Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Gu Yuan’s Homemade Jerky, Become a Crimson-robed Ghost in One Bite?
"Hey!"
"Butler, have you lost your mind?!"
"They’re invaders! Why are you giving them such a grand reception? Don’t tell me you want to betray Father too?"
Candlelight flickered on pure gold candelabras, and the crystal glasses refracted fine glints of golden light.
The silverware was arranged neatly.
The Blood Race butler bowed, and with white-gloved hands, he served one exquisite, expensive dish after another. The entire table was soon filled with no less than a hundred different courses.
Even the Marquis’s own banquets had never been this extravagant.
Sam complained to the Blood Race butler, his face a mask of displeasure.
The latter’s expression grew complicated upon hearing this.
’I’d love to shove Sam’s head into his plate!’
’This waste of space didn’t inherit a single one of the Marquis’s fine genes.’
’He can’t even read the room. Can’t he tell what my attitude implies?’
’It implies that even your father would have to entertain them cautiously!’
’Looking after one man-child is exhausting enough on a normal day.’
’And now there are five more ticking time bombs in the manor.’
The Blood Race butler felt his heart clench!
’I’m probably going to have a heart attack!’
All he could do now was pray for the Marquis’s swift return.
"Wow! Is all of this for us to eat?!?!"
Meimei stared in awe at the delicious delicacies on the table, her eyes filled with delighted surprise.
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
’Grandpa?’
The Blood Race butler’s eyelid twitched. He didn’t think he was that old—"Uncle" would have been acceptable—but faced with the children from the orphanage, he was helpless. He could only nod and smile.
"Children, since you’ve come to the manor, you are its honored guests."
"If there is anything that displeases you, you may tell me. I am the butler of Eternal Night Manor."
"Furthermore, the Marquis is also very fond of children. When he returns, we can have him see you home."
As he spoke of sending them back,
the Blood Race butler paused for a moment.
"You still want Father to send them away?!?!"
He ignored Sam, who stood to the side fuming and spewing insults.
’Of course we have to send them back!’
’Otherwise, what if something happens to them on the way?’
’Who would be held responsible then?’
’Eternal Night Manor, that’s who!’
Loli watched the butler in a daze from the side.
Even she, the young lady of the manor,
had never seen the butler act with such a gentle demeanor.
’He’s the central figure when Father is away!’
’He manages the entire manor and represents the Marquis’s authority, which naturally makes him immeasurably distinguished.’
’He treats Sam and me almost like equals.’
’So why is he being so deferential now?’
Not only did he personally welcome these children into the manor and serve a full banquet, but if she wasn’t mistaken, one of the dishes was her father’s favorite foie gras—something the butler wouldn’t let even Sam have.
And there was the Eerie Red Wine from the cellar, which Sam had clamored for but never gotten a single drop of.
’And now he’s acting this courteous?’
’Even Father’s friends don’t get this kind of treatment when they visit!’
At this thought,
Loli subconsciously looked toward Yun Zhenyue, her heart reeling.
’Just who is she?’
"Then don’t mind if I do~"
At that moment, Pangpang, the most gluttonous of the children, couldn’t hold back any longer.
He was practically drooling, and he hurriedly wiped his mouth with his hand.
The next second,
SWOOSH!
A whole roast chicken was stuffed into his mouth.
Without even chewing!
The roast chicken seemed to have been sucked into a black hole!
It vanished in an instant!
"GULP GULP GULP GULP GULP~"
And that wasn’t all.
Pangpang went at it with both hands, without the slightest hesitation, grabbing food from the plates and stuffing it into his mouth like a rock crusher.
Just as the other children were about to reach for a dish,
it would vanish, leaving only an empty plate in its place.
Not a single drop of sauce was left behind.
Everyone present, aside from the other children from the orphanage,
stared at this scene, dumbfounded!
All they could hear was the sound of frantic chomping and swallowing!
It hadn’t even been a minute!
Half of the hundred-plus delicacies that had been piled high on the table were already gone.
Although most of the dishes were small portions,
this was still too ridiculous!
’How long has it been since this kid last ate?’
"Country bumpkin."
Sam snorted, his eyes filled with contempt.
But before he could even react,
the pastry in his hand was snatched away by Pangpang!
"You—"
Sam was furious. His temper flared, and he lost his appetite.
He’d eaten all this stuff before, anyway.
He poured a glass of red wine and crossed his arms in displeasure.
’I’ll just wait and see!’
’Let’s see if this damned fatty can actually finish this whole table of food!’
"That’s incredible."
Yun Zhenyue was also amazed.
’No wonder he’s called Pangpang.’
’With an eating ability like that...’
’If he claimed to be number two, no one would dare claim to be number one!’
Loli looked hesitantly at a piece of cake in front of her, then handed it to Pangpang.
"Thanks, Big Sister!"
His eyes lit up instantly. He grabbed the cake and shoved it into his mouth!
His mouth opened impossibly wide, a bottomless abyss.
Whatever food entered that mouth
was never seen again.
"Pangpang, slow down," Meimei complained. "There’s nothing left for us to eat! The big sisters told you not to binge, that you have to control your desires!"
"It’s alright. He’s just a child, and a growing boy at that."
"If that’s not enough, there’s more. The manor’s provisions are plentiful. You can eat as much as you’d like."
The Blood Race butler said, a drop of cold sweat trickling down his temple.
’This child is terrifying.’
’Was he abused at the orphanage?’
’This much food would be enough to stuff ten competitive eaters!’
’Yet he’s eaten it all and seems perfectly fine.’
’His stomach is like a bottomless pit; it hasn’t expanded in the slightest.’
Upon hearing this,
Pangpang’s eyes filled with gratitude. Then, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table!
BAM!!!
There was a loud bang!
The dishes on the plates were launched precisely into the air!
And in that same instant!
He opened his cavernous mouth—it split open and expanded to be about half a meter wide, bigger than his own head. Then, a violent suction like a storm pulled all the airborne dishes into his mouth.
It was a genuine Hurricane Inhale!!!
In the blink of an eye!
The table was clean.
Cleaner than if a dog had licked it.
Except for the food on Yun Zhenyue’s plate.
Not even a single crumb remained.
Even the Eerie Red Wine in Sam’s glass was gone without a trace.
At that moment,
the atmosphere around the dining table fell deathly silent. Not a sound could be heard!
"*Buuurp*~"
Pangpang let out a half-satisfied burp.
Rubbing his stomach, he still wasn’t full.
’This food contains too little Yin energy. It only satisfied my craving for the taste.’
"Will he be okay, eating like that?"
Yun Zhenyue asked with concern.
Meimei shook her head and sighed. "He’ll be fine, Big Sister. Pangpang could eat ten times this amount and still be okay. We all know what he’s capable of."
"It’s better to let him eat when he can. You really don’t want to let him get hungry. Otherwise, he’ll eat everything in front of him. And if there’s really nothing left to eat... he’ll even eat himself."
Yun Zhenyue: "..."
’Uh, what?’
’What kind of Taotie is this?!’
Shaking her head, Yun Zhenyue took a cup of lemon tea from her Eerie Painting and handed it to Pangpang.
"This is for you."
At the same time, she also gave one to everyone else present.
Including Sam.
After all, the butler had been so courteous, even inviting her, a mere gardener, to dine with them. She couldn’t be stingy.
"Tsk~"
But Sam didn’t even glance at it.
He glared at Yun Zhenyue, his eyes filled with disdain.
’What is this piece of junk?’
’As if I’d drink that!’
"Aren’t you going to drink it?"
"Get it away from me!"
Hearing Pangpang’s question,
Sam said with disgust.
But when he saw Pangpang slurping it down with relish, he felt a pang of regret.
Especially when he saw that even the butler looked amazed.
’I wonder what that lemon tea tastes like.’
"Hmph! Butler, bring more food! Bring out all the best wine and dishes!"
"What you just ate was nothing but the most common trash. I should thank you for clearing away so much of the manor’s useless scrap ingredients."
Sam secretly gulped, then spoke with disdain and contempt.
Pangpang didn’t get angry.
’I’m not even full yet!’
’Nothing else is important!’
He took out his small bag.
From it, he pulled out a few strips of shriveled, dried meat.
"Want some?"
"I don’t want any!!" Sam scornfully rejected Pangpang’s kind offer. "How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not like you little brats. I’m the Marquis’s son! What haven’t I eaten?"
"Oh, okay then."
Pangpang innocently popped a strip of meat into his mouth.
"I thought you might be interested. After all, Brother Gu Yuan made this jerky for me himself. I’ve been saving it this whole time."
"It has... *GULP*... a lot of Yin energy... *GULP*... Just one bite is almost enough to fill me up."
"It’s made from an Evil Star’s Eerie Ox... You’re not a Crimson-robed Ghost yet... *hic*... but one bite might be enough to make you one..."
