I Contracted Myself

The power of language is undeniable.

Especially language infused with thought, which often has the greatest power to captivate and influence.

Initially, Zhao Yanhu and Zhao Yanlong saw Zhang Ping as just an oddball, a do-gooder, a Holy Mother. But now, they 'understand' Zhang Ping.

With great power comes great responsibility.

Zhang Ping saved them not because he was out of his mind, but because he saw them as people, as compatriots, as equals.

In Zhang Ping's eyes, they were not dispensable tools; their lives were as important as everyone else's.

When a person does something strange, it might be because they're not thinking straight.

But when someone persists for a belief, they become a person of conviction.

If that belief is recognized by countless others, then that person becomes great.

At this moment, Zhao Yanlong and Zhao Yanhu both acknowledged Zhang Ping's belief. In their eyes, Zhang Ping was someone trustworthy, admirable, and worth following.

Compared to returning to the Sanctuary as tools, living a muddled life.

They would rather follow Zhang Ping, putting his belief into practice, even if it meant death.

"Uh, this..."

Zhang Ping looked at the two brothers kneeling before him, unsure of what to say.

He knew why Zhao Yanlong and Zhao Yanhu were suddenly so moved to kneel before him. It was because he had inadvertently mentioned the phrase that had fooled Spider-Man his whole life: "With great power comes great responsibility."

The problem was, he didn't actually agree with that phrase; he had just said it offhandedly.

But could he explain that?

Zhang Ping glanced at Liu Sishan and the others, who were all greatly inspired by his words, making it hard for him to explain.

"Lord Zhang Ping, I'm willing to eat your gem to prove my sincerity!" Zhao Yanlong said earnestly, looking up at Zhang Ping when he didn't respond.

Zhao Yanhu didn't know what gem Zhao Yanlong was referring to, but he immediately said, "Lord Zhang Ping, I'm also willing to eat that gem!"

"First, answer me this: how many people have you killed in the past, and were any of them innocent?" Zhang Ping asked after thinking for a moment.

Zhao Yanlong was taken aback and replied, "Lord Zhang Ping, how do you define innocence?"

"......"

Zhang Ping found it difficult to determine who was innocent and who wasn't.

"Lord Zhang Ping, in the past, we only dealt with enemies from outside villages, mostly those who threatened the stability around Shengzu Village. They were from other villages. Do they count as innocent?" Zhao Yanhu asked.

Other villages?

That meant savages.

Although Liu Tiefeng had said that most savages weren't good people, that was Liu Tiefeng's judgment, not Zhang Ping's.

However, Zhang Ping wasn't truly a Holy Mother. The conflicts between Shengzu Village and other villages were not for him to meddle in.

He thought for a moment and then conjured two Contract Gems.

"You'd better think it through. The effect of the Contract Gem is very binding. Once you eat it, there's no turning back," he said to the two brothers, holding the Contract Gems.

The main reason was that they might soon have to confront the Investigation Team.

Zhao Yanlong and Zhao Yanhu needed to be dealt with before the battle, whether to release them or kill them.

"I've thought it through. This life was saved by Lord Zhang Ping, and I, Zhao Yanlong, am willing to go through fire and water for him!" Zhao Yanlong took a Contract Gem from Zhang Ping's hand and swallowed it whole.

His determination was so strong that it overcame his aversion to the Contract Gem.

As a result, he consumed the Contract Gem and directly absorbed it.

Then Zhao Yanhu also picked up a Contract Gem and swallowed it with a determined look.

The two brothers seemed to have some sort of telepathic connection, as their actions were almost identical. Zhao Yanhu also successfully absorbed the Contract Gem, becoming Zhang Ping's Summoned Beast.

Zhang Shouzhong was amazed, muttering to himself, "My God, someone actually ate that gem that looks like crap!"

He had seen Zhang Ping's Contract Gem and hadn't even wanted to touch it.

Liu Sishan was also surprised. She had initially suspected that the two brothers were acting, but when they actually swallowed the Contract Gems, she realized they genuinely wanted to follow Zhang Ping.

That thing was something normal people couldn't stomach.

Zhang Ping then proceeded to heal Zhao Yanlong and Zhao Yanhu. At Base 08, he had only stabilized their injuries but hadn't fully healed them.

Now that they could even swallow Contract Gems, he naturally trusted them.

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"Brother Zhang Ping, let me carry you," Zhao Yanhu said earnestly, squatting in front of Zhang Ping after his injuries were healed.

Zhao Yanlong immediately smacked Zhao Yanhu on the head and said, "Don't be silly. We can make a cart. You go attract a horse."

"Great idea!" Zhao Yanhu immediately agreed.

Zhang Ping said helplessly, "Wait, you don't need to do anything. I didn't say I wanted you as subordinates or Summoned Beasts. You can go wherever you want. If you truly want to follow, consider yourselves part of the team, and don't make a fuss."

Actually, the Contract Gems he gave to Zhao Yanlong and Zhao Yanhu didn't contain any Absolute Commands but rather some more specific commands, just to ensure they weren't enemies.

As for where they wanted to go, that was their freedom, and he couldn't care less.

Zhao Yanlong nodded and said, "I understand, Lord Zhang Ping. Please consider us part of the team and give us a chance to contribute."

"Yes, what my brother said is right," Zhao Yanhu agreed.

In short, Zhao Yanlong and Zhao Yanhu still wanted to make a cart for Zhang Ping.

"Wait, if you can, help me scout how many enemies are over there and how many Top-Level Awakeners there are. Remember to stay safe," Zhang Ping quickly stopped them and said.

Zhao Yanlong looked in the direction Zhang Ping pointed, acknowledged, and then pulled his brother along to gather information.

"Are they... really okay? They seem a bit like savages," Bai De commented as he watched the two brothers quickly disappear into the forest.

Feng Laixian agreed, "Some savages fanatically worship certain Mutated Beasts, and their demeanor is very similar to these two brothers. Could they be seeing Zhang Ping as a god?"

"But why would that be?" Cheng Xuejie asked incredulously.

Zhang Shouzhong speculated, "Zhang Ping, did you use some kind of mind control ability on them?"

"How could I? If I had mind control abilities, I'd choose Sister Sisi or Xuejie over two guys," Zhang Ping said with a wry smile.

Cheng Xuejie quickly hugged herself and exclaimed, "Zhang Ping, so you were eyeing me!"

"Don't say that. Even though Zhao Yanlong and Zhao Yanhu are guys, they're twins!" Zhang Shouzhong pondered.

Everyone immediately distanced themselves from Zhang Shouzhong, looking at him as if he were a pervert.

Realizing this, Zhang Shouzhong quickly defended himself, "Wait, I'm not... I didn't..."

Unfortunately, no one wanted to hear his explanation.

They all gathered together, looking up at the sky, seemingly trying to dissociate themselves from him.