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Jiang Tang patted his stomach.
He craved plain white steamed buns.
He wanted to go to the Spirit Field Space to harvest crops.
He wanted to go cultivate.
Oh well, he might as well go have a look.
After some hesitation, Jiang Tang put on his homemade wooden clogs and, with his hair disheveled, followed along.
Along the way, through casual conversation, Jiang Tang learned that this female disciple was the child of two generations of Servant Disciples who had married within the Immortal Sect and had grown up in the Sect, named Yan Weiwei.
A few days earlier, Yan Weiwei had come across an injured Spirit Beast while playing in the back mountains, and although she wanted to save it, she couldn't afford the Sect's skilled doctors. Hearing some fellow disciples mention that Jiang Tang had some Medical Skills and often used his own crafted Pills to treat the ill Servant Disciples.
Carrying the sentiment of 'a drowning man will clutch at a straw,' she came looking for Jiang Tang.
Her visit coincided with the sight of an attractive man fresh from a bath.
At this, Yan Weiwei glanced sidelong at Jiang Tang.
He was handsome, lean but not emaciated, and could be considered a good-looking young master.
"Jiang, it's just up ahead," Yan Weiwei pointed towards the bamboo forest in front.
As Jiang Tang approached, he saw a Spirit Beast with snow-white fur lying among the bamboo leaves, its weak voice barely managing a soft cry.
It was only the size of a palm, with a pair of bone wings, and large eyes like springs of clear water, the black pupils filled with pain.
This little thing, however you looked at it, resembled the Snow Dragon Youngling described in Ancient Tomes.
Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow and walked over to squat down.
The little thing, seeing a stranger approach, arched its back high, its downy hair standing on end. It bared its teeth at Jiang Tang with a fierce stare, and its black pupils seemed to faintly turn golden.
"Don't be afraid," Jiang Tang took out a Spirit Grass and offered it gently, "Here, eat this, it's not poisonous."
The little thing paused, its black pupils returning to their original color and suddenly widening.
It looked... almost as concentrated as a cat, quite adorable.
Jiang Tang even wanted to stroke the little thing's fluffy head.
The little thing sniffed the Spirit Grass and pounced on Jiang Tang's palm, voraciously starting to munch on it.
Jiang Tang noticed a wound on its hind leg that had started to fester, so he then took out a Spiritual Medicine capable of healing injuries.
The little thing sniffed it and immediately closed its eyes.
"Cheep—"
It pushed the Spiritual Medicine away and turned its head aside.
"Don't be picky, it's for healing," Jiang Tang turned the little thing's head back.
Seeing that it did not resist, he stroked its head again, "If you eat nicely, I will give you more tasty things." He had plenty of Spirit Grass, a big patch of it in his space.
The little thing's eyes instantly sparkled and, taking the Spiritual Medicine with a scrunched-up face, gobbled it up in a few bites.
"Jiang, you're amazing. I've been persuading it for days, and it wouldn't eat anything," Yan Weiwei exclaimed with surprise and admiration in her eyes.
Jiang Tang, who had already identified from the Ancient Tome that it was a Snow Dragon Youngling, touched his nose and offered a wry smile.
Should he tell his little senior sister that Snow Dragons are fussy eaters by nature?
After feeding the little thing a handful of Spirit Grass from his Qiankun Bag and seeing its wounds beginning to heal, Jiang Tang got up, bowed to Yan Weiwei, and prepared to leave.
The little thing, licking its fur, upon noticing Jiang Tang was leaving, chirped loudly and flew onto Jiang Tang's shoulder with spread bone wings.
Jiang Tang reached out, grabbed the back of the little thing's neck, and brought it in front of him.
The little thing's wide eyes looked so harmless and innocent.
No, he must uphold his image as a gentleman.
With forced composure, Jiang Tang coughed, "Go find your little senior sister."
He put the little thing down on the ground and turned to leave.
The little thing chirped and flew onto Jiang Tang's shoulder again.
```
Jiang Tang: "..." Clinging to me now, huh?
"Junior Brother Jiang, it seems to really like you. If you don't mind, go ahead and form a contract with it," Yan Weiwei chuckled.
Jiang Tang pondered for a moment.
Snow Dragons are descendants of the Ancient Dragon Clan. A purebred Snow Dragon, once fully grown, is absolutely a cute powerhouse with off-the-charts combat abilities.
So, isn't this basically providing food, shelter, and clothes in exchange for a bodyguard?
"Little one, would you like to form a contract with me?" Jiang Tang had an idea and looked down at the small creature he was holding.
The little one nodded agreeably, wriggled free, and clambered up Jiang Tang's arm.
"Senior Sister, I've never formed a contract before," Jiang Tang remembered something and gave a sheepish smile with a side glance.
"Just cut your finger and drip a drop of blood," Yan Weiwei covered her mouth.
Jiang Tang nodded and formed the contract with the little creature.
A golden formation suddenly appeared beneath Jiang Tang's feet.
The little one's phantom appeared on the formation, and then along with the formation, it merged into Jiang Tang's body.
"This doesn't look like an equal contract," Yan Weiwei gasped.
"Daddy, this is a soul contract, oh," a soft, mushy voice suddenly rang out in Jiang Tang's mind.
Jiang Tang hadn't recovered from his surprise when the voice added, "Daddy, your qi smells so nice, just as nice as Mommy's."
He looked down and saw the little one grabbing his sleeve and wagging its tail joyfully.
"So, this is a soul contract?" Jiang Tang tried asking the little creature through his thoughts and seeing it nod, he swiftly understood.
"Little Senior Sister, I have other things to do, so I'll take my leave first," Jiang Tang bowed and left.
Yan Weiwei watched the little creature now obediently perched on Jiang Tang's shoulder with envy in her eyes.
"Daddy, I'm so hungry." On the way back, the little one climbed onto Jiang Tang's head and started pulling at his hair.
"Get down, I'm not your daddy," Jiang Tang twitched the corner of his eye.
"But Daddy, your qi smells so good, just like Mommy's," the little one spoke softly, looking somewhat wronged.
"...Alright, you win, call whatever you like."
"Daddy is the best!"
Jiang Tang plucked the little creature from his head and asked, "Do you have a name?"
"I was born, and then some bad people took Mommy away. To protect me, Mommy intentionally kept me from hatching too soon," the little one shook its head.
It had been targeted by those bad guys who captured Mommy the moment it was born. It ended up here in these mountains because of fleeing.
"I'll give you a name, let's call you Eryao. 'Yao' means brilliance; you must be like me in the future, and not become a bad person," Jiang Tang stroked the little creature's head.
Eryao nodded, quite curious about what the 'Eryao' in front of it meant.
Of course, Jiang Tang would not tell this little one that 'Eryao' was a play on the word used for a certain pig Senior Brother.
Back in the courtyard, Jiang Tang chewed on two steamed buns. Seeing Eryao staring at him with big, expectant eyes, he felt a bit guilty and simply took it into the Spirit Field Space.
"Eryao, I'm going to take Niu to plow the fields. You're free to eat any of these spirit plants," Jiang Tang gestured generously to his first plot of land.
"Daddy, can I really eat them?" Eryao smelled the rich scent of the Spirit Grass, swallowing saliva visibly.
"Eat as much as you want, fill yourself up," Jiang Tang waved his hand, beginning to harvest crops on the second plot.
Well, how big could one little creature's stomach be, after all?
Half an hour later, Jiang Tang looked back after harvesting a plot and wiped his face.
Hm? Something's not right?
Jiang Tang paused, then turned around sharply, and was suddenly stunned on the spot.
The Spirit Field behind him had been completely emptied out.
And it was truly empty—no more roots of the Spirit Grass were left.
In the middle of the Spirit Field lay a snow-white little beast. It caressed its round belly and squinted contentedly, continuously burping after its feast.