Chapter 115: Alligator Dragon’s Grand Banquet, Before Departure
The ancients said: Food and sex, nature!
However, Hong Yuan has always kept himself pure and chaste, with little interest in women, which is known to all and seen by everyone.
But he loves fine wine and also gourmet food.
In Mingguang Courtyard.
Hong Yuan looked relaxed, gazing at the artificial lake of two or three acres in front of him.
Behind him, Tao Gongwang, Tao Jingxing father and son, Xie Yansheng, and other high-level members of the Town Sea Alliance stood with hands clasped.
Tao Xiyue and Xu Qingjing also came to see the spectacle, their two pairs of bright eyes cast toward the lake water.
This small lake in the garden was not calm; beneath the green water, it seemed a vicious flood dragon or giant python was stirring up wind and waves, occasionally bursting water waves and splashing water flowers several zhang high.
Tides surged one after another toward the shore, slapping the green stone piled by the poolside.
Suddenly, a drum-like buzzing sound rang out; amid the splashing water, a colossal grayish-rock scaled behemoth darted out, fleeing urgently toward the opposite shore.
Tao Xiyue and Xu Qingjing couldn’t help but cry out in alarm; Tao Gongwang, Xie Yansheng, and the others, seeing such an exotic beast, also showed shock on their faces.
This was naturally that Cave Abyss Alligator Dragon!
The reorganized Town Sea Army was stationed in two major barracks areas: one was the original Golden Soup Camp site at South Water Gate, and the other was this Mingguang Courtyard.
Not long ago, the Alligator Dragon was transported to the prefecture city and sent into this villa.
However, Hong Yuan had no intention of keeping it as a pet; this thing was ferociously savage, had no attractiveness, and couldn’t transform—what value was there in adopting it?
It could only satisfy his appetite.
After all, it was an exotic beast, a rare item!
Amid the churning water waves, the Alligator Dragon’s massive body grew even more ferocious and terrifying; just as it was about to charge onto the lakeshore, suddenly a beam of clear light shot out diagonally, its form swift as a gale, floatingly arriving beside the Alligator Dragon in an instant.
“Vicious beast, get back in there!”
A low shout, followed by the Alligator Dragon’s thunderous muffled roar; a pair of meaty palms pressed against its hard scale armor, force penetrating through—with a ‘bang’ ringing sound, it actually struck this ferocious beast sideways back into the water.
Like a fierce bolt of lightning splitting the lake surface, a large area of water flowers exploded in the lake; the Alligator Dragon let out another roar, seemingly frightened as it sank to the lake bottom.
“Good!”
“Mister Qing Lingzi has great kung fu!”
Tao Gongwang, Xie Yansheng, and the others were greatly amazed.
For such a ferocious beast, they were already terrified just looking at it; Qing Lingzi didn’t use a weapon and repelled it with just his two palms—this level of martial arts could be called profound and immeasurable.
As for Hong Yuan, in their hearts he was already on the level of ghosts and gods; no matter how exaggerated the feat, it wouldn’t seem strange.
Tao Gongwang praised, then cupped his hands toward Hong Yuan and asked: “Lord, how should this beast be dealt with?”
Hong Yuan’s gaze swept over the crowd, smiling: “You all have been diligent and hardworking these days; everything in the Town Sea Alliance has been handled in perfect order, without troubling me—you deserve a reward.”
“Being able to serve the Lord is our honor.” Tao Gongwang, Xie Yansheng, and the others quickly expressed their loyalty.
Hong Yuan chuckled, too lazy to discern true or false intentions, just waving his hand: “Winter frost is cold; just right to hold an event of ‘Alligator Dragon Feast’ with this exotic beast’s flesh and blood to reward you all and dispel the chill… Tao Gong, Mister Xie, leave this banquet to you to handle.”
With his order, he immediately became a hands-off shopkeeper.
Tao Gongwang and Xie Yansheng also quickly got to work, immediately summoning the most skilled chefs in the city, especially the master chefs proficient in handling mountain delicacies and wild game, and knowledgeable in medicinal cuisine tonics.
But when they entered the villa and saw the Alligator Dragon, they were all shocked with mouths agape and legs trembling—make them handle this kind of monster?
Real or fake?
Surely not tricking them here to feed the monster?
In the end, Qing Lingzi personally entered the water, delivering a heavy blow to the Alligator Dragon’s head to kill it, after which over a dozen people dragged it to an open ground.
Only then did the master chefs start bustling, skinning the Alligator Dragon, deboning it, and gutting it to drain the blood.
The scale armor as hard as refined iron, Alligator Dragon tendons, vocal sac, and other materials were separately collected and stored in the secret vault for careful preservation.
Hong Yuan had no use for these materials, but they could be kept to reward subordinates in the future.
The remaining flesh and blood bones were the main event this time; the master chefs sliced the fattiest meat for shabu-shabu or stir-frying, while large chunks of bone-in meat were added with various precious medicinal ingredients, slow-simmered over low heat into thick soup…
Soon, the entire courtyard was filled with a strange fragrance that made one’s mouth water.
The banquet was set in an open area in the garden, with all the high-level members of the Town Sea Alliance in the prefecture city attending.
Hong Yuan naturally sat in the main seat, with all eyes on him.
He didn’t touch his chopsticks, so the others didn’t dare; they could only swallow their saliva—though those present were all of extraordinary status, this exotic beast meat, and such a large Alligator Dragon, was still a first for them to taste.
“Today is a banquet; no need for formalities, eat freely.”
Hong Yuan picked up a slice of meat to taste; he thought it might be tough, but unexpectedly the meat was quite fresh, tender, and succulent, so he enjoyed the food while savoring the fine wine.
Beside him, Tao Xiyue and Xu Qingjing were initially reserved, but after the first bite their eyes lit up, eating like little gluttons who couldn’t stop.
“Young Master, this meat is so delicious, and this soup is great too! After drinking it, my body feels warm and toasty, not cold at all!” Tao Xiyue’s cheeks flushed red, her eyes sparkling with added charm.
“If you like it, eat more.”
Hong Yuan glanced over and immediately understood.
This Alligator Dragon flesh and blood naturally had the effect of tonifying qi and blood, but his physique was already near inhuman, so he felt no enhancement.
Below, Tao Gongwang, Xie Yansheng, and the others had already felt the benefits of the exotic beast flesh and blood; the fatigue from days of hard work vanished, replaced by abundant energy as they buried their heads and ate voraciously.
Even Qing Lingzi was no exception.
If not for Hong Yuan being here, these ‘big shots’ in the eyes of ordinary people would probably be scrambling for it.
Though the exotic beast flesh and blood had little effect on Hong Yuan, since the taste was excellent, he ate quite a bit with the mindset of savoring gourmet food.
However, excluding the scale armor, bones, and hide, this Alligator Dragon’s net meat weighed over a thousand catties, and in the end several hundred catties were left.
Hong Yuan had Xie Yansheng send some to Black Iron Town; the remainder, aside from what he kept, was left for them to divide among themselves.
After enjoying the Alligator Dragon feast, Hong Yuan summoned Qing Lingzi, Xie Yansheng who was acting as alliance affairs proxy, Tao Gongwang, and a few others, getting straight to the point: “I want to make a trip to Vajra Temple.”
Qing Lingzi was startled, hurriedly saying: “Lord, among Mingzhou’s three major sects, Vajra Temple has the longest heritage and deepest foundation, with masters as numerous as clouds in the temple—why go for a mere Hongfa…”
Hong Yuan said indifferently: “It has nothing to do with Hongfa; I just want to see the quality of these top-tier sects. Enough! I’ve already made up my mind on this, no need for more discussion. After I leave, continue handling alliance affairs through consultation among yourselves; Qing Lingzi will sit in the prefecture city to guard against mishaps—prioritize stability.”
The three knew persuasion was futile and bowed to accept orders; after they withdrew, Hong Yuan looked toward Dragon Steed Mansion—before setting off, he still needed to warn Song Yinglong not to pull any tricks.
