Chapter 16:
Mastering the Knife Skills
Kitchen.
After washing his hands, Xia Yu didn't leave immediately. Instead, he
quietly tallied up the harvest from cooking the Burgundy red wine beef stew.
He opened the system log:
"Mission [Observations
on the Shopping Street (1)] completed."
"You have learned the green-level recipe: Beef Stew in Burgundy Red Wine."
The mission had come as a surprise. He'd originally gone out just to try
something different for dinner. Who would've thought it would trigger a hidden
quest? That was the true reason he'd stepped in to help the struggling Western
restaurant.
"System, what level am I at in cooking now?" he asked.
"Level 5."
"No upgrade?" Xia Yu raised his eyebrows in disappointment.
In fact, he'd already reached Level 5 a few days ago.
Ever since he'd made the magical, glowing Mapo Tofu and was promoted to
Level 1.5, he'd been grinding experience. With help from the system, he
diligently studied his grandfather's cooking manual, practiced recipe after
recipe, and refined a variety of Chinese dishes. Slowly but surely, he had
pushed himself to this stage.
The two talent points he received after leveling up had already been evenly
distributed between his foundational skills: Knife Skills and Heat
Control.
"The host gains 10 points of Fame," the system added.
"Fame?"
"You can think of Fame as a type of system currency. The more you showcase
your cooking and let people enjoy your food, the more Fame you'll accumulate."
That's right!
Xia Yu suddenly remembered the Kitchen God Mall—a feature
he'd nearly forgotten.
"Fame, huh?" He pulled up his personal dashboard:
Host: Xia Yu
Gender: Male
Age: 16
Comprehensive Physical Fitness: Lv9 (strength, dexterity,
burst, reflexes, etc.)
Comprehensive Cooking Skill: Lv5[Beginner Start]
Fame: 10
(Fame is linked to the host's popularity, exposure, and achievements. It
can be used to buy items in the system shop.)
Only 10 points?
Tch. He didn't even bother checking the store. What could you possibly buy
with 10 points?
"Why was that beef so soft?"
Chef Kasumigaoka's voice suddenly came from behind, startling Xia Yu.
"Also, why only roast it for 30 minutes? A beef stew like that normally
takes two or three hours to fully develop flavor. But…" The middle-aged chef
looked perplexed. "Was it the knife skills?"
"You could say that." Xia Yu casually patted his chest. "Actually, I used a
surface-cutting method while prepping the beef. It's a pretty common
technique—but I only recently mastered it. I figured I'd try it out in this
dish. Honestly, I didn't expect it to work this well."
More than just 'well', Hideki Kasumigaoka thought, stunned.
Could the tenderness and flavor of beef really be transformed so
dramatically just from slicing technique? It was something he'd never even
heard of.
Any lingering doubts in his mind evaporated, replaced by a vivid memory of
that rich aroma.
No matter what theories he clung to, the young man had delivered a dish that
was leagues beyond his own—right before his eyes. Kasumigaoka's shoulders
sagged as memories flooded in.
He remembered what one of the Tōtsuki Academy's Elite Ten
told him when he was expelled:
"Cooking is an art."
"Talentless chefs only disgrace the craft. You're better off quitting."
"You don't belong at Tōtsuki."
But the defeat in his eyes soon gave way to determination.
Kasumigaoka clenched his fists, inhaled deeply twice, and made a solemn
request:
"Would you be willing to show me your knife technique?"
"You want to see it?"
Xia Yu raised a brow.
"I cut really fast. I can't slow down even if I try. Slowing down would
require reaching a state of… 'lifting heavy as light'—ah, forget it. I'll just
show you."
He had been about to decline. But when he caught the determined glint in
Kasumigaoka's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say no.
"Thank you!"
Kasumigaoka bowed at a perfect 90 degrees, pulled out a fresh slab of beef,
and placed it reverently on the cutting board.
"Watch closely!" Xia Yu picked up his kitchen knife, but noticed Kasumigaoka
pulling out a phone and turning on the camera.
He was already recording.
Black lines practically appeared over Xia Yu's head.
Uncle, can you be a little more low-key? My consultation fee is
sky-high!
Still, he composed himself. As he gripped the knife, all distracting
thoughts vanished.
With no warning, the blade moved.
Dong dong dong!
Up and down. The blade and chopping board sang in rhythm—a sound not
chaotic, but melodic. It was strangely pleasing to the ear.
Kasumigaoka couldn't even follow the blade's trajectory. All he could see
was silver light flashing through the air. Stillness and movement intertwined,
and for a moment, he felt as though he were witnessing something holy.
So smooth!
Soon, Xia Yu set the knife down, exhaled, and wiped the sweat from his
forehead.
This slicing method came from his grandfather's cooking manual. It had taken
only two days to learn, but executing it still placed heavy strain on his
muscles.
He needed more training.
Strong arms are a chef's second knife.
"Chef Kasumigaoka, you can take it from here. I'm going to enjoy some of
that stew."
He washed the knife, cleaned his hands, and left the kitchen without looking
back.
Kasumigaoka didn't even notice.
He was replaying the video over and over, analyzing every movement.
The young chef's back faced the camera, knife in hand, posture elegant—like
a world-class culinary master.
Slowing the footage, breaking it down frame-by-frame, Kasumigaoka could only
gape.
"He's only fifteen or sixteen… the same age as my daughter. How can he
already possess such refined knife skills? These aren't the basics. This is
artistry!"
Feeling inferior, he walked over to the beef Xia Yu had sliced and examined
it.
At first glance, it looked ordinary, like it had just been taken out of the
freezer. But as he curled the meat slightly with his fingers, fine
crosscuts—almost like a honeycomb—were revealed all over its surface.
Each incision was short, clean, and deep—yet easily overlooked.
No wonder it cooked so fast.
With cuts like these, flavor soaked in faster, the texture improved, and the
meat stayed intact.
Kasumigaoka could only murmur to himself, awe written across his face:
"I think… I've just met a monster in the form of a young chef."
In the Western dining hall…
Two Chinese girls were still enjoying their meal when a cheerful voice
interrupted.
"How was it? Tastes good, right?" Xia Yu asked, sitting across from them.
The round-faced girl wiped her mouth with a napkin and gave him a big
thumbs-up. "This is definitely the best Western food I've ever had!"
"Really?" Xia Yu couldn't help but beam.
Every chef lived for praise like that. The exhaustion of hours in the
kitchen vanished in an instant.
"What about you, Miss Elegant?" he teased, glancing at the more graceful
girl beside her.
"It's… delicious," she answered softly, cheeks tinged pink.
She swallowed the last bite of beef, and her eyes sparkled with bliss and
lingering satisfaction.
It was an expression no one could fake.