The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 51: The Fox Family’s Banquet

May arrived, leaving only two months until the various academy enrollment assessments in July.

“Hedra, someone’s looking for you.”

After lunch, Sylutia was preparing to return to the classroom to study when someone found her.

“Who is it?”

“They’re waiting for you in the reception room. Looks like they’re from a big family.” The student briefly recalled.

“I see.” Sylutia nodded and walked over.

Crossing the corridor, she arrived at the reception room on one side of the school. The door was open, and a well-dressed butler stood waiting inside.

“Hello.” Sylutia walked in.

“Greetings. You’re Miss Hedra, correct?” The man immediately approached warmly. Under his black, high-end vest was a crisp white shirt that looked far from cheap.

“Yes, I am.” The girl nodded, noticing an embroidered emblem on his chest—like a fiery red fox’s tail.“I am Dawson, butler of the Fox Family. I’ve come to invite you, on behalf of our young lady, to a banquet held at ‘Night Fragrance’ next week.” As he spoke, he produced an exquisite invitation letter, with handwritten words in black ink.

“Your young lady is…?” Sylutia couldn’t immediately recall who it was.

“Our Fox Family’s second young lady, Hu Tao.” At the mention of this name, Sylutia instantly remembered the wealthy young lady she had briefly encountered.

“Originally, the second young lady was also supposed to live in the dormitories on Narcissus Street, but she preferred staying with her aunt, Madame Mared, so she went to her place. That’s how she lost contact with you.”

“Ah, so she was the student who never showed up.” Sylutia now understood why one bed in the four-person dorm had remained empty, and the school hadn’t arranged for anyone else to fill it.

Although Hu Tao didn’t live with them, the school didn’t dare casually reassign the registered spot, afraid of offending the young lady. After all, what if she decided to come back? So they just left it empty.

Honestly, this convenience worked out well for Sylutia and her two roommates. Having one less person gave them more space, and by now they were used to it. Adding someone new would only make things awkward.

“I understand.”

“Very well, then I’ll take my leave. Oh, and please stay in your dorm that evening. We’ll send a special carriage to pick you up.” After saying this, the butler tipped his hat to Sylutia in salute, then took his leave.

Holding the invitation letter, Sylutia fell into thought.

She wondered if this was a spontaneous idea from that Miss Hu Tao, or a move from the Fox Family. Perhaps, seeing her rising reputation and recalling their brief prior meeting, they wanted to win her over.

Putting those thoughts aside for now, Sylutia returned to the classroom to continue her studies.

——Night·Chive Street——

The bustling market and streets were filled with shouts and calls. The air carried the scent of grilled food and various other aromas. Street stalls and restaurants lined the way, offering far more affordable prices compared to high-end establishments. Many commoners and poor students from the Asra District took the chance to come here for a good meal.

“Grilled Pommu lamb skewers, 8 copper coins each~”

“Garlic snails, an absolute rare delicacy, 10 copper coins a box.”

“Black truffle honey wine, sweet enough to melt your heart, just 10 copper coins.”

“Mumulan red pork rice bowl, 7 copper coins a bowl, cheap and delicious!”

Charcoal smoke drifted through the crowd, mingling with enticing aromas. The flow of people packed the streets so tightly that no carriage could pass. Fortunately, carriages rarely came here anyway. Walking through, you could see not only students out for the night market but also laborers who had just finished work, sitting at roadside stalls, devouring their meals with hearty, satisfied sounds.

This area had once been a wholesale hub for ingredients and spices. Because it was close to the market, nearby restaurants were cheaper than elsewhere, drawing in those on tight budgets.

As more people started eating here, the number of restaurants and stalls grew, eventually forming a unique night market—the liveliest and most crowded place in Asra District after dark.

Such a bustling, mixed place naturally attracted both underground gangs and those who maintained order. Among Asra’s four underworld headmen, ‘Fire Pig’ held control over this territory.

A young messenger in rough hemp clothes crossed the street and entered a bustling restaurant. After greeting the staff inside, he quickly walked to the back kitchen.

“Is the tomahawk steak I ordered ready? Hurry up!” He came in with an arrogant tone, then grabbed a piece of grilled meat already laid out on a nearby plate, shoved it into his mouth, wiped his greasy hands on his clothes, picked up the chilled lemon wine prepared in the back, and gulped it down.

The dozen or so busy kitchen staff saw him and dared not offend him. One of the head chefs, wearing a cap, hurried over with a fawning expression.

“It’s ready, it’s ready, right here. I’ll bring it for you.” With that, he waved behind him. Two helpers carried over a large platter bearing three beautiful axe-shaped steaks, sizzling with oil and crackling audibly.

Taking in the aroma, the hemp-clad messenger inhaled deeply and nodded.

“Not bad.” He smirked, but still didn’t take the platter.

Just then, another chef came over and stuffed a handful of coins into his pocket. He weighed them, then finally took the nearly twenty jin worth of steaks, holding the platter in his hands.

“Get me a lid.”

“Yes, yes.” The kitchen helpers immediately found a clean, large lid and helped cover it.

“Alright, I’m off.” Carrying the large platter, he quickly left the restaurant.

Though his clothes were coarse and shabby, and his body reeked of sweat, the messenger’s hands were remarkably steady. He moved through the crowded streets without dislodging the lid, shouting “Make way!” all the way, heading deep into the night market.

Minutes later, he pushed through the throngs and arrived at the market’s back area. Torches burned here, and many laborers were unloading goods. Armed, muscular beastmen patrolled and stood guard, preventing theft or robbery.

“Move it, quick! If the stuff inside gets cold, none of you can afford the consequences!” The messenger bellowed the moment he entered, even though there was plenty of space ahead.

Seeing him approach, the grimy laborers unloading goods immediately scrambled aside, carefully avoiding him to clear his path.

Watching their fearful reactions, the messenger lifted his chin with a smug expression and strode forward.

Passing through thick iron gates and layers of guarded doors, he pressed deeper inside. Finally, with the help of guards, he opened a heavy cover and stepped down into an underground passage.

The stone steps here were smooth, not newly built—likely used for many years. Though it was an underground tunnel, it was far from cramped. Instead, it felt like a fortress built underground, spacious, with rooms along the way where guards rested and lived.

The deeper he went, the more luxurious the guards’ equipment became. At first, they wore simple iron armor and carried spiked clubs, but by the innermost area, pig-beast guards were clad in full steel armor and wielded black steel axes.

The towering guard stationed at the final gate inspected the lid, then waved his hand, letting the messenger pass.

Slipping through the crack of the gate, a wave of scorching heat rushed out. The temperature here was several degrees higher than outside, and there was an indescribable stench of body odor.

Faced with this, the messenger kept his head low, held his breath, and hurried forward until he reached the foot of a massive stone throne. He respectfully offered up the platter.

“My lord, the steak you ordered has arrived,” he said cautiously.

Someone then lifted the lid and handed the tomahawk steak into a thick, coarse hand. The seven-jin-plus steak was torn apart in one go, stuffed into a mouth, accompanied by grunts of satisfaction.

Listening to the sounds of chewing and eating from above, the messenger finally relaxed. Only then did he dare slowly raise his head and steal a glance at the massive figure seated on the underground stone throne.

His skin was dark red, like fire, covered in stiff bristles of varying lengths. The fat on his belly jiggled like melted cream. At over four meters tall, his body weighed thousands of jin, and on his neck sat a head as large as a pig’s. He was now devouring the steaks one by one, tearing through the delicious meat with rapid bites.

This was the underground ruler of Chive Street, one of the four headmen of Asra District—‘Fire Pig,’ named for his dark red, flame-like skin.

After finishing, he casually tossed aside the leg bones, which spun through the air before landing near the messenger, splattering crumbs and grease. The messenger knelt, carefully gathered the three gnawed bones, placed them back on the platter, covered it, and left once more.

The underground chamber fell silent again. The burning braziers cast the figure on the stone throne into an even larger, wavering shadow.

His greasy fingers clenched, then propped up his fat-filled cheek, occasionally relaxing and tightening.

“That Four Fingers bastard still hasn’t died yet,” his gruff voice rumbled through the underground chamber like muffled thunder.

“Yes, but it won’t be long. I’ve already bribed the greedy woman by his side. She’s laced his food with a special poison.” From the shadows beside stepped a figure with a long, thick beak-like face. His head was wrinkled like a vulture’s neck.

“Tch.” The figure on the stone throne snorted dismissively, as if looking down on such underhanded tactics.

“Forget it. If he doesn’t die, I’ll find someone else to handle him.”

“But about that Dragon Eye treasure I want—any news yet? With that, we can initiate the Feast.”

“Great King, you know that since the Eighth Epoch, dragons have vanished from the continent. The ones that remain have either migrated to the Dragon Kingdom in the celestial gardens or died off in some forgotten corner.” The low, beak-faced figure shook his head.

“Hmph, I didn’t come here to hear your excuses.”

“Find a Fourth Tier ‘Dragon Eye’ Aspect treasure and complete the ‘Feast Ritual.’ Not only will I advance in rank, but all of you will reap considerable benefits.”

Hearing this, the beak-faced figure let out a sigh.

“I understand.” After agreeing, he paused and continued.

“Perhaps we could start with the Fox Family to find some clues.”

“Their ancestor once initiated a Fifth Tier ‘Feast Ritual.’ After completing the ceremony known as the ‘Fox Feast,’ the entire family achieved advancement.”