Demon hunter's Cooking Manual

"Sister Hongxiu, should we try to run away?"

"Father is already dead, I can't lose you too."

The gentle voice was filled with a nasal tone.

"It's useless."

"The master is dead, without his protection, we can't escape. Even if we flee 'Mountain City', we will be caught and brought back, and things will be worse then."

"So we can only gamble, gamble that you can reach Fragrance City, gamble that those who will receive us are sincere, gamble that those within 'Si Hai Bang' acknowledge the 'Dragon Head Staff'."

A voice tinged with helplessness reached Jason's ears.

Clearly, the maid Hongxiu was far clearer than the Lady Cui Long.

"But this..."

Cui Long's voice carried hesitation.

"We have no retreat now."

Hongxiu's voice became resolute, then suddenly took on a tender tone as she softly said, "You must live well, sister, even if faced with the worst outcome, you must live."

"As long as you're alive, everything is possible."

"And you are an Alchemist, you have worth."

"Even those people won't ignore your value."

"So, when it is absolutely necessary, you have to choose to cooperate with them, to refine pills for them."

Hongxiu paused as she spoke.

That sort of voice stopped, choked in the throat.

"I understand, sister."

Cui Long's voice was tearful, followed by the jingling sound of garments.

'Are the two girls embracing each other for the last farewell?'

Jason thought to himself.

He completely understood what kind of situation Cui Long and Hongxiu faced after losing the protection of King Cui Long.

It was like being surrounded by wolves.

Moreover, this farewell might be the permanent one.

Hongxiu did not mention her identity as an Alchemist, clearly having made certain preparations.

The unique Cui Long would be of greater value.

Having one more Alchemist at this point is not a good thing.

Understanding what Hongxiu intended to do, Jason decided to leave.

This was the last moment of reunion for the two girls.

It was inappropriate for an outsider like him to be there.

Even if they were unaware, it was the same.

Jason slowly walked towards the door of Red Fragrance Alley, but the conversation coming from the room behind made him pause —

"I hate not being a man."

"Sister Hongxiu, you are better than any man."

"Sister."

"Sister."

Full of deep emotion, Jason raised an eyebrow.

Then, his departing steps quickened.

Suddenly the flowers bloomed.

What a guy, really amazing.

Totally bewildered, Jason returned to his room at the Martial Arts School, but instead of entering, he sat on the roof, crossed his arms with elbows resting on his knees, supported his chin with his hands, and gazed at the tranquil 'Mountain City'.

The night breeze swept through, letting Jason's garment faintly rustle.

Occasional barking from distant dogs soon ceased.

Only the sound of the watchman's clapper remained.

Due to his constitution and Spirit far beyond ordinary, Jason needed very little sleep, and could go several days without rest.

This led him to habitually seek a quiet place for contemplation.

He contemplated his current plans, and pondered everything occurring in 'Nightless City'.

Sporadically, the sound of Dou Bao's tinkering reached his ears.

Dou Bao did this every night.

He wouldn't rest until late at night.

Jason had a rough idea about what Dou Bao was tinkering with.

But he did not delve deeper.

When Dou Bao decided to share, Jason would listen.

Doesn't want to share?

He wouldn't force it either.

Secrets exist for everyone.

Rather than seeking others' secrets, it's better to think about what to have for breakfast tomorrow.

While Jason was contemplating, distant torches suddenly illuminated the pier, and from his vantage point, Jason could see this expanse of light, and with his eyesight, he could even spot Xu Dashan among a team.

'Are they setting off?'

Jason thought, his gaze instinctively fixating on the pier.

No surprises appeared, as a cloaked woman boarded the ship, followed by over twenty armed men, then sailors began loading supplies and so forth.

About ten minutes later, the ship set sail.

Xu Dashan did not board the ship, but watched as the large vessel departed.

Thereafter, the old owner of Red Fragrance Alley headed towards the city gate.

A carriage had unknowingly parked there.

"Miss, please take care during your journey."

Outside the city gate, Xu Dashan spoke softly.

"Understood, Master Xu."

"The rest is up to you."

A gentle voice came through.

"Understood."

Xu Dashan replied.

In contrast to the grand commotion at the docks, here there was only one carriage and four fast horses. Each horse carried a strong-bodied man with gleaming eyes.

It was evident that each of them was a martial artist who had completed 'Muscle Strengthening'.

Especially the middle-aged man driving the carriage, whose aura was even stronger, at least at the 'Bone Tempering' level.

"I entrust everything to you all."

Xu Dashan bowed to the five men.

The five death soldiers, trained entirely by 'Great Leader' Cui Long, nodded coldly. Then, as the coachman cracked the whip, the team set off.

Soon, they disappeared into the night.

Xu Dashan stood there until they were out of sight before turning around.

'I hope everything goes smoothly.'

Xu Dashan thought to himself.

Two decoy teams had set off, while the real young lady hid in a secret chamber, which had enough food and water, and which no one but him knew about.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting for three days.

Within those three days, those people would probably not resist making a move against the two teams.

But it didn't matter.

Even if they discovered something was amiss, he wasn't afraid.

Because he was the insurance.

He would make the entire plan complete.

Make it perfect.

Therefore, he was actually hoping for something to happen.

Only when something went wrong, could his plan unfold and turn passivity into initiative.

Of course, if possible, he absolutely wouldn't do this.

But things were too unexpected for him.

He hadn't expected those guys to determine so quickly that the young lady had arrived in the 'Mountain City'.

This was confirmed half an hour ago when he was arranging things at the docks.

Sigh!

Sitting in the carriage, Xu Dashan's body swayed with the motion of the cart. He let out a sigh in his heart and began to silently calculate the time.

'It should be about time, right?'

Xu Dashan muttered to himself.

Then, in the next moment—

Whoosh!

Fire!

A streak of fire appeared in the night, and as the wind blew, the flame grew brighter.

The flames leapt upwards.

In no time, everyone was startled.

"There's a fire!"

"Red Fragrance Alley is on fire!"

The neighbors on Martial Arts Street shouted loudly, and the coachman driving Xu Dashan's carriage widened his eyes and anxiously shouted towards the carriage behind him: "Master! Master! It's not good! The shop is on fire!"

"What?!"

Xu Dashan, shocked, pulled back the curtain and looked at Red Fragrance Alley ablaze in the night.

"Quick! Hurry back!"

"Put out the fire! Put out the fire!"

Xu Dashan shouted loudly.

"Alright, Master, hold on tight."

After saying this, the coachman shook the reins.

Immediately, the carriage began to accelerate.

However, by the time Xu Dashan returned to Red Fragrance Alley, it was already too late.

Red Fragrance Alley was completely devoured by flames.

The neighbors on Martial Arts Street, to reduce losses, had to push down the walls of Red Fragrance Alley, letting the flames burn inward, while everyone quickly dug a trench to halt the fire's advance.

All of this was done under Xin's command.

"Everyone, be careful."

"Try not to get too close."

Xin directed the people.

Then, he was about to apologize to Xu Dashan.

It wasn't that he didn't want to extinguish the fire, but the fire was too intense.

At this moment, anyone who went to fight the fire would be going to their death.

But when Xin turned his head, he couldn't find Xu Dashan anymore.

"Old Mr. Xu just glanced over and then headed to the Mu-style Martial Arts School."

Someone informed Xin.

Mu-style Martial Arts School?

Xin was taken aback. This wasn't the first time he had heard of the Mu-style Martial Arts School; in the past month, its name had become quite renowned.

He was a bit curious as well.

But not at this moment.

At this time, he needed to fight the fire.

Just as Xin was directing the fire-fighting efforts, two shadows concealed in the corner of the wall headed towards the Mu-style Martial Arts School.