Shiro looked at the "gourmet meal" in front of him, and some unpleasant memories surfaced.
He once visited a Michelin three-star kaiseki restaurant, and the taste... he could only say that if he were just experiencing the culture, he would rather eat West Lake Fish in vinegar sauce (vinegar fish).
These so-called exquisite dishes in front of him would be more substantial if they were replaced with curry and grilled meat, or even Naruto's favorite ramen if nothing else.
However, Ryuchi Cave couldn't be blamed. After all, they weren't human and usually only ate humans at most, so they naturally didn't know much.
It was already considered thoughtful that they could conjure up the kind of food that daimyo, high officials, and wealthy merchants usually ate.
"Trialist, these ingredients are very precious. Eat, eat?"
Tashinohime stood behind Shiro, holding a plate. Seeing Shiro motionless, she felt a bit strange and urged him to eat.
Listening to her urging, Shiro felt a sense of déjà vu.
He felt that in the next second, she would lose her temper, slam the table, and say, "Damn it, why aren't you eating! If you don't eat, don't even think about living~"
Don't look at how she was affectionately calling him "Trialist, Trialist" now. In reality, for them, the words "Trialist" were no different from "Dinner's ready."
Failing the Ryuchi Cave trial meant being eaten.
And currently, the only known successful ones were Orochimaru and the future Yakushi Kabuto.
Orochimaru passed the test, but his body couldn't withstand Sage Art.
As for Boruto and his group passing?
Shiro was more inclined to believe that the White Snake Sage was afraid of family members coming to cause trouble, so she deliberately had the Three Goddesses lower the difficulty.
Otherwise, the Ryuchi Cave's trial would be too absurd.
There was even a tangram puzzle segment, making one wonder if it was early childhood education.
"Um, a question. When you eat people, do you chew them up or swallow them whole?"
Shiro asked.
"Of course, we swallow them whole."
Tashinohime was wondering why Shiro had no reaction at all. Upon hearing this question, she answered subconsciously.
The room fell into a deadly silence.
Tashinohime realized what she had said, and her face gradually darkened. Her originally beautiful appearance gradually showed signs of a snake.
Since it was exposed, then let's just get to it... "Oh, so it seems Jiraiya was telling the truth."
Shiro pulled out an illustrated novel from his pocket.
Jiraiya?
Tashinohime frowned. That name seemed to be the name of the contractor from Mount Myōboku next door.
This person in front of her was actually related to that dead toad and still dared to come to Ryuchi Cave? Wasn't that seeking death?
Thinking of this, Tashinohime opened her gaping maw, revealing sharp fangs, and her entire face twisted violently.
Huh?
As Tashinohime lowered her head to swallow Shiro, her gaze caught sight of the cover of the "Jiraiya's work" in Shiro's hand.
On the cover was a humanoid monster with a terrifying face just like hers now.
But what made her uncomfortable, even a little fearful, was that the humanoid monster was being "impacted by a giant dragon."
What is this?!
Did the toad from Mount Myōboku next door turn Ryuchi Cave into something vulgar?
Tashinohime was so scared that her face instantly reverted to a human face.
Tashinohime looked at the title of the book — "The Pale Iris."
"After getting your Ryuchi Cave's affirmation, reading these plots now has a different flavor."
Shiro said, starting to flip through the pages.
Since it was an illustrated novel, it was full of vivid pictures.
These pictures were simply shocking in Tashinohime's eyes.
There was a monster with a human head and snake body, looking similar to her, and then... looking further, Tashinohime found that the people in the pictures became more excited the stranger the monster girls were.
These pictures, which challenged her snake's worldview, made Tashinohime's head start to spin.
"What did you mean when you asked if I swallowed whole or chewed up earlier?"
After recovering, Tashinohime remembered Shiro's initial question.
"Oh, look at this. Jiraiya said in the novel that the snake girls of Ryuchi Cave would devour human 'milk.'
I didn't believe it when I read it then, but now it seems I was ignorant. As a local of Ryuchi Cave, you've already given an affirmative answer."
"Nonsense! When did I affirm it?!"
Tashinohime looked disgusted.
"Didn't you say you would swallow people whole? Doesn't that mean you'd swallow the milk along with them? Or have you only eaten women?"
"I..."
There could be such an angle?
Tashinohime's entire face froze there, her mind completely blank.
"By the way, I heard a biological fact about snakes. Is it the same for you in Ryuchi Cave?"
Shiro was still asking "eagerly."
"Um, Trialist, I have something to do, I'll go first..."
Tashinohime took two steps back, about to leave.
"You can't leave."
Shiro suddenly turned his head and grabbed Tashinohime's arm.
"Let go of me!"
Tashinohime subconsciously wanted to say "How dare you!" and then transform into a terrifying snake face to scare Shiro, but on second thought, remembering the scene she had just seen, she was afraid Shiro would get even more excited if he saw her change her face, so she quickly changed her words.
Of course, the most important point was that the moment Shiro grabbed her, she immediately felt the powerful strength in Shiro's hand and the surging Natural Energy flowing through his body.
If he really wanted to force something, she alone might not be able to resist him.
"If you leave, who will I find? What about the trial?"
Shiro said.
"The trial, oh right, the trial is about to begin. I'll go call someone over. You let go of me first..."
"Call them right here."
Shiro stood up and took a step forward.
"..."
"Help!!!!"
In the thick fog outside the conjured palace, Ichikishimahime, the loli-shaped of the Three Goddesses of Ryuchi Cave, and Tagorihime, the maiden-shaped, heard Tashinohime's desperate cries for help.
"Heh heh, she's quite playful, putting on an act. Could it be that the Trialist was not only aroused by her appetite but also by lust?"
"Strange, isn't pretending to be pitiful and weak your specialty?"
"Who knows."
The two chatted, completely ignoring Tashinohime's cries for help.
While the two were waiting for Tashinohime's side to finish, if the Trialist passed the test, it would be their turn to appear. Under fear, Tashinohime directly brought Shiro to the White Snake Sage's residence.
Shiro's earlier remark, "You're a snake, is that dress shed skin? Come on, be good, let me see," had completely terrified her.
Tashinohime stated that she could directly lead him through the trial to see the White Snake Sage, on the condition that Shiro give her the book.
Shiro agreed, not only giving her "The Pale Iris" but also an additional copy of "The Grass Python Hero Xu Xian," also written by "Jiraiya."
The White Snake Sage had transformed into an old woman, half-reclining on the bed.
Seeing Tashinohime bringing Shiro, she frowned: "Why are you the only one who came?"
"Lord White Snake, quickly save me! This person is a spy sent by Mount Myōboku~ He, he's a beast!"
Tashinohime cried out and pounced on her.
"We are also beasts."
The White Snake Sage said lightly, her gaze shifting to Shiro, "And can't you feel the aura on him?"
....
The journey continues right now for our Jade Dragons! 🐉
For just $6/month, you can step into the advanced chapters and never face a cliffhanger again. Gain instant access to 50+ chapters immediately, support the story you love, and help decide its course.
🔗 Become a Jade Dragon:
patreon.com/J_Dragon