Upon hearing Wang Ming's request to add one more clause to the contract, the Seventh Elder fell silent. Moments passed in heavy quiet before he finally spoke.
"What is it?" he asked, casting a sharp glance at Wang Ming.
Feeling the elder's gaze, Wang Ming thought to himself, I'm just a junior in front of him now… merely an early-stage Rank One Formation Apprentice, while he's a Rank Three—an elder of the clan no less. I'll have to suffer some losses when dealing with someone like him.
His eyes flicked to the contract in his hand. There are many terms that clearly favor him. I can't even argue for their removal. For example, one clause states I cannot harm his daughter or her child. But what if they attack me first and I act in self-defense? And he didn't mention anything about not harming me directly or indirectly. Still, I have no choice but to swallow this loss.
After a pause, Wang Ming spoke up. "I wish to marry her after my twenty-fifth birthday. I don't want to be distracted from cultivation. I'll agree to an engagement for now, but the official marriage should only happen after I turn twenty-five."
He watched the Seventh Elder carefully as he made his request.
The elder fell silent once again, the tension stretching between them. But eventually, he gave a small nod.
"Very well. I'll add that as the fifth condition. But listen, brat—don't try to get clever. This contract will be sealed with the will of a Rank Five Formation Apprentice. If you break it, you'll only have yourself to blame."
With a flick of his hand, he tossed the newly revised contract toward Wang Ming.
Wang Ming reached out and caught it, scanning the document once more. As he read, his thoughts deepened.
Soul contracts bind both parties. If either side tries to break the agreement, they'll be struck by the will sealed within the contract at the moment of signing. Unless one's power surpasses the will inside, they'll die and their soul will be destroyed.
Understanding the risk, he bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the wooden slate, completing the signing process.
A pleased smile formed on the Seventh Elder's face. "Good, good… You've chosen wisely. What can the Clan Leader really offer you? He's only using you as a pawn for his own ends. But now that you've become part of my family, you're no longer a mere pawn—you're the future inheritor of my legacy."
The elder stepped closer, resting a hand on Wang Ming's shoulder.
"The engagement will be held two weeks from now. Be prepared, brat."
Then, leaning in, his voice dropped to a low whisper.
"You should get rid of that maid of yours. From now on, she'll only be a burden. She's of no real use to you anymore and worse, she could become a liability. I trust you understand what I mean."
Pulling back, the elder's smile returned as if it had never left. Wang Ming nodded slowly, understanding the message loud and clear.
The Seventh Elder chuckled, then vanished from the room, leaving Wang Ming alone.
Watching the space where the elder had stood, Wang Ming's thoughts churned.
As expected… he never had good intentions for me. I've now been thrown into the center of this internal war. Before, I was just a bystander in the struggle between the two factions. But now… now I've wounded the Clan Leader's pride and betrayed his goodwill. He'll see me as a traitor. While I'll have the First Elder's protection, I've also become a target for the Clan Leader's faction.
Still… this has opened new doors for me. With greater risk comes greater reward but also a higher chance of failure. I'll have to tread even more carefully from now on… or my fate will be death.
With that heavy thought lingering, Wang Ming let out a long sigh.