Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy-Chapter 184 My Son Has the Talent of a God of Cookery
"What? Are you suggesting my knife skills are subpar?" The originally amiable Zhang Jiuling’s face darkened with anger. As a young man, he couldn’t suppress his temper.
He was the heir to the Imperial Kitchen. He had grown up studying the cookbooks of Zhang Dongguan, and even his own father claimed his culinary talent was one of the finest in the world. He usually spent his time womanizing; otherwise, he believed his skills would have already earned him global fame.
He seldom even touched a kitchen knife. Today, he had personally sliced a roast duck, yet this man before him showed him no respect at all.
"Senior Brother, don’t be angry. It’s not worth it," the others from the Imperial Kitchen advised Zhang Jiuling.
Zhang Jiuling snorted. "Fine. Out of respect for my junior brothers, we’ll consider this matter settled."
Wu Tian, with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly said, "Here, I am in charge."
What? You’re in charge?
The men from the Imperial Kitchen chuckled and glanced toward Yong Dong. Their meaning was clear: Master, he claims to be in charge, showing you no respect at all.
Yong Dong pressed his palms together and was about to say something when Wu Tian’s eyes narrowed.
Suddenly, the pressure in the space intensified. Everyone felt as though invisible stones had crashed down upon them. It became difficult to breathe, shudders ran through their bodies, and their faces instantly paled.
"Kneel!"
The command appeared in their minds, compelling the disciples of the Imperial Kitchen to kneel one by one. Yong Dong was no exception; his eyes were wide with shock, and he had no choice but to kneel.
Meanwhile, the little girl, Master Zhan, and the others felt nothing. They just looked on with confusion, especially Master Zhan’s group, who had no idea what the men from the Imperial Kitchen and the Shaolin Monk were doing.
Only the little girl blinked, her eyes sparkling. It must be Dad playing tricks. I want to learn this trick.
"Baldy, it seemed you had something to say just now," Wu Tian said, looking at Yong Dong indifferently.
"Amitabha. I intended to say that seeing the benefactor is like seeing Buddha himself," Yong Dong said with the utmost respect and piety, as if he were worshiping Buddha.
Of course, that wasn’t what he had actually intended to say. But under the circumstances, a monk knows what’s best to say.
"Oh? I am like Buddha himself?" Wu Tian chuckled. "Then why would I call you baldy? Would Buddha do such a thing?"
Buddha certainly would not. Although he thought this, Yong Dong still earnestly said, "Buddha indeed would. As it is said, there is no self, no person, no sentient beings, and no lifespan. A name is merely a label. Whether the Great Master calls me ’monk’ or ’baldy,’ both refer to me. There is little difference; all is emptiness."
Wu Tian chuckled. He remembered one of the Hundred Schools of Thought, the Logicians of the Gongsun family, who were known for their prowess in argumentation, especially the paradox of ’a white horse is not a horse.’ It’s a pity. Faced with a monk, even the Gongsun family probably couldn’t win an argument.
Wu Tian then looked at Zhang Jiuling, who was kneeling and trembling on the ground.
"I... I was wrong," Zhang Jiuling pleaded for mercy. He didn’t dare provoke such an expert.
Wu Tian nodded.
But Zhang Xiguan, though kneeling, still gritted his teeth and said, "You are a powerful man, but that does not give you the right to bully others! My son... my son Jiuling has the potential of a God of Cookery!"
Hearing this, Wu Tian chuckled. In another world, he had also encountered an undying old man whom he had killed. With his last breath, the man had screamed, ’My son, Wang Dong, has the potential to become a Great Emperor!’ Unfortunately, the man called Wang Dong never dared to seek revenge.
Hearing those words again, Wu Tian wanted to laugh inwardly. Seeing the disbelief on Wu Tian’s face, Zhang Xiguan gritted his teeth again.
"My son, Jiuling, has the potential of a God of Cookery!
"At three years of age, he had completely memorized the Dongguan cookbook. By five, he could already wield cooking utensils to make his own fried eggs. At seven, everyday stir-fry dishes were a breeze for him.
"At the age of ten, Jiuling became the head chef of a restaurant under the Imperial Kitchen’s name. Many customers, after tasting his food, begged for more.
"When he was fifteen, he studied abroad with top culinary masters. They called him a soul born into this world purely for gastronomy.
"...
"At the age of twenty, I competed against him in culinary arts and lost. His cooking skills are, in fact, already the best in the Imperial Kitchen.
"My son, Jiuling, has the potential of a God of Cookery! This is no exaggeration!"
Zhang Xiguan spoke in a low voice. He didn’t dare to speak too loudly, for he, too, was afraid of death.
The people around him fell silent.
Master Zhan took a deep breath. If Zhang Jiuling is really like that, he’s truly impressive.
I’m just a roast duck chef, Master Zhan thought, sighing bitterly. No matter how talented my son is, he can’t compare to his son. He naturally felt inferior. He tried his best to give his son the best he could, but he knew it still wasn’t enough. Kids from other families get cars from their parents when they turn twenty—BMWs, Mercedes, and the like. But I have no money!
"Believe in him," Wu Tian said, smiling, having seen what was in Master Zhan’s heart. "Are kings and generals destined to be so by birth?"
What does that mean? Wu Tian’s words made everyone pause.
"Does this gentleman still think my son is inferior to his?" Zhang Xiguan asked, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Yes," Wu Tian maintained. "Whether Zhang Jiuling has the talent of a God of Cookery, I do not know. But I do know he can’t compare to Zhan Yan."
Zhan Yan hadn’t expected a stranger to have more faith in him than he had in himself.
"I get it, I get it!" the little girl suddenly exclaimed, turning to Zhan Yan. "You idiot, what are you waiting for? Go up there and get some pointers from my dad! If he wants you to be a God of Cookery, you will be one, even if you aren’t one now!"
The little girl’s strength was growing day by day, and her speech had become normal, but her voice was still childish and impossibly cute.
Yet that phrase, "If he wants you to be a God of Cookery, you will be one, even if you aren’t one now!" left the crowd dumbfounded. Wasn’t that an incredibly arrogant claim?
This was especially true for Zhang Xiguan and the others. They knew the Martial Path and culinary arts were two completely different things. Wu Tian is skilled in the Martial Path, not necessarily in cooking. Is he going to beat up everyone in the world and force them to acknowledge his chosen God of Cookery?
Zhan Yan felt frustrated, but he stepped forward anyway. Wu Tian began speaking to him in a low voice. Wu Tian had such a refined and elegant aura that even though no one could hear what he said, they found themselves captivated just by watching him. The time passed pleasantly, without a hint of boredom.
Finally, Wu Tian finished speaking. Zhan Yan walked over and picked up a duck that had been plucked clean but not yet prepared. Then, he quickly gathered ingredients like white vinegar and honey.
First, he chose a large basin and mixed all the marinade ingredients. He then placed the washed and dried duck into the marinade and began to massage it, helping it absorb the delicious flavors.
His technique was as graceful as an artist’s.
It was just a massage, yet the uncooked duck began to emit an intoxicating aroma. At the same time, he tapped certain acupressure points on the duck’s body. It looked less like he was making a roast duck and more like he was practicing a martial art.
The aroma grew more and more intense, making everyone’s mouth water. They all desperately wanted to taste it right away.
"Is this... could this be... The Way of Culinary Cultivation? No... no, that can’t be! Wasn’t it lost long ago?" As realization dawned, Zhang Xiguan stammered in astonishment, his body trembling as if he had been struck by lightning.
