I took Mr. Chouyu's place in his battle against the mysterious masked chef, and won the second of three rounds.
It was a frying match where speed was key.
I have to get the antidote so I can save both Chouyu and Mel Li.
Otherwise, they'll both... I don't have much time!
The Greatest Trump Card. Joker's Laugh
What is the third round of the best-two-of-three lobster battle?
Knife skills were first...
Followed by frying in the second round.
In the third round, I have chosen the cooking style considered the most difficult of all.
Braising. In other words, hotpot cooking.
Hotpot cooking.
There are no restrictions in this round. Create a pot roast with lobster as the main ingredient.
The better-tasting dish wins.
However, time on the blood clock will continue to drip as we cook.
Better hurry, or the poison will finish off Chouyu and the girl!
Damn. What kind of a man is he?
I underestimated you before.
Now, I'll have to get serious or my revenge won't be fulfilled.
Boy! You may choose any ingredient you think you might need!
T-this is...?
In this store room, I have stocked many ingredients from both land and sea.
If you happen to lose despite having access to all these ingredients...
Then that can only mean that your skills were inferior!
I will brook no excuse from you, boy!
Like I even need them. I have to win, no matter what!
Hey, bring it to me.
As you command.
I have no time. Got to hurry!
What is in those pots?
These are my treasures, soaked in hatred!
T-they're dried seafood!
That's right. Delicacies such as abalone, shark fin, and scallops, dried out for preservation.
It isn't just about preservation. They're high quality ingredients that create a deeper taste after being soaked in water!
These ingredients, you...
Right. These ingredients were the ones I couldn't use after I fell for Chouyu's trap sixteen years ago.
Stop this nonsense about traps and revenge!
Mr. Chouyu isn't a person who wins by cheating!
Silence, boy! You don't know anything at all!
Nothing about what kind of cheater your beloved Chouyu really is!
Sixteen years ago, I loved a woman whose name was Meika.
Ms. Meika, bring us two orders of fried rice.
Yes sir. Coming right up.
Here you go.
Meika worked at the restaurant where I was training.
She had a kind heart, and her beauty was the talk of the town.
She was the reason why I churn the wok.
The sole reason for my existence.
What? Thirty orders?
Yes. A big group just came in. Can something be done?
All right, I'll do it. Leave everything to me!
Really?! That's great!
I felt that I could die just to make her smile.
But then, I learned that her husband would be chosen through a cooking battle.
My opponent was my rival from culinary school...
A man I shared a mutual respect for, as a fellow chef. Chouyu!
I never dreamed that this would happen. But it should be interesting.
We'll do this fair and square, Chouyu!
I can't ask for anything more!
We were the best students from our cooking school.
Many people came to watch us duel.
The match we had was...
Lobster, best two of three. Let's go, Chouyu!
Yes!
Ms. Meika! I'll win! And I swear I'll make you a happy bride!
Um... yes.
Let the contest begin!
It happened shortly after the contest started.
W-what's this?
Chouyu... you...
Chouyu had hidden a poisoned needle with my lobsters.
I couldn't forgive him.
I hid the truth, stood up with all my strength, and continued so I can crush him with cooking.
I'll get you, Chouyu!
But the first and second rounds were utter defeats.
The match was over before I could use the dried seafood in the third round.
Chouyu was chosen as Meika's husband.
I was set up by an unfair trap.
I lost both the contest and Meika in public.
My passion for cooking is basically my passion for Meika!
After I was defeated by Chouyu's cowardly trap, I lost my reason to live.
Since then, I have forsaken everything that I was.
I sealed myself with a mask and armor.
And...
I joined the Cooking Underworld, vowing to get revenge on Chouyu!
Cooking Underworld?
You don't need to know about it.
You will lose this match, drink the poison, and die.
I won't lose, and no matter what, I won't lose trust in Mr. Chouyu!
You'll never understand my suffering of over ten years.
But, it was not all in vain.
The time which I suffered has further ripened my sea delicacies, increasing the fullness of their savory taste.
In a sense, this ingredient is most poetic for my revenge!
With it, I can make the ultimate dish that I couldn't back then.
With it, I'll defeat you!
It shall be the last symphony of my revenge. My Grand Finale!
Lobster, best two of three. The last round that settles everything!
Let's start, boy!
Yes!
Hmm, this looks good too.
No, this one here is better...
The masked chef is making seafood hotpot, so...
I could use these fresh seafood as well.
No, it won't do. No matter how fresh the ingredients, it can't beat the thick flavor of ripened dried seafood.
What sort of hotpot should I try...?
After all, the most important part of this round is your soup stock!
Thick, flavorful broth from a supply of sea delicacies...
There is no way to defeat the flavor accumulated over many years.
What should I do? I don't have much time!
Aaaugh! What am I supposed to do?!
Fei.
Where do the roots of your cooking lie?
When in doubt, it is best to return to your roots.
That's right! Just as Fei said during the Super Chef exam...
I should go back to my roots!
The roots of my cooking... is my mom's taste.
And... my home in Szechuan.
That's right! Yes!
This is my cuisine!
I can do it with these!
Cooking should bring happiness to people,
No matter what the reason, I don't like those who use cooking for revenge!
I see. You've chosen mountain vegetables... a treasure trove of soup stock.
That isn't too shabby, boy. However...
You have a fatal problem given this limited time!
Yes, the preparations are done!
Boy!
I'll give you one piece of advice.
Shouldn't you check your pot?
You didn't think it through, boy.
Mushrooms, mountain potatoes, and burdock taproot do produce wonderful soup stock.
But if you boil that many vegetables at once, a large amount of alkaline will seep out.
If not removed, the bitter froth will ruin the taste.
And no matter how much you remove, you don't have enought time to get it all.
Isn't that too bad, boy?
I was raised in Szechuan. I know all about the alkaline.
What?
I'm just getting started here!
He's bluffing.
So much alkaline is spewing out of his vegetables...
The lobster's taste will be completely ruined.
I will challenge you with this!
Hot Pot Cooking Compendium.
That's a cookbook!
You're reading a cookbook now?
This Super Chef is no more than a child!
What the hell is he doing?
You told me that you'll fight seriously now.
So, I'll have to show you my real skills!
Your real skills? You mean you've been holding back?!
Nonsense! It's a bluff!
My soup came from the very best in sea delicacies. There's no reason why I should lose!
Don't underestimate me, boy.
It is done!
Brimming with sea delicacies, I present seafood hotpot cuisine with the ultimate in Chinese soup stock.
My Sea Dragon Hotpot!
I'm finished as well!
A Liu Mao Xing Special! With a bounty of mountain food, I present my Mountain Treasures Flying Dragon Pot!
Mountain Treasures Flying Dragon Pot?
Impossible. The froth is gone... but it can't be removed so quickly!
The lobster must have sucked it up.
Now, judge the food!
Don't be hasty.
There's no time. If the hourglass runs out, everyone will die!
Start judging now!
Don't be hasty, boy.
I've lined up a suitable judge for the final round.
What?
Shilou? Why are you here?
Stop it! Don't be so rough!
You blockhead, that hurt!
What's your problem, jerk?!
Shilou!
Brother Mao, I'm sorry. I was worried, so I came after you guys.
But they captured me...
Mr. Chouyu! Mei Li!
What happened?
They were poisoned by this masked chef.
Poison... Damn you! How dare you...!
Hey you! Leggo of me!
Shilou!
Are you all right, Shilou?
Yean, I'm all right.
What is the meaning of this?! How dare you involve him!
It can't be... He's the judge you mentioned?!
Exactly. He will judge the food, not knowing who made what.
We'll have him eat, and choose the dish which he feels tastes better.
You want me to...?!
That's right. If you select Mao's dish, then everyone will be spared.
But if you select my dish, then Chouyu, Mei Li, and you, Mao...
I'll have your life as well!
W-wait a minute... you're kidding me, right?
You're saying all our lives depend on my judgment?!
I can't accept a role like that!
Now, lobster, best two of three! The third round will settle this match!
Which pot tastes better? White, or black?
Now, judge!
No way. Stop kidding, guys. What are you thinking...?
The lives of everyone here depend on my judgment?
Shilou, please hurry up! There's no time!
I know, Brother Mao, but...
Here, we have a seafood hotpot, with a mouth-watering smell of the ocean.
And over there is a pot of mountain vegetables. The combination of mountain food and lobster looks delicious...
They both look great! Which one? Which one did Brother Mao make?!
The city center has a bustling din,
As I jump over the guard rails unseen.
Must hurry over to our meeting place,
And beat the dusk in a race.
In your twinkling eyes, I see so clearly,
The soothing warmth that you feel for me.
And with only that, my poor defenseless heart,
Is starting to melt and break apart.
This is a feeling that won't stop; it just keeps going straight.
And it's starting to speed up and accelerate.
I'm by your door, and knocking hard. Won't you let me in?
Let me show you my spirit filled with passion. Yeah!