Chapter 3: How Long?

A mixture of dazed, flabbergasted and excited reception waited for Zax at Green Snow village. Several even gasped frighteningly when the carcass of the Four Wings Stork was recognized.

There were Zax’s family and friends, who initially arrived to check on him after his closed doors session was extended beyond the original date, his neighbors, who joined the gathering after his loud announcement and every Dark Glow member currently present in the village.

Many more in the village were on their way to arrive, but apart from his announcement, every action Zax took, including his talk with Horn Kikon and slackened flight back, were still quite fast for everyone to converge before his return.

Seeing the welcoming faces, Zax smiled in embarrassment. What he just told to the entire world was too unbelievable and at a place such as Green Snow village, whether cultivators or regular villagers, all knew about the highest level of the known Martial path and that in this world the only six figures in this level are the sole rulers of this planet. Nevertheless, as exclusive as this level was, the person flying above them, who they were very much familiar with and in all sorts of relationships, has apparently strode upon this epitome of almost no rivals!

“M ... Mister ... Zax,” Huland’s voice wavered as he flew first to greet Zax. It was apparent that he was conflicted in as to how to refer to him and if he could uphold the same genial temperament of their previous interaction. After all, not his father or his esteemed Master were now experts that could be mentioned in the same breath as Zax.

Zax descended, looked friendly at Huland. He patted his shoulder as he passed him. ‘We’ll talk later. I believe it is time for me to answer your request. Oh, keep an eye on that for me”, he pointed with his thumb on the huge carcass. “See how it can be processed. If parts of it can be used as cultivation resources, please list it for me, anything else you can equally divide between your Dark Glow and Sinister Chain’.

“Yes”. Huland blabbered outloud, not yet fully digesting that the content of Zax’s words when suddenly he felt the weight of the carcass being released from Zax’s control and pushing the air as it plummeted. He hurriedly used his mist energy to catch it.

Not to his parents, his sisters, the rest of the family, friends or the sideline onlookers, but to Her Zax approached as if the world had only the two of them in it.

She watched as he got closer and closer. At first it seemed like he advances at a general direction in which she was yet another someone part of the view, but as their gazes interlocked her perception of the surrounding turned mute as all she could focus on was Him.

The drive was undoubtedly affection, but if being truly honest, for him it was also determination. Determination no regular person or cultivator of a lower caliber could match. And for her ... in addition to love it was a portion of the new prowess oozing from him, which he had not yet realized he have to abate, else those too weak will be deprived from their bearing in his presence.

Finally, landing on the ground with his feet, he reached for a halt roughly twenty centimeters from her.

“Anet Lensi”, Zax gestured with his hand and the Four Wings Stork’s Pure Core appeared in his palm. “Will you marry me?”

“I ... I...” Anything and everything that was happening, the atmosphere he exuded, the bizarre Pure Core with fiery attribute fluctuations and sudden proposal, it all took Anet by so much surprise she lost track of reality.

“You won’t?” Zax raised a brow, at last noticing his awe inspiring influence; he confined it and let the rest disperse. “Will you marry me, Anet?” He asked again, softly, leaning forward, as if to kiss her regardless of the answer.

They were all staring with bated breath. They were captured by his figure, but now their awareness of the surrounding and one another returned and specially fixated on two most prominent.

“Yes”. It came out as a whisper, not the consequence of embarrassment but the result of being too overwhelmed. “I will marry you-” She raised her voice, yet before she finished saying her reply he grabbed her shoulders, pulled her to his embrace and shut her mouth with a kiss.

“Hahaha! My son is getting married!” Marco shouted, among both regular villagers and high end cultivator, was actually the one to break the silence and initiate the joyful cheers.

“How fitting, Zax”, Serah teased from the side, as if they all returned to their juvenile past. “You had to become to strongest person in the world before having the guts to propose!” All the tension from trying to mediate the previous situation, before he exited his seclusion, and then from the shook of his announcement had vanished from her expression.

“Yahoo! I’m finally going to be a bridesmaid!” Liz applauded, mostly to herself. Because of the local custom in Grerown’s birthplace, his wedding with Zetsa was postponed; hence she had yet to play the part.

“Congratulation, guys!” Dane clapped, as many others.

“Laylen, we are officially to become a family!” Beka, Anet’s mother, hugged Laylen.

There were voices of joy and blessing from all over. Even those with no particular relationship to the Zel or Lensi families chipped in a few words out of courtesy. However, there were also, very few, faces who maintain solemn expressions.

Huland and couple more of the third realm cultivators from Dark Glow had smiling faces when Zax returned, and were even more affable when he exhibited no loftiness when he descended and patted their Leader’s shoulder. But, when the Overlord’s Pure Core was revealed, with an odd aura of fiery attribute in it, and used as a wedding ring, it was hard not to think of it as a waste. Most regrettably was that not only they could not do a thing about it, they were even afraid to remark outloud.

“Zax, when do you want to hold the wedding ceremony?” His grandpa inquired when his and Anet’s lips parted.

With a smile that could not go away, Zax located his grandfather in the crowd. “Soon, grandpa”, he took the opportunity to inform everyone at the same time. “There are couple of things both Anet and I must do and discuss before we announce the date”.