Chapter 163: Sealed In Blood

Within the Mashiro Temple's Sacred Forest, a CEO and Priestess stared at one another for a moment. Both of them were not privy to each other's thoughts, but both thought and considered one another's future actions, depending on the state of the contract.

"Do you think you can do that?" he asked. "If neither of us are capable of fulfilling it, does it mean we both die?"

Mitsuko smiled. "Do you fear death?"

"No, but it would inconvenience me," Li Yang said.

The Priestess blinked and then stifled a chuckle. "You make it seem like you could rebirth yourself into another vessel or something close to it. My initial suspicions are only growing with how you state things."

He shook his head. "And I assure you that is not the case, at least as far as I'm aware of."

He could already imagine that something similar to an underworld would appear before him if he died and he might be given a task that might include defeating the King Yama or seducing a goddess trapped there or who happened to be the embodiment of death. At least that was how he considered things would go if the contract that kept him in place still ran.

Mitsuko stepped closer to him and offered her hand. "Use your sword and make it quick."

Li Yang frowned. "You intend to continue on with the blood contract?"

"If you truly are not here to attack Mashiro Temple and the Priestesses who live here, then it is within good faith that I'll do what I can to protect you and Setsuko to the best of my ability." Mitsuko stared at him with a calm face. "That is what a proper Priestess should do."

"I see, very well then." He removed the rest of the blood from his sword and then cut her lightly.

Red trailed and ebbed down from her palm, and Li Yang proceeded to do the same. He ignored the familiar desire to shield himself with qi and allowed the blade to touch his flesh. Despite the rather honourable way the Priestess interacted with him, the method of their contract still made him wary.

Even more so when the Priestess allowed her blood to drop into the still waters below them and transformed the translucent sea into a crimson ocean. Had she planned all of this from the start? He came here unexpected surely, so—

"Likewise share yours, Yang."

There had been no need for it, as a droplet of his blood already fell into the waters. The deep crimson color glimmered for a moment and then returned to its dark shade of blood. This was no longer simply water, but the very blood that was shared between them.

And then she spoke—chanted in ancient language far beyond his current comprehension.

"Mmogni̊w, bwuihi nawe. Het kmon i̊yembbin."

Strange words flitted through his ears, but each one of them contained power and depth far beyond his own understanding. The words rang in his ear like a certain song, hymn, spell—and the blood beneath their feet churned and trembled.

Mitsuko's eyes spilled red light as she cupped the waters below them and raised it up. No, not water. He had to correct himself again; it was far too thick and viscous now to be mere water.

This was the blood contract.

With a silent look from Mitsuko, Li Yang did the same. He understood the context they were in right now, but only drank when the Priestess took the first sip. A moment wary. His tongue met a liquid fire that coursed through his body, not unlike, and possibly the same as, what he did to Setsuko before. Except this time, it was a mixture of their blood.

And yet there was no pleasure, only the solemnity of a certain rite that streamed into him and herself. This was not simply mere dominion, but an agreement, and yet—

The flash of a screen in front of him made him stifle a smile at the sheer absurdity of it all. While he had expected the System to do something, inform him of his decision and the blood contract that was taking place, it reacted out of its own will.

[ System Has Detected a Blood Contract— ]

[ Ingestion Was Done With Free Will— ]

[ System Proceeds With Different Protocol— ]

[ Protocol #1143 Is Now In Procedure— ]

[ Overpowering Ancient Rites and Rituals... ]

There were no apparent changes in the face of the Priestess Mitsuko. Possibly, there was no external or internal sign that showed when a contract was being negated? Rather, nothing similar to it has happened at all.

"Phew, it's done." Mitsuko looked up at him—and her face this time had changed. Around the side of her temple was a strange red tattoo on her face, glowing unbeknownst to her that quickly faded away in time.

Li Yang didn't say a thing.

She gave him a careful look and pressed a finger in his chest. "You'll probably feel a strange and somewhat painful thump in your heart when the contract's binding enforces its power on you. Do it once or too many times, then your heart will stop beating. Thank you for the contract, I'm at ease."

[ Congratulations! The Blood Contract's Negative Conditions on The Host Has Been Lifted ]

[ Priestess Mitsuko Is Currently Under A Blood-Binding Contract For Your Safety ]

[ Special Reward: You Have Received Blood Seals 3x to Enforce Your Will ]

"I see…" he nodded and kept his face blank. Thought about it for a second, and then smiled. "Thank you for the explanation, Priestess Mitsuko. I appreciate it."

Admitting that the so-called Binding only took effect in her body and not his was definitely a one-way ticket to enraging the woman—but once again, he doubted that she'd be able to attack him without her going against the contract.

She nodded at him and then motioned to the portal, letting her finger drop from his chest as she pointed at the exit. "Very well then, it's time for us to go. We can't have anybody be suspicious of us for being alone together."

"And yet, despite it, you still chose to train me," Li Yang said once they stepped out. The real Mashiro Temple was still dark, looming and large—but it wasn't anything as encompassing as he stared at her face. He could still faintly visualize the tattoo on her face. It had exactly been three intricate spirals that ran across the side of her forehead.

"I've already told you—as long as you do not harm the temple, then I will be at ease." she eyed him. "Whether you be a god or not, a contract is still a contract. It's binding—other than that, it's better to have an unlikely ally than an unknown enemy. Even if your existence cannot be explained, at least you'll be working in favor of what I deem to be correct."

"It's truly a situation where it's us versus them situation then," Li Yang murmured. "Are there any organizations and individuals I should be wary about?"

"The Damask Insurgencies."

"Revolting against the current system then," Li Yang said thoughtfully. It wasn't hard to put two and two together since the Priestess initially assumed he and Setsuko were aligned there. He had no encounters with them, so he couldn't say whether one of them was correct… or at least, a better suit to his current plans.

"You cannot hire them or even incite them to attack us."

"I understand."

"And you will know it—your body will tell you." Mitsuko could have run across the forest to return to the temple, but she walked.

Li Yang was unsure if he liked the idea of such contracts as this one—it surely reassured both parties that they would uphold a certain agreement, but only because their life was at stake. Even the Priestess was now at ease with him for that reason. One's actual desires no longer had any value in a contract like this one…

The contract upheld it.

Even one's morals were no longer needed to be just or upright if one can only ensure that the most important agreements were made in blood. It was a fascinating idea that disturbed him. He could only hope that this was mostly done in a legal and acceptable manner.

And yet surely there was a loophole to this.

If he had found one for himself, others must have also done it.

"Priestess Mitsuko, in order to initiate a blood contract—one only needs the blood of the two individuals, am I correct?"

"Yes. One's will and power can be found in the blood as well. Thus, after a spoken agreement—one needs to consume the mixture of blood to bind them. It can also be done in parchment, burned and mixed with the drink."

"I see." Li Yang nodded. "What would happen if you forced someone to ingest your blood and made a contract? No, not a contract—what if you impose your will on them? Would that work?"

The Priestess stopped in her tracks and threw him a bewildered look. "What did you say?"

"The ability to enforce one's will on an individual by having them consume their blood unknowingly. Has there been no instances of anything similar to it?"

—-—-

Author Note: Spooky. Blood contracts, blood magic, blood rituals. I swear I didn't get bit by the Vampire craze lol. Although, I admit that Noblesse is definitely an inspiration :D I probably should have better blood-related things in store for the future Vampiress (if you've read the auxiliary chapter) but for now, blood contract-ritual! The MC can definitely ignore the contract if he wanted to. Thanks for reading!