Chapter 61 South Suburb Canteen

Nangong Wudi ushered Hesperiana and the other two into the shop, then stuck a talisman card on the door. Under the dispelling effect of the magic, which was meant to drive away idlers, the few remaining diners in the shop quickly settled their bills and left, and the scene became quiet. Hao Ren couldn't help muttering as he watched the last few old men settle up, "Your shop is really aimed at being an activity center for the elderly?"

"There are mostly old men and women here," Nangong Wudi said with a chuckle. "It's okay, I'm just opening the shop so I don't get bored. It's pretty good like this now—what would you all like to eat?"

He addressed the last half of his sentence to the three vampire guests. Duncan and Cassandra said in unison, "Do you have type A blood?"

Nangong Wudi's expression froze. "...We don't have that."

Duncan: "Then bring two baskets of chive and pork buns."

Cassandra: "I want a bowl of stir-fried vegetable pancakes with extra bean sprouts."

Hao Ren stared at the two high-ranking bloodsuckers in a daze. He didn't expect these two to be so good at adapting to local customs, instantly lowering their pretense after arriving in the southern suburbs—of course, one reason was that the vampires Hesperiana brought out were always of this ever-changing style.

Nangong Wudi's face twitched slightly. He turned around and called out to the kitchen, then turned back to look at Hesperiana. "What about you?"

Hesperiana lowered her head and studied the menu carefully for a long time, finally throwing the list on the table. "Stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts!"

Hao Ren waved his hand at Nangong Wudi. "Don't be surprised. This is Vivian's bloodline. She's not afraid of garlic, let alone garlic sprouts—by the way, call the people in the kitchen out before you start cooking. Let's all meet. Hesperiana can be considered a comrade who fought alongside us."

Hesperiana glanced at Hao Ren, obviously not caring much about the "comrade" status. Nangong Wudi turned around and went to the kitchen to call out Elsa and the Nangong siblings who came to help today. Everyone's first reaction upon seeing Hesperiana was to almost call her Vivian, but Nangong Wuyue was the first to recognize her. She happily stepped forward and shook Hesperiana's arm vigorously. "Oh, long time no see, long time no see. Is Athena doing well?"

"Very well, very well," Hesperiana said with a grin, then her eyes swept over Nangong Wudi and Elsa. "Congratulations. You've finally found your parents. A peaceful family reunion is better than anything."

"Thanks to the landlord," Nangong Sanba wiped his hands on his apron and slapped Hao Ren on the shoulder in a carefree manner. "He even went to an alien planet to help us find our parents..."

Hao Ren quickly dodged Nangong Sanba's greasy paws, shaking his shoulders. "Go wash your hands, go wash your hands! By the way, what are you doing in the back? You're wearing an apron and sleeves—did you learn to cook from your mom?"

Nangong Sanba laughed and pulled out two shiny silver divine weapons from behind his apron with a flourish. "Chopping filling! I've discovered that I'm more professional at this than exorcising ghosts. Today is the first time my two knives have seen blood..."

Nangong Wuyue covered her face, unable to bear to look. "Brother, stop talking. As a demon hunter, aren't you ashamed?"

After helping out in the restaurant, Nangong Sanba finally opened the door to a new world. He decisively modified his two holy silver short swords and turned them into tools for cutting vegetables. Although it was a bit unkind to say so, Hao Ren sincerely felt that this guy's decision was a huge contribution to both the culinary and demon-hunting worlds...

"Then what do you do in the kitchen?" Hao Ren couldn't help but glance at Nangong Wuyue. He suddenly became interested in the daily lives of the Nangong siblings in the restaurant.

"Me? I wash dishes and vegetables. As a siren, what else do you think I can do?" Wuyue said as she swayed her body, and a few crisp sounds of porcelain clashing immediately came from her stomach. Hao Ren didn't think much of what Wuyue said at first, but when he heard the movement in the other party's stomach, his eyes almost popped out. "Wait a minute! What was that sound just now? You're in your stomach..."

Wuyue oh-ed and slightly lifted her clothes, taking out a stack of clear, bright small plates from her belly. They were as clean as could be. "Here, this is how I wash them. I'm telling you, it's super fast."

Everyone except the Nangong family of four looked horrified. Hao Ren, with his sharp eyes, clearly saw that Wuyue's skin, a little below her neck, was glowing with an almost transparent texture, and there seemed to be bowls and chopsticks floating inside. He felt like he had suddenly opened the door to a new world. "You... You don't make a water ball or create some water flow when you wash the dishes, but directly put them in your body and wash them out?"

Wuyue nodded as a matter of course. "Of course, a siren's body can change shape at any time. It takes extra effort to condense water balls outside the body, so I simply throw the less important chores like washing dishes into my stomach—my mom taught me."

Hao Ren: "...I've known you for almost two years, and I can still learn new things every now and then. The Creator really has no logic at all. Hey, wait a minute, does that mean you usually wash dishes like this at home too?!"

He suddenly remembered that Wuyue was the one who took care of all the washing and cleaning chores at home on weekdays, just like Vivian took on the work of the air conditioner, Lily provided dog-fur scarves, and Izhaks would go to the kitchen as a gas tank when he forgot to change the gas tank. Every alien in the house was using their special attributes to take on chores within their capabilities. Hao Ren had always taken these conveniences for granted and never delved into the details—he hadn't been in the kitchen for over a year.

Faced with Hao Ren's question, Wuyue simply nodded as a matter of course, and kindly reminded him, "So, Landlord, do you know why you have to wash your own socks? It's kind of disgusting..."

Hao Ren: "...I wasn't asking you to wash those anyway!"

Hesperiana had been curiously watching them chat, and finally couldn't help but laugh. "Ahahaha... You guys are too interesting! I didn't know that sirens and demon hunters could be like this. How lively must your house be usually?"

Hesperiana's voice finally pulled Hao Ren's attention back. He sized up the three vampires in front of him. "What exactly are you three here for?"

Hesperiana put her hands on her hips. "Why should I tell you?"

Before she could finish speaking, Duncan blurted out, "The magic book that Madam Vivian asked us to investigate has a clue..."

"Duncan!!" Hesperiana finally couldn't bear it any longer. "Can-you-not-always-mess-things-up?!"

Duncan quickly shut his mouth and nodded apologetically to Hao Ren. Don't think that he was being scolded by his mistress like a grandson, but he still maintained the elegant demeanor of a golden-haired nobleman at this time. It seemed that high-ranking bloodsuckers had a talent, that is, their pretense was engraved in their bones. Even if they were squatting in the vegetable market eating sesame cakes, they could still create the atmosphere of attending a Viennese opera, and you wouldn't feel awkward.

And the biggest difference between the vampires of the Hesperiana family and the vampires of other families is that they are really good at eating sesame cakes in the vegetable market...

The reason for this should be that they have a crooked clan leader.

"So you've already found out who wrote that magic book?" Hao Ren showed a very interested expression. "Have you found any other similar magic books or magic items circulating around?"

Hesperiana continued to put her hands on her hips. "Why should I te..."

Before her mistress could finish speaking, Cassandra nodded slightly to Hao Ren, and said in a gentle, elegant manner, "We have not found more magic items, but we have found the source of the magic book and some..."

Hesperiana glared. "Cassandra!! Are you joining in on the fun too?!"

Cassandra nodded apologetically to her mistress. "Mistress, I know you are reluctant to compromise with Mr. Hao Ren, so your subordinate should take care of this awkward matter."

Hesperiana paused for a moment, then turned her head away with a slightly unnatural expression. "I know, you don't have to say it..."

Cassandra had half a sentence left: "And I have bigger breasts, so I'll say it first."

Everyone: "..."

Hao Ren looked at Hesperiana with a strange expression. "How did you choose these two treasures?"

Hesperiana hugged her head and lay down on the table. "Don't ask, I'm annoyed. My subordinates are all like this, you know... Let's not talk about this, by the way, where exactly is your house? I've been looking for it for a long time."

"It's just across the street from here," Hao Ren pointed in a certain direction, then frowned. "By the way, does Vivian know you're coming?"

Hesperiana turned her head away. "I sneaked over here. I wanted to give her a surprise."

Hao Ren laughed drily. "Are you afraid she'll run away?"

"None of your business!"