Chapter 2: The Pact and the Path Forward
The Bloodfang Wolf lay motionless in submission, its once-hostile crimson eyes now reflecting obedience. Lin Tian leaned back against the cracked wooden wall, his breath still ragged. His body felt like it had been wrung dry, but the smirk on his face refused to fade.
"A beast as fierce as you submitting to someone in this pathetic state," he murmured, half to himself, half to the wolf. "If only those traitors could see me now. They'd laugh, wouldn't they?"
The system's voice interrupted his thoughts.
[New Mission: Establish Your First Beast Pact.]
Objective: Bind the Bloodfang Wolf as your permanent companion.
Reward: Beginner Beastmaster's Ring (+10% to taming success rate, +5% cultivation speed for tamed beasts).
Failure: Beast will revert to hostility.
Lin Tian's smirk faded. "Revert to hostility? You're really not giving me a moment to rest, are you?"
The wolf let out a low growl, seemingly sensing his hesitation. Its instincts might have been subdued for now, but without a formal pact, its wild nature could resurface at any moment.
"Fine," Lin Tian said, pushing himself up despite the protests of his aching muscles. He reached out, placing his hand on the wolf's head.
[Initiating Pact Formation...]
A glowing sigil appeared beneath the wolf, golden runes swirling and intertwining with Lin Tian's hand. A surge of energy flowed between them, a mix of resistance and submission.
Lin Tian focused, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "By the authority granted to me through the System of Dominion, I, Lin Tian, command you to be my companion. Your strength is mine, your life is mine, and together, we will rise."
The wolf howled, and the golden light flared brighter. Lin Tian felt a sharp pain in his chest, like something being carved into his very soul.
[Pact Successfully Formed. Bloodfang Wolf is now bound as your companion.]
[Reward Unlocked: Beginner Beastmaster's Ring.]
A faint glow appeared in Lin Tian's hand, materializing into a simple black ring with intricate carvings of beasts etched into its surface. He slid it onto his finger, feeling the energy resonate with his core.
The wolf looked up at him, its head lowered in respect.
"From now on, I'll call you... Xiao Fang," Lin Tian said, naming the beast. "You'll be the first of many to follow me."
Xiao Fang let out a low bark of approval.
The Village's Rumors
After tending to his wounds and feeding Xiao Fang with some scraps of dried meat he found in the hut, Lin Tian set out toward the village. The crippled boy whose body he now inhabited had been abandoned here for years, left to rot in isolation.
As he neared the village, the sights and sounds of daily life came into view—farmers tending to fields, children chasing each other with wooden sticks, and merchants haggling over the price of spirit herbs. But Lin Tian also noticed the wary glances and murmurs directed his way.
"Look, it's that useless Lin boy."
"Didn't he die already? What's he doing back here?"
"Stay away from him. Bad luck follows that one."
Lin Tian smirked but said nothing. These villagers had written him off as a cripple, a waste of space. He wouldn't waste his time explaining himself to them.
But one voice cut through the chatter.
"Lin Tian!"
He turned to see a familiar figure running toward him. It was Li Yue, his childhood friend. She was a petite yet athletic girl with fiery red hair tied into a messy braid. Her eyes were sharp, and her demeanor screamed determination.
"You're alive!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and disbelief. "Everyone thought you'd been killed by a beast in the forest."
Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. "And did you think the same, Li Yue?"
Her expression softened. "I… I didn't want to believe it. But after no one saw you for weeks, I thought…"
"Relax," Lin Tian said, waving her off. "I'm not so easy to kill."
Her gaze fell on Xiao Fang, who stood obediently by his side. "Is that… a Bloodfang Wolf? How are you still alive?!"
"It's mine now," Lin Tian replied simply.
Li Yue stared at him like he'd sprouted a second head. "You… tamed it? With what cultivation? You're—"
Lin Tian's sharp gaze silenced her. "I may have been crippled before, but things have changed. You'll see soon enough."
Li Yue bit her lip, clearly struggling with a mix of emotions. Finally, she sighed. "Well, you've always been stubborn. But if you're planning something reckless, at least let me help you."
"Help me?" Lin Tian chuckled. "Do you think you can keep up, Li Yue?"
Her eyes flashed with determination. "Try me."
System Update
As Lin Tian prepared to leave the village, the system chimed in once more.
[New Mission: Prove Your Strength.]
Objective: Win a duel against a local cultivator.
Reward: Spirit Beast Bonding Manual (Allows further strengthening of beast companions).
Failure: Public humiliation, reputation loss, reduced affinity with Li Yue.
Lin Tian's smirk returned. "Looks like the system enjoys testing me."
He turned to Li Yue. "I need information. Who's the strongest person in this village?"
Her eyes widened. "What are you planning, Lin Tian?"
"To remind these people who they've underestimated."
Li Yue hesitated before replying. "The village's strongest is Chen Rong, a third-layer Body Refinement cultivator. But Lin Tian, you can't seriously think—"
"Where is he?" Lin Tian interrupted.
She sighed. "At the training grounds near the village square. But—"
Before she could stop him, Lin Tian strode off, Xiao Fang padding silently by his side. The villagers watched with confusion and amusement as the once-crippled boy made his way toward the square.
When Lin Tian arrived, Chen Rong was sparring with another cultivator. A crowd had gathered to watch, cheering every blow.
"Chen Rong," Lin Tian called out, his voice cutting through the noise.
The burly man turned, his eyes narrowing as he saw Lin Tian. "The cripple? What do you want?"
Lin Tian stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. "A duel. Right here, right now."
The crowd erupted in laughter.
"Are you serious? You couldn't even lift a sword before!"
"Chen Rong will kill him in one hit!"
Chen Rong smirked. "Alright, cripple. I'll humor you. But don't cry when you lose."
Lin Tian's lips curled into a confident grin. "Don't worry. I'm not the one who'll be crying."
As the duel began, Lin Tian's mind sharpened. He wasn't the same boy these villagers remembered. With Xiao Fang by his side and his newfound abilities, this would be his first step toward reclaiming his glory.