A slice of ham, torn into small pieces and placed in his mouth.
He did not rush to chew. He simply let it rest in his mouth, feeling the salty fragrance it released across his tongue. Only once it had softened a little did he begin chewing, savoring the texture of its meaty fibers.
Dry and fragrant, it never grew tiresome no matter how often he ate it.
He slowed his pace as well, tore off another piece, lowered his hand and bent down. Three Flower Cat promptly stood upright and took the meat from his hand.
The passing Yao, spirits, and monsters were all watching them, yet they no longer gave them trouble or gathered around to stare.
Gradually, they wandered over to the bonfire at the center.
This market town had gathered around the fire.
The fire was no ordinary flame, possessed of its own strange wonders. Yet it was no divine or true fire that burned sky and earth and scorched the soul. It merely guided the Yao, ghosts, spirits, and monsters of the mountains here, while driving away other evil and baleful things.
By the fire, Song You saw several Yao, ghosts, spirits, and monsters dressed in constables' uniforms. Even the ghosts were unafraid of the flames.
The Bear Constable and Ox Constable cupped their hands in greeting from afar as soon as they saw Song You.
Song You returned the salute.
It was quite wondrous that such a market town existed here. Since people had stumbled into it before, there might well be tales of it at the foot of the mountain. Perhaps masters of Fulong Temple had come here in the past as well.
The Bear Constable had likely told the Ox Constable about it.
He did not go closer to them. Otherwise, they