Demon hunter's Cooking Manual

The sounds behind him were sparse.

As Jason stepped into the realm of the Hanakaiin Family, his senses could clearly feel that he passed through an invisible 'Barrier'.

It was like a curtain of water.

The original 'Protective Barrier' had vanished, but the concealed 'Barrier' remained.

Gazing into the darkness ahead, Jason's eyes were scrutinizing.

The darkness before him was like mist, like smoke.

Not only did it obscure his vision, but it also carried a faint sensation of Corrosion.

Similar to his secret technique [Mist Concealment].

But the Corrosion, the toxicity was not nearly as strong as [Mist Concealment].

Of course, that might be due to the passage of time.

However, the scope was truly vast.

The territory of the Hanakaiin Family in the Kinki region was quite extensive, starting from the distant mountain's foot, reaching up to the peak, and then 20 kilometers inward, all considered the domain of the Hanakaiin Family.

It was recognized officially.

Yet, this was less than one-tenth of the Hanakaiin Family's territory at its peak period.

In that era before gunpowder appeared, the territory of a significant clan was like a 'small country'.

At this moment, the 'small country' was long gone.

What remained was the 'fragmentation' after the baptism of time.

Such 'fragmentation' had even resulted in irreparable 'damage'.

The previous explosion should have destroyed unprotected structures on the Hanakaiin Family's land.

What's left?

Naturally, they are everyone's targets.

The buildings that remained intact after the explosion unambiguously signaled to intruders that there were good things inside.

Unquestionably, this was intentional by the head of the Hanakaiin Family.

Using the entire Hanakaiin Family as 'bait'.

Seducing all the 'Inside World' members from around the Kinki region.

And these people were indeed attracted.

Greed! Anger! Delightedness!

These negative emotions seemed almost tangible.

Jason could clearly feel these negative emotions constantly emerging, continually solidifying.

Clearly, that's what the head of the Hanakaiin Family wanted.

As for what they wanted to achieve?

Jason had some speculation.

But that was a matter for later.

Now?

None of this concerned Jason.

Hoo!

He stood there, taking a deep breath.

Then, he followed the scent to the nearest smell.

Mist?

Nonexistent, with 'food' as a guide.

Corrosion?

Nonexistent, his skin was completely immune.

As for the influence of negative emotions?

Also nonexistent, as 'appetite' overwhelmed all other desires.

...

Hmm?

As Hanakaiin Itsuki stepped into the main family's territory, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Mist, poison, and negative emotions?"

"This guy is really fishing."

"Heh."

With a cold laugh, Hanakaiin Itsuki walked away without greeting Hanakaiin Haru.

He didn't want to be with Hanakaiin Haru.

First find Jason, and then talk!

Hanakaiin Itsuki believed that even with the obstruction of mist, since he and Jason were only a step apart, even if Jason acted alone, he wouldn't go too far.

Watching Hanakaiin Itsuki leave, Hanakaiin Haru remained unmoved.

He was waiting.

He believed Hui Lijing would come in.

Hui Lijing was the type of person who was easy to understand, one look and you knew what Hui Lijing was thinking.

One second.

Ten seconds.

Thirty seconds.

A full two minutes passed, and Hui Lijing hadn't appeared.

"It seems to be the same entrance, but the entry positions are different?"

Although Hanakaiin Haru hadn't waited for the person he intended to, confirming his guess was not a total loss.

On the contrary, he made quite a gain.

After proving this point, Hanakaiin Haru started wanting to prove a second point.

Is this assignment random?

Or is it specified?

Or perhaps with a certain pattern?

The answer was obvious.

With the boldness of that family head, since the entire family was used as bait, they must have things under their control.

"Which means, this 'Barrier' in front of me likely follows a pattern, controlled by the family head."

Why not specify directly?

If a direct specification was possible, Hanakaiin Haru believed that the moment he entered, he would have been separated from Hanakaiin Itsuki.

There's strength in numbers.

This is not a joke.

Especially when individuals with Transcendent powers gather, nobody can guarantee what might happen.

Therefore, if he were the family head, he would definitely separate him and Hanakaiin Itsuki, and keep them as far as possible from the core of the Hanakaiin Family's territory.

Because, unlike others,

even though he and Hanakaiin Itsuki belonged to a branch family, they were quite familiar with the main family's territory.

Each year, they came a few times.

Sometimes for ancestor worship events.

Sometimes for meetings.

But invariably, they knew the core territory of the Hanakaiin Family like the back of their hands.

With the mist concealing it, two familiar people breaking in was not a good thing.

"So, I am now at the edge of the territory?"

"Furthermore, it should be a place fraught with threats."

"If I were the family head, I would anticipate the branch family breaking in and make targeted arrangements!"

Thinking of this, Hanakaiin Haru stopped moving.

Instead, he sat down.

Of course, the young Onmyoji didn't do nothing.

He shook his sleeve.

Seven or eight paper-cut figures jumped out from the sleeve.

Each paper-cut figure had a round head, slightly short limbs, and an equally round body.

After jumping to the ground, these little figures first bowed to Hanakaiin Haru.