Inside the Golden Tower, song and dance flourished; outside, the common people gathered in droves.
More Ink Stone lanterns rose into the air, their incandescent glow filtering through cages of purple, blue, red, and yellow, weaving a river of light that connected the earth to the sky and illuminated the surroundings for miles.
On the ground, over a dozen temporary cooking hearths had been erected. Burly "food practitioners," each capable of handling a massive copper cauldron large enough to hold a calf, gave the handles a sharp, practiced jerk. Fresh ingredients danced in the air, mingling with star anise, bay leaves, and other spices. The roaring flames were met with cheers from the crowd; the scent of spicy, vibrant red chili peppers wafted far into the night.
Chapter 323