Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 527 - 526: The Arrival of the Support Team

Chapter 527: Chapter 526: The Arrival of the Support Team

"Four Divine Seafood Eight Treasure Soul Suppressing Dumplings!"

His eyes locked onto the new recipe in his backpack, freshly synthesized from three fragments, Xia Yu felt excited.

This was even stronger than the "Golden Smile" recipe.

If one were to choose the ultimate recipe representing Chinese pastries, the "Four Divine Seafood Eight Treasure Soul Suppressing Dumplings" recipe would undoubtedly be the leader, passed down from the Three Kingdoms Period, and embodying the soul of the Bai Luo Family’s pastries!

Now, holding the "Golden Smile" recipe in one hand and the "Four Divine Seafood Eight Treasure Soul Suppressing Dumplings" recipe in the other, Xia Yu thought to himself that once he mastered both recipes, it would signify that he had reached the pinnacle in the realm of traditional pastries, and it would be time to venture onto a path not yet traveled.

Of course, those thoughts were for later. Understanding golden recipes wasn’t that easy. At the very least, Xia Yu had encountered many obstacles while researching the "Golden Smile." Let alone the even more complex and mysterious Soul Suppressing Dumplings.

"Ding, the recipe has been learned!"

A system prompt appeared, and Xia Yu closed his eyes to sort out the additional information in his mind.

Half an hour later.

Zhu Qing drove to Sapporo Chitose Airport and picked up Tanaka Hikari, Morioka Makki, and the Yuchuan Sisters, who had just arrived in Sapporo. Thankfully, this business van was spacious enough, and the group didn’t feel cramped once they got in.

In the back seat, Xia Yu sorted through the recipe information and even practiced in the Chef God Space. Upon coming out, he suddenly noticed a fragrance surrounding him.

Looking left and right, he couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

He hadn’t moved, and naturally ended up being sandwiched in the middle, like a secured baby.

On either side of him were the Yuchuan Sisters, Yuchuan Meisha and Yuchuan Ayaka.

Tanaka Hikari, Morioka Makki, and Eriina were in the back, whispering about something related to "field practice." It seemed Eriina was asking them about their practice situation.

"Is this your first time in Sapporo?"

A sudden inquiry startled Yuchuan Meisha. She had been observing the cityscape outside the car window and, upon hearing this, turned her head with surprise and delight, exclaiming, "Manager Xia, you’re finally awake!"

Her words carried a hint of teasing. Ever since she was left at Xia’s Restaurant, she had been calling him Manager Xia every day.

At this, everyone in the car looked over.

Yuchuan Ayaka, who had also been resting with her eyes closed, swiftly opened them upon hearing this.

"Why did you guys suddenly decide to come to Sapporo?"

Xia Yu’s tone was filled with helplessness. Earlier, he had received a call that gave him quite a scare; this group was making a surprise visit without any prior notice.

"We came to cheer for you!"

Yuchuan Meisha said matter-of-factly, "There needs to be a support group on site for the competition!"

Morioka Makki in the back seat giggled, "Sister Meisha is right. We’re not here for sightseeing or just to watch the competition. We specifically came to support you. We’ve even decided on a name for the support group, ’Manager Xia’s Support Squad.’ Look, here’s our support tool..."

As she spoke, the childhood friend took out a printed flag from her bulging backpack.

She unfolded the brightly colored flag, and, indeed, the words "Support Squad" were printed on it. Only the flagpole was missing, and it could fly high, sure to catch people’s attention.

Xia Yu’s face turned dark.

"Cheering is one thing, but why a support squad!"

"That’s not acceptable; there must be an atmosphere!" Morioka Makki took out a white headband, tied up her long, straight black hair, and put the band on her forehead, displaying the characters ’Victory Guaranteed’ with an imposing aura.

"Come on, Xiao Hui, shout the slogan with me—"

Morioka Makki, full of energy, waved her pink fists, and her energetic shouts echoed inside the van.

Tanaka Hikari shyly hung her head, not responding.

Amid the joyful atmosphere, the car returned to Ookura Mountain Villa.

Everyone got out, and Xia Yu actively helped with the luggage. The villa was large enough for each person to get a comfortable single room. After leaving the two luggage cases filled with support items outside Makki’s room, Xia Yu saw the childhood friend tidying up the bed and propped his chin to observe her back, clicking his tongue, "I say, Makki, it’s only been a month, and you look like you’ve gained some weight."

"Weight?"

The girl paused and raised her voice several decibels nervously, quickly standing up, "Where did I gain weight? Do I?"

She was both shy and angry.

Seeing how anxious the girl was, Xia Yu couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"It must be the clothes."

He looked at himself in a thin long-sleeved shirt. It was nearly November, and Sapporo was transitioning into the winter season. Even with the sun out, the temperature was around 10 degrees during the day, and at night it dropped below zero—it wasn’t unusual.

Yet, wearing just a shirt and casual pants, with no underlayers for warmth, Xia Yu didn’t feel cold, but the girl was different. She wore a short skirt with black cotton stockings and layers on top, including an outer coat, knitwear, and innerwear.

Observing this, Xia Yu facepalmed, "Makki, seeing your attire makes me realize that Hokkaido is almost in the snow season!"

"It’s almost November, and you’re just realizing that?!"

Morioka Makki stood there blankly for a while, then stepped closer to him, touched his clothing, and tilted her head to look into his eyes, "Aren’t you cold?"

"No, I’m not."

"Really?" The girl had a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"Nonsense, do you think I’m a child who doesn’t know to put on clothes when cold?"

Xia Yu was speechless.

He really wasn’t cold.

Even before awakening his food cells, he could easily traverse the snowy mountains with his martial arts physique. Just ten days or half a month ago, the weather in the deep mountains was incredibly cold, and he still managed to energetically find the Chuyun Shrine.

"Hmm..."

Looking into the bright eyes of his childhood friend, Xia Yu felt that the girl had undergone some changes that he couldn’t quite pinpoint.

Perhaps she was more confident and cheerful?

Thinking about her energetic voice in the car earlier, Xia Yu mused that winning the autumn selection had truly transformed her into a confident and beautiful swan.

Leaving Makki to organize her room, Xia Yu, with his hands behind his back, leisurely headed to the kitchen.

Upon reaching the kitchen, a villa maid handed him a list, "Master Xia Yu, these are the ingredients you requested, all prepared and listed here for your verification!"

"Thank you, you can go now."

Watching the maid leave, Xia Yu turned and locked the kitchen door.

Several sealed ingredient boxes were piled beside the door, filled with various items such as vegetables and meats.

Having just learned the "Four Divine Seafood Eight Treasure Soul Suppressing Dumplings" recipe and not yet grasped the details, Xia Yu was not in a hurry to practice. Instead, he sat down on a chair for a long contemplation.

The battle between Leon and Dojima Yin had deeply affected him, and with an important competition approaching, he needed to clear his mind.

Food Dominator and Culinary Paths, which was superior?

Who was weaker or stronger?

It was very one-sided to judge these two paths simply with terms like superior and inferior, or weak and strong.

In Xia Yu’s view, Leon’s confidence stemmed from the ingredients, and his failure also stemmed from them. His handling of ’River Puffer Whale Meat’ was too forced. Thus, how could his low-completion forbidden dish contend with Dojima Yin’s royal dish?

Looking at their battle, Xia Yu couldn’t avoid thinking about his upcoming competition with Ghost Father Tiqie Ji.

He was not Dojima Yin.

Ghost Father was not Leon, struggling to harness a forbidden dish.

Facing Ghost Father, Xia Yu considered two avenues—

First, emulate Dojima Yin by further improving the "signature" dish he mastered, skillfully imprinting it with the Chef’s Heart Mark, ensuring an unbeatable position. This was undoubtedly the royal path.

The second route involved using a forbidden dish to directly confront Tiqie Ji, in which case it would most likely result in a head-on clash of forbidden dishes!

Mars’s warning words faintly echoed.

"Tiqie Ji has taken a critical step as a Dark Chef, advancing towards the Lin-ranked level..."

Xia Yu pondered, "It seems he has mastered a material with a forbidden-level resonance."

Pressure naturally arose.

Forbidden dishes against forbidden dishes, even if not losing to Tiqie Ji in terms of ingredients, Xia Yu wondered what his chances of winning truly were—over fifty percent?

The cooking competition wasn’t child’s play.

For both the first and second paths, the anticipated win rate was quite low. Xia Yu sat still for a long time, unable to come up with a third response plan. He sighed, resting his head on the chair back, staring at the ceiling and rubbing his stiff face as he muttered:

"Culinary Paths and Food Dominator are so distinctly different?"

"I need to find a way to increase the success rate... What can I use to compete with Tiqie Ji if I don’t even have a fifty percent chance? At least ensure I won’t lose... No, ensure at least a sixty percent chance of victory!"