The fire sacrifice
To be honest, Bai Mo didn't know why he got on Krishna's chariot. Perhaps it was related to the woman who directly influenced the entire Mahabharata.
Kama also accompanied him, and compared to the Sweetness City under construction, she was clearly more interested in the distant Kingdom of Panchala.
As for Karna, Krishna had also invited him, but clearly he wasn't interested in the matter. If there was anyone in the world that Karna disliked, it would be Drona from back then.
He had no interest in Drona's victory this time. Compared to that, it was more important to quickly develop Sweetness City.
Meanwhile, in the distant Kingdom of Panchala, Guru Drona, the teacher of the Pandavas and the Hundred Sons of Dhritarashtra, was walking along the royal passage of Ahichhatra. This was the second time he had walked this path.
Memories flooded back. He was penniless back then, and his wife and son Ashwatthama, were starving. So he came here, hoping his old classmate could help him out.
The King Drupada, who once said in school, "From now on, I will share the kingdom with you," had long forgotten their friendship.
He still remembers King Drupada's words. "True friendship exists only between those of equal social standing. A poor Brahmin is not worthy to be friends with a king. Do not bring up past friendships; you are not qualified."
Even if you helped me in the past, so what? Look at the soldiers around me; they guard me day and night, but are they my friends? Wheat and weeds grow together in the fields, but how can the value of weeds compare to that of wheat?
He walked to the main hall, where the King Drupada was already shackled and kneeling on the ground.
"If it weren't for your past insults, things wouldn't have come to this, my friend. Do you know that back then all I wanted was two cows to support my family?"
Drona's tone carried a hint of sadness; his former classmate and friend had now become his sworn enemy.
"The victor is king, the loser is villain. If you want to kill, then kill. Don't waste time."
The King Drupada shouted sternly.
"I, Drona, am not like you. I am not the kind of person who would discard friendship like a rotten fruit. You once said that my status was not worthy of being your friend. Well then, I will take half of Panchala and leave you the other half Panchala manage well."
However, this is conditional.
After the initiation was completed, King Drupada left and came to the Ganges. Looking at the kingdom on the other side of the river, which was no longer his kingdom, he looked at his own hands, the hands that could hold weapons.
"Ah!"
King Drupada drew the dagger from his waist, gripped the blade tightly with both hands, blood flowed down, and with a tremor, he released his grip, the dagger falling to the ground like the crown of a defeated king.
"Now I have to rely on others' charity to maintain my position? This is a disgrace to me as a Kshatriya. How hateful, how hateful! I have no son. If I die, won't the remaining kingdom be destroyed by that Ashwatthama?"
Drona, you actually treated me as everything, arbitrarily deciding my life and death... You should have killed me, and I'll make you regret not doing so!
But how can I defeat him? His martial arts are unparalleled; Rama with the Axe has taught him most of his magical weapons. Oh, right, son!
When Bai Mo and Krishna arrived, a grand fire ritual had already begun. Bai Mo looked at the flames burning in the distance; they were the sacred fire of the sacrifice, a ritual that directly made a request to the gods.
"Do you have a ticket?" Bai Mo asked Krishna, Krishna shook his head and laughed, "We don't need tickets, let's go."
"Isn't this just uninvited business? Oh well, the offerings we touched have probably appreciated in value. Master, don't take it to heart, let's find a good spot quickly."
Kama pulled Bai Mo away, while Krishna just watched the two of them with a smile. After they left, he took out a large hammer from somewhere, its entire body as bright as moonlight.
The fire ritual is not open to just anyone; there are strict invitation rules. If an "unclean" person enters, the offerings will be contaminated, and the entire ritual may fail as a result.
Upon reaching the gatekeeper, a flash of purple light appeared in Kama's eyes, and the gatekeeper, who had just been about to ask a question, immediately said respectfully, "Honorable guest, please take a seat in the front row."
"Is this an abuse of power?" Bai Mo asked, his lips twitching. Kama, however, countered with a questioning and ambiguous smile, "What? Am I, a god, not noble enough, or are you not noble enough?"
As the saying goes in the East, "Our arrival has truly made this humble abode honored."
Kama covered his face and laughed. Then the two of them sat down in the front few seats. The fire was burning brightly, and soon several waiters came to serve the dishes.
Everyone started fighting, while Bai Mo simply held his teacup.
"What's wrong? The food isn't to your liking? What kind do you prefer? I'll try to make it for you when we get back, okay?"
"That's true, and..." Bai Mo looked at the mess in front of him and shook his head slightly with a hint of helplessness. "I won't eat India food in India."
In most parts of India, the weather is hot, and food spoils easily. People have long used spices with preservative and antibacterial properties. To fully release the aroma of the spices and to cook staple foods such as beans and grains thoroughly for easy digestion, long-term stewing has become the most common cooking method, naturally turning the ingredients into a thick "paste".
This cooking method is unacceptable to Bai Mo, who often cooks at home.
"I appreciate your kind offer, but if you really want to help, please refill my teacup." Bai Mo handed the teacup to Kama. Kama smiled slightly and placed his hand on the cup. Then, the previously unidentified flower petals and tea leaves appeared in the cup.
The sacrificial flames rose higher and higher, and countless offerings were thrown into them. The Brahmin sages all clasped their hands together and offered their blessings. Then, a figure emerged from the flames—it was Agni, the god of fire.
"What's wrong with this guy's face?" Kama immediately noticed something was wrong. Agni's face was very pale, as if he was enduring something.
Moreover, Agni seemed to have no appetite at all when looking at the offerings in front of him, and even looked uncomfortable.
"You must have gotten a stomachache from eating at Shvetaki's," Bai Mo said, his lips twitching. The reason why the fire god Agni burned Khandava Forest was largely because a king named Shvetaki had held a fire festival that lasted for twelve years.
Logically, Agni should have been very pleased with this level of sacrifice, but whether Shvetaki did it on purpose or was simply clueless, the offerings he prepared contained far too much ghee.
Once the fire ritual was performed, Agni had to eat all the offerings. As a result, Agni was forced to drink ghee by Shvetaki for twelve years, and now he is in very poor health.
"I think he's about to throw up."
Bai Mo watched as the King Drupada poured another full pot of ghee into it, and Agni's expression was just like that of a man entering a members-only restaurant.