The man: “Was it because they violated the taboos of Snake God Mountain?”
The boss: “I can’t say for sure, but that wasn’t the only couple to disappear on Snake God Mountain. It’s happened before.”
The girl’s face turned pale. “Honey, I’m scared.”
The young man gently comforted his girlfriend, “Don’t worry, baby. If you’re scared, we can leave tomorrow.”
“That might be difficult,” the boss interjected with a shake of his head. “There’s a sandstorm coming. The town issued a notice today. For safety reasons, no vehicles are allowed to leave Snake God Town.”
The short-haired girl muttered, “No wonder we only saw cars entering the town today but none leaving.”
Bai Lixin asked, “Boss, do you know anything else about the couple who disappeared three years ago?”
The boss: “It’s been too long, I can’t remember clearly. But the boss of the Snake God Inn might know. A lot of police cars came at that time.”
Bai Lixin was slightly stunned, “That couple was staying at the Snake God Inn?”
The boss confirmed, “Yes.”
Bai Lixin fell silent.
What a coincidence.
During the conversation, the boss finished grilling the couple’s barbecue.
The four girls had ordered lamb and beef kebabs. The barbecue menu here was extensive, offering not just beef, lamb, and pork, but also rabbit, venison, bird meat, and roe deer. At the bottom of the menu, there was even something called “dragon meat.”
While most skewers were priced at four or five yuan each, the dragon meat was priced at a staggering twenty yuan per skewer.
Mingming held the menu and twisted her hips, “Boss, what kind of meat is dragon meat?”
The boss chuckled, “Dragon meat is dragon meat. It’s a local specialty of Snake God Mountain. Do you want to try a skewer, little girl?”
“Idiot,” the short-haired girl stopped Mingming, “Dragon meat is snake meat. Are you really not afraid of violating a taboo by eating snake meat on Snake God Mountain?”
Upon hearing this, Mingming quickly withdrew her hand, which had been reaching for the dragon meat.
While the girls were feeling uneasy, the two men at the next table raised their hands. “Boss, give us ten lamb skewers, ten pork belly skewers, two bottles of beer, and twenty dragon meat skewers.”
“Okay, guests. Please wait a moment. I’ll fetch the dragon meat.”
The boss disappeared into the kitchen and soon returned, carrying a large handful of meat.
The curious tourists at both tables craned their necks to see. The dragon meat in the boss’s hands was dark red, looking much like ordinary beef or lamb. There were no distinct snake-like joints—just square chunks of meat.
Although the dragon meat was expensive, the portion size was twice that of the other meats. The boss placed the meat on the grill, and before long, a rich aroma filled the courtyard.
Man Man couldn’t help but take a deep breath. “This smells amazing.”
The fat dripped onto the charcoal, sizzled, and the aroma became even stronger.
Everyone swallowed in anticipation.
Mingming licked her lips, staring intently at the grill. “Boss, is this the dragon meat?”
“It smells good, right?” The boss even lifted two skewers to show her.
The meat, which had been dark red moments ago, was now golden yellow on the outside, as if it had been coated in expensive gold foil.
The boss smiled, “Dragon meat is a specialty of Snake God Mountain, a gift from the snake god. It only appears during certain seasons. You’re lucky to be here during the right time.”
Mingming felt her throat dry up. “Do you eat dragon meat too?”
The boss nodded, “Of course! Dragon meat is delicious. Not only does it taste great, but it also prolongs life and enhances beauty.”
Hearing the part about beauty, Mingming couldn’t hold back any longer. “Boss, give me five dragon meat skewers!”
The short-haired girl widened her eyes. “You’ll eat anything, won’t you?”
Mingming: “The boss already said they eat it, so why should I be afraid? Beauty and longevity, even if it’s snake meat, I’m not scared. I ordered five skewers, one for each of us. If you don’t want yours, I’ll eat it. Don’t waste it.”
But the boss waved his hand sheepishly. “Sorry, little girl. Dragon meat is limited to twenty skewers a day, and they’ve all been bought by the guests at that table.”
Mingming’s eyes flashed with regret, but she quickly recovered. Swaying her hips, she walked over to the two men and sat down, her voice sweet, “Big brothers, the dragon meat smells amazing. Is it really that good? I didn’t even get a chance to try it before you bought it all.”
Five minutes later, five golden dragon meat skewers were delivered to the girls’ table.
Mingming turned to the two men. “The two Big Brothers are so nice, thank you. I didn’t bring cash. How about we add each other on WeChat, and I’ll transfer the money to you later?”
The sturdy man was smitten, and he quickly waved his hand, “No need, no need. It’s just a small amount, a gift for you to try.”
As soon as he said this, his companion immediately pulled out his phone and opened a QR code. “Sister, meeting is fate. Let’s add each other as friends.”
Mingming smiled charmingly, added WeChat without hesitation, and then turned around and glanced at the short-haired girl across from her with a victorious expression, “Shen Qiu, these dragon meat skewers are on me.”
“Flirt,” Shen Qiu scoffed, clearly unimpressed. She didn’t even look at the dragon meat, focusing instead on the lamb skewer in front of her.
Mingming picked up a skewer of dragon meat. Bai Lixin thought she was going to eat it herself, but to his surprise, she handed it to Man Man next to her. “Man Man, I’m treating you to dragon meat.”
Man Man frowned slightly, lowered her head, and did something on her phone. Mingming’s phone chimed right after.
Mingming held the dragon meat in one hand and glanced at her phone in the other. When she saw the 200 yuan transfer on the phone interface, she was momentarily stunned. “What does this mean?”
Man Man: “Pay them, or I won’t eat it.”
Mingming’s smile suddenly faded, and she looked a bit unhappy. But she quickly forced a smile back, slowly accepted the 200 yuan, and opened the chat with the man to transfer the money.
“Can you eat it now, Man Man?”
Only then did Man Man accept the dragon meat and eagerly took a bite.
The golden meat burst with flavor in her mouth as she chewed, and the rich fragrance instantly filled the table. It was a taste unlike anything they had ever experienced, better than anything they’d eaten before.
Even Bai Lixin was momentarily stunned. This thing smelled almost unfairly good.
Man Man closed her eyes in enjoyment, a look of satisfaction spreading across her face. She savored the meat in her mouth, unwilling to swallow it too quickly.
It wasn’t until the piece of meat slowly melted away and disappeared down her throat that Man Man opened her eyes again and sighed contentedly, “It’s so delicious, you guys should try it.”
The other three girls were already salivating from the aroma. When they heard Manman’s words, they eagerly picked up their dragon meat skewers and couldn’t wait to take a bite.
The rich fragrance grew even stronger. It surrounded Bai Lixin, as if countless invisible hands were teasing his taste buds, silently beckoning, “I smell so good, come eat me, come eat me”.
Mingming was the first to finish her dragon meat. As she savored the aftertaste, she looked at the last skewer on the plate, “Aren’t you going to eat it?”
Bai Lixin shook his head, “You all can have it. My stomach doesn’t feel great, I can’t eat too much meat.”
“Then I won’t be polite,” Mingming’s eyes lit up, but just as she reached for the last skewer, another hand moved faster.
The short-haired girl grabbed the dragon meat. Afraid that Mingming might snatch it, she shoved it straight into her mouth.
Mingming’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Shen Qiu! Didn’t you say you weren’t going to eat any? Isn’t one skewer enough for you? Now you’re going for a second?!”
Shen Qiu’s mouth was full, and she mumbled, “Meat for hush money.”
Mingming fumed, “But I’m the one who asked for it! You can’t eat it!”
Shen Qiu didn’t listen at all, shoving the meat into her mouth in two quick bites, leaving nothing for Mingming.
“Shen Qiu!!!” Mingming stomped her foot in anger, “You greedy pig, you’ll get what’s coming to you!”
Man Man also seemed unsatisfied. She glanced at the two men at the next table, who were eating quickly. Though there were only two of them, they were already down to the last two skewers of their fifteen dragon meat skewers.
“Boss,” Man Man had no choice but to turn to the boss, “You must have more dragon meat in stock, right? Grill us some more, I’ll pay double… no, triple the price.”
The boss quickly waved his hands, “No more, really, no more. There’s only twenty skewers of dragon meat each day. If you want to eat more, come early tomorrow.”
Man Man licked her lips, longing for that unforgettable taste again. “Reserve them for us. I’ll pay you now. We’ll take all twenty skewers tomorrow.”
The boss waved his hand again, “That’s not possible. Any other meat is fine, but dragon meat can’t be reserved. It’s only available by chance. If you’re fated, you’ll get it.”
Man Man swallowed, “Double the price!”
The boss: “It’s really not possible.”
Man Man: “Triple!”
The boss: “No matter what, it’s not for sale.”
Man Man: “Ten times the price!”
The boss hesitated, “…How many skewers did you say you’d like to reserve, miss?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Well done.’
