Even Li Palace had never seen a feast and revelry this rare.
It was not only the nine ministers, apart from the Minister of Law and Order, who delighted in it. Even White Snake had finally breathed a sigh of relief—so what if they drank and made merry every day? At least His Majesty was no longer slapping his forehead and issuing all manner of deadly decrees and policies.
One moment, delighted by the tribute and beauties presented by his subjects, he would exempt them from three years of blood tax. The next, because one of those beauties had offended him with a coquettish complaint, he would massacre the entire settlement he had just bestowed favor upon... Such things were practically routine.
His wild ideas every few days sent White Snake's blood pressure, along with that of the most miserable Minister of Heavenly Works, soaring ever higher.
They included, but were not limited to, enormous Metal Giants, wonders, an entirely new palace no less grand than Li Palace, and even personally leading an expedition into the Sea of Thunder...
Compared to those bleak days steeped in Tears of Blood, life now was truly delightful.
Even White Snake himself had never imagined that one day, he would be so grateful to a Current Realm person.
Hunting gatherings, drinking, banquets, duels...
Like a child with an entire palace full of toys meeting another child who had come to play, the King of Withered enthusiastically led this rare visitor through the whole fallen kingdom. He even arranged for six poets to compose verses for their excursion, carving them upon stone monuments and creating a new forest-of-steles wonder.
Perhaps that had something to do with the poet whose inscription was shortest being subjected to the soul-carving punishment...
Not only that, he had generously granted