Demon hunter's Cooking Manual-Chapter 966 - 12 Tongshou Temple
The light in the darkness came from a lantern.
The beige-colored rice paper served as its skin supported by a four-layer framework, with the candle affixed in the middle, contributing a touch of brightness to the darkness.
It also illuminated the large "Nothingness" character on the paper.
The "Nothingness" character, written with a brush under the candlelight, was particularly noticeable and attracted attention.
Hui Lijing was drawn by this character.
Yet, Hui Lijing’s scream was not because of this character.
It was because of the hand and the person she saw along the thin bamboo pole lifting the lantern.
The bamboo pole had already turned yellow-green, with yellow dominating most of it, and a hint of green at the joints being revealed through the gaps of a pale hand.
Apart from the color, the hand was undistinguishable from an ordinary person’s.
Neither elongated nor sturdy.
Just like an ordinary person.
Just like the half of the face revealed under the candlelight.
But as the person stepped forward and when his entire face was exposed, it sent shivers down the spine.
On one side of the ordinary half of the face was... a skeleton.
Not just the face was skeletal.
Half of the person’s body was skeletal too.
This half-skeletal person walked in the darkness, under the flickering candlelight, now bright now dim.
Suddenly, the already frightening scene turned even more bizarre.
Especially when the person glanced inside with the lantern, revealing a smile.
Hui Lijing’s screams came to an abrupt halt.
All that remained was—
"This, this, this..."
Hui Lijing wanted to articulate her thoughts at the moment completely.
But the words reached her lips and she couldn’t speak them out.
At this time, she heard Jason’s voice.
"Turn on the high beams."
His voice was calm and unhurried, with Jason’s characteristic detachment.
Such detachment instinctively made Hui Lijing trust him.
Click!
The car’s high beams turned on, shining a blinding brightness, enveloping the half-skeletal figure.
Immediately, the humor on the half-skeletal face froze.
It had anticipated many scenarios, but this was truly unexpected.
Bearing the painful glare, the half-skeletal figure steps around the range of high beam lights.
Although it was extremely careful, this obvious movement was still caught by Hui Lijing’s eyes.
"Is it avoiding the high beams?"
Hui Lijing asked blankly.
"You shine it too scared."
Jason responded.
"But, but... shouldn’t it be a monster?"
"How can a monster be scared of high beams?"
Hui Lijing still found it hard to accept.
"Monsters are also a type of creature, they naturally follow the instincts of living beings—just as I’m not afraid of certain attacks, but I can still feel spicy when I eat chili peppers."
Jason continued to explain.
"Jason, are you saying that everything follows the instincts of living creatures?"
Hui Lijing seemed to understand.
"You could also think of it as northerners shivering in the southern cold during winter."
Jason said, then opened the car door and stepped out.
While Hui Lijing, who had just seemed to understand, was now puzzled again.
What does that mean?
She was completely confused.
However, seeing Jason step out of the car, Hui Lijing quickly followed.
Of course, she didn’t forget to bring her weapon.
The half-skeletal being stood waiting by the car, and upon seeing Jason and Hui Lijing stepping out, immediately greeted them very politely.
"The little monk has seen Master Jason, Detective Hui Lijing."
The other party’s voice was pleasant and his demeanor elegant; if not for the terrifying appearance, he would definitely be considered graceful.
And Hui Lijing’s gaze was directed towards the top of the other’s head.
On the human side, there were short dense hairs.
Hui Lijing was focused on these hairs.
Aren’t monks supposed to be bald?
Perhaps noticing Hui Lijing’s confusion, the half-skeletal being smilingly replied, "This little monk cultivates with hair, and has not yet reached the level of shaving it."
"So, you’re afraid of high beams?"
Hui Lijing bluntly asked.
The smiling half-skeletal being’s smile stiffened.
"Even if shaved and ordained, one would still fear high beams."
The monk persevered, explaining.
"So, you’re saying you’re even worse than high beams?"
Hui Lijing persisted.
This time, the self-proclaimed little monk could hardly hold back.
Its fully human side visibly displayed anger.
"Detective Hui Lijing, are you provoking me?"
The half-skeletal being asked ominously.
"Eh?"
"Got found out?"
Hui Lijing looked surprised at the half-skeletal figure, and her ’how could you possibly figure it out with that intelligence’ expression completely angered the self-proclaimed little monk.
Roar!
A roar, like that of a wild beast, came from the figure’s mouth, and it charged toward Hui Lijing.
Then—
Bang, bang bang!
Hui Lijing’s pistol in her hand, repeatedly pulled the trigger.
Under the gun flashes, the half-skeletal figure kept retreating, but obviously, it wasn’t fatal.
"Do you think such shooting would work on me?"
"You’re underestimating my cultivation too much."
"I... fuck!"
The half-skeletal being couldn’t help but mockingly retort, but before it could finish, it saw Hui Lijing smiling and pointing at the ground.
The half-skeletal being looked down and was utterly stunned.
Because a grenade, pin pulled, had somehow appeared at its feet.
Boom!
The grenade exploded, and the shockwave along with shrapnel savaged the surrounding area.
Hui Lijing holstered her gun, turned her head to look at Jason, with the look of someone waiting for praise.
