31: Counterexample

"If you don't believe me, you can call Old Man Senzaemon right now and ask."

"This is what I've mentioned before—phenomena that modern science can't fully explain."

"Kuchishin, simply put, is the heart of a chef."

"A top-tier chef can infuse their intent into their dishes, allowing diners to experience the chef's emotions through their food."

"Erina, I don't know about others, but your grandfather is definitely above the level of a special-grade chef."

"The scars on his eyes were left by a China chef's knife—something impossible to happen in Japan."

"That's because culinary duels in Japan and other countries are far less brutal than in China."

"The brutality of culinary battles there rivals that of Kengan Matches."

Hiss!

"Many chefs who lose in such duels leave behind their fingers at best."

"At worst, they lose their entire hand and have their culinary careers severed."

"The most extreme duels even wager their entire lives."

Hiss!

The crowd collectively sucked in cold breaths. Wasn't this a bit too intense?

"Erina, your grandfather never told you about this because it's too dangerous."

"After all, in China, bad cooking can literally get you killed."

What kind of hellish joke is that?

"In an environment of life-threatening stakes, a chef's survival instincts kick in, naturally leading to rapid improvement."

"Akira, I'm curious—why do they push themselves so hard?"

Chitanda Eru once again acted as the straight man, raising her hand in curiosity.

"Why is the Kengan Tournament so brutal?"

Chitanda didn't hesitate. "Because of profit."

"Exactly. The same goes for China's culinary duels—there's massive profit at stake."

"Have any of you ever encountered this scenario?"

"A single chef prepares an entire meal, but only one particular dish tastes exceptionally delicious—so much so that it enhances your appetite and brings you unexpected joy."

"Yes."

"I've encountered that before."

"Me too."

...

Many in the crowd confirmed their experiences.

"That's the most basic form of Kuchishin."

"The dish that stood out was infused with the chef's emotions."

"However, because their Kuchishin wasn't fully developed, their cooking quality fluctuated, making their skill inconsistent."

"Even they can't guarantee that every dish will taste equally good."

"If they take one more step forward, they'll become a true special-grade chef."

"But some may remain stuck at that threshold for their entire lives."

"Now imagine if, during a business negotiation, you treated your partner to a meal crafted by a master chef who infused their emotions into their cooking."

"Wouldn't that improve the chances of sealing the deal, or even give you an edge in profit distribution?"

"That is the true value of a chef above the special-grade level."

"It's like in video games—ordinary food only restores hunger, but special dishes grant powerful buffs."

"I see! Now I understand."

Chitanda Eru clapped her hands, signaling her comprehension.

Today had been an eye-opening experience, filled with fascinating knowledge.

"Akira, I'm curious—does that mean above special-grade is Lin-grade?"

"That's right. Above special-grade is Lin-grade, and above that is Dragon-grade."

"The Dragon-grade takes its name from China's 'dragon' symbol."

"Centuries ago, when China was still in its old era, a Dragon-grade chef saved an emperor from fatal anorexia—after all the imperial physicians had given up."

Akira shared this legendary story.

"Cough, cough! Isn't that too exaggerated?"

"It's most likely true."

"Because in China, there's an obscure law: if you become a Dragon-grade chef, you earn one chance to be pardoned for any crime—no matter how severe."

Akira shrugged as he revealed this information.

"It's essentially an ancient imperial immunity pass."

"Of course, no Dragon-grade chef would waste such an opportunity on stupidity."

"Because Dragon-grade chefs are rarer than once in a century, even Lin-grade chefs are already considered gods of cooking."

"Akira, do you think a Lin-grade chef could cure my mother's anorexia?"

Erina suddenly perked up, looking hopeful.

"Erina, are you underestimating your grandfather and mother?"

"With their connections, they could easily hire a Lin-grade chef."

"But despite that, your mother's condition is only getting worse."

"That means even Lin-grade cooking isn't enough to satisfy her God Tongue."

"This is the consequence of eating too well in youth."

"Now, nothing she eats can stimulate her tongue anymore, so she rejects all food."

"The God Tongue is what China calls 'Super Taste.'"

"Historically, this talent has appeared multiple times."

"My master told me that even the weakest Super Taste chefs could barely reach Lin-grade standards."

"But your mother, Erina? She only knew how to enjoy food."

"She never learned to cook herself."

"Otherwise, she could simply make dishes that satisfy her own tongue—it should have been an easy solution."

Akira shook his head in disbelief.

Not just him, but many veteran chefs in China had also heard of this case.

And they had used it as a counterexample to educate their disciples.

The results had been excellent.

A Super Taste user who never trained as a chef and nearly starved herself to death?

This was an utterly incomprehensible joke in China.

One had to wonder if Erina's mother even knew about her own infamous reputation there.

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