The daily meal allowance for demon hunters was quite generous, and any unused funds could be rolled over.
Even with Wen Wen’s gluttonous habits, he couldn’t finish spending his accumulated meal stipend.
At home, he often couldn’t be bothered and just ate whatever was convenient. But here, he could indulge to his heart’s content.
He tore off a lobster leg and crunched into it directly, shell and all.
Occasionally, bits of meat and shell fragments would scatter onto the table. Little Third would immediately scurry over to gobble them up.
Even scraps were better than the bizarre things Wen Wen fed him at home.
He was *so* sick of eating Wen Wen’s foot calluses.
Wen Wen’s eating style was downright savage. The crunch of lobster shell between his teeth made the woman beside him frown.
*"Hey, could you eat a little more… *civilized*?"*
Wen Wen wiped the meat residue from his lips with a finger, then rested his hand on the table. Little Third promptly slithered over to lick it clean.
*"Miss, who are you again? Do we know each other?"*
A flicker of delight crossed the woman’s eyes. *"You really don’t recognize me?"*
*Had we met before?*
The more striking a person’s appearance, the more vivid the memory. If Wen Wen had seen her before, he *should* remember.
Besides, most people would be annoyed if an acquaintance forgot them. Why did she seem… *happy*?
*Wait a minute—*
Wen Wen narrowed his eyes, activating his detective’s deduction skills.
*"She’s wearing a headscarf—no visible hair. Probably short-haired."*
*"Plus, I trust my memory. No way I’d forget. So she must be in disguise. Short hair… disguise… Could she be a *crossdresser*?"*
*"The only person I know whose face I’ve never seen is Yan Xiu. Always wears robes—no clue about his build. If anyone could pull off a female disguise, it’d be him!"*
Grinning mischievously, Wen Wen slapped the woman’s shoulder. *"So it’s *you*, Yan Xiu! Never thought you’d have such a girly face under that mask. What’d you stuff your chest with? Feels soft—I even saw it jiggle earlier."*
The woman’s forehead twitched with visible veins. She smacked his hand away, furious. *"What the hell are you talking about? I’m *Yuhan*!"*
*Yuhan…*
Wen Wen fell silent for a long moment. His hand hovered, tempted to reach out and verify *certain attributes* firsthand.
Under her withering glare, he reluctantly retracted it.
Upon closer inspection, there *was* something familiar in her features—hints of Yuhan’s sharpness.
But Wen Wen refused to accept it.
The idea that the bald, muscle-bound brute he’d known was actually a woman had already been hard to swallow.
Now, that same muscle-bound *woman* had transformed into *this*? His brain short-circuited.
*"You’re messing with me, right?"* He stared into Yuhan’s eyes.
She rolled hers. *"Why would I lie? I *am* Yuhan. My ability altered my appearance before. Now that it’s gone, I’ve reverted to my original form."*
*"Gone?"* Wen Wen blinked. *"Temporarily, or…?"*
Yuhan paused. *"Permanently. The corruption was rooted in my ability. When it was purged, my power went with it."*
Wen Wen suddenly lost his appetite. What would it feel like to lose his own abilities?
At the very least, he wouldn’t be able to eat like *this* anymore—or tease monsters.
The mere thought made life seem unbearably dull.
Noticing his mood, Yuhan smiled. *"Don’t look so gloomy. It’s not all bad. I lost my strength, but I gained something I’ve always wanted."*
Wen Wen understood. For a woman who cared about her appearance, that ability might have been more of a curse.
*"Thank you for saving me. Even though you *did* break my scapula… still, thank you."* Yuhan stood and bowed.
Wen Wen waved it off. *"Not sincere enough. How about marrying me instead?"*
Yuhan’s face flushed as she lightly punched his arm—now devoid of its former bone-crushing force.
Wen Wen chuckled. For the first time, he found her shyness… *kind of cute*. Before, it had been downright horrifying.
Sitting back down, Yuhan sighed. *"I probably can’t hunt demons anymore. But my main role was as an intelligence officer for the Furong River Hunter Association. I’ll keep doing that."*
*"Well, whatever path you take, I hope it goes smoothly."*
They chatted over the meal. When Yuhan finished her bowl of plain congee, she prepared to leave. In the past, her appetite had dwarfed even Wen Wen’s. Now, a single bowl left her full.
*"Oh, before you go—that swordsman from before, is he still at the Association? I have some questions for him,"* Wen Wen asked suddenly.
Yuhan nodded. *"You mean Changsun Jing? This time of day, he’s probably practicing in the backyard. He’s been training a lot lately."*
Wen Wen frowned. *"Practicing…? Didn’t he lose his ability too?"*
*"Yes. But he’s retained some skill. Better off than me, at least."*
With that, Yuhan left, leaving Wen Wen to finish the feast alone.
*"Changsun Jing kept some ability even after losing his power. Maybe he’s skilled with the blade. I should ask for pointers. Swordsmanship and knife techniques share principles—I’ve been winging it blindly."*
After wolfing down the remaining food, Wen Wen headed to the asylum’s backyard—a small garden.
Before even seeing Changsun Jing, he heard the *whoosh* of a swinging blade.
Drenched in sweat, muscles trembling from overexertion, Changsun Jing wore a short training jacket as he relentlessly practiced with a longsword.
Each strike carried a faint current of air—enough to elevate him above ordinary humans, perhaps even take on ten at once.
But compared to his former self? The difference was like heaven and earth.
Watching his form, Wen Wen shook his head. The *presence* in his swordsmanship was weaker than Wen Wen’s own after just two days of practice.
Ultimately, Changsun Jing was now entirely ordinary. The gap in their physical foundations was too vast. Even with superior technique, he couldn’t compare.
After observing for a while, Wen Wen left without a word.
He’d ask for advice—but not today.