Lee Xian, Cultivator of Guyon

Cooking Duel

The lush trees dotted the edge of the cooking competition arena that suddenly appeared in the middle of the forest. The green leaves were toying with the sunlight, creating a twitching shadow on the ground. In the middle of the arena, a long table with cooking utensils had become available, waiting for the two contestants.

Xian started with definite steps, taking out various herbs from his village. The spices looked simple, but every time Xian opened one package, a strong and seductive scent immediately spread. "This is the seasoning of my village's heritage," Xian said as he showed a golden-yellow bundle of spices, "Famous for the name 'Golden Seasoning', can turn ordinary cuisine into extraordinary."

The Demon Queen, with a confident smile on her face, began to take out the ingredients. A glowing crystal box was placed on the table, and when the box was opened, various exotic materials appeared. There were rainbow-colored fruits, pulsating flesh, and other foreign-looking materials in Xian's eyes.

“Ah, this is one of my favorites,” said the Queen while showing a purple mushroom with glowing dots. “Laughing Mushrooms, perfect for cover dish.”

A Queen's maid, curious, accidentally touched the Laughing Mushroom. In an instant, a carefree laugh began to sound from his mouth. Before long, the laughter spread to the other servants, then spread throughout the camp. Laughter, laughter, laughter, and laughter echoed throughout the forest.

Xian, who was initially startled, immediately joined in the laughter. “Ah, I have never laughed so freely,” he said as he patted the Demon Queen on the back.

The Demon Queen, who was also laughing, tried to speak in the middle of her laughter, “Oh, I forgot to tell! The Laughing Mushroom Effect! But don't worry, the effect is only a few minutes.”

After the laughter subsided and the camp calmed down again, the two continued the preparations. Xian painstakingly cut the vegetables and chose the best meat, while the Demon Queen seemed to focus on mixing the ingredients, creating a strong and exotic aroma.

“You really make me curious about the results of your cooking,” Xian said with a smile to the Demon Queen.

Demon Queen returned her smile, “So did I. But we'll see who wins.”

They refocused on their respective preparations, but the atmosphere now seemed lighter and full of laughter. Although they are contestants in a competition, but behind it all, the two respect each other and enjoy every process they go through.

The arena that was filled with laughter, is now back to serious. Under the clear blue sky, with a gentle breeze carrying the aroma of spices, the two contestants stood face to face, each behind their cooking tables. Spectators surrounded the arena, waiting with bated breaths.

With a bang of the trumpet, the cooking competition begins.

Xian began by concocting spices for his village's spicy chicken soup. His hand movements were agile, grinding the herbs with stone dimples, creating a fragrant and bright red paste. “The aroma of this spice reminds me of my childhood,” Xian muttered, “My father often made it during winter.”

The Demon Queen calmly raised her hand, letting magical energy out and revolving around her hand. With graceful movements, he created a luxurious dish that looked like stars flashing on a plate. “Look, Xian,” The Queen said proudly, “This is the 'Star Sky', a rare dish from my kingdom.”

Xian nodded, amazed. “It looks amazing, but taste is more important than display.”

One of the most prominent dishes of Xian is spicy chicken soup. The smell of the soup was so strong and seductive, yet there was something Xian had forgotten. He added too much chili. Some impatient guards, trying the soup and instantly blushing their faces, ran around looking for water while dancing about in his spiciness.

“Hahaha, it seems like your soup is too spicy, Xian,” The Demon Queen laughed while looking at the bewildered guards.

Gracefully, the Queen tasted the soup. For a few seconds, his expression did not change. Suddenly, tears flowed from his eyes. “It..” Queen looking for words, “ini really spicy, but tasty!”

They both laughed, enjoying the moment. Despite the competition, the two respect each other and learn from each other.

As time went on, the two contestants continued to cook, creating enthralling dish after dish. Xian in his traditional way, reminiscent of the warmth of home and the memories of the past. Demon Queen with her magic, created a dish that looked like a dream and was full of wonders.

As the sun began to set, the cooking competition ended. Both of them stood in the middle of the arena, waiting for a decision.

However, regardless of who the winner was, both of them had won the hearts of the audience and each other with their dishes. And more than that, they have shared memories and laughter in a day they will never forget.

The sun slowly sank on the horizon, painting the sky with orange and purple gradations. In the middle of the arena, two long tables lined up with a variety of dishes that invite taste. On one hand, a luxurious dish that was brilliant like a glittering jewel was made with magic by the Demon Queen. On the other hand, the traditional dishes were simple yet filled with memories and home flavors by Xian.

The moment that was waiting arrived. A appointed judge approached the table and tasted the food of the two contestants. The audience held their breath, curious about his decision.

After trying all the dishes, the judge took a deep breath and said, “Both contestants have given their best. Demon Queen dishes amaze the eyes and tempt the senses, while Xian dishes evoke memories and soothe the heart.”

Everyone is waiting in tension. The judge then continued, “However, the winners of this cooking competition are... Xian!”

A standing ovation broke out in the arena. Xian, with sparkling eyes, showed his gratitude with a low bow.

The Demon Queen smiled faintly, her face showing both admiration as well as disappointment. "You're really amazing, Xian," he said, approaching the young man. "I might lose out on cooking, but I found someone really interesting."

Xian laughed, "Thank you, Queen. Even though your dishes are amazing, maybe the taste of home and memories is still the best."

The night grew darker, the stars began to shine in the sky. As a celebration, Xian invited everyone to dance together around the campfire. With the rhythm of the music from the traditional instruments of the village, Xian began to dance with a hilarious movement.

"How about you dance, Queen?" take Xian with a laugh.

The Demon Queen seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally smiled and nodded. "Why not?" A little awkwardly, he tried to follow Xian's dance steps. However, as time went on, he started to enjoy it and laughed cheerfully with everyone.

The atmosphere of the night was full of laughter and happiness. The bonfire burns warmly, dancing to the beat of music. The stars in the sky seemed to bear witness to the newly established friendship between Xian and the Demon Queen, as well as the wonderful memories they would remember forever.