You Have Dirty Tricks, I Have Divine Powers

The competition on both sides was in full swing. Everyone held their breath, afraid of missing even a single exciting moment. Quite a few people had even taken out their phones to record it. This was a contest of top-tier knife skills, a clash of China's greatest techniques: Tofu Carving.

Zhang Ye worked with his head down. The outline of a reclining Maitreya Buddha gradually became clearer beneath his blade.

As for Qin Fen, no one could yet tell what he was making. They only saw him slicing here and there. Every so often, he would check his phone in a way that made everyone's balls ache.

"Little Qin, are you in a hurry? Do you have something to do later?" Father Sun thought Qin Fen had business to handle and was worried he might be distracted, so he asked.

"I was checking why Sun Yating still hadn't come back. I only had one bite of those wontons this morning."

Well then, pretend I never asked. Father Sun wore an expression like he had stepped in shit, and his refined demeanor vanished without a trace.

Now he felt a little embarrassed. Those wontons had been prepared by Qin Fen for himself, but they had wolfed them all down without even leaving him a sip of soup.

Qin Fen was telling the truth. He really was hungry. It was already past ten. From seven in the morning until now, he had only eaten one bite of wonton. Anyone would have had a hard time with that, especially since the competition was draining his strength. His stomach had already begun growling.

Carving tofu was delicate work. It tested one's eyesight, feel for the knife, control over wrist strength, and sense of visual composition. Finally, there was the hardest requirement of all: patience. This was not something that could be completed in one go; it took quite a while.

At this rate, it would soon be lunchtime. Lord Qin had not even properly eaten breakfast yet.

"Qin Fen, the buns are here." Sun Yating hurried over. She knew Qin Fen had to be hungry. Those two old guys had been absolutely ravenous earlier.

Everyone looked at her strangely. Seriously? He was actually planning to eat buns?

"Thanks." Qin Fen put the tofu into the water, while Sun Yating gently supported it from the side. "Eat. I'll hold it for you. Just don't cut my hand, okay?"

"Mm." Qin Fen grabbed a bun and stuffed it into his mouth, filling his cheeks. "Don't worry," he mumbled indistinctly. He ate and spoke at the same time, yet his hands moved at lightning speed.

Everyone around them was stunned senseless.

"I think my eyes are playing tricks on me."

"Mine too."

"Is this some kind of movie?"

"I don't see any cameras!"

"But does he look like he's competing?"

The same question arose in everyone's minds. It was not that Qin Fen was showing off; he was genuinely hungry. As for that fantastical knife technique and those godlike carving skills that made everyone's balls ache, he did not want to explain. Take note: he had swiped them from the Food God. If you had doubts, go ask the supreme deity of the culinary world.

In truth, this was the principle that all paths could lead to enlightenment. Only by reaching the pinnacle of skill could one reach the pinnacle of the Dao.

The Food God had originally reached the mortal peak of his professional field. Combined with cultivating Merit, he had ascended to immortality in one stroke. After becoming an immortal, his techniques had advanced further, nearing the legendary Dao. His culinary arts embodied perfection. There was no need even to mention the fundamentals; Dual-Mindedness was nothing to him.

"Godlike skill, truly godlike skill." Father Sun shook his head. China truly was filled with talented people. As expected, masters were hidden among ordinary folk.

"What the hell do you know? This is called hiding one's greatness in the city! What a remarkable man!" Song Jianjun immediately argued back. This was also the special bond the two had built since childhood.

What the fuck? You could carve tofu like this? Song Shaoqing was speechless. He could not find the words to mock the guy, because he realized that aside from calling it unbelievably badass, there was nothing else to say. The more casually this bastard ate, the more terrifying he became.

"Was one enough? Have another." Sun Yating spoke softly. At this moment, Qin Fen possessed a different sort of charm. Though he appeared nonchalant, Sun Yating understood him. He had actually been taking the competition seriously all along. He was always earnest when it came to serious matters; Dual-Mindedness just made him look incredibly cool.

"Mm, I'll have another." Qin Fen nodded.

Fuck your grandmother! Zhang Ye listened to the constant chatter by his ear and could no longer maintain his composure. He turned his head to look over. What the hell was the point of fooling around like this?

Then he saw Qin Fen eating a bun. His hands had not slowed down, and he was still carving patterns. But that state of mind was something Zhang Ye could not achieve. I really can't do it! It would have been strange if he had not gotten angry.

That kind of calmness nearly blinded his titanium dog eyes. Forget Zhang Ye—none of his master's top domestic chefs could do it either. That guy was simply not human. They were carving tofu, yet Qin Fen still had the nerve to eat buns. Two of them, no less?

He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. His hand trembled, and damn it, he cut his finger. Blood immediately seeped into the water, tinting it faintly red.

"Ah, the gap between them is huge." A passerby shook his head.

"Yeah." Another person beside him deeply agreed.

"I heard this Chef Zhang was the one who demanded the contest. Wasn't he just asking to be humiliated? They're not even on the same level."

Zhang Ye withdrew his hand, and his apprentice immediately found some bandages and put them on him. With a grim expression, the two resumed their contest.

Time passed quickly. Both men entered their final sprint, completely focused.

Clang. Zhang Ye put down his knife with a gloomy expression, carefully took out the Maitreya Buddha, and placed it on a plate.

Whoosh. Qin Fen looked toward him as well, but the difference in their finishing moves was immediately obvious. Qin Fen spun the knife twice in his palm, then pressed it down and casually set it on the cutting board.

"I'm done too."

Hearing Qin Fen's words, Zhang Ye felt like dying. Their speed had been roughly the same, but the difference in artistic conception was enormous. Qin Fen had made it look effortless, while Zhang Ye lowered his head and felt his heart bleed. One of his hands had three bandages on it. Qin Fen's, on the other hand? Perfectly fine.

"Since the contest is over, let's begin judging it," Sun Yating said.

"Since so many people watched, we two old men won't overstep. Let everyone judge together."

"Haha, great! This has been so satisfying today."

Looking at the crowd egging them on, Zhang Ye's thoughts shifted rapidly. Judging by knife work alone, he knew he had lost—lost completely. Leaving aside Qin Fen's ability to use Dual-Mindedness, that calm and graceful manner alone put Zhang Ye several streets behind him. Even in the carving itself, he had lost. He had carved a person, while Qin Fen had chosen a dragon. Dragons were difficult because of their details, especially the scales, which were far beyond anything on a human figure. The difference in skill was obvious.

No, no, I can't lose. I can't lose. Zhang Ye suddenly glared at Qin Fen, wanting nothing more than to kill him. "Since we're competing in culinary arts, knife work is only the first step. It proves nothing by itself. Next, we complete the dish."

Zhang Ye waved a hand and walked toward the ingredients. "Good tofu carving skills are just a gimmick. The most important thing about food is flavor. If knife work counts for three points, flavor counts for seven. Qin Fen, don't celebrate too soon."

How shameless. Everyone stared blankly at Zhang Ye. He had clearly lost, yet he still had the nerve to claim knife work was only worth three points. This was Tofu Carving!

Qin Fen shrugged and made a welcoming gesture. The Four-Haves Newcomer had plenty of swagger. "Whatever you say!"

A buddy's book, and it's just as interesting. Especially when the Little Dragon Maiden gets OOXXed.