SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 26, and here's Chapter 27. 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 27: The Cooking Utensil of Legend

"Is the Super Chef, Liu Mao Xing!" master Lou declared. "The battle that just transpired was truly a perfect climax for this competition. Both of them exhibited a phenomenal amount of culinary talent and spirit. However, we were more impressed with Mao's endless creativity in changing the red sea bream into spring rolls. Because of this, I could appreciate the endless possibilities in Chinese cooking. Well done, Mao. The Legendary Cookware has lain dormant in Da Xian Temple. Unable to find a new home with a truly worthy chef for centuries. Liu Mao Xing, a Super Chef from Canton Province, has won the right to receive the Cookware. But you may only take possession after the traditional Cookware Ritual."

"Liu Mao Xing. Please follow us." the head monk requested. Unsealing the cabinet the Cookware was stored, he carried the sealed chest over to the table and opened it.

"Is this it?" Leon's eyes widened.

"Forged by the mythic Shuri." Chouyu stated. "The Legendary Cookware... Forever-Spirit Knife!"

"So Mao, why don't you handle the knife?" Master Lou asked.

"When is the ritual starting, Dad?" Mei Li asked.

"It's already begun." Chouyu replied. "If Mao is a worthy chef who can inherit the knife, we will know the moment he touches it. The Forever-Spirit Knife itself will determine if he is worthy!"

The split second Mao held the knife, a golden dragon emerged from the blade before reentering the knife, the emblem of the dragon then appeared on the blade.

"Mao, the Forever-Spirit Knife has accepted you as its next owner." Master Lou remarked. "After 400 years, the dragon emblem finally resurfaced on the knife. The Dragon's Proof! Liu Mao Xing! You are the true owner of the Forever-Spirit Knife!"

"It's alive!" Mao stunned after tasting a slice of sea bream he had cut with the Forever-Spirit Knife. "This fish was left out for so long... it shouldn't taste any good. But the fresh taste of the red sea bream has returned!"

"It's just like what the Legend said." Master Lou was in awe. "Any food cut with the Forever-Spirit Knife regains its original taste. How mysterious! Mao, I need not wonder any longer. You are the true owner of this knife, chosen by the gods."

"But there is one more owner." Mao protested. "Leon! This is a great knife! I want you to use it too!" he presented the knife to Leon. "It is true that Leon used some Underworld Techniques." he argued, despite the others' objections. "But I believe that in his heart, he was forced to do something he didn't really want to. He still has the kindness to pray for the animal he was about to cook. The Underworld Cooking Society is supposed to make people unhappy. But I can't imagine for an instant that his food will make anyone unhappy! Here, Leon."

"What?" Master Lou blinked, seeing the golden dragon appear. "The Dragon's Proof appeared for Leon as well!"

"Just as I thought." Mao beamed. "The Forever- Spirit Knife confirms everything."

"Confirms?" Mei Li echoed. "You mean Leon is not..."

"Don't be deceived by this guy!" Shell barked. "Everyone, look at the tattoo on his hand! He's the Underworld Chef who stole my Steel Stick!"

"Leon, can you tell us everything?" Mao turned to the older chef.

"You are a strange one, Mao." Leon snorted. "You might be able to understand. I was continually told that I'm a genius. After I finished my training at Yousen, I embarked on a journey to seek a new world. But I found nothing to learn. Searching for ultimate cooking, I ended up in the doorstep of the Underworld Cooking Society. When I joined, they created a tattoo which would never disappear. The Underworld's indelible price of admission. Then the horrible days began. Days of unimaginably tough training. But it was fun. My heart was thrilled. After learning the Underworld's Techniques, I became very self-satisfied with my own talent. But then I did something that I can't erase from my past! A sin that no chef... no human being can be forgiven for. I then finally realized the purpose of the Underworld Cooking Society. How they controlled with endless pervasive fear... I ran away, fearful that they might kill me. But then I remembered the promise Master Lou made. The Legendary cookware would be my key to fighting against the Underworld!" he handed the Forever-Spirit Knife back to Mao and slashed the back of his palm with a cross. "I... I came back to fight the Underworld Cooking Society!"

"Man, I wonder where my stick went." Shell whined. "If Leon didn't do it... that means there's an agent from the Underworld operating here in Canton."

"No!" Mao backed away, seeing the Dragon Proof fading when the fake Leon took the handle. "You're not Leon!"

"You dare?!" Shell roared and jumped in the fight the impostor.

"Mission Accomplished!" the fake laughed, assembling Shell's Steel Stick. "The Underworld Cooking Society now has possession of the Forever-Spirit Knife!"

"Take that, asshole!" Shell dodged the fake's wild swings and landed a punch on his face, which ripped the false skin.

"You fools!" the fake Leon leapt to safety. "I don't have any business other than the Forever-Spirit Knife!"

"But I still have business with you!" Leon rested a hand on the impostor's shoulder and sent his double to the ground with a punch.

"I will do everything in my power to stop you from accomplishing what you planned!" Leon swore.

"Get him!" Shell snapped, taking off after the impostor and slamming him into the wall with his Steel Stick.

"Hand over the Forever-Spirit Knife." Chouyu instructed, Shell holding the fake in place.

"Have you forgotten that I'm from the Cooking Underworld?" the Leon double chuckled. "Watch closely. See that failure is not an option for us."

"Stop him!" Chouyu ordered, seeing the other Leon raised the Forever-Spirit Knife.

"I know that if you use the Forever-Spirit Knife to cut things other than food..." the fake Leon stated.

"Flash Sword: Air-Cutting Flash!" a sharp blast of Ki knocked the knife away from the impostor's hand. "Lou-sama, Chouyu-sama, forgive me for being late." Ya Xue apologized, an impressive saber in her hands. "When it was known that the Underworld Cooking Society is on the move, I knew it is time to unseal my father's saber." training her blade at the Underworld agent. "All my training with my father ever since I was young was all for this day. Talk! Who is the Society's leader?"

"So, you're his daughter." the agent smirked. Grabbing the blade of her sword, he stabbed it into his abdomen. All of you... shouldn't be... too relaxed... this is not the end of it! Today marks the time when the Underworld starts to act on our goals!" with that, he took his last breath and collapsed on the ground.

"Since the Underworld Cooking Society has made its move..." Master Lou decided. "Now is the time to reveal the secret of the Legendary Cookware. Listen Mao." he led the group into one of the back rooms of Yousen Shuka. "Canton's Forever-Spirit Knife is but one of the many Legendary Cookware. There are eight all together. All of them were scattered and hidden in eight different locations in the huge land of China. It has been said that the Legendary Cookware have been protecting the cooking world."

"Tradition has it that legendary chef Shuri forged eight mystical cooking tools from the iron ore of a meteorite." Chouyu added. "However, the combined power was so great that they scattered in different directions. Each Legendary cookware flew off to a different area and concealed itself. The Legendary Cookware are like double-edged swords."

"That is correct." Master Lou concurred. "In the hands of the right chef, the cookware do wonderful things. But in the hands of people like the Underworld Cooking Society, it would be catastrophic. Not only would it destroy the Chinese cooking world, everyone in China will suffer. We must now step up and collect all the Legendary Cookware, before the Underworld does!"

"Master Lou. Mr. Chouyu!" Mao stepped forward. "Please allow me to go on a journey to collect all Legendary Cookware! It was my Mom's wish to make people happy with her cooking. She went through many difficult battles against Underworld Chefs. I want to complete her hopes and dreams. Please let me go on this trip!"

"Hold your horses!" Shell cut in as he and Leon pushed the door open.

"I want to join you." Leon stated. "The destruction of the Underworld Cooking Society is my life's goal now."

"Be careful, all of you." Master Lou cautioned as the others saw the group off. "Make sure you return safely to Canton! Ya Xue, I trust you to protect Mao."

"I understand, Lou-sama." Ya Xue bowed. "Just as it was my father's duty before, I will protect Mao-sama with my life.

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