Serenity!
Dignity!
The clock on the wall struck "12."
A new day had arrived, marking the end of the cooking duel between Zane and Asahi Saiba!
The night, like a delicate ink painting, spread slowly. The moonlight became the gentlest spotlight on this silent stage. Its silver glow poured down, piercing through thin clouds and sparse branches, illuminating Zane.
His handsome face, bathed in moonlight, appeared both determined and gentle.
In his eyes, a glimmer of unyielding determination shone.
His silhouette, cast by the moonlight, stretched out, intertwining with the shadows on the ground, creating captivating images with every movement, every turn, as if telling his story to everyone watching!
The air carried a faint chill.
The moonlight not only brightened the entire Moon Banquet Hall but also seemed to illuminate the hopes and beliefs in everyone's hearts.
In this ultimate showdown between the underground and traditional culinary worlds, the intensity and tension gave rise to a poetic beauty, leaving everyone present in awe of something that transcended mere victory or defeat!
Finally, as Zane completed his "Eight Dishes of Demon Subjugation," the moonlight on him grew even brighter!
Yes!
Like a guiding light, it seemed to lead all chefs forward.
At that moment, even though the outcome was undecided and Gin, Leonora, and Mana had yet to taste Zane's dishes or begin their evaluation, everyone believed that Zane was about to create a legend of dreams, challenges, and transcendence in the Moon Banquet Hall!
Yes!
He might be the true master of the new era.
---
**Sichuan-style Catfish and Beef Liver Stir-fry.**
This dish, rich in color, aroma, and taste, immediately aroused Mana's anticipation the moment it was served.
The dish masterfully combined the juicy tenderness of catfish with the rich, delicate texture of beef liver. The bright red Sichuan chili oil and the array of spices created an irresistible presentation.
The catfish portion was fried to a golden, crispy perfection.
The tiny, scale-like granules glistened under the light, as if adorned with golden armor. Yet, the fish inside remained tender and flavorful.
The snow-white flesh contrasted sharply with the red chili oil.
The beef liver, on the other hand, offered a different experience.
The top-quality beef liver was carefully prepared to remove any gamey taste, then sliced into evenly thick pieces and quickly stir-fried in hot oil. The liver retained its tender texture while absorbing the essence of Sichuan's spicy and numbing flavors.
The liver was coated in a thin layer of glossy chili oil, with a deep, enticing color.
Red!
White!
Green!
The dish was visually striking and unforgettable.
The spicy aroma was so inviting that it captivated the senses even before the first bite, making it impossible to resist the urge to taste the harmonious fusion of these two flavors.
---
Gulp!
Mana couldn't help but swallow.
Her God Tongue was instantly awakened.
An irresistible temptation danced lightly on her taste buds.
Her eyes were fixed on the dish, the red chili sauce slowly trickling over the catfish and beef liver, with green vegetables sprinkled throughout. Her throat moved involuntarily, preparing for the upcoming feast.
A warm liquid quietly gathered at the back of her mouth—a natural response of the salivary glands to the delicious scent, forming a small stream that gently slid down her throat.
"Lady Mana."
"You... you need to stay composed. Your... your drool is... is about to reach the floor."
Anne, noticing Mana's overwhelming anticipation, voiced her concern.
"Anne."
"I really can't hold back anymore."
"For this meticulously planned, ahem, for this extraordinary competition, I've been holding myself back from going to the tavern for quite some time."
"I'd rather take nutrient injections than miss... miss this day!"
With that, Mana took a deep breath.
She tried to inhale the aroma of the ingredients mixed with the warm air deeply into her lungs, amplifying her sense of anticipation.
Finally, she could no longer suppress her primal urge. She opened her mouth slightly, allowing the clear saliva to glisten at the corners before it quietly slipped away, leaving behind an almost invisible trace of moisture.
Everyone was stunned by this sight!
Who would have thought?
The dignified Special Grade Executive Officer of the WGO, a behind-the-scenes boss whose sneeze could shake the culinary world, was drooling over a dish made by the tavern's chef!
---
Are we "eating to live" or "living to eat"?
Our relationship with food is complex, influenced by costs, availability, and even peer pressure.
But we all share one thing: appetite!
The craving for food!
Hunger—this word accompanies us throughout our lives.
When our bodies need food, they prompt us with hunger, but hunger is only part of the story.
After all, we often eat even when we're not hungry, and sometimes hunger might lead us to skip a meal.
Recent research highlights that the abundance of food signals in our environment—smells, sounds, advertisements—are major factors in overeating!
So, food addiction is very much like nicotine or alcohol addiction, becoming yet another major health threat to humanity.
Of course, overeating hasn't yet been labeled a sin.
Being able to eat is still seen as a blessing!
But for Mana, her frequent inability to control her appetite when faced with Zane's cooking has become something of a burden.
Many modern ailments stem from overeating.
We all know we should eat less and choose healthy foods, but no matter how much healthy food we eat, we always feel something's missing—we end up craving junk food.
This is food addiction. Once you're hooked on certain foods, you can't control yourself because the food controls you.
Smokers know that going without a cigarette for a while creates a feeling of unexplained restlessness and anxiety until they find a smoke.
But once you take that first puff, you immediately feel calm—this is a sign of addiction.
Compared to nicotine or alcohol, our addiction to our favorite foods is even stronger, and the allure of food is hard to shake off quickly.
Mana might have long realized this problem!
But what can she do?
She can't control herself. So what if she can't?
Whenever she sees Zane's cooking, she surrenders completely, with no other thoughts but to eat it right away and feel utterly satisfied!
Yes!
Zane's cooking has become like a spell, controlling her!
---
"Ah... mmm!"
Finally, unable to resist, Mana was the first to taste the Sichuan-style Catfish and Beef Liver Stir-fry.
As she took a bite, she first felt the delicate aroma of the oil, followed by the rich, savory flavor of the beef liver, intermingling with the fresh taste of the catfish, creating a layered feast for the senses.
The catfish chunks, bathed in the spicy sauce, turned a bright red.
The meat was tender yet firm, each bite teasing the taste buds with a perfect blend of spiciness, numbing heat, freshness, and fragrance that left a lasting impression.
The beef liver, during the cooking process, absorbed the special Sichuan spices, adding a layer of subtlety and smoothness that contrasted with the catfish's richness.
The liver's savory taste melded beautifully with the numbing spice, preserving the ingredient's original flavor while adding an irresistible Sichuan twist.
Each slice of liver seemed to be wrapped in a juicy coating, melting in the mouth, with a spicy kick and a hint of sweetness that made it hard to stop eating.
---
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Mana froze.
Even though she could anticipate the wonderful taste of the food entering her mouth, expecting a splendid dance between her taste buds and the ingredients, she was still taken by surprise.
After just one bite, she was fully immersed in her love for and longing for gourmet food.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the air inside the Moon Banquet Hall began to stir in a subtle way.
"Could it be..."
Anne, standing next to Mana, quickly grasped what was happening.
Immediately, a warm and powerful current of air began to swirl around Mana, starting gently like a spring breeze but soon gaining strength, lifting small objects off the tables and chairs and making them dance lightly in the air.
"Look, what's that?"
The audience was filled with exclamations of surprise.
They widened their eyes in disbelief as they witnessed the scene.
---
Soon, the air current rapidly expanded, turning into a sudden "whirlwind."
But this whirlwind was different—it didn't bring destruction or fear but was full of harmony and joy.
The whirlwind gently circled around the people, lifting their hair and clothes as if they were in a dreamlike vortex.
What was more surprising was that this force seemed to contain a certain magic.
It washed over everyone's hearts, giving them a sense of unprecedented peace and serenity.
The lights in the Moon Banquet Hall, under the influence of the whirlwind, grew softer and more mysterious, reflecting faces filled with both surprise and excitement.
They exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling with curiosity about the unknown and a desire to cherish the beautiful moment. It was as if all their worries and troubles were swept away by this mysterious force, leaving only pure joy and a love for life!
And when Mana, the one who had caused this miracle, slowly put down her chopsticks and smiled at everything around her, the whirlwind also felt her intention and gradually calmed down.
In the end, it dissipated into a wisp of smoke, vanishing without a trace.
---
"What just happened?"
"Why is everyone so happy?"
"Could it be that Lady Mana can now share the joy and satisfaction she experiences from tasting Zane's dishes
with everyone else, like transmitting pulses?"
Anne, regaining her senses, exclaimed in shock.
"No!"
"What is this..."
Even Asahi Saiba, affected by the force, was equally astonished.
A simple dish made with catfish and beef liver using Sichuan cooking techniques had brought such satisfaction to this WGO Special Grade Executive Officer?
And what about him?
He had combined over twenty high-end ingredients, drawing on the skills and techniques of many elite chefs to create his sashimi dish, yet Mana hadn't even spared it a glance!
It was undeniable.
Asahi's composure was starting to crack.
---
In the world of food, one must adhere to the balance of yin and yang—going to extremes leads to imbalance, and imbalance causes harm.
For example, sour flavors benefit the liver, but too much sourness can harm the liver, leading to an excess of liver energy, which can harm the spleen and stomach, ultimately disrupting digestive functions.
Alkaline flavors benefit the kidneys, but too much alkalinity can harm them, damaging the bones.
Excessive kidney energy can suppress heart energy, causing palpitations and shortness of breath.
Sweet flavors benefit the spleen, but too much sweetness can harm the spleen, causing bloating and discomfort, and can even suppress kidney function, leading to darkened skin.
Bitter flavors benefit the heart, but too much bitterness can harm the heart, leading to heart and lung dysfunction.
Spicy flavors benefit the lungs, but too much spiciness can harm them, causing sluggishness in the muscles and tendons. Since the lungs govern qi, harming the qi can lead to mental weakness.
The Book of Changes states: "Heaven has its way, which is to create all things; Earth has its way, which is to nurture all things; Humanity has its way, which is to complete all things."
All things in the world are interdependent.
An excess can be restrained or dispersed to achieve balance.
Thus, everything in the world is on a path toward the balance of yin and yang, and true balance ultimately leads to unity.
---
In fact, Zane's "Eight Dishes of Demon Subjugation" follows the "way" of food's Five Elements.
For instance, the Sichuan-style Catfish and Beef Liver Stir-fry combines the "water" nature of the catfish with the "earth" nature of the beef liver.
Catfish live in water, with tender, moist flesh, belonging to the water element; beef liver is associated with earth, nourishing the spleen and providing a solid foundation for the body.
The Sichuan-style Catfish and Beef Liver Stir-fry uses spicy, aromatic Sichuan seasonings as the base.
The catfish's tender flesh melts in the mouth, bringing the fluidity and freshness of water.
The beef liver, carefully prepared, offers a rich texture where the earth's nourishment and water's fluidity merge, creating a unique culinary experience.
This dish not only satisfies the palate but also achieves a harmonious balance between the water and earth elements.
The next dish, Horse Meat Porridge.
Horse meat, in the Five Elements, is associated with "fire," as its warm nature can boost yang energy. Porridge is linked to "water," with its nourishing and moisturizing properties.
Thus, Horse Meat Porridge is a nourishing delicacy.
The horse meat is tender and flavorful, with a warm nature that warms the body and dispels cold.
The porridge base is soft and smooth, like water, nurturing the spleen and harmonizing the internal organs.
When combined, the fire element of the horse meat is softened by the water element of the porridge, satisfying both hunger and nourishing the body.