Reborn as a Demonic Tree

Chapter 625: A Demonic Date

Unsurprisingly, Diana had gone overboard with the planning.

”Did you book out the entire restaurant for us?” Stella asked as she surveyed the empty tables. This place could seat hundreds, yet there was nobody here besides far too many servants and those in the kitchen. A dozen cultivators from the Ashbound Orderʼs Phoenix team were stationed outside, with Amber Redclaw floating above the restaurant.

”No.” Diana glanced up from her menu. ”I bought the place.”

Stella blinked in disbelief. ”Huh? You bought the place? Why would you do that?”

”I asked to reserve the entire place for today, but itʼs the most popular lunch spot in Darklight City for the nobles, so they said it wasnʼt possible. I then offered to buy the place for a handsome sum, and the owner agreed after a little persuasion.” Dianaʼs gaze settled back on the menu. ”Have you decided what you want?”

”Uh, no.” Stella looked back at the menu, confused. ”What are these numbers on the side?”

”The prices... have you never been to a restaurant before, Stella?”

Stella frowned as she pondered the question. ”No, I donʼt think I have.”

Diana chuckled. ”The Princess of the largest Empire hasnʼt wined and dined. Well, this is fun. I will be a part of your first restaurant experience.” She slid the menu across the table and turned it around. ”I recommend these three.”

Stella squinted at the options.

”Youʼve eaten here before?”

Diana shook her head. ”No. It was actually Jasmineʼs father who recommended this place, and apparently Douglas and Elaine have visited here for a date before.”

”Why would they eat here?” Stella asked.

”Because this is one of the few restaurants that sells Qi-rich monster meat, and itʼs near their estate in the noble district. All of the dishes I recommended to you are from their monster meat menu, as regular meat is rather tasteless to cultivators like us.”

”I see.” Intrigued, Stella inspected the options Diana had presented her.

The Hunterʼs Rest

From the cellar to your table. Enjoy our selection of cured meats from the wilds.

The Ashcured Ridgeback Boar — 32 Dragon Crowns.

Hind leg of monstrous ridgeback boar buried forty days in tree ash and rock salt. Carved thin enough to bleed light through. Served with pickled red vine shoots, black bread, and glow-mushroom butter. A tingle on the tongue is the mark of a good cure. Do not be alarmed.

Coldwater Serpent Belly — 88 Dragon Crowns.

Frost-cured belly from the eastern waters, sliced at your table and laid over boiling bone broth. Finished with salt greens. The numbness passes after a week. The Hunterʼs Rest cannot be held responsible for partial blindness that may occur.

The Hunterʼs Reward — 125 Dragon Crowns.

A whole cured foreleg, sculpted at the table by the owner. Rendered fat, salt greens, and a measure of rice wine for each guest. Recommended serving for 3 people. Please give the kitchen an hour to prepare, or order ahead.

Dear guests, please note that all prices are listed in Crowns. The Hunterʼs Rest does not accept spirit stones, Yinxi Coins, or favors as payment. Worshipers of the All-Seeing Eye get a 10% discount.

Stella froze on the last section.

”Diana... I donʼt have any Dragon Crowns or spirit stones, as I fed them all to Guppy. What even is a Dragon Crown? How much is it worth?”

Diana chuckled. ”Stella, relax. Remember, I own this place. Order as much as you want—itʼs free of charge. But if you must know, three Dragon Crowns are equal to a single High-Grade Spirit Stone. A lot of money for a mortal farmer, but for us? Itʼs nothing. You fed millions of them to Guppy on a whim.”

”Oh...” Stella grinned. ”Then Iʼll order all three dishes.”

While cultivators didnʼt typically need to eat often after reaching the Star Core Realm, the life essence pills had left her ravenous.

Diana gave her a judgmental look but didnʼt say anything else. With a snap of her fingers, a well-dressed man was standing at attention beside their table with his hands respectfully clasped behind his back. He refused to make eye contact, keeping his gaze locked onto the far wall, and Stella could see beads of sweat trailing down his cheeks.

It is finally nearing the end of spring and warming up, so perhaps heʼs hot wearing that suit?

Diana smiled and began ordering. ”The Princess wishes for one of everything from your Wild Meats menu, and Iʼll take the special, but make it extra spicy.”

”Certainly, Grand Elder. Any drinks to accompany this hearty feast?”

Diana glanced Stellaʼs way with a questioning gaze.

Stella hadnʼt known there was a drinks section of the menu and panicked.

”Um, the strongest spirit wine you have.”

”Make that two,” Diana said.

”Certainly. I will be back shortly to carve the Hunterʼs Reward.” The man took the menus, bowed deeply, and left with hurried strides toward the kitchen.

Stella watched him go and realized something. ”Was that the owner?”

”I think so? I honestly forgot his face,” Diana said with a shrug. ”I organized this through my clones, and the memory transfer can be a little spotty at times.” A sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back in the chair that was comically small for an Archdemon. ”I love the responsibility, but itʼs a fact that the Ashfallen Empire is spread too thin. Even with the introduction of the Ashbound Order, Iʼm being worked half to death—ahem, sorry, I didnʼt mean to complain and bring up business on our date.”

”Itʼs fine. Iʼm interested in how things have been progressing while I was recovering,” Stella reassured her. Diana hid it well, but she was clearly exhausted under the strong facade. ”We have vast wealth from the pills, right? Canʼt we just hire more people to reduce your workload?”

Diana shook her head. ”It doesnʼt work like that. Because of how unconventional Ashlockʼs policies are, all decisions need my approval. Without my input, the Ashfallen Empire simply wouldnʼt match Ashlockʼs vision for the future.”

”Mhm.” Stella rested her chin on her palm as she mused on the problem. ”Can none of the other Grand Elders help you?”

”Not really. Elaine was helping share some of the burden, but sheʼs in the Eternal Realm for the next month or so. Things are also only going to get worse once the Era of Ascension begins...” She trailed off as the owner returned with two crystal glasses containing spirit wine that glowed with an ethereal blue.

Diana downed hers in one gulp. Stella preferred to lightly sip hers. It was certainly strong, but as a Monarch, she doubted it would do much.

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Another group of servants wheeled in a wooden cart to the side of the table. Upon it rested a large foreleg that seemed blackened on the outside, but the smell wafting off it was mouth-watering. The sweating owner brandished a carving knife and skillfully cut thin strips onto a plate.

Stella enjoyed the novelty of the experience despite knowing she could cut far thinner slices without lifting a finger and blindfolded.

”Enjoy,” the owner said as he presented the thin slices of meat atop a small mound of seasoned greens. He then moved aside as a second cart came by with an entire Coldwater Serpent laid out on ice. The thing looked mean, with teeth that could shred a human apart.

”Did you get these from the ocean?” Stella asked.

”Yes, Princess,” the servant said as they got to work cutting off the best pieces from the monstrous serpent. ”We put in requests with the Eternal Pursuit Pavilion for Hunters to capture the monsters we use for our dishes. While the Coldwater Serpent isnʼt rare, the ocean is far, hence the premium prices.”

Stella nodded along and smiled. ”Thank you for humoring me.”

The servant froze, seemingly shocked by her words, but swiftly hid it behind a professional smile and continued his work. Once done, he turned to fetch a deep bowl filled with boiling broth and carefully placed the slices of Coldwater Serpent along the rim.

”The fish is best eaten cold and raw, but the vapor from the bone broth infuses it with flavor, so please start with your Hunterʼs Reward.”

Stella nodded, and the servant left to make space for a third servant, who placed the final dish she had ordered, already prepared and ready to eat. With everything served, the mortals made themselves scarce.

It all smelled amazing.

”I can see why Douglas and Elaine would come here,” Stella said as she used telekinesis to float some meat into her mouth. She was too hungry to care about using cutlery.

”Indeed. I should thank Jasmineʼs father when I get the chance,” Diana said, and popped the lid off the large black pot before her. There was also a little flame beneath it, keeping it warm.

”What is that?” Stella asked.

”Their special,” Diana said. ”Itʼs meat from a demon, so itʼs filled with demonic Qi.”

”A demon?” Stella asked, raising a brow as she shoveled in another mouthful without a shred of table manners.

”Well, itʼs an imp. A minor type of demon.” Diana reached a hand into the pot and pulled a head free. It looked vaguely humanoid, but with all the signs of demonic corruption, and was only the size of a fist. ”They can be found in Hell or around areas tainted with corruption.”

Stella winced as Diana bit into the skull as if it were an apple with a loud crack and began to slurp the insides. She then swallowed the rest in one go and pulled out a second skull from the pot.

”Do mortals eat those?” Stella asked as she focused on savoring her own food.

”No, they would die,” Diana chuckled. ”When I asked for extra spicy, what I meant was the demonic Qi concentration in the meat. The more there is, the more it would literally burn the soul of mortals. But for me, this is refreshing.”

”Because you eat demonic Qi like monsters do to gain strength?”

”Yeah, itʼs quite convenient. Though finding a restaurant serving meat with any demonic Qi content is difficult.” Diana glanced around. ”Since I bought the place, maybe I should have them add more options for when I come here.”

”Are you going to keep the restaurant closed for just us?”

Diana paused her chewing. ”Do you want me to? I was thinking of letting it run as usual to slowly make back my investment.”

”No, thatʼs good. I was worried you would keep it closed and deny the local nobles their favorite food spot.”

Diana looked at her weirdly. ”And why would I do that? Do you think Iʼm a villain or something?”

Stellaʼs gaze wandered to her horns, then her massive feathered wings, and finally the half-eaten imp head in her clawed hand. ”I dunno, it was just a hunch.”

Diana rolled her eyes. ”I may look like this and be rather savage when conducting business, but I consider myself a good person for the most part.”

”Yeah, same,” Stella said while munching on the greens.

Diana stared at her for a long moment and went back to eating. The pair fell into a silent rhythm, and Stella scoffed down all three meals in record time.

”Stella, if you ever go on a real date with someone in the future, you shouldnʼt order so much and eat like that,” Diana said pointedly. ”Floating food around is disgusting.”

Stella almost choked on the final bite at Dianaʼs sudden critique.

”Iʼm disgusting?!” She pointed at the bowl of skulls before Diana. ”What the hell is that then?”

”A perfectly nutritious meal... for a demon.” Diana smirked. ”Want some?”

”Noooo, thank you.” Stella slouched back in her chair and massaged her stomach. ”Iʼm so full Iʼm about to explode.”

”Can an aetherial being even explode from too much food?” Diana pointed out. ”That seems unlikely.”

”Well, we are about to find out.”

Diana put the lid back on her pot and smiled. ”Iʼm satisfied. Ready for our next activity?”

”Itʼs to pick up my new clothes, right? Yeah, Iʼm ready, but can we cancel dinner? Iʼve eaten enough for a few days.”

”Sure, consider it done,” Diana said and rose from her seat. She stretched out her wings and descended the steps from their private booth into the empty main dining area.

Stella rose and waddled after. As they passed through the empty tables, the only eyes on them were the servants standing nervously at the sides of the room—it made Stella feel awkward.

”Say, Diana, letʼs drop the security and walk around the city. Just the two of us.”

”I highly advise against that.”

”Come on, we are two Monarchs. Who can threaten us?”

Diana glanced over her shoulder at her. ”Itʼs not being attacked Iʼm worried about. Itʼs the stares, the whispers, the rumors. Wasnʼt lunch nice without having to restrain our voices and feel everyoneʼs stares?”

”I can make us invisible if thatʼs what bothers you,” Stella offered.

”Invisible? Wait, how?”

Stella activated her domain. Fractal lines crackled along her skin, bleeding otherworldly light. Her eyes turned milky white and distant. Clicking her fingers, the area around them fractured.

”Servants, can you still see us?” Stella called out.

”No, Princess,” the nearest one replied. ”You have vanished before our eyes.”

Stella smirked. ”See, we are invisible now.”

Diana reached out and traced her claws through the fractured air.

”Fascinating.”

”I can do one better. Follow me.” Stella led Diana to the doors and didnʼt bother opening them. Instead, they phased right through, allowing them to step out unannounced into the dancing beams of the midday sun. It was weird living under the World Treeʼs canopy, but Stella was starting to get used to it.

The dozen cultivators guarding the restaurant and the surrounding streets didnʼt notice a thing.

”Tell Amber and the others their services are no longer needed,” Stella said and led Diana away from the heavily guarded area. ”I want to experience Darklight City as itʼs supposed to be.”

Diana took the lead. ”The tailoring shop is this way. Iʼd planned to portal us straight there, so nobody cleared the streets ahead of us.”

Stella followed behind, and they rounded the corner onto the busy main street in the noble district.

”Do we need to weave around the people to maintain the invisibility?” Diana asked.

”No, we are currently in an aether pocket. They will simply pass—”

A well-dressed drunken man suddenly stumbled into the road in front of them. Diana braced, only for the man to phase through her and begin swearing about something.

Diana put a hand on her heart and let out a sigh of relief. ”Phew, that would have been... unpleasant.”

”Why?” Stella asked as they continued onward, away from the ranting man.

”Even if he played it off and the matter got dismissed, I guarantee he would circulate a story among his noble friends about how it felt to hug an Archdemon.” Diana sighed. ”I say that because itʼs happened before.”

”Really?”

Diana nodded. ”Itʼs how I found out I apparently smell like black plum. A noblewoman put a hand on my waist at some crowded function. I pushed her off, and she began spinning stories. Some worse than others. Itʼs... really tiresome, but what can you do? Thatʼs life in the public eye.”

”Iʼd have killed her for that.”

Diana glanced at her and smiled.

”What?”

”Nothing...” Diana looked forward. ”Iʼm wondering if I should do that too. A ruthless reputation goes far in keeping away the undesirables.”

Stella looked Diana up and down and then shook her head. ”Nah. As you said in the restaurant, youʼre too nice for that kind of a reputation. Leave the killing to me. Anyone you want gone? Let me know. I can shoulder their hatred.”

Diana laughed. ”Iʼd have expected nothing less from the Slaughter Princess.”

”Well, Iʼm not clueless about why Iʼm kept away from politics, but I canʼt really help it.” Stella shrugged. ”If the Ashfallen Empire was solely under my rule, I donʼt think it would be a very nice place to live. You do a far better job at tolerating and caring for the people beneath you than I do, even when they can be weird sometimes.”

Diana didnʼt turn, but Stella saw the edge of her lips curl. ”Thank you, Stella. That means a lot more than you know.”

”Anytime.”

A comfortable silence fell between them as they enjoyed the cityʼs energy. Stella noted that in the past, nobles walked around with hired rogue cultivators as security, but now the nobles themselves were cultivators, no doubt due to the Ashfallen Trading Companyʼs pills.

Most of the nobles were adorned in luxurious silk robes but wore golden jewelry in the shape of eyes or trees to show their alliance to the All-Seeing Eye. In fact, everywhere Stella looked reminded her of Ashʼs existence. Demonic trees were being carefully tended to by cultists on every street, and there were many places of worship forming the cityʼs skyline.

”Weʼre here.”

”Ah,” Stella said as her wandering attention snapped onto the building they were entering. They phased through the door, and once inside the quiet store, she disabled the aether bubble.

The elderly-looking man working on what Stella assumed was the outfit Diana had commissioned felt a change in the air and turned before either of them could say anything.

Instead of fainting in fright or shouting like Stella half-expected, the man bowed with the grace of a nobleman.

”Grand Elder Diana, and this must be the Princess of Ashfallen. Welcome to Darkfiend & Sons.” He straightened, and Stella noticed his eyes were totally black. Not only that, his spiritual pressure was higher than anyoneʼs she had met today and tainted with demonic Qi.

This tailor... was undoubtedly a demon.