CHAPTER 601: CHAPTER 600: THE NINE COURSES OF THE BANQUET (PART 3)

"Drink—"

A deep, muffled shout.

Clang!

The taut chain suddenly swung, and thus, a gigantic Chinese stir-fry pan not only lifted off the stove but even shook violently in the midst of bewildered gazes.

There was no choice, this was a necessary pinnacle wok technique. With too many slices of meat added at once, even holding the wok and spatula with both hands couldn’t ensure that every corner’s slice was evenly flipped in just a few breaths. Moreover, the high temperature of a red-hot pan demanded extremely strict fire control, to a nearly insane degree; a single breath too slow would char the slices and ruin the entire dish.

"Whoa—"

The pan, heated until blazing red, swayed violently through the power transmitted by the chain.

With each pinnacle flip of the wok, the whole pot of ingredients and slices of meat mixed, enveloped in flames, cascading down from mid-air.

Therefore, from an outsider’s perspective, Xia Yu’s tensely bound hands wielding the chain resembled those incredible fiery jugglers in folklore.

The pinnacle of the wok, fire rises, and fire falls!

Scattered fiery sparks descended around the young master chef. These flames were mysteriously controlled, rendering the chef seemingly calm and unperturbed, not at all worried about being caught in the fire.

"This, this..."

Speechless with astonishment!

Lin Miao and the Bearded Monk couldn’t utter a complete sentence.

"Such pinnacle wok technique requires immense strength... his physique is terrifying!" The Bearded Monk wiped the sweat trickling down his bald head, unsure whether it was cold sweat or hot sweat, "Besides, it’s not everyone who has the courage to manipulate such a fiery pan!"

"One careless move, and it’s not just the dish that’s ruined; the chef himself would be doomed!"

The Bearded Monk looked at the constantly flipping pan in mid-air, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he seemingly envisioned the horrid incident of the thousand-degree hot pan crashing onto his body, flesh cooked instantly to death...

"Yes, he’s very confident!" Lin Miao said firmly, gazing at that confident profile, feeling a faint sense of inferiority.

At least, he couldn’t effortlessly handle a red pan and cook a ’Big Blast’ dish.

"Big Blast Fried Pork?"

Wu Yingying had already covered her mouth, her pupils reflecting the fiery red pan, "My gosh..."

She suddenly regretted her challenge.

Although it was carefully considered, now it seemed she felt as if she was delivering vegetables to a doorstep. Wu Yingying obviously hadn’t realized her challenge was just a small segment of tonight’s banquet.

"Big Blast!"

"This is the true ’Big Blast’!"

In room number 2, Yan Mo was moved, couldn’t help but slap the table with excitement and whispered, "I think if Ya Kan and Chef God Liu were still around, they couldn’t have done better!"

The female Lin Giant had been focusing on a subtle, mysterious flow amidst the flames.

Luther and Adelaide didn’t notice; they were IGO system Lin Chefs.

But the ’Food Demon King’ Tiqie Xianzuowen seemed to have seen a bit of it, watching intently.

Clang!

Suddenly, sparks flew.

The red-hot pan crashed heavily onto the stove, while simultaneously, Xia Yu released his grip on the iron chain and raised a large bowl to catch the falling fireball from above.

He filled two large bowls in succession, then placed the flaming bowls on the cooking table, prompting a group of people to crowd around.

The rich aroma and spiciness made the air hot and dry.

Although it was a deep autumn night with temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the gathered people kept sweating and wiping their sweat.

"Still, still on fire!"

Tanaka Hikari pointed at the dish fresh out of the pan, stammering.

"Won’t the heat be excessive this way?"

"Hmm, only the flavor of chili and Sichuan pepper... Surely, Instructor Xia didn’t add bean paste and sweet flour paste, right? The essential seasonings of Shuchuan cuisine, without them, it can’t be called authentic Twice Cooked Pork!" Koga Shoji squeezed into the crowd, loudly announcing his presence.

Right!

Upon his shout, everyone realized that the seasonings hadn’t been fully added!

Before anyone could question him, Xia Yu grabbed some bean paste and sweet flour paste, casually adding a bit into each bowl, then took a spatula and stirred with the flame!

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle..."

The flames persisted, and the two sauces gradually adhered to the meat slices under the scorching heat. Then Xia Yu sprinkled a bit of soy sauce for coloring, stirring for the second time!

"Done!"

He clapped his hands and bent down to pick up a stack of plates, placing them on the table and filling them one after another with a spoon.

Soon, the table was filled with plates of ’Big Blast Fried Pork’ that tempted with color, aroma, and taste.

"Serve—"

Xia Yu called out, only to find his helpers unable to move their feet, standing like wooden figures, drool dripping from the corners of their mouths.

"Serve the guests first!" he laughed, "You won’t miss out on your share!"

"Gulp~"

Ichise Hui swallowed hard and forced a smile as he called out, "Serve!"

The first dish of the banquet, through the transportation of sous chefs like Makki, Eriina, Tanaka Hikari, Hizaki, and Ichise Hui, was almost simultaneously placed on the dining tables in various VIP rooms.

The rich aroma and spiciness transmitted to the restaurant.

"Ah!"

The sous chefs served, while Xia Yu tidied up the table, cleaned up the kitchen waste, and restored the cooking area to its original neatness.

He replaced the Chinese stir-fry pan and tossed it into a courtyard corner to cool naturally.

Then he placed a new pan on the charcoal pile.

Clapped his hands.

"Aren’t you satisfied?" A voice from behind.

Turning around, he saw Lin Miao and an impressive Bearded Monk. Xia Yu chuckled, "You mean the Big Blast Fried Pork just now? Indeed, not quite satisfied."

"But, wasn’t it already done to perfection?"

Lin Miao and the Bearded Monk each held a white porcelain bowl, half filled with rice, with Twice Cooked Pork laid on top. The red oil dyed the rice red, with hints of stir-fried garlic sprigs, scallion, and dried chili.

This bowl of rice had become a quintessential Chinese Twice Cooked Pork rice bowl.

Speaking, the Bearded Monk used wooden chopsticks to pick a dazzling piece of meat, eyes filled with admiration, "Look, such beautiful color, perfect, flawless, why aren’t you satisfied?!"

Having said this, the Bearded Monk buried his head and ate heartily, clearly seeing rules as nothing but air.

Lin Miao awaited his response, watching him.

Xia Yu found it amusing, shrugged, and had nothing to say.

Dissatisfaction naturally had its reasons.

He glanced at the task panel.

[’Qi’ Cuisine’s Reception] This task was still incomplete, proving the point.

The dish hadn’t shone!

Incomplete evolution!

"System, why is the dish completion at only 78%?"

"Please find the shortcomings by yourself!" The system responded more coldly this time.

But Xia Yu had a workaround, forgoing tasting it himself, he directly sought out Tiqie Eriina, not forgetting this girl possessed the ’Divine Tongue.’ This godly talent could help chefs refine dishes towards perfection, something Xia Yu coveted.

Eriina was hiding in the kitchen with others, and when Xia Yu found her, she was drenched in sweat, almost as if she’d just bathed, with a steam-drifting appearance.

"Eriina, the first dish, ’Big Blast Fried Pork,’ where do you think it falls short?"

Hearing Xia Yu’s inquiry, the ’Divine Tongue’ was bewildered.

"Ah, it’s great, couldn’t be better!" she replied.

"Tell the truth!"

"I’m absolutely not lying! Perfect!"

Eriina straightened her face, more anxious than Xia Yu upon being doubted, her tone had a hint of irritation: "Did they, did they think your dish had flaws? Impossible, even my ’Divine Tongue’ didn’t pick any out!"

It seemed that the ’Divine Tongue’ shut down when faced with dishes too advanced or high-level.

Xia Yu chuckled, could only console the girl, and turned to find Xianzuowen.