Demon hunter's Cooking Manual

Jason tilted his body, avoiding Jia Youcai's kneeling salute.

It wasn't just because he was unaccustomed to it, but also out of caution.

A concealed crossbow hidden beneath a low-bowed posture, Jason knew.

Five Poisons sand shot like a sly serpent, Jason knew.

A deadly smoke trap lurking behind, Jason also knew.

In this unfamiliar, replica-like world, as Jason explored and gathered information, his sense of vigilance was heightened like never before.

On the side, Dou Bao glanced at Jia Youcai and sneered faintly. Setting down her tea, she stood off to the side.

Although Jia Youcai was just like those scoundrels she remembered—those who fawn on the powerful and tread on the weak—Dou Bao refrained from saying much in Master Mu's presence. Besides, Dou Bao trusted Master Mu to handle things appropriately.

Jia Youcai, seeing Jason dodging away, immediately shifted his knees and knelt down once again, this time aiming right for Jason.

Jason evaded him again.

Furthermore, this time, Jason maneuvered behind Jia Youcai, grabbed his shoulder like steel pincers, and directly lifted him up.

"Aiyo, aiyo, pain, pain, pain!"

"Master Mu, please have mercy, this small one's fragile body can't endure your strength!"

Jia Youcai cried out repeatedly in pain, clasping his hands together and bowing incessantly.

His hat fell to the ground. His gray-black uniform, which already had unfastened buttons, coupled with his reed-thin physique, transformed his supposedly formal attire into a crooked mess devoid of any dignity.

Jason loosened his grip, and Jia Youcai repeatedly rubbed his aching shoulder. Without even looking, he knew it must be swollen, especially with the sharp pain now causing his rat-like whiskers to quiver uncontrollably.

However, Jia Youcai did not get angry.

In fact, he seemed somewhat pleased.

Or rather, to put it precisely, the stronger Jason was, the happier Jia Youcai appeared.

Looking at Jason's calm expression, speaking not a word more than necessary, Jia Youcai clasped his hands once again.

"Master Mu, I humbly request your help with a matter."

As he spoke, Jia Youcai stole a glance at Jason. Seeing Jason remain emotionless, he quickly sped up his speech, worried Jason might not give him the chance to explain.

If Jason allowed it, then there was still hope for him.

"Lately, Mountain City has been plagued by a thief."

"A flying thief."

"A flying thief?"

Dou Bao interjected with surprise.

She had not intended to butt into the conversation but couldn't help herself.

A flying thief—that was someone straight out of fictional storytelling.

In real life, she had never encountered such a figure, even with her experience in the martial arts hall.

Moreover, the most puzzling part was that she had never even heard of a flying thief operating in Mountain City.

"Why haven't I heard of this before?"

Dou Bao eyed Jia Youcai suspiciously.

She suspected Jia Youcai might be setting a trap for Master Mu.

Although she trusted Master Mu would be perfectly fine, Dou Bao believed it her duty as his attendant to guard against those harboring ill intent ahead of time.

"Sister Dou Bao, how could you possibly have heard about this? If you had, wouldn't the officials have lost their ranks?"

Jia Youcai, disregarding his own age, shamelessly addressed Dou Bao so intimately. This only made Dou Bao dislike the arrest officer even more, though she still kept a keen ear on what he was saying.

"So you're saying the Mountain City officials suppressed the news? Then handed the task to you, and believing yourself incapable of completing it, you came to ask Master Mu for help?"

Dou Bao asked, pressing him insistently.

"Sister Dou Bao is truly sharp and perceptive. You've hit the nail on the head, though there are some internal details I haven't had the time to share just yet."

Jia Youcai flattered Dou Bao.

Even if Dou Bao had only guessed a fragment correctly, he wanted her to feel as though she had deduced everything perfectly.

Then, he smoothly shifted topics, adding his own explanation.

Not only that, Jia Youcai took special care to imply subtly that it wasn't Dou Bao's fault for misunderstanding—it was on him for not sharing the full story yet.

This kind of ingratiating maneuver Jia Youcai had mastered fully.

Otherwise, how could he have become an arrest officer?

By catching thieves and bandits? Don't be ridiculous.

He had an elderly mother to take care of.

However, what surprised Jia Youcai was that Dou Bao lacked the usual smug demeanor he saw in others after receiving his flattery—neither visible pride nor concealed satisfaction; all she revealed was a watchful gaze.

This young woman wasn't simple.

Indeed, to be entrusted as the martial hall's steward, she must have her own capabilities.

Jia Youcai thought to himself while maintaining the same fawning smile.

But his explanation promptly continued.

"This flying thief is unlike ordinary criminals. He's the real deal, someone who moves high and low with ease. Brazen, reckless, and merciless, he even sends out 'notices' prior to every theft, informing the household when he'll strike. At first, everyone dismissed it as a joke—who would be foolish enough to announce their crimes in advance? But then, thefts occurred one after another. And anyone who dared intervene ended up dead, without exception."

At this point, Jia Youcai sucked in his breath with a sharp hiss, his face drained with fear.

After steadying himself with a few breaths, the arrest officer lowered his voice even further.

"This led to murder cases. Naturally, the households reported to the authorities. After the thief's most recent 'notice,' the official sent the four chief arrest officers from Mountain City's northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast quarters, along with over a dozen elite fighters, to pursue the thief. Not only did they fail to catch him, but they all met their doom—the four arrest officers and the dozen or so skilled fighters... are all dead."

"The entire ordeal didn't last more than a quarter of an hour. By the time we followed up, all we saw were dead bodies scattered everywhere."

Jia Youcai's expression grew darker and more terrified, as if the scene of carnage was right before his eyes.

Jason remained seated without a word.

He seemed entirely uninterested.

Meanwhile, Dou Bao furrowed her brows slightly.

"What was the strength level of those four chief arrest officers?"