100: herding yellow cattle
The morning of January 4th, 3398.
Village Head brought his eldest grandson and his only granddaughter, walking along the hard road toward the Chu Family residence on the mountain.
It was just dawn, and when they arrived at the Chu Family's entrance, they found two people already waiting there.
Village Head approached for a closer look and realized they were the Village Chiefs from the three other villages under the Chu Family's jurisdiction, and they were likely accompanied by the people chosen for the spirit opening.
Similar to his choice, the Village Chiefs of the other three villages had also brought young people.
It seemed they all harbored the same thought: this opportunity for the Chu Family to bestow a spirit opening quota might not come again, and this way, the Contract Masters in their villages could live longer, thus providing longer-lasting protection for the village.
Liu Qinghe, the Village Chief of Qingsha Village, was the first to spot Village Head. He waved his hand and spoke with a smile,
“Village Chief Chen, your village is the closest, yet I didn't expect you to be the latest to arrive. You've brought two people; did the Main Family really give your village two quotas?”
Village Head frowned slightly. This Village Chief of Qingsha Village was terribly rude. Was he intentionally or unintentionally mocking Village Head for disrespecting the Main Family by saying he was late?
So, he replied with a forced smile, “Fuhe Village is too close to the Main Family; we don't need to rush here in advance like you all, so we can afford to arrive a little later.
“However, arriving too early isn't good either; it might look like we're pressuring the Main Family to receive us.”
The Village Chiefs of the other two villages did not participate in the subtle verbal sparring between the two, simply nodding toward Village Head as a greeting.
However, when their gaze fell upon the young girl Chen Ling behind Village Head, they showed a little more contemplation.
Everyone waited for nearly another quarter of an hour until the sun's first ray of light fell upon the Chu Family's Plaque.
The tightly shut gates of the Chu Family opened from within, revealing three young Servants.
The Servants sized up the Village Chiefs. These young men had also been village lads previously, and seeing a Village Chief back then was undoubtedly like a mouse seeing a cat.
But having served as Servants in the Chu Family for a while now, they could look upon the Village Chiefs with composure.
The leading Servant stood beside the door and said, “Gentlemen, my Young Master invites you. Please follow me.”
Wang Guicheng, the Village Chief of Tuwozi Village, recognized the young man as someone who had come from his own village, and his eyes showed a sigh of melancholy. He responded on behalf of all the Village Chiefs, “Thank you for the trouble.”
The young man nodded slightly, then walked in front to lead the way for them.
The group did not proceed too deep into the courtyard, stopping at the Front Hall.
In the courtyard of the Front Hall, three Yellow Cattle, about two meters tall and three meters long, were docilely resting.
Seeing so many people arrive at once, they merely raised their heads and glanced lazily before lowering them again to focus on eating the Hay prepared for them.
The Village Chiefs, including the young men they brought, looked at these Yellow Cattle with fervent eyes. Were these the Source Beasts they were about to contract? They certainly looked strong.
The group didn't wait long. Inside the Front Hall, Chu Qinhui appeared, followed by Chu Shengfan, who was reverently holding a Stone Book in both hands.
“You all arrived quite early. Thank you for waiting.”
Hearing Chu Qinhui's words, the Village Chiefs below quickly responded, talking over each other,
“It was our impatience that made the Main Family laugh.”
“The Main Family is too kind; it is what we should do.”
“We only hope we haven't disturbed the Main Family's rest.”
Chu Qinhui scanned the people from the various villages, paused imperceptibly when he saw Chen Ling, and then spoke,
“Young men from each village who are here for the spirit opening, please step forward, state your names, and register. Let's start with Fuhe Village.”
Chen Xiaohui glanced at his Grandfather, received his Grandfather's affirmative look, stepped forward to the bottom of the steps, and loudly called out to Chu Qinhui inside the hall:
“Young Master, my name is Chen Xiaohui, from Fuhe Village.”
Chu Qinhui nodded slightly. The Butler nearby recorded the information and asked, “Age?”
“Fourteen.”
The Butler nodded and said, “Next, Qingsha Village.”
“Liu Changhong, sixteen years old.”
“Next, Tuwozi Village.”
“Wang Ming, fifteen years old.”
“Finally, Chen Family Village.”
The Village Chief of Chen Family Village managed a wry smile, wondering if the Main Family still held some reservations about Chen Family Village, as they were essentially placed last in every matter.
The son of the Chen Family Village Chief took a deep breath, walked to the far right of the other three youths, and said in a deep voice:
“Chen Yang, seventeen years old.”
The Butler's expression remained unchanged as he recorded their names, ages, and villages.
Chu Qinhui turned toward the High Platform Table in the Front Hall and said in a deep voice, “Later, you must do exactly as I do, and there must not be a shred of disrespect during the process. Do you understand?”
The critical moment had arrived, and the four young men nodded in agreement.
Chu Qinhui looked back once, then clasped his hands together and slowly bowed down.
The four young men watched Chu Qinhui out of the corner of their eyes and followed suit, bowing down. The Village Chiefs exchanged glances and hastily bent down as well.
Chen Ling gritted her teeth, quietly moved to the Long Corridor next to the courtyard, but kept her eyes silently fixed on Chu Shengfan, who was guarding the High Platform Table in the Front Hall.
No one dared to rise for a long time, only hearing Chu Qinhui's respectful voice,
“I respectfully request Ancestor Chu to bestow the spirit opening and blessing.”
Colorful Threads spread out from the Stone Book, illuminating the entire courtyard with a brilliant light, and then the four young men felt a sudden coolness on their foreheads.
Their bodies also seemed to suddenly break through some shackles of weakness, becoming vigorous and strong.
This feeling was extremely marvelous. After this transformation, they felt as if their previous lives had been spent like an old person confined to a sickbed.
Their current selves were finally in a state of complete normalcy and abundant vitality.
After about a few seconds, the Colorful Threads on their foreheads retracted from the air, and the colorful radiance filling the courtyard gradually dissipated.
“Thank you, Ancestor Chu.”
The Ritual was complete. Chu Qinhui thanked him respectfully and slowly straightened up.
Although they didn't know exactly what Ancestor Chu was, the young men still imitated Chu Qinhui and repeated, “Thank you, Ancestor Chu.”
Chu Qinhui looked at the four young men, whose Mental Energy states were clearly different, and smiled slightly,
“The four Herding Yellow Cattle over there are the Source Beasts prepared for you. Following the same order as before, choose your contracts one by one.”
Fuhe Village truly had the Main Family's favor; they were prioritized in every matter. This was the thought that simultaneously arose in the hearts of the Village Chiefs of the other three villages.
Chen Xiaohui was just a village youth after all; how could he know how to judge the Aptitude of a Source Beast?
He only knew to choose the largest one with bright eyes. Finally, he stopped in front of the largest Herding Yellow Cattle.
He turned and bowed toward Chu Qinhui, “Young Master, I wish to choose this one.”
“Granted.”
With Chu Qinhui's permission, a Guard nearby walked to the young man's side, placed his palm on the Herding Yellow Cattle, and began explaining the key points of contracting a Source Beast to Chen Xiaohui, the village youth.
The voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for the other three young men to hear.
Following the Guard's instruction, Chen Xiaohui placed his palm on the head of the Herding Yellow Cattle, and Mental Energy slowly released from the point of contact, spreading into the Spiritual Consciousness of the Herding Yellow Cattle.
With Chu Qinhui and Chu Shengfan, two high-level Mortal Ranks, overseeing the process, and the Herding Yellow Cattle being inherently docile, there was no scene of resistance.
The Contract was successfully established in just about two minutes.
All information about this Herding Yellow Cattle naturally surfaced in Chen Xiaohui's mind.