All Things Are Contracts

Returning home, Iron Bull’s mother had been waiting for a long time.

“Iron Bull… Iron Bull, you’re finally back. I was worried to death.” Iron Bull’s mother was a woman in her sixties or seventies. Her hair was graying and her face haggard, clearly having suffered a lot.

“Mom… I… I’m back.” Iron Bull replied. He had integrated Iron Bull’s memories and learned a lot of things. Although the memories weren’t complete, he thought it shouldn’t be a problem to deal with this old lady.

“Iron Bull must be hungry. I steamed some buns. Quickly go in and eat some.” The old woman said.

Then Iron Bull walked into the house, picked up a steaming bun and started eating. The old woman’s eyes paused, flashing a hint of doubt. Since childhood, Iron Bull had always been very filial. The first bite at the dinner table would always be given to her to eat. He definitely wouldn’t be like this.

“Iron Bull… do you remember what day tomorrow is?” The old woman asked.

“To… tomorrow?” Iron Bull thought for a long time and shook his head. “I have no impression. These past few days I suffered too many shocks. My state isn’t very good.”

The old woman comforted, “It’s okay, it’s okay. As long as you’re safe, it’s good.” The old woman’s doubts grew heavier in her heart. Tomorrow was the death anniversary of his father. How could Iron Bull possibly forget this date?

“Come, drink some soup. Don’t just eat buns.” The old woman brought over a bowl of bone soup and handed it to Iron Bull. Iron Bull’s family lived quite a bit better than ordinary farmer families. They could afford to eat white flour buns and drink bone soup. Naturally, it was because Iron Bull worked at the mine.

Iron Bull drank it in one gulp, secretly thinking it was comfortable. He also needed food and drink now. He originally wanted to kill this woman and be done with it, but was afraid of alarming others. Besides, keeping her to take care of his life wasn’t bad either. He needed to eat now, but he didn’t want to cook himself. This was something he hadn’t done for who knows how many years.

Only after Iron Bull laid down did the old woman return to her own room and light the enlightenment stone lamp. Her face was deathly pale, full of worry and fear. “This person is definitely not Iron Bull. Who on earth is he?” Usually, Iron Bull would personally come to check the enlightenment stone lamp and light it, deeply afraid that something would go wrong. But today, he completely didn’t do so.

The next day, the old woman prepared breakfast and woke up Iron Bull.

“I heard the mine gave you two days off? I’ll go into the city to buy some fish and meat to nourish you well.” The old woman said.

Hearing fish and meat, that Iron Bull’s eyes lit up. Having been sealed for who knows how many years, his desire for taste was now strong. “Mom, you go.”

The old woman took money and grain and went to Hundred Birds City alone. Their village was very close to Hundred Birds City. A round trip could be made in a morning. It was just that the old woman’s mind was heavy. If her son was really possessed by an evil thing, it was probably not something she or the villagers could handle. She hoped to go into the city to report. If she could see a big shot like the city lord, it would be foolproof. Although this old woman was advanced in years, her mind was very meticulous. The moment she became suspicious, she didn’t startle the snake in the grass. Having toiled all her life, if she didn’t have some wits, she probably wouldn’t have been able to raise Iron Bull by herself.

“Officer, listen to me. My son has really changed. He’s definitely not my son. He must be possessed by an evil spirit, maybe even a Nightmare!” The old woman found a squad leader in charge of city defense to report. With her status, she naturally couldn’t see the city lord.

That squad leader said a bit impatiently, “Don’t disturb my work. What evil spirit, what Nightmare, you said yourself your son can be active under the sun. If possessed by a Nightmare, how could he be active under the sun? I guess you’re overthinking it. Go back and communicate well with your son. You’re not young anymore either.”

The squad leader thought this woman’s son was unfilial and the old woman was using the name of evil spirits, wanting them to help punish and discipline her son.

“Really, I’m not lying to you. Iron Bull’s eyes are off. The tone he speaks with is also off. He… he even forgot his father’s death anniversary. This is absolutely impossible. He’s definitely not my son Iron Bull. Go with me to take a look.” The old woman pleaded.

“You old woman, you’re being unreasonable. We are soldiers responsible for city defense, not for mediating your family conflicts!” That squad leader was a bit angry. His initial patience had been exhausted.

“But… but dealing with Nightmares and evil spirits, isn’t that your job?” The old woman looked at the squad leader in front of her anxiously and in confusion.

The squad leader shook his head helplessly and took out a few purple crystal coins to hand to the old woman. “Old lady, go into the city and buy some good food. Adjust your mood. Also use the money to buy your son some good wine and meat. You two have a good talk. How can there be overnight grievances between mother and son? That mixed brat forgetting his father’s death anniversary is indeed not a thing, but we really can’t step forward to discipline him. What kind of matter is this?”

However, the old woman didn’t take the money. “I don’t want your money. I only ask that you send someone to go with me to take a look. Iron Bull… he’s really not right.” Tears fell from the old woman’s anxiety.

The passersby nearby all pointed and whispered. That squad leader only felt his scalp go numb. This old lady was really a big trouble. Would others think I bullied her?

A youth in white clothes walked over following the sound of crying. He saw a soldier in armor talking with an old woman. That soldier held a few purple crystal coins in his hand, while the old woman was in tears. This white-clothed youth was none other than Zhanyue who had recently teleported over. Zhanyue shook his head, secretly thinking how the world was declining. What kind of ghost was this Rising Sun Kingdom? An upstanding city guard soldier was actually robbing an old woman in broad daylight.

That squad leader saw Zhanyue’s expression and felt a bit anxious. If he was misunderstood, he was afraid it would affect his official career.

“You… it’s you, stop right there, come over!” That squad leader pointed at Zhanyue and said.

Zhanyue furrowed his brows. He already disliked this soldier, but this was after all someone else’s jurisdiction. It wasn’t good for him to take action. However, that soldier actually directly provoked him.

“Do you have something?” Zhanyue walked over, his attitude unfriendly. That old woman’s eyes were red from crying, making Zhanyue feel distressed and thinking he should teach this dog a lesson.

“Old lady, look, look at other people’s man-eating eyes. I’ve been misunderstood. Really, really don’t cling to me anymore. Just take this money. Consider it me begging you.” That squad leader said.

Hearing this, Zhanyue paused. The matter seemed different from what he imagined.

That old woman didn’t take the money and instead looked at Zhanyue. “Young master, this officer didn’t bully me.”

“Then why are you crying so grievously?” Zhanyue asked in puzzlement.

The old woman then recounted the whole course of events. That squad leader sighed. Finally his name was cleared.

However, Zhanyue listened with his scalp going numb. “Old lady, are you really sure there’s a problem with your son?”

The old woman nodded, incomparably firm.

“Zhanyue, go take a look. If there really is some Nightmare that can possess a living person and even act during the day, it’s probably a huge matter. Better to believe it exists than believe it doesn’t.” The illumination Goddess’s voice came.

“But a Nightmare that can be active under the sun is probably very strong. Can I beat it?” Zhanyue asked with some concern.

“What’s there to be afraid of? I’m here.” The illumination Goddess said. She had secret arts to protect Zhanyue.

“Alright.” Zhanyue agreed.

“Old lady, I’m also a contractor. I’ll go back with you first to take a look. If there’s really an abnormality, we’ll come back to report to the officials, how about that?” Zhanyue asked.

“You? I’m afraid you’re not that evil spirit’s match.” The old lady was a bit worried.

Zhanyue patted his chest. “Don’t worry. I’m much more capable than that guy. Besides, it’s just observing and confirming. We don’t necessarily have to get into a conflict with him.”

That squad leader’s scalp went numb. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to thank or blame Zhanyue. He could only pretend he didn’t hear.

“Is that so? Then many thanks, young master.” The old woman finally breathed a sigh of relief. She bought some fish and meat and led Zhanyue towards her home.

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