Qin Shu gathered **spiritual energy in her legs**, her eyes locked onto the **small brown figure** ahead.

The moment her foot **touched the ground**, she **shot forward**.

The little creature was **small but incredibly fast**.

However, Qin Shu had **Lightfoot Boots** and spiritual energy **boosting her speed**—

So she moved **like the wind**.

She chased it for quite a while—

But suddenly...

The **creature vanished**.

Frowning, Qin Shu **stopped in her tracks**.

She scanned her surroundings.

There was **no way** this thing just **disappeared**—

It **had to** have a **den nearby**.

Carefully, she **searched the area**.

And soon, she **spotted something strange**.

A massive tree—**thick enough for two people to hug**—

Had a **suspicious patch of grass**...

**Growing right on its trunk.**

Qin Shu: **"Tsk, what a terrible illusion."**

Whoever created this illusion **clearly had no common sense**.

Since when did **grass grow on tree trunks**?

Even a few **dangling vines** would have been **more believable**!

Amused, she **walked toward the tree**.

Even as she got **closer and closer**,

The **"grass"** remained **completely still**.

Smirking, Qin Shu **casually flicked a ball of mud** toward the tree.

**WHOOSH!**

The little creature **panicked** and **bolted out** from the tree hollow.

Even Qin Shu was **startled** by how fast it moved.

The **tiny brown blur** **leapt into the canopy**—

Disappearing into the **dense leaves**.

But this time—

Qin Shu **didn't chase after it**.

Instead, she **peeked inside** its **tree hollow**.

And **sure enough**—

She **was not disappointed.**

The little creature had **hoarded a mountain of treasures**.

Piles of **spiritual fruits and herbs**—

Including **two stalks of White Flame Root**.

Qin Shu's eyes **lit up instantly**.

This was a **top-tier refining herb**—

Perfect for making **Body Tempering Pills**.

And since she **was about to start body cultivation**...

This was **exactly** what she needed!

Without hesitation, Qin Shu **scooped up everything**.

But after a moment of thought—

She **placed three Zhi Spirit Fruits** inside the hollow as **compensation**.

Just as she was about to **leave**,

A **tiny brown squirrel** appeared on a **tree branch above**.

It was **hugging** one of the **Zhi Spirit Fruits**—

And its **big, watery eyes** were staring at her...

**Like it was about to cry.**

Qin Shu suddenly **felt a little guilty**.

But she quickly **hardened her heart**.

This was a **world where the strong preyed on the weak**.

**Acting cute wouldn't help it.**

"**You started it!**" Qin Shu **folded her arms** and **scolded it sternly**.

The little squirrel let out a **pitiful squeak**.

"**Zhi zhi...**"

Neither of them **understood each other**.

———

"If you keep looking at me like that, I'll turn you into dried squirrel jerky."

———

"**Zhi zhi!**"

Still, the **same squeaky sounds**.

———

Qin Shu **turned away** and started walking.

But after taking only **two steps**—

The **tiny creature suddenly leapt down**—

Landing **lightly on the ground**.

Then—

It **climbed up her leg**.

———

Qin Shu's **instinct kicked in**.

She **caught it in her hands**.

The little thing was **so small**,

No bigger than **two of her palms**.

Its **big, fluffy tail curled up**,

And its **shiny black eyes** stared at her...

**Unwavering.**

———

"...I **won't** give it back."

Qin Shu held firm, frowning.

"This is **your punishment** for attacking me first. You need to **learn some discipline**."

———

"**Zhi zhi!**"

The little squirrel **chirped louder**, voice full of grievance.

———

Qin Shu **sighed**.

"**If you don't leave,**" she warned,

"I might just **make you my dinner**."

———

Hearing that, the **squirrel panicked**.

It suddenly **bit her hand**.

———

"**HISS—!**"

Qin Shu **winced** and looked down—

Just in time to see **a mysterious pattern** flash in its eyes.

**Contract markings.**

———

Qin Shu's **heart skipped a beat**.

It was trying to **form a contract with her**!

———

But strangely—

The markings **lingered** for a moment...

Before **fading away.**

———

She **felt** the little squirrel's **frustration**.

Then—

A **new** set of markings **appeared in its eyes**.

And this time—

The markings **sank into Qin Shu's chest** and **disappeared**.

———

Qin Shu **froze**.

She reached up, **pressing a hand to her chest**.

Circulating her spiritual energy—

But...

She **felt no changes.**

———

Just as she was about to **shoo the squirrel away**—

A **soft, childish voice** echoed in her mind.

———

**"BAD PERSON!"**

———

Qin Shu's **eyes widened**.

She looked down at the **fluffy creature in her hands**.

———

"...Did you just... talk?"

———

"**Yes! You big meanie!**"

Its eyes were **full of resentment**.

For some reason—

Qin Shu **felt guilty**,

Like she had just **bullied a little kid**.

———

"**You attacked me first! And you bit me! YOU'RE the bad one!**"

Qin Shu shot back, unwilling to be **outdone by a squirrel**.

———

"**Xiao Xiao wasn't biting you! Xiao Xiao was forming a contract! Otherwise, Xiao Xiao couldn't understand you!**"

———

Its **fluffy tail wiggled proudly**—

Like it had just **come up with a brilliant idea.**

———

Qin Shu fell silent.

...This **little idiot** didn't even realize it had just **signed a slave contract.**

———

But then—

Xiao Xiao's next words **completely shocked her**.

———

"**Xiao Xiao wanted to contract with you—**

But **you already formed a contract with someone else!**

So I could only **form a master-servant contract!**

Xiao Xiao is **so angry!**"

———

The rapid-fire speech **took a moment to process**.

But when she did—

Qin Shu's **pupils shrank.**

———

"...Wait."

She had **already formed a contract**?

———

**With who?!**

———

This body had **been hers** since she joined the sect.

**Couldn't be Chi Yu**—he was a **shapeshifted beast**.

**Couldn't be Rui Ming**—he was already **bonded to Elder Fu Cheng**.

The only **other** beast she had encountered was...

———

**The big black snake.**

———

Qin Shu's **face paled.**

"...No way."

———

But thinking back—

Why else would Xie Shiyuan **let her run around** carrying **his inner core**?

———

Qin Shu **exhaled slowly**.

She **barely knew anything** about beast contracts.

She hesitated—

Then **offered Xiao Xiao a Zhi Spirit Fruit**.

"Hey, um... what kind of contract did I form?"

———

"**A spirit contract!**"

———

"...Can I form more than one?"

———

"**Of course! But your spiritual consciousness is too weak—**

And your first contract partner is **way stronger than you!**"

———

Qin Shu finally understood.

Her **mind space** was **too small**.

———

"**So it's not my fault!**" she muttered.

"**You all keep forcing contracts on me!**"

———

Xiao Xiao huffed, cheeks puffing out.

"**You can break our master-servant bond anytime!**

**But if you do—**

**You won't be able to hear me anymore!**"

———

Qin Shu fell silent.

Then—

She asked one last question.

"...Can I break the spirit contract?"

———

Xiao Xiao's **voice turned hesitant**.

"**A spirit contract requires mutual agreement...**

But if one side is **too powerful**—

The weaker one **won't even think of resisting.**"

———

Qin Shu: **"That's not a contract... That's extortion!"**