Pillar of Yita

Full of curiosity, as if it were some intriguing novelty.

Fortunately, the host of this place didn’t mind at all, and instead, showed a satisfied gaze, as if the guests’ sense of fulfillment was her honor as the host.

Fang Hong had something on his mind, sampling just a bit of each dish.

The dish he fancied most, however, was the stew—when the amber-colored meat chunk was gently bitten, the fragrant juices burst forth in the mouth like a melting hot stream, with sweetness and savoriness flowing straight into the depths of the heart.

His furrowed brow relaxed, revealing a look of surprise.

Princess Rupert seemed to notice this detail and said, ”This is sand dragon meat, Mr. Ade.”

With a sudden snort, Ai Xiaoxiao almost spat out the piece of meat in her mouth, the juices choking her through the nose, leaving her coughing half to death. Tang Xin quickly put down her knife and fork and patted her back.

She said irritably, ”Are you courting death?”

”No, I’m not,” Ai Xiaoxiao said with tears in her eyes.

Fang Hong looked at the meat on his plate and then asked, ”Is it the giant sand worm people often talk about?”

Princess Rupert nodded, ”This is the midsection of its meat, the most succulent and tender part. In recent years, sand dragons have been increasingly rare for hunters to catch, making this meat ever more precious on the market.”

With a clatter, Tianlan’s knife and fork fell onto the plate, her face turning from white to green, ”Sand, sand worm?”

”Sand dragons are chordates, but we merely call it a sand worm. Actually, calling it a giant sand serpent is more accurate, and biologists have even given it a new classification, as a suborder of Salamander,” Gita replied, ”So it’s not much different from the beef and lamb we usually eat.”

”This young lady is truly knowledgeable,” Princess Rupert complimented.

Tianlan’s face finally showed some improvement.

Meanwhile, Parker wiped his mouth and asked, ”Don’t you French even eat snails?”

”That’s them, not me!” Tianlan retorted angrily.

...

The minor episode at the dinner table soon passed.

After sampling each dish and dessert, the servants once again brought tea, and everyone was thoroughly satisfied.

Even someone who claimed consuming four portions of food was a racial trait among the Papalarians patted their belly, declaring they could not eat another bite.

But Big Cat People, Atira put down her knife and fork, exchanged a glance with Fang Hong, and Hilveld also remained unusually quiet. Clearly, the few of them realized that this banquet had only just begun.

Fang Hong couldn’t help but look towards the center of the table. Throughout the meal, servants had presented every dish to them except for the gemstone-like golden cup at the center, reminding him of what Princess Rupert had mentioned earlier, suggesting the cup’s contents might be of some significance.

Indeed, after they finished dining, Princess Rupert clapped her hands, and more servants came forward to clear the plates.

Once all the leftovers were removed, all that remained in the hall was that gleaming golden cup. With that, not only Fang Hong, Atira, and the Big Cat People, but everyone else’s gaze was inevitably drawn towards it.

Princess Rupert said softly, ”What I mentioned before as being the most exquisite delicacy in Istania is precisely what’s in this cup.”

Though some among them had already guessed, Fang Hong included, they were still somewhat surprised.

The Papalarians grumbled even more, ”Shouldn’t the most exquisite delicacy be a main course? We’re already so full, no matter how delicious, we can’t eat a bit more.”

”You’re the only one full, Parker,” Tianlan teased him.

”In any case, isn’t it the host’s duty to give a warning?”

Princess Rupert smiled slightly, ”Generally, that’s true, but this cup contains an extraordinary elixir. While normally, the most exquisite dish should be a main course, it is perfectly suited to this moment.”

”Why? But my stomach is about to burst,” Parker said.

”Please be patient, Mr. Parker, you’ll know once you taste it.”

As she spoke, she gestured towards the servants.

A servant carefully lifted the golden cup, while another had already placed a smaller golden chalice in front of Fang Hong. The former brought the golden cup to him, tilting the rim slightly.

A stream of golden liquid, glimmering in the afternoon sunlight like molten gold, cascaded into his cup until it was full, not a drop spilled.

”Please have a taste, Mr. Ade.”

Princess Rupert’s voice sounded ethereal.

Fang Hong raised the cup, hesitated for a moment, then took a gentle sip. But like there was an unseen magic power, it compelled him to tilt the cup and drink it all. Before he even realized it, a stream of icy cool spring slid down his throat.

Once the liquid passed his throat, his tongue experienced an expanding sensation, as if he had swallowed an entire universe, almost forcing his mouth open. But he couldn’t open it; the sensation pressed against his palate, seemingly penetrating his skin and shooting up into the top of his skull.

Then a tingling sensation traveled down his nerves, seemingly making Fang Hong’s entire body shiver, his skin prickling with goosebumps.

His whole being felt dizzy for a moment, uncertain of what had happened, as if floating in the clouds, with countless thoughts surging and then suddenly settling down again.

When he shook his head and suddenly woke up, he realized that everyone at the table had the same expression, staring at him in astonishment. Hilveld lowered her head, looking at the cup in her hand.

And Parker was also touching his belly with surprise—the bloated feeling in his stomach vanished as if emptied after drinking the cup.