SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 33, and here's Chapter 34. 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 34: A Chef's Destiny

"The sharpness, the sheen..." Leon muttered. "I'm sure it's a Seven-Star Knife! But why do you have it? There should only be one set in the world."

"How can you be so sure, Leon?" Shan taunted.

"Because Lache, a master craftsman, made this masterpiece only for me." Leon replied. "And Lache... Lache was..."

"Tongue-tied?" Shan mocked. "If you can't say it, let me help you." she sheathed her blade. "You murdered Lache after he forged your knives. That's why there should only be one set in the world. Isn't that right, Leon? Am I wrong? Like the tattoo on your left hand, the taint will never disappear." she continued twisting the proverbial knife. "The blood on your hands will never be washed off."

"The biggest mistake I ever made..." Leon confessed. "That was... when I joined the prohibited Underworld Cooking Society to master the best knife techniques. But I wanted more. I desired to be the Supreme chef, a thirst that could not be quenched. Higher! Faster! Stronger! For that to happen, I needed the best cooking knife of all. Only Lache, the best swordsmith in China, was qualified to forge me a set of cooking knives. The result was the magnificent Seven-Star Knives. Finally, I had the best knives. I was so happy knowing that I'd be the supreme chef. That was the beginning of my mistake. When I finally regained my senses, the bloody Seven-Star Knife was in my hands. I deeply regretted it and confessed to an Underworld governor. For the first time, I realized how terrible the Underworld was."

"Unable to overcome the past, he lost his fighting spirit." Shan laughed. "He's no match for me. You've forfeited this battle, murderer!"

"If what Leon said was true, why do you also have the 'Seven-Star Knives'?" Mao demanded.

"Though struck down by Leon, Lache's grudge remains alive in these knives!" Shan declared.

"You disappoint me, Leon!" Mao snapped, seeing Leon having given up the fight. "Wallowing in guilt won't help you atone for your sins. Besides, Lache can't come back to life. Defeating the Underground Cooking Society is what's important now. Isn't that why you left them in the first place? 'I am someone who threw away my past.' That's what you said when we first met. There's all that talk now?! Running away from here won't make you a true chef! If you think you brought irreparable misfortune to someone, then make more people happy with those same hands!"

"Happiness..." Leon recalled. "You always remind of a cook's basic foundation, a starting point I forget."

"No matter how you wrap it in oratory, your past sins won't simply vanish." Shan smirked.

"That's fine." Leon pushed past her. "That will just be the reason why I fight as a chef, from here on end. Judges, tell me what kind of seafood you wish to eat! I'll lead you to happiness as a chef with the ingredients you want!"

"Everybody knows what the best seafood of Shanghainese cuisine is." Master Zhang stated.

"Shanghai hairy crabs!" the judges chorused as one.

Shan took the first step and picked out the big and meaty crabs from the crab basket, while Leon followed after, selecting the smaller crabs.

"By the way, be sure to keep those two promises." Shan winked after flirting with the judges and returned to her cooking.

"The cooking is complete." Marin declared. "Both of their dishes are ready! Shan's dish is an authentic Egg Fu-Rong, otherwise known as crab omelet! And Leon's entry is... an exclusive Shanghai dish, Crab Stuffed Shells."

"Master Zhang." Shan winked. ""Remember the first promise. Please try my dish first."

"Okay, let's try Shan's crab omelet first." Master nodded. "Shan, you're sorely mistaken if you think you've curried favor with us. Our judgment will be strict and severe."

"Of course." Shan winked.

"A crab omelet is the most authentic of all crab dishes!" Marin explained. "Besides, Shan is one of the most skilled chefs in the Underworld. It must be cooked using impressive ideas."

"Please have the crab soup as well." Shan brought out her soup. "Don't forget about the second promise." she reminded. "You'll eat all the dishes I served, won't you?"

"Next up is Leon's dish, Crab Stuffed Shells!" Marin declared after the judges downed the soup.

"Mao?" Mei Li blinked, seeing Mao's serious expression.

Why... Mao wondered. Why do I feel so uneasy?

"Hey, Leon." Master Zhang snapped after a bite. "This tastes awful, damn you!"

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