Divine Emperor of Death

Chapter 5309: A Charming Dance In The Banquet

The banquet hall had been remade in the short time since Davis had stepped into the courtyard.

Lanterns of pale gold and dusk-purple hung from the ceiling beams, their light catching on hanging silk banners that drifted as though the air itself had been taught to breathe. The long tables had been cleared of the earlier wreckage and laid again with fresh porcelain, steaming dishes, and drinks including wine that glowed like liquid amber.

The air carried the scent of roasted magical beast meat, night-blooming lotus, and the faint sweetness of aged spirit wine.

A line of maids waited at the threshold.

Their robes were layers of flowing silk in colors that shifted with every step, ivory fading into rose, then rose into the deep crimson of twilight. Detached sleeves trailed behind them like captured clouds. Each woman held herself with the quiet poise of someone who had practiced these motions until they lived in the bone. When Davis entered with Azariel at his side, they bowed as one, silk whispering against the floor, then parted to reveal the center of the hall.

Particularly, Davis’s gaze lingered on Alinna and Jenna.

These two even winked at him when parting to the side.

One was the bunny fey he had recruited in the Elemental Dimension. She was from another galaxy, but was now a battle maid of the Davis Family and also the sword disciple of Tanya. The other was Jenna, whom he had tripped using his fate ability, and had now inevitably caused her fate to be greatly affected.

With the wealth he had given Jenna since he had experimented on her, it appeared like her cultivation had soared quite a bit, her prowess also appearing to have increased.

"Haha."

With his arm over Azariel’s shoulder, Davis laughed lightly as he brought him in, thinking his wives sure were making this as grand as possible.

He had never seen the maids be this joyous since they were not allowed to make faces for no reason. They needed to keep a blank expression while doing their duty, so he understood this kind of festivity was no different than letting loose for them, since they also got to showcase their talents to the young masters.

If he recalled correctly, Yilla held dance classes with her soul body every few weeks, and the maids were no exception. Everyone could join. Even Eterna and the others learned from her, although he strictly told Yilla to only teach them graceful dances and not nightly ones.

The zither had begun first with the sound of a string.

A single note rose, clear and unhurried, like a drop of moonlight falling into still water. Then another, and another, until the melody unfurled in long, flowing phrases that seemed to pull the very air into its current, making everyone shiver as though they were experiencing a breeze that made their bodies relax and their gaze mesmerized.

The dancers stepped forward at the altar behind the long dining table.

They did not rush, but moved with practiced steps. Their first movements were almost too soft to notice, a tilt of the wrist, a slow turn of the ankle that sent the hems of their robes spiraling outward. Silk lifted and fell with the grace of mist rolling down a mountain at dawn.

One dancer raised her arms, and the detached sleeves unfurled like twin banners of living light, catching the lantern glow and throwing it across the hall in ripples of gold and rose. Another spun, and her skirt swirled like a blooming lotus, the inner layers flashing crimson before settling again. Their feet barely seemed to touch the polished floor, making them appear ethereal.

"Wah~"

Davis and the others were entertained. He shot a look at his sons and saw that they were mesmerized by the maids. Sure enough, these little monsters more or less shared hands with them in their imaginations, but didn’t dare to do anything about it due to the strict laws.

He leaned closer to Azariel and whispered, "Today is a fine day. How about it? Someone on the stage catches your fancy?"

"..." Azariel was speechless, "You want me to marry someone when I need to go through life-and-death situations from now on?"

"Aiya, it’s my fault." Davis’s expression was full of guilt, "I’ve made you feel too responsible since I was afraid you would turn into a wastrel. Now after that incident, you’re fully focused on cultivation. It seems like I must be like your uncles and forcefully take you to the various amusement houses to bring out your innate nature."

Azariel’s brows twitched.

"What’s up with you, father? You got possessed by the remnants of City Lord Kain’s soul? Or did you actually drink some strong spirit wine you’ve never handled?" He was gobsmacked as he asked sriously.

Davis’s expression churned. Naturally, he didn’t reveal he had the powers to take over someone’s fate and become them.

He had just said that he possessed City Lord Kain to an inconceivable level that differentiation became nearly impossible.

"Insolent brat."

Davis snapped in a hushed tone, "This is your chance to grab hold of your fate and explore your manhood. After this, don’t complain to your mother that I suppressed your desire towards women in your teenage years and caused you to miss out on everything."

"Heh!" Azariel sneered softly and imitated the hushed tone, "I’ll have you know that my interest towards the opposite sex is alive and well. It’s just- it’s not time for it, especially when you’re handing me a duty that I must fulfill no matter what and protect the family."

Azariel shook his head. He finally arrived at the conclusion that his father was testing his character one last time, so that he wouldn’t leave behind a child somewhere else.

Davis gazed at his son solemnly, "Time and tide wait for none, and so does life. It will move on, but it is up to you to make it flavorful or bitter. Your father doesn’t have time for women either, but aren’t I throwing away everything else other than cultivation to be with them?"

"..."

"Just be honest with me." Davis urged as he enclosed his arm around Azariel’s neck, "If someone really does catch your fancy here or anywhere else, just go for it. No need to ask me. Then, you can do nearly whatever you want in the Six-Headed Hydra Upper Realm as long as you don’t bring shame to your mothers who spent a lot of time teaching, nurturing, and bringing you up to this level."

Azariel went silent. He got confused.

It couldn’t be that his mission had a hundred percent fatality rate that he was being low-key told to leave a descendant, right?

Davis’s hand moved in front of Azariel’s face, his fingers pulling some strings in the air. He glanced at the red thread of fate that seemed to be in the midst of forming, nearly translucent yet slowly pulsing as though coming to life or dying.

He could now even see those karmic threads that were like Schrödinger’s cat, as though telling him that if he so wished, he could make it the truth or falsehood. He could always snap a thread, so he wasn’t surprised at this kind of evolution in his karmic gaze after unleashing so many karmic attacks and defending against.

If this couldn’t be connecting to the person known as Madam Wesley, Miriam Trissadra, then who was it connecting to?

Davis had an inkling that even if he did nothing, this would lead to Azariel forming a tie with Miriam Trissadra. Clara had not only created an opportunity, but she had formed karma some way. He imagined this must have something to do with the letter she sent here.

Nonetheless, Davis never liked it when fate forcefully enclosed on someone, and when it was his son who was in the midst of this storm, he disliked it even more, and hence, even suggested taking him to a few amusement houses to choose from a few fairies who were looking for love with their skills and not body, just so he could lose his first time by himself and not fate’s machinations.

But ultimately, it was up to Azariel. He had said what he had needed to say.

Davis had the urge to snap the thread, but then again, it should be ultimately Azariel’s decision, for this was none other than the opportunity created by-

"Your aunt worked hard to bring you an opportunity, a marriage alliance, but it is somewhat undesirable." Davis added finally.

"Who?" Azariel raised one of his brows, "Aunt Diana? Aunt Rina Roxley? Those two are looking for a suitable marriage alliance for me, but I had made sure to turn down their help."

"Your aunt, my first little sister, Clara."

"Ah..."

It suddenly clicked in Azariel’s head.

His mission to the Six-Headed Hydra Upper Realm and the opportunity his aunt created for him were more or less mutually inclusive and shared similar outcomes.

But- his aunt!? Then one who turned rogue by choosing the path of a Heaven’s Warrior?

Azariel had the urge to scratch his head.

What the heck was going on?

He needed to know more details, but his father seemed unwilling to share at this juncture because today was a joyous occasion and not meant to be constricting. His father had already said that he would explain later after taking rest, so he could only nod.

"Speaking of marriage, you might want to check out if one of my siblings are doing fine." Azariel said offhandedly, a cruel yet teasing smile playing on his lips.

"Hmm?"

Davis narrowed his eyes and turned to pan his gaze towards his sons.

Abruptly, he found the presence of a red thread connected to Noctis. It wasn’t a red thread of fate, but sure was a red thread of intimacy. His lips parted, and his jaw dropped in shock.