Chapter 79: Gelapu

"Tali, your Aunt Weilanthe is coming soon. You are responsible for entertaining her. If she asks about me, just say I went to inspect the territory."

After explaining to Gelapu to take care of his health, Sakavi left in a hurry. Back then, he and Weilanthe had a big fight, which could be described as returning evil for good. Although this was standard operation for chromatic dragons, it was better to avoid meeting this time to avoid any unpleasantness.

Half an hour later, a hoarse voice came: "Old partner... it's good to hear your breathing again. We are both at this age, I didn't expect fate to be willing to give us this reunion, as... the last comfort."

Recognizing that the speaker was the old lizardman leader Luoen, Gelapu's turbid eyes struggled to turn toward the door. Seeing the wooden door pushed open completely, an extremely oppressive outline almost filled the entire door frame—it was his teacher, Weilanthe.

This was an extremely tall Thorn Deer. The once shiny and luxurious fur had now become gray and dry, as if covered with a layer of frost. That pair of giant horns, complex as a crown, now also appeared dull in color, as if bearing the weight of too many years. She lowered her head slightly to allow the giant horns to pass through the door frame smoothly, and the giant hooves stepped on the stone slab, making a heavy and slow knocking sound.

In her shadow followed two lizardmen. On the left, one whose scales had lost their luster, presenting a dull stone-gray color. He wore a slightly oversized leader's regular clothes, holding a wooden cane polished smooth in his hand, walking slowly and cautiously with every step.

The one on the right was much younger, wearing leather armor that fit his body shape, his long tail keeping a vigilant and light swing behind him. His bright eyes quickly swept across the room, carrying a sharpness that had not been tempered by the world, forming a sharp contrast with the old lizardman's twilight.

"Teacher... look, I didn't let you down." His gaze swept across the vitality outside the window, carrying a trace of pride, "The entire Black Dragon territory has become full of vitality under my efforts. My master... he was indeed wrong, but he is not inherently evil, just... once lost his way in the pursuit of power. Please... don't hate him anymore."

"I saw it. I already saw your achievements on the way here. This is a place with more order than our hometown. Your ability is far above mine. It is the right choice for you to follow Sakavi. You should also have a good rest. Luoen heard that you were still alive, so he came too. Although you often bullied him in the past, today it is time to reconcile."

"Hey! Old partner, didn't expect it?" Luoen's eyes flashed with mischievous light, but his voice carried a trace of hoarseness, "The accounts of you tricking me into running errands and taking the blame for you all those years ago, I have recorded them one by one! Now, it is time for you to pay them back with interest—as long as you beg for mercy, I will forgive you immediately! Hahahaha!"

The ground cracked violently, and countless thick vines broke through the soil like giant pythons, binding Luoen tightly and making him unable to move. A dangerous smile flashed on Gelapu's withered face, his voice weak but carrying bone-chilling coldness: "My ears are not very good... just now, who was shouting about dealing with me?

Old mud-loach, I am just dying, not dead yet. Has no one told you, don't provoke a druid casually?" He coughed twice with difficulty, but his eyes flashed with weird light, "Since you are here... my graveyard is spacious enough, I don't mind sharing half with you. Shall we squeeze in?"

Weilanthe almost had to raise her hooves to support her forehead, sighing: "You are still so capable of causing trouble when you are about to die! Quickly loosen the vines and lie down honestly! Luoen's old bones don't have many years left either. Do you really want to scare him to death on the spot so he can accompany you on the road?"

"You... don't be happy too early." Gelapu pulled out a weak smile, his breath intermittent, but his eyes were unusually stubborn, "I haven't seen Su Lai De and Inolin get married yet... I won't just swallow my last breath like this."

He turned his gaze to Weilanthe, carrying a final plea, "Teacher, you came just in time... our young people in the Duke's territory are still too young and lack an elder to preside over this wedding... I have to trouble you one more time."

"Fine! Since you opened your mouth, I, Weilna, guarantee it will be done!" She patted her chest, but her eyes flashed with cunning, "I will go and drag Sakavi back! But there are only funeral items prepared for you, and the wedding ones are too late to prepare. Change yours to a festive color and make do with it. Do you have any opinion?"

"Funeral... anyway, I can't see it, what is there to care about." He struggled to pull up a trace of a smile, but his gaze was clear, "But the wedding... I can still witness it with my own eyes. Use it directly, I don't care about these."

"You stay and prepare well, I will go and bring Sakavi back." Her voice became gentle, "The misunderstanding between us has been entangled for too long. After so many years... I suddenly found that I actually miss that stubborn bear child who always made me angry."

…………

Twilight draped a layer of dark gold gauze over the busy harbor, and the ship shadows and gull cries in the distance all sank into the misty haze. Sakavi stood alone on the cliff, the vertical pupils unique to the dragon race reflecting the flickering lights below, as if scrutinizing, and as if contemplating.

The salty sea breeze rushed toward him like an old friend, but could no longer bring back the ease of the past. Deep in Sakavi's vertical pupils reflected the miracle at his feet, the brightly lit harbor, the fleet with masts like a forest, and the curling smoke rising from the winding streets.

Every brick and tile was soaked with his painstaking efforts, and every shipping route extended his ambition. And now, the shadow of war was pressing from outside the horizon, intending to grind his thirty years of painstaking efforts into powder, completely returning this prosperity to ruins, yet he could not avoid it.

In the sound of the wind, a trace of unusual tranquility spread quietly. Weilanthe's footsteps were lighter than falling leaves. Her massive body seemed to be peeled off from the mountain shadow, and the ancient druid power flowed between her deer horns. There was no language, no warning, only the slight tremor of the earth.

The next second, tough thorns broke through the soil, like awakened giant pythons, and like servants obeying ancient contracts. They wound up, with a slow, determined, and irresistible restraint, instantly locking Sakavi's limbs and torso. The thorns on the thorns did not pierce deeply, but closely adhered to his scales, conveying a cold warning and absolute control.

"Haha, Sakavi, finally caught you this time, any last words? I won't help you realize them, hahahaha!"

"Your good disciple is about to swallow his last breath, how do you still have the heart to run here?"

"Come to blow the wind, and by the way, see a guy who is rotten to the core. Sakavi, you have grown up a lot."

"Time has indeed changed many things," Sakavi's gaze cast toward the distance, "Too impatient back then, got beaten too much, naturally learned to be cautious."

"No," Weilanthe interrupted gently, a trace of faint smile flowing in her eyes, "I mean, your body size has grown." She elegantly raised her front hooves, gesturing a cute length in the air, "Remember? You were only this small back then."

"I don't believe it!" Sakavi tilted his head, deliberately lengthening his tone, "Could it be that even a white dragon that just broke its shell is bigger than what you said? You can't just fool me casually because I don't like looking in the mirror."

"More than just not looking in the mirror?" Weilanthe emitted a low and pleasant laugh, her eyes flashing with cunning light, "I seem to remember that a certain naughty little black dragon didn't wear clothes and ran around everywhere back then. Do you need me to help you recall a few more similar past events? Hahahaha!"

Sakavi, hearing this, deliberately shook the scales that were restrained, emitting a low laugh: "Ha! I, the Black Dragon Grandmaster, never wear clothes! You tell me, which dragon would need clothes?"

"Oh—!" Weilanthe deliberately lengthened her tone, her eyes flashing with teasing light, "Since you mentioned it, I remember. Back then, I don't know which master it was, when he saw me standing at the entrance of his cave, he was so scared he turned and ran, but didn't look at the road, 'thump'—a dull sound, and he hit an ancient tree directly. That scene was really... impressive."

"These old stories must not be mentioned again. If you continue, I will really be ashamed." Sakavi hurriedly stopped, his tone carrying a trace of helpless plea, and then he changed the subject, "You came just in time. An important subordinate of mine is getting married recently, and I am worried about not finding a host with enough weight. Since you are here, isn't it just right? Be sure to stay for a few more days this time and help us preside over this celebration."

"I came exactly for this matter. The wedding is already being prepared. Gelapu said he must participate before he leaves, just waiting for you, the boss, to go back."

…………

The wedding ceremony was held under an ancient oak tree on the outskirts of Agreke. Thick branches were hung with natural light strings composed of fireflies, which complemented the moonlight stones dotted among them, and the soft light illuminated the altar below.

Weilanthe, the giant elk druid, stood quietly before the altar. Her old fur seemed to be shrouded in a layer of silver light in the dim light, and new tender green vines and glowing flowers were wrapped around the giant horns that had experienced the years, symbolizing life and reincarnation. She herself was the most solemn witness of this wedding.

When the guests quieted down, from the flickering vertical pupils of the dragons to the curious eyes of the orcs, all cast toward the end of the road paved with flower petals.

The groom walked over first. He was very young, with a tall and straight figure, like a sword out of its sheath. The most eye-catching thing was his natural white hair, like silver satin woven by moonlight, fluttering in the breeze, forming a kind of impactful handsomeness with his young, well-defined face. He wore a well-tailored black suit.

Beside him, the bride, a half-elf, held his arm. She wore a wedding dress flowing with starlight, and the elegance of the elf and the warmth of the human were perfectly integrated in her. They walked side by side, as if a short, hot meteor and the eternal clear light of the moon were intersecting at this moment.

"Today, we gather here to witness an ancient promise—two independent souls choose to intertwine their fates from now on. Here, with the sky as the dome, the earth as the foundation, and the will of every compatriot present as witness."

She turned to the groom:

"Young ranger, are you willing to become her barrier and sword, share your courage, protect her smile, no matter if the time ahead is as long as an elf song or as short as a human fire?"

The groom looked up at Weilanthe, under the silver-white hair, his eyes were as firm as steel, and his voice was clear and powerful:

"I am willing. My life, from now on, exists for her."

She turned to the bride again:

"Daughter of nature, are you willing to become his harbor and starlight, share your wisdom, illuminate his journey, accept his entire life, including that unique white hair and the hot soul burning within it?"

Tears of happiness flashed in the bride's eyes, and she held the groom's hand tightly: "I am willing. My present and eternity will be connected with him."

"Then," Weilanthe's voice rose, and the vines and light flowers on her deer horns seemed to resonate, emitting a stronger soft radiance, "Please exchange your tokens, use this as proof, and conclude an eternal covenant!"

Under the gaze of the soft light spots in the sky and all races holding their breath, the young silver-haired human and the beautiful half-elf put on rings symbolizing the oath for each other.

Weilanthe finally raised her head and solemnly declared, her voice spreading throughout the entire venue:

"In the name of life, nature, and the stars, I declare that the two are from now on an inseparable whole! Let this land and all living things present bear witness to this!"

However, compared to the solemnity and romance of the wedding, the dragons in the audience clearly had purer expectations for the next segment. Weilanthe's words "the ceremony is complete" had not even fully dissipated in the valley, and the dragon-beasts had already interpreted what "without delay" meant with their actions.

As if a silent order, a movement that made people stare in astonishment erupted on the hillside. The chromatic dragons and metal dragons that were originally lying quietly could no longer care about any dignity or ethnic differences, turning into colorful lightning, rushing toward the giant dining table that was already prepared like a small mountain. ===== CHAPTER 80 =====