The Royal Contract - Chapter 85 - Explored The Land

After being torn from the only life she knew, 16-year-old Margo is forced into a new home with strangers who call themselves her parents. Haunted by memories of her past and consumed by feelings of isolation, she struggles to adapt to her unfamiliar surroundings. School offers little relief—until she meets Lucien, a mysterious boy who appears just when she needs a friend the most.Gabriel is everything Margo needs: kind, attentive, and always ready to whisk her away from her troubles. Each night, he invites her to secret places—an abandoned playground, a fog-choked garden, a crumbling train station at the edge of town—each more unsettling than the last. Yet with every chilling rendezvous, Margo feels more alive... more seen.But something isn’t right. Gabriel never comes to school during the day. Her adoptive parents never see him. And when they catch her talking to thin air, their concern deepens into fear. They say Gabriel isn't real—that he’s a figment of her imagination. Margo wants to believe them, but Gabriel feels real. More real than anything else in her life.As the nights grow colder and more twisted, Gabriel’s true nature begins to surface. Shadows move where they shouldn’t. Time warps in his presence. And the places they visit seem to echo with whispers from another world. Margo is forced to ask herself: Who—or what—is Gabriel? Why does he only want her? And what will happen on the final night he asks her to come with him?As the line between reality and delusion begins to crumble, Margo must make an impossible choice: stay in a world where she feels loved, or return to one that barely feels real.But one thing is certain—some friendships never let go.

In Xu Yun Yao’s previous life, she overcame all obstacles barring her way just to become a queen. However, under the suppression of several ministers headed by Tang Song Nian she failed in the end. Just out of reach with bitter hatred in her heart, only to wake up and find herself reborn as the daughter of Tang Song Nian, as she died early.

Xu Yun Yao: I will trample you! You old fart! You dare to oppose this palace!

Tang Song Nian (laughing with joy): Aiya, our daughter’s boldness is truly too powerful.

Xu Yun Yao: I will kick you! I will bite you! You dare lead those ministers to slander this palace!

Tang Song Nian (gratified smile): I knew little treasure loves father best.

Xu Yun Yao: …….

- Description from Novelupdates

At five years old, the child from the metaphysical family is about to leave the mountain, and the bigwigs of the capital city have come out to see him off.What's so great about a little dumpling?Yun Xiaoqi innocently spreads his hands, claiming he never intended to show off his powers; his simple wish is to be a good child while subtly dominating all sorts of spirits.Many oppose him during this time, and the “Little Celestial Maiden” Yun Ying teams up with various metaphysical leaders to continuously challenge him, only to be soundly beaten, losing face.Finally, the bigwigs bow down in reverence: it’s we mortals who were blind and offended the little ancestor!***The news of the little dumpling ruling over the metaphysical world reaches the Nether Realm.The Lord of the Nether Realm frowns: this milky little master must be the youngest and most temperamental special envoy from the Nether Realm.The little dumpling, carrying a lantern, walks among the mountains and rivers of the earth, guiding the souls with a proud stomp, declaring: Lord of the Netherworld is not much older than me, who are you calling childish!The noble and refined Lord of the Nether Realm lands and transforms into a twelve-year-old boy, gentle as jade: whatever the little envoy says is right.Yun Xiaoqi keeps waving his hands: nope, I'm just working here.

Over a million years ago, the first human contracted with the first Spirit. Ever since then, Spirit use has become commonplace. Humans used Spirits to carry items and start fires. Eventually, even start wars. Thousands upon thousands of years past and one day, one human did the impossible. He transcended his mortality and ascended to the realm above.