The air in the dimly lit room was still, thick with a mixture of tension and relief.
Xian Tiandi stood tall, his expression calm yet contemplative, as Ying Yue knelt beside her brother, Xiao Ming.
The child's breathing had evened out, his previously pale face now regaining a healthy flush thanks to the Minor Rejuvenation Pill.
"Thank you... thank you for saving my brother," Ying Yue murmured, her voice trembling.
Tears clung to the corners of her eyes as she bowed deeply, her forehead almost touching the ground.
Xian Tiandi observed her silently, his mind racing with possibilities.
Ying Yue... a girl from a poor background, yet destined for greatness. He had saved her brother out of kindness, yes, but also out of foresight.
'How do I ensure her loyalty without forcing her?' he wondered.
For someone with her potential, blind servitude wouldn't suffice.
She needed to be cultivated into a true ally—one who would follow him willingly and with unwavering devotion.
Just as he was about to speak, Ying Yue straightened her back, her gaze resolute yet humble.
"Young Master Xian," she began, "I have nothing to repay your kindness. Hence I... I wish to serve you... as your servant, even as your maid. Please grant me this chance." She bowed.
Xian Tiandi blinked in mild surprise. Her words were earnest, even her tone sounded unyielding.
Then, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "A servant, you say? No, that won't do."
Ying Yue's expression faltered, her lips parting slightly in confusion. She thought her request had been rejected.
"If you truly wish to follow me," Xian continued, "it will not be as a maid or a mere servant. Instead, I will teach you the ways of alchemy and help you cultivate your talents. But there is one condition—you must pledge your loyalty to me."
Her confusion gave way to relief and then determination. Xian Tiandi saw all these changes in her eyes.
Without hesitation, Ying Yue bowed again. "I pledge my loyalty to you, Young Master Xian. From this moment forward, I am yours to command.
Xian Tiandi raised a hand, summoning a golden light that filled the room. The Soul Contract. The glowing script hovered in the air, intricate runes swirling around its edges.
"This is a Soul Contract, a binding agreement," Xian explained. "Once you accept it, our destinies will be intertwined. You will be bound to me as your master, and in return, I will guide your path."
Ying Yue understood that cultivation was a perilous journey and having a backer would ensure her future moreover even though she doesn't know much.
She is aware of the treachery of men so she understood the use of a binging contract.
Ying Yue nodded firmly. "I accept."
As she spoke, the runes shot toward her forehead before fading into her skin.
Unbeknownst to her, this was no ordinary Soul Contract. Infused with Xian's Taming Dao—a product of his Supreme Taming Dao Scripture—the contract granted him unparalleled access to her knowledge, skills, and even latent potential.
The Supreme Taming Dao Scripture is Xian Tiandi's life's work. It was something he created to use to master the Dao.
With this ability he can bind to anything and can obtain memories, skills, and even synchronized talents and unique ability.
Of course this scripture required the Chaos Spirit Root, and the Chaos Beast Spirit as the prerequisites.
Still it was largely theoretical as this is the first time he is actually able to meet the requirements but so far everything seems to go according to plan.
Even this ability still needs to be perfected down the line. It is enough for now.
Xian Tiandi smiled inwardly. 'Success.'
With the contract sealed, Xian Tiandi placed a hand lightly on Ying Yue's forehead.
A surge of golden light poured from his palm, transferring knowledge directly into her mind.
First came the alchemy recipes: foundational pills, advanced refinements, and even secret techniques lost to time.
Ying Yue gasped as the information flooded her consciousness, her mind reeling from the sudden influx.
Then came the Cultivation Technique—a scripture designed to elevate her to the peak of this world.
"This is the Immortal Scarlet Moon Sutra," Xian said. "It will guide your cultivation and balance your spiritual and physical energies. It is a dual cultivation art with both Immortal and Martial Paths. If you follow it diligently, your potential will have no limits."
Even though Ying Yue was largely ignorant she still has some general knowledge of Cultivation. So she knew how immense the fortune she just received was.
Ying Yue's body trembled as the knowledge settled within her. But Xian wasn't finished.
He transmitted a series of battle techniques:
Phantom Moon Steps: A footwork art that allowed its user to vanish like a shadow under the moonlight.
Blazing Lotus Strike: A devastating attack technique that combined fiery explosions with petal-like precision.
Iron Bloom Guard: A defensive art that enveloped the user in an impenetrable barrier of energy.
Ying Yue fell to her knees, overwhelmed. "Young Master... this kindness... I cannot repay it even in a hundred lifetimes!" Tears streamed down her cheeks, her voice choked with gratitude.
Xian Tiandi offered a rare, reassuring smile. "Come on, rise up."
Xian Tiandi helped her stand.
As Ying Yue steadied herself, Xian glanced at her with a playful smirk.
"You've pledged yourself to me, yet I still haven't seen the face of my new maid. Don't you think that's unfair?"
Ying Yue froze, her hands instinctively reaching for the veil that covered her face. For a moment, she hesitated, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Finally, with trembling fingers, she removed the veil.
'Woah,' Xian Tiandi was stunned at first sight.
Her beauty was breathtaking—porcelain-like skin that seemed to glow in the dim light, delicate features framed by silky, raven-black hair, and eyes as luminous as stars.
For a brief moment, Xian Tiandi felt his heart race, an unfamiliar sensation for someone as composed as him.
"Well," he said, his voice light but steady, "You are indeed beautiful like a fairy. Yours can topple kingdoms."
Ying Yue's blush deepened, but she quickly bowed her head, hiding her expression.
Xian Tiandi laughed when he saw this, "Hahaha, don't be shy now. But for now, still put on the veil to avoid unwanted attention."
Ying Yue nodded and placed the veil back on her face.
"You and Xiao Ming will live with me," Xian said simply.
Ying Yue's lips trembled as tears threatened to spill again. She bowed deeply, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank you, Master. I will not disappoint you."
---
The three of them—Xian Tiandi, Ying Yue, and the still-sleeping Xiao Ming—left the small, dilapidated house that had been their shelter.
As they walked through the streets of Xianling City, whispers followed them.
"Who is that girl with him?"
"Isn't she from the slums? How did she end up with someone like him?"
Xian Tiandi paid the murmurs no mind.
His focus was on the future—on the empire he would build and the allies he would forge along the way.
As they reached his residence, Ying Yue glanced around in awe. The grandeur of the place was beyond anything she had ever imagined.
"Welcome to your new home," Xian said, his tone as calm as ever. "From this moment on, you are no longer just a poor girl from the slums. On the surface you are my maid, but I'd rather call you my friend," he smiled
Ying Yue knelt once more, this time not out of fear or desperation, but out of respect and gratitude.
"Thank you, Master. I will follow you to the ends of the earth."
Xian Tiandi looked down at her, and shook his head, "Still calling me Master? I said we are friends now. You can call me Tiandi."
"Alright... Young Master Tiandi."
"Sigh, never mind."
"Settle down and then we will go get something to eat."
"Yes, Young Master."