A Dish That Won Everyone Over

Dai Mubai told everyone about Ma Hongjun's glorious exploits. He'd once gone to Yi Hong Brothel and ordered three top courtesans at once, only to be turned away because of his fatso appearance.

At that, Ma Hongjun cursed, "You think everyone's like you and Xiao Ao, with pretty-boy faces? If I had your looks, wouldn't I have women hanging off both my arms too?"

Dai Mubai cursed back, "Hey! Fatty, you can say whatever you want—no, wait. You can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say anything!"

Jiang Huai and the others all burst out laughing. Just then, Gu Yue tugged at Jiang Huai's sleeve.

"I'm hungry."

Hearing that, Dai Mubai waved them over. "Come on, I'll take you to the academy Dining Hall."

Before long, they arrived at the Dining Hall. Oscar had already started eating, while Zhu Zhuqing sat by herself, stirring the porridge in her bowl with a spoon.

After Jiang Huai and the others sat down, they waited for their food. Soon, a steamed bun, a bowl of porridge, and a little pickled cabbage were set in front of them.

Jiang Huai's mouth twitched at the sight of the meal. There were even a few black stains on the steamed bun.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were already used to Teacher Shao Xin's cooking, so they dug in without a care for looking like gentlemen.

Seeing Jiang Huai sit there without touching his food for a long time, Shao Xin asked in puzzlement, "What's wrong, Jiang Huai? Don't you have an appetite?"

Jiang Huai nodded. "This is my first time having a breakfast like this."

At that, Shao Xin slapped his forehead, remembering that Jiang Huai was the heir of Jiang Kingdom. What hadn't he eaten before? So Shao Xin got a wok ready and poured in some oil.

Seeing that he was about to stir-fry a few dishes, Jiang Huai stood up and walked into the Dining Hall. "Teacher Shao, let me cook a dish."

Shao Xin nodded, then handed him the wok and spatula.

Jiang Huai took them and skillfully washed the wok and spatula with water and a brush, then set them aside to dry. While he waited, he took out top-grade Soul Beast meat from his Soul Tool.

Jiang Huai took out the kitchen knife he'd used since childhood from his Soul Tool. He sliced the Soul Beast meat into thin strips, then cut some more and chopped it up, ready to shape into meatballs.

Soon the meat was prepared. Jiang Huai chopped some chilies into small pieces, then turned around, set the wok over the flame, and poured in oil.

Jiang Huai's practiced movements left everyone present stunned, except for Gu Yue, Xiao Wu, and Tang San.

Once the oil was hot, Jiang Huai tossed in the meat and stir-fried it, then set it aside. Xiao Wu reached over and sneakily grabbed a piece, chewing it. She wanted another, but one glare from Gu Yue made her back down.

Soon, Jiang Huai added the chilies and meat back into the wok and stir-fried them. Before long, the aroma of stir-fried pork with chilies filled all of Shrek Academy.

Flender, sitting hungry in his office, caught the scent and glanced toward the Dining Hall.

"Hmm? Since when could Shao Xin cook this well? I'd better go see."

Soon, the stir-fried pork with chilies was done, and Jiang Huai set it aside. Next came braised lion's head meatballs. He started by simmering the sauce, then turned around and brought out two iron rods to pound the Soul Beast meat.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Flender heard the pounding clearly from outside and walked in, puzzled. There, he spotted a plate of stir-fried pork with chilies, sending out a delicious aroma.

Before long, Jiang Huai had shaped several large lion's head meatballs. With a practiced turn, he scooped up a spoonful of sauce and let it slowly drip back down. He nodded in satisfaction.

Then Jiang Huai washed the wok again and heated some oil. Once it was hot, he put in the lion's head meatballs and deep-fried them.

Soon, the delicious scent of meat filled the air. Flender twitched his nose and said, "That smells amazing."

Jiang Huai scooped out the fried lion's head meatballs and set them aside. He turned and poured the remaining oil into an oil container.

Then Jiang Huai poured the sauce and lion's head meatballs into the wok and began simmering them over low heat. At this rate, they should be ready by lunchtime.

Jiang Huai went to the water vat to wash his hands, then walked out of the kitchen. He wasn't particularly surprised to see Flender and instead looked at Dai Mubai.

Dai Mubai saw his look and introduced him. "This is our illustrious Dean Flender, the Four-Eyed Cat-Eagle of Shrek Academy."

Jiang Huai thought for a moment, then said, "A shoehorn face?"

Flender's mouth twitched, but he didn't press the matter. Instead, he asked Shao Xin for a steamed bun.

Shao Xin was puzzled. Didn't the dean always eat out? Why had he come here today? Was it to save money?

Shao Xin soon dismissed the thought and handed Flender a steamed bun.

Jiang Huai picked up his own bun and tore it open along the side, splitting it in two. He picked up a mouthful of the stir-fried pork with chilies with his chopsticks and stuffed it inside. After taking a bite, he said, "Delicious."

Flender snatched the chopsticks from Dai Mubai's hand and copied what Jiang Huai had just done. He split open a bun, stuffed a mouthful of the stir-fried pork with chilies inside, closed it up, and took a big bite.

Flender let out an "Oh" as he chewed. He was nearly seventy, and this was the first time in his life he'd eaten a steamed bun this delicious.

Soon, everyone gathered in Shrek Plaza. Flender was still in the kitchen, eating the remaining pork, chilies, and sauce.

The steamed buns that were supposed to last three days had all been eaten by Flender in one day. Shao Xin's mouth twitched as he said, "Boss, we're out of steamed buns. There won't be any for breakfast tomorrow."

Flender was shocked. Those buns had been meant to feed the kids for three days. How had he eaten them all?

After feeling guilty for a moment, Flender composed himself. Shao Xin shook his head. "A Soul Saint really can eat a lot."

Soon, Flender arrived at Shrek Academy's plaza, where Jiang Huai and the others stared at him in confusion.

Flender cleared his throat. "Registration is now over. Those standing here are all once-in-a-century geniuses in the Soul Master World. You've gathered here, awaiting the achievements you'll make in the future—and whether you'll reach the level of a Titled Douluo, or even a Super Douluo."

The nine people below stared at him expressionlessly. Flender felt a little awkward too, so he ordered, "Jiang Huai, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong, step forward."

Jiang Huai, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong stepped forward in confusion. Flender launched into another grand speech from the platform. "The most important thing for Support-type Soul Masters is to have the stamina to run away after their teammates are killed on the battlefield. Starting now, Oscar and Ning Rongrong, run two laps around the village. You're not allowed to eat until you finish."

Oscar was already used to this, but Ning Rongrong wasn't. She shouted, "Why do the two of us have to run? Why doesn't he have to run too? Why does he get special treatment?"

Flender pushed up his glasses. "Hmph! If you want to see his training, you can stay and watch."

Ning Rongrong scoffed and muttered, "Fine. I'll watch."

Flender had everyone stand fifty meters away. Jiang Huai already knew what was coming, so he moved farther away with Flender, keeping an eye on him and following as he moved.

Flender suddenly lunged, reaching out to grab Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai sidestepped and dodged with ease.

Flender missed and stood where he was, smiling. "Your reaction speed is pretty good. But your goal is to defeat me. To make things fair, if you defeat me, you won't have to undergo any of my training. I'll also lower my level to fifty and fight you. If I'm even one level higher, I lose."

While Flender was speaking, Jiang Huai had already eaten three Buff Burgers. His attack and defense grew stronger, and he launched an attack.

"Not bad, kid!"

Seeing Jiang Huai charge at him barehanded, Flender called out in approval. He sidestepped, but Jiang Huai struck him in the abdomen with a punch, sending him back a meter.

Flender cursed, "You little brat, that's no fair!"