Chen Xiaojun's voice rang out again, tinged with regret and helplessness. "Chef Kong, do you have any final wishes?"
Kong Youde knew his time had come. He smiled calmly, a profound sense of release shimmering in his eyes.
"Final wishes? How could a rotten man like me dare speak of such things? The first half of my life was full of hardship, and the second was spent struggling with hatred and inner conflict. Family, friendship, love-all of them were luxuries to me. Now, my only wish is for this world to become a better place, though that must sound ridiculous."
He paused before continuing, "But if there really is something I want to leave behind, it would probably be my love of cooking. Passing the Gourmet Hall's certification and becoming a true master chef was the proudest achievement of my life."
"This cookbook holds a lifetime of notes, all my insights and creations. I want to give it to you, Chen Xiaojun. I hope it can leave a little trace of me in this world."
The Gourmet Hall, one of the Douluo Continent's Neutral Organizations, was the professional guild for chefs. One of its functions was to assess their Culinary Arts ranks.
The "master chef" Kong Youde spoke of was not an honorific, but the seventh culinary rank-a high-ranking chef, equivalent to a Soul Saint among Soul Masters.
As he spoke, Kong Youde took a somewhat yellowed, battered notebook out of his storage device. Its cover bore the words "Kong Family Cookbook."
He carefully offered it to Chen Xiaojun, looking at him with hope in his eyes.
Chen Xiaojun solemnly accepted the notebook, as though taking on a weighty mission.
He gave Kong Youde a long look, then turned toward Feng Qisheng and said, "Rest assured, Chef Kong. Your wish