Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 197 - 196: Dojima Yin’s Request

Chapter 197: Chapter 196: Dojima Yin’s Request

Time rewound to the previous night.

Upon the spread of the video showcasing Xia Yu’s contest with Yashan Liang, Xia Yu unexpectedly received a call from Dojima Yin.

In the call, Dojima Yin actually made a shocking request—

He urged Xia Yu to initiate a Food Duel with Shigong Xiaoci Lang.

Furthermore, the system responded, issuing the corresponding mission.

"Mr. Xia Yu, you don’t know, but after our 69th graduating class, almost no special grade chefs have emerged from the Far Moon lineage. After I graduated, through the 70th to the 79th graduating classes, the person Dojima and I had the highest hopes for was Shigong Xiaoci Lang."

"But after he received the French Prussia Order, he stopped moving forward, and as you should know, in the culinary field, to stop moving forward means to fall backward—"

Dojima Yin’s deep voice transmitted though the phone’s receiver.

"You’re the most suitable candidate to wake him up. Whether it be age or cooking skills, you both meet the ’overcoming superiors’ criteria. Of course, you’re both guest lecturers at Far Moon, this Food Duel will be well managed by me."

"How about it, do you agree?"

"Even if you lose, it doesn’t matter. My purpose is simply to awaken his ’chef’s heart’! And as a token of my gratitude, I will personally teach you a Special Grade Recipe!"

...

In Shigong Xiaoci Lang’s cooking studio.

Food Duel!

As Xia Yu slowly spoke out, everyone was shocked.

Including Xingping Chuangzhen, who had just confronted Shigong, was stunned momentarily.

"Duel with me in a Food Duel!"

Xia Yu looked straight at Shigong Xiaoci Lang, seated on the sofa, and repeated once more.

Shigong, with his head bowed low, huffed and said, "So, you want to force me to give those two idiots a ’pass’ using this method?"

"No, I just want to give them another chance, an earnest opportunity to showcase their talents," Xia Yu said.

"Sorry, in my class, there is always only one chance..."

"So, a Food Duel it is!"

Xia Yu declared as a matter of fact, "You’re a lecturer at Far Moon, and so am I. Even if we don’t consider the rules of duels outside the school, within Far Moon School, I have the right to challenge you to a Food Duel and set any condition!"

"So... your condition for the Food Duel is only to give them a chance, not a ’pass’?" Shigong Xiaoci Lang finally raised his head, his lips curling into a mocking smile. Glancing at Tanaka Hikari and Sen Tian Makki, who stood dumbstruck, he said, "These two idiots, you’re sure that giving them another chance will make them produce dishes that satisfy me? Huh?!"

Bang!

As he spoke, Shigong erupted in anger. Abruptly standing up, he slammed the table, leaning forward until he was almost face to face with Xia Yu, his eyes flashing with fury as he enunciated each word, "I’ve seen your Food Duel video with Si Yingshi!"

"But don’t think that just because you’ve beaten a current member of the Ten Masters of Far Moon that you can challenge me, who was the top of the 79th graduating class!"

Si Yingshi was the leading figure of the 90th ’Ten Masters of Far Moon’.

Shigong Xiaoci Lang was the leading figure of the 79th ’Ten Masters of Far Moon’.

In other words, it has been a decade since Shigong Xiaoci Lang graduated from Far Moon, from a high school graduate to a successful and outstanding young man in his late twenties, known not only in Neon but also in the distant French culinary world.

Yet when Xia Yu issued the Food Duel Challenge, his expression and heart were very calm.

It was already certain that Shigong Xiaoci Lang had the culinary skills of a researcher’s level.

This Food Duel would serve as a warm-up for the Chiyoda Shrine’s minor exam. If he easily lost to Shigong Xiaoci Lang, there was no need to attend the minor exam; he had better go home and continue training.

The other students behind were causing a commotion.

"Wha-What is Instructor Xia doing? Chef Shigong is a living monster!"

"This is too reckless! Instructor Xia will definitely lose!"

Shigong Xiaoci Lang fell silent upon hearing this.

"Look, Instructor Xia, the most basic condition for a Food Duel is mutual agreement, right?" Shigong grinned, "Sorry, I have no interest in dueling with an opponent who is bound to lose."

"Regardless of how our philosophies clash, the decision to expel Tanaka Hikari and Moriota Makki has been made." He flicked his hand dismissively and turned to assess the other students’ dishes.

"Weren’t Tanaka Hikari and Moriota Makki’s dishes delicious?"

Suddenly, the always silent Dojima Yin spoke up, putting down his fork and pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, "If I were the instructor, I would give them a ’pass’ without hesitation!"

His footsteps stiffened. Shigong, who was facing away from Dojima Yin, had veins bulging on his forehead.

Half an hour later, in the hotel lounge.

"I’ve told you, I have no desire to entertain a farcical Food Duel!" Shigong Xiaoci Lang remained unmoved by Dojima Yin’s and the newly-arrived Qian Rixiangzi’s persuasion.

"This is an unofficial Food Duel, over which I will preside!"

Dojima Yin stood with his hands on his hips, his natural aura of authority enveloping Shigong, who broke out in a few beads of sweat on his forehead.

"Accept it, Shigong. The Food Duel is scheduled for after all the day’s tasks, at seven o’clock in the evening, so it won’t disrupt the training schedule..." Dojima Yin continued staring at him.

"Huh—"

Shigong’s expression changed, and suddenly he smiled, "Alright then, since that’s the case, I’ll accept Instructor Xia’s Food Duel challenge."

He walked to the door, tilting his head slightly.

"But if you lose, the condition is... resign your position as Far Moon’s youngest guest instructor and leave with Tanaka Hikari and Moriota Makki—"

Bang. He pushed open the door and left.

Dojima Yin patted Xia Yu on the shoulder, giving him a thumbs up: "Let’s leave it at that for now. Even if you lose, I’ll be here to clean up the mess."

He looked over at the anxious Tanaka Hikari and Moriota Makki and smiled.

"You two, don’t feel pressured either. Just perform at your true level, and I’m sure the graduates will recognize you, seeing the value of your existence."

"Cheer up!"

Before Qian Rixiangzi left, she pumped her fist to encourage them.

And then there were just three people left in the room.

In the end, Tanaka Hikari managed to hold back her tears from spilling.

Moriota Makki just looked at him, on the verge of saying something more.

"The afternoon session will probably finish around five o’clock. After it ends, you two immediately head back to Far Month Palace, and I’ll be waiting for you in the hotel’s kitchen," Xia Yu said, seeing that Tanaka Hikari was still tense, he couldn’t help but smile and gently patted her head, "Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through the cooking process from start to finish."

If everything went according to Dojima Yin’s plan, the battle to prove Tanaka Hikari and Moriota Makki would come before his Food Duel with Shigong.

This opportunity for them to prove themselves was the condition for the Food Duel, practically an advance use of it.

Anyway, it was an unofficial Food Duel. Under Dojima Yin’s strong arm, Shigong Xiaoci Lang had hardly any ability to refuse.

Xia Yu’s gaze swept over the Food Duel task he had received the previous night:

"[Challenge Shigong Xiaoci Lang]."

"Hint: Defeat Shigong Xiaoci Lang, the top graduate of the 79th class, in a Food Duel."

"Reward: Cooking skill level, 5 Talent Points, Purple Recipe ’Rising Dragon Dumplings’."

Even if he lost the Food Duel, there was still the Special Grade Recipe promised by Dojima Yin.

If by chance he won, it would be a great harvest, but if he were defeated, it wouldn’t matter, the gains would just be less. When Xia Yu left the hotel, he delved into Shigong’s recipe ’Nine Treasures French Vegetable Freeze’, wondering if he could evolve the recipe.