Flames of Ambition

56: Contract with the Healers

Chapter 56: Contract with the Healers

After their meeting, Zexel registered herself under the Healer Category. Rumors began to circulate throughout the Academy following her exploits from the day before.

That morning, she went to their Learning Room. To her surprise, there were only nine students present—and it seemed they had been waiting for her to arrive.

She stepped inside and took the vacant seat in the second row next to the window. As soon as she sat down, a bubbly girl immediately approached her with a bright smile.

"Hi! I'm Shen Min Jing, an Intermediate Earthly Spiritualist. I'm so happy you chose the Healer Category!" she chirped excitedly.

Zexel smiled and gave her a polite nod.

"I'm Fan Lihua. High Venerable Spiritualist," she said in a calm tone.

Shen Min Jing beamed, and from that moment on, she eagerly continued the conversation. Zexel didn’t mind—it was an excellent way to gather more information about the Academy’s internal system.

“Next, next month, we’ll have the annual tournament against the other categories,” Shen Min Jing said nervously. “Ugh, I’m already getting scared again. It’s always the worst time of year for us Healers. We’re not offensive types, but we’re still required to participate. How unfair is that?”

“Healers can be offensive too, if they want to be,” Zexel said with a smile.

She didn’t know why, but recently she had begun reverting to the persona she had once used when she was just Zexel—not Dark Blood. Back then, she had been approachable, warm, and calm. Perhaps this was her defense mechanism… or maybe, she was changing.

The truth was, even she didn’t fully understand her shifting attitude toward others.

“What do you mean by that? Everyone knows Healers are only useful when someone’s injured,” said one of the three male students in the class.

“It’s also why we’re so few,” added a timid girl. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. “If we had a choice, we’d probably all choose another category. But the others are too hard for us…”

The Healer Category felt like a small family. They protected each other. Unlike the other categories—where rivalry and fierce competition ran rampant—Healers often became the subject of bullying. Despite being full-fledged students like everyone else, they were treated as if they were lesser. But when provoked, Healers could be surprisingly wild and aggressive.

“Do you want to know how Healers can be offensive too?” Zexel asked, her voice calm yet firm. “How about we gather every other day for four hours, and I’ll show you exactly how we can be deadly—despite what everyone says.”

This was what she wanted. To build a loyal following. And this small group, though few in number, could become as dangerous as any army if she trained them well.

After living in this world for over three years, Zexel had learned a lot—especially about what truly mattered. She actually felt freer in this cultivation world than she ever had in the modern one.

“You… you really want to teach us?” asked one of the girls, her hopeful eyes locked on Zexel.

Zexel smiled and nodded. “If I wanted to, I could’ve joined any category here at the Academy. But I wanted a challenge—and this is the most suited place.”

“This isn’t a place for entertainment!” a stern voice interrupted from the back.

“I know,” Zexel responded, her expression serious. “But I want to make a huge change in how people see Healers. This category has been belittled for far too long, even though Healers are capable of so much more. All we need is someone who can unlock that potential. And that someone is me.”

A wave of murmurs swept through the classroom.

“You won’t lose anything,” she added. “Just a little time. But the results will be worth it. I promise. And if they’re not, I’ll give each of you one of these—”

With a flick of her wrist, Zexel unsealed an Eighth Grade Armament from her storage space. Gasps echoed around the room. No one had expected such a high-grade item.

“So?” Zexel said, meeting each of their eyes. “What do you think?”

They fell into discussion for a minute. Then Shen Min Jing took a deep breath and stepped forward, her gaze locked on Zexel’s.

“Well… we won’t lose anything if we agree. Alright, we accept. But—we need a blood contract,” she said cautiously.

Zexel grinned. “No problem.”

She unsealed a scroll and a brush, tossing them toward the nearest student.

“Write the contract,” she said simply.

A timid girl caught the brush and scroll, then dipped it into ink. As everyone gathered to discuss the terms, Zexel returned to her seat and waited calmly.

---

The contract-making was briefly interrupted when their Professor entered the room.

That day’s lecture was about the dangerous points in the human body—specific areas that must be handled with extreme care when healing. If damaged or treated incorrectly, those areas could put a person’s life at risk.

After class, the group resumed drafting the contract. Zexel quietly observed them as they wrote it out.

By the end of the period, the contract read as follows:

---

On the 12th Day of September,

The Members of the Healer Category hereby enter into a Blood Contract with Ms. Fan Lihua, acting with clear minds and full consent.

Party A refers to the Healer Category students.
Party B refers to Ms. Fan Lihua.

Terms of the Contract:

Party B promises to teach Party A how to become Offensive-Type Healers, training with them for four hours every other day.

If Party A is not satisfied with the outcome of this training, Party B will provide one Eighth Grade Armament to each member of Party A.

If Party A is satisfied with the training and its results, they will pledge their full loyalty to Party B.

This contract is signed and sealed on the 12th Day of September, witnessed by blood.

---

Signed by:

Party A:

Shen Min Jing (Female)

Shen Xiao Fu (Female)

Mu Zhen Shi (Female)

Su Den Shao (Female)

Shao Fu Dao (Female)

Shao Zhi Zhi (Female)

Dong Leng Zhi (Female)

Dong Mai San (Male)

Dong Ming Dai (Male)

Kang Fu Ling (Male)

Party B:

Fan Lihua (Female)

--

And that… was how the contract was made.

--*--