Chapter Twenty-Seven: Heroes Contend for Supremacy

The first reader’s book list has appeared—I’m so excited! Also, my thanks to book friends Dust Like Sorrow, The Mightiest Loser, and zhnga for your rewards! And by the way, please recommend and bookmark!

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A piercing scream rang out, followed by shrill cries from women all across the venue. But soon, these voices faded, while the culprit behind the commotion continued his work unhurriedly.

“A cobra? Is he planning to make spicy snake? Though that dish is indeed spicy, to call it a curry…” mused Natsume Chihyo, her gaze sharp. “No, that recipe doesn’t require broth. And that water tank… there’s something in there I’m curious about.” Though she was beautiful, as a gourmet, snakes didn’t frighten her. Drawn by the strange aura emanating from Feng Xue, she immediately noticed the not-so-large tank by his side.

At this moment, Feng Xue, gripping the cobra by its head, let his expression shift. A predatory air burst forth from him, so intense that even the struggling snake went still, paralyzed by the sense of danger. In that instant, Feng Xue’s chef’s knife flashed, and in one smooth motion, the cobra’s skin was stripped away, leaving the serpent writhing in agony.

Then, a blade no longer than a forefinger and shaped like a willow leaf sprang into his hand. It was more like a carving knife than a kitchen blade, delicate and precise. Yet in Feng Xue’s grip, it whirled like a cyclone.

The knife danced. In mere seconds, the fallen cobra was rendered lifeless; its innards and bones were removed in one piece, yet the snake itself remained whole, its form unbroken. Only when Feng Xue cleaved off the head did the audience realize that all the organs and bones had been perfectly extracted, while the body retained its serpentine shape.

He grasped the tail and gave a gentle pull. The entire snake, as if a switch had been flipped, unfurled into slices as thin as paper, gleaming like glass, yet still connected—intricate as a paper-cut window decoration. As Feng Xue released his grip, the flesh coiled back into a perfect, whole snake.

“What astonishing knife work! Could this be the legendary Raincoat Technique?”

“No, that method only treats the ingredient as a whole, slicing from both sides. Anyone who’s mastered the technique can do it, given enough time. But to use it on an animal—this is unheard of! Still, his deboning resembles the Chinese method for de-boning a whole chicken…”

The judges whispered among themselves, but Feng Xue’s hands never faltered. In a flash, four more snakes were processed and marinated in his secret blend of spices. Then, he drew a fish from the water tank.

The moment the fish was revealed, the crowd’s reaction surpassed even that when the cobra appeared—shock and uproar.

“Give me this student’s file!” Natsume Chihyo’s expression shifted rapidly, unreadable. The MC, Jinei Eiriyama, immediately produced a dossier. After all, aside from the top ten, the Autumn Elections were also a recruitment ground for sponsors, so every contestant’s information was on hand.

“Feng Xue, an exchange student from the Gourmet Empire… certified in fugu preparation, straight A’s in every class, yet almost no reputation. Is he just discreet, or…?” Natsume’s face softened, though it was unclear whether due to discovering a talent or realizing her own life was now safe…

The judges knew, but the audience did not. To them, Feng Xue presenting a fugu was tantamount to poisoning before their very eyes. Fugu toxin was not something to trifle with. In ancient times, lacking proper sterilization, even the utensils used for fugu—the pots, bowls, knives, and even the stove—would be burned after use to prevent contamination. For Feng Xue to prepare fugu in such a public setting—regardless of his skill—posed a significant challenge, even for Totsuki Academy.

But Feng Xue was a man who had mastered the Way of Cuisine. With unwavering focus, he blocked out all distractions. The fine willow-leaf blade darted over the fugu, and in moments, the whole fish was expertly filleted.

“His technique is flawless—even the strictest master could find no fault in his handling of the fugu. But pairing fugu sashimi, snake sashimi, and broth—what is he trying to make? A Sichuan boiled fish?” The judges’ guesses were drawing close to the truth, yet they continued to speculate.

Feng Xue’s hands never stopped moving. Piece by piece, he slid fugu sashimi into the gaps between the snake flesh. As the fugu disappeared, the five cobras each grew by nearly a third.

At that moment, Ryo Kurokiba, looking as if he’d just woken from a nap, presented his dish, interrupting the judges’ scrutiny.

“Tch!” Natsume Chihyo let out an almost inaudible sound but fulfilled her duty as a judge—

“The lobster is as red as fire, its color contrasting beautifully with the golden saffron rice. Not a leg or antenna is damaged; the presentation is perfect. For someone with such a bold cooking style, the plating is unexpectedly delicate and elegant!” Gourmand Shigenobu Aida, sporting a dapper mustache, sang his praises—only to be interrupted by Natsume’s brusque snort.

“There are countless restaurants capable of serving up lobster curry like this. If it’s just a basic seafood curry, there’s nothing much to say—”

However, the instant the curry touched her lips, Natsume’s expression changed.

For the first time since the contest began, expressions of surprise appeared on all the judges’ faces.

“Look! Even Miss Natsume is taking a second bite!” someone in the audience exclaimed.

The Totsuki students among the audience breathed a collective sigh of relief. Although the scores had nothing to do with them directly, the previous string of low ratings had shaken their faith in both the academy and their own “elite” status.

Now, at last, Kurokiba seemed poised to break the spell. The five judges wore expressions as if embracing the vastness of nature…

“This is… a forest? A deep, mysterious forest!”

“That’s right—the curry base is a French sauce extracted from crustacean shells. And that woody aroma…”

“It’s Cognac! From the western French region, famed for its brandy!”

“Cognac develops its characteristic woodiness from maturing in barrels made of sandalwood and cedar—the very kinds Kurokiba used…”

For the first time, the judges were unanimous in their praise. Gradually, Natsume collected herself, wiped her mouth with her napkin, and, adopting a reserved air, announced, “Very well, let’s move to scoring!”

Bang!

Suddenly, Kurokiba slapped the table in front of Natsume, leaning in so close his face was nearly touching hers. “We’re not done yet! Woman, don’t be so hasty!”

“You…” Startled by his aggressiveness, Natsume recoiled.

Before she could protest, Kurokiba set five rubber droppers before the judges, each filled with the finest Napoleon-grade Cognac…

Under Kurokiba’s dominant coaxing, the judges complied: they dripped Cognac onto the lobster heads, then sucked out the brain, followed by mouthfuls of rice cooked with saffron and turmeric.

Kurokiba’s Ise lobster curry, though French in base—lobster sauce and Cognac being French staples—saved its most delicious aspect for a method forbidden in formal French dining: sucking the brains from the lobster’s head, an act considered uncouth, yet essential to the experience.

The mingling of lobster brain, curry paste, and Cognac…

Though he hadn’t triumphed in the aroma contest—having even been surpassed by Akira Hayama—Kurokiba’s dish conquered the judges’ palates in an instant.

Especially Natsume, whose submissive side seemed awakened by Kurokiba’s dominance; her hands and mouth moved of their own accord, and only when the lobster brain was sucked clean did she regain her senses. She covered her embarrassment by wiping her lips and shot Kurokiba a glare. But seeing him returned to his usual sleep-deprived state, the domineering side gone, she let it go.

“Nineteen, eighteen, nineteen, nineteen, eighteen…”

Sasaki Yua announced excitedly, “There it is! The highest score of the match so far—ninety-three points!”

Kurokiba’s performance enlivened the atmosphere. Meat Queen, Ryoko Sakaki, Zenji Marui—contestants who had all been championship-level in previous years—brought forth their dishes, each scoring over eighty points. Akira Hayama even achieved a terrifying ninety-four. Yet, after defeating Soma Yukihira, Akira remained vigilant, his gaze locked on Feng Xue, who had yet to present his dish.

About fifteen minutes later, Feng Xue finally brought out five clay pots and approached the judges’ table, their considerable weight making the audience worry he might drop them.

He set the five pots before the judges, and as the lids were lifted, an intense aroma burst forth, silencing the entire hall.

Feng Xue did not immediately withdraw. Instead, he took out a pair of chopsticks, sampled a piece of fish from each pot, and, under the judges’ complex gazes, slowly declared:

“Dragon’s Hundred Transformations. Please, enjoy.”