"I never expected to escape that black-clad man only to fall to a demonic beast. It seems this repellent powder is fake. Chu Liuxiang, you've been deceiving me all along."
"Ha, haha, hahaha, how foolish I was to believe she truly cared for me, giving her so many resources," a woman slumped under a tree, covered in blood, her expression deeply sorrowful.
She slowly stood up, leaning on the tree, raised her hand, and swore to the heavens: "I, Ye Lanshan, swear before the sky—if I survive, I will make those who bullied and humiliated me pay the price."
Inside the cave, Ye Lanshan was immersed in the memories of her original body. Just then, Yan Hu walked in and saw her leaning against the stone wall. "You're awake," he called out.
Startled by the voice in her mind, Ye Lanshan quickly opened her eyes and demanded, "Who's there? Show yourself."
Yan Hu raised a paw. "It's me."
Only then did Ye Lanshan notice him. Curious, she asked, "How can you talk? Isn't it only divine beasts at the tenth level that can speak human language?"
Yan Hu replied in a tone of deep reluctance and grievance, "Because we've formed a contract, we can communicate through spiritual awareness."
"Oh~" Ye Lanshan stroked her chin, thinking, *This is pretty similar to the contracted spirit beasts I had back in my world.*
Suddenly aware of the filth on her body, she frowned with distaste. "I was just needing a local to explain this place to me—talk about a pillow arriving just as I was dozing off. But first, I need to wash up. Is there a river nearby?"
"There's a small river not far from the cave. Walk left for a bit, and you'll see it," Yan Hu said, pointing with his claw.
"Got it." Ye Lanshan stood up and headed that way.
"So this is the river Yan Hu mentioned," she murmured, standing by the stream. She slowly crouched, cupped some water, and washed her face. Staring at the face covered in bumps, she muttered, "This face looks so familiar."
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she took a small jade bottle from her pendant. "How could I forget you? The Marrow Cleansing Pill—a miraculous pill that expels all impurities and toxins."
The moment she swallowed the pill, pain instantly surged through her body. She quickly jumped into the river, and as expected, the water soothed the burning sensation with a hint of cool relief.
"Ah!" After bathing, Ye Lanshan looked at the tattered cloth in her hands—barely resembling clothes—and sighed. "This outfit is beyond saving. Luckily, it seems there are some clothes in the space."
Back in the modern world, Ye Lanshan often trained in deep forests, so she always kept some daily necessities in her jade pendant space. According to her master, the pendant had been around her neck when he found her. She suddenly thought of her long-lost master.
Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Master, could you have ended up in this world as inexplicably as I did?"
Suddenly, she felt a cold, piercing gaze on her. She snapped her eyes open to see a python coiled on the riverbank, staring intently at her. She quickly pulled a set of clothes from her space, put them on, and grabbed a dagger, fully on guard.
During the struggle with the python, she accidentally revealed the seven-petal lotus mark on her arm. The moment the python saw it, it immediately stopped attacking, letting her dagger pierce its body.
Ye Lanshan found its behavior bizarre. It was surprising enough that the python had stopped attacking, but then it lowered its head toward her and let out a series of hisses.
Unable to understand the language of mystical beasts, she had no choice but to summon Yan Hu. Yan Hu had been sleeping in the cave, but suddenly finding himself elsewhere left him confused.
When he turned and saw the python, he exclaimed in shock, "The Purple Poison Snake Emperor? Why is the Purple Poison Snake Emperor here?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't have summoned you," Ye Lanshan said.
"Master? So it was you who summoned me here. Wait, that's not right—wasn't Master an ugly mess? When did you get so good-looking?" Yan Hu muttered to himself, looking foolish.
"What are you mumbling about?" Ye Lanshan asked with a frown.
"Oh, nothing." Yan Hu didn't dare say it to her face.
Ye Lanshan pointed at the python. "Go see what it's saying."
"Okay," Yan Hu said, mustering his courage to approach. As soon as he got close, he heard the python mutter, "Fate, it's fate!" Before either of them could react, it charged at Ye Lanshan and formed a contract.
Both Ye Lanshan and Yan Hu were stunned, thinking in unison: *What just happened?*
By the time they came to their senses, the contract was already established. But unlike other contracts, this one was an equal contract—the only kind that could be unilaterally dissolved. If the python no longer wished to serve her, it could break the contract on its own, even turn on its master.
Realizing this, Ye Lanshan immediately understood the python's intent, but soon grew puzzled: *I'm just a useless waste—what could it possibly want from me?*
The python looked at their bewildered eyes and said, "I know you have many questions, but this isn't the place to explain."
Ye Lanshan quickly ordered, "Yan Hu, let's go back to your cave."
Inside the cave, the python recounted its origins and why it had formed the contract with her.
Ye Lanshan sneered at it. "Do you really think I'm a fool? If you can't let go of your pride, why should I help you? Based on this contract that can be dissolved anytime?"
A flicker of helplessness passed through the python's eyes. "I have no choice. What if you can't rescue my people? I can't just pin all my hopes on you."
Ye Lanshan pondered the python's words. *I've just arrived in this world, and this body's background is so complicated. To avenge it, I can't rely on just me and Little Tiger. I need some backing, and this python is promising, but this contract alone won't cut it.*
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "How about we both compromise? Let's swear a heavenly oath. If I can't save your people within three years, I'll let you go. But during those three years, you won't dissolve the contract. Deal?"
The python asked, "And if I refuse?"
Ye Lanshan said flatly, "Then there's nothing more to discuss. Let's dissolve the contract now."
The python, both anxious and angry, hissed, "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Ye Lanshan replied, "Are you sure you can find another person with the seven-petal lotus after killing me?"
Hearing this, the python's expression twisted with hesitation.
Ye Lanshan watched it struggle and said, "Think about it—it's just an oath. Is your pride more important than your people?"
After a long hesitation, seeing Ye Lanshan's unwavering expression, the python finally sighed. "I never thought I'd roam so arrogantly only to be outdone by a little girl like you. But at this point, I have no choice but to agree."