"He was staring right at you just now, wasn't he?" Kizaki Taki said, finally forcing the words out after staring intently at Kikuchi Sonoka's chest for a long moment.
She then glanced down at her own chest, her expression turning despondent.
"Wasn't he? I thought he was looking at us?" Kikuchi Sonoka asked, puzzled by Taki's sudden remark.
"Damn big-breasted monster!!" Kizaki Taki yelled, tears welling up in her eyes. Without looking back, she turned and ran off.
"Eh?!" Kikuchi Sonoka was left standing alone, utterly bewildered. After a moment, she stamped her foot and then jogged after Taki.
She, Kikuchi Sonoka, was currently a second-year student at Totsuki Culinary Academy and the 6th Seat of the Elite Ten Council. She had only recently passed Japan's First Grade Chef examination.
Ordinarily, she wouldn't even consider attempting the Special Grade Chef exam for several more years.
However, Kizaki Taki had insisted on seeing just how prestigious Guangzhou's Special Grade exam was. Due to Taki's rather poor reputation, finding someone willing to accompany her had been difficult, so she had forcefully dragged Sonoka along.
'I'll just give it my best shot!' Sonoka thought, clasping her hands tightly in front of her chest to psych herself up.
'I'll treat it as gaining experience!'
Although she knew passing was highly unlikely, it was an excellent opportunity to learn. Only by giving her absolute all could she truly understand her own shortcomings!
'Right then, all the necessary ingredients are gathered,' Dylan thought to himself.
'They're just basic things, but for a mere Special Grade exam, having solid fundamentals is enough to pass easily. No need to get too serious about it.'
As a man capable of casually creating Luminous Cuisine, Dylan naturally wasn't overly concerned about the so-called Special Grade exam.
Once he had figured out the rules, he felt free to proceed as he pleased.
For instance, with the dish he planned to make today, he intended to give the judges a little surprise by using beef trimmings—the offcuts and scraps. If everyone simply chose the highest quality beef cuts, wouldn't that be rather boring?
Carrying several bags filled with ingredients, Dylan walked briskly back towards the Dou Wei Chang.
Before long, he arrived back at the area where the exam theme had been announced. He found that everyone who had finished shopping was waiting outside; the main doors to the Dou Wei Chang remained shut...
"What happened? Why is everyone still out here?" Dylan wondered aloud.
Scanning the crowd, he spotted two familiar figures in a corner: Kikuchi Sonoka and Kizaki Taki. He wasn't sure what they had bought, but somehow they had finished even faster than him.
"Oh, it's you," Kizaki Taki said, recognizing Dylan. She shrugged. "The master butcher is stuck in traffic. He'll need at least another ten minutes to get here. So, we just have to wait."
"So everyone's just waiting here?" Dylan asked, slightly bewildered.
"With so many chefs present, surely there isn't one person who knows how to butcher a cow?" He found it hard to believe. Among all these First Grade Chefs, could there really be no one skilled in butchery? Or perhaps modern chefs only knew how to cook meat that had already been processed?
He recalled his time watching Cooking Master Boy. Back then, any reasonably skilled chef could butcher an entire cow with just one or two cleavers. The Dark Cooking Society even possessed the legendary technique, "Raging Bull Azure Dragon Slash," capable of dismembering a giant, live bull in a mere second or two!
"Apparently, some people here can butcher a cow," Kikuchi Sonoka explained in her gentle voice,
"but the organizers added a condition: it requires extremely high proficiency. You absolutely cannot ruin the carcass. Failure means immediate disqualification."
"Even if successful, the only reward is the right to choose ingredients first. The risk far outweighs the reward, so no one has been willing to step forward."
Being a girl who specialized in Western cuisine, handling prepared beef was one thing, but butchering an entire cow herself was... well...
"Everyone wants to play it safe and secure a win steadily," Kizaki Taki added, stating the plain truth. "In this situation, we're all competitors. Nobody wants to show off and take on such a huge, unknown risk!"
"What a bunch of cowards," Dylan scoffed after hearing their explanations, unable to stop himself from commenting dismissively.
"It's just butchering a cow. All this hesitation and overthinking! Since nobody else is willing, I suppose I'll handle it."
He thought disdainfully, If they don't even have the guts for this, what business do they have taking the Special Grade Chef exam? They might as well go home and roast sweet potatoes.
With that, he walked towards the giant bull that was peacefully grazing nearby and reached out to pat its head.
"What? Is someone actually going to try butchering the cow?!" Surprised voices rose from the silent crowd who had been waiting for the professional butcher. "The risk is too high! If he messes it up, he'll be disqualified instantly!"
While not many chefs present possessed butchering skills, there were a few. However, someone capable of perfectly butchering the cow? Likely none.
After all, knowing how to do something and mastering it were two entirely different concepts! A person's energy is finite.
Mastering cooking and mastering butchery simultaneously? That seemed highly improbable, almost outrageously so!
"Look at that small frame, he doesn't even look half the size of the bull. Let's hope the bull doesn't..." one man began to sneer, but he abruptly fell silent, pursing his lips.
He clearly remembered the fate of the last person who had badmouthed Dylan. Although not necessarily afraid, the exam was about to start, and creating an unnecessary enemy served no purpose.
Dylan continued to gently stroke the water buffalo's head, allowing it a final moment of peace. The buffalo seemed to sense something, letting out a few moos, but remarkably, it didn't resist.
Seeing someone step forward, the plump old man hurried over from the rear, his eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Dylan.
"Do you wish to attempt butchering the cow?" the old man asked, his voice carrying both inquiry and a faint hint of seriousness. It was the kind of tone that might make someone less resolute back down.
However, when the old man met Dylan's gaze, he was startled. He saw an unwavering, forward-pressing spirit in those eyes! It was the look of absolute confidence!
"Attempt?" Dylan scoffed, shaking his head. "Just leave it to me."
He reached behind his back and drew the largest blade he carried – the 'Pojun Dao,' the Army-Breaking Blade.
The Pojun Dao was renowned for its immense cutting power, ideal for handling tough ingredients that required forceful slicing. Bones within meat or hard-shelled seafood were its perfect targets!
"Raging Bull Azure Dragon Slash!" Dylan suddenly inhaled sharply, channeling his internal energy, his Neili, into his hands. Executing this technique required not only exquisite knife skills but also significant internal energy.
In the next instant, the Pojun Dao traced a brilliant silver trajectory through the air. With a sound like tearing fabric, it whistled straight towards the giant bull's neck, instantly ending its suffering without pain.
A flash of the blade, and Dylan's movements were like lightning. The Pojun Dao sliced precisely into the bull's hide, then flowed with incredible angle and force along the natural lines of the muscles. Each cut was perfectly placed, avoiding hard bone while flawlessly separating muscle and fat.
In less than a second, Dylan sheathed the blade, completely unstained by blood. He took two steps back, watching coolly.
"What's this guy doing?" bewildered voices rose from the crowd. "He drew his knife and then put it right back? Did he realize butchering a giant bull by hand was too difficult and just gave up?"
"Hah! He acted so arrogant earlier, like 'I'm the best, you're all trash,' but it turns out he's all show and no substance!"
"And here I thought we were going to see some exquisite skill..."
Seeing Dylan return apparently having done nothing, the crowd erupted. His earlier perceived arrogance followed by this seeming anticlimax ignited collective indignation. Boos and jeers rained down on him.
"Wait! Look! Look at the giant bull! Something's not right!!"
"What's happening?! Why is there golden light bursting from the cow's body?!"
However, the jeers lasted less than ten seconds.
Under the bright sunlight, every single cut line on the giant bull's body began to emit an intense, blinding golden light, capturing everyone's absolute attention!
Then, slowly, the bull's hide began to peel away in sections. Inside, every category of meat cut, every organ, and all the bones lay perfectly dismembered, neatly arranged within the separated hide.
"Impossible!" someone cried out, rubbing their eyes frantically. "Not a single fiber damaged, and it was so fast! This... this isn't something a human can do!"
No matter how hard they rubbed their eyes, the water buffalo before them remained perfectly butchered, without a single drop of blood spilled!
"Blood? Right! The blood!" another person suddenly yelled, pointing as if they'd found the crucial flaw, though the fear in their eyes hadn't lessened. "This must be pre-processed beef! Otherwise, how could killing such a large bull result in absolutely no blood?!"
"Don't forget," someone countered, their voice strained, "it was standing right there alive just moments ago, even eating grass! How could it possibly be pre-processed beef...?"
Those who accepted the reality wore incredibly grim expressions.
It seemed a terrifyingly powerful rival had just entered the competition!
"Young man," the plump old man stammered, swallowing hard as he hurried over to Dylan, his eyes wide with amazement as he gazed at the perfectly arranged meat.
"What in the world was that technique? To dismember a giant bull without spilling a single drop of blood or losing a single drop of juice!? It's simply miraculous!"
It was truly astonishing. Because all the blood remained within the flesh, the beef's color was incredibly vibrant.
Some muscle tissues were still twitching, reflecting iridescent colors under the sunlight—the absolute peak of freshness!
Without a doubt, Dylan had perfectly fulfilled their requirement, successfully butchering the giant bull. Yet, the technique itself was so utterly outrageous that it left everyone wondering if they were dreaming or witnessing reality!
Kizaki Taki and Kikuchi Sonoka were no exception, their mouths agape, faces masks of pure shock. The person who had casually chatted with them earlier was actually such an incredible master?!
"This technique is called Raging Bull Azure Dragon Slash," Dylan replied calmly, basking in the utterly worshipful gaze coming from Kikuchi Sonoka behind him.
Suddenly, he thought, acting cool feels really good! He had practiced this ultimate skill for so long, precisely for moments like this!
Of course, he had to maintain his aloof demeanor now; otherwise, the effect would be at least halved.
"Truly an incredible, ultimate technique!" the plump old man praised openly. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined someone could butcher a bull in a single second!"
"As promised, you may take the parts you desire first. The remaining portions will be distributed according to the order in which everyone arrived."
After the initial shock, the old man regained his composure, unlike the other contestants still reeling from the display. Dylan noted his change in expression with a thoughtful look.
"In that case," Dylan said, gesturing towards the less desirable parts, "I'll just take these leftover trimmings. Leave the good beef for them. I only hope you all don't waste this excellent meat."
Looking at the superb quality beef laid out, Dylan didn't take the prime cuts as everyone expected. Instead, he gathered all the trimmings – the edges, corners, and seemingly useless bits left after processing.
These were typically considered the worst parts of the cow. Why would Dylan choose them?
After witnessing the Raging Bull Azure Dragon Slash, no one in the crowd still thought Dylan was weak. On the contrary, his image had become profoundly unfathomable in their eyes. Every action he took seemed imbued with hidden meaning.
"There's so much good meat here, why are you taking those scraps and corners?" Kizaki Taki asked, genuinely confused. "Those parts are difficult to cook, not to mention their texture and flavor can't compare to the prime cuts in the middle!" From her perspective, Dylan had many choices, and the trimmings were objectively the worst.
"Yeah," Kikuchi Sonoka chimed in, stepping forward to gently persuade him, her eyes showing a hint of worry. "Maybe you should reconsider? You worked hard to earn the right of first choice. Using it well could give you a significant advantage." She feared Dylan had made a foolish mistake in the heat of the moment, truly selecting those useless bits.
"On that point, I must correct you," Dylan said, turning to them seriously, his gaze firm.
"There are no useless ingredients in the world, only useless chefs. Even if these are just trimmings, as a chef, it is my duty to make them radiate light and heat!"
He had never believed in a hierarchy among ingredients. Every single one had its purpose; placed in the right context, it could display its greatest potential.
"Well said! You're quite something!" Suddenly, a slightly lazy female voice drifted over from nearby. Everyone turned their gaze to see the other figure who had been standing on the city wall earlier – the voluptuous woman.
"Special Grade Two-Star Chef Ma Mei!" someone gasped in recognition. "She grew up by the sea and is an expert in all kinds of seafood cuisine! I can't believe she's the chief examiner this time!" A Special Grade Two-Star Chef was among the absolute top echelon of chefs just below those heading Guangzhou's most prestigious restaurants!
"So," Dylan said, looking at the woman, Ma Mei, his expression unchanging, "may I enter the Dou Wei Chang now?"
His intended dish required a significant amount of time, so he needed to start cooking before the others. If they finished too quickly, he'd end up looking like a clown.
Of course, he mused, if he managed to produce Luminous Cuisine, even if all five spots were already filled, they would undoubtedly be forced to create a sixth spot.
Otherwise, if someone of his caliber couldn't even pass, what value would the Guangzhou Special Grade Chef exam truly hold? The entire culinary world wouldn't accept such a result.
"Please, go ahead," Ma Mei replied, stepping aside with a smile and gesturing for him to enter.
Her polite demeanor surprised the onlookers again. On second thought, however, it made sense. A chef capable of performing such culinary feats undoubtedly possessed skills far exceeding the standard Special Grade level.
The real question buzzing in their minds was: Why on earth was a monster like this participating in this year's Special Grade Chef exam?! It was baffling, utterly baffling!
Seeing Ma Mei's gesture, Dylan didn't waste words, simply giving her a nod.
Two staff members pushed open a pair of heavy iron doors, and he entered the Dou Wei Chang, carrying his basket laden with beef trimmings. The dish he planned to make today genuinely required these offcuts; arguably, only these trimmings could bring out the dish's true, intended flavor!
Passing through the incredibly heavy iron doors, Dylan saw rows upon rows of stone cooking stations inside. Beneath them burned the most primitive fuel: charcoal fires.
"Ah, such a familiar feeling!" Dylan murmured, a nostalgic expression gracing his features as he lightly touched the cool stone surface of a station. He had used cooking stations just like these for years during his time with the Dark Cooking Society!
At this moment, he was the only chef in the kitchen. No, wait—two imposing guards stood stalwart at the entrance, presumably to prevent any contestants from causing trouble out of frustration or attempting to disrupt the competition rules.
"Your time limit is until that incense stick burns down," Ma Mei said, having followed him inside while the plump old man remained outside to manage the other contestants. She pointed towards a giant incense stick burning steadily at the far end of the room, explaining the time constraint. "I trust you will present a dish that satisfies us, little brother."
"Alright, I understand," Dylan replied, glancing at the giant incense stick. He estimated it would burn for approximately eight hours.
He then placed all the ingredients he had purchased onto his cooking station.
The charcoal fire beneath the station burned fiercely, its intensity controllable via a bellows mechanism.
This setup tested not only a chef's culinary skill but also their mastery over heat control. After all, bellows weren't like modern induction cookers that offered relatively precise temperature adjustments; here, a chef's experience was paramount.
Familiar, just too familiar! A smile tugged uncontrollably at Dylan's lips as he took in his surroundings, a surge of excitement rising within him.
He reached into his basket and took out the beef trimmings. There was beef plate tendon, heel muscle tendon, and various fascia and connective tissues removed from the limbs and joints.
Due to their irregular shapes and textures, these were all classified as beef trimmings – often thrown in as extras by butchers, rarely purchased specifically by customers.
With a swift twirl of his 'Wuqu Dao' – the Martial Tune Blade – the trimmings were instantly diced into uniformly sized small cubes. This preparation ensured they would retain a satisfying chewiness while also cooking through thoroughly and evenly. This task truly was a race against time.
'Just what is this man planning to do?' Ma Mei wondered, watching Dylan expertly process the trimmings. She hadn't left immediately, instead standing a short distance away, her expression thoughtful.
'The ingredients he chose actually have quite a good flavor and texture profile,' she mused internally. 'But they can become quite heavy and cloying if you eat too much.'
'They're acceptable when paired with prime cuts of meat, but a dish made entirely from these parts... that's usually not ideal.'
If it were her cooking, she would carefully control the ratio, balancing the satisfying texture with lighter elements so the judges could enjoy the mouthfeel without feeling overwhelmed.
She wouldn't, as Dylan seemed to be doing, focus solely on texture by using only trimmings. The Special Grade exam wouldn't lower its standards just because a contestant chose less-than-ideal ingredients!
'He's still young, after all,' she concluded silently. 'Lacking in experience!'
________
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