Epoch 39: The special side quest.
Zmei, who never looked away from the sub-beast the moment their gazes met, squinted his eyes. He never thought that the prey he wanted to tame was already captured, and based on Hou's reaction, he is the person Tang Tang will marry.
'Interesting!'
He now understands why Hou didn't get provoked earlier.
While Hou and Xue were relieved, Elder Rung was rendered speechless.
He glared at Lia and angrily shouted. "Tribe leader Bei! Lia! Are you forcing the God's Messenger to marry, to tie him here in your tribe?"
The relief Lia felt after hearing Tang Tang vanished and was immediately replaced with panic as he looked to his former mentor and son. "N-no.."
Lia doesn't know where to start; he always feels anxious every time Zmei is around. Is it because of guilt? or is he just scared?
Whatever the reason, he has already failed to become a mother for Zmei, and he doesn't want to be misunderstood more.
"Elder Rung, you're mistaken. I am not forced by anyone. Actually, tribe leader Bei and clan witch Lia only knew our decision the other day," Tang Tang immediately explained to clear up the misunderstanding.
Elder Rung looked at him for a long time before he sighed. "I see. I apologize for my impudent reaction," he said. With a slightly hunched back, he tried to bow and ask for forgiveness.
Even though he is the eldest in the room, it is still inappropriate to be impolite, especially in front of the two tribe leaders.
Lia, come up to Elder Rung and stop him. "N-no, no. It's fine."
Zmei didn't care what was happening between the two clan witches. His attention is fully on Tang Tang, and he looks at Hou and Xue from time to time.
He has the feeling that he is missing something important.
The burning wood in the hearth and the red flames coming from it shone on the beautiful sub-beast, outlining the slender figure in front of him.
He can't help but remember how Pami from the chameleon tribe described the sub-beast.
"His hair is black as night, his eyes shine bright like the stars in the sky, and his skin is white as snow in winter. His smile is so warm and bright that it can melt a cold heart."
He thought that it was an exaggeration at that time, but now he feels that those words are not enough.
Zmei's eyes darkened as he looked at Tang Tang, who was smiling carefreely while coaxing Hou.
"God's Messenger.." Zmei called, prolonging his words. "Who were you going to marry this incoming Eulogia?"
The magnetic voice of the man made Tang Tang's whole body stiffen. He has been trying to ignore the predatory gaze of Zmei since earlier, but now that the man has initiated a conversation with him, how can he turn a blind eye to it?
Tang Tang looked at Zmei, who was sitting leisurely beside Elder Rung. He was wearing thick white fur around his right shoulder and a small piece of cloth on his waist that highlighted his well-proportioned abdominal muscles.
With a high nose bridge, handsome features, and a tall body, the man exudes sensuality and wildness, like a beast that was difficult to deal with.
Tang Tang smiled. "It is Hou and Xue," he simply answered.
Zmei chuckled. "I see."
The missing piece he is looking for was already found. In just more than two months, the sub-beast that looks fragile and gentle has already tamed two beasts.
Not just any other ordinary beasts, but the sons of the tribe leader and clan witch of the winged tiger tribe, one of the strongest tribes in Gaia.
If Hou agreed to it, it means that his relationship with Xue has already been mended. His provocation will now not affect the man.
'I need to think another way.' he thought.
Elder Rung wasn't surprised. He didn't expect it, but that doesn't mean that it is impossible. Tang Tang is very attractive, and he is sure many beasts will fight for him.
The only thing he is worried about is his own chieftain, who is showing interest in God's Messenger. Elder Rung can ignore all of the sub-beasts that fall into Zmei's hands, even his chosen successor, but not Tang Tang.
Tang Tang was sent by the Beast God; sullying him means disrespecting the God who created them all, and that is the only thing he will not let happen.
"If you were really determined to marry, I would not hinder your will. Since you agree to learn from me, I will wait for you," Elder Rung said.
"Thank you for your understanding, mentor."
Elder Rung laughed happily after hearing what the sub-beast called him. He never felt this elated upon hearing someone call him 'mentor' before.
Tang Tang was also happy, not because of anything else but because of the screen that popped up in front of him.
[Ding!]
[Special Side Quest:
Knowledge is power.
Learn from the eldest clan witch in Gaia.
Time limit: None
Reward: 1000 points + Title
Failure: None]
[That is a special side quest for you, Tang Tang! ✧\(>o<)ﾉ✧]
'What a generous reward! but what is the title?'
[Oh! That is the title you will be known for once the quest is completed. For example, God's Messenger. That is the title you were called after being known as the person sent by the Beast God.]
'What is the difference between this and the ordinary side quest?'
[Other than the rewards, the special side quests failure and completion will have an influence on your future main quest.]
'What kind of influence?'
[Sorry, Tang Tang. I can't disclose it for now. ( ･ั﹏･ั) But it is not something that will harm you in any way.]
'Yeah, I know.'
[(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ]
Now that everything is clear, Lia claps his hands once as he stands up happily and calls someone outside. "We prepare something for everyone to eat."
Tang Tang also remembered the food he cooked, he told Hou about it, and the beast immediately excused himself to get it.
"Are we not eating roasted meat and boiled red roots?" Elder Rung asked, confused by the commotion happening while preparing the food.
"Tang Tang taught the sub-beasts and females about how to make different delicious foods that we can make from the plants we ignore in the forest," Bei explained.
"You will surely like it, Elder Rung, because there are some herbs that we usually use in making medicine but that are delicious when used in making foods," Lia added with enthusiasm.
"Now, I am very excited to see and taste the foods you've prepared," Elder Rung said to Lia, then he looked at Tang Tang to inquire. "Why has Hou left?"
"I didn't expect to be called here and cook dinner. I just remembered it and asked Hou to get it for everyone to taste," Tang Tang answered.
Lia beamed as he asked. "It is a new recipe?"
Tang Tang gently nodded.
Xue held his hands and massaged them gently. "We already told you not to tire yourself. You could just take a rest while waiting."
"Tsk." Tang Tang clicked his tongue and slightly nudged Xue with his shoulder. "The two of you were sulking earlier. That's why I want to cook something new for you guys to make you feel better."
"We're not sulking. We're just... sad." Remembering that they will need to sleep separately with Tang Tang starting tomorrow, Xue unconsciously pouted.
Not only Zmei but also Lia and Bei were surprised to see Xue act like this. The calm and collected beast they know is now acting like a child.
"What's the difference?" Tang Tang laughed and pinched Xue's cheeks.
Hearing that Xue, the man he set his eyes on, is getting married soon, and to the person he saw as a rival, Kira was dazed, his plan was all ruined in an instant.
He glared at Tang Tang, who was now flirting with Xue, but he immediately looked away when the sub-beast was about to look at him.
'No, it's still not the end. They're still not married yet.'
Kira doesn't care, even if he is the Beast God's Messenger; he won't let everything go his way.
"Ho ho ho. It is good to be young," Elder Rung commented on the sweet interaction between the two.
Lia cannot help but tease Xue and Tang Tang with Elder Rung. To stop the teasing of the two clan witches, Tang Tang shares with tribe leader Zmei and Elder Rung what he has already taught the winged tiger tribe in the past two months while waiting for the food to arrive.
After a while, several females came in carrying large bowls of meat stew, stirred fried vegetables, and meat and mushroom soup. Hou also arrived with Toa, carrying all the food he had cooked.
While tribe leader Bei went out for a few minutes to arrange and check the food of the winged python tribe escorts, showing complete hospitality.
Zmei and Elder Rung were surprised when they tasted the food. Even Kira, who is planning some evil scheme for Tang Tang, was hooked by the heavenly taste of the food he saw and ate for the first time.
Elder Rung didn't hold back his praise, especially when he tasted the chop suey Tang Tang personally cooked.
Everyone was satisfied with the food. Even the escorts, who were confused at first when they heard the winged tiger tribe warriors conversation, are now enlightened.
They were more astonished when they learned that the food was taught by the beautiful sub-beast they saw earlier. After the joyous meal, they didn't hold back their curiosity anymore and talked to the others, which eased a lot of tension between the two groups.
After eating and taking a rest for a while, tribe leader Bei offered to escort them to their temporary shelter to rest for today.
But before they left, Zmei looked at Tang Tang and smiled mischievously. "I have one request, God Messenger."
"Tang Tang. Call me Tang Tang." He really hates being called God Messenger. It makes him feel all powerful, but in reality, he is just nothing but a weak human.
"Tang Tang, can I make a request?" Zmei repeated, and the smile on his face didn't fade.
"What is it?"
"I want to know more about the cooking, farming, and house you mentioned earlier," Zmei said, looking down on the sub-beast that was a head shorter than him. "We plan to stay here for 3 days, and I want you to personally teach me about it. Can you Tang Tang?"
It is normal to ask more about otherworldly knowledge, but for this lecherous man to ask to be personally taught by Tang Tang, it is unacceptable.
Hou and Xue immediately objected to the idea. Tang Tang too wanted to decline because, even though the man is really hot and handsome, he feels dangerous, plus he was really busy.
But what can he do? If this blue screen suddenly popped out fron nowhere.
[Ding!]
[Side Quest:
Interpersonal skills.
Personally teach the winged python chieftain in three days.
Reward: 50 points
Failure: hostility from the winged python tribe.]
'Ayo! What should I do?'