Yu Chen didn’t leave his house for 7 days or 7 nights, meditating on what Xiao Huang had said.

He felt as though he’d only had the briefest of touches with the Concept of Water. He’d sensed the endless potential that lay within it, and knew it would be the work of a lifetime to plumb its depths. Still, If Xiao Huang was to be believed, even that shallow touch had imparted some intangible benefits that would help him on his path of cultivation.

Rousing himself, Yu Chen headed to the Manual Pavilion, determined to know more. He spent the next few days making his way through the section containing teachings and lectures from long gone cultivators, hoping to discover something that would help him, but no matter which book he picked up he found no mention of Concepts or Laws. It seemed that what Xiao Huang had shared with him wasn’t common knowledge.

Or perhaps it just wasn’t common knowledge for Qi Cultivators. This was the first floor of the library after all, containing information relevant for those beginning their journey, and what was the likelihood that one would touch upon a Concept so early? It could only be the result of some extraordinary chance, such as the one Yu Chen himself had experienced.

Dejected, he turned his attention elsewhere, looking through the various techniques in the Pavilion that were somehow related to water. If there was nothing else, he felt that might be a way to help him deepen his understanding of the Concept. It turned out the sect contained many techniques that involved water, one way or another.

Yu Chen knew this was to be expected. The Golden Mist Sect was primarily metal oriented - Even their core martial arts followed this theme. Mist Condensing to Iron used such a conceptual framework, and it was the interplay of metal and water that had led to such a refined technique.

Metal nourished water after all, and could greatly increase the strength of such techniques. In fact the founding Patriarch had possessed metal-aspected qi, utilizing water techniques to great effect, their strength greatly increased by the nurturing presence of his metallic qi.

He had developed one such technique himself, inspired by the mists that covered the surrounding mountains, which had inspired him to settle and create the Golden Mist Sect.

Despite this, as Yu Chen looked through the techniques available to him, he found most of them to be unsuitable for his goals. Most of the texts were preparatory, preparing one for the advanced techniques they could use once they entered Foundation Establishment.

Without the ability to externalize his qi, it was impossible for him to manifest most of the techniques that utilized water in some form. In the end he decided to pick another martial art. He chose the Crashing Wave Palm, as the pavilion recommended it as a good complement to the core martial arts.

It wasn’t a complex series of forms like the Condensing Fist, containing instead various diagrams that showed how one could use the rhythm of their body to deal a devastating palm strike. The technique wasn’t directly related to water, but the principles that had led its creation had come from observing the movement of water.

The technique generated power through the imitation of waves, gathering and redirecting momentum to strike with heavy force. Yu Chen felt a sense of compatibility, and hoped his understanding would help him master it quickly.

Finding nothing else of value, he picked up something he’d been meaning to get for a long time now, a book that contained instructions on forming a simple beast contract. Yu Chen had looked through most of the books related to spirit beasts in that tiny section of the Pavilion before determining which one best suited his needs. He’d decided on a contract that would allow maximum freedom to both parties, and it even allowed the spiritual beast the opportunity to sever the contract if it desired.

Whatever he might become, he’d never be one to enslave others.

Once he was finished he returned to his home, where he began to make preparations for the contract. The spirit beast contract was a sacred pact between him and his chosen companion. According to the text, it would allow them to share power to some degree, strengthening the other. It would also deepen the bond between the two of them, allowing one to sense the other’s emotions, and even to communicate mentally.

The only requirement was a harmonious relationship between beast and man.

Yu Chen and Lue She had spent many months together by this point, and they were well acquainted with each other. They were constantly connected, skin to skin, and Yu Chen knew the snake’s tiny heart beat as well as his own by now. He had no doubts they could fulfill this requirement, as Lue She had proven herself obedient, and more than willing to follow his lead.

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Thinking as much, Yue Chen reached into his robes, retrieving the small snake that lay close to his waist, enjoying the comforting warmth of his body heat. He laid her down on the table, and she flicked her tongue at him inquisitively.

“I have a gift for you,” Yu Chen said, speaking to the little snake. He wasn’t sure if she could truly understand him, but he spoke to her anyway. It was a habit he’d fallen into during his time alone in the wilderness. “It will make you stronger, and bring us closer. Will you accept it?”

Lue she flicked her tongue at him again. Yu Chen could feel a sense of acceptance from the tiny snake. She’d long ago submitted herself to him, and he knew there would be no resistance to the contract. Truth be told, Yu Chen didn’t care so much for her unresisting nature, feeling it was a result of his domineering bloodline. He hoped the contract would give her a bit of independence back.

He absently petted her as he considered the next steps. She wrapped her head around his palm, nestling into it as she relaxed. Languid flicks of her tongue signaled her contentment, while her brilliantly colored scales expanded and contracted in time with her rhythmic breaths.

Pulling away he began the work of laying out the contract.

He began by placing a block of ink into a shallow bowl. Pouring a small amount of water into the bowl, he began crushing the ink block into a paste. Adding a bit more water, he used his pestle to slowly bring the mixture to a smooth and fine consistency. Once it had reached a uniformity he was satisfied with he set it to the side, and began the next step.

Picking up a sharp knife, Yu Chen made a small cut across his thumb. He concentrated, summoning a drop of his blood essence that slowly welled to the surface. This tiny drop of blood contained the purest, most vital essence of his body, representing his life force itself. Yu Chen shook his thumb, allowing the small drop of blood infused with his strength, spirit and vitality to drop into the bowl of ink, and he felt himself weaken as it left his body, landing with a splash.

He turned towards Lue She who was observing him with interest, and motioned for her to do the same. She was intelligent enough to understand him, and the small snake twisted, biting her tail. A small drop of blood welled up, and she shook it, dropping it into the bowl of ink to join the drop he’d already placed. She sagged afterwards, looking as though it had taken a lot out of her.

The two drops of blood mingled, swirling into each other as they spread throughout the ink bowl. The next part required a steady concentration, as they infused the mixture with their qi. Yu Chen touched the bowl with one finger and Lue She copied him, laying the tip of her tail on the rim of the bowl.

She followed his lead as he began infusing the bowl with his qi, matching his steady output. The bowl was specially made for this task, and Yu Chen had contributed a fair amount to acquire it, but it had been well worth the price. The bowl hummed with energy as their qi flooded into it, and small symbols lit up across the rim as a tiny array carved into it activated. The mixture of ink, qi and blood essence glowed brightly before fusing together, becoming a singular, vibrant red liquid.

Yu Chen could feel the intensity of the moment, as energy surged around them, unable to stop now even if he wanted to. Reaching over, he grabbed a brush he’d prepared earlier before dipping it into the softly glowing liquid before carefully writing down the contract he’d chosen.

“Let Heaven and Earth bear witness,

As we freely give this drop of essence,

To bind our spirit and power as one.

We freely make the following vow:

In peril we share our strength,

In peace we share our fortune,

Our fates forever intertwined together.”

Finishing, Yu Chen signed his name with a flourish at the bottom, and looked expectantly at Lue She. She understood his intent and dipped her tail into the bowl, using it to make a mark across the paper.

It seemed to work. A flash of light erupted as the words on the page lit up, burning brightly. The ink remaining in the well began to bubble, dissipating into the air as if consumed by an invisible flame. The heavens claimed their life essence, proof it had accepted the contract.

Yu Chen’s head throbbed sharply as his essence burnt away, part of his life force disappearing and leaving him with a gnawing sense of emptiness deep within his chest as something vital slipped away. But it was soon replaced, the void filled by the presence of a growing bundle of emotions that swirled in his mind. Strange and unfamiliar, but undoubtedly her - the feeling of Lue She making herself known.

Master?

Her voice, gentle as an orchid’s touch, floated into his mind. The softest hint of a lisp on her s, made the words sound so delicate in his ears. Yu Chen’s chest tightened at the words, though he had expected them. The word felt wrong coming from her. No. He thought firmly, pushing the thought away. Brother.