Reborn in Japan as a Chef God

Xia Yu encountered an attack backstage at the competition venue. On stage, the audience was captivated by the intense clash between Chen Yang and Zhao Zhen, not yet noticing that one of the top 20 contestants was missing from the waiting area.

Smack!

A whip-like leg swung towards him. Xia Yu's reaction was lightning-fast; he first raised a classic block to deflect most of the leg's force. His hands, gripping the long leg, were not content to remain passive. They moved like a Spiritual Snake along the stick, immediately entangling and surrounding the attacking leg.

"Hey, trying to ambush me..."

In just a second or two, his panic turned to calm.

As a contemptuous smile appeared on Xia Yu's face, who knew that the long leg caught by his snake-like hand was unexpectedly soft and supple? The tantalizing sensation and the sudden inhalation of a strong floral scent made his sharp nose sneeze involuntarily: "Jeez, this sneaky bastard is a woman?"

Realizing the trouble,

he quickly let go and avoided again at lightning speed.

Bang!

This kick was stronger, a lethal move, brutally powerful. The corridor floor cracked with a loud snap, and visible cracks spread across the tiles.

Retreating a few steps to what he considered a very safe distance, Xia Yu clicked his tongue: "What stunning martial arts!"

A woman with a composed expression walked out from around the corner.

"Lei Aoxue?"

She was a woman Xia Yu somewhat recognized.

As for why he recognized her face, it was because of the Seven Stars Knife, not some non-existent attraction between genders.

Lei Aoxue exuded a fierce aura, her expression quite grim.

At this moment, she had already removed the black cloak she usually wore to hide her figure. Any man who laid eyes on her perfectly proportioned curvaceous body, with long legs encased in tight leather pants, would be hard-pressed not to feel a tinge of envy or admiration like a cover model.

Moreover,

Xia Yu's gaze traveled from her long legs to the leather strap at her waist, which pulled the buckle on her voluptuous bosom even tighter.

This was the focal point.

After a quick assessment, Xia Yu repeatedly nodded: "Indeed, there are exactly seven knives, not one less!"

Lei Aoxue specifically carried seven knives this time; she wasn't dressed like this when on stage. Xia Yu couldn't help but wonder if she was doing this to flaunt her prowess?

Three of the knives, based on their appearance, Xia Yu could identify:

The one resembling a large machete on her back was [Greedy Wolf].

Hanging off her left waist, a narrow and long one, was [Broken Army].

Embedded on her right waist, a short and small one, was the carving knife [Wenqu].

The other four knives were completely unfamiliar to Xia Yu.

Perhaps it was because of Xia Yu's brazen gaze or the intensity of the two whip-like kicks, but a subtle blush crept onto Lei Aoxue's pretty face.

"Hey—"

Xia Yu pointed at her array of regulated knives and coughed, "Aren't you afraid of the police taking you to the station like this?"

Lei Aoxue snorted, staring at him deeply.

"This was just a greeting."

Reluctantly biting her lip, she decisively turned around and walked a few steps, "As a descendant of the Lei Family, from birth we bear the responsibility of safeguarding the 'Seven Stars Knife'. This protection involves maintaining the cookware and preserving the 'Seven Stars Knife's' honor. I, Lei Aoxue, admit my culinary skills don't match yours, but I want to emulate my ancestor Rein and challenge you, the imposter!"

Her retreating figure gave an impression of a heroic lady.

In a certain sense, Lei Aoxue was the most spirited of all women Xia Yu had encountered.

Xia Yu remained indifferent.

Being familiar with the plot of 'The Recipe Master', he naturally understood Rein and Xiang En's battle of authenticity. Xiang En, holding a counterfeit set of Seven Stars Knife, lost completely. However, Xia Yu didn't believe that his current possession of the five knives was a fragile imitation.

Allowing Lei Aoxue to leave, being ambushed made Xia Yu quite pissed. If not for his quick reflexes, he would have spent at least half a month to a month suffering in bed. Not everyone's physique could withstand those two kicks. If he were bedridden, unable to practice culinary arts, that'd be as good as taking his life, something he couldn't tolerate.

Turning to head back to the resting area, Xia Yu suddenly noticed a line of text data appearing on his retina, stopping him in his tracks, bewildered, "What's this?"

"86, 60, 88."

Why did the system display a set of strange numbers?

Flipping through the information, Xia Yu's mouth opened slightly, his eyes caught another line of text that sent chills down his spine.

"Human, female, biological age 19, estimated delicious parts — heart, loin, inside leg meat. Potential high-quality regions currently unknown. Host, please further upgrade 'Divine Hand' level..."

A profound sense of dread.

Damn!

What on earth is going on? Did the system just evaluate a living human as an ingredient?

Upon seeing the 'Divine Hand' term again, Xia Yu took a deep breath and murmured, "Turns out the system wasn't malfunctioning!"

I forgot to mention.

After the passionate exchange with Ye Feizhou in the kitchen, Xia Yu gained a new green skill in the culinary skills bar.

Why it's a skill and not a talent relates to the fact that 'Divine Hand' can be upgraded with Talent Points. Moreover, like other culinary skills, proficiency can be increased through practice to reach upgrade purposes.

Eager to return to his private space, possibly with a thought to lightly test the new skill, Xia Yu was astonished to discover that the basics of 'Divine Hand' learned from Ye Feizhou automatically applied to the woman who attacked him.

Blankly gazing at his hands, warmth and fragrance lingered in his palms.

His mind repeatedly replayed the moment he tightly wound his snake-like hand around her long leg.

There was no seductive or lustful intent; only cold shivers and nausea.

"This 'Divine Hand', besides providing a massage-like benefit to ingredients, can also assess them like this?!" Xia Yu shivered thrice, "The key isn't here, I don't want to know this, nor do I want to assess living humans as ingredients, begone, evil spirits, with the heavenly sage's decree—"

"Disappear, all of you!"

For once, the system complied with a cryptic command, and with a 'ding,' the textual information in his vision vanished in a blink.

"86, 60, 88."

But this set of numbers was still remembered.

Ahem.

Having already learned the gender and age, the numbers seem to be measurements, right?

Thus, with a pure and well-intentioned curiosity to verify the new culinary skill's use, Xia Yu cried aloud in the empty corridor: "86, 60, 88."

If any passersby overheard, they might interpret it as a six-digit code.

The voice echoed far.

Actually, Lei Aoxue hadn't gone far; she had only hidden around another corner ten meters away from Xia Yu's view, biting her lip, enduring something. Her right leg, having just launched a whip-kick, buzzed with an electric-like tremor.

This reaction wasn't from exertion but a strange, shame-inducing sensation of an unfamiliar rouse that overwhelmed Lei Aoxue.

At that moment, the password shout echoed through the corridor.

"86, 60, 88..." Lei Aoxue recognized Xia Yu's voice, listening intently, initially dumbfounded, "What's this guy shouting about?"

The words abruptly ceased.

The deliberate pauses between the numbers made the sequence quite clear, and Lei Aoxue's expression instantly went blank.

How, how does he know?

In the deserted corner, the gallant young woman, standing stiff, blushed furiously.

"Enough!"

Not hearing any response after a while, Xia Yu assumed Lei Aoxue had left. Considering she was one of the top 20 contestants, staying away too long might alarm the staff, "Then, I'll have to find ingredients myself to try it out!"

Intrigued, Xia Yu had a keen look of interest in his eyes.

The versatility of the new 'Divine Hand' skill was undoubtedly impressive.

Ha, quite amusing!