SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 23, and here's Chapter 24. So, read and review. Come on boys and girls, is it so hard for you to leave a review other than putting this on your favorited lists and alerts?

Disclaimers: Me no own, you no sue.

Chapter 24: Knife-Skills Competition

"Mao-nii, what is their goal?" Shilou asked, finding Mao and Ya Xue in the kitchen late that night.

"The Underworld Cooking Society's ambition is to take over the world, through cooking." Mao stated.

"Through cooking..." Shilou echoed.

"Everyone, commoners and emperors alike, all have to eat to live." Ya Xue explained. "So chefs hold the key to a person's life and death. The Society exploits the situation for evil, and are trying to wrest control. That is what the Society is after. They drill recruits on Underworld Techniques that were honed and perfected over the centuries. However, only a few have mastered these techniques. They show no mercy to those who fail."

"But, how do you two know so much about the Society?" Shilou asked.

"I want to know that as well!" Mei Li agreed. "It's been bothering me for a while. Were you... are you a member of the Underworld Cooking Society, like Leon? That time when Leon easily dissected a buffalo with an Underworld Technique..."

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Mei Li." Mao took Mei Li's hands. "I knew we had to tell you and Shilou sooner or later."

"Take a look at this." Ya Xue brought out the dairy. "This used to belong to Pai-sama. In a town called Mang, located in Yunnan Province. Mao-sama and I visited Pai-sama's hometown of Mang. This notebook was left inside her old abandoned home. And inside this notebook contains many recipes as well as a record of Pai-sama's younger days, and all the battles she fought against the Underworld Cooking Society."

"I wasn't going to mention this book until I faced the Society." Mao admitted. "But after returning to Canton and facing against Mr. Lien and Leon... my blood has been screaming for me to succeed in my Mom's footsteps. My Mom always wished good fortune for people. Chouyu-san taught me how to make happiness with cooking. I don't know how far my skills will take me. But I will fight as a Super Chef! And I will thwart the ambitions of the Underworld Cooking Society! With this knife, which has my Mom's soul inside it." he declared.

"We will now begin the Sacred Knife Skills Contest to decide the Legendary cookware's new owner." Master Lou declared. "The ingredient will be... red sea bream!" he pulled off the cover shielding the fish. "First candidate, Leon of Yousen Shuka. Step forward. Also from Yousen Shuka, Mao. Step forward. Leon! Mao!

Tradition dictates that the contest has no time limit. Just present four bream dishes that you're fully satisfied with. But I will tell you this. The sea breams were caught today at dawn. With that said, start!"

"My Seven-Star Knives have an infinite number of uses!" Leon pulled out his full set of knives. "Seven-Star Instant Power Cut!" he brandished two knives and started descaling the fish. "The first dish is done!" he announced, wiping off his fillet knife after finishing his sashimi dish.

On Mao's side, after resting both palms on his fish, Mao started descaling the fish with a steel wire.

"The second dish is ready!" Leon wiped his hands, completing his red sea bream soup.

"Mao! Hey, Mao!" Shell yelled. "Excuse me!" he pushed his way through the crowd. "Out of my way! Mao! Sorry I'm late. What you have asked for, I have completed Here, catch!" he tossed Mao the modified knife.

"Perfect!" Mao beamed, testing the knife's flexibility. "This is perfect. Thanks, Shell-san! Just watch, Mom! I'm going to beat the Society with this knife." he swore and set to work.

"Did you do something to that knife?" Mei Li asked when Shell approached them.

"Yeah, but I was floored at first." Shell admitted. "He asked me to do this unthinkable thing to Pai's knife. Well, it's because of my skillful hands. Look at this. All these scars from just one night." he looked at his scarred fingers. "It took me so long to temper this knife. But because of that, the knife is very strong."

"Do you need my healing balm?" Ya Xue inquired.

"But, how can it bend that much?" Mei Li thought to ask.

"Hey Mao!" Shell shouted. "Show us the idea you came up with!"

Mao responded by raising the altered knife in the air to allow sunlight to shine through.

"I get it!" Mei Li realized. "It can bend because of all the holes."

"That's not all." Shell added. "Since the holes allow air to pass through, the flesh won't stick to the knife. So you can cut more accurately."

The Hundred-Hole Knife! Ya Xue recognized the technique. Mao-sama is serious!

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