Finally, my promotion quest has arrived. Hmm, the Tengu Tribes in the south part of the East Barrier Mountains and the Traveling Fortress in the south part of the Unknown Lands.... Seems I have to find our more about these two locations and then get permission to place beacons for easy locating. Once I finished preparing by buying necessities at the Tavern, I immediately set out towards the Tengu Tribes. Initially, I want to call Blackie, but he has busied himself with training and previous quests, so I decided to let him rest for a few days. I journeyed southeast towards the villages in the south part of the East Barrier Mountains, meeting some monsters along the way - but nothing I can't beat. After a few hours of constant-paced walking, I arrived at the south part of the East Barrier Mountains. I decided to sit down and refuel my hunger and stamina. I took out a loaf of bread and some roast chicken. In addition, I also took out my newly concocted Rhino-Bear Blood Wine - an alcohol made from rice wine and a condensed mixture of Rhino blood and Giant Bear blood. This new blood wine provides good stamina/vitality/strength/defense boosting effects.

While I was eating, I occasionally stop all movements in order to hear for any unusual sounds. After all, this is the East Barrier Mountains...who knows what kind of creature will come and attack me while my guard is down. Suddenly, I hear a scream and then some fighting. Looking around for the source of the sound, I turned and see smoke in the distance. If I remember correctly from last time I was here, there is a small village in that location. I quickly packed up my stuff and hurried over to the village. When I arrived at the village, I see bandits...but they were all defeated. Looking around, I see a Tengu who was taking care of some wounded villagers. Upon closer look I remember who he was. This Tengu was sitting next to Xeck Qoju last time I was at Sky Island...what was his name again?...ah...Votak Oren.

"Hey, Votak! Long time no see." I greeted.

Votak turns around and sees me. With a smile, he greeted back. "Long time no see Khaos. What brings you here?"

"I have some business with Xeck Qoju. Do you think I can meet him?"

"Hmm, probably. He's not entirely busy these days...though he is preparing for marriage soon."

"Oh really? Who is the lucky woman?"

"A human...unfortunately and a villager at that." Votak sighed, "Oh, not to be mean, but we're afraid that Xeck's pure bloodline will be tainted with the union of human blood."

"I see...but human blood may be considered as inferior with higher races like your Tengu race. So it might not affect the purity of Xeck's bloodline." I assured. How I know this? Well, I do have years of blood research under my belt...I mean how else can I have such high mastery of blood manipulation and blood refinement?

"Really? I'm happy with Xeck's choice but some elders are not. Do you have a way to proof that the bloodline won't be tainted with human blood?"

"Naturally."

"In that case, follow me. I'll bring you to see Xeck immediately." Votak beamed happily as he reached and grabbed me. Then, we flew upwards towards Sky Island.

Once we arrived, I was impressed at the changes the Tengus were doing for the wedding. It seems they will be doing a traditional Eastern-style wedding. There were red decorations everywhere. When we entered the main hall, I see Xeck talking with a human woman. Xeck was smiling way more than ever and he would sometimes tell jokes...JOKES!...Xeck telling jokes sure I can understand, but for a woman to actually laugh at his jokes is something even I find astonishing.

When I arrived, Xeck looks up and exclaimed, "Khaos! Nice to see you. What brings you here?"

"Business as usual, but first let me congratulate you of your engagement." I replied.

"Thank you. Oh this is my beloved, Sakura." Xeck introduced. Now as a villager, the woman does not have a last name - only nobles and distinguished people have last names.

"Congratulations Sakura, you are a lucky woman."

"Thank you." Sakura said. "I see you have some business with Xeck. So, I won't disturb you."

Once Sakura left, Xeck turned and look at me. "So, what brings you here? What business are we talking about?"

"Trading business of course. What type of things will you offer and what type of things are you in need of?"

"Oh, that eh? Hmmm, let me think." Xeck mused for a while, "What we need are medicine and vegetables. Ores, crystals, and raw metals are needed as well. Oh and heat-generating items or warm clothes would be appreciated. It gets quite cold up here sometimes...I don't want Sakura to get sick."

"Medicine, vegetables, ores, crystals, raw metals, clothing, and heat-generating item...ok got it. Now what are you able to offer?"

"We can offer talismans (enhancements, evil-warding, luck, etc), weapons (bastard swords, daggers, elven curve blades and katanas, falchions, greatswords, kukris, longswords, punching daggers, rapiers, scimitars, short swords, and two-bladed swords), potions (healing, replenishment, antidotes, etc), and wind-type magical fans."

"Hmm, okay. I'll report this back to the guild. Oh, by the way, can I place beacons on Sky Island so that we can find you better?"

"That would be a problem. We don't want to be found so easily. It's against the rules of our tradition."

"Well, rules are meant to be broken. From what I heard, you broke one recently when you fell in love with Sakura."

"Yea...it caused a huge uproar within the tribes. The elders weren't happy with my actions."

"What's wrong with marrying outside your species?"

"They're afraid for the purity of my bloodline. They did not like how the humans betrayed us in the past so now they did not like the idea that humans will taint the purity of my bloodline." Xeck sighed.

"The Tengu's past? Can you tell me more about it?" I asked. Xeck looked at me for a moment before nodding. Then, he proceeded to tell me the origins and history of the Tengu tribes.

"My Tengu tribe has existed for thousands of years but our ancestors came from another place - a stronger race existing for millions upon millions of years." Xeck began, "Our ancestors were deities of a higher realm of existence. You can already tell but my Tengu tribe consists of two distinct types of Tengus - the Karasu-Tengus (identified with bird's head and beak) and the Konoha-Tengus (humanoids with wings and long nose). The Karasu-Tengus descendant from the Devourer - Karu - who served as a loyal of retainer of Saruta - the long-nosed Earth god. Saruta's role was to guide deities from the higher realm to the lower realm and guards the portal that makes this happen. In the past, Saruta and Karura were worshipped as kind deities. Karu was not only known to eat dragons for breakfast but was known to protect children and bestow wisdom. Saruta was also known for protecting humans. However, because they were worshipped more by the humans of the lower realm, the other deities became jealous and they decided to frame Saruta and Karu. They spread lies about how the descendants of Saruta and Karu were evil, mischievous beings who abduct children, burn buildings, steal, kill, and trick the lower realms. Through connections with the higher ups, the jealous deities were able to convince the higher ups to pin a huge punishment to Saruta family and Karu family. They were given a choice - kill their descendants to escape punishment because of past notable achievements or be banished to the lower realms together with their descendants. Saruta and Karu did not want to kill off their innocent descendants so they agree to be banished to the lower realms. So, the higher ups decided on the verdict and destroyed their immortality and forcing them and their families be exiled to the lower realm. Initially, our Tengu name meant Heavenly Patriots but now its been referred as Heavenly Dogs (used as an insult)."

"Wow, that's harsh." I said.

"Yes it was. Now, even though many years have passed, we are still trying to fix the false rumors about us."

"So why do you not live in the mountains with the villagers? Why insist on staying on this Sky Island?"

"In the past, the humans were frightened by our appearances and the rumors about us. They did not trust us even though we helped them so much before the rumors started...it was like we were betrayed. So, to avoid this problem, the first Tengus used most of their innate magic to lift a plot of land up to the sky thus forming the Sky Island. We have been living on the Sky Island for so long, its become our home. It would seem awkward to live on the grounds below now."

While we were still conversing, another Konoha-Tengu barges in. "Your Leadership, I advise you again. You cannot marry that human. We can't destroy the purity of your bloodline."

"Elder Oro Krulu! Why do you continue to persist about this matter? What can I do to convince you?" Xeck grimaced as he looked at the Tengu.

"If I may, I know of way to convince him as well as any other Tengus who do not approve of your marriage choice." I replied.

"Really? Then, please do so."

Xeck told Oro to call all the other elders to come to the main hall. He also told a guard to notify Sakura to come as well. When everyone arrived, I started my explanation. I told them that when dealing with bloodlines. It is preferable to have a pure mutual union of the blood of husband and wife usually acquired when the husband and wife are from the same race. It is also commonly believed that the union of the blood of husband and wife of different species could taint the purity of the bloodline. However, I stressed that that was not necessarily the case. I described to the audience that humans' blood is considered very inferior compared to higher races like Tengus. The union of blood of Tengu and human won't affect the Tengu bloodline because of the inferiority of human blood.

At first the elders did not believe, so I offered to do an experiment. Xeck and Sakura agreed and willingly gave a few drops of their blood - blue blood of Tengus and red blood of humans. Using blood manipulation, I merged the two types of blood. After fusing the blood, instead of producing a purplish mixture, the red dissipated after a while and the mixture became blue.

"There it is. The two blood types merged but the red blood of Sakura was overpowered and dissipated by the blue blood of Xeck. This means that the children of Xeck and Sakura will continue to have pure bloodlines." I replied.

As the saying goes - seeing is believing. After the elders saw blue and red blood mixture become blue again, they finally approve of Xeck's and Sakura's marriage. Xeck was happy with my help that he gave me permission to place beacons on the Sky Island. After celebrating the marriage between Xeck and Sakura, I placed the three beacons at three different locations of the Sky Island. I told Xeck that the beacons are sensitive to the interference of magic and asked him to help with that problem. Xeck wrote a few talismans and placed on the beacons which helped protect the beacons from magic interference.

Finished, I left Sky Island and descended down to the mountains.