If there’s no kiss, no matter how long you wait, it won’t regenerate.
And the healing effect of this Spiritual Spring Water is nothing short of a miracle.
With such powerful effects, paying a small price seems acceptable.
But... does it really have to be obtained through kissing?
Isn’t that just ridiculous!
A dignified transmigrator, having to rely on "mouth-to-mouth" to gather resources?
This system design is simply illogical!
But then she thought, if a kiss yields water, then what if...
She truly completes a life bond with some male, becoming a mate?
Would the space then trigger a hidden mechanism, upgrading directly by a level?
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
After all, this world emphasizes bloodline inheritance and soul bonds.
A genuine mutual affection could be the key to activating higher privileges.
So, she must act quickly.
She not only needs to break the Blood Covenants with those antagonists as soon as possible.
But also quickly find a male that she feels connected to and can trust to formally bond with.
Only then would the space have a chance to upgrade.
And once it successfully upgrades, she would truly have the foundation to stand firm in this beast world where the weak are prey to the strong.
But the biggest challenge right now is that the process of breaking the contract is extremely painful and time-consuming.
To break a soul contract, you need to bleed as a sacrifice for ten consecutive spells.
Each interval must be at least a day apart, during which the body becomes extremely weak.
Isaac Vaughn has currently completed four times.
At the current pace, it’s estimated it would take at least another three months to completely break free of the bonds.
And during these three months, she has to endure not only the physical torment but also the increasingly complex changes in attitude from those few antagonists.
In the past few days of interacting with them, she’s keenly sensed that the once deep-seated hatred seems to have faded a bit.
No matter the reason, she knows an opportunity is presenting itself.
Since they’ve already begun to relent, it’s time to seize the opportunity.
Once the contract is truly broken, she can then search for a suitable partner boldly and without concern.
Find a reliable, strong male who won’t try to control her, to bond for life.
That way, not only is the supply of Spiritual Spring Water guaranteed, but the journey to find her long-lost Ah-Father in the future will be much easier.
"Seraphina Caldwell."
Just as she was lost in thought, a low, husky voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
Turning around, she finds Gideon Larkin standing by her side without her knowing when he arrived.
In his hand, he holds a broad green leaf.
On its surface lies a piece of golden-brown roasted beast meat.
"What are you daydreaming about?"
His voice remains calm, but his gaze locks onto her.
"The meat is done."
She had been squatting there, leaning slightly forward, cradling her knees with her hands, the corners of her mouth curving into an unavoidable smile.
Watching her smile, a suppressed irritation rose from the depths of his heart.
Could it be... she’s thinking of Caspian Sterling again?
Their soul contract still isn’t broken.
Yet here she is, sitting here smiling like this.
Seraphina Caldwell didn’t even notice his emotions had quietly shifted.
She casually grabbed the piece of meat, her fingertips stained with a bit of grease, and without minding, took a bite.
The meat was freshly hunted mountain antelope, with crispy skin and tender inside, slightly crispy outside.
Once bitten, the juices flowed, the aroma overwhelming the senses.
While not as meticulous as Kaelan Hawthorne’s roasting,
the meat is genuinely fresh, possessing the particular wild taste of the mountains, chewy and increasingly flavorful the more you chew.
She swallowed the bite, still savoring it on her tongue.
"Quite good."
"Not quite up to Kaelan’s skills... his control over heat is steadier, and his seasoning more refined."
She paused, lowering her voice a bit.
"But, as long as you like it, that’s what matters."
Though he said so, when he glanced up, catching Seraphina Caldwell’s animated face eating away,
Her eyes curved, her lips slightly shiny with oil, piece after piece in her hand.
A softness inexplicably brushed his heart, as if tapped gently by something.
But this softness lasted only a moment before being replaced by a deeper unease.
Why is she so happy?
Is it because of this meat?
Or because... she thinks she’ll be rid of him completely tomorrow?
Unable to suppress it, Seraphina Caldwell laughed out loud, her voice crisp and light.
"You never mince words, always so straightforward."
She casually wiped the oil stars by her mouth, her sleeve brushing past her lip corner.
"They probably won’t reach the Leopard Clan’s territory tonight. The mountain path is too steep, dangerous at night, they’ll probably stop for the night halfway up."
She paused, looking up at him, a hint of laughter in her eyes.
"You’ve been hurrying along on this journey alone, must be tired. Your feet must be blistered, I noticed you walking with a bit of a limp."
"As a thank you, I’ll give you a drop of blood tomorrow morning."
She’d thought these words would reassure him.
After all, he’d often mentioned the breaking of contracts in the past.
He never said it outright, but she could hear his quiet sighs.
Many times she’d said, "I’ll break it when I get the chance."
But he always went silent, his gaze darkening.
This time, taking the initiative, she assumed he would be pleased, or at least relieved.
But Gideon Larkin’s face sank as soon as he heard it.
He said nothing, just looked down and bit into the roasted meat in his hand.
His teeth clenched, chewing more fiercely than usual.
Seraphina Caldwell felt a pang in her heart, causing her to falter slightly.
Something’s not right...
She clearly mentioned "a drop of blood tomorrow morning."
Why is he acting as if his tail was stepped on?
Gideon Larkin slowly stood up, his movements somewhat stiff.
He turned and walked to sit by the corner, facing away from the fire, his shadow stretching long and thin.
The piece of meat in his hand still sizzling with oil, with golden beads of oil sliding down the edges.
But he chewed it like dry straw, tasteless and dry.
Not a hint of flavor to it.
He knew why she spoke of "a drop of blood."
But he also knew, Kaelan Hawthorne once shared a secret with him.
Seraphina Caldwell would never easily break a contract.
When she spoke of breaking it, she was actually waiting.
Waiting for them to seek reconciliation, to lower their pride and plead.
Only then would she truly accept, allow the soul bond to reconnect.
But once she decided they "hurt enough," she’d turn cold.
Kaelan had said, "She’s not unloving, she’s just afraid of abandonment."
"So she makes you hurt first, hurt until you’re afraid to leave."
But... this act seems too authentic?
The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became.
Has she been planning to dump him all along?
If not for that rule, she might have been ready to let the blood flow tonight, right?
Seraphina Caldwell glanced at his solitary silhouette, her mind full of questions.
Countless thoughts swirling inside, but ultimately she said nothing.
She knew he had issues on his mind.
But if he didn’t voice them, she wouldn’t force him.
Some things can’t be pushed, nor rushed.
Both of them ate their meat in silence, the charcoal fire crackling softly.
Having finished eating, the bowls and plates were placed aside, food scraps uncleared.
The silence was like congealed grease, thick and coating the throat.
Seraphina Caldwell stared at Gideon Larkin’s absorbed silhouette as he cleaned up, his eyes cast down, his fingers mechanically wiping the grease from the rim of a pottery jar.
Finally, she couldn’t help but speak up, "Gideon, once the contract is truly broken, what’s your plan? Will you return to your original tribe?"
Gideon’s hand paused, irritation rising inside him.
Is she so eager to push him away?
Not willing to keep him for even a day longer?
Had she already mapped out his future, anxious that he would cling, becoming her burden?
In a swift motion, he turned, stirring a gust of wind, skewing the fire slightly sideways.
"No plans. No intentions."
Seraphina Caldwell didn’t catch the thorns in his words, thinking he truly had no plans, she laughed lightly.