CHAPTER 658: CHAPTER 657: BUSTED

Five gold medals, representing the judges’ decisions, had all gathered at cooking station number one.

Kogawa Shinyiro, acting as the master of ceremonies, nodded to the host.

The female host announced with a trembling voice, "The results have been revealed! Congratulations to Chef Xia Yu and Chef Zhu Qing for claiming victory in the second stage of the competition! Their triumph is beyond question!"

"Cheer now——"

Boom.

Confetti was blasted from the four corners of the arena, and the crowd rose to its feet, offering enthusiastic applause.

"A win with 5 votes, a resounding victory!" Dojima Yin and Saito Chiyokuro, gave thumbs up from below the stage.

"A unanimous victory doesn’t get any better!"

Yu Hong, Yan Mo, and these other Lin Giants all approved of the winning pair.

Including Tang Shan on the field, who was applauding, "Victory belongs to you!"

"Thank you!"

Xia Yu responded modestly, while Zhu Qing, not caring so much, went up to Lan Chuhai and boasted proudly, "How about that? I told you, ’Variation’ is just one part of creating the Soul Suppressing Bun, huh, you didn’t see that coming, did you? My partner is outstanding."

Lan Chuhai’s response made her smile stiffen:

"Yes, your partner is stronger, so you won, and I think the recipe for the ’Four Gods Seafood Eight Treasures Soul Suppressing Bun’ is not something you could have provided."

Lan Chuhai had regained her usual tranquility and spoke with a faint sneer curling her lips.

The implication was clear—

You’re just a sprig of greenery on the champion’s trophy, don’t be proud.

Zhu Qing caught the meaning and yawned indifferently, "Anyway, I won. That’s what matters. Xia Yu and I stick together!"

Indeed, the familial bond between Zhu Qing and Xia Yu was something other pairs didn’t have.

And that was also the reason for their seamless cooperation.

Don’t underestimate these relationships; after all, if there is even a slight grudge between partners, it could magnify into a flaw that affects the outcome when reflected in the dish.

They were in no rush to leave the stage.

Li Han, Lan Chuhai, Tang Shan, and Tang Yuqiong were witnesses as Xia Yu and Zhu Qing stood side by side, one to the left and one to the right of the display case.

Kogawa Shinyiro spoke, "Congratulations!"

Click!

He opened the case and gestured with his hand; it was time for the victors to hold the cup.

Having won the second stage as well, Far Moon Team’s points were undoubtedly in the lead, so there was no surprise as to whom the ’Jade Dragon Pot’ would belong. The entire venue fell silent, awaiting the moment when the victors would lift the championship trophy aloft.

At that moment, however, Xia Yu’s gaze flashed, and instead of moving forward, he whispered to Zhu Qing at his side, "You hold the trophy!"

"What?!"

Zhu Qing was startled and somewhat flustered, "I can’t! You’re the one who deserves it!"

"I’m your partner, you are a Lin Chef, and I’m a Special Chef—"

Without explaining further, Xia Yu urged, "Hurry and hold it, the audience is waiting, don’t dilly-dally!"

Knowing his cheeky aunt’s character well, Xia Yu effectively used reverse psychology, leading Zhu Qing to glare and retort, "This was your idea, giving me the chance to be in the spotlight, so I guess I’ll accept the burden of holding the trophy!"

She feigned modesty with her words, but her hands deftly reached into the cabinet and lifted the legendary, tarnished kitchen utensil high.

The stadium lights beamed down in columns, and countless cameras focused on this scene, frantically snapping photos. This might just be the most classic set of pictures of this year’s gourmet awards, likely to win a prize.

After all, time flies, and winter was upon them; the year was drawing to a close.

The Sapporo Legendary Kitchen Utensil Showdown came to a perfect end with the iconic shot of Zhu Qing raising the championship trophy, the ’Jade Dragon Pot.’

...

Footsteps.

"It’s over!"

In the corridor, as Xia Yu turned back to see the stage lights growing dimmer and the competition’s uproar fading to near silence, he stopped in his tracks to finally stretch and twist his neck, loosening his muscles.

He thought that at least before he officially crossed the threshold into the realm of Lin Chef, he wouldn’t encounter another cooking duel so concentrated in nature.

Xia Yu’s mind was clear.

International competitions were a shortcut to fame, but in his all-out effort to compete for the "Jade Dragon Pot," he had exposed too much.

The Seven Stars Knife didn’t count for much, but the series of dazzling ancient recipes that were revealed posed a big problem. Zhu Qing had a bizarre temperament, was broad-minded, and acted without care every day. She wouldn’t pester him with questions, but that didn’t mean others were going to play dumb.

Bang!

With the door closed, Xia Yu entered the backstage resting room and proceeded to flop down onto the couch in a Ge You sprawl.

The Far Moon Team was already waiting, each circling around the "Jade Dragon Pot" in Zhu Qing’s hands, pointing and discussing.

"Is this the legendary culinary tool?" Tiqie Helinai widened her eyes. With an encouraging look from Zhu Qing, she tentatively reached out and gently touched it. The uneasiness of the Far Moon Queen was a rare sight, and this, in turn, testified to how profound the stories of the legendary Chinese cookware were in the East Asian cultural sphere.

While the group was gathered around the "Jade Dragon Pot," Xia Yu was leisurely tallying up the gains from the ultimate battle.

First was the task of the "Soul Suppressing Bun," he pulled up the information bar:

"Congratulations on successfully cooking a dish that meets the task requirements (final completion rate 85%)."

"You have earned 10 Talent Points."

"Taboo Spice ’Merck’s Stars’ has been unlocked."

"Culinary skill level lv50→lv55, you have received 5 Talent Points as a gift for your skill level increase."

A total of 15 Talent Points were credited.

With this, before the final, the 20 Talent Points invested in "White Luo Snake Refining" had recouped 15 points. Adding that to the ones he had left, Xia Yu fixed his gaze and muttered silently, "24 points! Can’t be reallocated now, I need to save up 100 points and give them all to my chef’s heart at once!"

"Ding!"

At that moment, the system popped up a prompt:

"An analysis task has been automatically created. The system will fully record the information of the ’Jade Dragon Pot’ and provide the host with effective purification recommendations. Please await the results."

"Yu!"

Zhu Qing slammed the "Jade Dragon Pot" onto the coffee table, "Here, touch it!"

Xia Yu just crossed his arms, looking intrigued, with no intention of touching it.

"You don’t seem very pleased with this championship trophy, do you?"

"I am very pleased!"

"Then why do I feel that you’re deliberately distancing yourself from this thing..." Zhu Qing rested her chin in hand, her eyes filled with a strange expression, while Eriina, Dojima Yin, Saito Chiyokuro, all perplexed, watched the seemingly nonchalant youth sprawled on the couch.

"Do you really want me to touch it?" Xia Yu asked, sitting up slightly.

"If there’s a reaction afterwards, don’t be too shocked."

He issued the warning in advance.

"Huh?"

...

Outside in the corridor.

Karl, Yan Qi, and Senzao Weimon came together.

The competition had ended, but the captivating "Jade Dragon Pot" still required many arrangements, or rather, follow-up management.

The Far Moon Team couldn’t just boldly walk off with the pot; security measures were essential. These three giants had come to discuss with Xia Yu and Zhu Qing, hoping for their cooperation as much as possible.

Knock knock!

They knocked, but received no reply.

Senzao Weimon reached for the handle, gave it a twist, and the door opened.

At that moment, Xia Yu’s hands were placed on either side of the pot. Who could have known that this ancient piece of cookware, covered in rust spots, would suddenly undergo a mystical transformation—

Complex and intricate patterns began to emerge on the surface of the pot!

Witnessing this scene, let alone the petrified group inside, even the approaching Dragon Giant was filled with shock.