take it with us for now, and when we get to the village ahead, I'll find someone to take it back to Wushan Town."

Lin Lei nodded and picked up Bei Bei again: "Let's go then."

Beibei behaved itself, nestled obediently in Lin Lei's arms, only its eyes peeking out as it warily looked around.

After walking another mile, Bebe suddenly started squirming restlessly. Linley thought it needed to relieve itself, so he put it down. Bebe didn't run away; instead, it circled behind Linley and bit his calf.

"Ah!" Lin Lei cried out in pain, looking down to see two small bloody holes on his calf.

Hillman immediately drew his sword: "Linley!"

"No!" Linley raised his hand to stop him. "It didn't bite hard, it just broke the skin."

Indeed, the wound was shallow, only oozing a little blood. But strangely, the blood droplet didn't drip down; instead, it floated up, mixing with the trace of blood at the corner of Beibei's mouth, forming a pattern of two opposing black triangles in the air.

The pattern exudes a strong sense of darkness and rotates slowly.

"This is..." Hillman's eyes widened.

Linley was stunned. He felt a burning sensation from the wound on his calf, and then the black pattern split in two, one half flying into his body and the other half into Bebe's body.

Something was connected deep within my soul.

It's information inherent to the contract, appearing directly in consciousness.

Lin Lei looked at Bei Bei, and Bei Bei looked back at him. Then a childish, broken voice echoed in his mind: "Lin... Lei..."

"Bebe?" Lin Lei tried to respond in his mind.

"Hungry..." Beibei's voice was filled with grievance.

Lin Lei laughed, bent down and picked up Bei Bei: "You bit me, just for this?"

"With...you..." Beibei's expression was clumsy, but the meaning was clear.

Hillman sheathed his sword and walked over. "Linley, are you alright? What was that just now...?"

"An equal contract," Lin Lei said. "Bebe initiated the contract with me."

Hillman took a deep breath: "A magical beast actively forming a contract... This is the first time I've ever seen something like this in all my years." He carefully examined Bebe, "This little thing is exceptionally intelligent."

Lin Lei patted Bei Bei's head: "From now on, you'll be my partner."

Beibei squeaked and nestled contentedly in his arms.

Hillman shook his head and smiled: "That's fine. Having a magical beast with you will make the journey safer. But once you get to the capital, you'd better hide it well, so that no one sees it and gets jealous."

"I know."

The two humans and the mouse continued their journey. With the contractual connection, Linley could vaguely sense Beibei's emotions—it was happy, but also very tired. Chasing all the way from Wushan Town had been quite exhausting for a young shadow mouse.

After walking for a while, Beibei fell asleep in Lin Lei's arms.

As Linley walked, he mentally communicated with Delin Corvault: "Grandpa Delin, the contract is complete."

"I saw it," Delinkowert said with a laugh. "This little guy is decisive enough. An equal contract can only be made once in a lifetime, and it's betting its entire life on you."

"I will take good care of it."

"Hmm." Derinkowart paused. "But you must be careful, the equal contract means you are equals. It is not your servant, but a partner. You will need to cooperate in battles and respect its wishes in peacetime."

"I see."

As the sun began to set, they arrived at the village they had planned to stay in. The village was small, with only a dozen or so households. There was a simple inn at the entrance of the village, offering shared sleeping quarters and basic meals.

Hillman asked for two bunks, and also ordered two stews and bread. Linley hid Bebe in his clothes and brought him into the room, only releasing him when no one was around.

Beibei wasn't interested in the stew, so Lin Lei broke off some bread to feed it. It ate two bites reluctantly and then stopped moving.

"Want to eat meat?" Lin Lei asked.

"Meat..." Beibei responded in her mind.

Lin Lei had no choice but to wait until after dinner, then told Hillman that he was going out for some fresh air. He took Bebe to the woods outside the village and used his "Earth Spike" to prick a wild rabbit.

After roasting it over a fire, Beibei finally ate with great satisfaction.

On the way back to the hotel, Lin Lei held Bei Bei and looked up at the stars. The night sky was clear, and the Milky Way stretched across the sky like a hazy band of light.

"Grandpa Delin, is the starry sky in the royal capital like this too?"

"Bigger, brighter, but also more complex," Delinkowert said. "Fenlai is the center of the Holy Alliance. It has the headquarters of the Church of Light, the major noble families, the Mage Guild, the Mercenary Guild... More opportunities, more dangers."

"I am not afraid of danger."

"Whether you're afraid or not is one thing, whether you have the ability to deal with it is another," Delinkovt said seriously. "When you get there, observe more, listen more, and speak less. Your talent is an advantage, but it's also a burden. The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Before you have enough strength, you must learn to conceal your abilities."

Lin Lei noted it down.

Back at the inn, Hillman was already asleep. Linley tiptoed onto the communal bed and placed Bebe beside his pillow. The little guy curled up and quickly fell asleep.

Lin Lei lay down, but couldn't fall asleep. The spot on his calf where he had been bitten was still faintly warm; it was the mark of the contract. He touched that spot, then touched the dragon ring on his chest.

Grandpa Delin, Bebe, Magic Academy.

The outline of the future is already visible.

He closed his eyes and began to meditate. The yellowish-brown light appeared as expected, and he skillfully guided and refined it. The ball of magical power in his chest was several times larger than it had been three months ago. Although he was still far from becoming a level two mage, the progress was clearly visible.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Lei finally fell into a deep sleep.

Under the same starry sky, in Wushan Town, at the Baruch Mansion.

Walton wasn't asleep either. He sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, meditating. The red dots of light were as active as ever; he guided them into his body, refining them into magical power. The ball of light on his chest was now larger than a soybean, and its density had increased considerably.

The values ​​on the panel are slowly changing:

Total Fire Magic Power: 0.87 Standard Units

Purity: Medium

[Distance from Level 1 spell casting standard: 13%]

At this rate, he'll have enough energy to cast a level one fire spell in another three months. Although Delinkovt said that one shouldn't learn specific magic before the age of six, Wharton can study magic models in advance—theoretical knowledge doesn't affect the body.

He opened his eyes, got out of bed, and walked to the window.

The old houses in the backyard were silent. Bebe was gone, gone with Linley. In the original story, it would become one of Linley's most important companions, accompanying him through countless life-and-death situations.

And I... will have to stay at home for three and a half years.

Three and a half years later, at the age of six, he could be tested for the concentration of Dragonblood Warrior blood and participate in magic tests. By then, Linley should have already established himself at Ernst Academy and begun to grow rapidly.

He had to catch up.

Walton returned to the bedside, stopped meditating, and began basic physical training. Push-ups, squats, and wall squats were performed to exhaustion, with a one-minute rest before continuing.

My muscles were burning, and sweat dripped onto the floor. The warmth in my chest grew stronger with each movement, like a small stove burning inside me.

[Basic physical fitness proficiency: 5.2%]

[Dragon Bloodline Activity: Slightly Increased]

[Recommendation: Moderate stress can stimulate blood vessel growth]

The panel's prompts were timely.

Wharton stopped, panting. Moderate pressure... how do you define moderate pressure?

He thought for a moment, then walked to the wall and assumed a squatting position with his back against it. His knees were bent at a ninety-degree angle, and his back was against the wall. This movement seemed simple, but it was extremely demanding on his thigh muscles.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds...

His thighs began to tremble, and a wave of soreness washed over him. Walton gritted his teeth and persevered, his eyes fixed on the opposite wall, silently counting in his head.

Fifty seconds, sixty seconds...

At seventy seconds, he felt as if his thigh muscles were about to tear apart, and the warmth in his chest suddenly intensified, flowing down his meridians to his legs, and the soreness lessened slightly.

Eighty seconds, eighty-five seconds...

"Thump."

He couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

The panel has been refreshed:

[Extreme Training: Leg Strength]

[Proficiency: +0.3%]

[Dragon Bloodline Response: Fatigue recovery speed increased by 25%]

effective.

Walton lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Sweat trickled down his face and into his neck, making him feel itchy.