Chapter 1 The Instinct to Hunt

The instinct to hunt—this specifically referred to the uncontrolled killing intent and combat reflexes that arose in demon hunters when facing heterochromatic creatures. Demon hunters regarded it as a beneficial talent because it allowed them to enter a battle state extremely quickly and to fight heterochromatic creatures without mercy or hesitation. More importantly, the instinct to hunt was the basis of many of a demon hunter's sensory skills; eighty percent of their identification and prediction of heterochromatic creatures was based on this instinct.

Of course, skilled hunters could still smell the scent of heterochromatic creatures in a crowd even without this instinct, but in the current situation of Yagyu and Zhao Xi, they could only sense the existence of heterochromatic creatures, but could not accurately perceive the race and strength of the other party as before, nor could they produce pre-battle reflexes.

Hao Ren frowned as he looked at Yagyu: "What happened before the instinct to hunt disappeared?"

"There was no warning. This ability suddenly began to weaken, and to be honest... we're not even sure when it first started to weaken. We can only roughly judge that it was a month ago," Yagyu said, placing his hands on the table, looking worried. "The instinct to hunt only manifests when facing heterochromatic creatures."

"Why did you think of coming to me?" Hao Ren asked curiously. Although he had reached a peaceful agreement with the two demon hunters in front of him, the demon hunter faction was still relatively sensitive to his tenants. He didn't know why Yagyu didn't seek help from his organization, but instead came here.

Yagyu didn't hide his thoughts: "I know your background. You should know a lot of things. Asking you is probably more useful than asking our own organization. Also, we did ask the regional负责人 (fùzé rén, person in charge) above the demon hunters, but..."

Yagyu hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The problem of the disappearing instinct to hunt doesn't seem to be an isolated case... I'm afraid this is no longer something we can control ourselves."

Hao Ren's eyes widened: "It's not just your instinct to hunt that's disappeared?!"

"The regional负责人 (fùzé rén, person in charge) didn't go into detail, but he mentioned that 'the situation is not good,' and as far as I know, many elders in the clan have suddenly become active and rushed to various places, probably all related to this matter," Yagyu frowned. "Actually, I hesitated for a long time before coming to you, because I don't want the collective interests of the demon hunters to be harmed, but now it seems... this is probably no longer just a matter of damaged interests. Perhaps only the one behind you can help solve this problem."

Hao Ren clicked his tongue, feeling that this Yagyu still had some misunderstandings about him: "First of all, I'm not hostile to demon hunters, so why would I want to harm the collective interests of demon hunters for no reason? Secondly, the one behind me is indeed very capable, but I think she won't personally help you solve this kind of thing... But don't worry, I'll find a way to investigate. You'd better tell me in detail the reactions after the instinct to hunt disappeared. Oh, and by the way, how many demon hunters do you estimate have been affected?"

Yagyu and Zhao Xi exchanged glances, nodded, and then began to explain to Hao Ren in detail. While they were talking about the problem, Lily also ran over to serve the food. She held a super-sized tray, looking happy: "Yaho! Your food is ready! Landlord, move your arm away, the casserole is hot, be careful... Also, Bat asked me to get you a bowl of rice. There are a lot of guests today, if you can't go back at noon, eat here."

Lily was obviously in the zone at this time. She quickly placed three large bowls of rice, a steaming casserole, and two cold dishes on the table, while enthusiastically introducing the dishes to the guests: "This casserole chicken is our signature dish. It needs to simmer for a minute after it's on the table. The fragrance will fill half the street when you open the lid... Also, these two cold dishes are free, enjoy your meal."

Hao Ren looked down and found two identical plates of cucumber mixed with starch noodles on the table: "...Didn't you say two cold dishes? Did you get this wrong?"

Lily waved her hand casually: "I made too much, so I divided it into two plates for you, just treat it as two dishes, anyway, it's free. If you really can't accept it, then treat one as cucumber mixed with starch noodles, and the other as starch noodles mixed with cucumber..."

After the husky spirit finished speaking, she didn't give anyone time to react, turned around and swayed to the side, humming a ditty. After a while, Hao Ren heard her greeting guests at the next table: "...These suyou (酥油, clarified butter) dumplings are our signature dish, the fragrance fills half the street when they're served..." "This tomato scrambled eggs is our signature dish, the fragrance fills half the street when they're served..." "This... Uncle Zhao, you're not ordering anything else? Okay... These peanuts are our signature dish..."

Yagyu looked in astonishment at the werewolf girl who was running around happily in the store, but whose work and speech were chaotic: "Is that the only sentence she knows?"

Hao Ren covered his face: "I estimate that this restaurant will soon be famous far and wide. This management style alone is a characteristic."

Yagyu shook his head with a smile, and while reaching out to uncover the lid of the casserole, he said: "That's not bad, it's already much better than the heterochromatic creatures I remember... By the way, I didn't expect the cooking here to be quite authentic. I can smell it before the lid is even opened..." "Bang!"

He only opened the lid halfway and quickly closed it again. Hao Ren was puzzled: "What's wrong?"

Yagyu kept a straight face: "I've been too nervous lately, I might be hallucinating."

Zhao Xi glanced at his superior strangely, reached out and uncovered the lid, and quickly covered it again after taking a look: "...There's something strange."

"What's wrong with you guys..." Hao Ren muttered with a frown, and casually lifted the lid of the casserole, and saw Dou Dou holding a scallion and happily greeting him: "Papa..." "Bang!"

Hao Ren put the lid back on, picked up the casserole, and walked towards the kitchen: "Wait a moment, I'll go change it. The chef stewed the wrong thing."

Yagyu and Zhao Xi: "?"

When Hao Ren ran to the kitchen, it was still a mess. Vivian and Aier Sha were busy, not because their skills were not good, but because they were not used to the rhythm of cooking in a restaurant. He heard the clanging of pots and pans in the kitchen, and the girls' exclamations rose and fell: "Vivian, give me the salt..." "Big Dog, Big Dog, take these two plates of dishes to the table at the door!" "May, where did your brother go?" "Hey, where's my kitchen knife... Invincible, bring your silver dagger. What nonsense, didn't you use it to peel apples yesterday!" "Elizabeth, have you seen Dou Dou? Wasn't she in this basin just now..."

Hao Ren casually put the casserole aside: "Dou Dou is here, who stewed her?"

Vivian turned her head and glanced, dumbfounded.

The little mermaid might have jumped into the pot herself. With the chaotic state of the kitchen now, she could have jumped anywhere. Seeing this situation, Hao Ren was embarrassed to add to the chaos. He took Dou Dou to the sink himself and rinsed the little guy, but after rinsing her three times, she still smelled of spices...

Lily smelled Dou Dou's tail when she passed by: "I can eat two bowls of rice just licking her—Landlord, you should use some dish soap."

"Don't make trouble, what if she eats it and gets diarrhea," Hao Ren glared at Lily, and casually put Dou Dou into the fish tank and put her back into his portable space, "It's better not to let her cause trouble outside. Hey, I was originally thinking that today's opening would be lively, and let her get some air, but she's really not worry-free."

"Business is pretty good today," Nangong Wudi said with a smile, looking at the situation in the store. "At first, I was wondering what to do if there were no customers. Now it seems that we prepared too little."

"It's the first day of opening, it's bound to be lively, at least the neighbors in a few streets have to come and support us," Nangong Wuyue said with a grin, "But we won't earn much today. The opening is selling cheaply, not to mention Lily is giving away side dishes to people indiscriminately..."

"It's fine, it's good enough that she remembers to collect money," Aier Sha said, with her hands on her hips, "Anyway, we won't lose money, and we don't expect to earn much."

妖怪 (yāoguài, monsters) opening a restaurant, it's all a mess.

At this time, Vivian freed her hands and pulled Hao Ren to the side: "I heard Lily said that the two demon hunters came?"

"Yes, talking about something," Hao Ren said in a low voice. "After this busy period at noon is over and it's quieter, let's talk in detail. I suspect it may be related to the innate antagonism between various heterochromatic creatures on Earth."

Vivian leaned over and glanced at the corner of the store. Yagyu and Zhao Xi felt something and raised their heads to nod in greeting.

"Oh, go accompany them, I'll finish the work at hand first," Vivian pushed Hao Ren, and then smiled, "Speaking of which, opening a restaurant is really hard work, it's quite tiring. I can't eat lunch together, I'll make you something good at night."

"Okay, don't get too tired," Hao Ren responded, pointing to Elizabeth, who was squatting in the corner before leaving the kitchen. "Also, don't let her be a hindrance. Didn't you notice that she's taking apart the freezer!"

Everyone: "...Old Wang, come and see your daughter!"