Three months have passed since that event.
In that time Feicui Long has not only fully completed the house, but also all the details, such as replacing the rudimentary doors he installed three months ago with new, better-made ones. the same applies to the "windows", although none of them have glass.
Also, every room now has a bed, a closet, a table, and other things, but only the occupied ones, of course.
But more importantly, he has completed vital things, like the bathroom system which even has pipes he made himself with leftovers iron bars that go to an excavated zone, also made by himself, where the other slimes he's bought live.
The zone has a rectangular shape with an area of 20 square meters (215.28 square feet) and a depth of 5 meters (16.4 feet), covered with a ceiling of iron bars that allows leaves and debris to fall in. The walls of the zone are made of cement reinforced with inscriptions, some of which evaporate water at a certain level.
Since slimes don't like to live in deep water zone, the zone also has a dry area with a little elevation above the inscriptions that evaporate excess water. this zone fulfills two purposes, one is to eliminate the bathroom waste and the water created by the artifact similar to shower and the other is to breed slimes and provide a living area for them.
All of this work is not only meant to make everything more hygienic, but also to use the slime for selling, combat and their eggs, which can be used in medicine or even eat them. Although he doesn't think about eating them, only using them in medicine, he can sell the eggs to people who like to eat them and other people who prepare medicine.
But this is not only the thing he build. He also built a warehouse to store things, small rooms for alchemy and refining-smithing, but the most important thing is the garden he built.
This garden has an energy-gathering formation. the reason for this is simple: to make the plants grow faster. Although many people don't know this, the more energy a place has, the faster a being will grow, especially if that energy matches the being. That's why, in a normal world like this, humans will reach adulthood at 15 years old instead of 18. Of course, the speed depends on the amount of energy and the laws, and also the being itself.
For example, a normal plant, which is different from the Beast clan and the Fungi clan, each of which has one exclusive innate energy in all of their species, beastly energy and fungi energy. A normal plant has two, because its clan has always had two innate energies in its body: its exclusive plant energy and the wood elemental energy.
Of course, there are special cases where the wood element is displaced by another element or energy, but that's rare. Normally, a mortal plant or an energy one will always have these two energies.
Sadly, he didn't have any wood elemental energy crystal, but with his energy-gathering formation, the plants are going to grow faster. With the seed of fruits and vegetables he had bought in the Sky Lion Town and Vienna, he can now grow his own food. In fact, he completed the garden a day after that even, some plants are now ready to harvested them in only three month.
Of course, this method has its limitations, such as the great costs involved. Just for this formation, He has used 15 energy crystals and 150 energy stones, but the garden can produce enough food for about 30 to 50 people, so to him, it's worth it.
In total, after all the materials consumed in his constructions, he now has only 500 energy stone, and 35 energy crystals left from the original 1,100 energy stones and 100 crystals, including the ones Isabella's dad gave to him. Also, almost all constructions materials have been used, with only a small amount remaining.
But again, to him, this is worth it, because this is his new home and "fortress", or operational base.
...
Feicui Long, Isabella, and her party members are now going to start a new journey to Sky Lion Town. During these three months, in his free time, he has prepared many medicines, especially an antidote to the venom of the Black Steel Arrow Scales Lizards.
It is made from a plant he sees potential in, called Black Steel Arrow Grass. This plant grows in the venom of the lizard, making it a good antidote not only for its venom but also for others. He tested it with different poisons and realized that this plant could be useful against multiple toxins. Of course, there is no such thing as a universal antidote, but this one is highly effective.
So, he is going to sell his medicine and buy other supplies. Additionally, he has to ask for Isabella's hand in marriage, this last part is not his idea.
...
The journey was very calm, even with the glances Freja threw at him and the never-ending "fights" with Isabella. At least, he could enjoy the last one.
The group entered the town, but after that, each one took different paths. Only he and Isabella remained, they first went to Isabella's house.
On the way to Isabella's house, many people looking at them. This was not only because both of them are beautiful, but for other reasons. Because of the weird looks on the face of the townspeople.
Even a lady in her forties almost faints saying things: " What a waste, a beauty like that getting lost in the..." and proceeds to faint.
He is not stupid. He knows it's because Isabella has her mask on and now looks like a man while embracing him passionately. But he doesn't care what people think. Actually, he has never cared in any of his lives.
After all, why would a sovereign have to worry about what people think about his preferences and likes?
Ignoring this, the duo continues riding the carriage until Feicui Long sees an enormous and magnificent palace. at the entrance, there are two statues, both of them depicting a gorgeous white lion with majestic wings made of sky marble each with a platinum mane and the eyes of the same color.
Feicui Long was a dragon. Thanks to that, he can sense the bloodline connected to these statues, then he directs his gaze to Isabella, he recognizes this kind of lion. It is a Sky Lion, a beast on the same level as dragons, phoenix and other.
Although the Sky Lion might sound like an inferior species to the Heavenly Lion, they are actually different species in the evolutionary line. The Heavenly Lion is not a direct evolution of the Sky Lion, however, the Sky Lion can evolve into the Heavenly Lion if it meets all the requirements, which are not easy.
The reason for that is the wings; the Heavenly Lion doesn't have them. Although, in evolution, a species can grow new body parts, losing them is difficult, so it is not very common.
Now, he is looks at Isabella because he realizes that one of the reasons for their strong body compatibility is her bloodline and her special soul, which is calling to his special soul. But obviously, this is not the only reason, and he knows it.
When Feicui Long carriage approaches to the entrance, the guards stopped them for a moment, but one of them sees Isabella and immediately lets the carriage pass.
...
Inside the palace, they are received by a few servants, who guide them to the interior.
They walk until they arrive at the dining room. Feicui Long evaluates it and looks really good, not too opulent, but not too simple. Isabella grabs his arm and Feicui Long realizes that she has removed her mask.
Isabella points at two seats and pulls him to sit down. They are the first at the table, so they start talking to each other.
...
When Isabella's family begin to enter, he counts 15 people in total, four are her brothers and sisters, five are her cousins, one is her grandmother, three are her uncles and aunts. They wait until Isabella's father arrives, a 40 to 45-year-old man with common looks, whose only notable feature is his imposing presence.
Unlike her mother, whom, even without an introduction, he could identify at a glance, since she looks like Isabella. There are only two differences, the first one is Isabella's face is more beautiful and her mother who has big attributes, the second one is the powerful presence she has overshadowing Isabella's dad.
Then, her father sits on the left side of her mother, and her mother sits at the head of the table. Feicui Long, a bit confused, looks at Isabella, and she explains to him: "My mother is the head of the Sky Lion family, the ruler of this barony, my father is only the town chief."
Feicui Long understands a bit, but he asks: " Is your family a matriarchy?"
Feicui Long asked this question because Isabella was the heir of the family. Initially, he thought that was the reason to she disguised herself as a man, but seeing this now, he thinks it is probably for other reasons.
Isabella, knowing that Feicui Long has misunderstood something, quickly says: "No, the type of succession in the Sky Lion Family is based on birth order, it doesn't care about gender."
Feicui Long nods in comprehension and waits in silence like the rest.
After a moment of silence, Isabella's mother looks at him and says: "So, you're the doctor who saved my daughter?"
Everyone in the room turns to look at him.
Feicui Long, very calm and confident, answers the question: "Yes, madam, I am Feicui Long, a mere doctor and an alchemist."
Isabella's mom smiles at this display of confidence and says: "You are talented doctor, don't you know? Not many people can speak with that confidence in front of me."
Isabella mother continues speaking: "So, doctor, allow me to introduce myself, I am Cecilia Skylion, ruler of the Skylion barony, protector of the temple of the supreme god of beast, descendant from the Great Lion God Unbeatable, ruler of the skies and this continent, the celestial clouds continent, and other great figures like the Lion from the North or the Northen Empress Lioness."
Feicui Long is slightly surprised, not because of fear, but because he did not expect to encounter a human worshiping the Supreme God of Beast.
Cecilia nods, upon seeing his reaction and says: "Tell me, Feicui Long, why did you come accompanied by Isabella? What do you want? Do you need our help?"
Feicui Long shakes his head and stands: "Madam and Sir, I have come to this beautiful palace with only thing in mind."
Feicui Long confidently walks to the side of Isabella's parents and takes something out from his space necklace, don't fear they are seeing it.
The items he takes are three conservation boxes, three of the originals he kept from Vienna. He is now holding them in one hand and finally he opens his mouth, saying: "I came here to ask for Isabella's hand. I know I am a commoner at this moment, but sooner or later that will change, so I ask both of you, can you accept these small gifts from me? It's not much, but I think this could show my sincerity regarding my declaration."
This declaration made everyone in the room gasp in amazement, then they started speaking in loud voices. The only two who aren't surprised are Feicui Long and Isabella, the last one making it clear she knew this was going to happening.
Cecilia's smiles disappear. She doesn't want her daughter to be hurt anymore, but even from her seat, she can see Isabella smiling, looking as if she had just woke up from a dream, so she can't reject the proposition directly.
So instead, she gives an order: "Guards, take Feicui Long's gifts and bring them to me."
After saying this, three guards appear as if from nowhere and take the boxes with them.
In the next moment, they are at Cecilia side.
Johan, seeing this, he comprehends what Cecilia wants to do, so he tries to stop her, but his mother-in-like looks him in the eyes and, shaking her head, Johan can only sit in silence.
It's not that he doesn't understand Cecilia's hatred for what happened to Isabella, but he knows it's not good for their daughter to be denied the chance to develop feelings for a new person. Because of this, Isabella can't find a new partner, and now she is making the same mistake again.
After seeing this, Cecilia says: "Open the boxes, let's see what gifts Doctor Feicui Long has brought us."
Johan suddenly gains courage, but when he tries to defend the gifts, thinking they won't be anything astonishing, he opens his mouth, forming a O.