Death... and me

3057  Happy Drefin

Drefin didn't waste that chance. "My daughter, the word of a Golal Shark can not be taken back. You better not disappoint me."

"Hmph!" Tana was too proud to go back anyway. "Since that's the case, then so be it. You all better keep your word about Yuan as well."

"Of course!" Drefin was happy to comply. "All of you. Regardless of the outcome of this contest for my daughter's hand, you must forget about Yuan's transgression."

"Yes, Senior Drefin!"

Rean got the first part of the plan concluded. Now, it was time to go into the next part, the type of contest. The reason Rean helped Drefin to speak about this contest is basically because of the difference in cultivation between the young males. They were all between Stage Seven and Eight. Naturally, those at Stage Seven absolutely would accept a simple strength test since they wouldn't have a chance. The only question was what kind of contest the Demon Beasts would come up with.

"Senior Drefin, we should just battle it out to see who will last the longest," Sure enough, a Stage Eight Sea Demon Beast quickly tried to do exactly that.

"Hell no!" And those at Stage Seven followed Rean's line of thought, quickly refusing. "You only say that because you are at Stage Eight. Shut your mouth."

"Hmph!" The Stage Eight guy didn't care. "We are Demon Beasts. We always resolve our problems with strength. If you lack strength, that's your problem."

"Ha!" Yet, someone else retorted. "I don't lack strength. I lack time! I heard about you, Denyu. Don't think yu are all that just because you are at Stage Eight now. You got into Stage Seven when you were almost 60 years old. What a disgrace to your bloodline. I am indeed a Stage Seven Demon Beast, but I got to this level at 41 years of age. If we are talking about potential, I, Qemaru, far surpass trash like you."

"Why don't you say that to my face, Qemaru?" Denyu was enraged.

These and other arguments filled with anger came from right, left, and center. Besides, they weren't very good arguments either. Some bloodlines took longer to cultivate. Others were faster but had slightly less potential. So, it wasn't easy to say who was right or wrong. Nonetheless, no one attacked anyone. In front of Drefin, they all had to be respectful.

"Enough!" Drefin didn't say anything at first, wishing to see those arguments. He already expected that, but let them speak to fan the contest's fire. "I will be the one to select what kind of contest for my Daughter's hand will be. Go back to your dwellings and wait for my word. There is no need to worry, though. I am aware of the difference in cultivations and the specific strength of each race. What I'm looking for is the best prospect to have descendants with my daughter, not the strongest cultivation. I will bring a fair contest for everyone to take part in."

Everyone nodded and didn't say anything else. They weren't afraid of Drefin selecting some option that would put someone in great disadvantage either. Keeping the balance of powers of the Saramina Sea Demon Palace was the main concern of the Palace Master, so Drefin had to be fair about it this time.

Everyone began to leave the meeting hall, but before Rean could do so with Tana and Yuan, Drefin called them out. "Where do you three think you are going? Stay behind. We still have the issue of the Spiritual Canyon to discuss."

Rean didn't come unprepared. After getting his plan for Yuan ongoing, he spoke about how he and Yuan left the Spiritual Canyon. He used Yuan's CD to point out a location on the map where several geysers could be found, not too far from the Spiritual Canyon itself. He said that they followed closely to the magma underground until one of the exits led them to the surface.

However, there were so many paths down there that he couldn't even remember which one to take to go back in. He spoke about the high temperatures and how they had been in a huge hurry to get out of there above everything else.

Whether Drefin and the other elders wanted to believe or not, they had to. The contract was still in effect, and it would only lose its power after the Spiritual Canyon issue was over.

That big lie confirmed one thing for Yuan. He knew that Rean actually simply used a formation to get them out of the Canyon. Well, Rean didn't really use any formations, but Yuan didn't know that. In any case, the fact was that Yuan thought a formation got them out. Yet, Rean just spoke about a huge adventure through the magma caves until they exited through one of the geysers. That definitely didn't happen before. So... Yuan now knew that the Soul Binding Contract must not be working for Rean. 'How is he doing that...?' Yuan couldn't help but wonder.

"Yuan!" Drefin called him out. "Do you remember the route you took?"

Yuan quickly shook his head. "I'm sorry, Palace Master. But I couldn't tell right from left while down there. If not for Yuan, I wouldn't even have made it out. If he can't remember the way back, then I'm even worse. The very reason I took so many days to return was because I was healing myself from the injuries I sustained in those underground Magma and hot waters."

Drefin nodded, not expecting much from Yuan. If anything, he was quite happy now. Because of what happened to Yuan, he finally found a way to force his daughter to select a partner. He would even give Yuan a kiss if he could. "Then that's for the better. If such an entrance existed, a lot of problems might have risen with the other powers of the Rusbav Country. Very well, you can leave."

Tana immediately grabbed Yuan and Rean's arms and left the place, returning to her cave and closing herself with those two. "Now, enough bullshit. Speak! What was all that about?"

And as always, any Golden Tickets and Stones are welcome. ;)

Suiyan

Creator's Thought