"Are you going to sign a contract with me?" Little Blue Silver Grass swayed its leaves, gazing at Xu Bai with delight.
"That's right." Xu Bai nodded. "So, are you ready?"
"I've been getting ready every day." Little Blue Silver Grass spoke, then paused before asking, "Is there anything I need to do when we sign the contract?"
"I'll place a mark in your Sea of Divine Consciousness in a moment. Just don't resist when I do."
"It's that simple?" Little Blue Silver Grass exclaimed in surprise. Then, as if suddenly thinking of something, its leaves quivered, and it asked nervously, "You're placing a mark in my Sea of Divine Consciousness... Are you trying to enslave me?"
Looking at the Blue Silver Grass trembling slightly before him, Xu Bai suddenly felt like teasing it. He wore a mischievous grin. "If I told you that you'd guessed right, would you still agree to sign a contract with me?"
"I would!" Little Blue Silver Grass answered firmly, without the slightest hesitation. Its leaves stood straight as a board, just like a hero calmly marching to their death.
But it couldn't maintain that air for long. All its leaves drooped, and it pleaded softly, "When we sign the contract, if I don't resist, could you please not erase my intelligence? And then, every day, give me two... one hour to bask in the sun and moonlight..."
Xu Bai looked surprised. "If I'm going to enslave you, why wouldn't you resist?"
"I want to resist too, but I already agreed to be your Beast Tamer's beast. If I'd known you wanted to enslave me, I—I never would've agreed, no matter what!"
Little Blue Silver Grass sounded deeply aggrieved, its voice tinged with tears.
Xu Bai opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Just because it had promised, it wouldn't resist even if it was enslaved? Haji Grass, you...
Ahem. Back to the point.
Little Blue Silver Grass's behavior seemed a little foolish to Xu Bai, but that didn't stop him from feeling fond of it.
Honesty was always a big plus, no matter where you found it.
"Alright, alright, I was teasing you. A Beast Taming contract is an equal contract. There's no such thing as enslavement."
"And I said 'if.' Do you understand what 'if' means?"
Seeing that Little Blue Silver Grass was about to cry, Xu Bai hurried to explain.
"Oh? Right." Little Blue Silver Grass froze, then brightened up again. "Then hurry up and sign the contract. I won't resist."
Xu Bai:?????
How did its mood change so fast? I was about to comfort it...
After grumbling inwardly, Xu Bai stirred his thoughts. A gentle white light suddenly shone from the Soul Mark on the back of his right hand.
"Wow, the white light on your hand feels so nice. Even nicer than basking in the sun."
Little Blue Silver Grass exclaimed in delight. A vine slowly extended and carefully curled around one of Xu Bai's fingers.
It felt just like a cat or dog asking to cuddle.
"Here we go." Xu Bai smiled knowingly. The Contract Mark gathered in his palm, then traveled along the vine wrapped around his finger and entered Little Blue Silver Grass's Sea of Consciousness.
Little Blue Silver Grass didn't respond. Its entire being was immersed in the white light shining from Xu Bai's hand, so naturally, it paid no attention to the Contract Mark entering its mind.
The next moment, the Contract Mark was branded.
The contract was established. Those who broke their word would suffer the penalty for breaking their word!
Hum~
After that indistinct voice rang out, just as it had when the first contract was made, an intricate formation suddenly appeared. A flash of white light passed, and Little Blue Silver Grass turned into specks of starlight, disappearing into the Soul Mark on the back of Xu Bai's hand and entering the Beast Taming Space.
Inside the Beast Taming Space, First had been sprawled out, fast asleep. Its ears twitched as if sensing something, and its tiger eyes flew open. It shifted from lying on its back to crouching, taking on a touch of solemnity.
Then, before its eyes, a Blue Silver Grass slowly appeared.
So this one had finally become the Beast Tamer's beast...
First swept its tail, got up, and walked slowly over to Little Blue Silver Grass, its expression grave.
Though the Beast Tamer had said not to bully their companions, still...
As the Beast Tamer's first beast, it wouldn't be too much to lay down a few rules for the newcomer, right?
"Little one, are you the Beast Tamer's second beast?" First took the initiative, putting itself in control of the conversation.
"Oh, Little White Tiger, you're here too." Little Blue Silver Grass had been confused about why it had ended up in this place, but when it saw a familiar creature, its whole being grew cheerful again.
At that, First frowned slightly and put on a stern expression. "What do you mean, 'Little White Tiger'? My name is First. From now on, you have to call me Boss and listen to me!"
"Huh? Why?" Little Blue Silver Grass asked in confusion, thinking to itself that its new companion seemed a little too domineering.
"Because I'm the Beast Tamer's first beast. First come, first served. Get it?"
"Is that how it works?" Little Blue Silver Grass suddenly understood, its mood brightening. "In that case, kind person—uh, Beast Tamer—if he gets more beasts, they'll have to listen to me too, right?"
"You could say that." First nodded, then added, "But they have to listen to me first, and then you."
"Okay, Boss!" Little Blue Silver Grass's leaves swayed slightly.
Seeing that the newcomer knew how to play along, First was quite pleased. Then it immediately revealed its real aim. "Since you've agreed to be my underling, shouldn't you show your Boss a little appreciation?"
"Show appreciation..." Little Blue Silver Grass paused, then ventured, "How about I keep you company and chat whenever you're bored?"
First:?????
"No need for that. Just remember to share some of your good food with me. In return, I'll protect you and make sure no one bullies you."
After a pause, First added, "Assuming I can beat them."
Protect me from getting bullied...
Little Blue Silver Grass instantly perked up and hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Boss. Whenever I have food, I'll be sure to think of you. You can eat first, and I'll eat afterward."
"Not bad." First was even more pleased with its newly recruited underling, and secretly delighted.
The Beast Tamer had said that beasts had to help one another. Protecting its underling was only right.
It could gain first dibs on the underling's food by doing something it ought to do anyway. It really was a genius.
Meanwhile, Little Blue Silver Grass was secretly delighted too.
As a Blue Silver Grass that loved life, the thing it feared most was danger.
Now it only had to give up a little food, if it ever got any, in exchange for its Boss's protection. What a bargain!
At that moment, both beasts thought they'd made a killing.
"By the way, did the Beast Tamer give you a name?" First suddenly thought of something and asked.
"No. Why, Boss?" Little Blue Silver Grass replied cheerfully.
First rolled its eyes. "How about I give you one?"
"Sure, sure!" Little Blue Silver Grass agreed without a second thought.
First nodded. Looking over Little Blue Silver Grass, it thought for a moment, then said, "Your species is Blue Silver Grass, so we should name you after your species. How about A... No, let's call you Little Blue."
Little Blue:??????