The Demon's Menu-Chapter 1161: Planting Willows without Intent! (2)

Ah Guang instinctively praised his friend, but before he could finish, he noticed that his friend’s expression was rather grim.

In the next moment—

Whoosh, whoosh!

Two piercing sounds tore through the air.

The "monster" that had been blasted apart by the air cannon reappeared once more.

The human skin was long gone.

All that remained was the monstrous body that straddled the line between reality and illusion.

It vaguely resembled a flying chicken.

Except it had four wings.

Its head bore a human face.

"A human-faced bird!"

Ah Guang’s expression shifted as he raised his hand again.

Whoosh!

This time, it wasn’t an air cannon but a powerful gust that erupted forth.

The gust swept toward the two human-faced birds.

But it was completely ineffective.

The two human-faced birds not only did not retreat but instead surged headlong against the wind.

"Zhinai, run!"

Ah Guang shouted loudly.

The duo’s tag team had always been clearly delineated: he was responsible for direct combat, while Zhinai handled reconnaissance and support.

Now that the "monsters" were closing in, naturally, it fell to him to step forward.

But to Ah Guang’s despair, these two "human-faced birds" also seemed to understand teamwork.

One blocked him.

The other darted straight for Zhinai.

Faced with the oncoming human-faced bird, Zhinai drew her gun and opened fire.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bullets were unleashed in quick succession.

The bullets inscribed with talismans could deal significant damage to "monsters," but… only if they hit the target.

Six bullets.

Not a single one hit.

It wasn’t because Zhinai had poor aim.

It was simply that the "human-faced bird" before her had far too many peculiar traits.

Traits that far exceeded any creature she had encountered before.

"Gah, gah, gah!"

"Become my food!"

The "human-faced bird" shrieked strangely as it looked at the helpless Zhinai, then dove downwards in a furious dive.

Zhinai fired three more shots.

But once again, not a single one hit the mark.

Nor did they slow the "human-faced bird’s" speed.

In an instant, Zhinai let out a powerless sigh.

Is this the end?

She thought to herself as she closed her eyes. Then—

"Gah, gah!"

Crunch!

Amid those bizarre calls, there was the sound of bones shattering.

Zhinai instinctively opened her eyes.

Immediately, a tall and bulky figure appeared before her.

The figure was holding the two "human-faced birds" in his hands.

The neck of the one chasing her had been twisted into a pretzel shape and was already lifeless.

The other, which had been obstructing Ah Guang, now had its neck grotesquely elongated, also devoid of life.

The tall and sturdy figure turned around and walked away, carrying the two human-faced birds.

"Wait, wait!"

Zhinai called out instinctively.

But the figure had no intention of stopping and boldly disappeared into the underbrush.

"Thank you."

Zhinai shouted toward the spot where the tall figure had vanished.

Ah Guang, meanwhile, approached with an odd look on his face.

"What’s wrong?"

Zhinai noticed her friend’s strange expression.

"Don’t you think that person just now looked familiar?"

Ah Guang asked.

"Familiar?"

Zhinai was taken aback, and then a memory came to mind.

It was at a secret gathering place in the "Inside World."

An enigmatic figure hosting the gathering had shared shocking intel with the lone wolves and underpowered groups present.

A sketch (on standard A4 paper).

At the bottom, a description was written.

Jason, an overseas Demon Hunter, the "Sword Saint."

Thinking back to the sketch’s likeness, Zhinai drew in a sharp breath.

Hssss!

"That person just now was the ’Sword Saint’ Jason?!"

Zhinai exclaimed in shock.

"If our memories aren’t mistaken, it should be. As expected, this *is* the Hanakaiin Family’s domain—no wonder someone as significant as the ’Sword Saint’ was drawn here."

"With the ’Sword Saint’ here, what hope is there for the likes of us?"

Ah Guang sighed bitterly.

Although he had accompanied his friend to search for the "secret medicine," it wasn’t as if Ah Guang hadn’t indulged in some hopeful daydreams.

If he could happen upon some secret technique by sheer luck, or perhaps find a helpless Shikigami, wouldn’t that be incredible?

But alas, dreams were sweet.

Reality was cruel.

Ah Guang didn’t think he could compete with Jason.

"A wasted trip."

Ah Guang mournfully rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a bottle of soda.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Burp!

After draining the bottle in one go, Ah Guang’s mood lightened only with a loud belch.

"Let’s go."

"Time to head back."

"Just in time to pull an all-nighter and finish my ’Pack of Wolves’ run—using the Pedicure Knife this time, it’s too amusing."

Ah Guang said as he turned to leave.

But after taking two steps, he realized his friend was still standing in place.

"Come on."

"We don’t stand a chance..."

"No!"

"We have a chance!"

Ah Guang, of course, knew his friend’s family situation. Regardless of the circumstances, though, some things were simply more important—he didn’t want his friend to perish like this.

Hence, his attempt to persuade her was only proper.

However, before he could finish, his friend interrupted him.

"A chance?"

Ah Guang froze for a moment, then blinked at his friend’s slight frame, his expression turning awkward.

"Don’t tell me you’re thinking...?"

"I mean, sure, your face is decent, but your figure... let’s just say it’s better left unsaid!"

"At least aim for an A cup!"

"But you?!"

"In the dead of night, if a child were to feel their way over, touch the left—Papa? Touch the right—still Papa! The thought alone is..."

Bam!

A heavy punch landed squarely on Ah Guang’s eye.

Cutting off his words mid-sentence.

"Ow!"

"Hsss, ouch, ouch, ouch!"

"Damn, you weren’t kidding?!"

Ah Guang clutched at his eye, narrowly dodging a follow-up kick.

"This is the last time."

"If you dare joke about my figure again, I’ll really break you and make you my honorary sister."

Zhinai stated seriously.

Ah Guang quickly clamped his legs together and nodded repeatedly.

He’d gotten carried away earlier and let his mouth run wild.

Usually, he didn’t dare push it this far.

At most, he would mutter a few things internally.

Seeing her friend’s cowering demeanor, Zhinai sighed.

It wasn’t for lack of trying on her part.

She drank milk every day.

She even ate papaya daily.

But the results...

Tears welled in her eyes.

"That ’Sword Saint’ has no conflicts with us!"

"In fact, he’s unlikely to have conflicts with anyone!"

"Don’t forget how he appeared earlier—and the direction he left in!"

Zhinai redirected the conversation.

"He showed up to save us."

"The direction he left in?"

"It leads to one of the paths to the Hanakaiin Family Head’s estate... could it be?"

Ah Guang realized something, looking incredulously at Zhinai.

"Rescue!"

"Exorcism!"

"The ’Sword Saint’ must be eliminating the ’monsters’ lurking nearby!"

Zhinai declared firmly.

"But why is he doing this?"

"What’s in it for him?"

"It’s not like he’s planning to eat them, is it?"

"With the time he’s spent here, he could’ve already reached the Hanakaiin estate and reaped rewards by now."

Ah Guang furrowed his brows, confused.

"Which is why... he’s a ’Sword Saint’!"

"And we’re just bottom-feeders!"

Zhinai said, with a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.

It was a yearning for strength.

And even more so, a longing for the righteous deeds of the strong.

"Alright, let’s go."

"Hope we can keep up."

With that, Zhinai and Ah Guang set off again.

From here to the Hanakaiin Family Head’s estate wasn’t far.

With their superhuman speed, they reached the edge of the Hanakaiin estate’s grounds in about twenty minutes.

By now, nearly 200 people had gathered there.

"So all the ’Inside World’ members in the Kinki region showed up, huh?"

Ah Guang remarked quietly.

Zhinai didn’t respond, instead pulling Ah Guang toward one side.

Four individuals were speaking in hushed tones there.

Noticing the approaching pair, the four immediately stopped talking and eyed Zhinai and Ah Guang warily.

"Don’t misunderstand."

"We mean no harm."

"Were you also saved by the ’Sword Saint’?"

"We were, too."

Zhinai introduced herself and Ah Guang.

The shared experience allayed their suspicions.

Just as Zhinai was trying to foster a connection, several more people approached.

"Were you saved by the ’Sword Saint’ as well?"

The newcomers asked.

Everyone quickly nodded.

"You too?"

Not far off, a few more people walked over.

And as they gathered, the group soon grew to ten people.

Amid the crowd of 200, their small group became conspicuous.

Especially as their numbers continued to grow.

Because among the rest, there were more who had been saved by Jason.

And among newcomers, the same held true.

Unknowingly, the number of people gathering here swelled.

As Zhinai looked at the surrounding crowd, a glint flickered in her eyes. Suddenly, she felt as if she understood what the "Sword Saint" was trying to accomplish.