The Obligations of the Elderly - chapter 32

Chapter 31

The so-called “Form Contract” was also known as “Vessel Customization.”

In ancient times, it was originally written as “Vessel Customization.”

Legend has it that before there were “Users” and “Vessels” in this world, those who wished to wield various sharp tools had to visit specialized shops and seek out craftsmen to custom-make a unique “Vessel” for themselves-this was called “Vessel Customization.”

Today, the relationship between Users and Vessels still follows this old terminology.

Early in the morning, Elder Xie came specifically to wake Ah Ji.

His original intention was to take Ah Ji away directly, but the Gong Brothers firmly refused. They insisted on being present throughout the process, but the other party disagreed. After a brief stalemate, with Ah Ji about to burst into tears again and no one on Elder Xie’s side able to comfort him, Elder Xie finally agreed to their request.

“But only one person can go,” Elder Xie said, pointing at Gong Si. “You go. The other two cannot.”

“Why?” Qiu Xia asked immediately.

“You are a User, and he is another Vessel. The fewer people present during the Contract Ceremony, the better-especially Ability Users, and even more so High-Level Ability Users.

“Your Eldest Brother is an ordinary person, so at most, only he can accompany.”

At this point, Elder Xie glanced at Qiu Xia’s expression and added, “You wouldn’t want Ah Ji’s Contract Ceremony to be affected, would you? It would impact him as well.”

Qiu Xia pressed his lips together and did not insist further.

“Eldest Brother, we’ll leave it to you,” he said to Gong Si.

“Mm, don’t worry,” Gong Si nodded at him.

“Take care of yourself too…” Qiu Xia said softly, taking the opportunity to hand something to Gong Si.

Gong Si paused, then smiled. “I know what’s important.”

With that, he waved and bid farewell to his two younger brothers.

To be honest, they didn’t really know what the Contract Ceremony entailed. The books Qiu Xia borrowed from school didn’t cover this topic-he hadn’t been enrolled long, and most people around him were low-ranked Users and Vessels, whose Contract Ceremonies were usually simple. Even so, he had never seen such a ceremony. It was said that the Contract Ceremonies for high-level Users and Vessels were completely different from those of lower ranks-much more complicated. Besides, the User their youngest brother would be forming a contract with clearly came from a powerful family. Judging by the daily preparations of the servants, they knew that the upcoming Contract Ceremony for their little brother would definitely be the highest-level kind.

And also the most complicated kind.

“I’ve heard that among young people nowadays, the Contract Ceremony is becoming simple and quick, but the Master and Mr. Gong Siji’s Contract Ceremony will still use the traditional method…” While leading the way, Elder Xie finally shared some information about the Contract Ceremony with Gong Si.

Heaven knows-the servants had never answered any of their questions about the Contract Ceremony these past few days!

“What are we supposed to do?” Hugging Ah Ji tightly, Gong Si took the opportunity to ask.

“The Ritual Officer will guide you all the way. Just follow their instructions with Mr. Gong Siji,” was all the answer Gong Si received.

Looking at the two rows of people in white traditional robes behind him, Gong Si realized they weren’t servants, but Ritual Officers.

Elder Xie led them to a white building before bowing and taking his leave. From then on, another person in a white robe-this one with a tall hat and clearly more ornate clothing than those behind-came out to guide the Gong Brothers.

Replacing Elder Xie at the front, the Ritual Officer led the Gong Brothers down a long corridor, eventually bringing them to a…

Large bath?

That’s right! A large bath!

It was about the same size as the pool in their house, maybe even a bit smaller, made entirely of stone. Looking closely, there was even moss on the stones~

Beside the pool stood a large tree, half its trunk soaking in the water. Perhaps because of the hot spring, even though it was winter, the tree was lush and full of palm-sized leaves, densely packed, shading the entire hot spring pool like a giant umbrella.

“What are we supposed to do here?” Gong Si frowned and asked immediately.

The Ritual Officer only smiled. “Next, Mr. Gong Siji needs to bathe his body and mind in this pool.”

Gong Si: …

Ah Ji had no idea what it meant to bathe body and mind-he just knew it meant taking a bath.

“So just a bath?” Gong Si thought this sounded rather simple, maybe even too simple.

Just as he finished this thought, the Ritual Officer spoke again: “For twelve hours.”

“Huh?” Gong Si hadn’t quite understood.

“Next, Mr. Gong Siji needs to soak in this pool for a full twelve hours.”

Gong Si jumped up on the spot. “He’s just a child-how can he soak in hot water for twelve hours? Even if it’s a ceremony, you have to consider his safety!”

“Don’t worry, we care about Mr. Gong Siji’s health as much as you do. The water in this pool is special-it contains the energy of the User who will be paired with Mr. Gong Siji. As time passes, the User’s energy signature will become stronger, and at the same time, Mr. Gong Siji’s own signature will be transmitted to the other party through the water. Before the ceremony, this method allows the energy signatures of both User and Vessel to communicate and blend. This is a method used only in traditional Contract Ceremonies, and it’s the gentlest and most effective way to achieve a high fusion rate. Due to various constraints, fewer and fewer people use this method nowadays. Since everything is ready, I truly believe this is a great fortune for Mr. Gong Siji-after all, he is still so young.”
The Ritual Officer, wearing a tall hat, explained to Gong Si in a gentle tone. This way of speaking was somewhat similar to Qiu Xia. To be honest, Gong Si was at a loss when faced with this manner, especially since the other party was doing it for Ah Ji’s sake. Gritting his teeth, Gong Si gently patted Ah Ji’s little bottom: “Ah Ji, how about going swimming next? Didn’t you stay in the water all day yesterday and didn’t want to come out?”

Recently, Ah Ji had learned to swim in the hot spring pool. To call it swimming was a bit of an exaggeration-it was really just splashing about. With a baby swim ring, he could float in the pool, and his little hands and feet would occasionally kick, allowing him to move a bit in any direction.

Sure enough, upon hearing his brother say this, Ah Ji laughed happily-he could now understand what the word “swimming” meant.

Taking advantage of his good mood, Gong Si took off Ah Ji’s little clothes and removed his diaper, then put on the baby swim ring handed over by the Ritual Officer-clearly, they had come prepared.

He then held Ah Ji by his chubby waist and slowly lowered him into the water.

Of course, before putting him in, he tested the water temperature: this pool was a bit cooler than the one in their room, making it even more comfortable. Ah Ji should be able to soak for longer, Gong Si thought to himself.

However-

He had only considered the water temperature and forgot that Ah Ji was a little baby. What babies care about is completely different from adults!

As soon as he entered the water, Ah Ji floated quietly, his big eyes staring unblinkingly at Gong Si.

To others, he just looked like a well-behaved child soaking in the hot spring. This scene made the surrounding Ritual Officers breathe a sigh of relief. The tall-hatted Ritual Officer even praised Ah Ji. Yet, not five seconds after the praise, Ah Ji’s eyes welled up and he began to cry loudly.

Little babies don’t want to “swim” alone; little babies want to “soak” with their brother~

Although he couldn’t speak, his body language made his feelings perfectly clear.

“If we strictly follow the ritual procedure, only Mr. Gong Siji should enter this pool.” After thinking for a moment, the Ritual Officer spoke. “However, Mr. Gong Siji is too young. Alone… he probably couldn’t last even five minutes. The main reason for not letting others touch the water is to prevent their energy information from mixing in and affecting the connection. Mr. Gong Si is an ordinary person, and ordinary people don’t have this kind of energy information. Even if he enters the water, he would be like a stone or a fallen leaf, causing no effect on the pool.”

Gong Si: So I’m just a stone, a fallen leaf.

But seeing Ah Ji cry made him anxious. Even though he had some opinions about the explanation, he said nothing. The Ritual Officer made two more phone calls, apparently consulting more specialized experts. After the calls, Gong Si was granted permission to enter the pool.

Sure enough, as soon as his brother joined him, Ah Ji stopped crying.

Tears still clung to his eyes, but his little mouth was already curving into a smile. Waving his little arms and kicking his legs, he began to spin around in the hot spring pool-Ah Ji’s strength was too small and his movements uncoordinated, so he couldn’t really swim yet.

As long as his brother was soaking with him, he was satisfied. Gong Si didn’t even need to hold him; Ah Ji played happily in the water all by himself~

An hour after they entered the water, the Ritual Officers withdrew.

Before leaving, the tall-hatted Ritual Officer reminded Gong Si to soak for a full twelve hours. They could leave the pool to use the Cold Pool next to it, but should not stay on shore for too long, or else the Contract Ceremony for Ah Ji would be affected.

When it came to anything concerning Ah Ji, Gong Si was always especially serious. He nodded to the officer and continued soaking in the pool with Ah Ji.

To be honest, this pool was truly beautiful.

Although the walls and bottom of the pool were stone, they didn’t feel hard, because they were covered in thick moss? Water plants? Gong Si didn’t know what exactly the layer on the stone was called. It grew densely and softly, making it comfortable to sit or lean against. Since it was clean, Gong Si didn’t find it unpleasant at all.

The trees overhead were also beautiful. Looking closely, their leaves weren’t entirely green-there were red ones too, which occasionally drifted down into the pool. Gong Si picked one up and examined it; its veins were spread out, unlike any leaf he’d seen in Lengshui Town.

Each time he picked up a leaf, he placed it on the edge of the pool behind him. By the time he had collected the eighth leaf, he began to feel a bit dizzy.

Was the water getting hotter? He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or reality, but Gong Si felt the temperature rising.

The mist above the water grew thicker than before, and he had to keep brushing it aside to make sure he could always see Ah Ji spinning around nearby.

Perhaps because of this, he kept moving, which made him feel a bit short of breath.

His face flushed, Gong Si had to climb out of the pool and soak for a while in the Cold Pool next door.

But that didn’t help much either. In the end, he climbed out of the water and squatted on the shore, letting the cold wind blow over him. Only when his body temperature dropped to what it usually was in Lengshui Town did his mind finally clear.

Unfortunately-
Ah Ji cried again.

His brother had been gone for too long; he wanted to soak in the bath with his brother.

There was no other way. Gong Si could only grit his teeth and get back into the hot water pool.

Is this the difference between Ability Users and ordinary people?

Ah Ji soaked for much longer than he did, but Ah Ji didn’t seem affected at all, still happily splashing in the water, while Gong Si felt like he could faint at any moment.

It must be that thing called energy information causing trouble?

Does that thing make Ah Ji feel comfortable? So Ah Ji can keep soaking in the water like this? But it has no effect on him, so he can only stay in for a short while.

Trying hard to take deep breaths in the pool, Gong Si attempted to absorb more oxygen.

Relying on sheer willpower, he finally managed to last three hours in the hot spring pool.

After three hours, when he got out of the pool, he nearly fainted and had to stay in the Cold Water Pool for a while before returning at Ah Ji’s call.

Then he managed to last until six hours.

By then, he was already groggy, without the strength to leave the pool. It was Ah Ji’s shouting that brought the Ritual Officer from outside, who fished him out of the pool, fanned him, and doused him with cold water until he finally recovered. But as soon as Ah Ji left him, he wanted to get out of the pool, so they had no choice but to put the noodle-like Gong Si back into the hot spring pool.

Like a hot spring egg-dizzy and confused, Gong Si started to let his mind wander.

At the tenth hour, Ah Ji climbed onto him and peed.

Even though it was all warm, Gong Si could still feel it.

Having been peed on by Ah Ji several times, Gong Si was already numb to it, but in his muddled state, his mind wandered to other things.

For example, now this pool not only has Ah Ji’s so-called energy information, but also Ah Ji’s urine. Would that make the information stronger? Maybe Ah Ji’s urine would travel with the energy information through the pool water to the other party…

Wait-

Was he really getting cooked by the heat? Why was he only thinking of this now?

“…It contains the energy of the User who will soon Form Contract with Mr. Gong Siji. As time goes on, the other party’s energy information will become more and more intense…”

Didn’t that person say this?

If only Ah Ji was soaking here, how would Ah Ji’s energy be transmitted through the pool to the other person in the Contract Ceremony? How would the other party’s energy become more and more intense?

The other party must be soaking in the hot spring at the same time! In another pool connected to this one, that’s why they use the word “transmit.” The longer they soak, the stronger the other party’s scent…

Damn! Have they been soaking in someone else’s bathwater all along?

Suddenly realizing this possibility, Gong Si snapped awake!

But he quickly slumped weakly back against the pool wall.

“Drink more water, pee more.” That was all he could tell Ah Ji.

Finally, twelve hours passed.

Ah Ji had already fallen asleep, clinging tightly to Gong Si. The two of them were fished out of the water together.

Ah Ji was dressed in a small white robe, and Gong Si received one as well.

“Thank you for your company, Mr. Gong Si. Only with your presence could Mr. Gong Siji last so long in the pool. With this, all the necessary preparations for the ceremony are complete. Next, Mr. Gong Siji will be taken to the venue. You must be tired, Mr. Gong Si. We can take you to a nearby place to rest, or would you prefer to return to your residence?” The Ritual Officer in the tall hat smiled at Gong Si.

Gong Si’s response…

He snatched Ah Ji away.

All his weakness vanished in an instant, only the flush on his face proved that fragility had ever existed. Hugging Ah Ji tightly, Gong Si coldly said to them:

“There’s no way I’ll let you take Ah Ji alone. How do I know the person Ah Ji is supposed to Form Contract with is really the powerful User you mentioned at the start? What if you switch people at the last minute? How do I know you won’t do something else to Ah Ji?”

Gong Si, who had always cooperated, suddenly erupted. Only then did those people remember someone had warned them before: “Gong Si is a troublemaker.”

“We’re only putting Mr. Gong Siji into the venue. Besides your family’s Master, there will be no one else there. This is a ceremony for just the two of them. We won’t do anything unnecessary…” The Ritual Officer in the tall hat replied calmly.

But Gong Si just glared at him with his Kitchen Knife Eyes, holding Ah Ji tightly and refusing to let go.

The Ritual Officer had no choice but to make another phone call.

After the call, he said nothing more, letting Gong Si carry Ah Ji, and led him out through another corridor.

Waiting at the end of the corridor was still Elder Xie, with five other elders behind him.

Looking at Gong Si with serious faces, the elder said in a deep voice: “I will agree to all your requests, only for the sake of Mr. Gong Siji’s happiness, and to increase the success rate of the Contract Ceremony with the Master. That’s all. It’s not because I’m moved by your willpower or persistence, and certainly not because I’m touched by your so-called family affection.”
“I know.” Gong Si lifted his chin. “The reason I agreed to all your demands is for Ah Ji. There is no other reason.

An old man and a young man, one tall and one short, stared at each other for a full minute before the elder finally turned away.

“Follow me,” he said to Gong Si.

Supporting his weak body and holding Ah Ji tightly, Gong Si followed in his footsteps.

It was still a narrow corridor, with snow piled on both sides. The winding passage was only wide enough for one person. Overhead, paper lanterns stretched on as if endlessly.

Yet even what seems endless must have an end.

They stopped before a wooden door-the end of the corridor lay beyond it.

The lanterns vanished above their heads, and inside the door was darkness.

A peculiar fragrance drifted out from within, cool and crisp, with a chill like snow.

“This is the venue for the ceremony. Originally, a Ritual Officer was supposed to carry Mr. Gong Siji inside. Because of your request, I have decided to let you take his place,” the old man said coldly to Gong Si, standing at the doorway.

“There is only one path inside. You won’t get lost. Carry Young Master Gong Siji forward and hand him to the Master. Your task will be complete.”

“Then leave immediately. Run as far as you can. Do not interfere with the ceremony.”

After saying this, the old man fell silent, standing with his hands behind his back at one side of the door. Another elder guarded the opposite side, and the other four had already taken their positions, standing like sentinels.

Without looking at them, Gong Si glanced at Ah Ji in his arms, then at the dark doorway, and stepped inside resolutely.

He quickly understood what “there is only one path inside” meant.

Ahead lay a red carpet.

Soft, crimson.

On either side of the carpet were low candlesticks. The candlelight was dim, just enough to illuminate a small patch beside each candlestick.

Gong Si could only see his own feet, the candlesticks, the carpet, and then…

At the end of the carpet and candlesticks was a bed canopy.

That was the only way he could describe it. It looked like a bed, or perhaps a massive seat, draped all around with red curtains. Somewhere in the room, a breeze blew, making the curtains billow.

Yet no matter how the wind blew, he could never see what lay behind the curtains.

Until he drew closer, and through the vague shadows, he saw what seemed to be a figure behind the drapes.

A vast room, a strange arrangement, not a single person in sight, not a sound…

Step by step, Gong Si walked forward, holding Ah Ji. He felt a chilling cold inside, but Ah Ji, oblivious, was comfortable in his brother’s arms. Ah Ji gnawed on his fingers, occasionally glancing around, but most of the time his gaze was fixed on his brother’s chin.

He even let out a little yawn.

Seeing his little brother like this, Gong Si’s resolve grew even stronger.

But he did not stop walking.

He kept a steady pace, moving forward until he reached the end of the carpet, in front of the curtains.

The figure was just behind the drapes, less than two meters away. All he had to do was lift the curtain to see.

“Put down the Vessel. You may leave now.” Amid the wind, he heard a deep male voice faintly coming from behind the curtains.

Gong Si did not pay much attention to the voice. Gritting his teeth, instead of putting Ah Ji down, he held him even tighter and said to the person behind the curtain:

“I don’t care how powerful a User you are, or how old you are, or how great your family and fortune may be. None of that matters to me. All I ask is that you treat my brother well, treat Ah Ji well. Otherwise, even if I’m just an ordinary person, I will do everything I can to hold you accountable, and spend my whole life pursuing you. You-”

He stumbled over his words, blurting out everything he wanted to say in one breath. Then Gong Si pulled aside the obstructing curtain, wanting to see the old man who was about to Form Contract with his brother…

Everything stopped the moment he saw the person behind the curtain.

Staring at the familiar face behind the drapes, all his coldness turned into uncontrollable shock. The name was on the tip of his tongue, and Gong Si muttered it in a daze:

“Xi Liu?”