108: Chapter 108 Fellow Daoist, shall we get used to it first?

Xiao Caiyue fell silent for a long time upon hearing this.

She understood that this method was dangerous.

She also understood that it required complete openness.

Yet in this world, who would be willing to risk depleting their own Origin for someone on the verge of death?

She raised her eyes and looked into the calm, deep eyes opposite her, reading not greed or calculation, but a sense of certainty.

It was as if they were saying, "I can save you."

Xiao Caiyue took a soft breath, her voice light, but no longer carrying the hesitation from before:

"I will go buy it."

Ye Changge nodded.

Xiao Caiyue stood up, her gait still dignified, and pushed open the door to the quiet room to leave.

In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, she returned.

In her hand was a scroll woven with silver threads, shimmering with faint spiritual light. Its edges were embroidered with dense Restriction runes, and the moment it was produced, the Spiritual Qi in the room stagnated.

"A Second-rank Spiritual Contract, called the 'Heart-Link Contract'."

Xiao Caiyue placed the scroll gently on the table, her voice returning to its usual gentleness.

"This contract is supervised by the Qingxuan Immortal City Chamber of Commerce and notarized by the Immortal Alliance. Once signed, both parties are bound by the rules of the Heavenly Dao. If violated..."

She paused, her fingertips gently stroking the runes on the edge of the scroll:

"The violator will, at the very least, suffer a regression in cultivation and a drop in Spiritual Root grade; at worst, their Divine Soul will be backlashed by the contract, and they will never be able to make progress for the rest of their life."

Ye Changge listened attentively and nodded: "That is only right."

Xiao Caiyue glanced up at him, said nothing, and lowered her head to begin drafting the terms.

Her handwriting was elegant and upright. Spiritual energy condensed at her fingertips, tracing dense, glowing contract text onto the scroll stroke by stroke:

"One: Xiao Caiyue and Ye Changge become Dao Companions, from this point forward sharing glory and disgrace, never abandoning one another.

Two: Xiao Caiyue must, within the agreed timeframe, design and oversee the setup of a quasi-third-rank composite Formation for the Ye family, covering the three functions of concealment, protection, and Qi gathering, with the Formation diagrams and setup insights to be delivered as well.

Three: Ye Changge must use his own Cultivation Technique and Origin to treat Xiao Caiyue's condition of Yin and Yang imbalance and Origin depletion, doing his utmost without pretense or evasion.

Four: During the treatment and cooperation period, both parties shall treat each other with sincerity, mutual trust, and mutual respect. Once this contract is signed, it cannot be unilaterally terminated without the mutual consent of both parties.

Five: ..."

She wrote with extreme detail, putting everything onto paper: the treatment plan, Formation specifications, and delivery timeframe that Ye Changge had previously promised verbally, and even clauses such as "If Xiao Caiyue develops doubts about Ye Changge's character during the treatment, she may temporarily suspend the cooperation."

Ye Changge took the scroll and read it carefully from beginning to end twice.

It was clearly structured with equal rights and responsibilities, and even provided ample protection for himself as the "treating party."

If he did his best but the treatment failed, it would not be a breach of contract; if Xiao Caiyue regretted it halfway or intentionally obstructed the treatment, she would likewise bear the corresponding responsibility.

He looked up at Xiao Caiyue.

She sat quietly opposite him, her back straight and her face calm, though her eyelids were lowered, casting shallow shadows under her long lashes, making her expression unclear.

"Miss Caiyue has drafted this extremely thoroughly."

Ye Changge put down the scroll. "There is nothing amiss."

Xiao Caiyue nodded slightly, not correcting his form of address.

The two of them each released a wisp of Divine Sense to leave their mark at the end of the scroll.

In an instant, all the text on the scroll lit up with a soft golden glow, then faded into the scroll itself. A faint, ethereal connection was quietly established between the two.

The contract was formed.

The room suddenly fell silent.

The serious atmosphere from just moments ago, when negotiating terms and discussing treatment plans, receded like the tide, leaving behind a certain subtle... awkwardness.

Ye Changge gave a light cough.

Xiao Caiyue's fingers unconsciously smoothed the flowing cloud patterns on her wide sleeves.

Both of them spoke almost at the same time—

"That..."

"Fellow Daoist..."

And stopped at the same time.

Xiao Caiyue lowered her eyelids, her lashes trembling slightly.

But she was, after all, no ordinary sheltered maiden.

Someone who could run a shop alone in the Immortal City for several years and manage the nearly bankrupt Tiangong Formation Shop into its current state—how could she not handle such a situation?

She raised her eyes slightly, her gaze having recovered some of her usual composure and gentleness, though a faint red tinge remained on her cheeks, and her voice was softer than before:

"Fellow Daoist, since we have signed the Spiritual Contract and become Dao Companions... in the future, there is no need to address me as 'Miss Caiyue'."

She paused, a very faint but sincere smile appearing at the corners of her lips:

"Just call me Caiyue."

Ye Changge looked at her.

The morning light filtering through the window lattice plated her with a layer of soft halo, and the water-blue palace dress set off her snow-white skin and picturesque features.

At this moment, she was smiling slightly, her dignity revealing a touch of the softness unique to women, like an orchid in an empty valley, blooming quietly.

He called out:

"Caiyue."

His voice was low and gentle, like a spring breeze brushing over the surface of the water.

Xiao Caiyue gave a soft "Mn" and lowered her eyelids.

Then, she realized the other party was still looking at her.

In those deep eyes, there was no frivolity, no aggression; he was just looking at her quietly, gentle and focused, as if waiting for something.

Her heart skipped a beat for no reason.

There was a silence for a few breaths.

Xiao Caiyue turned her face slightly to avoid that overly direct gaze. She pursed her lips, as if brewing something, and the flush on her cheeks deepened.

After a long while, she was heard calling out very, very softly:

"Husband—"

The voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, with a barely perceptible tremor in the trailing note.

As soon as the words left her lips, she regretted it.

This term was too intimate, too private; calling it out from her own mouth, she herself felt strange and shy.

She kept her head down, feeling her face burning intensely, not daring to look up to see the reaction of the person opposite her.

Ye Changge looked at her.

That dignified and appropriate water-blue palace dress, worn by her now, highlighted not only her gentle and intellectual temperament but also her slightly reddened ear tips from shyness, her pursed lips, and her long lashes that she dared not raise—that was the charming demeanor belonging uniquely to a woman.

Dignity and shyness, maturity and inexperience, were miraculously blended together in her.

He suddenly understood a little why the ancients said "viewing a beauty under the lamp."

Outside the window was the midday light, and he was not looking at a beauty under a lamp.

But he truly found it hard to look away.

Xiao Caiyue seemed to sense that gaze, raised her eyes slightly, and met his line of sight directly.

When their eyes met, she was stunned for a moment.

Then, she slowly stood up.

The water-blue palace dress swayed gently with her movements, outlining her slender, supple waist and the curves that were just beginning to show their charm.

Her gait was elegant, her skirt trailing silently on the floor, as she walked toward him, step by step.

Ye Changge did not move.

Xiao Caiyue stood still in front of him, the distance no more than a foot.

Deep, bright, with a radiance flowing within the calm.

Then, she did something she had never done before.

She slightly stood on tiptoe and placed a very, very light kiss on his cheek.

It touched and parted instantly.

It was so fast that there was hardly time to feel that warm sensation.

Xiao Caiyue stepped back half a step, her cheeks completely red, yet she tried hard to maintain a dignified posture, though her eyes were somewhat drifting, not daring to look at him.