Chapter 419: Madness
Chapter 419: Chapter 419: Madness
The Contract ceremony between Ning Xuan and Yu Mingche was complete. Yu Mingche became Ning Xuan’s main husband—that is, the primary husband. Even if Ning Xuan were to advance to an SSS-level Spirit Controller in the future and could have another husband, it would not be able to shake Yu Mingche’s position.
After the Contract ceremony was finished, the entire event was not yet over. Before holding the ceremony, Ning Xuan had asked for Lin Mo’s and Chen Nan’s opinions, asking if they wanted to hold their own Contract ceremonies one by one a year later, or complete them all together during this one.
Lin Mo and Chen Nan both expressed their willingness to do it all at once.
As for Di Youlin, Lan Xin, and Yun Han, as well as Nine-tailed, with whom Ning Xuan had not yet consummated the relationship, it was impossible for a special Contract ceremony to be held for them as they were Contracted Slaves.
Lin Mo and Chen Nan were only ordinary Contractors, so the procedure for their Contract ceremony was much simpler. Most of it consisted of admonishments directed at the Contractors. Ning Xuan, as the Contractor, only needed to sit in the seat of honor and watch as the officiant directed them to complete each step.
The officiant held an Engraved Ruler, his voice solemn and deep. "Contractors, step forward and kowtow to your Contractor. Swear an oath that from this day forward, you will abide by your duties, be respectful and obedient. The Contractor’s command is valued above life and death; the Contractor’s interests weigh more than your own; the Contractor’s orders shall never be defied."
Lin Mo and Chen Nan knelt on one knee before Ning Xuan’s seat, heads bowed. They prostrated themselves and kowtowed, swearing an oath to their Contractor as instructed by the officiant.
After the two finished their oaths, Ning Xuan sat upright in her seat of honor, her expression calm. She leaned forward and lightly tapped the space between each of their eyebrows with her fingertip. Two drops of essence blood transformed into a red glow and sank into their foreheads.
At this point, the Contract ceremony was considered complete. However, since Yu Mingche had just become the main husband, the two men then went to pay their respects to him, affirming his position as the primary husband. Afterward, the Contracted Slaves—Lan Xin, Yun Han, Di Youlin, and Nine-tailed—also paid their respects to Yu Mingche. This not only showed their acknowledgment of Yu Mingche’s status but also served to clarify their own positions during the ceremony.
Most of the guests were unaware of Di Youlin’s identity, and Nine-tailed had no particular status of his own. Although Lan Xin was widely known for being portrayed as a hero recently, everyone also knew about his Half-beastman heritage. Therefore, while they were surprised that Lan Xin had become Ning Xuan’s contracted slave, they could still accept it.
However, most of the guests were shocked that Yun Han, a dazzling young master from a prominent family, had become Ning Xuan’s contracted slave. After all, even Chen Nan, a young master from a minor clan like the Chen Family, had managed to become one of Ning Xuan’s Contractors. How could Yun Han have fallen to such an embarrassing position?
Everyone felt it was a great pity, and the looks they gave Yun Han were a mixture of complexity and sympathy. Yun Han had just returned yesterday. After consecutive days of fighting in the army, he hadn’t had a proper rest, and his face was quite haggard. Surrounded by so many strange gazes, his complexion grew even worse.
Ning Xuan didn’t pay much attention to the change in his mood, but Yu Mingche, who had been watching, naturally sensed it. Fearing more trouble, he quickly had Yun Han, Lan Xin, and the others withdraw as soon as the ceremony concluded.
However, just as Yu Mingche told Yun Han and the others to withdraw, a woman who looked to be in her thirties or forties jumped out. "Miss Ning, I am Bai Yushan, Chairman of the Yulan Chamber of Commerce, and also your cousin! I greatly admire Young Master Yun’s talents. I originally thought Young Master Yun was far beyond my reach, but I never expected him to be your Contracted Slave! Miss Ning, I’m willing to..."
Bai Yushan’s face was flushed, and she reeked of alcohol; she had clearly had too much to drink. However, from the moment she started speaking, everyone knew what she was about to say. Seeing the expressions on the faces of those around them, Ning Xuan’s own face darkened. Before Bai Yushan could finish, at a signal from Ning Xuan, Yan Fuzhen clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her out.
"Mr. Chen," Ning Xuan said, her face filled with anger, "I said that for my Contract ceremony, I was only inviting relatives and friends. How did so many random people get in here? How are you handling the screening?"
Ning Xuan had already been furious ever since the people from the Yu Family barged in earlier.
At the same time, Ning Xuan shot a dissatisfied glance at Yu Mingche. After all, Mr. Chen was a staff member from the Bonding Relationship Management Center; the guest list he drafted was only a preliminary one. The final list would have been handed to Yu Mingche for confirmation. Apparently, Yu Mingche hadn’t seen anything wrong with so many people attending today.
"Miss Ning, please calm your anger," Mr. Chen said, wiping away a cold sweat as he explained cautiously. "According to your status, representatives from all major sectors are required to attend your Contract ceremony. Chairman Bai must have just had too much to drink; she’s not usually like this."
"Hmph. Honored guests, I welcome your presence at my Contract ceremony," Ning Xuan said, her cold gaze sweeping across the crowd in a blunt warning. "However, if anyone else harbors the same thoughts as Miss Bai, I suggest you don’t reveal them. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless."
Many people had come today, but she truly knew only a few of them. Thus, she wasn’t afraid of offending them by speaking this way.
Among the guests was Lin Mo’s father, Yun Tianming. He had been furious about the strange looks Yun Han was receiving, but now, seeing Ning Xuan so fiercely protective of Yun Han, his expression gradually softened.
The only ones who could be considered guests of honor today were the heads of major official departments and Yu Mingche’s relatives. Lin Mo’s father only occupied a seat among the other important guests.
After Ning Xuan’s warning, the crowd of guests with their complex connections fell silent. Although they felt it was a waste for Yun Han to have fallen to such a position, they wouldn’t be as reckless as that woman, Bai Yushan. They wouldn’t dare look down on Yun Han just because his status under Ning Xuan was low. No matter how far he had fallen, the Yun Family was not someone they could afford to provoke.
As the Contract ceremony basically concluded, Nine-tailed directed the kitchen to begin serving the banquet. He had been busy for many days preparing for these tables. The moment the feast was brought out, the uniquely styled plating, the dishes perfect in color, aroma, and taste, and the fine wine with its overflowing fragrance—just the sight and smell of it all was enough to make one feel hungry.
Therefore, after Bai Yushan was dragged out, no one discussed the matter any further. All attention shifted to the unique feast before them.
Ying Yaoshi was watching the scene unfold where Ning Xuan was. His eyes were fixed on her. Seeing Ning Xuan and Yu Mingche complete the ceremony left him with a hollow feeling inside.
Ying Yaoshi didn’t know what was wrong with him. When he first heard that Ning Xuan was going to give Yu Mingche the title of husband, he had wanted nothing more than to find Yu Mingche and stab him to death. But Ying Yaoshi knew he couldn’t do that. Leaving aside the fact that Yu Mingche was no ordinary person, even if he were, the root of the issue was Ning Xuan. Even if he killed Yu Mingche, what good would it do?
’Could he bring himself to kill Ning Xuan?’
Ying Yaoshi had also considered it. ’Should I break the contract with Ning Xuan? And from then on, have nothing more to do with her affairs?’