Reborn in Japan as a Chef God

"Little Ying..."

Xia Yu urgently summoned his disciple in the kitchen.

Today, Liu Ying was dressed in a white blouse and black skirt; if the skirt were red, she would look just like a little witch.

Her long black hair was tied into twin tails, with ribbons wrapped around each side. Having just finished a practice, she re-entered the kitchen from outside, slightly panting, with her ponytails swaying behind her with each step. This clearly showed her sprightly energy. Whenever Xia Yu called, Liu Ying always managed to arrive on the battlefield in record time, demonstrating her eagerness to improve.

In the past few days, having brought Liu Ying to the Xia Mansion, Xia Yu found himself increasingly pleased with the girl as they interacted more in their daily routines. She certainly was remarkable.

Almost burned by her intense gaze, Xia Yu pointed to a food box on the table, "Starting today, I'm going to teach you something new. These are things just for you, exclusive to your mentor, and only the Demon King's small account is eligible to learn—"

He blinked, gesturing to Liu Ying.

"Open it!"

The little girl obediently and gently opened the lid. Wow, the moment the lid was removed, a blinding light bathed half of Liu Ying's body.

An amber hue, like a brilliant sunset; it seemed gold, yet not quite pure gold, giving off a sombre yet sacred feel.

Liu Ying was breathless, staring blankly at the dust inside the box.

Her eyes were filled with bewilderment.

It was evident at first sight that the fantastical ingredient completely captivated the little girl, and she couldn't take her eyes off it.

"Mr. Xia!" she asked tremblingly, "Is this flour?"

The light could not hide the essence of the ingredient; it was a pile of dust spread at the bottom of the food box, weighing about one catty.

Xia Yu met her intense gaze, "Yes! It's flour!"

He then said in a mysterious tone, slowly:

"'Golden Wheat,' a comprehensive raw material, the ultimate, dream-like ingredient in the realm of dough..."

As Xia Yu narrated about 'Golden Wheat,' Liu Ying's eyes widened more and more, like black glass orbs filled with intense curiosity.

Gulp!

She asked nervously, "Mr. Xia, this kind of fantasy ingredient must be rare and extremely expensive, right? I... I don't want to waste them."

Her hands twisted anxiously in front of her black dress.

Her big eyes were filled with excitement, yet she tried hard to suppress her desire. Liu Ying's frugality and her care for the ingredients were certainly commendable.

However, Xia Yu was amused and exasperated by his obedient disciple, who was worried about his master's wallet and ingredient supply without knowing the full story.

"Don't overthink it. This box of ingredients will be enough for you to play around with for at least three months!"

Xia Yu patted the little girl's head.

Liu Ying tilted her head, staring at him in confusion.

"Ahem!"

Xia Yu, having only understood the properties of 'Golden Wheat' slightly last night, now put on the guise of a profound mentor in front of the naive lamb, saying, "If 'Golden Wheat' was freshly harvested from the field, just the step of de-hulling would be as challenging as climbing a mountain. Even when ground into wheat flour, due to the incredible water absorption of the wheat, hmm, how shall I put it—"

He took Liu Ying's slightly cool small hand, his large hand wrapping around hers, guiding it gently down towards the food box.

"Just this bit! It's enough!"

In the palm of his hand, a tiny pinch of dust was thrown into an empty bowl prepared for use.

Xia Yu released her hand, smiling warmly, "Try kneading the dough with ordinary water first."

"How much water?"

Liu Ying placed the bowl under the tap.

After a while, not hearing a response, she turned back, confused, seeing Xia Yu standing there with his hands spread, "This is the first step in familiarizing yourself with the ingredients, relax—"

"..."

Liu Ying paused for a minute or two, her little face wrinkled with thought.

The vast bowl, with that small amount of flour, made the size contrast particularly stark, leaving her view feeling rather empty.

"With this amount, if it were normal flour, a cup of water would be more than enough, but Mr. Xia said 'Golden Wheat' has terrifying absorption... I'll start with half a thermos bottle's worth of water then!"

Click!

She turned the faucet.

Fresh tap water began to collect at the bottom of the bowl under Liu Ying's watch.

The golden flour did not immediately dissolve when hit by the water but floated like golden, shimmering stardust on the surface, with a twinkling appearance reminiscent of a stream under the evening glow in the wilderness, immediately making Liu Ying gaze with reverence.

She reached into the bowl, attempting to knead the dough.

A comical yet baffling scene unfolded.

The water overflowing the bottom of the basin inexplicably evaporated within the next ten minutes, and that small lump of golden flour only had the appearance of bathing. No matter how Liu Ying grabbed or kneaded it, the "dough" remained loose and scattered.

At this moment, Liu Ying was truly bewildered.

Xia Yu observed this and chuckled quietly: "Absorbing water and kneading the dough is just the first step in processing 'Golden Wheat'."

He didn't rush to wake Liu Ying, instead, he was contemplating.

Would it seem impatient to directly bring a "novice" to the world of fantasy and dreams, advancing to high-level maps?

However, there's only 5 days left until the Liu Clan's selection during the Lantern Festival. In the past ten days, Liu Ying's culinary skills have improved rapidly, but there's still a road to travel before reaching the special grade.

If that's the case, in order to ensure Liu Ying's victory in the selection, Xia Yu must give a strong push behind the scenes.

"Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures."

Before reaching the rare grade, if one can master a super fantasy ingredient like 'Golden Wheat,' they can get a little closer to the path of the Food Dominator. The underdog in "Below Surpass Above" has an easier route for a comeback.

It's all thanks to Ye Feizhou's intelligence information.

5 days... Should be enough, right?

Xia Yu looked at the bewildered Liu Ying, her gaze similar to how she looked at Xingping Chuangzhen.

The two share a common trait—

Extraordinary comprehension!

...

Wei Zhong quietly traveled to Shu.

No one knew that the renowned chef, acclaimed as 'Central's top pastry master,' and Huang He's favorite disciple, has already settled in an ancient-style inn in the capital of Shu.

Suburban.

The innkeeper, a middle-aged man, a disciple of Huang He, respectfully said to Wei Zhong, "These days before and after the New Year, Shu has been overall quite peaceful."

"However..."

The middle-aged man paused, "On the first day, Lan Fengxian and Lan Chuhai visited the Xia Mansion to pay respects, causing quite a stir in the culinary world of Shu Sichuan."

Wei Zhong's eyes slightly narrowed.

The Lan Family, descendants of the legendary Lan Feihong, this clan spread its branches and leaves on this land a hundred years ago, and the entire clan still shoulders the mission of guarding the legendary kitchenware "Kakura Blade." So, the Feng Chu Waterfall, where the kitchenware is sealed, has long been under the control of the Lan Family.

Undoubtedly, in the fall of the Liu Clan today, the Lan Family is the unchallenged first clan in Shu Sichuan.

"If that cunning old fox Lan Fengxian is involved, muddying the waters..." Wei Zhong's expression turned solemn, "How can this food battle take place?"

The problem facing Huang He's lineage is obvious, without a convincing motive for the food battle, the so-called reason of origin.

Moreover, Wei Zhong and Xia Yu have never met, how can a conflict arise between two strangers?

If Wei Zhong, like Ye Feizhou, had a slight understanding of Xia Yu's personality, it might be even more distressing.

What, a food battle?

Come on, quit joking, go cool off.

A moment of silence.

The middle-aged innkeeper took out a handkerchief, wiped his sweat, and said, "Chef Wei, I have an idea."

"Speak—"

"How do you feel about the strategy of 'creating something from nothing'?"

"How?"

"It could go like this..." The innkeeper leaned in, speaking absurdly.

Wei Zhong seemed hesitant.

"Public opinion is a double-edged sword; it can strike the enemy, but it can also harm oneself."

And if the public opinion, rumors fabricated out of thin air to attack opponents, ends in defeat... The consequences, just the thought made Wei Zhong break out in a cold sweat, not only him but the White Cloud Pavilion and Huang He would also be implicated.

The middle-aged innkeeper chuckled quietly, "Chef Wei, the victor is justice!"

This phrase shattered all doubts in Wei Zhong.

Indeed.

Only the winner has the right to speak loudly.

Thinking thus, a trace of mockery appeared at the corner of Wei Zhong's mouth: "Then let it be according to your plan. This wind must grow fiercer. I don't believe a greenhorn can remain unnoticed in such a tempest, not utter a word. He just returned to the country, standing too high, too dazzling, and the weight of the crown on his head isn't light. It's not easy to wear it steadily."