Tang Hao's cooking skills truly impressed her.
He had truly achieved the ultimate flavor.
He had transformed an ordinary bowl of beef noodles into something miraculous, turning it into heavenly nectar.
It made all who tasted it lose themselves.
He was unquestionably a man of exceptional talent.
Although the forbidden ingredient played a part, it was even more thanks to his day after day of painstaking study, perfecting every step and constantly exploring the possibilities of Emotion-Forsaking Beef Noodles, that he had reached his current peak.
Xiangling felt that even if she devoted herself to studying beef noodles, she would probably struggle to reach Tang Hao's level.
But none of that mattered anymore.
"An illusion?"
Tang Hao froze.
He hadn't expected Xiangling to judge the Emotion-Forsaking Beef Noodles that way.
His Emotion-Forsaking Beef Noodles... were an illusion?
No, impossible!
He took a deep breath, suppressing the panic in his heart and regaining his usual outward calm.
"Arrogant."
"Whether it's an illusion or not, I'll decide after I've tasted your cooking."
"If it doesn't satisfy me, you lose this contest!"
"No problem!" Xiangling said confidently.
Hearing that, Tsarevich's eyes darted around.
He quietly sidled up to Tang Hao and whispered from an angle where no one else could see:
"Tang Hao, here's your chance. No matter what she makes, just say you're not satisfied after you eat it. That way-"
Smack-
Tang Hao slapped Tsarevich flying.
"Get lost!"
His tone was icy.
"Ow!"
Tsarevich rolled over twice on the ground, crying out in pain.
"Tang Hao, you!"
He held his reddened left cheek and glared at Tang Hao.
"What are you doing?!"
Tang Hao shot him a disgusted glance.
"Don't sully the purity of cooking with your filthy ideas."
"A loss is a loss, and a win is a win. Cheating is utterly meaningless!"
Although Tang Hao liked to mix "ice" (a forbidden ingredient) into the beef noodles he served his customers, he was also an excellent chef who took cooking duels extremely seriously and respected and upheld fairness.
After all, he cared about his reputation!
Besides, taste couldn't lie!
What's more, resorting to such underhanded tricks against a junior would disgrace his culinary path.
Would I be afraid of her beating me?
What a joke!
I'll win = I'm invincible!
"You bastard, I'm on your side!"
"If you don't win, I lose!"
"You dare hit me? Believe it or not, I'll destroy it, and you'll never see them again!"
Tang Hao merely said indifferently:
"Oh, then destroy it."
Tsarevich was startled.
"Y-you don't care anymore?"
"I do, but I can't let you keep blackmailing me forever."
"Remember, you can destroy it, but the consequences if I don't get it will be severe. You can't afford to bear them!"
Tang Hao's eyes suddenly filled with killing intent.
Tsarevich pissed himself in fright.
"I-I understand."
He no longer dared try to control Tang Hao.
"Hmph."
Tang Hao turned his gaze to Xiangling.
"Let's see what you can do."
Xiangling had no interest in their grievances and nodded.
Then she said to Lumine:
"Traveler, help me out in a bit. I haven't fully regained my strength yet."
Although she had overcome the side effects of the Emotion-Forsaking Beef Noodles, some effects lingered, and she couldn't muster much strength for the time being. She needed a little help.
"No problem." Lumine patted her chest.
Outside the restaurant.
Shen Luolun and Lan Yan waited in utter boredom.
Lumine had been inside for quite a while, but there was still no news.
"Lan Yan, why don't you send a paper figure in to see what's happening?"
"That's difficult. There are so many people, and the door's closed. The paper figure might not get in, and I have to divide my attention to protect you too. Let's wait a little longer."
"Hey, come on, I'm an adult too. I can protect myself, so go on without worrying."
"Oh? Rea-lly-?" Lan Yan suddenly drew out the word.
"Of course." Shen Luolun nodded confidently.
"Ah-a Cockroach Rat!"
"What?!"
Clutching Paimon, Shen Luolun leaped straight into Lan Yan's arms.
He looked around in a panic.
"Where's the Cockroach Rat? Where is it?!"
"The Cockroach Rat's right here!"
The girl pulled a face.
"Ah-"
"Cockroach Rat, Cockroach Rat-huh?"
"Huh?!"
Shen Luolun looked at her, still shaken.
"What are you doing?"
The girl playfully stuck out her pink tongue.
"Well? Scared, weren't you?"
"I told you that you needed my protection, but you wouldn't believe me."
"I made up a Cockroach Rat on the spot, and it scared you this badly. You're such a scaredy-cat."
What?!
Realizing he'd been tricked, Shen Luolun laughed in anger.
Damn it!
"Lan Yan!"
"You're joking around with me at a time like this?!"
"Believe it or not, I'll punch you, you-holy shit-a Cockroach Rat!"
His face suddenly went deathly pale, as if he had seen something terrifying behind Lan Yan, and he buried his head tightly against her chest.
His arms and legs clung to her for dear life, not daring to let go.
He had practically become an ornament hanging from Lan Yan.
"Ah! A-Shen, what are you doing?"
Lan Yan's pretty face turned bright red.
Holding her like this was far too intimate.
Although she had grown up with a certain someone, had plenty of contact with him, and was used to his touch, this was the first time they had been so close.
In particular, her well-developed body even felt a slight flutter that she didn't want to admit to.
Honestly...
"A-Shen, let go first, let go."
"There's no Cockroach Rat. I told you I made it up."
"If you want to get back at me, at least try a more convincing method."
She shook her body, trying to get him to come down.
"Fucking look behind you!" Shen Luolun growled, a little frantic.
"The Cockroach Rat is right behind you!"
No way?
Sensing that the urgency in his voice didn't seem fake, Lan Yan swallowed, feeling a rare moment of panic.
How could there really be a Cockroach Rat? Hadn't she just made it up?
Lan Yan slowly turned her head.
Then she saw what would become the greatest shadow of her life.
"Ah-!"
A piercing shriek rang through the sky!
The powerful sound waves drowned out the noisy crowd and even sent faint ripples across a pond several miles away. Several frogs breeding in the middle of the pond's lotus leaves were startled apart and hid in the water.
"Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, ribbit, ribbit..."
They croaked as if cursing.
"Monster!"
Lan Yan took off running without a moment's hesitation.
Perhaps fear had brought out her hidden potential. Even with the added weight of two people, Shen Luolun and Paimon, she could still run as fast as the wind.
"That kind of creature actually exists!"
How had a cockroach's head and wings been combined with a rat's limbs and tail?
Its bright green eyes in particular were terrifying to behold.
Lan Yan could have sworn she would have nightmares tonight.
"A-Shen, I really only wanted to scare you just now. That thing really has nothing to do with me!"
She was so anxious she was nearly in tears.
She had just said it on a whim, so how had one really shown up?
It was far too coincidental, so coincidental that it was absurd and couldn't help but arouse suspicion.
Fortunately, Shen Luolun, her best friend, trusted her.
"I believe you, Lan Yan. That thing is beyond either of our understanding, or rather, it shouldn't exist in this world at all!"
"Right now, the most important thing is to run. Hurry, run!"
"Just looking at it makes my sanity plummet!"
Shen Luolun couldn't help breaking out in goosebumps.
Even he, who in his previous life had liked watching bizarre short videos on a certain site and forwarding them to the dark web, felt severely sick at the sight of the Cockroach Rat.
I can't take it anymore, guys.