Demon hunter's Cooking Manual

But from the current situation, this is a good thing.

Hoo!

Hu Qiandai let out a small breath, but her eyes remained vigilant, sweeping her surroundings meticulously.

Even though things were turning for the better, she couldn't afford to let her guard down.

She needed to prepare for any eventualities.

This was what she had learned on the battlefield.

It was also her key to surviving multiple encounters.

Although Xiaolu Youfeng had never set foot on a true battlefield, as one of the outstanding heirs of the Onmyoji family renowned for its "divination," Xiaolu Youfeng naturally had his own unique methods.

Facing the darkness ahead, Xiaolu Youfeng didn't hesitate or linger; he strode forward decisively.

However, for every segment of road he walked, he would calculate with his fingers.

And after each calculation, the safest path would appear before him.

Yet, after walking for some time, the young Onmyoji furrowed his brows.

The reason was straightforward.

The safest path wasn't necessarily the correct one.

"That guy had already anticipated that an Onmyoji skilled in divination might enter here."

"So, he hid the most correct path amidst the perilous and treacherous routes."

"And the safest path?"

"It became the most useless instead."

Xiaolu Youfeng quickly discerned the "trick" employed by the Hanakaiin Family Head.

Although it was a minor trick, he had to admit—it was incredibly effective.

At the very least, it left him unable to pinpoint the opponent's location in a true sense.

Because within his divination, the only safe path was the one he was currently treading.

And the correct path?

There were as many as five different options.

He couldn't possibly traverse them all alone.

Besides, his purpose wasn't to find the correct path.

He was here to look for Jason.

Almost instinctively, he wanted to "divine" Jason's whereabouts.

But instantly, he suppressed the thought.

The previous divination was still vivid in his memory.

Without Jason's consent, he wouldn't take that risk again.

Once was enough for a loss.

A few more losses?

That would truly mean his death.

He was well aware that the backlash he suffered last time hadn't fully healed; to this day, he still occasionally felt sharp pangs in his heart.

And every time the pain struck, he thought of Tsuchimikado Motoharu.

There was no doubt—this was Tsuchimikado Motoharu setting him up.

As for why?

It might have been retaliation for his divination of the "Arei-no-Hi Banner."

Or maybe it was just pure boredom.

Because that's exactly the kind of person Tsuchimikado Motoharu was.

No one could predict what he truly wanted to do.

In fact, Xiaolu Youfeng suspected that the "Arei-no-Hi Banner" was also just Tsuchimikado Motoharu putting on an act.

Simply to "mess with" him thoroughly.

Otherwise, with Tsuchimikado Motoharu's intelligence, he wouldn't have missed the inconsistencies within.

After all, he had noticed them long ago.

The reason he played along was likely just curiosity—curiosity about who was truly pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Now that he had fixated on the Hanakaiin Family Head,

his curiosity had long vanished.

Or rather, to be precise, the moment Jason appeared.

All his focus shifted solely to Jason.

Anything else?

He no longer cared.

Even his long-standing interest in Tsuchimikado Motoharu.

Achoo!

Tsuchimikado Motoharu sneezed.

"Who's praising my good looks?"

Tsuchimikado rubbed the tip of his nose, murmuring softly.

Then, the handsome and young Onmyoji surveyed the surrounding black mist, sensing the corrosive power within, as well as the hidden forces that lured the heart, and shook his head involuntarily.

"So many years have passed."

"Yet nothing has changed even slightly."

"If it's always going to be like this..."

"It really kills any enthusiasm."

If Tsuchimikado Motoharu had previously been unsure about the Hanakaiin Family Head's intentions, now he was completely certain.

"Another one falling for temptation."

"Power may be good, but if it isn't yours, it's ultimately useless."

"I just wonder..."

"Does all of this have anything to do with the Splendorous Moon?"

After making this lament, Tsuchimikado casually surrounded himself with a barrier.

Then, he sat down on the ground.

His entry here was merely a matter of convenience.

Not to search for Jason.

Nor for anything else.

When it came to his liege, Tsuchimikado had unprecedented confidence.

Jason wouldn't run into trouble.

As for the rest?

He had already confirmed those moments ago.

What remained was to wait.

To wait for his next move to unfold.

If all this was connected to the "Splendorous Moon," then at the critical moment, a flaw would undoubtedly reveal itself.

He firmly believed this.

After all, he had already cast the "bait."

...

"The place that guy arranged to meet us is actually within the Hanakaiin Family Head's territory?"

"Could he be one of the Hanakaiin Family?"

"Like a young master from one of the branch families?"

Yuli clasped her hands behind her head, speaking as she walked.

"It's possible."

"Who knows?"

"We're just people who get paid to do a job. Beyond that?"

"We shouldn't worry too much."

Hui Lixiang responded nonchalantly.

It didn't matter who their employer was, so long as they paid for the job as agreed—they were a good employer.

As for anything else?

She didn't feel like getting involved just yet.

Right now, all she wanted was to make more money.

Why?

Without any innate talent, she needed all sorts of rare materials to support her advancement—some of which were extraordinarily rare.

And all of this required a lot of money.

Some were so rare that money alone couldn't even buy them.

She'd have to rely on pulling every possible string she could.

Just thinking about it made Hui Lixiang feel stuffy in her chest.

Her own little sister—without lifting a finger—had others willingly providing her everything she needed.

And her?

No matter how much effort she poured in, all she ever got was, "You don't have the talent; it's something you can't learn."

If she hadn't gritted her teeth and refused to give up—managing to find some body-strengthening secret techniques through certain channels—she might've long succumbed to despair under the myriad of setbacks and sought solace in an endless lineup of lovers.

But precisely because of this.

She came to understand how terrible her talent really was.

She had to work twice as hard to succeed.

Of course!

The money also had to be doubled.

No!

It had to be tenfold!

"I feel like he's trying to take advantage of the chaos here."

"Could our next task possibly involve entering the Hanakaiin Family estate?"

Kaoru voiced a different perspective.

Her words immediately made Yuli's eyes light up.

The Hanakaiin Family Head's territory!

She had never been there herself!

But she'd heard stories countless times!

It was rumored to hold plenty of treasures.

"Don't even think about it!"

"Their security isn't something just anyone can breach!"

"Even now, it's the same!"

"In fact, you should be even more cautious—the likelihood is high that they've left 'bait!'"

"The Hanakaiin Family Head isn't some charitable benefactor."

One glance at Yuli's expression, and Hui Lixiang instantly knew what her teammate was contemplating. She immediately issued a warning.

As for Kaoru?

She had initially been planning to provoke the "brat" a little.

However, before she could utter the words, the disturbance within her senses caught her attention, prompting her gaze to shift toward the distance.

A man was walking toward them from afar.

Ordinary attire, unremarkable.

His face wasn't particularly distinctive either.

Yet, that face left Hui Lixiang, Yuli, and Kaoru astonished.

Because they recognized it.

They had even observed this person from afar.

Cao Ye!

The same man who, during the "King of Fighters Tournament" qualifiers, served as a guide.

And later, after boarding the "Reaper," murdered an elder from the Hanakaiin Family Head's household.

Currently, he was still on the police's wanted list.

Why would he suddenly appear here?

The answer was obvious.

"You're our employer?"

Hui Lixiang frowned, her eyes wary.

Kaoru was equally serious.

They had speculated about their employer's identity for quite some time but never expected it to be Cao Ye.

Such meticulous concealment!

Could there be a deeper scheme at play?

The two of them pondered.

Just as Hui Lixiang was about to probe further, Cao Ye preemptively spoke.

"Yes."

Cao Ye candidly admitted his identity.

Then, in a calm tone, he said—

"I have a new assignment for you..."

"Protect me!"