61 Tigers and Invitations II

Ziesoo and taekwon stepped through the portal standing on the edge of the woods

gazing down into the valley in the distance where a small town was located

where taekwons old clan dwelled hidden from human sight deep in the rural Korean countryside

it was the first time in years he was returning home since being disowned

he had discussed with ziesoo whether they should invite his parents or not given how abusive his dad had been to him but ziesoo had decided

they should at least be informed of their sons royal marriage also ziesoo couldn't resist the lure of

taking his mate back home and rubbing salt in their faces he had a personal matter to settle with Taekwons father he would regret what he had done to his mate

they both called out their spirits

both tigers had grown rather large reflecting the level of their cultivation in their size and auras they are now both adored in thick manes about their heads and shoulders

and their bodies more muscular and powerful than ever both tigers had nine tails that danced and waved in the air behind them lit with glowing energy shadows danced like smoke around Taekwon's tiger's massive paws

while Ziesoo's tiger walked on waves of purple energy that washed back and forth beneath his paws like ocean waves

they both mounted their spirits and the tigers took off running with great speed down the hill with Ziesoo and Taekwon on their backs

eating up the distance in a very short time they arrived at the entrance of town it was a place where the buildings were still in traditional style

and the people who lived here survived off the land and led simple and closer to traditional lives of a bygone era a temple to the gods sat at the heart of the village which taekwon found ironic

their tigers roars alerting the entire town of their arrival,

the locals were soon looking out and coming out of their homes

people soon lined the main street watching the two nine-tailed celestials ride into town

many people were stunned at the sight of their appearance as they reached the town center they stood outside the clan leaders home

a crowd had gathered around having followed them there

some people having recognized taekwon as the outcast from their clan and now returned as a nine-tailed

many talked amazed at how a boy who had not had any powers before had now become so powerful

and accompanied by a royal white tiger everyone was curious about what was going to happen now

as their clan leader came out of the house along with his wife and two other children one of them his eldest son and the youngest his daughter

both of them Taekwon's siblings

Taekwon is that you? his mother cried in disbelief

"so you don't even recognize your own son anymore?" Taekwon asked

"you have returned my son," his father said a tall well-built man in his later years with silvering hair worn in a traditional top knot and sideburns he was dressed in the traditional clothing of a tiger warrior

he stepped forward with a proud look on his face to greet him

"he has not!" ziesoo stated sharply "so do not call him your son"

"and you are?" his father asked sternly frowning

"you should know me," Ziesoo said his tiger began to pace in front of him watching him as he prowled back and forth

"the red hair and white tiger alone should be enough to tell you my identity," Ziesoo said in a dangerous tone

"I am Ziesoo Royal Prince of Tigers and your son's true mate"

the crowd around them gasped in shock his eldest brothers eyes widened his mother went pale

the prince of the tiger clan was here? and with their son?

his fathers face darkened even further

"We have come today to deal with a few things" ziesoo growled coming to stop directly in front of him as he glared down at him

"first order of business is to inform you that your son and i are legally married and registered in the celestial book of marriage he is now a royal Prince of Tiger Clan and my official consort"

"Hail Him" Ziesoo ordered

everyone gasped in shock and for second no one moved

the outcast had returned a prince! what was this?

Taekwon changed to his celestial form his robes appeared beautifully upon his body and all nine of his tails danced behind him

his sword Xi Fang the final form of his celestial sword was by his side it was named after the White Tiger Star Constellation

and celestial energy rippled like waves beneath his feet he was so beautiful and radiant all the villagers gasped in awe and made cries of shock

ziesoo began a growl deep in his throat and his eyes flashed red

and everything around them began to shake as ziesoo's powers swept through everyone

then his mother bowed her head bearing her neck first and paying her respects

giving him the royal greeting his brother and younger sibling did the same

his father with a reluctant growl finally bared his neck along with the rest of the celestials in the town

"A Wedding Ceremony will be held at Wolf City in Japan" Ziesoo continued his tiger began pacing again

"We have brought invitations should you desire to attend",

"however,!" his voice snapped his tone changing to one of controlled anger

"The matter of my mate having been wrongfully rejected out his home clan

and disowned by his family is an issue for me whether you should receive these invitations,

or be punished for what you did to him instead, still remains to be decided" he said coming to stop once more

his mother fell on her knees "I am so sorry your royal highness please forgive this careless family" she cried prostrating herself

"Please forgive us I beg of you have mercy!" she begged bowing, again and again, wringing her hands

"mother!" Taekwon cried seeing this not able to stand this his eyes tearing up

"get up lady," ziesoo said in a softer tone "my anger is not against you or your children I will not harm you I do not want Taekwon upset with me"

taekwons brother helped her up from the ground

"your husband however has insulted me and wronged my mate

as a clan elder and an alpha, he should have properly looked into the reasons

why his son appeared not to have any powers

before giving in to his own frustrations and abusing him and treating him unfairly

had he known that his son's powers were locked because he was meant to be bonded with a royal tiger

I think the outcome would have been very different, he would not have dared to touch a single hair on his sons head

and would have dearly cherished him and protected him like a father should have done and

this clan would have received great benefits from Tiger Clans Royal family

his life would have been extremely valuable to everyone in this town"

the people began raising their voices in anger when they heard that

their clan leader had thrown away the prize that would have seen their village

filled with money and blessings from the tiger clan royal family they all would have been richly rewarded by the tiger queen

everyone knew how much she loved her son and her son's true mate being found born and raised here was a huge deal

their clan leader had made a big mistake that would now undoubtedly doom their poor village such as it was

"Why did you treat him like that?" Ziesoo growled, "what had your son ever done that was so terrible that you left him to die out there knowing full well he couldn't protect himself?"

"do you not have anything to say for yourself father? an apology at least?" taekwon asked but his father was like a frozen statue

only gazing back pale and drawn as the crowd around began to raise their voices is dissent against their long time leader

"what do you want from us," his eldest brother asked finally "do you want us punished?"

"I have nothing against you or mom or sister or even this entire village" taekwon cried

my grievances lie with dad!

"then what do you want from me?" his father asked "should I repay you in money?" he growled

"We don't have much as you can see do you want revenge on me? should i let you rip out my cultivation to make up for it? how do you want to punish me son?" he growled

"I hate you so much for what you did to me I have always wished I could kill you a thousand times" taekwon snarled at him

"but now I'm actually here and I have the power to do so I even have the right to pass judgment on you as royal prince now I could demand your head you are the one who did wrong but now you're making me the bad guy?"

"if you want my head I'll give it to you" his father responded, "if my death can undo and make it better will change the past wrongs then take it I'm an old tiger I have lived long enough do you want to challenge me for it?"

his attitude was beginning to piss off ziesoo what a hard bastard he dared not even say he was sorry to his son he wronged

"Are you aware your son was almost dead by the time I found him?" ziesoo growled snapping his fangs

"you threw him out to the pack and they tried to destroy him!

he was injured so badly from being abused every day

he was gasping for breathing and spitting up blood in my arms!!" he roared

his eyes glowed red and bleeding glowing tears of energy as ziesoo spoke

"I had to give him my own blood to save his life he was already nearing death's door

his organs and bones were broken, his body and his spirit were covered in scars and bruises had I not found him in time and saved him

you would have been responsible for the murder of a royal mate and your own child

you would have wronged not just your wife your own bloodline and me personally

but all of tiger clan by extension by depriving me the life of my mate!

that is a crime of treason in the tiger clan understand old tiger what you have done!

your head is not nearly enough to take my pain and anger away

if I knew my mate was in such danger while I was living carefree and untouched

I didn't do those disgusting things that caused him harm

but I must feel guilt for not having found and saved him earlier when he needed me I should have been there to protect him! he suffered so much unnecessarily because of you!

and you think that it's so simple to just let your head be taken?"

taekwons mother cried out and began to sob wretched

wailing cries as she collapsed weakly into the arms of her eldest son as he held her up

his mother was wailing brokenly his little sister was clinging to her brothers side his elder brother was looking at him with fear in his eyes

"I can't do anything to you now," Taekwon said regretfully

"I feel like a bad guy for even coming here, I can't forgive you, but I can't bear to see mother like this, and if I kill you my siblings will suffer without a father and my family will hate me no matter how justified I am in taking your head so I cant kill you how fortunate for you" he growled bitterly

"he will not go unpunished, however," Ziesoo said

"from now on this clan no longer belongs to you, this territory is no longer yours either

the royal tiger clan officially strips you of your title and position as clan leader"

a sigil ring activated around him and there was a burst of power from it as his rank and power of command was shattered and dropped

"from now on you are Taekwons vassal do you understand old tiger? you are to repay him for what you've done while you live" Ziesoo said

"this clan and this territory shall belong to Taekwon all of you are his subjects we will be taking control of this territory I want all of the necessary information pertaining to this territory and

everyone who lives here as soon as possible

you are to serve as the tenant manager of this territory and all records past or current and all important matters are to brought to us directly to be dealt with

furthermore, I will be sending people to investigate this village and we will bring to light every other dirty thing you have done and you will be punished for them unequivocably you shall not escape"

"mother sister and brother may attend our wedding," Taekwon said "if they would like to but you father is not welcome, I have no desire to see your face on such a great day that will be important to all the clans, I am sure you have heard of the black witches death? and the existence of the quest team?"

"we have" Taekwons brother replied "you were the one to mortally wound the black witch that led to her ultimate death and now have been chosen for something highly important you are favored by the gods"

"I don't need you to tell me that," taekwon said proudly smirking"I'm the one with the nine tails and given the duty of having to save the gods and you always used to tease me about how worthless I am he glowered at him

"no celestial is ever worthless and every single one of us has our purpose for existing" ziesoo quoted from the celestial book of heritage directly

"its a pity you all seemed to forget that just because the gods werent around for a while"

"All of us are getting married at once" Ziesoo continued

"This will be a wedding that will be attended by all the clans especially

since this is the wedding of all the existing royal heirs of the celestial clans

everyone from the royal family of Tiger clan to Dragon clan will be in attendance"

"I see" his father replied nodding "very well then I will await your future orders"

he said softly "my wife and children shall attend and your decision of not inviting me I do not deserve such a privilege, your highness"

he bowed his head and

he turned around and went back into the house

"do you guys want these invitations or not?" Taekwon asked his brother holding out white envelopes to him

he came forward and accepted them

"Taekwon I am so sorry about what happened to you" his mother cried "I tried my best to stop him but your father was adamant about sending you out"

"mom enough I don't want to hear anymore any tired and useless excuses it changes, nothing," Taekwon said

"you should stop crying and get yourselves together we will take our leave now see you at the wedding"

the two turned their tigers around and left the town

taekwons mother and siblings went back into their house finding

her husband sitting in the living room his head in his hands crying quietly

his second son had grown up so well and had become so powerful but through his own fault he could not claim him

everything his son had now was not from his father's hand or from his clan he had to achieve everything on his own

he had no right to be proud of him or even say that the boy was his son

his own son stood above him now he could treat him as a servant if he liked and he would have to obey

even not inviting him to the wedding had been a mercy

if the tiger queen knew who was responsible for the near-death of her son's mate

then she would surely take his head on the spot Taekwon was still protecting him despite everything

"It's alright he's gone now don't cry anymore" his wife urged "let's have a look at the invitations"

she took them from her son and opened them gasping when a bank card and a slip of paper with the cards information fell out of one of them unto the table

taekwon is still good to us his elder brother said with a pained smile

his father released a sob of shame

his youngest daughter went to him making soft sounds trying to comfort her dad