darknovel Chapter 12 Ambrosia and Exquisite Skewers
Chapter 12 Ambrosia and Exquisite Skewers
Just then, the thick miasma above the mountain valley suddenly surged violently, a foul wind rushed in, accompanied by heavy footsteps like muffled thunder.
"They're here!" Old Huang's spirits lifted, and he said in a low voice.
As the miasma parted, several tall, robust figures covered in black fur appeared first. They were all bear-headed, human-bodied monsters, wielding rough iron forks or bone clubs, with fierce eyes.
Then, a rough palanquin woven from the bones of an unknown animal and black vines was carried slowly into the mountain valley by four exceptionally strong black bear spirits.
A particularly large black bear sat in the palanquin.
It had almost completely transformed into human form, but its head still retained distinct bear features: a wide mouth with fangs, eyes like copper bells, and a rough black leather armor. Its bare arms were muscular and full of explosive power.
It was the master of this place, the Black Wind King.
Its copper-bell-like eyes swept over the group in the mountain hollow, and a low, booming laugh echoed from its throat:
"Fellow Daoists, your presence is an honor. I, Black Wind, have failed to greet you properly!"
The sound waves rolled by, scattering the thin miasma in the mountain valley.
The guests rose to their feet or cast glances, their expressions varied, but most carried a mixture of fear and greed.
Xu Changqing nodded slightly to the others, his gaze calmly falling on the Black Wind King. His heart was filled with murderous intent, but his face remained calm and composed.
The Black Wind King's thunderous laughter gradually subsided, and his giant copper bell eyes swept across the entire area. His voice, like a muffled drum, echoed through the mountain valley: "The time has not yet come, and there are still distinguished guests on their way. Since you have come from afar, you may first take your seats and rest, or go to the guest rooms in the cave to recuperate."
The guests reacted to the sound, each with a different expression.
The centipede boy grinned and chuckled, then hopped and leaped towards the Black Wind Cave, his colorful clothes leaving a strange afterimage in the miasma.
The Painted Skin Lady lazily got up, casually tossed the severed human finger bone into the stream, smoothed her hair with her blood-red fingernails, and glanced at Xu Changqing with a faint look before gracefully following behind.
Blood Sword Liu Canyang remained expressionless, carrying his long sword on his back, his steps steady, yet the faint aura of blood around him grew even stronger.
The withered hands of the Blood Monk remained clasped together, but the dark red liquid seeping from the rock beneath him suddenly stopped. He slowly opened his eyes, his turbid pupils turning towards the Black Wind King, revealing a silent, ambiguous smile. Only then did he stand up, the hem of his robe dragging across the ground, leaving a wet, dark trail.
Old Huang rubbed his hands together and whispered to Xu Changqing, "Fellow Daoist Xuming, let's go in and take a look. King Black Wind's 'Blood Apricot Banquet' is famously 'unique' in its presentation."
Xu Changqing nodded slightly and followed the others toward Black Wind Cave.
The cave entrance is located on a steep, sheer black rock wall, about three zhang high and more than two zhang wide, resembling a giant mouth ready to devour people.
Roughly carved animal reliefs adorn the stone walls on both sides, all depicting ferocious roars. The eye sockets are inlaid with dark red minerals, which gleam with a blood-red light under the dim light inside the cave, making them lifelike and adding to the eeriness.
Upon entering the cave, the light dimmed abruptly, and the air was filled with a complex odor that blended a strong smell of blood, stale grease, and a strange, sweet fragrance.
The cave passage was wide enough to accommodate several people walking side by side. The ground was paved with dark blue-black stone slabs of varying sizes, with dark brown stains accumulating in the gaps.
Every few feet, torches burning brightly are stuck into the cave walls, crackling and leaping, casting eerie shadows on the stalactites hanging from the cave walls.
After walking no more than a hundred steps, the view suddenly opened up before me.
A huge natural cave appeared before us, several tens of feet in circumference, with a high dome and countless jagged stalagmites hanging down.
In the center of the cave is a huge banquet area roughly carved from a single piece of dark-colored mountain rock.
The site is circular, surrounding a recessed fire pit in the center.
A strange, dark green fire burned silently in the hearth, its flames occasionally twisting into the shape of a pained human face, emitting a warmth that was not scorching but rather chilling, illuminating the cave with a ghastly green hue.
Dozens of rough stone tables and benches were set up around the hearth. The tables were large and were now set up with what were called "meals".
Xu Changqing's gaze swept over them, and even though he had expected it, a chill still rose in his heart.
The most "abundant" items were displayed on the stone tables closest to the head of the table.
In the center of a huge bronze cauldron, a thick, dark red broth was bubbling. Amidst the rising steam, several whole human hearts could be seen floating on the surface, their tips still pulsating slightly, glistening with oil from being soaked in the broth.
Several large white porcelain plates were stacked beside the cauldron, each plate filled with a finger-length, golden strip. Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be finger bones, translucent like jade, prepared using some secret method. Dark green spices were stuffed between the bones, emitting a unique fragrance.
On the other side, large chunks of roasted, golden-brown, glistening pork chops were served on a black wooden tray.
The meat had coarse marbling, with knotted muscles and dripping oil, clearly indicating it was not ordinary animal meat.
A spirit nearby, who knew the inside story, chuckled softly, revealing that these were the ribs of a boar demon in the mountains that had gained sentience but had not yet taken human form. The meat was firm and contained a small amount of demonic power, making it a favorite among these demons.
Even more remarkable are the "skin pouches" made from a whole human skin, filled with unknown blood, flesh, and spices, shaped like pockets, sewn together with red thread, and placed on a silver platter.
The skull is used as a vessel, filled with a scarlet, viscous "ghee" that is still warm from the brain matter.
There are also "exquisite skewers" skewered on iron grills, sizzling and dripping with oil. Upon closer inspection, they are actually made by shrinking the delicate hands and feet of infants using a secret method...
Around the perimeter of the table were relatively "ordinary" dishes: large pots of stewed offal that were so mushy they were unrecognizable, piles of unknown mushrooms, strangely colored wild fruits, and large jars of murky liquid that emitted a pungent smell of alcohol.
The air was filled with the stench of blood, meat, burnt meat, alcohol, and the pervasive sweet scent of apricots, creating a bizarre atmosphere that made one dizzy and nauseous.
Under the interplay of light from the pine torches and the central green flame, everything appeared even more bizarre and fantastical, as if one were in a purgatory feast where demons were reveling.
The guests found their seats and took their places.
The centipede boy jumped to a stone table, eagerly grabbed a string of "exquisite beads," and without caring that it was hot, stuffed it directly into his mouth, making a crunching sound. A satisfied, strange smile appeared on his face, and as his cheeks bulged, tiny centipede legs peeked out from his ear canals and quickly retracted.
The Painted Skin Lady gracefully sat down at another table, extended her slender fingers stained with nail polish, picked up a golden human finger bone, held it to her nose and sniffed it lightly. Her scarlet tongue slowly licked the surface of the bone, her eyes glazed over, as if she were savoring a rare delicacy.
Blood Sword Liu Canyang occupied a table alone, ignoring the "delicacies" on it. He simply took off his long sword from his back, placed it on his lap, closed his eyes to rest, and his aura grew increasingly cold.
The Blood Zen Monk found a corner near the fire pit and sat cross-legged. He didn't even look at the "nectar" in front of him, but just chanted the indistinct scriptures in a low voice. More dark red liquid seeped out from under him, mixing with the stains on the ground.
Old Huang tugged at Xu Changqing's sleeve, gesturing for him to sit down at a slightly secluded stone table near the cave entrance. "Fellow Daoist Xuming, sit here; it'll be quieter."
He lowered his voice, his eyes darting around as he sized up the various demons and monsters who were taking their seats one after another.
Inside the cave, the noise gradually grew louder.
The sounds of monsters roughly tearing and chewing, clinking glasses and gulping down drinks, mixed with indistinct boasts and strange laughter, along with the faint wails that occasionally emanated from the central green fire, formed the prelude to a hellish feast.
Black Wind King sat high in the main seat, served by several alluring female demons. He tore into the roasted pig demon meat ribs with gusto, his copper bell eyes flashing with smugness and ruthlessness. He glanced at the cave entrance from time to time, as if waiting.