Chapter 89 – The Gift

As his soul power gradually recovered, Lin Wei’s consciousness returned. He first inspected his soul: he couldn’t tell if its strength had increased, but it was now intimately close to another soul light cluster, indicating that the imprint of the contract was deeply etched and hadn’t completely dissipated yet.

With his senses returning as he woke, he opened his eyes to see Duan Yu with his eyes closed, breathing calmly. It was unclear whether he was meditating or asleep.

Lin Wei couldn’t help but smile, wanting to keep watching without even blinking, as if every moment was precious.

But the sensitive little creature in the room had other plans. Upon seeing Lin Wei awake, it immediately let out a loud meow.

—Lin Wei just wanted to throw the kitten out.

However, it was too late. Duan Yu had already been awakened by the sound, slowly opening his eyes. His gaze was clear and serene, like a frost-covered lake in late autumn, undisturbed and reflecting only Lin Wei’s image.

An incomplete contract wouldn’t last forever; it would gradually dissipate—meaning it would linger for a short while. Lin Wei could still feel that faint connection.

He glanced out the window. The midday sun was radiant and bright, carrying the open, distinct atmosphere of the central continent with its four distinct seasons.

Sitting up on the bed, he looked down at the scenery below and said, “The Langdawo Plain… the Tidis family’s territory is here.”

His thoughts drifted, not only to his own family but also to the war from his past life—the Langdawo Plain had been one of the main battlefields and the site of the final battle.

Seeing his distant expression, Duan Yu asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Just thinking about some things,” Lin Wei replied, pulling his gaze back and retreating into the covers, his eyes lingering on Duan Yu’s face.

He felt that faint, almost imperceptible connection and found it intriguing. “Should we try it again? My spirit has recovered a bit.”

Duan Yu gave him a cool, indifferent look.

Lin Wei knew the suggestion had been rejected.

He changed the subject, asking, “Can you feel the contract?”

Duan Yu met his gaze and replied, “A little.”

Lin Wei’s smile returned, and he whispered in the mage’s ear, “Hypothetically, just hypothetically—if it weren’t for Adrishig’s request, would you be willing to form a life contract with me?”

His tone was casual yet solemn, as if he were simply asking, “What do you want to eat today?” But the unease hidden in his eyes betrayed the importance of the question—it was a thread pulling at his nerves, an inexplicable fear of a possible outcome.

“Don’t tell me yet,” he said, leaning in closer. His soft lips brushed the corner of Duan Yu’s mouth before pulling away. He looked up—from his position, he was looking down, but his expression seemed as though he were looking up. “Like this… is it okay?”

They were so close that their breaths mingled, and with the lingering warmth of the contract, it felt as if they were inseparable.

Before Duan Yu could respond, Lin Wei leaned in again, kissing him lightly.

“Sorry…” His voice was a soft, distant sigh. “I just want to be closer to you. I can’t help it.”

Duan Yu didn’t say anything, allowing the action and even taking the lead.

The kitten wandered over, tilting its head as it observed the two. It watched as Lin Wei, who had been on top, was now pressed down, his black hair disheveled against the white pillow.

With its walnut-sized brain, the kitten recalled how it often poked Lin Wei with its paw or played with his hair—only to be scooped up and cuddled each time.

Satisfied with its understanding of the world, the kitten turned away and returned to its battle with the pile of crystals on the table.

Lin Wei felt weak all over, as if the fates of his two lives had merged. He was like a soldier retreating on the battlefield, with no way out and his life hanging by a thread. Only a brilliant yet devastating forbidden spell could end it all.

When Duan Yu released him, Lin Wei met the mage’s beautiful eyes, feeling utterly humble.

“I’ve already said it,” Duan Yu’s voice was calm as ever. “I’m looking forward to it.”

His words fell softly, but they ignited a forbidden spell, sending ripples that destroyed all confusion and reason, leaving Lin Wei feeling as though his soul had been set ablaze.

He tightened his arms around Duan Yu’s shoulders, his heart pounding and his breath slightly quickened.

Still somewhat in disbelief, he asked, “Why?”

“I’m the same as you,” Duan Yu replied. “I also want to be closer to you.”

Lin Wei looked at him, his lashes trembling like a child overwhelmed by an unexpected gift.

But Duan Yu felt something unresolved in his heart. After a moment of silence, he finally asked, “What are you afraid of?”

Lin Wei lowered his head and didn’t answer.

“You wouldn’t want to know,” he thought. “You’re something I stole.”

He was a thief cloaked in black, swimming against the currents of time, stealing something that wasn’t his from the hands of fate.

At first, he thought it was a novel but insignificant trinket, so he held it close, unwrapping it layer by layer. The more he uncovered, the more beautiful and intricate it became, and the more he grew to love it. When he finally saw its full form—exceeding all his expectations—it captivated his very soul, and he wanted to greedily hold onto it, never letting go.

He felt deeply guilty.

Lin Wei pinched his left arm hard, snapping himself out of his thoughts. He gathered all these emotions and locked them away in a small black box in his heart, sealing it tight.

He looked up, gently tracing Duan Yu’s handsome features, his tone affectionate and playful, as if he’d learned it from the kitten when it sought attention. “Of course, I’m afraid you’ll run away.”

He deftly changed the subject. “Think about it—you’re so handsome, so powerful. So many girls at the academy secretly admire you—and those guys who keep challenging you to duels! Meanwhile, I’m nothing special. I can’t compare to you in any way, and my mind doesn’t always work right… Sure, I have some money, but you mages don’t care about that.”

“Why think like that?” Duan Yu soothed, kissing his temple. “You’re good.”

The mage fell silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts, before earnestly promising Lin Wei, “I won’t run.”

Lin Wei turned away, separating from Duan Yu. He felt his eyes grow hot, afraid that if he looked at him any longer, he might cry.

“You promised, and you can’t take it back,” he said to Duan Yu, staring at the ceiling of the cabin. “Anyway, I won’t be bothering you for long—just a few decades. I won’t tie you down. Once I’m gone, you can go find a girl you like.”

“There’s no girl I like,” Duan Yu replied.

“That won’t do. You have to find one,” Lin Wei tried to keep his tone light. “By then, you’ll still have at least a hundred years of life left… From what Adrishig said, the Valley of Elements won’t last forever, so you won’t need to stay there either. Being alone isn’t any fun.”

“I don’t know what I’d do,” the mage said softly. “When you’re here, I’ll stay with you. If the Valley of Metal is still here, I’ll stay there. If neither exists, I’ll have nowhere to go.”

Lin Wei turned to look at Duan Yu, a long silence stretching between them. Finally, through the calm, icy depths of those dark golden eyes, he saw an endless expanse of desolation.

“So a life contract would be fine. If you go, take me with you,” Duan Yu said.

A life contract bound their lives together.

Lin Wei shook his head. “But I can’t… I can’t kill you like that.”

A fleeting smile crossed Duan Yu’s eyes as he ruffled Lin Wei’s hair. “Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Lin Wei hummed in agreement, pushing aside thoughts of the distant future, and closed his eyes to kiss him again.

The response was gentle and tender, pulling him deeper into a comforting embrace.

His thoughts drifted outside the window, recalling another conversation he’d had with Adrishig on the deck.

It was after Adrishig had finished explaining his request—

“They already live so long—why do they still want immortality?” Lin Wei had asked.

“First, they haven’t lived that long. Second, the realm they seek is still far out of reach. They haven’t seen enough of what they already have and can’t bear to die,” Adrishig had chuckled. “Stubborn geniuses—they still refuse to believe that immortality is unattainable.”

“But you,” Lin Wei had hesitated, looking at him. “Aren’t you immortal?”

Adrishig had laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke, leaning on the ship’s railing until he could barely stand. After a while, he’d calmed down and said mysteriously, “Well, the gods did consider plucking out my eyes, but fortunately, I had Katanaphia’s protection—though it’s not immortality, just a way to prolong my life… Okay, a very long time, but it’s not endless.”

Lin Wei had thought of the goddess’s cold, weary gaze in the Death Swamp’s temple. “Have you had enough of living?”

“I have, but I’m still not ready to die,” Adrishig had said lazily. “There are still things I need to do, like protecting you little ones.”

Lin Wei had looked him up and down, unconvinced that the man had such noble intentions.

“Some crave immortality, while others wish for death,” Adrishig had told him. “After living so long, I can finally understand these gods who are so desperate… Their extraordinary talents and good fortune didn’t bring them happiness but instead caused them pain. Take me, for example—living for over a thousand years is something to be proud of, but you can’t imagine the price I’ve paid.”

“Every gift from fate comes with a hidden price tag,” Adrishig had winked. “I’m telling you this as an elder.”

Lin Wei closed his eyes, deepening the kiss, feeling as though he was immersed in a gentle ocean.

He had received a gift too precious, hoping that fate wouldn’t demand an exorbitant price in return.