Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　"Indeed, it should be considered top-tier cuisine. Every aspect was well-executed, the fruit was very fresh, and fresh ingredients taste good no matter how they're cooked!"

　Megumi Tadokoro put down her bowl with satisfaction. Regardless of the restaurant owner's cooking skills, fresh ingredients are the best way to make delicious food.

　The shaved ice in front of me looks just like that. The fruit was probably bought from the fruit supermarket at the end of the alley. It arrived in the morning and was brought over to be made into shaved ice at noon.

　"At first, I thought that iced rice and iced jelly would taste similar, but after actually tasting them, I found that the difference was quite obvious."

　Ice rice, primarily made with glutinous rice, has a rich texture and serves as a staple food. Ice jelly, on the other hand, is mainly made of jelly jelly, with a smooth and tender texture, leaning more towards a traditional sweet soup dessert.

　Bai Yuan's voice carried a hint of emotion.

　"If I had to put it into words, it would be the difference between dessert and the meal."

　"That's right, this is it. Not only that, the shaved ice is made with even more ingredients. Having a bowl of it in the summer feels like all the heat is gone."

　Bai Yuan snapped his fingers in agreement, grasping the key point Tadokoro Megumi had made. He then called the shopkeeper to pay the bill and left with Megumi.

　The two walked hand in hand along the street, enjoying the evening breeze.

　"Teacher Baiyuan, how are you so amazing? Alice told me that when you were our age, you could already make 'flowing light dishes'."

　Suddenly, Tadokoro Megumi turned her head and asked Shirabuchi about the secret behind his superb cooking skills.

　What do you think is the reason?

　Feeling the hand she was holding tighten its grip, and hearing Tadokoro Megumi's question again, Shiro didn't answer, but instead asked her why.

　"Everyone says you have a talent for cooking, and you can quickly master dishes you've never learned before. The more you master, the more skilled you become."

　"Talent is indeed one factor. To put it somewhat arrogantly, my talent is unprecedented. I dare not say that there will be no one like me in the future, but at least there has never been anyone like me before."

　But that's just what others speculate about. What are your thoughts? Why do you think I'm so strong? Do you think it's the same as their guess, or do you have your own reasons?

　He quickly released his clasped hands, turning them into interlocked fingers. Looking at the girl in front of him who was somewhat embarrassed to ask the question, Bai Yuan tilted his head and smiled.

　“I think hard work is essential. Even though Professor Baiyuan is already so strong, I still often see you cooking new dishes in the kitchen.”

　You're more diligent than any of us, and you enjoy challenging yourself with strong opponents. You're open to all types of cooking, even if the methods are exaggerated...

　Tadokoro Megumi spoke eloquently about what she had seen and heard during this period.

　Bai Yuan's strength was not achieved overnight, but through years of accumulation. And even though he was already so powerful, he still worked extremely hard.

　"Talent is one aspect, hard work is another, but more importantly, I think it's about fighting against strong opponents. It's about improving yourself relentlessly in those battles."

　Aren't you the same? From weak to strong, you constantly hone your skills during competitions, fully utilizing your brain, and naturally become stronger. But everything depends on a solid foundation.

　After thinking for a moment, Bai Yuan added another sentence.

　This is why he has been refining the basics of Nakiri Alice.

　If combat is like multiplication, then the base is the radix; only when the initial base is large enough will the gains from the battle be high.

　Otherwise, even if you keep fighting, you won't gain much, because you won't understand it.

　He grew up in the world of culinary disasters, a place where people are devoured without spitting out the bones.

　If your culinary skills don't improve, you'll either become a lackey in the world of culinary disasters, doing their dirty and tiring work, or you'll become a skeleton at the bottom of a cliff.

　There

　They won't reason with you. If you're a good cook, you'll be given important responsibilities; if you're not, you're just useless firewood that can be discarded at will.

　In order not to be abandoned, and not to be a menial worker who had toiled away doing dirty and tiring jobs for the rest of his life, Bai Yuan started cooking every day when he was young.

　He spent three years building a foundation, and then began to constantly challenge well-known and powerful figures in the world of dark cuisine, gambling with his life, knowing that if he lost, he would lose everything.

　Under such high pressure, his culinary skills were honed to the fullest extent, eventually earning him the title of "Master of All Trades" and the recognition of everyone. Those who were once arrogant and looked down on him had to bow their heads and greet him when they saw him again.

　This is the world of dark cuisine, a world where culinary skills reign supreme.

　Alice Nakiri and Megumi Tadokoro could never replicate his upbringing, especially since the kind of life-threatening environment they had to live in was not suitable for them to grow up in a peaceful setting.

　Individualized instruction.

　This is the biggest insight that Hakugen has gained from teaching Nakiri Alice for so many years.

　His methods are not suitable for the people here. Forcing pressure on them will only cause them to have a mental breakdown, which is why he uses whipping methods on the girls.

　The pain from a small leather whip striking the buttocks is not obvious, but it is extremely shameful, and intense shame can also be a source of motivation.

　However, what troubled him was that, due to the long-term use of whipping, the girls had become desensitized to it and had developed a resistance to the so-called shame.

　Even worse, some of them will stick their butts out and sway in front of him after making a mistake, looking all smug and not afraid of being slapped at all.

　"After laying a solid foundation, will I keep participating in competitions? I understand, I will do that, and try my best to become a top-level chef in China before I turn 18."

　After listening to Bai Yuan's words, Tadokoro Megumi murmured a few words to herself, then her eyes grew brighter and brighter as she looked at Bai Yuan and told him her ambition.

　Becoming a top-level chef in China before the age of 18 is no easy feat.

　After all, although Tadokoro Megumi can now make top-grade dishes, she still has a long way to go before passing the top-grade chef exam.

　"I've been waiting for this day. Come on, Xiao Hui."

　Bai Yuan naturally encouraged the young girl's lofty aspirations, believing that with her talent, becoming a top-level chef before the age of 18 would not be difficult.

　"It's getting late, let's take a taxi back."

　Looking at the moonlight, Bai Yuan realized it was getting late. He took out his phone and hailed a taxi, with Tadokoro Megumi following behind. Soon, the two returned to the hotel.

　·

　·

　As soon as she arrived at the hotel, Yoshino Yuuki and Sakaki Ryoko came to greet her, took Tadokoro Megumi's hand, and led her to her room with regretful expressions to comfort her.

　Bai Yuan just smiled and didn't pay much attention to it. He walked towards his room, but before he could get back, he was stopped by a figure.

　"Liu Yu, what are you doing here?"

　Seeing Liu Yu standing at the door of his room, Bai Yuan stopped and looked somewhat puzzled.

　"I have some questions about cooking that I'd like to ask you."

　"Then come in."

　When faced with a student's question, Bai Yuan was naturally generous. He stepped over Liu Yu half a body length and opened the door, then noticed that she seemed preoccupied.

　"I remember you also passed the selection round. You seem so nervous. Is your competition tomorrow?"

　Bai Yuan's casual remark unexpectedly hit the bullseye. Liu Yu hesitated for a moment before nodding, then looked up at Bai Yuan, hoping to receive his guidance.

　"That's really true. You'd better work hard and make a name for yourself in the Young Chef Competition. Even if you don't win a prize this year, it will be very beneficial for your future development."

　Okay, feel free to ask if you have any questions. Consider this a last-minute tutoring session.

　As they spoke, Bai Yuan stepped into the kitchen. The other party was a rising star in the world of dark cuisine, and now that he needed support, he naturally couldn't refuse.

　"Actually, I don't know what's wrong with me. I just feel like I'm lacking something in everything. So I'd like to cook three of my best dishes and ask you to point out the shortcomings so I can improve based on your feedback."

　After thinking for a while with her head down, unable to think of any question, Liu Yu looked up again, looked at Bai Yuan's face, and spoke with some hesitation and embarrassment.

　"This is indeed a good way to examine your own shortcomings and find out where you are lacking. Just stay here and do it. If you need any ingredients, just call the hotel front desk and they will deliver them."

　Because of this need, Bai Yuan had instructed the hotel to go to the market to purchase ingredients every day, ensuring they could get what they needed.

　As a top-tier hotel, all customer requests are naturally fulfilled. After enjoying the VIP service, Bai Yuan couldn't help but sigh how wonderful it was to have such power.

　In the future, he will definitely develop the dark cuisine industry to this level, with businesses all over the country. At that time, he can become the Crooked-Mouthed Dragon King!

　Thinking deeply, Bai Yuan unconsciously smiled. It seemed he still had a lot to strive for; this Youth Chef Competition would be the first time the world of dark cuisine would step onto the stage!

　Bai Yuan glanced at Liu Yu, who was cooking with her back to him, then sat down on the sofa, took out his phone and started browsing social media, while simultaneously searching for "Dark Cuisine World" in the search bar.

　As expected, many related terms appeared below, and clicking on them led to comments from netizens.

　Argument.

　"I really like this white-haired girl. She looks so heroic. I heard she's a member of the Dark Cuisine World. Does anyone know what the Dark Cuisine World is?"

　Of all the monkeys on the mountain, my butt is the reddest. /Comment

　"Never heard of it, but the name is so cringeworthy. It sounds like a small club that young people get together to form, and it seems quite energetic."

　Don't love me, it won't lead anywhere. /Comment

　"Right, but I won't say anything. The members inside are quite capable. They were in the first and second rounds of the Young Chef Competition. I heard that three other people also passed the selection during the preliminary rounds."

　"Really? Then counting the two who were already there, doesn't that mean there are five members of the Dark Cuisine World who have advanced this time?!"

　Keep in mind that only sixteen people passed the young chef selection competition!

　"It's amazing. I didn't expect there to be such a promising force in the country. Don't be fooled by the fact that they're all young people now. In 40 or 50 years, they might just dominate the culinary world."

　"+1 to the person upstairs. If this trend continues, as long as these young people don't quit and instead continue to develop this so-called dark cuisine industry, they could really become a powerful force in 40 or 50 years."

　"But that white-haired member, Ai, looks kind of familiar. A few years ago, at a molecular gastronomy competition, there was a little girl with white hair and red eyes who participated and won. Could it be her..."

　"I've also watched the competition you mentioned upstairs, but I feel it's unlikely, since that person specializes in molecular gastronomy and is only a first-class chef."

　"This woman is a master chef, and the competitions were only held two years apart. It's impossible for her to go from a first-class chef to a master chef in just two years! That's absurd!"

　"Maybe it's a younger sister or something. White hair and red eyes, hehehe, my white hair and red eyes!"

　"Upstairs, stop smelling it. Xiao Chu Nan's presence is too obvious."

　I was scrolling through the comments on my phone with great interest. The Fujian Youth Chef Competition, although only a provincial-level event, has attracted a lot of attention from people in the region.

　It is foreseeable that if Alice Nakiri and others achieve relatively high rankings after the Young Chef Competition, the Dark Cuisine world will definitely become famous.

　To Bai Yuan's surprise, no matter how he searched, he couldn't find himself on the page, as if he was being blocked by some kind of force.

　Without a doubt, it must have been the work of the Culinary Federation. They didn't want him to be active online so early, and they certainly didn't want him to be discovered and recruited by foreigners.

　However, as of now, quite a few people know of his abilities, but it seems that no one has dared to extend an olive branch yet.

　I don't know if they felt he was too strong and difficult to control, or if they felt he was overrated and trying to win him over was a complete waste of time and effort.

　But whatever the reason, it doesn't change the fact that he is free and unrestrained.

　"However, Fujian has a lot of five-star chefs, even more than Guangzhou. It's necessary to visit them one by one. After challenging a hundred chefs this year, let's start the Dragon Chef Challenge directly."

　Looking at the related topics under the "Dark Cuisine" category, this topic group was created last year. It clearly lists the names of the various leaders of the Fujian Culinary Association, as well as the president and vice president, and even their contact numbers.

　Although it's most likely a work call and they wouldn't answer if you called normally, their sincerity is undeniable.

　"Chief, my dish is ready."

　Just as Bai Yuan was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, pondering the future, a clear voice suddenly rang in his ears. Turning his head, he saw Liu Yu carrying a dish and walking up to him. The other person looked hesitant, as if considering whether to disturb him.

　Fortunately, I finally mustered up the courage.

　"Okay, put it in front of me so I can have a taste."

　Bai Yuan nodded gently, then looked at the dishes in front of him and said with a surprised expression, "You've made Fuzhou cuisine here."

　At this moment, three dishes were laid out in front of Bai Yuan: lychee pork, seven-star fish balls, and a serving of drunken spare ribs, all authentic Fuzhou dishes.

　"Yes, I've been researching this for the past few days. I went to eat at all the major restaurants and then came back to recreate them. As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.'"

　Liu Yu nodded slightly, her eyes shining.

　This is the principle that Bai Yuan taught them.

　Since she was participating in the Fuzhou Youth Chef Competition, she naturally needed to understand the characteristics of Fuzhou cuisine in order to devise a suitable strategy.

　After tasting and observing for several days, she found that Fuzhou cuisine is light, fresh, and slightly sweet and sour, with meticulous ingredient selection, precise knife skills, and attention to cooking time and temperature. It especially emphasizes the preparation of soups. An elderly person told her that there is a saying in Fuzhou: "One soup can have ten variations."

　Based on these characteristics, she conducted detailed research and finally replicated what she considered to be authentic lychee pork, seven-star fish balls, and drunken spare ribs.

　"Let's talk about this lychee meat first. The outer skin is not crispy enough. When frying, the oil temperature needs to be controlled at around 170℃. Frying it once again can make the outer skin crispier."

　Then, the meat is a bit tough, which affects the taste. Adding a little baking soda or egg white during marinating can make the meat more tender.

　Besides that, you missed the most important step: the pork belly wasn't aged properly.

　Bai Yuan picked up a piece of lychee flesh and put it in his mouth. His brows furrowed slightly. He was disappointed by this first dish, which lacked any attention to detail.

　"Acid removal?"

　Liu Yu looked at Bai Yuan with a puzzled expression. The two in front of her...

　That's somewhat understandable, since he genuinely didn't do a good job, but what happened next is a bit...

　"Actually, apart from the legitimate inheritors, not many people know this. It's normal that you wouldn't notice the replicas when you taste the hotel's signature dishes."

　The process of aging meat involves wrapping it in absorbent paper and placing it at a low temperature to absorb some of its oil, which can greatly reduce its greasiness.