Book of Covenant

 A piercing scream, like the howl of a wounded beast, sent shivers down everyone's spines, raising goosebumps on their arms.

Gongshu Chou, now a picture of utter disarray, resembled a cat whose tail had been viciously stepped on. He sprang from his chair, his body convulsing uncontrollably, before collapsing onto the cold stone floor with a dull thud, like a sack of wet clay.His deeply wrinkled face was contorted in agony, his features squeezed together like a crumpled piece of paper. Beads of sweat, as large as pearls, streamed down his forehead, quickly soaking his chest and leaving dark, damp patches on the floor beneath him.

His mouth gaped open, and unintelligible moans escaped his throat. He was clearly enduring excruciating pain, as if countless ants were gnawing at his flesh and bones.

Seeing this, a barely perceptible, icy curve touched the corners of Qin Yi's lips. His eyes held no trace of sympathy, only an all-encompassing, chilling indifference. He slowly approached Gongshu Chou, pausing briefly before speaking with a hint of amusement, "The more you resist, the more violently it rages within you, like a bloodthirsty viper rampaging through your body, devouring your flesh. You must be experiencing the full extent of its delightful touch now, wouldn't you say?""You… you despicable, shameless villain! May you rot in hell!" Gongshu Chou spat through clenched teeth, each word forced out as if from a tightly sealed crack. His voice was hoarse and trembling, and his once-cloudy eyes were now bloodshot, fixed on Qin Yi with a look of pure hatred, as if he wanted to tear him apart.Qin Yi watched the spectacle calmly, shaking his head with a sigh. "Gongshu Lao-xiansheng," he said, "I warned you long ago that even the slightest disrespect towards me, even a fleeting thought of disloyalty in your heart, would bring you unbearable suffering. This is both a warning and the price you must pay. You chose to ignore my advice and test your fate. Now, you've finally tasted the bitter fruit of your defiance, haven't you?"Nearby, Xuan Jian observed everything, a silent witness to this cruel torment. His inner world, however, was in turmoil, his mind reeling.He couldn't imagine what a horrifying fate would have befallen him had Qin Yi used such sinister and ruthless methods on him. He had a vague feeling that the reason Qin Yi hadn't used this so-called "Book of Covenant" on him was because he held a certain level of trust in him, or perhaps, respect for his strength.But what Xuan Jian didn't know was that Qin Yi hadn't even acquired the mystical "Book of Covenant" at that time. This treasure was a reward from the system after Qin Yi completed an extremely difficult task."Book of Covenant: Whoever signs their name in this book will have their soul bound to the covenant, swearing eternal loyalty to the host. Any hint of betrayal will result in the excruciating pain of a thousand ants gnawing at their heart, ultimately leading to internal energy disruption, exploding from within, and eternal damnation." The system's cold, mechanical voice echoed in Qin Yi's mind.On the day he obtained the item, Qin Yi hadn't had time to carefully examine its details. He only sensed that this item was extraordinary, like discovering a rare treasure. It was to be used only in crucial moments, never carelessly.Now, with war looming, Qin Yi knew that Fancheng's current forces were insufficient to withstand the Hun army. While his martial prowess was enough to intimidate the Huns, if the enemy attacked with forces dozens of times larger than Fancheng's, using relentless attrition tactics, even his strength would eventually fail.He felt unprecedented pressure, not for his own safety, but for the lives of all the city's inhabitants. In this battle, he was placing his greatest hope on the Gongshu clan. Therefore, Qin Yi didn't hesitate to use the mystical treasure on Gongshu Chou, forcing him to sign the cursed Book of Covenant.He didn't believe Gongshu Chou would genuinely submit to him or willingly serve him. This Book of Covenant became his key leverage to control Gongshu Chou.Time ticked by, and Gongshu Chou's screams gradually weakened. Finally, he collapsed onto the cold floor like a limp rag, his breath shallow and ragged, as if he were on the verge of death.

Qin Yi knew the time was right. It was time to offer him a reward after the punishment.He slowly rose to his feet, looking down at the collapsed Gongshu Chou with a majestic and solemn voice, as if a deity had descended to pronounce judgment on a mortal's fate. "Gongshu Chou," he began, "though I, Qin Yi, have used some… unorthodox methods today, it was ultimately for your own good, and for the sake of our future cooperation. You must understand my good intentions. Believe me, as long as you sincerely follow me and faithfully serve me, I guarantee your Gongshu clan will rise to prominence, riches and honor beyond measure will be yours."Gongshu Chou was now extremely weak, unable even to lift his head. He could only slightly tilt his head, looking at Qin Yi with a complex gaze of fear, helplessness, resentment, and a glimmer of hope. He neither confirmed nor denied anything, remaining silent.

Seeing this, Qin Yi gave a faint smile and took out another carefully rolled scroll from his robe, handing it to Xuan Jian beside him.

Xuan Jian understood the unspoken command and immediately took the scroll, walking with steady steps towards the collapsed Gongshu Chou.The moment Gongshu Chou saw the familiar scroll in Xuan Jian's hand, he was terrified. He repeatedly kowtowed, his forehead hitting the cold floor with dull thuds, as if trying to draw blood as a testament to his sincerity."General! No, Lord! This old one was wrong! I truly was wrong! I beg you, spare this old life of mine! I swear I will serve you with unwavering loyalty, I will go through fire and water for you! Just spare me, and don't torment me any further!" His voice was hoarse and desperate, filled with deep fear and pleading."Hahahaha…"Hearing this, Qin Yi threw back his head and let out a hearty laugh, his voice echoing through the chamber. He then spoke clearly, "Gongshu Chou, please, rise. The floor is cold; you might catch a chill. As for your words… take the scroll from Xuan Jian and read it carefully. After you've finished, then we can discuss this further.""This…"Gongshu Chou took a deep breath, closed his eyes as if making a crucial decision, and then with trembling hands, slowly took the scroll. He carefully unfurled it and began to read, word by word.As he read further, the despairing look on Gongshu Chou's face gradually vanished, replaced by an uncontrollable excitement and elation. His body began to tremble slightly, and his breathing quickened, as if he had discovered an incredible treasure.Gongshu Chou clutched the scroll, ecstatic and almost incoherent, muttering to himself, "This… this… this is… a masterpiece! A work of genius! Top-tier mechanist techniques! This is definitely a lost art! Heavens! I am fortunate enough to witness such exquisite designs!