When that blade fell, it was as if all the air had been sucked out of the cafeteria.
Every monster's urge to share gossip was instantly reduced to nothing by that domineering, peerless slash.
As for the human contestants who had survived, they all instinctively held their breath. Not a soul dared make the slightest sound.
Xia Yan's authority had been etched into the scene in full by that single slash.
"Hmph!"
Without even glancing at the heavy bone slab that had been cleaved in two, he casually slid the door-sized bone blade back into its leather sheath at his waist. His movements were rough and brisk.
He whipped around and let out a thunderous roar at his two Multi-armed Monster underlings. Their limbs had gone stiff with terror, and they had no idea where to put their dozen or so claws.
"What are you standing around for? Serve the meal!"
"Yes! Yes, sir!"
The two Multi-armed Monsters reacted as if they had received a divine decree. Relieved beyond measure, they scrambled toward the kitchen on all their hands and feet, nearly tumbling over each other.
In an instant, the cafeteria filled with the clanging symphony of pots, pans, and dishes crashing together.
This time, the food was nothing like yesterday's nauseating "dark cuisine," which could drive any normal creature insane.
Instead, the air filled with an exquisite aroma that made souls tremble and mouths water uncontrollably!
Xia Yan himself took charge.
His mountain-sized frame moved with astonishing agility before the stove. The door-sized bone blade swept in broad arcs one moment, then carved with delicate precision the next, as if wielded by a free-spirited artist.
A bizarre creature resembling a fat wild boar, but covered from head to toe in sparkling, multicolored scales, was swiftly cleaned and hung inside a specially made, enormous oven blazing with ghostly blue flames.
The fat sizzled and dripped onto the ghost flames, releasing waves of even richer fragrance.
The strange, meaty aroma mingled with the sweetness of some unknown fruitwood. Like an invisible hand, it forced its way into every creature's nostrils and instantly claimed everyone's sense of smell.
Then, dish after dish that looked like works of art was carried to the long counter by the trembling Multi-armed Monsters.
Miraculously, the dishes seemed to draw inspiration from the cuisines of various countries.
The Dragon Country's roast duck gleamed with oil, while its stir-fried pork brimmed with the smoky aroma of the wok.
Cherry Blossom Country's sushi was as delicate as a painting, while Eagle Country's burgers were stacked layer upon layer.
Though the ingredients were bizarre creatures no one had ever heard of, the familiar flavors made every surviving human contestant see their distant homeland in an instant.
They had only been here for two days, but it felt like years. Every minute and every second had been torture.
Of course, that didn't apply to Chu He, the Dragon Country contestant.
Xia Yan's icy gaze swept over the group of humans.
"Each of you, pick one plate and finish everything. No wasting food!"
He paused, then turned his gaze toward the monsters, who could barely contain themselves, their throats bobbing as they swallowed.
"As for you lot..."
"If you want to eat, you can."
"Pay for it yourselves!"
The monsters froze for a moment. Then their faces lit up with indescribable joy!
They weren't afraid of spending money. What they feared most was that Lord Xia Yan wouldn't let them eat at all!
What an honor it was to sample dishes personally cooked by the legendary Ghost Chef! It was the kind of experience they could brag about for the rest of their lives!
In an instant, the monsters all pulled out their phones and surged toward the counter like sharks smelling blood, each one scrambling to get there first in case their companions snatched up the legendary delicacies.
"Oh my god! It's Blazing Scale Boar! I can smell it! There's no mistaking that aroma!"
"Stop shoving! Scan to pay! Anyone who dares cut in line, I'll tear you apart for ingredients today!"
The scene was utterly frenzied. The monsters' primal hunger threatened to rip the cafeteria roof right off.
"Open wide, big brother. This drumstick's the best-roasted one. Look how crispy the skin is."
Xia Yao picked up a piece of duck leg with golden, crispy skin and tender, fatty meat. She carefully blew on it to cool it before offering it to Chu He, her eyes full of anticipation.
Chu He smiled and opened his mouth. Before he could praise it, a fair, jade-like hand on the other side had already picked up a piece of the crispiest duck skin and offered it to him.
"Little He He, the skin's the best part. The meat's too dry. This is the really fragrant stuff."
Without hesitation, Chu He opened his mouth and ate the duck skin too.
Then, with perfect ease, he reached out his left hand and affectionately stroked Xia Yao's head.
He reached out with his right hand and gently pinched Kachi's smooth, delicate cheek.
His skill at keeping everyone happy had reached the pinnacle.
"They're both delicious."
"Anything you feed me tastes good."
Chu He's voice was so tender it could melt your heart.
"The meat Yao Yao feeds me is full of love, and the skin Kachi feeds me is full of care. To me, they're both unparalleled delicacies."
Those words made the two girls, who had just been trading glances with sparks beneath the surface, instantly break into radiant smiles. Their faces were full of contentment.
Xia Nuo, sitting nearby, stared at them, dumbfounded.
The roasted meat in his mouth, which had been so delicious it nearly made him cry, suddenly tasted bland.
He looked at his sister, gazing at Chu He with tender affection and leaning against him like a little bird. A vast, aching sense of being abandoned by the whole world welled up inside him.
At last, he worked up the courage to try, calling out in a voice that was almost pitiful.
"Sis, I... I wanna try some of what you're feeding him too..."
Xia Yao shot him an icy glare.
Xia Nuo shrank his neck and silently buried his head in his plate.
He screamed internally, tears streaming down his face.
A brother-in-law was a treasure, while he was just a weed!
How the hell was he supposed to live like this?
In a distant corner, Xia Yan kept his back to this "painful-to-watch" scene and drank alone from an entire jar of unknown liquor as if it were water.
Gulp, gulp.
The fiery liquor poured down his throat, but it did nothing to douse the nameless blaze burning in his heart.
He could clearly hear the monsters behind him whispering under their breath.
"Oh my god, Lord Xia Yao... is actually waiting on someone like that..."
"What kind of love potion did that Dragon Country man give them? How did he get Lord Xia Yao and Lord Kachi to both..."
"Shh! Do you want to die? Haven't you seen Lord Xia Yan's face?"
Xia Yan had slowly begun to accept Chu He, and even recognized his abilities to some extent.
But watching his own fresh, beautiful cabbage fawn over a human boy like that made him feel as if a burning-hot wad of cotton had been shoved inside him. It blocked him up and set him ablaze!
The meal slowly came to an end amid an atmosphere that was strange and harmonious, yet steeped in heartache and jealousy.
Xia Yan abruptly stood up.
He slammed the empty liquor jar onto the table with a thunderous crash, plunging the entire cafeteria into silence once more.
He slowly turned around and looked over the human contestants, who had just finished eating and still wore faintly satisfied expressions. His voice was as cold as the Siberian winter.
"Are you all full?"
The others didn't understand what was going on, but they instinctively nodded.
"Good."
Xia Yan grinned, baring two rows of deathly white teeth. There wasn't a trace of warmth in his smile, only an ominous chill.
"Starting today, the free lunches are over."
"If you want to eat from now on, go out and earn the money yourselves!"
His words sent a wave of commotion through the cafeteria.
Xia Yao was stunned too. She quickly stood up and asked anxiously, "Uncle! How can this be? Didn't the task the Lord issued require them to stay at this school for forty-four days?"
The smile slowly faded from Xia Yan's face, and his expression grew graver than ever.
He didn't answer Xia Yao. Instead, he raised his head, his gaze seeming to pierce the cafeteria ceiling and look toward the sky shrouded in monstrous power.
"Those were the old rules."
"The Lord has issued new orders."
"Perhaps... They think this game is too boring."
Xia Yan's gaze returned to the pale-faced humans, carrying a hint of pity, but far more coldness.
"Starting tomorrow, this school will no longer be your prison..."
"...Nor will it be your sanctuary."
"The entire Weird World will be open to you!"
"Tomorrow, all contact with Blue Star will be severed. No one will be able to see you, and if you die, your country will perish."
"And tomorrow, new and much more interesting rules will be announced."
"Good luck..."
Before you continue