Chapter 251: Chapter 206: Wine Pool and Meat Forest

The Yin people, they are an even older group than the Chu people.

The exact age of the Yin people can no longer be traced, as there is too little information about them that has been passed down, and almost all of it is distorted—but at least one aspect is recognized by later generations, which is that the Yin people were extremely devoted to the worship of spirits.

And this worship is unlike other forms of worship; it’s akin to the later Chu people’s reverence for the Undying Fire Phoenix. Although this can be termed as worship, it pales in comparison to the Yin people’s adulation of spirits. The legendary spirits permeated all aspects of the Yin people’s lives, and could even be called the essence of their existence.

"It’s just like how we all know, that when going to war, at the very least, you have to rally your troops, right?"

Seeing that Du Chengfeng seemed somewhat unclear about the difference between the two, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix straightforwardly explained.

"Of course, we Chu people do not go in for arranging troops in formations, but the warriors must still be skillful in martial arts... Anyway, you have to use the ways of war for war, you understand that, right?"

"I understand."

Du Chengfeng nodded.

He had experienced Chu people’s tactics himself, so he naturally understood them—ultimately, whether it’s the formations of ordinary people or the strengthening of one’s martial power by the extraordinary, these are indeed all related to warfare.

Or to put it another way, if you are going to war, what else could you prepare apart from things related to combat?

"The Yin people don’t prepare these things."

The expression of the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix was somewhat subtle.

"As for the Yin people, they would prepare for divination."

"... What?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Du Chengfeng was dumbfounded.

He had never heard of such a method; not organizing troops for battle but instead going for divination first?

Isn’t this a bit too much of an artistic expression, is this truly a line of thinking that humans can have?

"I also found it absurd when I first heard of it, but they really did it."

Recalling the information about the Yin people, the expression of the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix became more and more peculiar.

"Existing records about the Yin people primarily come from the remaining divination records. The Yin people used the shells of spirit turtles for divination, and there was an entire set of rituals related to it; and this spirit turtle..."

"Don’t talk about turtles, say something else."

Du Chengfeng immediately had a headache, he couldn’t even bear to hear another word about trees and turtles.

Too much, he had already heard too much.

"Alright, alright, don’t get physical, I’ll tell you something else."

Seeing Du Chengfeng even raised that phantom longsword, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix hurriedly changed the subject.

There’s actually not much else to say, given that the information about the Yin people is exceedingly scarce, coupled with the fact that nowadays people aren’t much interested in archaeology, not many know about the matters of the Yin people—as the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix itself, it was the first time it knew that the Chu people’s faith in the Undying Fire Phoenix actually originated from the former Yin people, it might even be the first Chu person to discover this.

But this faith that the Chu people have persisted in for countless years, its ultimate direction, turns out to be nothing more than turning into roast chicken on the table of the Yin people.

This truly is...

"Oh right."

At this point, the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix suddenly lifted its head.

"Regarding the Yin people, there is indeed another rather important piece of information."

"Oh?"

Du Chengfeng became interested.

"What’s it about? What kind of information do you have?"

"Well, it’s actually quite widely spread..."

The Gray-Black Fire Phoenix recalled, and then continued speaking.

"That is, the story of the Wine Pool and Meat Forest."

It’s a story related to the last king of the Yin people; the legend speaks of a tyrannical king with unbridled debauchery, not only building excessive palaces and filling up the harem but also creating absurd things like the Wine Pool and Meat Forest for his extravagant enjoyment—in subsequent tales, the Wine Pool and Meat Forest became a term used to criticize kings for their extravagant indulgence, even hinting at them being like kings who would ruin the country.

This story was quite widespread, being one of the few things known about the Yin people; it had been mostly focused on those hidden messages earlier, almost forgetting about this.

But such matters don’t really require special mention, right?

After all, it’s of no use...

"No, it is very useful."

Du Chengfeng’s face immediately changed.

If he had heard the story of the Wine Pool and Meat Forest in the past, he might have just marveled at how people’s ways of enjoyment hadn’t changed no matter where—but as of now, he suddenly remembered a time when he got close to that "Yin person", the Bronze Halberd.

Back then when he heard that the Bronze Halberd wanted to indulge, it even openly mentioned wanting wine and meat, he purposely mentioned that he knew where the good wine was.

But that Yin person, said a strange thing.

"Brother, I could tell at a glance, isn’t this saber of yours offered with wine?"

He still remembered, at that time that self-proclaimed Yin person, the Bronze Halberd, said so.

Originally Du Chengfeng thought it was just that the Bronze Halberd had keen eyes, quickly recognizing that his saber had been offered with wine, even soaked in a wine cask.

But thinking about it now... those words might have another meaning.

"In the culture of the Yin people, they used wine to offer their weapons."

At this moment, Du Chengfeng felt like he was touching upon some kind of truth.

Indeed, wine can be used to offer weapons; he had already experienced its benefits at the Yang Family Fortress, and after he reached Yanzhou, Liu Bolun’s secret technique in brewing his private wine even had the miraculous power to suppress the Evil Qi of weapons—clearly, there was some special connection between the Evil Qi of weapons and wine.

And that Bronze Halberd wanted wine, even continuously asking him where to find some wine, clearly for this purpose.

Wine could restore the Bronze Halberd’s strength, could even multiply it.

But, what the Bronze Halberd pursued was not just wine.

"And meat too..."

Du Chengfeng’s expression turned grim.

According to the Gray-Black Fire Phoenix, the last monarch of the Yin people once built a Wine Pool and Meat Forest at the end of the dynasty—it was clear from the information he had now that this wasn’t just for pleasure. Wine could enhance the Evil Qi of weapons, which meant that the wine pool was obviously prepared for war.

So, what about meat?

In the context of the Yin people, the meat was clearly not what he had previously thought; it was known that he had heard it clearly earlier, that Bronze Halberd referred to the body possessed by it as "Meat Person."

Clearly, this should be what "meat" actually meant in the Yin people’s context, as it was part of the Meat Forest, and like the wine pool, it was also part of their military preparation.

"Wine and meat..."

Du Chengfeng vaguely realized something.