A Culinary Battle with a Slim Chance of Victory

Luo Qinzhu was stunned.

A chef who has just obtained the ninth-rank qualification, fighting a seventh-rank chef? This sounds like a delusional and arrogant boast.

However, Luo Qinzhu had witnessed Nan Xu's talent more than once.

She also knew that there are always some geniuses who cannot be measured by common sense.

"Will we win?" she couldn't help but ask.

"I told you, I'm confident of winning."

Nan Xu looked directly at her calmly, his voice not loud, but very firm.

After hesitating for a moment, Luo Qinzhu nodded gently.

"...Okay, I believe you."

[Ding! You have triggered the quest: "A Culinary Battle with a Slim Chance of Victory"]

[Mission Description: You promised Luo Qinzhu that you would defeat the Jiang family's seventh-rank chef with your ninth-rank skill in the culinary duel between Baiweilou and the Jiang family, helping Baiweilou achieve final victory. But can you really do it? At least at this moment, apart from Luo Qinzhu, no one has any expectations of you.]

[Task Rewards: 75000 Experience Points, a large amount of Luo Qinzhu's favorability, and a random gift from Luo Qinzhu]

[Hint: Be aware that this task is extremely difficult for you!]

Looking at the refreshed task notification, Nan Xu slowly curled the corners of his mouth.

Extremely difficult?

Coincidentally, as a player, his favorite thing is high-difficulty missions.

Because of the high level of difficulty, it often means that the rewards for the task are extremely generous!

Nan Xu turned his head and was about to walk towards the arena.

Just then, a discordant voice rang out:

"Hmph, confident of winning? You don't even know your own limitations!"

"A mere chef who has just entered the ninth rank dares to represent our Baiwei Restaurant in this battle? If we lose, you can't afford the responsibility!"

Nan Xu turned around and saw Wang Yi with a stern face, his tone full of accusation.

"You just lost a game, how dare you say that?" Nan Xu retorted without any politeness.

"You..." Wang Yi's chest heaved, his face alternating between pale and flushed. "Victory and defeat are common in war; it's normal for culinary duels to have winners and losers!"

He forcibly suppressed his anger and explained, "But in that match just now, I was an eighth-rank player, and my opponent was also an eighth-rank player. Before we went on stage, it was hard to say who would win or lose."

Then, he changed the subject, pointing directly at Nan Xu: "This round is different. You are only a ninth-rank, and you just entered the ninth rank today."

"Does a mere novice who has just entered the ninth rank have even the slightest chance of winning a culinary duel against a seventh-rank chef?"

"What are your intentions in taking away the opportunity for other eighth-rank chefs to perform?"

When Wang Yi said this, his tone was almost questioning!

Many other chefs at Baiweilou nodded unconsciously after hearing these words.

Yes, compared to a chef who has just entered the ninth rank, it is obvious that an eighth-rank chef has a higher chance of winning, right?

Nan Xu took in the expressions of all the chefs, but remained utterly fearless.

He stepped forward, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint, and said loudly:

"So what if I've just entered the ninth rank? When I was just starting out as a chef and hadn't even reached that rank yet, I could defeat an eighth-rank chef in a culinary duel. Now, as a ninth-rank chef, defeating a seventh-rank chef is no problem at all!"

"Even if you think my chances of winning are slim, those of you whose culinary skills have reached the eighth rank can ask yourselves honestly: are you confident you can defeat the Jiang family's seventh-rank chef?"

"If you don't, then please don't criticize my actions. At least I'm confident of victory, while you aren't."

Upon hearing this, the eighth-rank chefs all showed expressions of shock and admiration.

Someone actually managed to defeat an eighth-rank chef in a culinary competition before even reaching the highest rank? No wonder this kid dared to challenge a seventh-rank chef...

One of them said with a complicated expression, "Truly, the younger generation surpasses the older..."

Even after learning about Nan Xu's record, he still thought Nan Xu had little chance of winning, but he didn't think he could possibly defeat the Jiang family's seventh-rank chef.

Since things have come to this, we might as well let the young man give it a try. If he succeeds by sheer luck, great; if he fails, it will still be a valuable experience for him.

The others shared similar thoughts.

But Wang Yi remained stubborn. The only difference was that after hearing Nan Xu say "defeated the eighth-rank chef," his face changed from pale to green and then red.

"Hmph... Fine, since you're so confident, then if you lose, the responsibility will fall on you!" he said, barely suppressing his anger.

Upon hearing this, several experienced chefs at Baiweilou subconsciously frowned.

That's just sophistry. Anyone with eyes can see that Baiweilou is doomed to lose right now, and even if they lose to Nanxu, it's no one's fault but his.

Nan Xu sneered, and was about to speak when a voice interrupted him.

"No need for that, I'll vouch for him."

Luo Qinzhu stepped forward, shielding Nan Xu behind her, her expression resolute.

"Nanxu is part of our Baiweilou restaurant. If Nanxu loses, the responsibility will naturally fall on me, the head chef."

"Otherwise, wouldn't I, as the head chef, be ridiculed?"

"This..." Wang Yi was speechless for a moment.

After a long pause, he finally said dejectedly, "Fine, fine... just don't regret it!"

Then, with a sour face, he slunk back into the crowd.

Luo Qinzhu looked at Nan Xu and gave him a gentle smile.

"Go, Nanxu... just go for it!"

"It's okay if you lose, no one will blame you. If anyone wants to do that, they'll have to get past me first."

"Chef Luo..."

Even though Nan Xu had already guessed that Luo Qinzhu would probably do this, he couldn't help but feel a little moved.

He didn't speak again, because he knew that the best reward for trusting Luo Qinzhu was to win this culinary battle.

Nan Xu performed a somersault and easily stepped onto the ring.

"Baiweilou, Nanxu".

He drew his kitchen knife and stared directly at the seventh-rank chef from the Jiang family across from him without changing his expression.

"The Jiang family, Jiang Chengjin."

The Jiang family chef glanced at Nan Xu indifferently, not taking this ninth-rank young man seriously at all.

In his eyes, Baiweilou's fate was sealed long ago.

"Both chefs are ready, the culinary battle...begins!"

At Prefect Zhao's command, the two on the stage began their movements in unison.

Jiang Chengjin went to the shelf where the ingredients were placed and quickly took a large number of mountain delicacies into his basket, including fresh bamboo shoots, fresh mushrooms, goji berries, ginseng... Each one was of exceptional quality and could be identified as top-quality ingredients.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he picked up a live chicken with glossy plumage, and with a swift and decisive stroke, ended its life.

For this culinary competition, the Food Evaluation Bureau has only prepared some basic ingredients. If other ingredients are needed, both sides can prepare them themselves, but the grade of the ingredients must not exceed the seventh rank.

The ingredients prepared by the Jiang family were almost all at the limit of the seventh grade.

Seeing this, Luo Qinzhu's heart tightened.

Although Baiweilou also purchased some high-quality ingredients, a significant portion of them had already been consumed after the two cooking competitions.

Moreover, their Baiweilou restaurant was not as wealthy and powerful as the Jiang family.

In terms of high-end food reserves, the current situation is extremely unfavorable for Nanxu.

Thinking of this, she turned her gaze to Nan Xu, looking somewhat nervously at the ingredients he had chosen.

Then, she stared wide-eyed in disbelief!