Zane did not want to get in a fight. His cores had recently been repaired with the cultivator equivalent of duct tape and baling wire. Getting knocked around was not a good idea in his current state.

He looked at the General from behind his mask. Forgetting to switch out of the red robes had cost Zane, but the situation was still salvageable. He knew one surefire way to make the man let go of his throat.

“Harder daddy! I'm almost there!” Zane called out, followed by a dramatic moan and a leg shake that would make a kitsune blush.

The General released his grip, backing away in shock and embarrassment. Zane blew him a kiss as he landed, disappearing in a streak of red. The rogue cultivator could have teleported. But this way was much more fun.

The crowd laughed at Eric until they saw the look on his face. “That sneaky little bastard,” the General fumed.

A woman patted his arm sympathetically. “Don't worry. If it's not meant to be, you’re probably better off without him.”

Eric almost snapped at her, then he saw the earnest look on the woman’s face. “Thank you, but it's not that kind of situation,” he told her.

Then, as if by some divine reward for his restraint, the restaurant opened. “Ah, thank the heavens,” Eric said as he got back in line. Perhaps his morning wouldn't be totally ruined after all.

***

Pinky watched as Zane zipped around the restaurant. He had switched to his green robes and was cooking brunch at record speed. It was by design that the window where she took orders and handed out food offered no view of the kitchen. They had decided it was probably safer to keep Zane and the customers separated.

The menu was also simplified and offered no substitutions. There were three options. That was it. If someone wanted something else, they could go somewhere else.

People still tried to guilt Pinky into making changes due to their “dietary restrictions”. Some had legitimate concerns, and left when they found out she would not be able to accommodate them. But the vast majority caved.

One such woman was picking up her order when Eric went to place his. “It’s really more of an intolerance,” she told Pinky.

The kitsune gave her a look that said she was uninterested in such things and moved on to her next customer. “What can I get started for you?”

Eric took one last glimpse at the menu. “I'll have two of each, please.”

“Nice!” Pinky said as she took his money and handed over six tokens. She had never been one to let something as silly as a grudge get in the way of business. Besides, everyone wanted to strangle Zane sometimes.

The General got into a second line for pickup. He wondered why they used tokens instead of paper receipts. Surely some enterprising soul would eventually try to make counterfeits. Then he looked at the ceramic disks with his senses.

To his surprise, he found that they were essence constructs. The tokens felt real, but they would disappear in a few hours. The chef in charge probably put out new designs each day to dissuade people from making copies.

When he got to the front of the pickup line, Eric dropped his tokens in the chute and was rewarded when a drawer slid out, revealing six color coded boxes. He gathered them up and promptly realized that there was nowhere for him to sit.

The tables weren't full, they simply did not exist. There was no restaurant provided eating area of any kind. Apparently when the menu said the food was available to go only, they meant that literally.

The General pulled a small stool and table from his storage bracelet. Some cultivators liked the more flashy storage rings, but Eric thought that was a good way to lose a finger. He had seen rings get caught on things during fights and had no desire to replicate the experience.

Eric said thanks again to the heavens then dug into his food with gusto. Waffles, crepes, and pancakes disappeared into his maw as the General made up for lost time.

Everything was perfect. He almost thought he experienced a moment of enlightenment, but it turned out to be the essence that infused the food.

Eric wasn't sure what to make of that. He had absorbed a stunning amount of essence in a single meal, more than most cultivators saw in months.

As his meal digested, the General let his senses brush over the building that housed the restaurant. At first, everything seemed completely normal. It was a boring, mundane restaurant without a single interesting quality. Then Eric realized what was missing.

He couldn't sense anyone inside the structure. Even the young woman taking orders was protected from his senses. In a way, it made sense. Whoever operated this establishment was a true master of their craft, perhaps even a hidden master of legend. They would not want interlopers attempting to steal their secrets.

As the brunch rush died down and the restaurant closed up for the day, Eric felt the need to thank this hidden master for their hospitality. The food had been excellent and he felt invigorated.

The General went over to a wood shuttered window and politely knocked. He could hear someone moving around inside, but they didn't reply.

“I wished to thank you for such good food, oh master of the kitchen,” Eric said, “General Eric Badi, senior disciple of the Rock Mountain Mollusk sect, gives you his most sincere thanks. I must admit, I devoured every bite like a glutton.”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

There was a rustling and one of the drawers on the side of the restaurant slid open. Inside was a box of chocolates. Eric thanked the master again as he claimed his prize.

The General felt like all was right in the world. Sure, the rogue cultivator had escaped, but he would catch the man eventually. He smiled as the delicious confections melted in his mouth. They made him feel quite strange, but the sensation wasn't unpleasant.

Unfortunately, Eric did not think to read the warning on the underside of the box until it was empty. He felt his face start to go red.

> Dragon Force Power Chocolate

>

> Do not eat if you have heart problems. Do not eat more than one chocolate per evening. If passions do not subside after four hours, call an apothecary.

***

They watched the General walk away with an increasingly awkward gait. “That was mean,” said Zane, “Funny, but mean.”

The kitsune did her best to look innocent. “He's a good customer. I thought he deserved a little something extra.”

Lily looked up from where she had been meditating. “Is he gone?”

“Yep,” Zane confirmed, “He is limping around to find the nearest brothel or ice bath as we speak.”

“Good.” The former disciple stood up and inspected Zane for any damage. “How was your trip?”

He laughed, “Absolutely terrible. I got into an argument with my old teacher and one of my former students stabbed me with a spear.”

Zane left out the part about performing roadside surgery on his core. Pinky must have known something was up because she kept looking at him funny.

Lily on the other hand was eager to dissect this new information about Zane’s past. “Were you part of a sect?”

The rogue cultivator shook his head, paused to think about something, then shook his head again. “Not that I'm aware of.”

“You know that makes me want to ask even more questions, right?” Lily pointed out.

Pinky grabbed Zanes arm and started dragging him towards their bedroom. “Questions can wait. I’ve got more pressing matters to deal with.”

***

Pinky looked like she didn't know if she wanted to tear Zane’s head off or kiss him. “What did you do?” the kitsune demanded.

“I have no idea what you're talking about,” the young man lied, “Why do you ask?”

“Ugh!” Pinky groaned in frustration, “It's just not fair!”

“Ok, now I'm really confused.” Zane looked at his partner. “What's going on?”

The kitsune explained that Zane smelled like he had literally been marinated in essence. More importantly, any spirit beast or creature that consumed essence would be drawn to him like flies to honey.

“Oh hells,” the rogue cultivator said, “Accidentally becoming a monster scent lure was not on my bingo card.”

Pinky waited impatiently for an explanation. She tapped her foot and glared at him until he caved.

“Alright, my core got damaged and I had to make some repairs. I’m better now, but I may be leaking a bit of essence.” Zane knew that was leaving out some bits, but he didn't want to go into details. Pinky would probably be unhappy if he told her all the details.

The kitsune groaned again and sprawled out on the bed. “Alright, what's done is done. Just know that if I succumb to my animal urges and start nibbling on you, it's your fault.”

“I am willing to take full responsibility for my actions,” Zane said as he dismissed his robe and crawled into bed next to her.

**

The next day General Eric Badi was summoned to the Mayor’s office. He shifted awkwardly back and forth in his chair.

“You seem uncomfortable,” said Jeffries, “I hope my request for a meeting did not disturb you.”

“I'm just a little sore from training,” lied Eric, “Though I wonder why you wanted to speak with me. Is this a social call or something more official?”

A frown crossed the Mayor's face. “It's official business, I'm afraid. Reports of your activities higher up the mountain have filtered down to my ears. And I must say, I'm not happy.”

Eric normally tried to get along with people, but his patience was running thin. “Your opinion means less than nothing to me. If you have a problem, take it up with my sect. They will relay the information if they think it is important enough for me to hear it.”

“Ah, there's that cultivator arrogance,” Jeffries tutted, “Let me explain some things. You aren't in the lowlands or some small town stuck to the side of the mountain. If you go on a rampage, there are plenty of people I can call on that are more than capable of putting you down.”

The General stood up, “I have no intention of repeating past mistakes. As a former cultivator, you must know that sometimes collateral damage is unavoidable when we fight.”

“Then I would ask you to fight someplace else,” Jeffries said as he stood up as well, “I heard about your run in with the red cloaked rogue cultivator. I was pleased to hear that it didn't end in violence.”

Eric laughed. “I wouldn't worry about too much collateral damage if I fight that one. He is a weakling, easily overpowered.”

“Is that so?” The Mayor produced a wooden box from a desk drawer and opened it. Inside was the blackened skull of a core fiend. “He took this creature apart like it was nothing. He toyed with it, slicing off each limb before moving onto the head.”

Jeffries closed the box. “As far as cultivators go, he's not a bad one. We get sightings of him from time to time, but he mostly keeps to himself.”

“Be that as it may, he killed Lord Grasa's son and several of our junior disciples. Justice must be done,” the General said with a slight bow, “Good day, Mayor Jeffries.”

The Mayor watched Eric go. He wasn't sure who would win if the two cultivators fought. But the damage would probably be catastrophic.

Hero’s Step had been much quieter since the red rogue showed up. Any monsters that found their way beyond the walls were brutally suppressed. Meanwhile, criminals who preyed on citizens at night had a way of disappearing. Officially, he had no idea who might be responsible. Unofficially, he was on team rogue.

Jeffries let out a sigh. It was a shame good things couldn't last forever. But such was life.

He looked out the window. People below seemed happier, less gloom bitten, some were even wearing bright colors. Jeffries knew that he probably owed a decent amount of thanks to Zane and his fantastic brunches.

The Mayor almost called out for his secretary to set a meeting, but he relented. It was not wise to draw hidden masters from their lairs. Zane was probably working on some amazing technique or new culinary delight, and Jeffries would hate to bother him.