The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Daylight was breaking. Warm, yellow sunlight filtered through the paper-paned window, growing softer. A few unknown insects flitted through the beams of light, their occasional buzzing waking the embracing couple.

Xiao Qiaoniang lay on Bai Yuan’s chest, her eyes heavy with sleep, as if just stirring from a sweet, vernal dream.

Bai Yuan contentedly pulled Xiao Qiaoniang closer, gently caressing the beauty in his arms. The warm breath on his chest was a pleasant, ticklish sensation.

"Uncle, you’re so naughty..."

Xiao Qiaoniang murmured softly, a playful protest like a kitten having its belly rubbed.

"Still calling me ’Uncle’?"

"Brother Yuan~"

That one "Brother Yuan" from Xiao Qiaoniang was music to Bai Yuan’s ears.

"Wife, martial arts training can’t be rushed. Let me help you check for any hidden injuries."

Perhaps it was the effect of last night’s medicinal bath, but despite a night of passion, neither of them felt the slightest bit of fatigue.

How could Xiao Qiaoniang let Bai Yuan get his way so easily again? She giggled and tried to dodge him.

Just as they were fooling around, Bai Yuan suddenly deadpanned, "Aunt Zheng is right outside the door."

Xiao Qiaoniang’s face instantly flushed crimson, the blush spreading from her cheeks all the way down her long, swan-like neck.

Being mentally prepared for it was one thing, but being discovered was another entirely.

It was mortifying.

Xiao Qiaoniang scrambled to get dressed, only to find that her undergarments had long since been torn to shreds by Bai Yuan. Annoyed, she shot him a glare.

Her shyness as a new bride was understandable.

Feeling refreshed and invigorated, Bai Yuan got out of bed and found a set of clothes for Xiao Qiaoniang.

By the time they were both dressed and left the room, it was already noon.

’Time flies... No wonder the ancients said a moment of a spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.’

"Master, Madam, lunch is ready."

Aunt Zheng beamed as she watched the lovely couple emerge. Of course she knew what had happened between them last night.

Unable to bear Aunt Zheng’s knowing gaze, Xiao Qiaoniang’s pretty face flushed red again.

Bai Yuan, acting as if nothing was amiss, said, "Aunt Zheng, Da Hu and Xiao Hu are old enough for school. It’s time to find them a teacher. I’ll cover the tuition. You’ve had a lot going on at home lately, so take five days off."

Aunt Zheng was overjoyed to hear this. Her family was poor; how could they ever afford a private tutor? This was all thanks to Eldest Master Bai’s benevolence.

"Thank you, Master."

She suddenly thought her husband wasn’t so bad after all. She used to think he was a poor judge of character, but now she saw he actually had a good eye for people.

Bai Yuan waved his hand. "Go on."

In a short while, only he and Xiao Qiaoniang were left in the Bai Family Courtyard.

Repaying Hunter Zheng’s past kindness was genuine, but so was his desire to send Aunt Zheng away.

He had always been this way. He would repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring.

Bai Yuan looked at Xiao Qiaoniang, his expression turning serious.

"Sister Qiao, we’re not going to open the dyehouse. Just focus on your martial arts."

Xiao Qiaoniang was three years his senior. After their night of intimacy, it was no longer appropriate to call her "sister-in-law," so he had switched to "Sister Qiao."

"Brother Yuan, I’ll listen to whatever you say."

"Whatever I say?"

"My dear husband, please, just spare me."

...

「Five Flavors Pavilion, back kitchen.」

Enchantment Points +1

Enchantment Points +1

Enchantment Points +0.6

...

Today, Liu Qingshan had acquired a number of live animals from a Hunter in the next county, and Bai Yuan had easily obtained 18 Enchantment Points.

This was so much easier than miserably waiting for prey in the mountains. If there were a title system, he’d definitely be able to snag a "Beast Buster" title.

Ever since he’d stopped having to hunt in the mountains, he had much more free time.

"Do you really want to be a cook?"

Liu Qingshan watched Bai Yuan, who was bustling about the back kitchen with great enthusiasm.

Though this Second Shopkeeper of the restaurant rarely cooked for the public anymore, he remained obsessed with his craft. His dishes, of course, were not for general sale; most were pre-ordered by the city’s wealthy elite. A single small dish could sell for three taels of silver.

Liu Qingshan scratched his head. He truly couldn’t understand why Bai Yuan was so singularly devoted to the culinary arts—even more diligent than when he practiced martial arts.

’No matter how good a cook you become, can you really surpass a Martial Artist?’

Bai Yuan remained completely unfazed, his hands moving like flowing water as he sliced, fried, stewed, and stir-fried.

The reason he was specializing in the Cook profession was, of course, for the master-level skills.

Just like in the mini-games of his past life, any skill raised to the master level would gain the power to turn the mundane into the miraculous.

The Cook’s skills were no different!

He looked at his panel.

[Name: Bai Yuan]

[Profession: Demon Hunter, Swordsman, Boxer, Cook]

[Skills: Cooking (Expert), Knife Work (Proficient), Tracking (Master), Archery (Expert), Tiger-Crane Form (Proficient), Blood Tiger Saber (Proficient)...]

[Enchantment Points: 18]

His talent for cooking was simply too great. In less than a month, he had already reached the Expert level on his own. He wasn’t about to let such fine aptitude go to waste.

’Add the points!’

[In your fifth year of practicing cooking, your mastery over ingredients has become sublime.]

...

[In your eighth year of practicing cooking, you gradually discover that the path of cooking may have further heights to reach.]

...

[In your fifteenth year of practicing cooking, your culinary skills have reached the realm of perfection. You use food to nourish the five viscera, making you second to none but a miracle-working doctor.]

[Name: Bai Yuan]

[Profession: Demon Hunter, Swordsman, Boxer, Cook]

[Skills: Cooking (Master), Knife Work (Proficient), Tracking (Master), Archery (Expert), Tiger-Crane Form (Proficient), Blood Tiger Saber (Proficient)...]

[Enchantment Points: 0]

’Master-level Cooking, obtained!’

The previous owner of this body truly had monstrous talent for the culinary arts, reaching the Master level in just fifteen short years.

After all, his Master-level Tracking had taken a whole eighty years of hard practice. The difference compared to fifteen years was immense.

It was a pity the previous owner never had the chance to awaken this talent after his parents passed away. Otherwise, his life wouldn’t have been so destitute. Of course, the previous owner’s lazy disposition also had a lot to do with it.

Bai Yuan stared excitedly at the last line of text on the panel.

’Second to none but a miracle-working doctor!’

Yes, this was why Bai Yuan wanted to raise Cooking to the Master level, rather than the Cook’s other two skills.

Studying medicine was an expensive craft.

In this world, becoming a physician who could practice independently required at least a decade of study.

With the previous owner’s aptitude, it probably would have taken thirty years to see any results. Even with a cheat system, it would have consumed a huge amount of Enchantment Points.

But being a Cook was different. Including the points he’d just spent, he had only used 36 points in total. The cost-effectiveness was obvious.

Just the ability to rival a miracle-working doctor through food therapy alone was enough for him to make a huge fortune.

Not even the head chef of the Divine Mansion Sect in Huanglong Prefecture possessed such a god-like skill.

All great paths share a common origin; different roads lead to the same destination.

Any profession, when taken to its peak, could have unexpected applications.

A cook and a physician might seem worlds apart, but ultimately, both test one’s understanding of the human body and the application of all things in nature. Food therapy was a perfect example of this principle.

Bai Yuan smiled faintly.

’I’ll never have to go to an apothecary again, because I have way too many niche skills!’