The blood-red setting sun shone over the Imperial Capital and its outskirts.
That day's sunset was especially vivid, its red painfully bright, until the sun sank behind the mountains and darkness occupied the sky.
Nightfall was an invisible hand that covered all the clamor and noise, returning the Imperial Capital to peace.
The front hall of the Gu Residence.
The square dining table was laden with every kind of delicacy, along with jade flasks filled with fine aged wine.
Gu Beiwu sat at the head, with Gu Yanshuang and Gu Chenfeng on either side.
The family was enjoying a rare reunion dinner that evening.
Though there were only three people at the table, the amount of food was staggering.
Though Gu Beiwu was a chancellor of the court, he had started as a military officer. Coupled with his formidable Grandmaster cultivation, his digestive power was astonishing.
He swept through the delicacies on the table like a gale sweeping away scattered clouds.
With a large pork knuckle in his left hand and a roasted beast's leg in his right, he barely needed to chew before swallowing.
A great mouthful of strong liquor washed it all down into his belly.
As he ate, the old man clicked his tongue in appreciation.
"Damn, after more than half a year in seclusion, dining on wind and drinking dew all day, my mouth was so starved of flavor a bird could've nested in it.
"Nothing suits my palate like a feast prepared by the chefs at home.
"Shuang, Feng, eat up. I had the chefs prepare another tableful. Once we finish this, they'll bring out another round."
Beside him, Gu Chenfeng had yet to swallow what was in his mouth.
His hands had already picked up a golden, glistening, crispy-skinned suckling pig.
"Mmph... Grandpa, watch