Chapter 474: The Oath

The day after Wei Yuan and the others left Wenxian City.

Wang Jianqiang's residence.

Wang Jianqiang walked out of his room.

Xiao Ke Ke followed closely behind.

She was holding her Sound Transmission Talisman in her hand, her expression somewhat anxious.

She hadn't even noticed the activity of the Sound Transmission Talisman.

Over these past few days, Brother Wei Yuan had sent her dozens of messages, his tone filled with anxiety; he must be worried sick.

She had to hurry back for a visit.

However, before going back...

She looked at Wang Jianqiang, who had already sat down in a chair, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Master, you said you would refine Pills for me and Brother Wei Yuan and the others; can you refine them for us now?"

Hearing how Xiao Ke Ke addressed him, Wang Jianqiang felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart.

It seemed the training over these past five days had been effective.

At the very least, the form of address had changed.

It was just that some still hadn't recognized reality.

After hearing her words, Wang Jianqiang curled his lip, "Wang did promise you that as long as you agreed to be a slave for a hundred years, I would refine Pills for you, but it seems I never said I would refine them immediately after you became a slave, did I?"

"Wang Jianqiang, what do you mean? Are you trying to go back on your word?" Xiao Ke Ke's expression shifted.

"Wang has always valued reputation above all else; how could I go back on my word?" Wang Jianqiang shook his head.

"Since you aren't going back on your word, and I have already let you plant the Soul Seal, why are you still stalling?" Xiao Ke Ke's expression softened slightly, but she remained somewhat indignant.

Wang Jianqiang smiled, "Wang cares very much about the loyalty of my subordinates. Although you agreed to be a slave for a hundred years and have been planted with a Slave Seal by Wang, I still cannot confirm whether you will follow my orders one hundred percent."

"If Wang refines the pills for you now, and once you achieve your goal, you would rather die than follow Wang's orders, wouldn't Wang be at a huge loss?"

So that was it!

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, Xiao Ke Ke's expression completely softened.

"Don't worry, I, Xiao Ke Ke, will never go back on what I have promised."

"That won't do." Wang Jianqiang shook his head, "It's just empty talk; Wang cannot trust you."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, Xiao Ke Ke's pretty face flushed red with anger, "Wang Jianqiang, before, you also gave me your empty promise to return my freedom in a hundred years, and I already believed you, yet you don't believe me!"

Wang Jianqiang curled his lip, "Wang is different from you. Wang is an Alchemy Master of a generation, and my reputation is well-known throughout this Wenxian City. As for you, you are just an ordinary member of this Wenxian City; why should Wang believe you?"

Xiao Ke Ke took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart, "Then what do you want?"

"Take a Heart Demon Oath."

"Say that from now on, you will unconditionally obey all of Wang's orders, and if there is the slightest defiance, let the Soul Seal I left in your Soul completely control your consciousness."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, Xiao Ke Ke's expression changed drastically.

Having one's consciousness controlled is completely different from simply having a Soul Seal planted.

Being planted with a Soul Seal only means one's life and death are controlled by the other party; one's own thoughts and actions are not affected in the slightest, and one remains oneself.

But if one's consciousness is controlled.

Her subconscious would change; she would feel an inexplicable closeness to the controller and subconsciously obey any of their orders.

It would appear as if she were still living with her own consciousness, but in reality, she would have become a vassal to the other party.

Thinking of the implications, Xiao Ke Ke's expression couldn't help but turn cold, "Wang Jianqiang, so this was your plan all along!"

"Not so."

Facing Xiao Ke Ke's hostile tone, Wang Jianqiang only smiled faintly, "Wang's goal is merely to ensure that the Fairy fully fulfills the duties a maid should perform within these hundred years."

"If the Fairy never intended to act in bad faith, why fear taking a Heart Demon Oath?"

"Of course, Wang does not insist that the Fairy take this Heart Demon Oath."

"It's just that if the Fairy does not take the Heart Demon Oath, then just obediently follow Wang's arrangements."

Xiao Ke Ke's expression stirred, "Arrangements? How do you intend to arrange things?"

Wang Jianqiang smiled, "Logically speaking, since we have set a hundred-year agreement, for the sake of safety, it would naturally be most secure to refine the pills when the hundred-year term arrives."

As he spoke, seeing the anger on Xiao Ke Ke's face intensify.

Wang Jianqiang suddenly changed his tone, "Of course, Wang is not an unreasonable person."

"How about this, let us each take a step back."

"Wang guarantees with my character that once the fifty-year term arrives, I will definitely refine a Perfect Pill for the Fairy to treat your foundation."

Fifty years!

For a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage, this duration is not long.

But for a genius like Brother Wei Yuan.

To be stuck at the edge of a breakthrough for fifty years without the slightest progress—he would probably go insane!

Thinking of this, she bit her lip hard.

After hesitating for a long while, she made a difficult decision.

"Fine, I can take the oath."

"But I want you to refine the Perfect Pill to restore my foundation for me immediately after I take the oath."

"Rest assured, Wang still has that much credibility." Wang Jianqiang nodded with a smile.

Xiao Ke Ke took a deep breath and said slowly, "I, Xiao Ke Ke, swear by my Heart Demon that for the next hundred years, I will completely obey all of Wang Jianqiang's orders; if I violate this, let his Soul Seal completely invade my consciousness."

After taking the oath, she looked at Wang Jianqiang expressionlessly, "Now, can you refine the Perfect Pill?"

"Of course I can."

Wang Jianqiang nodded with a smile, "But before that, Wang must set some rules for you."

"As the saying goes, without rules, nothing can be accomplished."

"First is the matter of address; I have already been correcting you for several days, yet you just called me by my name again."

"Of course, since you have just started this position and I am not a harsh person, I will not pursue it this time, but if you offend again in the future, you will be severely punished without leniency."

Xiao Ke Ke's expression froze, and she remained silent.

"Furthermore..."

"Based on verification over the past few days, although I know you are a person who keeps yourself chaste, as my maid, your reputation must still be maintained; after all, I am a person of status and standing in this Wenxian City, am I not?"

"As for men of dubious character like Wei Yuan, do not associate with them casually; in the future, if you meet again, just pretend you do not know him."

Hearing this, Xiao Ke Ke's expression changed.

Immediately after, she fell silent again.

She slowly closed her eyes.

It is only one hundred years.

After one hundred years, she will be able to break free from the shackles of Wang Jianqiang and regain her freedom.

By then.

She will be able to return to the side of Brother Wei Yuan.

Brother Wei Yuan...

Wait for me.