Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 637 - 636: Guiding and Ferrying

Chapter 637: Chapter 636: Guiding and Ferrying

Backstage at the competition venue.

The three advancing teams didn’t leave but gathered in the hall, waiting for the broadcast.

An intriguing segment followed the competition—

The announcement of the competition topic!

The final showdown would begin in five days. By announcing the topic several days in advance, it seemed the competition officials had learned from the first phase; they were done with impromptu topics, allowing the teams ample time to prepare.

"What will the topic be?"

Xia Yu rested his chin, staring at the huge broadcast screen in front of him.

A voice beside him responded,

"No matter the topic, this time I’m taking my revenge!"

Tang Yuqiong was still dressed in her custom-made chef’s uniform—slim black pants and a white shirt, crisply divided, standing poignantly. Her hands tucked into the burgundy apron in front of her, her almond-shaped eyes slanting over, clearly challenging:

"The last time, the ’Tang’s Rebirth Spring Rolls’ were incomplete; this time, I’ll show you the grandeur of Dragon Pot sauce! You won’t beat me again!"

Her tone was filled with confidence.

Hey, hey!

Xia Yu could hardly retort, "So you comfortably consider the ’Dragon Pot’ a part of your cooking?"

On the contrary, Tang Yuqiong found it odd, her elegant brows furrowing sharply:

"What do you mean?" Her nose crinkled, her eyes briefly flashing dangerous, "The ’Dragon Pot’ is a kitchen implement, rightfully used by chefs. Moreover, legendary kitchen tools aren’t something just anyone can manipulate; first, they must be recognized by them..."

"Hmph! I am the only chef from the Tang Family in decades who can awaken legendary kitchen tools, I am qualified to use and possess it, why can’t I consider it a part of my tools, a part of my cooking?"

She lifted her chin proudly.

Xia Yu was rendered speechless.

Indeed, without a recognized chef, legendary kitchen tools usually remain sealed.

Just like the storyline in "Born in China," Liu Maoxing also encountered many overpowered opponents in the past. Thinking of this, Xia Yu’s eyes suddenly burst with light; what of legendary kitchen tools.

"I beat you once; I can beat you a second time!"

Tang Yuqiong was about to retort when, beep, the live broadcast sound came from the television.

"Thank you for waiting!"

Kogawa Shinyiro, acting as the master of ceremonies, returned to the stage. Two familiar female hosts, each holding a rolled scroll, stepped to the center of the stage, the spotlight hit them, and the buzzing sound in the hall disappeared within seconds.

Clearing his throat, Kogawa Shinyiro scanned the venue, and spoke loudly:

"As you all know, the final showdown will begin in five days. This is also the closing battle of the Sapporo Kitchenware Showdown. Although there is a third phase, the Hunting Festival, following the competition, it is just a ceremony for Gourmet Hunters and does not affect the points accumulated from the first and second stages..."

"Eventually, the team topping the leaderboard will win one of the eight legendary kitchen tools, the ’Jade Dragon Pot’!"

The competition’s executive chairman walked next to the display cabinet, tapped the top of the glass, and the lights converged on the ancient kitchen tool inside the glass cabinet, specked with rust.

To this day, this kitchenware is still controversial.

On the internet, for instance on Japan’s hottest Twitter platform, the food community shared high-definition close-up images of the ’Jade Dragon Pot.’ From professionals to the general public, everyone considered it an antique. Its honor and symbolic meaning weighed more heavily, akin to a trophy of the competition, and no one believed it could still be used in cooking.

The audience was looking at him, meeting eye after eye filled with curiosity. Smirking inside, Kogawa Shinyiro decided not to keep them in suspense any longer, nodding at the two female hosts with the scrolls, "Now, let’s announce the topic for the final showdown—"

"Whoosh—"

Thus, the two female hosts, standing one on the left and the other on the right, subsequently shook and unrolled their scrolls. The white scrolls unfurled rapidly, even rolling half a step onto the stage, indicating their considerable length.

However, on both scrolls, large blank spaces were left, with only a set of large Chinese characters:

Lead!

Ferry!

In an instant, camera flashes intertwined.

The arena exploded into a frenzy. Everyone gasped, "Lead? Ferry?"

"This topic of the duel... why is it more mystical than ’Supreme Goodness, like Water’?"

The majority of the audience struggled to comprehend the underlying meanings of these phrases.

Chefs of Special Grade or above, who were more or less aware of the existence of mystical elements and had even personally encountered and expelled some mystical creatures, all had solemn expressions and contemplative eyes.

This duel topic was extraordinary!

"How interesting!"

Below the stage, Yan Mo and Wu Yingying, wearing red, stood together.

The reason for the defeats of Yan Mo and Lin Miao’s team and Wu Yingying’s team was similar; their culinary philosophy leaned towards the Dark World, and in terms of skill, Yan Mo inherited the "Demon-breaking Eight Formation" from the Dark World, a chef’s skill that inverts the Yin Yang Five Elements and endows cooking with the power to manipulate human emotions.

The competition of mythical-grade dishes was very subjective. Disagreement from the judges meant defeat.

However, Yan Mo and the red-clothed woman did not appear dejected but instead looked relaxed. They were casually discussing the topic of the duel while at the base of the stage.

"Exactly as expected!"

In the Tiqie Mansion, Senzaemon, rarely unable to control his Qilin Arm, slapped his thigh and laughed, "Choosing these guys as judges, they really went for such a topic!"

Eriina furrowed her brows, puzzled. "Grandfather, the previous ’Supreme Goodness, like Water’ was already strange, but this ’Lead, Ferry’ is even more bizarre..."

Senzaemon stared at his granddaughter for a while before slowly saying,

"You’re aiming for Special Grade, and you should also come to know the other side of the world by now, aside from invasive species, there are mystical elements that exist in corners of the world, even though they are becoming increasingly scarce..."

"Mystical elements?"

"Exactly, and this duel is a perfect opportunity. Let Instructor Xia guide you. Go book your flight now."

"Um... Ah?!"

Eriina, lost in thought and propping her chin, looked up confused, her gaze flickered for a moment, she pointed to a flyer on the tea table, and said with her head hanging, "What about the annual Red Leaf Hunting Festival? As a member of the Ten Elites..."

She was cut off by a wave of her grandfather’s hand.

"The Red Leaf Hunting Festival at Far Moon indeed has a long history, its main purpose is to allow students of different grades to interact, to put it simply, it’s a platform for interaction, similar to the third stage of the Sapporo event, this stage is more like a Gourmet Hunter’s food ingredient market and trade fair."

Senzaemon’s eyes twinkled with a teasing smile.

"Eriina, among this session’s Ten Elites, you are the most famous and best known to the Far Moon students, right?"

"Of course!" The young girl responded without any embarrassment.

"So, you should go to Sapporo."

This time, the young girl glanced at the ’Red Leaf Hunting Festival’ flyer on the table, then back to the TV screen, finally setting aside a bit of her pride. She was very excited inside, with little angels in her head tumbling around in excitement, yet she still tried to act demure in front of her grandfather.

This was what frequently caused Xia Yu headaches due to her tsundere nature.