Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 74 The Competition Begins, Mapo Tofu

As for his specialty dish, it was undoubtedly Mapo Tofu.

With that in mind, Zhou Kang selected a piece of high-quality tofu from the ingredients.

Who knew what that wild monkey could cook up? Probably just grabbed whatever he was good at, right?

Zhou Kang looked towards Sun Wukong, only to be taken aback.

He saw Sun Wukong also take a piece of tofu from the ingredients.

So there was no choice left, was he deliberately copying him?

Let’s have a try then!

Zhou Kang sneered, placed the tofu on the cutting board, whoosh whoosh whoosh!

A flurry of knife flashes, and the tofu was instantly cut into small, evenly-sized cubes.

This skill impressed all the Immortal Clans present.

Without the enhancement of cultivation and mana, to be able to cut so beautifully showed his profound foundation.

The God of Cookery and the Kitchen God breathed a sigh of relief, convinced by Zhou Kang’s dexterous and error-free technique that they had this win in the bag.

On Sun Wukong’s side, he was cutting the tofu with his As-You-Will Kitchen Knife, unhurriedly. Although he was slower than Zhou Kang, each slice was exceedingly stable, and his hand holding the knife didn’t tremble in the slightest.

The tofu cubes he cut, if compared to Zhou Kang’s, were tinier and almost without any shape discrepancy.

Show off skills? No need to apologize, he could do it too, but it was unnecessary.

Indeed, just as Zhou Kang thought, Sun Wukong was also preparing tofu, the exact same Mapo Tofu, but not because he was copying him, it just so happened to be one of his own specialties.

His Divine Skills Yanling Battle Intent were gleaned from Chen Nuo’s Mapo Tofu; he was quite familiar with it.

On Zhou Kang’s side, he had already started his preparation. Mapo Tofu required not just tofu, but also high-quality minced meat.

Zhou Kang meticulously picked the best minced meat from the ingredients area.

Glancing at Sun Wukong still cutting tofu, he scoffed disdainfully, you can’t even learn from me at that speed!

He no longer paid attention to Sun Wukong and focused on his own work.

He heated oil in a wok, first cooking the minced meat, then adding minced garlic, fermented black beans, red chili peppers, and sweet bean paste.

Zhou Kang opened a small jar he had placed on the cutting board beforehand and poured its contents into the wok.

This was his secret bean paste he had prepared in advance for today, which he confidently believed could elevate the dish to perfection.

Zhou Kang stir-fried the ingredients in the wok, giving them a bright and vibrant color.

The spicy and fragrant scent wafted through the air, striking deep into the soul. An Immortal Clan member sniffed the air, anticipation growing within.

"It smells so good..."

The faces of other Immortal Clans also showed an expectant look.

Zhou Kang then added a ladleful of broth, stir-fried it a few times before adding the ready tofu cubes.

After seasoning with wine and various condiments, Zhou Kang simmered it on low heat.

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong didn’t bother with minced meat; instead, he seemed to be boiling something in a large pot, with the tofu cubes still sitting idly by as decorations.

In between his tasks, Zhou Kang once again noticed Sun Wukong’s actions.

Seeing his completely different approach, a dismissive smirk curled at the corner of Zhou Kang’s mouth. Was this a total mess, a surrender?

Truly humiliating himself!

Seeing that the dish was almost ready, Zhou Kang lifted the lid, immediately added some soy sauce, and sprinkled in garlic mince.

Looking at his own perfect steps, without a single mistake, pride filled Zhou Kang’s eyes. He had this win for sure!

White Powder mixed with water was his next step for thickening the sauce, and then he added oil along the edge of the wok, turning up the heat for a quick fry!

Just as the wok was about to scorch, Zhou Kang finally plated the Mapo Tofu.

After topping with a generous amount of Sichuan pepper, the Mapo Tofu was complete.

Only then did Sun Wukong begin Zhou Kang’s initial step.

"Your Majesties, this commoner’s dish of Mapo Tofu is ready! Please, Your Majesties, have a taste!"

The very essence of Mapo Tofu lies in its heat; if not eaten while hot, the texture would greatly diminish.

A maid took Zhou Kang’s plate and presented it with the utmost respect.

Gazing upon the dish where white tofu, red chili peppers, and minced garlic mingled and converged, even Haotian and the Jade Pool, who had tasted all the delicacies under the heavens, were attracted by the Mapo Tofu before them.

With delicate fingers, the Jade Pool scooped a small spoonful and brought it to her lips.

Her eyes immediately brightened!

The heat of the dish was just right; there was no taste of gypsum used in making tofu, nor the metallic taste of water-soaked tofu, and without any unpleasant odors from the ingredients, only an appetite-stirring aroma remained.

The spiciness and numbness complemented each other brilliantly, bursting forth on the tip of the tongue.

The refreshing taste that followed was perfectly combined with it, as different sauces cooked together with the tofu, exalting each other’s essence!

Delicious!

The Jade Pool nodded, quite satisfied with this answer sheet. It was certainly worthy of appearing at her Flat Peach Banquet.

Haotian took another spoon, tasted it, and stopped at a small bite, savoring it carefully; indeed, it was not bad.

Haotian and the Jade Pool did not voice their opinions, for Sun Wukong’s dish was not yet finished, and Su Rian and the others did not hold much expectation, but it was the proper procedure.

Zhou Kang, seeing the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother nodding, was so excited he almost jumped up.

Even the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother liked his dish; he was sure to win.

After having eaten half of the Mapo Tofu, the Jade Pool waved her hand, signaling for the dish to be taken away.

All eyes were on Sun Wukong now, observing his professional movements; the Immortal Clans were somewhat astonished. Could it be that he really knew how to cook?

Pfft, pretending to look skilled.

Zhou Kang, eyeing Sun Wukong’s orderly process, twisted his head away in disdain. This monkey did have some talent, being able to reproduce the dish perfectly after just watching him cook it once.

But that was merely a show of surface skill.

Could his twenty-seven years of culinary experience be so easily surpassed?

After a while, Sun Wukong’s Mapo Tofu was also ready.

Carrying the plate, Sun Wukong approached with a playful smile and said, "Jade Emperor, Queen Mother, please eat it while it’s hot."

Impudent!

The Queen Mother glared with cold eyes, ready to teach this ill-mannered monkey a lesson, only to be stopped by the Jade Emperor beside her.

"Bring it here," said the Jade Emperor indifferently.

A maid beside them took Sun Wukong’s Mapo Tofu and presented it.

Seeing that Sun Wukong’s dish looked identical to the previous one Zhou Kang had made, the Jade Pool lost any desire to eat it. With Sun Wukong’s careless and undisciplined appearance, she was even less inclined to touch it!

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Hmph, serves him right!

Zhou Kang sneered.

How dare he behave so carelessly before deities of such high stature as the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. He truly did not know whether he was alive or dead.

Haotian felt somewhat conflicted.

The Jade Pool outright refused to eat in a huff, and if he also refused, wouldn’t it seem like the rulers of the Heavenly Court were being petty?

Looking down at the Mapo Tofu, Haotian found himself hesitating. Although it looked similar to Zhou Kang’s dish, could it really be edible?

But he, Haotian, the magnificent Jade Emperor, how could he be frightened by a dish of Mapo Tofu?

Even if it were unpalatable, he could block his sense of taste, and even if it were poisonous, he could instantly expel the toxins!

With this thought in mind, Haotian calmly took a new spoon and tried a bite, planning only to taste—but at the moment the Mapo Tofu entered his mouth, Haotian was astonished.

One bite, then another!

Haotian, as if bewitched, swiftly followed one bite with a large spoonful as soon as he swallowed the last.