Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

As expected, the knife is out of the sheath.

"Will the simulator really help with something like this?" Lucas said, feeling exasperated. "Does this thing have any function other than turning me into a scoundrel?"

[Ungrateful much? You're this powerful now, and you've charmed so many lovely ladies. Isn't that thanks to me, your faithful system?]

Lucas's face turned red with embarrassment. He frowned and asked, "You didn't... see everything I've done during those times, did you?"

[Do you think I want to watch? The system is bound to the host. Everything you do is within my observation. Got it, Mr. 20-Hz Pile Driver?]

Damn it!

"Can't I just block you out next time?" Lucas said, thoroughly annoyed.

[That feature is available in the system store—for just one million points!]

"Why don't you just rob me..." Lucas muttered. "Still, you might be right. The simulator might give me something useful to win over Cloud Retainer."

After all, it wouldn't cost him anything to try.

[Command received. Life Simulator is about to begin.][Please choose three talents from the list below. After the simulation ends, one will be randomly retained as a permanent talent.]

[Optimist (Green):] You find it easier to maintain a positive outlook than most people.

[Path of Detachment (Blue):] You will no longer feel emotions toward the opposite sex, and your cultivation speed will increase by 100%.

[Master Chef (Blue):] You possess exceptional culinary talent.

[Always Right (Green):] With the correct "appearance" and "preferences," your life will be smooth sailing.

[Deconstruction Expert (Green):] You excel at dismantling things.

[Sharp Sense of Smell (Green):] Your sense of smell is naturally sensitive and can detect even the faintest scents.

[Heat Resistant (Green):] Your body can withstand extreme temperatures.

[No Jokes (White):] You are serious by nature and dislike making or hearing jokes.

[Personality Test (White):] You will take a personality quiz and become the result you choose.

[Blizzard Standard (Green):] You will produce masterpieces in the first half of your life and trash in the latter half.

This talent pool...

Honestly, it wasn't very impressive. The highest-ranked talents were blue, and the rest seemed like filler.

Still, Lucas immediately gravitated toward [Master Chef].

As everyone knew, Cloud Retainer had a fondness for good food. If he could win over her palate, perhaps he could win her favor.

With that as his foundation, he quickly chose the other two talents.

"I'll pick [Master Chef], [Deconstruction Expert], and the inherent talent [Sharp Sense of Smell]."

[Talents selected. Generating character template.]

[Life simulation beginning.]

[Age 0:] You were born into an ordinary family in Liyue Harbor. Your father passed away early, leaving your mother to raise you alone. She is the head chef at the restaurant Liuli Pavilion, known for her exceptional culinary skills and widespread acclaim.

[Age 1:] During your first birthday's grab-the-item ceremony, you picked up a ceramic kitchen knife. Your mother was thrilled by this sign.

[Age 2:] Since your mother had to care for you, you spent much of your childhood in the kitchen of Liuli Pavilion. The chefs there all adored you.

[Age 3:] Your mother discovered that you had an exceptionally sharp sense of smell ([Sharp Sense of Smell] talent activated). You could identify all the ingredients and seasonings in a dish just by its aroma.

[Age 4:] At a young age, you began helping out in the kitchen, though you didn't cook yet. Still, you picked up a lot of culinary knowledge from observation.

[Age 5:] Your mother formally started teaching you how to cook. She made you memorize one important principle: "As a chef, always remember that cooking is about bringing happiness to others." Though you didn't fully understand her words, you nodded earnestly.

[Age 6:] Under your mother's guidance, your cooking skills improved rapidly ([Master Chef] talent activated).

[Age 7:] You wanted to officially become a chef and cook for the customers, but your mother refused. She believed you weren't "ready" yet.

[Age 9:] Although your mother was already a renowned chef in Liyue Harbor, she remained humble. She often took you to other restaurants to taste their dishes, helping you broaden your horizons and gain experience.

[During one visit, you noticed something peculiar: every customer at the restaurant wore a joyful smile, brighter than anything you'd seen at Liuli Pavilion.]

[In the open kitchen, a young man wearing a headscarf busily cooked, while a little girl cheerfully helped him prepare ingredients. The sight reminded you of yourself from a few years ago.]

[Age 11:] For years, Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk were evenly matched. Liuli Pavilion specialized in mountain delicacies, while Xinyue Kiosk excelled in seafood, creating a delicate balance. However, Xinyue Kiosk recently began attracting significantly more customers, even drawing away some of Liuli Pavilion's regulars.

[The reason? Xinyue Kiosk had hired a new head chef, a woman named Tang Niu, whose dishes were said to have an addictive, magical quality. Her cooking had boosted business so much that reservations were now booked four to five months in advance.]

[Age 12:] Liuli Pavilion's owner applied to the culinary association to host a "God of Cooking Competition" in Liyue Harbor. Officially, it was a chance to exchange culinary techniques, but its real purpose was to reclaim the restaurant's reputation and business.

[As the head chef, your mother bore the responsibility of representing Liuli Pavilion. She went into seclusion to develop new dishes, only emerging a month later, on the eve of the competition.]

[The competition began, with representatives from various restaurants participating in an elimination-style contest. As expected, the finals came down to Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk.]

[Your mother and Tang Niu each prepared their signature dishes, awaiting the judges' scores.]

[After a tense wait, the judges finally gave their scores, and your mother won the competition by a single point over Tang Niu.]

[However, before you could celebrate, Tang Niu suddenly requested an inspection of your mother's dish. To everyone's shock, a banned herb was found in her cooking.]

[This herb was extremely rare and, when added to food, could create an addictive effect in those who consumed it. It was this herb, allegedly, that gave your mother the edge to win the competition.]

[Your mother was horrified and insisted she had never used such a thing. But with evidence in hand, she not only lost her championship title but was also stripped of her status as a chef for violating industry regulations.]

[Liuli Pavilion, embroiled in scandal, was heavily criticized and had no choice but to dismiss your mother. The incident dealt her a devastating blow, leaving her bedridden from illness.]

[You believed in your mother's innocence, suspecting that Tang Niu had tampered with her dish, but no one would listen to you.]

[Age 13:] To pay for your mother's treatment, you sold off all your family's savings and even your house, but her condition only worsened. On her deathbed, she repeated her mantra: "Cooking is meant to bring people happiness."

[As you watched her close her eyes forever, all that remained in your heart was hatred and anger. Cooking had brought you no happiness—only endless pain. You silently vowed to turn cooking into your weapon for revenge.]

[Age 14:] Left with no family or savings, you were forced to fend for yourself. Your exceptional culinary skills meant you could easily work in any restaurant, but because of your mother's scandal, no establishment dared to hire you.

[Homeless and destitute, your landlord evicted you. Desperate, you approached Wanmin Restaurant, hoping its owner and head chef, Chef Mao, whom your mother had once praised as a bringer of happiness, would take you in. But even Chef Mao had no choice but to refuse.]

[Rejected, you prepared to leave, but just then, Chef Mao's daughter, a girl named Xiangling, handed you a bowl of fried rice. Starving and cold, you didn't hesitate to dig in.]

["Eat up," Xiangling said with a cheerful smile. "Cooking is meant to bring people happiness."]

[Hearing those words, tears fell into your bowl, adding a faint saltiness to the fried rice.]

[Age 15:] Perhaps inspired by Xiangling's fried rice, you sold the last of your mother's belongings and disguised your identity to open a fried rice stall at Liyue's food festival. Your exceptional skills made cooking fried rice easy, and your stall quickly earned widespread acclaim.

[To avoid exposing your identity, you always wore a black cloth over your face. While this struck some customers as odd, they didn't care as long as they could enjoy your food.]

[Age 16:] As your reputation grew, your small stall became a modest storefront. For the first time, you began to see hope in your life again.

[Your drive for revenge hadn't faded. You agreed to a challenge from Tang Niu, the very person who had ruined your mother. The competition's theme was fried rice.]

[You prepared your signature dish: Golden Fried Rice, a recipe made with the simplest ingredients yet perfected with your exceptional skills. The rice and eggs melded together seamlessly, glowing with a golden hue and tasting divine.]

[Tang Niu, on the other hand, presented her Seafood Medley Fried Rice, crafted with rare and luxurious ingredients. You were already at a disadvantage based on the sheer cost of her dish.]

[The competition was judged by the diners themselves. Tang Niu scoffed at you, saying, "That street food of yours could never compare to the refined dishes of Xinyue Kiosk."]

[To everyone's surprise, your dish earned higher scores. Tang Niu was incredulous and tasted both dishes herself. "Why?" she murmured. "My Seafood Medley Fried Rice is clearly more exquisite!"]

[You explained, "You didn't lose in flavor; you lost in portion size. The diners here are mostly laborers with big appetites. While your luxurious dish was refined, it was gone in just a few bites. Naturally, it didn't satisfy them."]

[Infuriated by her loss, Tang Niu tore off your mask and exposed your identity, shouting to everyone about your mother's scandal in the God of Cooking Competition. However, the diners, your loyal customers, were unfazed. They trusted your cooking and drove Tang Niu and her followers out.]

[As she left, you coldly warned her, "Mark my words. One day, I'll avenge my mother."]

[This competition reignited your confidence. However, a few nights later, just as you were closing up, several intruders burst into your restaurant, seized you, and forced you to ingest a strange substance before fleeing.]

[You felt an unbearable burning sensation in your mouth before losing consciousness.]

[When you woke up, you found yourself in Bubu Pharmacy in Liyue Harbor. The head doctor, Baizhu, informed you that while your life was not in danger, the substance had severely corroded your oral cavity, permanently destroying your sense of taste.]

[For a chef, losing the ability to taste was a devastating blow. You were utterly crushed, feeling as if your world had collapsed.]

[You knew exactly who was behind the attack but had no evidence. Worse, you had lost all will to fight back.]

[Age 17:] Stripped of your sense of taste, you gradually lost your passion for cooking. The quality of your dishes deteriorated, and the bustling crowds that once filled your restaurant disappeared. Soon, your small eatery was abandoned.

[On the day you decided to close for good, a wandering Taoist entered your empty restaurant and ordered a plate of your once-renowned Golden Fried Rice.]

[Seeing the wandering Taoist's ragged appearance, you couldn't help but recall your own destitute past. Out of sympathy, you casually prepared a plate of fried rice for him.]

[To your surprise, after just one bite, the Taoist dumped the entire plate and shouted, "Awful! Absolutely awful! I've never eaten anything so disgusting in my life!"]

[Anger welled up inside you, but it quickly gave way to resignation. You explained that you had lost your sense of taste and could no longer create delicious dishes.]

[The Taoist, however, sneered. "Who says you can't make good food without a sense of taste? Let me show you how it's done!"]

[Without waiting for your response, the Taoist barged into your kitchen. Before long, he emerged with a plate of fried rice. Even without tasting it, your sharp sense of smell told you it was an extraordinary dish.]

["I tasted nothing but hatred in your cooking," the Taoist said. "But that's precisely what qualifies you to join my 'Black Cuisine Sect.' So, how about it? Do you want to become my disciple and accomplish great things?"]

[You had heard legends about the Black Cuisine Sect before. It was said to be a secretive organization of chefs who had trained many culinary prodigies now scattered across the world. Countless chefs dreamed of joining but never found a way in.]

[Though you harbored some doubts, the Taoist's unparalleled cooking skills deeply impressed you. You immediately knelt and became his apprentice. The Taoist then revealed his identity: he was none other than the leader of the Black Cuisine Sect, known by the moniker "Rising Dragon."]

[He explained that the sect consisted of 108 elite chefs, each with their own title. To claim their rank, one had to surpass them in cooking prowess.]

[The sect's headquarters was hidden within a mountain stronghold in Liyue, a place called Liangshan Po. Just as Rising Dragon had said, it was a hub of chefs, but standing out among them was no easy task.]

[Age 17:] Though you had lost your sense of taste, your already sharp sense of smell grew even keener. You could now determine the flavor profile of a dish solely through scent. Driven by hatred, you trained harder than anyone else and soon became Rising Dragon's final disciple.

[Age 18:] Rising Dragon revealed the true purpose of the Black Cuisine Sect: to use cooking as a tool to control people's hearts—a dark culinary technique known as "Black Cuisine Arts." For this reason, chefs in the sect were forbidden from loving food. A true lover of cuisine could never treat it as a mere tool for manipulation.

[That's why Rising Dragon had chosen you—someone whose cooking was steeped in hatred. He also revealed another secret: Tang Niu, the woman who ruined your mother, was a disciple of the Black Cuisine Sect, known by the title 'Azure Bamboo.' She had been placed in Xinyue Kiosk to help the sect extend its influence into Liyue.]

[However, as Tang Niu gained more power, she grew increasingly defiant of the sect's orders. Rising Dragon tasked you with mastering your skills and defeating this wayward senior disciple.]

[Age 20:] Over two years, you mastered all of Rising Dragon's cooking techniques. More importantly, you learned how to control people through food.

[Using special methods and ingredients, you could make anyone who tasted your cooking utterly dependent on it, eventually rendering them completely subservient to you.]

[When you completed your training, Rising Dragon unexpectedly announced his retirement. He passed his title to you and officially entrusted you with the sect's ceremonial artifact, the "Chef's Blade."]

[This, however, was all part of your plan. The first victim of your Black Cuisine Arts was none other than Rising Dragon himself. Over the years, he had unknowingly become your puppet by consuming countless dishes you prepared.]

[Age 21:] After becoming the sect leader, you led several chefs out of the Black Cuisine Sect and returned to Liyue Harbor. There, you established a new restaurant called "Chrysanthemum Pavilion," named after your mother. The name symbolized your belief that no dish could surpass hers.

[Age 22:] Through the use of your Black Cuisine Arts, Chrysanthemum Pavilion quickly rose to prominence. Within a year, it became one of Liyue Harbor's top three restaurants, rivaling Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk. In fact, it began to overshadow them.

[Among the three, Liuli Pavilion had been struggling ever since its defeat by Xinyue Kiosk years ago. Now, with Chrysanthemum Pavilion surpassing both, you seized the opportunity to propose an acquisition of Liuli Pavilion. The owner, unaware of your identity, agreed to sell.]

[After acquiring Liuli Pavilion, Chrysanthemum Pavilion became the hottest restaurant in Liyue Harbor. Facing this crisis, Xinyue Kiosk decided to use an old tactic: hosting another God of Cooking Competition to restore its reputation.]

[It had been ten years since the last competition, and you had been waiting for this moment to cement your dominance over Liyue Harbor's culinary scene.]

[However, on the eve of the competition, Tang Niu resorted to her old tricks. A group of thugs cornered you in an alley. Their leader sneered, "I can't believe you managed to rise again after we destroyed your tongue. This time, we'll chop off your hands and see how you cook without them!"]

[These thugs were the same ones Tang Niu had hired years ago. But you smirked and said coldly, "Don't you think it's a bit odd that someone of my status would allow you to ambush me so easily?"]

[Indeed, this was your trap. You had deliberately made yourself the bait to lure out Tang Niu's minions. Slowly drawing your Chef's Blade, you sneered, "I will no longer be anyone's prey."]

[Over the years, you had learned more than just cooking in the Black Cuisine Sect. For a chef, knife skills were paramount, and you had developed your own combat technique: the "Butcher's Bull Dissection Blade."]

[Under the flashing arcs of your blade, the thugs fell like cattle under a butcher's knife. Blood streaks appeared across their bodies in an instant. The gang leader, wielding a long blade, charged at you, but with a swift counter, you severed his weapon and all ten of his fingers. He collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony.]

[Just like ten years ago, the God of Cooking Competition unfolded again. However, this time, Liuli Pavilion, one of the former titans, had been absorbed into Chrysanthemum Pavilion.]

[You expected Tang Niu to make her way to the finals without much difficulty, but surprisingly, she almost lost to a young girl.]

[The competitor was a blue-haired girl who looked no older than eighteen or nineteen. Representing Wanmin Restaurant, she was unexpectedly skilled. Wanmin, of course, was the very place that had once refused to take you in.]

[You recognized her immediately: it was Xiangling, the girl who had once given you a bowl of fried rice out of kindness. Ten years had passed, and she had grown into a charming young woman.]

[She wasn't a stunning beauty, but her vibrant presence and energetic demeanor on the competition stage captivated the audience.]

[Your sharp sense of smell confirmed that her cooking was indeed remarkable, though it still fell short of true mastery.]

[However, unlike you, she cooked with a smile on her face. For some reason, this filled you with jealousy. A twisted thought crept into your mind—you wanted to see that happy smile disappear from her face.]

[Even after losing to Tang Niu from Xinyue Kiosk, Xiangling showed no sign of disappointment. To her, victory wasn't the goal—she simply enjoyed the act of cooking.]

[Of course, the main event of the competition was the showdown between Chrysanthemum Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk.]

[After a decade, Tang Niu had become synonymous with the title of "God of Cooking" in Liyue Harbor. But your rise had thrown her position into jeopardy.]

[Just as Tang Niu had once threatened your mother, you now posed the same threat to her.]

[The dishes were soon prepared. The judges tasted yours first, and after a single bite, their faces lit up with uncontainable joy.]

[Then came Tang Niu's turn. Unexpectedly, after tasting her dish, the judges' expressions grew complicated. One of them even threw her dish to the ground and angrily declared it "pig slop."]

[This, of course, was the effect of your Black Cuisine Arts. Your dish had manipulated their taste buds, making anything they ate afterward taste revolting.]

[Realizing what had happened, Tang Niu, also a disciple of the Black Cuisine Sect, began to suspect your identity. However, before she could expose you, officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs interrupted the competition with a group of injured thugs in tow. They accused Tang Niu of hiring them to commit violence, presenting both witnesses and evidence.]

[Tang Niu was immediately disqualified from the competition and arrested.]

[You won the championship and cleared your mother's name. The truth came to light: your mother had been framed by Tang Niu years ago, and her honor was restored.]

[After the competition, you visited your mother's grave. Yet, you felt no joy. Though you had avenged her, you had also betrayed the culinary ideals she had instilled in you. For you, cooking was no longer a source of happiness—it had become nothing more than a tool.]

[Age 23:] With Tang Niu's crimes exposed, Xinyue Kiosk's business plummeted. Meanwhile, your newfound fame as the reigning "God of Cooking" propelled Chrysanthemum Pavilion to even greater heights.

[Age 24:] Xinyue Kiosk declared bankruptcy, and you acquired it, further expanding your empire. You also brought in numerous chefs from the Black Cuisine Sect, spreading their techniques across your network of restaurants.

[Those who ate the Black Cuisine dishes became utterly captivated. Within a short time, you held stakes in—or influence over—more than half of Liyue Harbor's dining establishments.]

[In Liyue, where food was central to life, controlling their stomachs meant controlling their hearts. This strategy allowed you to gain influence over many high-ranking officials, even two of the Liyue Qixing, who became dependent on your cooking.]

[Age 25:] You believed your Black Cuisine Arts had conquered every palate in Liyue Harbor. However, one small restaurant remained resilient: Wanmin Restaurant.

[Like an isolated island, it stood firm despite the growing tide of your empire. Though it posed no real threat, its very existence was an obstacle to your plans.]

[Taking down a small restaurant like Wanmin was no challenge. By raising property rents and inflating ingredient prices, you soon pushed it into financial distress. At this critical moment, you personally visited Wanmin Restaurant to propose an acquisition.]

[Wanmin's owner was still Chef Mao, but the head chef role had passed to his daughter, Xiangling. Despite the difficult conditions, she cooked with the same happy smile as always. For some reason, that smile irritated you greatly.]

[Perhaps it was that very smile that made you change your plan. Instead of destroying Wanmin, you wanted to crush Xiangling's dreams.]

[You offered Chef Mao a deal: if Wanmin's culinary skills could surpass yours in a contest, you would never touch the restaurant again. Naturally, the father-daughter pair, who loved Wanmin dearly, accepted the challenge.]

[Unsurprisingly, you easily defeated Xiangling. Even without using Black Cuisine Arts, her skills were no match for yours.]

[As Chef Mao prepared to sign the contract for the acquisition, Xiangling suddenly proposed a new deal. She asked to become your apprentice for three years. If, after that time, she defeated you in another contest, Wanmin would remain theirs. If she lost, Wanmin would be sold to you, and she would work for you for life.]

[Without hesitation, you agreed. In your mind, even ten or twenty years wouldn't be enough for her to surpass you in culinary skill.]

[Age 26:] Xiangling became your personal apprentice, though you only assigned her menial tasks and avoided teaching her anything about cooking. Finally, one day, her patience broke, and she asked when you would start teaching her.

[Then you prepared ten dishes and placed them before her. Then you made a strange request: "In Inazuma, there's a dining tradition where certain dishes are served in special containers. Choose the dish you want to learn, but to earn my teaching, you must serve it to me in such a container - your body."]

[Hearing your demand, Xiangling gave you a conflicted look. She knew it was just another of your schemes to make things difficult for her.]

[Smirking, you added, "With my wealth, I could obtain anything I desire. This isn't about material possessions—it's about making you give everything to grasp the essence of cooking."]

[In truth, you hadn't lied. At this moment, you were the undisputed culinary giant of Liyue Harbor, with vast wealth and resources at your disposal. Not only that, but your Black Cuisine Arts held a mesmerizing power capable of capturing hearts. Countless beauties had willingly offered themselves just for the chance to taste your cooking.]

[Compared to those women, Xiangling was not lacking, but she didn't particularly stand out either. What truly captivated you wasn't her looks but her pure, innocent nature and her unwavering dedication to cooking. The thought of shattering this girl's culinary dreams and witnessing the despair on her face filled you with a twisted sense of satisfaction.]

[Clearly, your deception had left this simple-hearted girl conflicted. Yet in the end, she chose to believe your words: How could someone so powerful take interest in someone like me? Perhaps this truly is a way to 'understand the essence of cooking.']

[Finally, after much hesitation, Xiangling gave in. You secretly felt a sense of triumph, though your face remained expressionless. Calmly, you said, "Go clean yourself thoroughly. Any trace of impurity is a sign of disrespect to the dish."]

[Blushing deeply, Xiangling nodded. You continued, "And remove anything unnecessary. I don't want to find any curled hairs in my food."]

[Xianging froze for a moment, then lowered her head and murmured shyly, "Th-that won't happen. I… don't have any to begin with…"]

[Not long after, you finished preparing thirteen dishes. Xiangling, draped in a bath towel, entered the dining room cautiously.]

[Entering Immersive Mode]

Lucas slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in an absurdly large room.

Well, this time I'm living like a rich man again, he thought.

Last time, he was the president of an entertainment agency. Now, he had become a culinary mogul. The only similarity was that his targets were still four-star characters—beloved by new players.

Barbara aside, Xiangling was practically a "free-to-play war goddess" in Genshin Impact.

However, the Xiangling standing before Lucas now looked quite different from her in-game appearance.

The in-game Xiangling was a lively teenager, but in this simulation, she was already in her early twenties. Fresh out of the bath, her long blue hair cascaded down like a flowing waterfall. Her face had matured, though her thick, slightly curved eyebrows added a touch of endearing charm.

(AN: smth like this?)

As a chef, Xiangling naturally had a healthy appetite, but her figure showed no signs of excess weight. Of course, based on the law of energy conservation, the calories had gone exactly where they should.

"It's true what they say—'women transform as they grow.' Looks like I underestimated this girl."

"P-please don't look at me like that…" Xiangling said, her cheeks flushed. "It's embarrassing."

"To me, you're no different from that dining table over there," Lucas replied coldly. "That's made of top-grade pearwood—much more valuable than you."

"That's way too mean!" Xiangling pouted, puffing out her cheeks.

"Stop wasting time." Lucas arched an eyebrow. "See those dishes? I told you—however many you can hold, that's how many I'll teach you."

"Wow!"

The sight of the elegant dishes immediately distracted Xiangling from her embarrassment. She circled the table with excitement, admiring each plate. "They smell incredible, and they look so beautiful! Oh my goodness, this knife work… it's even better than my dad's!"

"Hmph." Lucas scoffed, feigning disdain. Deep down, though, he couldn't help feeling a little proud. "Have you chosen?"

"G-give me a moment…" Xiangling mumbled, overwhelmed. For a chef, seeing these dishes was like a martial arts fanatic stumbling upon a trove of secret manuals—it was impossible to decide.

After a long pause, she finally steeled herself and declared, "I… I want them all!"

"All of them?" Lucas blinked in surprise. "Are you sure your body can handle it?"

"If I try hard enough… I should be able to manage," Xiangling said, scratching her cheek. "I can't help it; these dishes are just too tempting. I don't want to give up a single one!"

To Xiangling, Lucas was a villain trying to take down Wanmin Restaurant. Yet, at the same time, he was also the greatest culinary master she had ever encountered.

"Then lie down," Lucas said flatly. "It's time for plating."

For a top-tier chef, plating might seem superficial, but it required great skill. A beautiful presentation could greatly enhance a diner's appetite.

And right now, the "plate" in question was no ordinary one.

As Xiangling lay down on the table, Lucas finally understood the meaning of the phrase "luxury spread out before you."

"I'm starting."

For once, Lucas's voice was gentle. Carefully, he began arranging each dish on the "platter" before him.

The process demanded meticulous precision. Despite her embarrassment, Xiangling couldn't help but notice how serious and focused Lucas looked as he worked.

Most of the dishes were manageable, but when the broths and sauces were drizzled over her, Xiangling wrinkled her nose in discomfort.

"I told you to really feel the essence of these dishes," Lucas said, pretending to sound profound. "What do you sense?"

"The sauce… it's thick. You used starch," Xiangling murmured, her eyes closed as she concentrated. "The ratio is approximately…"

"She really is smart," Lucas thought, startled by her accuracy.

His earlier line about "feeling the essence of cooking" had just been nonsense to fool Xiangling. But to his astonishment, she was genuinely able to deconstruct the dishes this way.

Not only that—she began analyzing the other dishes in the same manner, breaking them down ingredient by ingredient.

While Lucas continued his plating, he also provided on-the-spot explanations. As the leader of the Black Cuisine Sect, he had trained many students before. Yet none of them matched Xiangling's talent.

Or perhaps it wasn't talent at all. Maybe it was because Xiangling truly loved cooking for its own sake, without ulterior motives. That purity allowed her to learn so quickly.

At that moment, a sly, wicked smile crept across Lucas's face.

Lucas picked up a piece of seared beef with his chopsticks and delicately placed it on the "platter."

Xiangling's body trembled suddenly. If she hadn't regained her composure in time, the dish might have been scattered all over the place.

"It's so hot…"

Tears welled up in the corners of Xiangling's eyes, her cheeks flushed red against her otherwise pale skin.

"This is Volcanic Seared Beef," Lucas said sternly. "Endure it. Feel its temperature. For this dish, precision is everything—one second too long, and it overcooks; one second too short, and it's underdone. Do you understand?"

"I… I understand…" Xiangling bit her lip, forcing back her tears. "I'll use my body to truly feel it."

Thirteen dishes were now perfectly arranged on this exquisite and flawless "serving platter."

This was undoubtedly the most intricate and delicate work Lucas had ever done, an artful masterpiece like no other.

"That was only the beginning," Lucas said as he elegantly tied a napkin around his neck, picking up his chopsticks with a smile. "Next, I'll enjoy this meal while teaching you the cooking methods for each dish."

"Uhm…" Xiangling's face turned crimson. "Do we… really have to learn this way?"

After all, her current state hardly seemed suitable for "studying."

"Discard those useless feelings of shame," Lucas said indifferently. "You must imagine yourself as one with these dishes to grasp their true essence."

"I… I understand!" Xiangling murmured, nodding with quiet resolve. "P-please enjoy your meal…"

In this simulation, Lucas had long since lost his sense of taste. The "meal" was therefore supposed to be nothing more than a formality. Yet, as he casually picked up a dish and placed it in his mouth, his eyes widened in shock.

He… tasted it!

Has my sense of taste returned?

Lucas glanced at the dishes yet to be plated on Xiangling and tried one. Just as before, it was completely flavorless.

But when he took another bite from the "platter"—another piece of beef—the taste was exquisite.

What's going on?

Could Xiangling truly possess some sort of magic? Food placed on her became something he could actually taste?

Or was this all just psychological?

Regardless of the cause, Lucas was profoundly moved. For him, being able to taste food again after so long was nothing short of astonishing.

Food and desire—"taste" had always been paramount. The pleasure of savoring good food was one of humanity's most fundamental pursuits.

Even if Lucas wasn't a chef, losing his sense of taste had been a painful ordeal. To once again experience the sensation of delicious food dancing across his palate was deeply moving.

Forget it. Who cares why?

For now, Lucas didn't want to overthink it. He only wanted to enjoy this long-lost pleasure.

Before this, he could only rely on his acute sense of smell to imagine the flavor of food. Yet being able to smell something but not taste it had been sheer torment.

Now, Lucas unleashed his appetite without restraint. He devoured the dishes as though he were a starving man at his final feast. Food disappeared like a river cascading down the mountains, and Xiangling's astonished expression grew more pronounced with each bite.

She had seen people eat voraciously before, usually from hunger. But no one—no one—had ever eaten like Lucas, as though it were the last meal of his life.

When Lucas reached for a piece of diced chicken, however, his chopsticks stopped mid-air. It wouldn't budge. Xiangling winced, her expression pained as she murmured, "You're picking up the wrong thing… That's…"

Lucas realized what he had grabbed but remained calm. "Who said you could speak? I know exactly what I'm doing. This is a test of your composure. If you can't endure a little discomfort, how can you hope to learn the art of cooking?"

Although Xiangling's face was filled with embarrassment and frustration, she nodded quietly and bore the ordeal without another word.

Having not tasted real food in years, Lucas's appetite was insatiable. In no time, he polished off all thirteen dishes he had prepared.

By the time he finished, the "platter" was in complete disarray, much like a banquet table after a feast. The difference, of course, was that this "feast" was his alone.

Xiangling, who had always been a clean and tidy person, now found herself greasy and messy. She was clearly uncomfortable. Lucas suddenly reached out and picked her up in his arms.

"W-what are you doing?!" Xiangling exclaimed in alarm.

"What do you think?" Lucas replied nonchalantly. "After a meal, don't you need to clean the dishes?"

"I-I can do it myself!" Xiangling stammered, her face bright red. "I'll go to the bathroom on my own!"

"Are you stupid?" Lucas sneered. "You're covered in soup and sauces. If you try to walk to the bathroom like this, you'll leave a mess everywhere. If anything gets on my expensive carpet, can you afford to pay for it?"

"Then maybe… you shouldn't eat in a place like this…" Xiangling mumbled under her breath.

"What did you just say?" Lucas shot her a sharp glare. "Listen carefully: dining is a refined art. Beyond the food itself, the tableware, glasses, chairs, and even the surrounding environment influence the experience. Why do you think the same stir-fried cabbage sells for 20,000 Mora at Chrysanthemum Pavilion but only 200 Mora at Wanmin Restaurant?"

Xiangling didn't mind Lucas's criticisms of herself, but the moment he belittled Wanmin Restaurant, she immediately retorted, "The most important thing about cooking is to make people happy! The customers at Wanmin Restaurant are no less satisfied than those at Chrysanthemum Pavilion!"

That phrase again…

Lucas's brow furrowed, and for a moment, he fell silent.

Sensing his reaction, Xiangling murmured softly, "Did… did I say something wrong again?"

"Remember your words," Lucas said coldly, pushing open the bathroom door. He finally set her down, and gravity worked its magic—leftover food and sauce slid off her and splattered to the floor, making her appear even more disheveled.

Lucas reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small box of ointment, handing it to Xiangling. "If you've been burned anywhere, apply this ointment. It will help."

Seeing the expensive ointment in her hands, Xiangling was momentarily stunned. Then, gratitude filled her expression as she murmured, "Th-thank you!"

"There's no need to thank me," Lucas replied coldly. "After all, you're just my tableware."

"I-I'll return it after I'm done," Xiangling said cautiously, glancing at the ointment. "This seems really expensive…"

Her expression turned thoughtful as she added, "It looks like I really shouldn't have taken on too much. I couldn't even feel the three dishes placed on my legs. But for the other ten dishes, I think I can recreate them."

Lucas sneered internally. Boasting like that? Let's see how far you can go. He replied mockingly, "Big words. Alright, recreate those ten dishes for me, and I'll judge for myself."

"No problem!" Xiangling patted her chest confidently. But as soon as she did, her face flushed bright red. She quickly covered herself and stammered, "C-could you leave first…?"

Earlier, Xiangling had been so focused on the cooking that she hadn't paid attention to her situation. Now, she suddenly realized how embarrassing it was to be seen like this.

"Hmph, I already told you—I'm not the least bit interested in you," Lucas said, though his eyes couldn't help but sweep over her again before he added, "Take your time. I'll have some tea outside."

With that, Lucas turned and left the room.

As the door closed behind him, Xiangling couldn't help but frown. Though the dishes hadn't been scalding hot, a few had been more than her delicate skin could bear. Still, her tenacious nature had kept her from showing weakness.

The physical discomfort, however, paled in comparison to her feelings of humiliation. She had grown up loved and cherished, the pride of her family. Yet now, she had to endure this indignity at the hands of this villainous chef.

"I'll learn his cooking skills no matter what, and then I'll defeat him!" Xiangling clenched her fists tightly, whispering, "Stove God, please bless me so I can succeed!"

On the other side of the door, Lucas muttered quietly to himself, "Thanks… for the meal."

One hour later.

The tea in Lucas's fine porcelain cup was infused with freshly picked Rain Tea, each ounce worth tens of thousands of Mora. Yet when he drank it, it tasted no different from plain water.

Indeed, not only was the flavor missing—he couldn't even feel its temperature.

But earlier, he had genuinely tasted something.

It wasn't because my sense of taste has returned, Lucas thought. It must be something about Xiangling. Her body must have some kind of magic that imparted flavor to the food.

"I-I've finished washing up."

At that moment, Xiangling reappeared, now clean and dressed properly.

"I'm ready," she said confidently. "I'm going to start cooking now!"

"Are you sure you don't need me to guide you?" Lucas sipped his tea nonchalantly. "Imitating the surface alone won't allow you to capture the essence of my dishes."

"Let's see, then," Xiangling replied with a determined smile, already picking up her cooking utensils. "I'm starting now!"

Lucas didn't stop her. He was genuinely curious to see how much she could achieve.

After all, the whole concept of "feeling the essence of the dish with your body" had just been something Lucas made up on the spot. Even in the Black Cuisine Sect, where techniques bordered on the bizarre, no one used such absurd teaching methods.

To his astonishment, Xiangling managed to recreate all ten dishes in a short span of time. She arranged them in front of Lucas with a triumphant look on her face.

The moment he smelled the dishes, Lucas's expression shifted slightly.

The aroma was nearly identical to what he had created earlier. Xiangling's dishes were on par with his.

"Well?" Xiangling grinned, hands on her hips. "Aren't you going to taste them?"

Lucas had carefully hidden the fact that he'd lost his sense of taste. For a chef, this was a fatal flaw, one he couldn't afford to expose.

Maintaining his composure, Lucas picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of Xiangling's dish. As soon as the food touched his tongue, his eyes widened in shock.

I can taste it!

Even though this food hadn't been "plated" on Xiangling, he could still taste its flavors.

Sensing something was off, Xiangling asked nervously, "Is it… not good?"

"It's… passable," Lucas said, forcing himself to remain calm. "But tell me—how did you make this? You didn't even taste the dishes. How were you able to recreate such detailed flavors?"

For instance, even the simplest dish—stir-fried green peppers with pork—contained three or four secret spices. Recreating it perfectly without tasting it should have been impossible.

"I just used the method you taught me," Xiangling replied with a cheerful smile. "I felt the dishes with my body. It's like my skin grew its own taste buds—I can sense the flavors!"

That's ridiculous! Lucas thought. Absolutely insane!

But then he remembered his training in the Black Cuisine Sect. He had read about an extremely rare constitution that allowed someone to taste food through their skin. People with this ability could sense flavors with astonishing precision, hundreds of times more sensitive than the average person.

To confirm his suspicion, Lucas had Xiangling turn around while he fetched various spices. He applied them lightly to the back of her neck—one by one—and asked her to identify them.

To his shock, she correctly named every spice without hesitation.

Unbelievable, Lucas thought. My nonsense teaching methods accidentally awakened her rare constitution.

[Talent Reward Acquired: Heat Resistant Physique]

[Effect: You can endure heat far better than the average person. Fire elemental resistance +20%.]

[Exiting Immersive Mode.]

[Switching to Text Mode.]

[Age 27:] With her unique constitution now activated, Xiangling's culinary skills progressed at an astonishing pace. Surprisingly, you didn't let jealousy drive you to hide your secrets—instead, you poured everything you knew into teaching her. This wasn't because you had turned over a new leaf but because you discovered that only Xiangling's cooking, or food plated on Xiangling, allowed you to taste flavor.

[Of course, you continued using your "innovative" teaching methods. Xiangling gradually adapted to this peculiar way of learning, and perhaps driven by her determination to learn more dishes, her body's heat resistance even began to improve unconsciously.]

[Age 28:] While Xiangling studied under you, Liyue's culinary world had completely fallen under your control.

[Yet, Wanmin Restaurant remained a "sanctuary." Normally, those who had tasted the Black Cuisine Arts would lose interest in all other food. Strangely, however, even customers who had eaten your dark dishes still praised the food at Wanmin.]

[Though Wanmin posed no threat to your culinary empire, its mere existence was like a thorn in your side.]

[Your Black Cuisine Arts had enabled you to ensnare countless people. Wealth, women, even power—everything was at your fingertips.]

[Yet you slowly realized that none of it brought you joy. The only thing that truly satisfied you was the food you could taste through Xiangling—food that was truly alive, vibrant, and incomparable.]

[Your feelings grew increasingly conflicted. On one hand, you wanted Xiangling's culinary skills to continue improving so you could enjoy even more exquisite dishes.]

[On the other hand, you knew that if she surpassed you, she would inevitably leave. Both of you were aware that the reason she stayed was to master your culinary arts and then defeat you herself.]

[Age 29:] In the blink of an eye, the three-year promise arrived. Xiangling had nearly mastered all your techniques.

[The final showdown between you and Xiangling was scheduled for tomorrow.]

[To make the event grander, you organized the third "God of Cooking Competition." Unlike the previous tournaments, you wouldn't be participating as a competitor but would instead wait as the reigning champion for the new winner to challenge you.]

[In truth, you weren't worried about the result. Unlike the previous competitions, this time, the judges and referees had all fallen under the influence of your Black Cuisine Arts. The outcome of the competition—whether it was the rankings or the champion—was yours to control.]

[You had carefully planned this. You would let Xiangling win the championship but lose to you in the final match. That way, she wouldn't feel crushed by the loss, and she would stay by your side, forever cooking just for you.]

[Three years, over a thousand dishes, and 160 "special feasts." In this world, no one knew your cooking better than Xiangling, and no one understood Xiangling's body better than you.]

[But then Xiangling told you, "I've prepared a dish for you. It's something I developed myself, a special dish just for you."]

[You didn't reject her offer. As always, you waited for her to complete the dish. However, when you entered the dining room, you found the table empty. Xiangling was lying on it instead.]

[She was in the same position as when she had once been your "plating dish" during training, but this time, there was nothing placed on her—not a single dish.]

["Where's the food?" you asked, puzzled. While Xiangling had always been cheerful and prone to jokes, she was always serious when it came to cooking.]

["It's right here," Xiangling said, pointing to herself. "I am the dish I prepared just for you."]

It's strange how punctuation can entirely change the meaning of a sentence.

"This is the dish I made for you." and "This is me, the dish I made for you."

Just a slight pause, and the meaning is worlds apart.

In this case, Xiangling clearly meant the latter, placing emphasis on "me."

[Strangely, over the past three years—despite all the intimate and ambiguous "feasts"—you had never harbored any improper thoughts toward Xiangling.]

[Perhaps it was because her cooking was far more alluring than any beautiful woman.]

[Maybe, hidden beneath the dazzling flavors of her food, you had failed to notice Xiangling's beauty. But now, you finally realized—the most tantalizing "dish" of all was the "plate" that carried the food.]

["Every dish I've made for you before came from your teachings," Xiangling said softly. "But this time, this dish is entirely my own."]

[For a chef, inviting someone to taste their cooking was an intimate and meaningful gesture. Refusing such an invitation was an unforgivable slight.]

[And you had no intention of being a rude guest.]

[The finest ingredients often required the simplest preparation. But the rarest and most exquisite ingredients needed no preparation at all.]

[To honor the chef's effort, you poured all your attention into savoring this one-of-a-kind dish.]

[A typical buffet lasts around two hours. You, too, spent two hours indulging in this ultimate feast.]

["Can I ask you one last question?" Xiangling said softly before leaving. "In tomorrow's match… do you want me to win, or do you want me to lose?"]

[For a moment, you didn't know how to answer. After all, Xiangling's victory or defeat was something you had planned to control.]

[So, you sneered and replied, "Do you really think you stand a chance of beating me?"]

["I won't lose to you," Xiangling said firmly. "Because I know you better than you know yourself."]

[Indeed, over the past three years, you have imparted every bit of your culinary skill to Xiangling, and she, in turn, has used every pore of her body to experience the magic of your cooking.]

[The irony is that while Xiangling knows the taste of your dishes, you can only savor their flavors through her.]

[You can easily manipulate tomorrow's competition with the Black Cuisine Arts, but you can no longer be certain that your cooking surpasses Xiangling's.]

["Hmph. After all my 'training,' if you can't even win the championship, that'd be too embarrassing," you said calmly. "However, your opponents are all masters under my tutelage. They won't be easy to defeat."]

[Xiangling nodded thoughtfully before leaving silently. Meanwhile, you lingered, replaying the memory of that "special dish" she served earlier—undoubtedly the most delicious thing you've ever tasted.]

[The competitors for the God of Cooking Competition came from Liyue's top restaurants. However, most of them were disciples of the Black Cuisine Sect. In truth, the event was less a culinary contest and more a ranking battle within the sect. Everyone knew that winning the championship would earn your favor as their sect leader.]

[However, an unexpected "intruder" disrupted their plans. Xiangling, with her remarkable skills, swept through the competition like a storm, defeating every opponent in her path.]

[The disciples of the Black Cuisine Sect used their Black Cuisine Arts. Logically, any judge who tasted their food should find Xiangling's dishes flavorless in comparison. Yet, when they ate Xiangling's cooking, their faces lit up with sheer happiness.]

[Could this be the so-called 'cooking that brings happiness'? You refuse to believe in such sentimental nonsense. The Black Cuisine Arts are a perfect fusion of culinary science and technique, designed to control the human psyche. There's no room for error.]

[Yet, despite your doubts, by the time you realized it, Xiangling had already defeated her final opponent—a Black Cuisine Sect chef known as "Leopard Head."]

[Entering Immersive Mode.]

When Lucas regained awareness, he found himself at the bustling scene of the God of Cooking Competition.

"How is this possible?!" Leopard Head shouted, his face contorted with disbelief as he looked at the judges' scores. "There's no way my dish could lose to some random little girl!"

Leopard Head was one of the top five chefs in the Black Cuisine Sect. Before Lucas' rise, he had been the leading candidate to inherit the sect leader's position.

His plan was clear: win the competition, gain Lucas's favor, and become the manager of Xinyue Kiosk or Liuli Pavilion. But now, his dream had been completely shattered by Xiangling.

"What's the matter? Do you have a problem with our scoring?" Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing and the head judge, said coldly. "In every regard, Xiangling's dish clearly surpassed yours."

"I refuse to accept this! My Black Cuisine Arts can control—"

Before Leopard Head could finish his sentence, he let out a pained scream. Blood splattered onto the floor as his right thumb was severed cleanly, landing with a dull thud.

The one who had wielded the blade, of course, was Lucas himself.

The Black Cuisine Arts could control minds, but Lucas could not allow the sect's secrets to be exposed.

More importantly, there was a strict rule within the Black Cuisine Sect: any disciple who lost to an outsider must sever their thumb as punishment and forever abandon the culinary arts.

"Apologies for the interruption," Lucas said, glancing indifferently at the kneeling Leopard Head, who was writhing in agony. To him, this was nothing more than routine. "A chef who fails has no place here. Now, let's move on to the main event."

The audience erupted with excitement. After all, Lucas was the undisputed God of Cooking in Liyue, and in the past three years, no one had had the chance to taste his food.

"I hereby declare that Xiangling has earned the right to challenge the reigning champion," Ningguang announced. With a sweep of her arm, she pulled off a white cloth to reveal the competition theme:

Fried Rice.

Fried rice—such a simple, humble dish, yet it held deep significance for Lucas.

It was Xiangling's bowl of fried rice that had once saved Lucas' life.

It was fried rice that had led Lucas to the Black Cuisine Sect.

And now, the final showdown between him and Xiangling would also revolve around fried rice.

"Tianquan," Xiangling said suddenly, raising her hand. "I have a small suggestion for this match. I'd like the judges to be the audience instead of the usual panel."

Her unexpected proposal sparked a wave of discussion among the judges. Ningguang immediately turned her gaze to Lucas for his decision.

Yes, even the mighty Tianquan of the Qixing had unwittingly fallen under the spell of Lucas' Black Cuisine Arts. If Lucas rejected the idea, Ningguang would simply deny Xiangling's suggestion.

Letting the audience judge might very well be Xiangling's strategy against him.

Lucas could easily refuse, but doing so would be tantamount to admitting, before all of Liyue, that he had something to hide.

"I accept," Lucas finally said, his voice calm and composed. "However, each of us will prepare one thousand portions of fried rice. How does that sound?"

"Perfect!" Xiangling beamed, rolling up her sleeves. "I've been looking forward to this match for three years!"

Preparing one thousand portions of a dish during a cooking competition was practically unheard of.

But Lucas was unfazed. After all, when he had started his culinary journey, he had built his reputation one bowl of fried rice at a time. On busy days, he would make thousands of portions without breaking a sweat.

Back then, he had not yet turned cooking into a means to an end.

Since losing his sense of taste and joining the Black Cuisine Sect, Lucas had come to see cooking as nothing more than a tool—a means to achieve his goals. From that moment on, he never smiled while cooking.

Even Lucas himself didn't notice that, as he began preparing this most humble dish, the corner of his lips curved into the faintest smile.

A few hours later, Lucas and Xiangling both presented their dishes.

However, to Lucas's surprise, Xiangling's dish turned out to be the most basic and humble Golden Fried Rice. And surprisingly, it wasn't something he had taught her.

After all, what chef wouldn't know how to make the simplest fried rice?

Lucas' own fried rice also looked unremarkable—so ordinary, in fact, that it lacked the golden, visually pleasing glow of Xiangling's dish.

To fully unleash the power of the Black Cuisine Arts, Lucas had the audience—serving as judges—taste his dish first, as before.

However, when they saw the plain, humble fried rice, the audience's faces were filled with doubt.

Surely the God of Cooking of Liyue would present something grander and more exquisite?

Yet, as soon as they tasted the first bite, their expressions shifted to one of disbelief, and they eagerly gobbled up the rest.

All of this went exactly as Lucas had planned.

"So that's your trick…" Xiangling, standing beside Lucas, observed thoughtfully. "You added plum sauce. That's why it tastes sour."

"Exactly. The sourness stimulates the appetite, making the diners unknowingly eat more and more fried rice," Lucas replied coolly. "After filling their stomachs, they won't have room to enjoy your dish."

The God of Cooking Competition often tested more than just cooking skills—it was a battle of strategy and cunning.

Having studied the Black Cuisine Arts for years, Lucas was a master of such methods.

"That's very much your style," Xiangling said with a small smile, unfazed. "But I noticed something. You were smiling when you were cooking just now."

Her words caught Lucas off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Due to the intensely stimulating nature of his Plum Fried Rice—and the fact that it was free—many diners ate two or three bowls until they were so full they could eat no more.

Finally, it was time for Xiangling's Golden Fried Rice.

Though her dish looked stunning, many diners were already stuffed, and having been influenced by Lucas' Black Cuisine, they initially regarded her fried rice with disinterest.

However, after taking the first bite, their faces lit up with an expression Lucas had never seen before.

If there were a phrase to describe it, it would be "transcendent bliss."

"This… this is delicious! Absolutely incredible!"

"I've never eaten fried rice this good in my entire life!"

"It's… it's impossible to stop eating!"

The diners, as if entranced, devoured Xiangling's Golden Fried Rice with a fervor that surpassed even their earlier obsession with Lucas's dish.

Some diners, already full, couldn't bring themselves to stop. Unable to bear leaving any of the Golden Fried Rice uneaten, a few even forced themselves to vomit out the earlier Plum Fried Rice to make space for more.

How could this be possible?!

Lucas was stunned.

Could this be the power of "food that brings happiness"? Could such sentimental nonsense actually defeat his Black Cuisine Arts?

"Tell me…" Lucas muttered, his voice low. "What did you add?"

With a mysterious smile, Xiangling handed him a steaming bowl of Golden Fried Rice. "Why don't you taste it for yourself?"

Lucas hesitated briefly before taking a bite. The moment the rice entered his mouth, his expression turned to one of disbelief.

It wasn't because the Golden Fried Rice tasted extraordinary—it was because…

He couldn't taste anything at all!

How could this be?!

Until now, Lucas had always been able to taste Xiangling's dishes, even after losing his sense of taste. Why, then, could he taste nothing now?

"I've known for a long time that you've lost your sense of taste," Xiangling said calmly, as if reading his thoughts. "Only dishes made with true sincerity, dishes that bring happiness, can allow you to taste their flavor."

"Then why…" Lucas looked at the golden grains of rice in his bowl, still incredulous. "Why can't I taste this Golden Fried Rice?"

"It's simple," Xiangling whispered near his ear, "because this Golden Fried Rice is also a form of Black Cuisine."

Black Cuisine, by its very nature, could never hold the power to bring happiness. That's why Lucas couldn't taste it.

"For the past three years, I've been studying your Black Cuisine Arts," Xiangling said with a smile. "I experienced a thousand Black Cuisine dishes firsthand. I learned how to cook a Black Cuisine beyond Black Cuisine."

Indeed, the expressions of the diners—greedy and frenzied—were a clear sign that they were under the influence of Black Cuisine.

Even within the realm of Black Cuisine, there were levels of mastery. And now, it seemed that Xiangling had unknowingly surpassed Lucas.

Perhaps this is what they mean by 'fighting fire with fire.'

The outcome of the competition already seemed clear.

But the process still had to be completed.

"Now, I ask the one thousand judges present to cast their votes," Ningguang announced. "Place your votes in the ballot boxes. A red ticket represents Xiangling, and a black ticket represents Rising Dragon. Whoever receives the most votes will win and be crowned the new God of Cooking!"

The audience quickly submitted their votes.

Although the votes were anonymous, a casual glance was enough to reveal that nearly every diner held a red ticket in their hands.

"Voting is complete, and the ballots have been counted," Ningguang said, casting a glance at Lucas. A faint, almost apologetic expression crossed her face, as though she already knew the result. "I hereby declare that the winner of this God of Cooking Competition is—"

"Lady Ningguang, please wait!"

Suddenly, Xiangling raised her hand and said, "I've decided… to forfeit this competition."

Her words stunned everyone, including Lucas.

Xiangling's victory had been all but guaranteed. Even if she had any doubts about winning, there was no reason for her to forfeit now. After all, the result of losing would have been no different.

By forfeiting, however, the title of God of Cooking would automatically go to Lucas.

Ningguang looked puzzled and asked, "Are you certain you wish to forfeit?"

As one of the judges, she naturally knew the results. Xiangling had overwhelmingly won the votes; it was an almost landslide victory against Lucas. There was no logical reason for her to concede.

"Yes," Xiangling nodded. "Please announce the results."

"Very well. Since Xiangling has chosen to forfeit…" Ningguang nodded and turned to the crowd. "I hereby declare the reigning God of Cooking to be the head chef of Chrysanthemum Pavilion—Rising Dragon!"

By all rights, this should have been a joyous moment.

Yet, there wasn't a single trace of satisfaction on Lucas's face.

Unlike other simulations, this time he was a chef—the supreme ruler of the culinary world. His pride was unshakable, and he refused to accept what felt like a victory given out of pity.

"Why would you do this?" Lucas frowned deeply. "Is this some attempt to humiliate me?"

"No, I only wanted to prove how far I've come in these three years." Xiangling shook her head with a soft smile. "But those Black Cuisine dishes weren't the food I truly wanted to make."

She stepped closer to Lucas, her voice low and tender as she whispered in his ear, "The dish I've made with my whole heart… I want only you to taste it."

Over the past three years, Xiangling had been immersed in Lucas's Black Cuisine. Without realizing it, both her body and mind had been profoundly shaped by his techniques. Slowly, her ideals had begun to change.

"From now on, you'll only eat two things." Xiangling gently took Lucas' hand, her gaze unwavering. "The food I cook—and… me~."

Lucas' stern expression finally cracked, and a faint smile curled his lips. "Tonight's dinner… let's have abalone soup."

[Exiting Immersive Mode]

[Entering Text Mode]

[Age 30:] Though Xiangling "lost" the God of Cooking competition, you didn't close down Wanmin Restaurant. Instead, you preserved it, but not out of charity—it was part of Xiangling's "dowry" for marrying you.

[Of course, Xiangling brought an equally valuable gift to the table. As the woman behind the man, she worked alongside you to build a flawless culinary empire through the mastery of the Black Cuisine Arts.]

[Age 33:] You and Xiangling had a daughter. Xiangling affectionately named her Guoba after her favorite dish.]

[Age 36:] Guoba inherited your and Xiangling's culinary talents. From a young age, she showed a remarkable gift for cooking and could name dishes before she could even speak clearly.]

[Age 38:] You were nominated as Yaoguang, one of the Liyue Qixing. You became the first person in history to hold the position of a Qixing as a "chef."]

[Age 40:] Chrysanthemum Pavilion's first overseas branch opened in Mondstadt, receiving widespread acclaim.]

[Age 43:] Chrysanthemum Pavilion expanded to Inazuma, and a light novel inspired by you and Xiangling—Liyue's Finest—became a bestseller in Inazuma.]

[Age 47:] Even the traditionally reserved Sumeru embraced Chrysanthemum Pavilion's cuisine.]

[Age 50:] The Sumeru Akademiya established a new culinary research department dedicated to Liyue cuisine and named you an honorary professor.]

[Age 56:] Through years of relentless effort, you and Xiangling successfully introduced Black Cuisine across the entirety of Teyvat. From then on, when people thought of Liyue Harbor, they no longer pictured Mora or merchants but the incredible culinary wonders it offered. Chefs became one of the most sought-after professions in Teyvat.]

[Age 58:] You founded Teyvat's largest culinary academy in Liyue Harbor, naming it "New Eastern Culinary Academy." The institution established a standardized chef ranking system, classifying chefs into four tiers: Special Grade, First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade.]

[Age 60:] Under the guidance of you and the Liyue Qixing, the first Teyvat God of Cooking competition was held. The victor was none other than your daughter, Guoba.]

[Age 64:] With the immense power of Black Cuisine, Liyue gained tremendous wealth and resources from other nations. However, this success sparked growing tensions—especially with the militaristic nation of Snezhnaya, which began to see Liyue as a formidable rival.]

[Age 66:] Snezhnaya officially declared war on Liyue Harbor. The Fatui Harbingers led the mighty Snezhnayan army against the Millelith, plunging the region into a fierce conflict.]

[Age 67:] The war reached a stalemate. Though Snezhnaya had overwhelming military power, its troops struggled with supply lines and the foreign climate. Seizing the opportunity, you led hundreds of chefs to set up massive kitchens in the wind's path, baking traditional Snezhnayan bread.]

[The scent of the bread drifted into the Snezhnayan camp. Overwhelmed by the nostalgia of their homeland cuisine, many Snezhnayan soldiers dropped their weapons and fled the camp, only to be ambushed and captured by the Millelith forces.]

[This decisive ambush became known as the "Battle of the Scented Bait", marking the turning point in the war.]

[Age 70:] You officially announced your retirement, entrusting all your businesses to your daughter. You and Xiangling retreated to the secluded Black Cuisine Sect to live in peace.]

[Age 73:] Black Cuisine had spread across Teyvat to such an extent that it lost its dark allure and became mundane. However, the culinary empire you built remained unshakable. You and Xiangling were revered as the embodiment of the Gods of Cooking.]

[Age 76:] Xiangling passed away peacefully. On her deathbed, her only concern was who would cook for you once she was gone. After all, only Xiangling's food could bring you joy. You reassured her softly, "Don't worry. In the next life, I'll still only eat the dishes you make."

[Three days after Xiangling's passing, you died from grief, refusing food or drink. Your descendants buried you both together in the Black Cuisine Sect, and the mountain was renamed Food God's Peak. Legend says that after your deaths, you inherited the title of Kitchen God, blessing chefs across the world.]

[Simulation Complete]

[Cause of Death: Passed peacefully in grief.]

[Overall Evaluation: Xiangling was the true God of Cooking.]

[Your rewards have been sent. You may now choose one talent to retain as a permanent ability: [Master Chef], [Deconstruction Expert], or [Sharp Sense of Smell].]

----

Author's Note : Xiangling My Love~

Sorry for delay, here take this long chapter :)