Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 185 - 184: Missing by a Hair’s Breadth

Chapter 185: Chapter 184: Missing by a Hair’s Breadth

"The fish is grilled so tenderly!"

Qian Rixiangzi inwardly exclaimed as the fish entered her mouth and instantly melted away, requiring no teeth to chew, flowing like liquid food from her tongue down her throat.

She swallowed reflexively, and an unnamed flame immediately ignited in her throat and burned all the way down to her stomach.

Gurgle.

Her body emitted a satisfied moan.

Her stomach churned, the heat quickly spreading from her lower abdomen throughout her body, causing Qian Rixiangzi to involuntarily lift her face, her cheeks flushed, exhaling a breath that was both scorching and seductive.

Shigong Xiaoci Lang was the second to reach for the chopsticks, but he wasn’t as hurried as Qian Rixiangzi.

"Sss—"

The chopsticks merely touched lightly, trying to scoop a piece of fish, but to Shigong Xiaoci Lang’s surprise, the moment the chopsticks pierced the flesh, the body of the fish fell apart like petals, scattering one after the other, and exuding an invigorating, rich fragrance!

His pupils contracted slightly. He gripped the chopsticks tightly.

Shigong Xiaoci Lang inhaled a breath of cold air, "Pure mastery over the heat, to think it could go this far..."

He closely observed the dispersed pieces of fish, his expression grave.

The fish flesh was deeply marinated, dyed an appealing color by the sauce, so tender and fresh.

"Although it’s grilled over high heat, why does it look as if it was slowly roasted over a low flame, with not a trace of charring on the surface... The heat is absolutely even! Terrifying!"

Dojima Yin, standing nearby, also witnessed the mackerel flesh falling apart and took a good while to utter those words.

He glanced at Shigong Xiaoci Lang, a realization dawning on him.

"It seems that no matter where you start eating the fish from, the mackerel immediately ’blooms’!" Dojima Yin’s eyes reflected his astonishment; even though this wasn’t the first time he had experienced Xia Yu’s flame skills, he was filled with admiration every time, "Uniformity! The uniformity of the heat!"

"What..."

"Uniform?"

The other graduates were incredulous, yet speechless.

The reality was before them; this kind of ’uniformity’ was exhibited in a dish that involved intense grilling. If it were the ’uniformity’ of a low flame, it wouldn’t have shocked them so much.

"A supreme realm of heat control, uniformity!"

"President Dojima, that can’t be right. Even with the ’uniformity’ level, it’s very difficult to make such perfect grilled mackerel!" Donato Wutongtian swallowed, "When making grilled fish, it’s inevitable to have some parts charred or blackened. Not to mention that he used such a fierce flame that could swallow the kitchen, binding the fish with a chain, swinging it around. According to common sense, the fish should have severe signs of charring due to the stronger flame!"

"What kind of heat control technique did he use?"

This question was on the minds of all the graduates present.

"Delicious! So delicious!"

Qian Rixiangzi murmured unconsciously beside them.

Unspeakable sensations overwhelmed her.

It was as though she was enveloped by the mother of the sea, embraced in incredible warmth, evoking a longing she didn’t want to let go of.

Bite after bite, the vivid oceanic scenery in her mind became clearer.

Finally, she saw it—the veil of the deep sea lifted before her eyes, as she followed the mackerel through the splendors of the ocean depths.

Seaweed, algae, coral reefs, other fish and shrimp, and even a shark chasing schools of fish—all swirled in her vision as Qian Rixiangzi, stripped bare, darted into the corals in a panic.

Suddenly, the sea creatures scattered like a startled flock of birds. The ground beneath Qian Rixiangzi shook, bubbles formed thickly and the water temperature rose swiftly—she felt the heat.

"It’s a submarine volcano!"

She gazed in awe as the underwater volcano erupted.

Without continuing to flee, she let the spreading lava envelop her, and Qian Rixiangzi realized she seemed to merge with the deep sea. Her bare body was scorching, her skin flushed through with whiteness and glistening with sweat.

Outside.

The kitchen echoed with the exclamations of the other graduates enjoying their experiences.

Dojima Yin swallowed the fish in his mouth and stared at the half piece of fish on his chopsticks, truly appreciating Xia Yu’s rapid progress in culinary skills.

Although it wasn’t a glowing dish, the level of deliciousness wasn’t inferior to those aspiring to be Special Grade Cuisine.

What Dojima Yin regretted, however, was that the grilled mackerel always seemed to lack something, yet upon close taste, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was missing.

"Wait a minute!"

Turning the fish over, Dojima Yin immediately had an epiphany.

There was a small burn mark the size of a thumbnail on the backside.

"Even fire control, marred by a flaw?" Dojima Yin was astonished, "Such an error shouldn’t occur!"

"Yes, it shouldn’t be an error that occurs!"

Shigong Xiaoci Lang also turned the fish over and gazed vacantly at the small burned area.

In the context of the grilled mackerel’s otherwise flawless appearance, even a nail-sized char mark was glaringly obvious, much like a missing gem on a crown.

Dojima Yin and Shigong Xiaoci Lang felt a heart-wrenching sensation, a mix of pity and bewilderment.

Such a mistake was too unexpected.

This slight flaw in fire control should never appear underneath the hands of a chef capable of ’uniform’ fire control.

...

Meanwhile, at the hotel’s large communal bath.

Soaking in the hot water, Xia Yu rested his arms on the edge of the pool, gazing upward at the ceiling as if his brain were a projector, replaying the scene of his preparation of the "Heavenly Hero Grilled Mackerel" over and over.

Click.

The footage suddenly paused.

Fisting his hands in the water, Xia Yu realized, "The mistake was here!"

Around ten minutes into feeling symptoms of heatstroke and activating his enhanced state, his "Heavenly Hero Fire Wheel" cooking technique had nearly twisted out of shape, an anomaly that could only be caught by outsiders if they were to slow down or pause the action.

As a chef, he knew all too well where the most likely mistake could occur.

The issue was not with the fire control.

Rather, it was the cooking technique, or more fundamentally, the strength of his own physique was not robust enough to remain lucid amid the flames. It was just a second of negligence, yet it led to a nail-sized char mark appearing in the same spot on all twelve mackerel.

Reflecting on this over and over, Xia Yu’s expression gradually turned blank.

"Did I fail just like that?" Xia Yu sighed, yet unexpectedly, the system presented a notification of task completion at that moment.

Wait a second!

Going back over the previous task data, Xia Yu smacked his forehead in annoyance.

The system had only asked him to serve Far Moon graduates with the new recipe of "Heavenly Hero Grilled Bluefish." There were no quality requirements, meaning that producing a work barely passing with 60 points would meet the task conditions!

He had tripped up by not thoroughly understanding the question. Xia Yu chided himself for his carelessness.

Despite the setbacks, he ultimately unlocked the ingredient "Shuangjiang Tofu," which immediately lifted his spirits.

Half an hour later, dressed in a yukata, he left the bath. A waiting attendant guided Xia Yu to a certain hall.

A dozen Far Moon graduates were gathered there.

Their culinary creations were displayed on a dining table draped with a tablecloth, ranging from Japanese sushi and sashimi to several traditional French dishes, as well as some Xia Yu couldn’t name, but it was all sumptuous at any rate.

The graduates were not in the mood to dine but were instead scattered about, standing or sitting, their expressions one of savoring and contemplation.

Seeing Xia Yu return, Dojima Yin shook his head and smiled, "You know, after tasting your dish, we temporarily don’t feel like eating anything else."

Then, Dojima Yin gestured toward the feast on the table.

"The graduates’ creations are all here; feel free to taste as you please. Don’t mind us."

Xia Yu didn’t stand on ceremony, for he was so hungry he felt faint. Just prior, he had come close to overusing his enhanced state, and his body urgently needed to replenish energy. His calm appearance was merely a facade.

He sat down briskly and asked an attendant to bring a large bowl—no, a basin filled with steaming rice. Xia Yu ate faster and faster, sweeping through the feast like a whirlwind, savoring the Far Moon graduates’ grand feast