That indescribable blend of fresh, spicy, and numbing flavors exploded across Bi Ji's tongue.
The chewy resilience of the Dragon Tendons snapped and rebounded between her teeth, releasing layer after layer of rich heat. The moment the food slid down her throat, a violent surge of pleasure shot straight to the crown of her head.
In her hundreds of thousands of years of existence, Bi Ji had never experienced anything like this.
Never.
Her mind went blank.
Slowly—very slowly—Bi Ji turned her head and stared at the table, where the dishes were disappearing at a visibly alarming speed. Then she lowered her gaze to the two delicate chopsticks in her hands.
…Face?
How much is a Spirit Beast's dignity worth?
Can it be eaten?
Clap!
A sharp sound rang out.
Bi Ji slammed her chopsticks onto the table.
Under the stunned gazes of the entire restaurant, this Emerald Sky Swan—who had just moments ago been lecturing her sister about etiquette, composure, and representing the Soul Beast Clan—extended her pale, jade-like hands.
Like a starving tiger pouncing on prey, she seized a rib with one hand and half a plate of stir-fried Dragon Tendons with the other, shoveling food into her mouth with terrifying efficiency.
Zi Ji froze mid-motion.
Her chopsticks hovered in the air, still holding a glistening piece of Dragon Tendon.
She stared at Bi Ji—mouth stuffed, cheeks bulging, lips slick with sauce, eating without a shred of elegance.
…Is this still my gentle, serene, etiquette-obsessed Sister Bi Ji?
Zi Ji's mind buzzed.
The next second, fury erupted.
Clap!
Zi Ji slammed her chopsticks onto the table and pointed straight at Bi Ji's nose.
"You—Bi Ji!"
"You told me to use chopsticks! To mind my image! To not disgrace the Soul Beast Clan!"
Her voice trembled with righteous indignation.
"And now look at you! You're using both hands! BOTH!"
"I treated you like my own sister—are you treating me like a fool?!"
Bi Ji didn't even lift her eyelids.
Her mouth was packed full, cheeks puffed like a hamster hoarding for winter. She didn't have the spare capacity for speech.
Her response was simple.
She reached out—fast as lightning—grabbed another massive handful of Dragon Tendons, and stuffed them into her mouth without looking.
Oil gleamed across her usually gentle face, giving her a feral edge.
Her bright eyes said everything:
Keep talking.
Talk a little longer and everything on this table is mine.
Zi Ji watched that hand reach out again.
Grab.
Stuff.
Swallow.
Her brain short-circuited.
What the hell?!
In the next instant, Zi Ji abandoned all moral high ground.
If she kept scolding, there would be nothing left.
With a snarl, she followed Bi Ji's example—ditching chopsticks and grabbing food with both hands.
Under the horrified yet strangely understanding gazes of the diners, the two Vicious Beasts devolved into pure, primal gluttony.
No words.
Only fierce eye contact.
Hands flying.
Food vanishing.
They ate like autumn winds sweeping fallen leaves.
But soon, they realized a fatal problem.
Their eating speeds were identical.
At this rate, neither would win.
So—almost simultaneously, with terrifying synchronicity—
Each freed one oil-slicked hand and pressed it squarely against the other's face, shoving outward with brute force.
Their remaining hands continued shoveling food into their mouths at maximum speed.
The coordination was so perfect it was as if they'd practiced this maneuver for centuries.
Mouths full, eyes blazing, they glared at each other with murderous intent.
"Mmm mmm mmm!" (Let go!)
"Hm mm mm!" (You first!)
Even faint Spirit Power fluctuations began to leak from their palms.
They were seconds away from using cheats.
Then—
Bi Ji's movements stopped.
The hand feeding her mouth slackened. The food slipped free and fell onto the table with a dull plop.
Her eyes widened.
She clutched her throat.
The hand pushing Zi Ji's face snapped back as Bi Ji frantically pounded her chest.
Her complexion shifted rapidly—flushed, then pale, then an alarming purplish-blue.
Her neck stretched straight. Her mouth opened wide.
No sound came out.
Only a hoarse ho… ho… of escaping air.
Less than three seconds later, she slid off her chair and hit the floor stiffly.
Her legs twitched.
Her nails scraped the tiles with a sharp creeeak.
She was choking.
Badly.
The entire restaurant fell silent.
Every diner stared.
Naturally, everyone assumed Zi Ji would rush to help.
Naturally—
She did not.
The pressure on Zi Ji's face vanished. She blinked, startled.
She looked down.
Bi Ji lay on the floor, eyes rolling, throat clutching, body convulsing.
Zi Ji's fierce expression froze.
Confusion flickered.
Then—
Wild ecstasy erupted in her purple eyes.
She glanced at the table.
At the untouched food.
All hers.
Then she looked back at Bi Ji.
"Pfft."
A laugh escaped.
Then another.
And suddenly—
"Hahahahahaha!"
Zi Ji's laughter rang through Feng Ran Pavilion, unrestrained and vicious.
"Bi Ji! Oh, Bi Ji!"
"Heaven has eyes!"
"This is what you get for fighting me! This is what you get for tricking me into using chopsticks!"
"Retribution! Divine retribution!"
Under the petrified gazes of everyone present, Zi Ji showed zero intent to help.
Instead, she launched a full two-handed assault on the remaining dishes.
Her hands blurred.
Plates emptied.
Her cheeks puffed out even further than Bi Ji's had moments before.
"Hahahahaha—hic—so delicious!"
"Mine! It's all mine now!"