Unrivaled Under The Heaven

Right after the grand elder stored the body of the horned leopard away, Jason couldn't help himself as he turned to look at the grand elder in surprise but didn't bother to say anything about it since the time is not yet appropriate. Seeing the shocking look on his face, the grand elder chuckled as he said.

"Are you wondering where the beast is".

"Of course I am but seeing that you are the one who is behind it, then there is no need for me to ask" replied Jason with a smile.

"Haha, I like the way you think boy, come on let's get out of here. I will fill you in when we get back" said the grand elder before leading the way while Jason and Austin follow behind.

Leaving the beast's territory was not a big deal for them since the grand elder was with them. Whenever they were attacked by a beast it will either be the grand elder sending the beast away with his energy wave or the beast will just run away out of fright.

After walking out of the beast territory, they make their way to the family territory where the grand elder halts his step and both Jason and Austin did the same as they were confused why the grand elder suddenly stopped walking.

"Is something the matter grand elder" asked Jason.

"Yeah, I have been wondering how you guys were able to make it this far into the beast territory without being attacked by the beast" replied the grand elder as he turned to look at Jason and Austin.

"It's all thanks to Jason's talent to sniff out the whereabouts of beasts that are getting close to where we are hiding" said Austin with a smile.

"What talent are you talking about" asked the grand elder with a confused look on his face.

"You see ever since I have been going to the beast territory to look for herbs, I have I grown to the fact that I could tell if a beast is closed by" 

The grand elder just stared at Jason for a long time without saying a word and was feeling uncomfortable about it until the grand elder finally looked away before saying.

"I hope you are not lying to me".

"I am not that bold to lie to you and by the way, you would have found out immediately if I were telling lies" replied Jason as he looked the grand elder in the eyes without blinking but deep inside he was praising the heavens for not being seen through.

"We will talk about your punishment for leaving the family territory when we get back to the alchemy room" said the grand elder.

"Is there still a need for that since we made it back alive" asked Jason.

"You wouldn't be saying this if you were to die there and besides how are you going to learn to abide by the rules if you don't get punished" replied the grand elder.

"I am ready to accept any punishment for I know I have broken the rules" said Austin with a lower head.

"You can't just give up like that, I thought you are a strong-headed person" replied Jason as he persuade Austin not to give up.

"What is the need of arguing when you know you are in the wrong" said Austin.

"Fine, I guess I would have taken on the mission by myself" replied Jason with a frown.

"Then you would have been dead by now and even your body would have been eaten by the beast" commented the grand elder with a laugh.

"I won't bet on that if I were you, didn't you see how I was able to beat the beast on my own without Austin helping out" said Jason feeling proud of himself.

"Yeah I saw everything and the only reason you were able to wound the beast was that it was busy fighting Austin and ignored your existence" replied the grand elder with a laugh.

"I can still beat it on my own alright" said Jason.

"You wouldn't have lasted more than an hour if went alone" replied the grand elder seriously.

Not waiting for Jason to say anything more, the grand elder begin to walk and it didn't take them long enough to get to the alchemy room where the grand elder took his sitter as he stare at the boys before him.

"Alright then, since we are home I am going to decide what your punishment is going to be. Austin your punishment is going to be working here as my servant for a year" said the grand elder.

"But grand elder I beg you to pick something else for me, working here won't do me any good" replied Austin as he knees down immediately and begin to beg the grand elder.

"I thought you said you are willing to face any punishment so why are you on your knees begging" said Jason as he look at Austin in disdain.

"Do you think it is easy to stay here doing nothing order than watching a pill take form" replies Austin as he glare at Jason angrily.

"That is where you are wrong, you see staying here while watching the grand elder concoct pills has it benefit like you get to learn about different things which the won't be taught to you and let's not forget the eh how about i we talk about that later" said Jason with a chuckle.

"That last statement, what is it come tell me Jason" asked Austin as he guests it might be the most important thing about the place.

"We will talk about that another time" replied Jason as he signal Austin with his eyes.

Understanding why he couldn't say the other part, Austin nodded his head as he turned back to face the grand elder before saying.

"I accepted my punishment but I would like the grand elder to pardon me until I have broken through before resuming my duty".

"I am sorry to say but I won't allow that beside it will be safer for you to it here while I keep watch over you" replied the grand elder without any change in his expression.

"If you say so then who am I to decline" said Austin as he finally submitted.

Seeing that Austin has already accepted his punishment even though it was hard for him, the grand elder nodded before turning to look at Jason who has a smile on his face but quickly change to a sad look when he noticed the grand elder's gaze.

"As for you, your punishment is going to be a sparring session with me for three months" said the grand elder with a wide smile on his face.

Hearing the punishment the grand elder just mentioned killed the joy he had as he turned to the grand elder before turning to look at Austin who has an envy look on his face.

'Why are you looking at me like that, do you think I wanted this' thought, Jason, to himself before looking at the grand elder as he asked.

"Grand elder I think that punishment is too much for me, why don't you punish me with something else".

"No, I think this punishment is more fitting for you since I can't think of anything else" replied the grand elder with a smile.

"Why don't you just beat me up instead of using sparring session as an excuse" said Jason with a tearful eye.

"Hey bro I thought you were acting tough not quite long so why the sudden face" asked Austin with a smile on his face.

"Shut up will you, you can spar with this old man if you want but I am not ready to be beaten into a pig" replied Jason as he yelled at Austin.

"As much as I want to but unfortunately for me, my punishment has to be this" said Austin with a sigh.

"You must be really crazy to have the thought of sparring with the grand elder" replied Jason with a shocking look on his face.

"Yeah I am crazy if that is what it will take for me to have just one sparring session with the grand elder then I am willing to" said Austin with a saddened face.

"If you want a sparring session with me then I will gladly grant you as long as you work here" replied the grand elder seriously.

"As long as it is what it takes then I am willing to work for you" said Austin happy with a bow.

Seeing Austin this way really makes Jason happy as he can request for another punishment now.

"Well you now have a new sparring partner so can you change my punishment please" said Jason with a smile on his face.

"As I said before, you are going to have a sparring session with me and if you were to break any rule then you know what I am going to do" replied the grand elder with a serious look which makes it know that he meant what he said.