SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 40, and here's Chapter 41. 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 41: The Underworld's Ambitions! Attack On The Imperial Capitol

"Liu Mao Xing, I lose to you again." Shan admitted, seeing her trap had failed. "Now I can no longer return to the Underworld. Farewell." with that, she jumped over the cliff.

"Hey, Brother Mao." Shilou called as the group continued their way. "What's with the hands?" he asked, seeing Mao and Mei Li's joined hands.

"He told me to hold on because it was very dark!" Mei Li explained, the pair breaking apart.

"I wonder what happened in the cave?" Shell teased.

"Oh, I see." Shilou grinned.

"I guess only the bats will know." Leon mused.

"Mao-sama, should I inform Karin-sama to prepare the betrothal gifts?" Ya Xue inquired.

"You too, Ya Xue?" Mei LI whined.

"Hey, there's a town here!" Shell called.

"What is it, Leon?" Mao asked when Leon stopped the horse.

"There's someone important over there." leon replied.

"Isn't that Admiral Lee?" Ya Xue recognized the official.

"You're right." Mei Li gaped. "But what's he doing here?"

"Admiral Lee." Shell echoed. "Isn't he the general managing officer of the Imperial Kitchen?"

"Yes," Ya Xue nodded. "He helped us in Szuchuan and Canton."

"Admiral Lee!" Mao called out.

"Mao, I've been looking for you!" the Admiral stated."Master Lou told me you're looking for the Legendary cookware. So I trailed you. Oh?" he looked over at the rest of the traveling party. "I see that 'Steel Stick Shell' and 'Seven Star Knives' Leon are with you. Mao, you have to come with me immediately. I need your help. Shell, Leon. I ask for your help as well! The Underworld Cooking Society is making its move in Peking, where the Emperor is."

"You actually requested for a cooking battle in front of the Emperor?" Shell chuckled, after hearing what had happened once Mao, Mei Li and Shilou snuck into the palace after Admiral Lee was incarcerated on the way to the palace. "Mao, you have to do things in a big way, huh?"

"I'm sorry that I decided this on my own." Mao apologized. "But you guys will help me, won't you?"

"The enemy has three chefs." Shell remarked. "Of course we'll help. You can count on us, right Leon?"

"Definitely." Leon nodded. "The Underworld's plans have progressed further than we expected. They imprisoned Admiral Lee, who holds great power in the Chinese cooking world. And they tried to take over the position of Imperial Head Chef."

"It's just as my father suspected." Ya Xue remarked. "Someone in the Emperor's court has to be connected to the Underworld. Otherwise the Underworld wouldn't be able to do this, powerful or not."

"But the opponent now seems different from the rest." Shilou pointed out. "They won the Peking cooking tournament fair and square. This proves how skilled they are."

"If we lose, Mao's Super Chef title will be stripped away." Mei Li reminded. "All three of you will never be able to cook again."

"The same is true for the enemy." Leon stated. "Put in other words, if we win this, it will be a decisive defeat for them. Their ambitious plans will be utterly destroyed."

"That's right." Shell agreed. "Joining the cooking battle of Peking is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a chef! I can't wait to start!"

"We shall now start the Forbidden City cooking contest!" Ron declared. "Participating chefs, please step out."

"Long time no see." Youshi grinned as the two teams met.

"Heh, Underworld traitor Leon." Raihou snorted.

"It's you." Leon recognized his opponents. "They're the best-ranking chefs in the Underworld Cooking Society, called Rin chefs. Youshi, the Praying Mantis Demon, has excellent knife-handling skills. Raihou, the Two-Tailed Scorpion, has good cooking technique."

"Well then! All chefs, listen to me." Ron declared. "The Emperor himself will unveil the theme for this battle, in accordance with Imperial traditions. Listen with respect!"

"The theme shall be..." the Emperor announced. "Any kind of Chinese cuisine is fine. But I want 100 dishes."

"We can't let the Emperor wait for long." Ron added. "So you have three hours to cook all those 100 dishes. So then, the cooking battle of a hundred dishes begins now!"

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