PLUS:This novel will incorporate numerous elements of Eastern mythology and Chinese culture. I will provide explanations where necessary, but if you find anything unclear, feel free to ask questions in the comments. Thank you for your love and support!
With dramatic music blaring and a group of gorgeous women flanking him, Su Hang's entrance turned every head in the room. Even Shuai Yu, despite his envy and irritation, couldn't deny that Su Hang had successfully stolen the spotlight.
"Who does this guy think he is? Wearing a mask—trying to look cool or something?"
"He's acting like a big shot, but does he really think he can take on that big guy in the eating contest?"
"Come on, look at him! So skinny. No way his stomach's big enough for this. Have you ever seen a competitive eater who wasn't bulky?"
The audience murmured in speculation. To them, this masked figure seemed more like a hired performer meant to spice things up during intermission than an actual contestant. After all, no one else had made such a grand entrance.
Standing on stage, Su Hang felt a wave of embarrassment. This over-the-top display was entirely Cai Jiuxia's doing, and he had no choice but to go along with it.
Cai Jiuxia, having witnessed Su Hang's jaw-dropping appetite, had already pegged him as a rising star. He was so confident in Su Hang's chances that he was already planning for him to compete in the national finals in Beijing. The day after meeting Su Hang, Cai Jiuxia called an emergency meeting, pulling his employees back from vacation to strategize. The goal was simple: craft Su Hang into a mysterious, larger-than-life competitor.
When Su Hang requested to stay anonymous, Cai Jiuxia readily agreed. A masked contestant would only add intrigue, drawing more attention and boosting the event's publicity.
"Alright, looks like we have a new challenger!" The host beamed as he approached Su Hang, completely unbothered by the mask. Handing over the microphone, he asked, "And what should we call you, masked friend?"
"
"饕餮?" The host feigned surprise, turning dramatically to the crowd. "Did you hear that, folks? 饕餮! In Chinese mythology, it is a legendary beast, one of the nine sons of the dragon, known for its insatiable appetite—said to be able to devour the heavens themselves. This masked competitor claims the name Glutton. Could his appetite really live up to the myth?"
The audience responded with boos and laughter. Su Hang, standing beside the towering Hu Tonghua, looked comically small in comparison. No one believed he stood a chance against the reigning champion, who had just devoured 50 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Even Hu Tonghua was eyeing Su Hang with disdain, his expression a mix of amusement and mockery. Su Hang is only about 1.7 meters tall. Hu couldn't imagine this wiry little guy as a legitimate threat. Calling himself "饕餮" was downright laughable.
"Well, no matter how it looks, it takes guts to challenge Mr. Hu!" The host gestured to the crowd before leading Su Hang to a large cauldron.
"Here's how it works: you'll have 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs as possible. Mr. Hu just set the record with 50 hot dogs in 10 minutes. To win, you'll need to eat at least 51. Are you ready, Glutton?"
The cauldron was packed with steaming, golden-brown hot dogs, their aroma wafting through the air. Each was freshly made by the hotel's chefs, far tastier than store-bought versions. But in a contest like this, savoring them was out of the question.
Looking at the mountain of hot dogs—enough to fill his chest cavity—many in the audience shook their heads in disbelief. There was no way Su Hang's slim frame could handle so much food.
Su Hang glanced at the cauldron, nodded slightly, and said, "Ready."
"Alright! Let's start the clock!" The host pressed a button on the timer.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Su Hang. Most were expecting an epic failure.
Calm and collected, Su Hang reached into the cauldron, picked up a hot dog, and began eating. His pace was steady, methodical, and completely unhurried.
"Just this?!"
The audience jeered. Su Hang's eating style was far too restrained for a competitive eater. Earlier, Hu Tonghua had been wolfing down hot dogs in three seconds flat. In comparison, Su Hang looked like he'd need at least 10 seconds for just one.
"Is he seriously blowing it?" Qin Shiyu, watching from the crowd, sounded worried.
"Relax," Shuai Yu reassured her. "That guy's too crafty to throw away a shot at 100,000 yuan. Trust me, he's got a plan."
Qin Shiyu said no more, her eyes fixed on Su Hang, just like everyone else's.
One minute passed—he'd eaten six hot dogs.
Two minutes—another six.
At first, everyone dismissed him. Given Su Hang's size, it seemed impossible for him to compete with someone as burly as Hu Tonghua. If you asked 100 people to pick the winner, all 100 would've chosen Hu.
But as time ticked on, the atmosphere began to shift. Not only was the audience growing uneasy, but even Hu Tonghua's expression had changed from smug to stunned.
What was this guy? A machine?
Hu Tonghua had started fastly, swallowing hot dogs at lightning speed. But by the halfway point, his pace had slowed to a crawl as his stomach filled. In contrast, Su Hang remained steady—six hot dogs per minute, no more, no less.
Even more baffling, Su Hang's stomach showed no signs of bloating. It was as if he had an endless void for a stomach. Where was all that food going? Was this guy even human?