Chapter 36

All-in

Was it because of that incident a few days ago? The Patriarch, with a fierce look, took charge of the casse-pain, and even Megi-sabe, who was very confident, was there.

I don’t know what makes Megi-sabe so confident, but as someone who is serious about casse-pain and comes from a nation that doesn’t back down, I can’t afford to lose, even if he is a disciple of the greatest chef of this era.

Something hot and boiling surged within my genes, no, my soul.

When the two parties agreed on the casse-pain, the Poison King, with a beaming face, spoke to the crowd again.

"Upon reflection, we can’t just make any dish. Since this is for the Tang Clan’s birthday feast, we will make a dish that best suits the Tang Clan. Then, the heroes gathered here today will taste it and decide who wins. Got it, both of you? How about it, everyone?"

Those gathered here were guests from various sects and families, as well as prominent figures in the martial world.

Since they were people who loved fighting, even though it wasn’t a battle with swords and blood, they were all excited about this unprecedented type of competition.

"This party is going to be very interesting!"

"Good!"

"This is more exciting than the dances of beauties!"

"Indeed, the Tang Clan’s birthday party is different from the rest!"

With the guests’ cheers and the Poison King’s unrestrained enthusiasm, the Tang Clan’s head appeared very flustered and sent me a mental message with a troubled expression.

[Young Hero, are you okay? Father seems to be going too far. If your dignity is hurt, how will I face Tianyi? Let me talk to Father...]

He seemed worried that his sworn brother might be embarrassed in this situation.

I was grateful that there was at least one person in the Tang Clan with proper principles, despite being a psychopath, and I made a fist salute to the head to indicate not to worry.

The head made a slightly surprised expression, nodded at me, and immediately called the servants to give instructions.

"Since we will be cooking, prepare two tables, a stove, and whatever the two of them need!"

Before the basic cooking preparations were ready, I had some time to look around. The Poison King was grinning at me.

I felt annoyed that I had to dance with Megi-sabe on the stage set by the annoying old man. But thinking about it, the more people there are at a party, the more lively it gets.

Moreover, since the old man is the main character of this party, shouldn’t he dance with us?

I made a very polite fist salute and called out to the Poison King.

"Poison King Elder."

"Why? Are you scared now?"

The Poison King sneered again, but his sneering wouldn’t last long.

"No, I just have something to say."

"Alright, go ahead. It’s too late to back out now, understand?"

‘In my past life, I was from a nation that doesn’t back down in casse-pain! No way!’

The Poison King, who seemed to reluctantly agree, gave a sardonic smile. I asked him.

"Didn’t you say, Elder, that we should make a dish that suits the Tang Clan?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"But, I’m not a martial artist, so I don’t know much about the Tang Clan. To make a dish that suits the Tang Clan, I need to understand the Tang Clan first. Can you show me the Tang Clan?"

The Poison King made a face as if I was talking nonsense.

He seemed bewildered by my sudden request to show me the Tang Clan.

After a moment, the Poison King frowned and said.

"What? Didn’t you spend over ten days here, being shown around the Tang Clan’s various places by our precious Yingying? And you still don’t know the Tang Clan?"

‘That’s right!’ As expected, the reaction was as I anticipated.

I smiled and asked the Poison King.

"Are you saying that the spirit and atmosphere of the Tang Clan are embedded in mere pavilions and gardens?"

"What?!"

The Poison King was suddenly flustered.

He realized he had misspoken and quickly corrected himself.

"Ah, I was a bit hasty in my answer. No, the spirit and atmosphere of the Tang Clan can’t be contained in mere buildings and gardens. So, how should I show you the Tang Clan?"

The Poison King quickly corrected himself and asked me, but I already knew what to say.

"How would I know, since I’m not a martial artist? You need to find a way to show me..."

I said, pretending to be troubled, and the Poison King’s face turned irritated.

It seemed like the old man, who was good at nothing but being a nuisance, didn’t catch on at all, as if he wasn’t Yingying’s grandfather.

‘He didn’t even catch on after I said it like that. What a frustrating old man.’

While lamenting the old man’s lack of insight, someone in the crowd stood up and made a fist salute.

"Indeed, as I heard you are from the Zhuge family, your wisdom is remarkable. Poison King Elder, may I say a word?"

"Go ahead, Taecheongyang, the head of Huashan."

I thought he was from Hawaii with his flower-patterned clothes, but it turned out he was the head of Huashan, a plum enthusiast. As expected, the national-level figures had a different style.

He stood up and suggested to the Poison King.

"Ultimately, the spirit and atmosphere of a sect or family are best embodied in their martial arts, aren’t they? How about showing us the Tang Clan’s martial arts? It would be a good opportunity for us to witness the Poison King Elder’s martial prowess."

The plum enthusiast was quicker to catch on than I expected.

The leader of the plum enthusiasts was saying exactly what I wanted to hear.

I nodded inwardly, and the Poison King, finally understanding the meaning of my words, looked as if he wanted to tear my face off and said mockingly.

"So, you wanted to see that all along! Fine, I’ll show you what you want to see. But if the dish you make after seeing it doesn’t convince the heroes gathered here, you’ll be in trouble. Got it?"

"Yes, I understand. Then, if the heroes are convinced, what will you do, Elder?"

The Poison King, perhaps thinking he would never lose, answered with an excited voice.

"I’ll grant you one wish, no matter what! How about it?"

"Good!"

As our conversation ended, Tang Yingying, who was worried, sent me a mental message.

[Young Master, why are you escalating the situation?]

I leaned close to her and whispered.

"What’s a man’s life about? It’s all-in."

"Huh?"

Tang Yingying looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

Of course, she couldn’t understand a man’s all-in, being a woman.

Besides, if I lose, I won’t be able to cook anyway. A little trouble is nothing. The bigger the risk, the bigger the return.

In a game of chance, the winner takes all. In this situation, the bigger the stakes, the better.

While receiving Tang Yingying’s worried gaze, the Poison King, who had stood up, walked to a distant open space with a short log he picked up and called out to me with a sneer.

"I’ll show you the essence of the Tang Clan’s martial arts, so watch carefully! Who can help me? I need wooden chopsticks for my hidden weapon."

The leader of the plum enthusiasts stood up again and answered.

"Since it’s the Poison King’s birthday, I’ll do it myself."

"Hehe, that’s a sufficient birthday gift. Here you go!"

As the Poison King threw the log into the air, the plum enthusiast, dressed in Hawaiian fashion, flew into the sky.

And he drew his sword.

-Clang

‘One strike?’

After a single sound, the plum enthusiast was back in his seat, and the log the Poison King threw was back in his hand.

The crowd burst into exclamations and cheers.

"Hehe, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique is so impressive, what a great show."

"Indeed, Huashan! I’ve broadened my horizons today."

The leader of the plum enthusiasts smiled and sat down, basking in the praise.

Then, the Poison King’s voice rang out.

"Watch carefully, this is the Tang Clan’s Man Tian Hua Yu (满天花雨)!"

The Poison King floated into the air, and the log in his hand disintegrated into chopsticks, which rained down like a shower onto the stone floor.

-Swish, Thud

‘Wow! That’s Man Tian Hua Yu!’

The Huashan’s Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique and Man Tian Hua Yu, all in one place!

However, while the crowd cheered, I felt a sense of disappointment.

‘Damn! But what did I see?’

It was over in a flash, and I felt no inspiration at all.

The martial artists were excited, but I couldn’t tell if they were reacting to what they saw or just pretending to be impressed.

After the crowd’s cheers died down, the Poison King sneered and asked me.

"Did you see it well?"

"Yes, but... Can I go and take a closer look?"

"Sure, go ahead, though I don’t know what you’ll see."

The Poison King, perhaps knowing I saw nothing, was grinning.

I approached where the Man Tian Hua Yu had landed.

The wooden chopsticks were deeply embedded in the stone floor, leaving only a finger’s length visible.

‘Phew. The old man’s energy is still good.’

After a while, the Poison King’s voice, as if taunting me, rang out.

"What are you looking at for so long? Hmm."

However, what I couldn’t see was the process, but the result was visible to the naked eye.

"This is... a plum blossom?"

"What? How did you...?"

The Poison King, surprised, stared at me.

The chopsticks, which had fallen in a chaotic pattern, formed a single plum blossom, the same one I had seen in the Tang Clan’s garden all day.

Although the calyx was missing, I had seen the flower so many times that I was sure of it.

The Poison King, looking at me with a disbelieving expression, I returned to the feast area, where the arena was already set up.

Tang Yingying quickly approached and asked.

"Young Master, what dish will you make?"

In the midst of her worried gaze, I thought about what to make.

‘A dish that best suits the Tang Clan? The Tang Clan is poison. Should I make a dish with snakes or scorpions?’

However, snake soup takes a long time to prepare, and I haven’t made it much.

While thinking, I suddenly remembered the first day I arrived, when I visited the pavilion where poisons were raised with Tang Yingying.

Among the many poisons I saw there, one ingredient that perfectly suited the Tang Clan, or rather, the old man, came to mind.

A fish with a grumpy old man’s face.

Fugu! Pufferfish!

Here, it’s called Hedu (河豚) or Jiangdu (江豚), the river pig!

What dish could be more fitting for the Tang Clan and the grumpy old man?

I don’t know what the guy claiming to be the disciple of the great chef will make, but if he uses pufferfish, he can’t surpass me.