Cass’s mouthful of ale sprayed all over Reni, startling both Reni and the messenger guard, who looked in surprise at Cass, his face half-hidden by his hood.
Coughing violently, Cass waved to indicate he was fine. Reni frowned, dismissing the guard with a gesture, and wiped the ale from his face. “Commander, what’s wrong?” he asked curiously.
“Nothing, nothing…” Cass said, his weathered face tinged with rare embarrassment. “That Random Magic Guild you mentioned… they’re my companions.”
Reni was speechless.
What? Commander, didn’t you just say they were trustworthy and acting discreetly? Demolishing a prominent two-star guild and causing chaos hardly seemed discreet.
“That’s… their style,” Cass said, standing up with a helpless sigh. Since meeting those youngsters, his life had become far more eventful than even three years ago. Shaking his head, he continued, “See if you can help them out. They’ve made a mess, but I understand them. They act with reason. There might be a misunderstanding.”
Reni pondered for a moment. “Godo, that fat fool, is all hot-blooded. Let me figure out what happened. Maybe I can bail them out.”
…
In the lord’s kitchen, Ye Chui was ready to cook.
The ingredients for Ecstasy Rice were simple and readily available. The kitchen stocked fine rice from the southern Warmwater River, plump and glossy. Fresh pork was abundant, as the lord’s estate had a dedicated slaughterhouse for pigs, cows, and sheep. Ye Chui selected a prime cut of pork loin.
Eggs, rare in this world, were also available. For greens, used as a garnish, the kitchen lacked the specific vegetables needed, but turnip leaves would suffice. Onions, a key ingredient, were plentiful, as roasted onions were a delicacy.
Seeing Ye Chui’s preparations, the head chef smirked, placing a small hourglass on the table and flipping it. “Stephen Chow, you can start. Three minutes. If you don’t finish, sorry, I don’t need a boastful chef.”
Under the *God of Cookery* BGM, Ye Chui’s lips curled into a confident smile, and he began cooking.
In the movie, Stephen Chow’s preparation of Ecstasy Rice was seamless and stylish. With magic, Ye Chui’s cooking was like a special-effects spectacle, surpassing even Stephen Chow’s flair.
Elementary attack spell [Dance of the Water Snake].
A mass of water, formed from magical elements, materialized before Ye Chui. Under his control, it shaped into a water snake, slithering into a rice barrel, engulfing grains in its translucent body. The two-meter-long, arm-thick snake writhed, washing the rice as it moved. Ye Chui then directed it into a clay pot used for stewing meat, the rice splashing inside.
The pot was placed on a nearby fire.
Elementary element spell [Gale]. A fierce wind roared, stoking the fire into a blazing inferno, heating the pot. The gale pressed the lid tight, mimicking a pressure cooker, cooking rice that would normally take thirty minutes in just two.
While maintaining [Gale], Ye Chui turned to the pork loin.
Space attack spell [Shatter].
Similar to [Earthquake], which shook the ground, [Shatter] disrupted space, breaking objects into fragments. When mastered, it could evolve into [Space Shatter], capable of reducing a person to a bloody mist. Ye Chui’s [Shatter] wasn’t that powerful, but it was perfect for tenderizing the pork into a soft, crispy texture, mimicking Stephen Chow’s fictional Ecstasy Palm technique.
The kitchen fell silent as Ye Chui’s magical cooking, a visually stunning display, captivated everyone. Chefs using magic wasn’t unheard of, but Ye Chui’s seamless use of multiple spell types was unprecedented.
How many magical disciplines did he know?
His talent was evident, yet he used it to cook?
Wasn’t that extravagant?
The head chef and Lloyd’s mocking expressions turned to shock.
Ye Chui finished preparing the pork, taking an iron skewer from Green and impaling the meat. With a thud, he fixed the skewer’s end into the table. Then he cast another spell: fire attack spell [Flame Serpent]. A fiery snake coiled around the skewer, roasting the pork to perfection.
He tossed an onion into the air, hands moving swiftly. Space attack spell [Space Blade]. With a series of sharp sounds, the onion was sliced into fine bits mid-air, sprinkling over the meat.
Such complex techniques were beyond Ye Chui’s usual ability, but the *God of Cookery* BGM made them effortless.
The enticing aroma of roasted meat filled the air. Though familiar with grilled meat, the kitchen staff had never smelled anything so alluring.
The rice was done. Ye Chui used [Gale] to lift the pot’s lid, letting the rice breathe. With precise control, he sent the rice grains airborne, separating them perfectly, their scalding heat cooling to an ideal eating temperature.
Holding a white porcelain bowl, he guided the rice to fall neatly inside.
The pork was ready. Using [Space Blade], he sliced it into perfect char siu strips, arranging them atop the rice.
He then took two turnip leaves.
Elementary element spell [Stream]. A ball of water enveloped the leaves, floating mid-air. Ye Chui sprinkled in seasonings.
Elementary element spell [Flame]. Fire encircled the water, heating it to cook the leaves.
Sweeping his hand through the flames, Ye Chui let them burn on his palm. He cracked an egg onto it, cooking it into a soft-centered egg, its yolk still gooey.
The cooked turnip leaves were placed on the rice, followed by the soft-centered egg.
Thus, a magical version of Ecstasy Rice was complete.
The last grains in the head chef’s hourglass hadn’t yet fallen.
Though it looked like simple char siu rice, the rice’s fragrance, the turnip’s crispness, and the pork’s savory aroma blended perfectly, tantalizing everyone’s taste buds. Debbie, standing nearby, couldn’t help but swallow hard.
The kitchen was silent, stunned by Ye Chui’s dazzling performance.
Then, applause erupted. The plump maid, who had entered unnoticed, clapped enthusiastically, eyes wide and mouth watering at the dish. Her lead prompted a wave of applause from the chefs and servants, who knew of the head chef and Lloyd’s deal but couldn’t resist praising Ye Chui’s skill.
Ye Chui presented the bowl to the head chef. “Try it.”
“This is just theatrics. You think magic makes it tasty?” Lloyd said sharply, glancing worriedly at the head chef.
The head chef, momentarily dazed, snapped back. The dish looked unique and appetizing, but it couldn’t prove superior skill. Snorting, he took the bowl. With no chopsticks in this world, he used a fork, casually spearing some char siu and rice, intending to dismiss it.
Rice and char siu dishes were novel here, not easily accepted, but their exotic Eastern flair and elegant presentation were intriguing.
“Hmph, nothing special,” the head chef said, chewing deliberately.
But his tone faltered.
The char siu was flawless, a taste he’d never imagined for pork. The [Flame Serpent] spell had locked in the meat’s flavor, giving it a unique texture he’d never experienced. And there was another scent—what was it?
A memory surfaced from his youth, working in an inn’s kitchen. Despite his low status, the innkeeper’s daughter had loved him. That youthful romance, so poignant, he thought he’d forgotten, but now it felt indelible.
Lost in reverie, he didn’t notice Lloyd’s anxious expression or frantic signaling.
“What did you add?” the head chef asked, dazed, tears rolling down his cheeks.
The BGM had stopped, but Ye Chui delivered the iconic line, “Onions. I added onions.”
A simple dish couldn’t be so evocative, but in this magical world, amplified by the BGM’s effect, the modest char siu rice gained a mystical quality, triggering tears and sad memories.
Seeing the head chef’s tears, the kitchen staff were stunned, staring at the bowl. How delicious was it to make him cry?
