SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 21, and here's Chapter 22. So, read and review. Come on guys and girls, is it so hard for you to leave a review other than put this on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: Me no own, you no sue.

Chapter 22: The Secret of the Masked Chef

"Kid, what is your decision?" the masked chef demanded, after Shilou tasted both hotpots.

"I can't tell each one was cooked by Mao-nii." Shilou admitted. "However, I can tell you which one I truly felt was delicious. I pick the black bowl."

"Black?" the masked chef echoed in shock.

"Yes!" Mao gave the younger chef-in-training a thumbs-up.

"Wait." the masked chef voiced, just as Mao reached for the antidote. "Why did you pick that bowl? You must have somehow signaled him which on to pick."

"He didn't need to do that." Shilou retorted. "It's the difference in the cooking skill. Without a doubt, your seafood bowl was good. But the main ingredient of this dish was lobster, right? The lobster was overwhelmed by the other ingredients you put in the soup. However, in the mountain vegetables soup created by Mao-nii, the taste of all the ingredients melded together to create a mild soup. This brought out the sweetness of the lobster. The result is the taste that is far superior."

"True, the mountain food is like a treasure box." the masked chef agreed. "It may very well bring out the lobster's flavor. But with all the alkaline spewing out, you can't cook anything decent. There was no sign of him getting rid of the foam at any point in time. So how can this be?"

"The secret to that is this!" Mao brought out the paper bowls he folded from the pages he tore from the recipe book.

"That's impossible!" the masked chef snapped. "You can't use this as a bowl."

"Let me show you." Mao stated and started his experiment.

"So that was how you removed the alkaline and make a perfect soup." the masked chef realized. "You planned this all along. So, this is your real strength. I was completely defeated." he admitted.

"Chouyu-san, Mei LI!" Mao hurried over, antidote in hand with Shilou in tow.

"Chouyu-sama?" Ya Xue blinked when Chouyu hammered a punch straight in the masked chef's face.

"Because of that boy, I wasn't able to get my revenge." the masked chef chuckled. "I lived only to gain revenge on the humiliation you inflicted sixteen years ago. But know this, Chouyu. I will never forget the thing you did to get Meika. You hid a poisoned needle in my lobster basket. A cowardly act shameful for a chef."

"Sixteen years ago," Chouyu related. "Meika and I had already pledged our lives to each other."

"Stop talking nonsense!" the masked chef snapped. "You're telling the truth." he realized, seeing Chouyu's eyes.

"Meika's strict father wanted to test whether I could take good care of her." Chouyu added. "So he planned a lobster cooking contest. Then you decided to enter this contest. Meika started to think. The opposition is high what if I lost? After agonizing over it, Meika made a fateful decision."

"Liar!" the masked chef barked. "No one's going to believe that! Meika wouldn't... she couldn't... if that's true, then why didn't you tell me back then?"

"Because your feelings toward Meika are genuine." Chouyu replied. "If I told you the truth about Meika then, you would have been devastated. That's why I decided not to say anything. I felt that your hatred should only be directed to me. But, I was mistaken. I never thought that this would make you suffer for such a long time. Meika has regretted what she did up to her deathbed."

"I see..." the masked chef muttered. "Meika apologized. She has always been like that. Chouyu, you're far too quiet. I have always been competing alone. I sold out my cooking soul for the purpose of revenge. At that point, I had already lost." he remarked and removed his helmet.

"Those scars...!" Chouyu was shocked to see the scars across his former rival's forehead and face.

"I have seen hell in my time with the Underground Cooking Society." the unmasked chef replied. "The Underground Cooking Society is a large secret society that exists around the world. They're unbelievably cruel and merciless. Once you join the Society, you can never get out. But this ends today. Child," he gave Mao a side-glance. "Because of you, I was able to become a chef again." then, he knelt over, throwing out blood.

"Lien, what's wrong?" Chouyu hurried over and turned Lien over.

"You drank the poison?" Ya Xue spotted the empty poison vial on the floor. "Why?"

"Such is the fate... of someone who steps... into the Underground Cooking Society..." Lien muttered. "It's karma. Be careful... Chouyu." he hissed. "The Underground Cooking Society will definitely come after you and that boy. Soon, you and that boy will represent the Chinese cooking world. The Society will not ignore that. Move it!" he shoved both Chouyu and Ya Xue away as the cooking arena was engulfed in flames. "Farewell." he smiled and let the flames swallow him whole.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.