The Chef King Competition had just begun, and Guoba rushed ahead to help Yanxiao.
Well, to be honest, Guoba—this mysterious assistant—wasn't much help. Its biggest role was lighting the fire for Xiangling.
The rest of the time, it just cheered cutely from the sidelines.
[Keqing: "The assistant, who dances a mysterious dance to cheer for Xiangling, is now also cheering for contestant Yanxiao. This just proves that this assistant is completely impartial."]
[Xiangling: "Yeah, Guoba isn't some hired help I brought in. It just loves watching people cook! I think it went over to help Yanxiao ease his nerves."]
Who would've thought? Guoba could even perform a "mysterious dance." Now it really was like, "Please watch me closely."
In the story, Xiangling even had time to comfort Yanxiao, giving him advice on how to stay calm—without any intention of starting her own cooking yet.
Yanxiao thanked Xiangling for her kindness but urged her not to delay his cooking.
[Xiangling: "No delay—I've already finished."]
"???" This line left everyone utterly confused.
According to the book, the competition had only just started, right? Hadn't they just been chatting about Guoba?
Yanxiao was still so nervous his hands were shaking, and you're already done cooking?
Xiangling, are you cheating?
Once Yanxiao finished as well, it was time for the judges to evaluate the dishes.
[Xiangling: "My main dish is 'Jueyun Chili Chicken,' the side dish is 'Braised Meat with Bamboo Shoots,' and the dessert is 'Crystal Shrimp.'"]
Xiangling's three dishes covered everything—things that fly in the sky, swim in the water, and grow in the earth. It was practically a "Land, Sea, and Sky Combo."
She then went into detail describing the three delicacies, making everyone reading drool with hunger.
Especially Paimon, whose stomach was already growling, her saliva nearly dripping onto Lumine's shoulder.
[Yanxiao: "My dishes are 'Adeptus' Temptation,' 'Mint Salad,' and 'Golden Shrimp Balls.'"]
[Guoba and Keqing couldn't take their eyes off the 'Golden Shrimp Balls.']
This time, however, things were a little different—because Keqing, as a judge, had the privilege of tasting first.
[Keqing: "Incredible! Both sides have put tremendous thought into their dishes—clever and delicious. I'd like to have another Golden Shrimp—I mean! To further savor both chefs' skills!"]
After all three judges gave their opinions, some audience members were also selected as judges.
[Paimon: "Why wasn't Paimon invited as a judge?! Paimon is super dedicated and knowledgeable about food! Their loss for missing out on me!"]
[Lumine: "Calm down, Paimon. I'll make some for you later."]
[Paimon: "Hehe... Even though there are so many chefs in this world who can make so many delicious dishes, the one who treats Paimon the best is still only you!"]
"Wuwuwu, Lumine, you're so good to me." Paimon was deeply moved.
Lumine could only sigh. "Then stop drooling all over my clothes!"
Turns out, Paimon had been hiding behind Lumine while reading, and the descriptions of the food made her drool all over Lumine's shoulder.
"Ehe." Paimon imitated a certain bard.
"Now I kinda want to try it too..." Guizhong mused.
"Wanting to eat is easy—watch this divine cooking machine!" Dora-A-Cloud (a.k.a. Cloud Retainer) pulled out an "electric rice cooker" from who-knows-where.
"Say... Do you think Xiangling would feel that machines can't replace human cooking?" Guizhong laughed.
Madame Ping and Cloud Retainer exchanged glances and smiled—they'd just have to consult Rex Lapis later.
[Ningguang: "I hereby declare the winner of this Chef King Competition—contestant Xiangling, who won by a single vote!"]
With the competition over, Xiangling and Yanxiao exchanged some tactical compliments.
Afterward, the Traveler and Paimon went to find Keqing, noticing that she seemed troubled.
Jokingly, it was about the "Golden Shrimp Balls."
Seriously, it was about her having voted for Yanxiao.
Keqing had no regrets about her fair judgment, but she worried that Xiangling, as a contestant, might not understand—a conflict between duty and personal feelings.
She considered Xiangling a friend, yet she hadn't voted for her, which made Keqing—who had few friends—fear that Xiangling might resent her.
[Keqing: "Xiangling, I have something to tell you... My grandfather once said, 'If food is the contest, then follow your heart.'"]
["So... Even though I'm your friend, I still voted for Yanxiao's 'Adeptus' Temptation'..."]
[Lumine bluntly said: "It was for the Golden Shrimp Balls, wasn't it?"]
[Keqing: "Y-Yeah, so what?! I just really like Golden Shrimp Balls, okay?!"]
Xiangling didn't mind at all. In fact, she admired Keqing's earnestness.
Had Keqing voted for her out of friendship, Xiangling might've felt her victory was undeserved.
She even encouraged Keqing not to be too hard on herself and to relax more.
Zhongli approved—balance between work and rest was indeed good.
Though Keqing always spoke sternly, she was actually quite warm-hearted. The only one she was truly strict with was herself.
In the story, with Madame Ping's help, Keqing's incomplete recipe was restored, and the dish was made.
After eating it, Keqing shared childhood stories with everyone—about discussing the Geo Archon with her grandfather, his passing, and her becoming one of the Qixing.
[Keqing: "The name 'Rex Lapis' is sometimes tied to my grandfather's in my heart. Whenever I see the Archon's name, I think of him."]
["This dish—every time my grandfather tested it, he'd have me taste it while hot. So nostalgic... This is exactly that flavor."]
[Xiangling: "This dish is called 'Spicy Meat Bun.' The day I met Guoba, this was what I was making!"]
["Guoba and I met in a cave. I saw an offering table, so I placed some Spicy Meat Buns on it."]
["Then I accidentally fell asleep. When I woke up, Guoba had eaten all the buns, and ever since then, it's been following me—becoming family."]
[Suddenly, the divine stone behind them shattered, revealing the majestic form of 'Guoba.']
The boulder broke—out came the spirit... spirit bear!
[Xiangling: "Huh?! Guoba?! Is that you?!"]
[Madame Ping: "Indeed. After all, Guoba is the 'God of the Stove'—the 'Marquis of the Hearth'—you've been searching for."]
[Guoba: "Lu~♪ Lu~♪?"]
Madame Ping's revelation stunned everyone—not just the characters in the book, but the readers outside as well.
"Guoba... You...?" Xiangling stared blankly at Guoba.
She'd just wanted to see the Chef King Competition during the Moonchase Festival—never expecting to uncover such a bombshell.
"Huh? What about Guoba?" Chef Mao had read part of the book earlier but had been too busy cooking to keep up. He thought Guoba had caused trouble again.
"Lu Lu♪?" Guoba tilted its head.
The customers at Wanmin Restaurant were oblivious to this secret, but the crowd at the neighboring Three-Way Teahouse was buzzing.
They glanced left at Zhongli, then right at Guoba.
Holy crap—I'm sandwiched between two gods?!
Wait—Xiangling's master is an Adeptus, her 'pet' is a god, and her friends are the Qixing... She's the real big shot here!
She's practically on par with the current director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—oh right, they're childhood friends too...
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Xiangling: About Guoba
"Hmm... No matter what his identity is, Guoba will always be family to me."
"But if possible, I'd really like Guoba to regain his memories. Hehe, I'd love to ask for a few cooking tips."