Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　When questioned by the judges, Wang Jing smiled and explained. However, she concealed one thing: the mutton wasn't bought from outside, but rather delivered in advance by someone from the "dark cuisine" world.

　After all, she didn't have much experience here. Although she could cook something with just any lamb she bought, the taste wouldn't be consistent and wouldn't meet her standards for cooking.

　If you are going to do it, do it to the best of your ability.

　This is the motto of the dark cuisine world.

　Bai Yuan made the decision, which sounded somewhat out of place, but Wang Jing liked the sentence very much.

　"Let's start scoring now."

　Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Sasaki Yui picked up the microphone, looked at the judges in front of her, and spoke loudly.

　18, 18, 18, 17, 17

　With a total of 88 points, Wang Jing's name surpassed Hojo Miyoko's, jumping to first place. She frowned slightly when she saw her score, but didn't say much.

　She knew in her heart that the leader's cooking had raised the judges' scoring standards, and her score should actually have been higher, but she couldn't very well blame the leader.

　I can only blame myself for not being skilled enough.

　"You perfectly captured the theme of this event: lamb. With just a few spices, you brought out the richness and deliciousness of the lamb perfectly."

　Looking at the girl in front of him, Chihiro Orie said with admiration.

　The theme this time is lamb, and pure lamb dishes will undoubtedly get extra points, as is the case with the dish in front of us.

　"Thank you."

　After thanking him, Wang Jing looked at Zhang Chen, who had stood up, and said nothing more. She silently went to the kitchen counter to pack her things and prepare to go to Area A.

　Liu Yu was assigned there.

　After the match, it was time to go have lunch.

　There's a sushi restaurant at the foot of Mount Totsuki that's pretty good. I'll go try it with Liu Yu later.

　"This dish features tomahawk lamb chops made with Hangzhou peppers, fresh Sichuan peppers, and wild chilies, along with a variety of spices and vegetables. Its aroma is mysterious and unique. Please enjoy."

　Zhang Chen placed the three-pepper tomahawk lamb chops on a plate, poured over a thick sauce, and gave the judges a mysterious smile.

　At this moment, he had two big dark circles under his eyes, looking like he had stayed up all night, but he looked radiant.

　"This... looks somewhat like a combination of Chinese and Western styles."

　"Actually, it counts. I simmered celery, carrots, cilantro, scallions, ginger, and Shaoxing wine for fifteen minutes as the base flavor for the dish."

　The lamb chops are caramelized with sugar until they undergo a Maillard reaction, which helps to quickly lock in the nutrients in the lamb chops.

　Then add cooking wine, boiling water, white peppercorns, aged tangerine peel, white cardamom, angelica root, star anise, fennel seeds, cinnamon, and bay leaves.

　After boiling, add onions, scallions, chili peppers, carrots, celery, and cilantro. Finally, transfer to a pressure cooker and add the vegetables and water that were cooked at the beginning...

　Zhang Chen began to speak at length, explaining that this dish was not his original creation, but rather a specialty dish developed by the leader, Bai Yuan.

　The other party had once demonstrated it at a gathering of the dark cuisine community, leaving him lingering there.

　Later, he privately consulted a chef who was extremely skilled at replicating dishes, and after many attempts, he finally created a dish that tasted very similar to the one the leader had made that day, which he used for the competition.

　"The spiciness of white peppercorns, the mellowness of aged tangerine peel, the freshness of cardamom and angelica, the warmth of star anise and fennel, and the rich aroma of cinnamon and bay leaves."

　The blend of these spices is like a symphony, resonating in your mouth!

　Savoring the flavors on his tongue, the tall, thin man was completely intoxicated. So many spices brought a mysterious, complex flavor to the tomahawk lamb chops.

　"You said you used more than three kinds of peppers, right? The freshness of pointed peppers, the crispness of Hangzhou peppers, the slight numbing sensation of white pepper, the numbing spiciness of fresh Sichuan peppercorns, the sour and spicy flavor of pickled peppers, and the strong spiciness and unique aroma of wild mountain peppers."

　A faint blush graced Chihiro Orie's face, her voice brimming with a unique enjoyment; the combination of so many peppers made her tremble uncontrollably.

　The lamb chops are carefully cut into tomahawk shapes, with a golden-brown and crispy exterior and tender, juicy meat inside that melts in your mouth. The flavors intertwine with the spiciness of various chilies, the aroma of spices, and the freshness of vegetables, creating a complex and harmonious taste.

　"The soup has a rich, thick flavor, with saltiness as the main characteristic, and the umami flavor is exceptionally strong."

　The plump old man patted his belly, looking completely satisfied.

　"It's numbing and spicy at first, then leaves a lingering aftertaste, and has a subtle hint of Southeast Asian curry flavor. It's truly a creative fusion dish!"

　Chihiro Orie's face was full of admiration, and a hint of amazement flashed in her eyes.

　No wonder everyone says that the students of Totsuki Academy are incredibly strong. In just over ten minutes, several of their dishes have already amazed her!

　Chapter 173 List of Advancements

　The competition continued, and more and more people brought their dishes forward. Bai Yuan looked at the constantly refreshing leaderboard above his head, his expression unchanged.

　In previous autumn selections, generally

　Four players are selected from both Group A and Group B, and a player who wins twice in a row can advance to the finals.

　This summer's selection process is different. This time, eight people will be selected from each category, and they will need to compete three times to advance to the finals.

　The reason for changing the rules is mainly because this year's students are very strong, and Bai Yuan wanted to give them all a chance to perform, so he relaxed the requirements.

　A duel between two strong individuals is certainly interesting.

　But he was more interested in the weak defeating the strong.

　"Let's see how far you can go."

　Inside the VIP box, watching Yukihira Soma finally appear, Bai Yuan murmured to himself, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

　He observed this guy for a long time and found that although he didn't have much talent in cooking, he was very hardworking and a genius who worked hard.

　When faced with a powerful enemy, they will undergo a transformation, unleashing strength far exceeding their own capabilities.

　This is also the reason why he has gotten to where he is today.

　There's also Kurokiba Ryo.

　As one of the three Egyptian Gods in the early stages, he spent a considerable amount of his childhood under his tutelage, and then honed his skills at Totsuki Academy for another six months.

　Now, he has long since reached the level of a first-class chef.

　In addition, there's Takumi Aldini, this kid from Italy, whose talent is slightly better than Soma Yukihira's, but still just average.

　Their skills are just on the verge of becoming a first-class chef, so it's uncertain whether they're hiding their true abilities, but we can determine that from the later matches.

　"Teacher Shirabuchi, Lady Erina, Miss Alice, let's eat first."

　A knock came from the VIP room.

　The door then opened, and Hisako Shinoto walked in carrying a lunchbox. She first bowed respectfully, then placed the lunchbox on the table.

　"Did you cook a meal especially for us? How thoughtful!"

　Just as she was starting to feel a little hungry, Hisako Shinto arrived at the scene. For a moment, she didn't know whether to say it was telepathy or that the other person's arrival was just in time.

　However, regardless of the circumstances, the fact that the other party was prepared in this way is a remarkable thing, and that is what Alice Nakiri envies the most.

　She also wanted a capable secretary like that, someone who could appear promptly when she needed them and help her solve all sorts of troubles.

　"Secretary, why don't you stop following Erina and come with me instead?"

　The desire was so strong that Alice Nakiri spoke up directly, causing Hisako Shinoto to look surprised. Erina Nakiri stood up and stood warily in front of Hisako.

　"What nonsense are you spouting? Hisako is mine, and she can only be mine!"

　"I'm sorry, Miss Alice, I..."

　Erina Nakiri asserted her dominance without hesitation, and Hisako Shinoto hurriedly spoke up, her face slightly flushed, clearly not expecting to be so popular.

　"Let me try your cooking. You did a great job today, Hisako."

　The atmosphere felt a little awkward, with Erina and Alice seemingly at odds. Bai Yuan smiled and opened his lunchbox, drawing everyone's attention.

　The lunchbox contained a small amount of food: the main dishes were medicinal mutton soup and beef fried rice; the side dishes were miso stewed tofu and sesame-dressed spinach; and there was also some fruit for dessert.

　"The Japanese have such small appetites."

　Looking at Hisako Shinto's bento box, which looked like it was for feeding birds, Hakugen couldn't help but think to himself, "No wonder these people all look so thin."

　"Actually, I didn't do a good job. That dish could have been made more perfect. When adding the medicinal herbs, I mixed up the proportions. Fortunately, the amount was small and it didn't affect the taste of the soup."

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's praise, Hisako Shinoto blushed and then whispered something to show that she could do even better.

　"Passing the qualifiers is just the first step, but I believe you can keep going strong."

　Seeing the slight unease in Hisako Shinoto's voice, Erina Nakiri knew she needed encouragement, so she smiled, patted her face, and offered words of encouragement.

　"No matter what, I will do my best and I will never let Erina-sama and Shirabuchi-sensei down!"

　Encouraged by Erina Nakiri, Hisako Shinoto smiled, then patted her chest and looked at Shirabuchi beside her.

　"Just do your best, don't put too much pressure on yourself, and take a break when you're tired."

　Compared to Erina Nakiri's encouragement, Shirai saw the pressure that Hisako Shirato was hiding. The next moment, he gently ruffled her fluffy pinkish-purple short hair, his voice filled with pity.

　"Teacher Baiyuan..."

　The sudden concern made Hisako Shinoto tremble. Her smiling face suddenly stiffened, and her eyes welled up with tears.

　She can be very strong.

　But a single sentence could break their defenses.

　"If you feel stressed, it's okay to cry. It's a way to release your emotions and there's nothing shameful about it."

　Noticing Hisako's current state, he pressed her head against his chest to cover her unsightly appearance. Hisako's body twitched slightly at his words.

　"This is..."

　Beside her, Erina Nakiri was a little confused, not knowing what had happened. Hisako Shinoto was fine just now, so why was she suddenly crying?

　Did Teacher Bai Yuan bully her? No, she overheard their conversation just now, and there was no bullying involved.

　..

　"Alright, don't worry about it, let's eat."

　Having had a similar experience, Alice Nakiri stared at Hisako Shinomiya for a long time until Erina Nakiri was about to ask a question that would ruin the atmosphere, at which point she spoke up to stop her.

　"Eh?"

　Erina Nakiri still didn't quite understand, but she also seemed to understand but not quite. Worried about saying the wrong thing, she shut her mouth and returned to her seat.

　Hisako Shinto's crying lasted for five minutes. As the girl's body gradually calmed down, Shirayuki took out a tissue from his pocket.

　"You performed very well today. Just continue to play normally and you should be able to achieve good results."

　Looking at Hisako Shinto as she got up from his arms, her eyes were red, and Shirai gently wiped away her tears with a tissue.

　However, it must be said that her red eyes and tearful appearance are really cute and give people a lively feeling.

　"Ah."

　Without opening her mouth, but instead making a sound through her nose, Hisako Shinoto nodded, feeling a little shy as she thought about what had just happened.

　As a student, she actually buried her head in Bai Yuan's arms and cried inside him. How embarrassing!

　However, the moment she leaned closer, the faint fougère scent on Bai Yuan's body lingered in her mind; she must have sprayed perfume before leaving home that morning.

　"The roster for Group A is almost finalized."

　Looking up at the now-stopped leaderboard, Bai Yuan said calmly.

　An hour had passed since Hisako Shinto left and returned. Several people in Group A had finished cooking, and those he had been watching all achieved good results.

　"Is it all decided? Let me see who advanced!"

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, Hisako Shinto immediately stepped forward out of curiosity and looked at the leaderboard above, where she was shocked to find that her ranking had dropped to fourth.

　"Ok?"

　Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she couldn't believe her name had dropped so drastically. Her gaze shifted upward, and Hisako saw the name above hers.

　Liu Yu, 93 points

　Kurokiba Ryo, 90 points.

　Akira Hayama, 87 points

　Nito Hisako, 87 points

　Takmi Aldini, 83 points

　Soma Yukihira, 82 points

　Yuki Yoshino, 80 points