27: Chapter 27 Imperial Cuisine of the Underworld: A Collection of Delicacies from Five Thousand Years

Xu Mo changed into a moon-white brocade robe hastily tailored by the Underworld's Bureau of Imperial Attire. The fabric flowed like running water, and the cuffs were embroidered with intricate, subtle patterns.

He subconsciously stroked the cuff—this was a common trait among intelligent people.

"Two esteemed guests, the Imperial Kitchen Hall is here."

Outside the door, the leading Underworld Guard bowed in salute.

Xu Mo took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and stepped over the threshold first.

The Imperial Kitchen Hall did not adopt the oppressive black and gold palette of the main hall; instead, it was laid with warm yellow carpets.

Hundreds of thick, arm-sized red candles burned quietly on the high platform, illuminating the entire hall to be bright and cozy.

There was not a trace of the smell of blood in the air; instead, it was filled with a pleasant sandalwood fragrance.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Light footsteps sounded.

Xu Mo and Lin Sa looked up, and their jaws almost dropped to the floor.

A beautiful silhouette emerged from behind the screen.

Pei Duo's dirty, torn sweatshirt from the dungeon was long gone. In its place was a dazzling, flowing crimson-gold cloud-patterned immortal-retaining dress.

Her hair was styled into an exquisite coiled snake bun, adorned with a crimson-gold hairpin.

The material seemed to be of some unknown substance; as she moved, it was as if she had draped the sunset clouds from the sky over herself, making her entire person glow.

"This..."

Lin Sa rubbed her eyes. Was this really the little girl who had been crying while clutching the jade pendant just moments ago?

Was this really the little girl who had been trembling while hugging the black jade pendant in the dungeon?

"Oh? Why are you two standing there like fools? Sit down!"

Seeing the two standing still like wooden stakes, Pei Duo lifted the hem of her skirt and waved her hand.

The moment she spoke, the 'noble filter' instantly shattered into pieces.

"Come on, come on, I'm starving to death! This dress is so heavy!"

On the main seat, Pei Fei had already changed out of his formal coronation robes.

He was now wearing a loose, dark-colored casual robe, possessing less of the world-shaking divine majesty and more of the lazy demeanor of an elder brother at home.

He was casually flipping through a thread-bound ancient book in his hand and set it aside when he saw everyone enter.

"Sit."

Pei Fei's voice was light, but the aura of natural authority remained.

Xu Mo sat down fearfully, only daring to perch on the edge of the chair, his back ramrod straight like a javelin.

Lin Sa placed her hands neatly on her knees, behaving as meekly as an elementary school student waiting for their class teacher to check their homework.

"Serve the meal."

Pei Fei gave the order, and the pearl curtains behind the hall rustled crisply.

Two rows of female ghosts dressed in palace attire filed in one after another.

They floated without touching the ground, holding trays covered with red silk. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, not even stirring the slightest breeze.

They're here!

Xu Mo's Adam's apple bobbed, and cold sweat beaded on his palms.

Lin Sa stared fixedly at the red silks, and horror movie scenes began to play automatically in her mind—human meat barbecue buns? Deep-fried fingers?

This is the Underworld; what kind of proper food could there be?

"Brother, these sisters walk without making a sound..."

Pei Duo, however, was carefree. She curiously observed the female ghosts, then impatiently reached out toward the nearest plate.

"Can I lift the cover? I wonder if there'll be a surprise?"

"Lift it. Everything is hot."

Pei Fei smiled faintly, his eyes filled with unrestrained affection.

Lin Sa closed her eyes in despair, preparing herself to vomit on the spot.

"Clatter—"

The red silk was lifted.

The expected bloody stench did not appear.

Instead, a golden light burst forth from the plate as if it were a special effect!

Immediately afterward, an overwhelmingly potent fragrance swept through the entire hall.

It was a pure, mellow aroma capable of stirring the deepest, most primal appetite within human genes—the scent of top-tier grains perfectly fused with meat.

Just taking one whiff, Xu Mo felt the cold stagnation in his body, caused by fear, instantly melt away like residual snow encountering the scorching sun.

"Holy crap..."

Lin Sa couldn't help it; a common curse word slipped out.

The dish on the plate looked like ordinary 'tofu,' but every piece displayed five faint colors, and faint auspicious energy even swirled around it, as if it had been enhanced with a level-ten filter.

"This dish is called 'Five-Colored Cloud Radiance.'"

Pei Fei leaned back in his chair, as if introducing a simple home-cooked meal.

"The main ingredient is ground from 'Five-Colored Millet,' a spiritual grain that became extinct in the mortal realm since the late Tang Dynasty.

The chef is the former chief imperial chef of the Tang Dynasty's Directorate of Imperial Provisions, who has been serving in Fengdu since his death."

Saying that, he pointed to the soup beside it: "That is 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.' It's a secret recipe from the Song Dynasty Imperial Kitchen, long lost in the mortal world.

The ingredients used are spiritual birds from the depths of the Netherworld, slow-simmered for forty-nine hours over low heat. Make do with it."

Make do with it?

This wasn't ghost food; this was bringing out all the most formidable culinary achievements from five thousand years of the Dragon Kingdom!

"Gulp."

A distinct swallowing sound echoed in the silent hall.

Lin Sa awkwardly covered her stomach, but it wasn't her fault; the aroma was too overwhelming.

All fear, all separation between yin and yang, instantly gave way to the instinct to 'gobble down food' at this moment.

"Eat."

Pei Fei waved his hand. "You don't need to be so formal here; it's just a family meal."

Pei Duo could no longer hold back.

She completely disregarded table manners and stuffed a piece of brightly colored red meat into her mouth.

"Mmm! So yummy!"

Pei Duo's eyes instantly widened, her cheeks puffed out with happiness, and a bit of reddish sauce stained the corner of her mouth.

"Eat slowly, no one is snatching it from you."

Pei Fei shook his head helplessly.

Under Xu Mo's shocked gaze, the Underworld Son of Heaven, who had just been presiding over the hall, now very naturally picked up a silk napkin and gently wiped the soup stain from his sister's mouth.

The action was practiced; clearly, he had done this many times before.

"This Old Liu put too much sugar again."

Pei Fei tasted a bite, frowned slightly, and couldn't help but grumble, "I need to dock his salary next time."

At this moment, that lofty divinity was stripped away.

What sat there was no longer the Great Emperor of Fengdu, but just an older brother next door who was picky about taste and doted on his sister.

Watching this scene, the shock in Xu Mo's heart was even more intense than what he felt earlier in the main hall.

He hesitated for a long time, finally gathering his courage, and asked the question that had been bottled up in his heart for a long time:

"Your Majesty... You are now the Underworld Son of Heaven; you must have long since stopped needing to eat, right? Why... why do you still keep the habit of three meals a day?"