Chapter 353: Drinking, Feasting, and Reciting Poetry

Being able to use the name of a Shenlong, this inn naturally possessed a significant official background. Knowing that if the first meeting between the leaders of both sides was handled beautifully, the benefits would naturally be substantial, the inn's proprietor also put forth twelve times the effort.

The menu covered everything from "beasts of the mountains and swallows of the clouds, to cattle and sheep of the land and delicacies of the sea," and specifically added dishes according to the tastes of Sinuoli and Yin Yin, such as that whole roasted lamb that had left the Rock Sheep in a state of desperate need for a Protection Rune.

To prepare the most authentic roasted lamb, the raw material had to be wild young rams from around Mountain Lake Fortress. The Dwarfs swore that the unique water quality of Heishui Hu bestowed upon them an extraordinary flavor, to the point that the Ancestor Chosen and the Mother Goddess both favored them.

To please the King of the Southlands, the roasted lamb at the banquet was transported from thousands of miles away from Mountain Lake Fortress. To ensure it arrived healthy and sound, it had to be tended to by dedicated personnel along the way.

As for the drinks, in addition to the top-tier fine wines from the Dwarfs, Cathayans, and Lizardmen, they even offered Lotus Jade Dew, which only the Slann were qualified to enjoy. This treasure, which could refresh one's spirit, had to be collected by the most sensitive Skink Priest at dawn from wild spirit lotuses deep in the rainforest.

"The Governor has led the army to sweep through the land, and the petty villains in the Sea of Dread naturally have no choice but to flee at the sight of your Dragon might. But after half a year of expedition, fatigue is inevitable; let's not talk about official business today, everyone eat and drink well!"

Sinuoli was in a very good mood, and looking at the Ming Dragon sitting opposite him, he couldn't stop licking his lips. However, even if the other participants at the banquet noticed the strange behavior of the King of the Southlands, they would never think in that direction; a Dwarf and a Cathayan Dragon had absolutely nothing to do with each other.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, amidst mutual flattery, the guests and host in the banquet hall were all delighted. The Ming Dragon also appeared quite humble; it was clear that in her eyes, Sinuoli was a qualified ally.

"My lord, in my humble opinion, drinking alone is inevitably dull. May I be permitted to play a tune to liven things up?"

Seemingly aware that her master had little interest in the drinking and boasting activities that male creatures loved most, a female official named Jiuniang stood up and volunteered to play the flute.

The Dwarf King had not failed to consider entertainment for the banquet, but the High Elf song and dance that were the specialty of the Shenlong Kezhan were not convenient to present in front of a large group of Dwarfs—though Sinuoli suspected that besides himself, some of his kin had secretly come to "learn the latest intelligence on their blood feud."

"Woo-woo! Di-du!"

Sinuoli had paid no small amount of attention to this mature and intellectual-looking female of the Jade Blood Clan, and he naturally had no reason to refuse her request. After Jiuniang bowed, she took the flute from her waist and began to play.

As the head of the female officials, besides being proficient in music, she naturally also possessed deep magical attainments, allowing her to skillfully guide the melodious flute sound through the noisy commotion around them directly into the ears of the target audience.

"Whose jade flute flies in the dark, scattering into the divine wind, filling the southern city. Hearing the 'Breaking Willow' in the music tonight, who could not be stirred by thoughts of home?"

In Dwarf society, there was no room for music; these simple folks preferred the "clanging" sounds of iron chisels striking ore or hammers striking anvils, or even the crisp clinking of gold coins flowing in their palms.

Hearing the folk music of the past again after many years, combined with the shock of suddenly seeing a Shenlong, Sinuoli was overcome with emotion, and he unceremoniously borrowed a famous masterpiece from the Poet Immortal.

"Good poem! Good poem!"

"This outsider actually has such talent!"

"Words flow from the mouth, the language is simple yet the artistic conception is profound; it can be called a masterpiece!"

The famous lines of the Poet Immortal, even after some slight modifications, drew rounds of praise. The content, which described the homesickness triggered by the sound of the flute, resonated with the shared thoughts of both the Cathayans and the Dwarfs present.

To appear on the east coast of these Southlands, the Dwarfs had left the Qunshan of the Old World, and the Cathayans had undergone a half-year voyage; in such a situation, who would not miss home? But the guests did not know that what Sinuoli was thinking of was not the snow-capped peaks of Everpeak.

"Excellent! Wan'er once said that you favored our Cathayan customs and wished to learn our country's script. Seeing it today, your literary talent far surpasses the scholars in my manor. This poem deserves a large cup of wine!"

Yin Yin's beautiful eyes flashed repeatedly as she stood up to toast Sinuoli. She was an immortal Dragon God who lived as long as heaven and earth; although political skill had nothing to do with bloodline, governing a region for a thousand years was enough to cultivate sufficient intuition.

In her eyes, this impromptu poem by the Dwarf King represented a lot of deep-seated information, such as strong learning ability, sufficient wisdom, and a deep understanding of her country, which caused Yin Yin to raise her evaluation of Sinuoli by another notch.

"I dare not, I dare not! As the saying goes, articles are created by heaven, and one happens upon them by chance!" Sinuoli laughed, his face not turning red as he plagiarized another line.

"Young lady, playing the flute alone is a bit plain. May I recite a poem to echo yours?" Sinuoli stood up with his wine cup while quickly searching his memory.

"That is my wish, I would not dare to ask." Jiuniang smiled sweetly and held the flute to her lips in preparation.

"Ahem, then I shall make a fool of myself! Sing while drinking, for how long does life last? Like the morning dew, the days gone by are many."

"I have guests, beating drums and playing pipes."

Sinuoli paced with his cup, and a masterpiece by Lord Cao tumbled out with cadence. On one hand, it was to suit the occasion; on the other, this Cathay had no Zhou Dynasty and naturally no allusion to the Duke of Zhou spitting out his food, so he finished after reciting the part about drums and pipes.

"What breadth of spirit, what boldness!"

The flute music had already stopped halfway; those who could understand this Cathayan language were all awed by the generosity within it.

"My lord, this poem seems unfinished, leaving one with a sense of wanting more."

Yin Yin's pupils contracted slightly; she stared at Sinuoli, wanting to see more from him. Some of the content in the reports sent back by her subordinates over the years seemed absurd to the daughter of the Dragon Emperor, but after today's contact, this Dwarf really had his own unique qualities.

"I am a bit tired, I shall return to the ship to rest." Yin Yin turned her neck and looked around. "Farewell. At noon tomorrow, I shall host a banquet on the treasure ship; I look forward to your presence."

The lower-ranking officers below were already drunk and swaying, so naturally, there were no objections. After sending the guests out, Sinuoli suddenly discovered that the Jade Blood Clan's Xubo had stayed behind.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, this old subject has one thing I do not understand. May I ask what the 'Purple Gold' in your poem refers to?" The old man bowed to the ground.

"Doesn't your country have a 'Book of Songs' passed down?" Sinuoli asked with a frown; he did not expect this old man to want to talk about this.

"This, how did you know this? And what does that have to do with 'Purple Gold'?" Xubo's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and there was even sweat trickling down his temples.

"Wan'er told me, is this some kind of secret? Uh, no, perhaps we are not talking about the same thing?" Sinuoli suddenly remembered the strange, hesitant, and stammering demeanor of the Jade Blood Clan female official at that time.