Tian Zui stepped forward and directly grabbed Zhang Wei's hand!
"Thank you so much!"
"Huh?"
Tian Zui said, "I've already heard from the Knight King. If it weren't for your help, several elders of the Heavenly Ranking would have likely been lost in this battle!"
"It is I, the leader, who is somewhat incompetent. Had I arrived sooner, or perhaps prevented this war, it wouldn't have come to this."
"Alas... I truly don't know how to thank you!"
This Black Ranking leader was just like a child, completely without airs.
Zhang Wei couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Next time something like this happens, remember to call me earlier. I get a bit tired fighting alone."
At the brink of the final battle.
Zhang Wei alone held off the strongest Bloodhound Blott Handel and the Raging Beast Warwick, and even forced Shaga to commit suicide in the final confrontation. Without Zhang Wei, the outcome of this battle would have been very different.
However, each of the three individuals before him was not simple, and none were weaker than he was now.
Mr. Luo stepped forward. "I am Tian Zui's partner and also a chef. Since arriving at the camp, I've been hearing rumors about you. I truly wish to spar with you someday."
"Oh, and could I see your cleaver for a moment?"
Mr. Luo was covered in knives, his culinary inclinations were evident.
Zhang Wei waved his hand and took out a cleaver from the Treasury Hall, handing it to Mr. Luo.
It was a very ordinary cleaver, purchased in Mo City.
Due to the considerable amount of cooking he did daily, Zhang Wei’s kitchenware was heavily consumed. Of the hundred or so knives of various types he had bought at the time, more than half had been broken.
Some cleavers had been worn down by half by the sharpening stone.
Mr. Luo exclaimed in surprise, "Very... unexpected."
Taking the cleaver, Mr. Luo examined it.
"It feels very natural in the hand. The groove on the handle is deep, indicating frequent use. However... the material is too ordinary. With a kitchen knife like this, it likely won't last long."
Zhang Wei said, "I have no particular attachment to cleavers. I've always used ordinary ones from the shops."
Mr. Luo exchanged a look with the others.
Atlas took out a long metal strip from a bamboo basket.
"This is a specialty metal from the Road of Hunger. I call it Cold Gold. It has the special effect of absorbing heat to cool things down, and it's also strong and wear-resistant, making it very suitable for crafting kitchenware..."
"A knife made from this, when cutting raw ingredients, can keep the meat at zero degrees for several hours without freezing or solidifying, offering a hint of coolness when eaten."
"Besides cooking, I'm also very skilled at blacksmithing and forging. To express my gratitude, I'd like to make you a knife with this metal. What do you say?"
Keeping the cut material precisely at zero degrees?
That was already in the realm of magic!
If Mr. Luo was telling the truth, it would absolutely be a divine blade!
Tian Zui exclaimed, "You're actually willing to give it away... Not to mention how long it took us to acquire it, isn't this what you planned..."
Mr. Luo waved his hand and said directly, "I can sense that Mr. Zhang Wei is also someone with great passion for cooking. A fine sword for a hero; this is Cold Gold's honor."
Giving such a grand gift right away?
What a thoughtful person!
And judging by Mr. Luo's demeanor and all other details, his culinary skills were likely no less than Lou Ming, the partner of the first leader of the Black Ranking!
Yet, there was at least a 60-year age difference between them. This Mr. Luo was truly a young hero!
However, Zhang Wei hadn't done all this for their reward.
"A gentleman never takes what another cherishes. Mr. Luo is too kind."
"No, please, Mr. Zhang Wei, accept it. I offer it in good faith!"
Hiss~
If he refused, wouldn't it be showing disrespect?
Fine, then.
Zhang Wei nodded, tacitly agreeing.
Mr. Luo continued, "I have been on the Road of Hunger for six years and haven't seen any masters from the inland for a long time. Would it be possible to spar with you and learn from each other?"
Zhang Wei gave a wry smile. "I'm afraid... I cannot."
"Why... why is that?"
For chefs, exchanging and sparring was a good way to improve themselves. It was rare to encounter a chef of equal caliber, so there shouldn't be any reason to refuse!
The Knight King chimed in at the opportune moment. "Mr. Luo may not be aware."
"During the battle with the Land of Clouds, Great Chef Zhang had his sense of taste and smell removed."
The three were shocked!
How could such a thing happen!
"To prevent panic, this matter was kept at top-secret level."
Mr. Luo said solemnly, "If I recall correctly, that battle was only a day ago."
The Knight King replied, "Yes, that's correct."
Mr. Luo stared intently at Zhang Wei.
While the latter appeared calm and composed, as if it wasn't him who had lost his sense of taste and smell.
Mr. Luo clenched his fist, then slumped. "I lost."
Zhang Wei was taken aback.
Lost what?
Tian Zui burst into laughter nearby, mercilessly exposing the past. "Luo used to lose his sense of taste and smell too. You have no idea, he cried for half a month, and even threatened to end it all from time to time, making us give him motivational speeches every day... Woohoohoo..."
Threatened to end it all?
Crying?
Mr. Luo, with his past mistakes revealed, immediately blushed and shouted angrily, "I was just... suffering from lacrimal gland inflammation those days, shedding tears in the wind! Who was threatening to end it all! My will is very firm, alright!"
Zhang Wei asked, "You also lost your sense of smell and taste?"
"It has been restored."
Now it was Zhang Wei's turn to be unsettled.
As expected, in the Great Gourmet Era, nothing was absolute. Although Shaga's move was incredibly bizarre, a higher power was greater than any mountain!
"How did you do it?"
"Reconstruction!"
Mr. Luo explained, "The three of us went on an adventure together to capture the legendary magical creature, the Sprite Unicorn, delving deep into the Road of Hunger."
The Sprite Unicorn.
A magical creature that only existed in legends, very mysterious.
It was said to be the master of flower and grass spirits, a favorite of the forest. Its blood could grant mortals a magical gift of near-eternal life.
However, if one killed a unicorn out of greed, they would be cursed by the forest, not only becoming an enemy of all natural creatures but also transforming into an ugly giant monster, forever tormented by hunger and desire.
Tian Zui and the other two were fully prepared when they ventured out again, including lucky clover to shield against curses and curse robes. But that Sprite Unicorn was too powerful, possessing not only magical curses but also immense physical strength.
At the last moment, the Sprite Unicorn pierced Mr. Luo's curse robe and inflicted another curse upon him.
The Heartbreak Curse.
The afflicted would lose one of their most cherished possessions.
Mr. Luo regarded cooking as his lifelong pursuit. After losing his sense of taste and smell, his path as a chef was effectively over.
Therefore...
Mr. Luo felt the most heartbroken, the most crushing event in the world!
Mr. Luo sighed deeply, "During that time, the entire world was dim."