I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: Seven Kill Shock the World
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However, much to Liu Erlong's surprise, Dai Chengfeng's reaction was completely unexpected.
He didn't look embarrassed, flustered, or even furrow his brows. His expression remained utterly composed. "Liu Erlong, you should be more worried about what you'll do if you lose."
As he spoke, a faint flicker of soul power flashed at the tips of his fingers.
The next moment, several bottles of varying sizes and materials appeared in Dai Chengfeng's hands.
"Ga—"
Liu Erlong's throat tightened, her smile instantly freezing as her gaze locked onto those bottles.
She recognized a few of the smaller ones—they contained powdered seasonings commonly used for grilling meat, which were easy to find in restaurants.
But the contents of the remaining bottles were completely unfamiliar to her.
Curious, she picked up one tall, transparent glass bottle and examined it carefully. Inside was a fine powder that emitted an unfamiliar yet pungent spicy aroma.
It resembled chili, but there was a faint fluctuation of soul power emanating from it.
There was also a larger white porcelain bottle, sealed with wax. When shaken, it seemed to produce a soft rustling sound, as if tiny particles were colliding inside. Its scent was equally strange.
Though Liu Erlong didn't recognize them, she knew these were definitely not ordinary seasonings used in everyday cooking.
"You… you carry so many seasonings with you?"
At this moment, Liu Erlong stared at Dai Chengfeng in disbelief, her voice rising in astonishment.
"If I didn't have the right tools, would I dare take on such a delicate task?" Dai Chengfeng casually controlled the flame while skillfully sprinkling the seasonings he had retrieved, all without pausing his movements.
Liu Erlong fell silent, watching Dai Chengfeng focus intently on grilling the meat. She was now completely baffled.
After all, she had originally thought that Dai Chengfeng, attempting to grill meat without proper seasonings, would surely embarrass himself.
But now she realized just how complete the "equipment" in his storage ring was!
And those unfamiliar spices gave off an incredibly professional vibe—definitely not something an amateur would prepare.
"Could it be… that Dai Chengfeng really knows how to cook?"
While Liu Erlong was still in shock, Dai Chengfeng was already satisfied with the slightly charred surface of the soul beast leg meat, which exuded a tantalizing aroma.
He skillfully lifted the entire piece of meat, placed it on the cutting board, and picked up a kitchen knife. With a slight downward motion of his wrist, he swiftly sliced through the meat, perfectly dividing it into evenly sized, uniformly thick slices.
Each cut landed precisely to sever the tendons without causing the meat to fall apart, clean and efficient.
"Huh?"
Liu Erlong's eyes widened instantly, her mouth unconsciously parting.
She stared intently at Dai Chengfeng's hand holding the knife and realized that his proficiency was no less than that of someone who frequently cooked!
"The way he handled the knife just now was crisp and precise—this is definitely the stance of someone who often wields a knife to handle ingredients!"
"How could Dai Chengfeng possibly… He actually knows how to cook?!"
For a moment, an ominous feeling rose in Liu Erlong's heart.
She recalled the bet they had sealed with a high-five earlier and looked at Dai Chengfeng's confident, fluid cooking movements, along with the mysterious "high-end seasonings" on the cutting board whose names she couldn't even identify…
Her earlier confidence in a "sure win" evaporated completely.
"Could it be… Could it be that I was wrong from the very beginning? This little brat… was deliberately setting me up?!"
Liu Erlong shook her head in frustration, glaring at Dai Chengfeng.
On the other side, Dai Chengfeng paid no attention to Liu Erlong's amazement. He had already begun methodically handling the sliced meat.
He scored the meat with crisscross cuts, sprinkled salt and a bit of black pepper from his storage ring, added a liquid that looked like wine but was darker in color, and tossed in something flour-like that Liu Erlong couldn't recognize. He then carefully mixed everything together to marinate the meat.
Every movement flowed seamlessly, exuding the air of a master chef.
Liu Erlong caught the rich aroma of marinated meat and the unique spiciness of the complex seasoning blend spreading through the air.
"Liu Erlong, oh Liu Erlong… How could Dai Chengfeng possibly be here to cause trouble? This is like a pro player dropping into a beginner's village!"
Liu Erlong felt her facial expression falter. Her earlier smirk had vanished, replaced by astonishment and a hint of regret.
Just moments ago, she had been certain that Dai Chengfeng would embarrass himself. Now, she felt like a fool being roasted alive.
At this point, Dai Chengfeng seemed to notice Liu Erlong's regret and glanced at her with a deepening smirk:
"Liu Erlong, now… who's the one who's definitely going to lose?"
"You jerk!"
Liu Erlong wanted to say something, to retort, but in the end, she could only glare at Dai Chengfeng, huffing in frustration.
After all, it was now clear that Dai Chengfeng's bet with her had been a deliberate trap.
Yet, because of her own biases, she had fallen into such a simple pit. It was almost an insult to her intelligence!
"Haha…"
Seeing Liu Erlong's anger and embarrassment, Dai Chengfeng laughed heartily and pressed on: "Liu Erlong."
Dai Chengfeng began placing the increasingly fragrant marinated slices of meat onto the sizzling hot iron plate. The delightful sizzling sound immediately filled the kitchen. "Could you check the heat for me and… prepare a few plates?"
"After all, when Tianheng and the others arrive, we'll need something to serve the results of my 'helpful' efforts so everyone can enjoy them."
He deliberately emphasized the word "helpful," laced with a touch of mockery.
Helpful?
He called this helpful? He was practically taking over the role of head chef!
And giving her orders? He was actually ordering her around?!
A surge of anger flared up again.
When had Liu Erlong ever been treated like a lowly assistant, especially in her own territory?
But…
She glanced at the glistening, golden-brown slices of meat on the iron plate, their irresistible aroma teasing her senses. Then she remembered her earlier internal admission of losing the bet… If she stormed off now, wouldn't that make her seem like a sore loser with a narrow mind?
With great effort, she swallowed her indignation once more.
A bitter sense of "reaping what she sowed" welled up in her chest.
She took a deep breath, as if inhaling all her frustration and discomfort, then slowly exhaled. Finally, with a resigned determination, she abruptly turned around.
"… Fine!"
Liu Erlong's voice was muffled, clearly reluctant, almost forced through gritted teeth.
She strode quickly to the cupboard, opening the doors with a forceful slam, venting her frustration.
The plates clattered loudly as she pulled them out, her movements anything but gentle, clearly fueled by irritation. She slammed them down heavily on the work counter next to Dai Chengfeng.
"Here are the plates!"
She spat out the words curtly, but her eyes involuntarily drifted back to the iron plate.
As one slice of grilled meat was flipped, a drop of golden oil dripped onto the hot surface, instantly bursting into a puff of fragrant smoke. She could almost imagine the crispy skin, tender meat, and juicy texture melting in her mouth.
Her throat rolled involuntarily.
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