Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy-Chapter 183: Snakes and Dragons

"Sect Leader of Wudang, I see you’re still young, so I won’t hold you to account," Master Yong said, the corner of his mouth twitching. He quickly composed himself and added indifferently, "I firmly believe that my words cannot be wrong. Zhang Jiuling is the God of Cookery descended to the Lower Realm. In the future, he is destined to be the Emperor of the culinary world, and Miss Hua Lingxiu, with her extraordinary culinary talent, makes them a match made in heaven."

"But Hua Lingxiu doesn’t love that Zhang Jiuling," Master Zhan said through gritted teeth. This concerned his son Zhan Yan’s happiness, and as a chef, he had a temper of his own.

"That’s only temporary. Your son is not bad, but besides roast duck, what else can you teach him?" Master Yong asked, stroking his beard with confidence. "Zhang Jiuling, on the other hand, is different. I will personally act as his matchmaker and officiate the wedding—who would dare say they’re unsuited?"

"Master, are you really going to officiate my son’s wedding?" Zhang Xiguan asked, overjoyed.

His Zhang family had always passed down their skills through a single lineage. He doted on his son to an extreme degree and had taught Zhang Jiuling the recipes of his ancestor, Master Dongguan, when the boy was young.

And who was this Master Dongguan?

His surname was Zhang and his given name was Dongguan. He was originally a chef in the employ of the Pufu family, a prominent silk-producing household in Suzhou, and was particularly adept at making Official Residence cuisine. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong were fond of touring Jiangnan, with Suzhou being their most frequented location.

Whenever the Emperor traveled, local official residences would send their elite chefs to present their culinary arts. It was under such circumstances that Zhang Dongguan caught Emperor Qianlong’s eye.

During his southern tour in the 30th year of his reign, Emperor Qianlong tasted Zhang Dongguan’s cooking and was full of praise. Upon returning to Beijing, he brought Zhang back with him to become a royal chef, arranging for him to live in the Ning Family’s residence, which was connected to the salt administration.

The famous Longjing snack, Stewed Wheaten Cakes, originated from Master Dongguan. Furthermore, it was rumored that the entire Manchu–Han Imperial Feast came from him as well.

His own son’s culinary talent was excellent, and now, hearing Master Yong’s words, even Zhang Xiguan was convinced that his son would become a God of Cookery.

"A snake will forever remain a snake. It cannot become a dragon."

Just as the people of the Imperial Kitchen were congratulating Zhang Xiguan, a calm voice suddenly cut through the air. Hearing it, everyone in the Imperial Kitchen grew angry.

Zhang Xiguan was the most incensed. Right now, what he loved hearing most were boasts that his son was a future God of Cookery—a versatile emperor of fine foods, skilled in all arts. But this statement was a real mood-killer.

Zhang Xiguan and the others turned to see a handsome young man with a disdainful expression standing behind the Wudang Sect’s young Sect Leader.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"You dare question Master Yong’s words?"

"You Wudang disciple, you’ve gone too far!"

Seeing Wu Tian standing behind the young Sect Leader, the people of the Imperial Kitchen assumed he was a Wudang disciple.

Master Zhan saw that Wu Tian, who had stood on his side, was now about to be blamed by the Imperial Kitchen staff. He sighed, feeling the young man was impulsive, but still stepped forward to say, "Young brother, these were just offhand remarks. Why take them so seriously?"

"Since they were spoken without intent, I naturally won’t hold them against him," Master Yong said, making a Buddhist gesture as he addressed the Imperial Kitchen staff. "Do me this favor."

Hearing this, the people of the Imperial Kitchen were even more moved by Master Yong’s compassionate heart.

"He isn’t compassionate. He just knows his own words are nonsense and that what I said is correct, so he doesn’t dare admit it," Wu Tian stated plainly.

Master Yong’s brow furrowed slightly. How can this young man be so oblivious to propriety?

He had indeed seen Zhang Jiuling before. His talent was formidable, but it paled in comparison to Hua Lingxiu’s. As for that "God of Cookery descended to the Lower Realm" business, it was just an exaggeration, not the truth. But having come this far, Master Yong would never admit it.

"No, benefactor, what I said is true," Master Yong declared.

"Did you hear that?" Zhang Xiguan said angrily. "Wudang disciple, there’s no need to belittle my son out of jealousy. How could the words of Master Yong be false?"

"Of course, they’re false," Wu Tian sighed, then stated bluntly, "In truth, that Zhan Yan is superior to your son."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhang Xiguan snapped.

"Who is superior to whom can be proven by facts," Master Yong said, knowing that arguing further would be fruitless. "Facts can prove anything."

Even if Zhan Yan’s aptitude is greater than Zhang Jiuling’s, so what? Zhang Jiuling has been studying Master Dongguan’s recipes since he was a child, while Zhan Yan has only ever roasted ducks. The difference in their upbringing already shows who is stronger for now. As for the future? What does that have to do with me, a monk?

Once Master Yong made this point, everyone in the Imperial Kitchen agreed it made sense.

Zhang Xiguan gave Wu Tian a glance and then turned to Master Zhan, saying, "Call your son out. I’ll have my son come as well. We’ll see whose son is the unworthy one after a simple comparison. It will be clear as day."

"This..." Master Zhan was stunned, uncertain what to do.

In his eyes, his son was brilliant. The very first time he ate roast duck, he had identified every single ingredient, possessing what was known in legends as an "Emperor’s tongue." However, Master Zhan also knew that his son had never been formally taught by anyone; he had simply followed him all these years. He had no special recipes to pass down.

His son’s potential was being wasted. How could he possibly be a match for Zhang Jiuling? Master Zhan truly did not want to see his son lose and suffer ridicule.

Wu Tian stepped forward with a slight smile on his lips and said, "Trust him."

Master Zhan was taken aback, while the people on the Imperial Kitchen’s side suddenly came to a new conclusion.

"This Wudang disciple is actually on our side, isn’t he?"

"That’s what I’m thinking now. Why else would he say that to Master Zhan?"

"Exactly! He obviously wants Master Zhan to call Zhan Yan back so he can lose to our Jiuling and be utterly humiliated. When Lingxiu sees that, she’ll realize Jiuling is better than Zhan Yan."

"Yes, that’s it."

Even Zhang Xiguan now felt this Wudang disciple knew how to read the room.

Wu Tian stood with his back to the people from the Imperial Kitchen and Master Yong. However, Master Zhan could see Wu Tian’s eyes. They held a gaze so genuine and sincere that it inspired instinctive trust.

A person with such eyes can’t be a fair-weather friend or a petty man.

"Call Zhan Yan back," Wu Tian said again.

Under Wu Tian’s steady gaze, Master Zhan nodded unconsciously. He pulled out his phone and called for Zhan Yan to return.

The owner of Convenient Workshop and the waitress were both puzzled.

Finally, Zhan Yan returned, a somewhat flustered Hua Lingxiu by his side.

At the same time, Zhang Jiuling was called over by Zhang Xiguan. The moment he walked in, Zhang Jiuling said lazily, "Dad, I wasn’t done having fun! I was just about to get a cute girl’s WeChat when you called. Sigh!"

Zhang Xiguan hurriedly pulled his son aside and whispered in his ear what had just happened.

"Oh, so that’s it." Realizing the situation, Zhang Jiuling snickered. He casually took a kitchen knife from a member of the Imperial Kitchen and, without asking for permission, grabbed a roast duck from the Convenient Workshop’s kitchen. He tossed the duck into the air and wielded his knife.

In moments, the roast duck was sliced, each piece identical in size.

The chefs of the Imperial Kitchen erupted in praise for Zhang Jiuling’s knife skills.

"Since you’ve seen the error of your ways, Wudang disciple, I’ll let you have this perfectly sliced roast duck," Zhang Jiuling said, looking at Wu Tian.

Wu Tian shook his head. "The slicing is atrocious. I wouldn’t deign to eat it."