Chen Zhou looked at the Happy Meat, his chopsticks suspended in mid-air, hesitating to lower them.
He blamed himself; he hadn't told Song Zi'an that this was meant for malevolent ghosts. As a result, the honest kid had served it right onto the dining table.
"My Lord, please, try some," Song Zi'an said with an expectant face, rubbing his hands together. "I processed it using a secret method to remove the gamy smell."
"I also added several spices unique to Zhenlong Mountain and let it stew until tender. It truly melts in your mouth—rich but not greasy."
Chen Zhou’s lips twitched slightly.
"Actually... forget it." Chen Zhou silently set down his chopsticks. "I am not hungry. You two go ahead."
"Huh? My Lord isn't eating?"
"Then this monk will not be modest!"
Wu Gou had already taken several bites. It was exceptionally delicious, so much so that he felt like he might swallow his own tongue.
If it hadn't been for the fact that Chen Zhou hadn't moved his chopsticks yet, he would have started grabbing it with his hands long ago.
"Delicious, absolutely delicious."
"Benefactor Song, your craftsmanship is unparalleled."
Wu Gou praised him through a mouthful of food, increasing his eating speed as if afraid someone would snatch it from him.
Chen Zhou watched Wu Gou, whose face was slick with grease, with a strange expression.
If this little monk knew that the 'delicacy' he was currently devouring had an unknown origin and had already been nibbled on by malevolent ghosts, he wondered if the boy would still be so happy.
'Forget it, better not tell him.'
What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't grieve over; a little filth wouldn't kill him.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just as he was thinking, a series of urgent knocks rang out, breaking the warm atmosphere of the meal.
Wu Gou was just lifting a piece of meat to his mouth. Having his enjoyment interrupted, his brows shot up in an instant, his face clouded with annoyance.
"Who is it!"
Wu Gou cursed as he set down his chopsticks and wiped the grease from his mouth.
"Who's ringing a death knell in the middle of the night? Don't you know this monk is having his meal?"
"If it isn't something urgent, I'll twist your head off and beat it like a wooden fish!"
There was no response from outside, only a few more persistent knocks.
Chen Zhou remained seated. He sent his divine sense outward and immediately perceived the aura of the person at the door.
It was a dense scent of moisture, mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible smell of decay.
It was the neighbor from next door.
"Go open the door," Chen Zhou said calmly.
Wu Gou rolled his eyes and reluctantly hopped off his chair. Walking with an arrogant, swaggering gait, he pulled the door open.
"Knock, knock, knock, knock your uncle..."
Before he could finish his curse, Wu Gou froze.
Standing outside was not the expected palace maid or eunuch, but a tall, handsome yet haggard man.
It was Prince Cangming.
At this moment, he didn't have the countless shrimp soldiers and crab generals he had when entering the palace. Behind him followed only a timid-looking Clam Maiden.
Neither of them held an umbrella, allowing the red rain to drench them until they were soaking wet.
To hide their presence, they had specially used water-escaping technique to travel through the red rain.
As soon as the door opened, Cangming didn't care who had opened it. His deep blue eyes stared straight into the room.
His nose twitched incessantly, like a cat that had caught the scent of fish.
"What are you looking at with those dead-fish eyes?"
Wu Gou, feeling ignored and annoyed, blocked the doorway with his hands on his hips.
"What brings you here in the middle of the night, disturbing this monk’s peace?"
Cangming looked down at Wu Gou, who only reached his chest. He frowned, a flash of impatience crossing his eyes.
However, he quickly suppressed his emotions, making his voice sound as polite as possible.
"Has the Lord of Two Domains... returned?"
"Cangming of the Eastern Region seeks an audience."
Wu Gou let out a cold laugh. "My Lord has just returned from the banquet. He is tired and resting. No visitors."
Cangming’s eyes were already beginning to bloodshot, but then he recalled the fleeting glimpse of dragon might from before, as well as the aroma wafting from the room—a scent that made his very soul tremble.
He forced himself to endure.
"Little master must be joking."
Cangming took a deep breath, his tone exceptionally persistent. "Cangming truly has an important matter to discuss and seeks this audience with utmost sincerity."
"If the Lord refuses to see me, Cangming shall remain kneeling here indefinitely."
As he spoke, he actually lifted his robes, preparing to kneel.
Wu Gou’s eyes widened, looking at him as if he were a fool.
"Are you sick? You must be sick, right?"
Were all people from the Eastern Region like this?
Wasn't it rumored that the Eastern Region was extremely xenophobic and arrogant?
Had he only been away for a few days? Had he missed some major event?
Just as Wu Gou was about to shut the door on him, Chen Zhou’s flat voice drifted from inside.
"Since the First Prince has visited in the dead of night, let him in."
"I would also like to hear what important matter the Eastern Region has."
Hearing this, a flash of joy erupted in Cangming’s eyes.
"Thank you, My Lord!"
Without even waiting for Wu Gou to step aside, he squeezed through the gap beside the monk.
He moved so fast that he brought a gust of damp sea breeze with him, chilling Wu Gou’s bald head.
"Hey, you..." Wu Gou stamped his feet in anger. "Where are your manners!"
However, Cangming could no longer hear him.
The moment he entered the room, his gaze was instantly drawn to the spiritual meal on the table.
That soul-stirring fragrance was precisely coming from there.
Smelling it at close range, Cangming felt the death qi within him—the source of his black spots—miraculously quiet down.
Gulp...
The sound of swallowing rang out.
Cangming’s eyes were glazed, his Adam’s apple bobbed violently, and his salivary glands were secreting frantically.
He sat down right in Wu Gou’s former seat, his hands gripping the edge of the table tightly as he tried his best to restrain himself.
He was suppressing the urge to disregard everything and devour the leftovers like a stray dog.
"What? Did the First Prince not eat his fill?"
Chen Zhou sat across from him, looking at him with a half-smile.
Upon hearing this, Cangming suddenly looked up, his gaze burning as he stared at Chen Zhou.
The closer he got, the more clearly he could feel the pressure radiating from Chen Zhou.
It was a suppression originating from the source of his bloodline—an aura that stood high above, looking down upon all living things.
It was dragon might.
There was no mistake.
And it was a hundred times more concentrated than what he had sensed through the Ghost Domain during the banquet.
This kind of pressure could make the royalty of the sea—the deep-sea merfolk—desire to submit from the depths of their souls.
Aside from the legendary true dragons that had long since disappeared, who else could achieve this?
Chen Zhou felt a bit uneasy being stared at by those dead-fish eyes and was about to say something to break the awkwardness.
But Cangming moved first.
He turned and growled at the Clam Maiden behind him.
"What are you standing there for? Can't you see the Lord Dragon Ancestor is watching?"
The Clam Maiden trembled. In a fluster, she hurriedly manifested her natal bead.
A blue water screen instantly rose, sealing the entire room airtight and cutting off all outside observation.
With that finished, Cangming dropped to his knees with a heavy thud, performing a deep kowtow toward Chen Zhou.
"Your unworthy descendant Cangming pays his respects to the Lord Dragon Ancestor!"
"Cangming was blind and did not dare to acknowledge you at the banquet. I beg for the Lord Dragon Ancestor's forgiveness!"
Chen Zhou: "..."
Wu Gou, who had just closed the door and walked in: "..."
Song Zi'an, who was carrying soup from the kitchen: "..."
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