Chapter 40: A Price to Pay

The Oni's eyes lit up, literally, Feng Biao saw a pale red light emanate within its pupils.

"That's what I'm talking about! Truth be told talking to you was killing my mood. I was about to ask you to participate in a test of strength, but a drinking competition sounds like a much better idea."

Feng Biao frowned. Unless he was paired against the Yellow Oni he doubted he could survive either of the two sitting next to him seriously applying their strength on his body.

"Then me versus him," Feng Biao said pointing at the Black Oni.

"But I want some conditions," Feng Biao said glancing back at Shuten-Douji.

"Name them."

"We both have to try, it's no fun after all if one of us isn't trying to win."

"Next, I want to bet something. Because it's no fun if we're not playing for something."

"Hahaha," Shuten Douji laughed, "you're right."

"So what are you gonna bet?" Shuten-Douji said staring at Feng Biao.

"I'll bet my life," Feng Biao said resolutely.

"That's a fine wager in spirit. But your life isn't worth much right now. If you're asking for another's I'll have to refuse. Equal value and all."

"That's fine, could I trade time?"

"Time?"

"If I win I want him to stay here and entertain you."

"Hmm, that's a pretty win-win situation for me. I like it, ok I'll approve. In that case, he'll have to entertain me for..."

"Friend you're very weak. Making him stay for any longer than a minute would be an insult,"

"But that's the point, isn't it? He should be insulted if he loses to you!"

Feng Biao noticed the Black Oni visibly recoiled at that statement. This entire time he had been confused about the exact nature of it. Records he could access had only described its general tactics and power.

'Monsters can get offended?'

Thinking back Feng Biao had clearly seen the Red Oni get angry when that Marked had killed the one next to it.

'It's clear this Black Oni understands this whole conversation. Can it talk?'

Rather than answer Feng Biao's internal question the Black Oni moved to sit directly in front of Feng Biao, with enough space in between them it could stretch its long limbs.

"He's ready to go, are you?"

Shuten-Douji looked at Feng Biao expectantly. It seemed he was actually excited about this.

"Yeah, I am," Feng Biao said staring directly at the somewhat horrifying face staring back at him.

"Then here you go," Shuten-Douji said placing a gourd in-between them, "the rules for this challenge are pretty simple. Cause I made them up on the spot with a bit of input from my friend here."

"Whoever drinks the longest in one go from my gourd wins. You have to drink it the same way I do, no letting it spill onto the ground. You can pick it back up after the other person puts it down, but you must drink for longer than they did."

"Friend if you lose I'll allow that one to end your life, but if you win he must entertain me for the coming hour."

"The time limit is about until I get bored of this. Anybody who breaks a rule will make me mad for having to think up a rule for punishing people who break the rules."

"You can go ahead and get started."

The Black Oni was the first to grab the gourd. It downed the liquid inside for a full 10 seconds before putting the gourd down.

The Black Oni was not immune to the effect of the liquor. If Shuten-Douji wasn't how could it hope to be? It simply had more tolerance than the other Oni. It also would not succumb to the addictive effects of it, unlike the other Oni, because its will to serve its ruler was too great.

It had chosen 10 seconds because it wanted to see how Feng Biao responded. It was using this an opportunity to poke at his Divine Abilities limits and its exact parameters.

The Marked had taken sips of the liquor, lightly and calculated, as it had. The liquor presented a danger to it. The tolerance the Marked seemed to have for it was no immunity.

Feng Biao picked up the gourd and looked back to the Black Oni who waited patiently to study and examine his next move. Yet he did something the Black Oni did not expect.

"You know Oni are supposed to be pretty famous for being able to drink."

"Lucky for me that doesn't seem to be the case. Watch how a human handles his liquor."

And with that Feng Biao downed the gourd.

'I've gotta pace myself. But I don't want to draw this out. So I'll make sure his next attempt he goes for broke'

Feng Biao counted to 11, put the gourd down, and smiled.

"I know I'm not strong, but Marked humans so strong they could kick your ass in a second are a dime a dozen."

"I guess what I'm saying is. We're both pretty weak in the grand scheme of things. The difference is I'm not a loser who can't handle his liquor."

Feng Biao was betting on personally striking at the Black Oni. After that show of emotion he had formulated a quick plan, get angry and go for a win. Then Feng Biao would simply one-up him again by a second.

However, Feng Biao miscalculated. The Black Oni had largely ignored everything Feng Biao had said, except one part.

"You know Oni are supposed"

The Black Oni didn't care in the slightest if its personal being was trash-talked by a Marked. Only if its ruler was involved would he care. Feng Biao, unwittingly, had implied that Shuten-Douji also couldn't handle his drink.

The Black Oni decided then and there, it would make Feng Biao pay on the spot. Not by breaking the rules, but by following them.

It picked up the gourd, and it began to drink.

30 seconds

'Hey, hey how much can he drink? 11 seconds of it made my throat burn a bit'

40 seconds

10 seconds of drinking also made the Black Oni's throat burn. Every additional 10 seconds made it feel terrible. As if the liquor was an acid burning its insides.

50 seconds

But it kept going. It had decided since Feng Biao had insulted his ruler. It would make the Marked pay. No matter the cost.

60 seconds

'Its skin is turning yellow...'

65 seconds

The Black Oni put down the gourd.