"This Lingxi Five-Bird Soup has a problem!"
The broth was rich and fragrant, almost perfect in taste.
But... something felt off.
The ingredients, the knife skills, the seasonings, and the heat were all top-notch. Where could the problem lie?
Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhang Wei lifted the lid of the pot a little wider, peering into the dim light of the kerosene lamp.
He took several more sips, savoring the taste in his mind.
"It's the proportions!"
Zhang Wei looked at the Soul of Soup beside him with a look of shock.
"How could a chef of such caliber make such a basic mistake!"
A complex dish was not meant to be followed strictly by the book.
The ingredients were not static. For example, the five precious birds used this time.
Their gender, weight, and fat content varied.
The vegetables also differed in rainfall, soil fertility, sunlight duration, and harvest time.
Every person was unique.
Even within the same species, there were subtle differences.
"In the past four days, the Soul of Soup never seemed to have tasted the contents of the cooking pot."
"With such a confident demeanor, he must have prepared this soup many times before..."
"Was it complacency... or did he never pay attention to this aspect?"
"Not just tasting, even all the seasonings were prepared according to strict dosages..."
If the recipe said three grams of salt, he used a measuring cup to take exactly three grams, just like a chemistry experiment.
Doing so, one would only ever be an amateur.
Culinary art always required flexibility!
"What a shame, such top-tier ingredients cannot be transformed into perfect cuisine! What a waste, these ingredients have spirits, and they must be crying!"
"This soup... might still be saved."
With that thought, Zhang Wei's restless chef's instincts could no longer be suppressed.
He had transmigrated over two months ago and hadn't cooked a single dish.
It was as painful as a smoker quitting, a gambler cutting off their hands, or an internet addict being cut off from the net. The thought that this soup could still be improved made Zhang Wei unable to control himself.
He rummaged through boxes and jars, tasting over a hundred types of seasonings one by one.
"Red salt, a bit like Himalayan rock salt..."
"This taste should be cane sugar..."
"Honey... can't tell the variety, some kind of tree honey."
"Nutmeg, cardamom..."
"The aroma of aged tangerine peel powder..."
"Cough, cough, cough... Damn, such spicy mustard!"
...
...
Except for salt, sugar, and vinegar, all other seasonings were vastly different from his past life, or entirely new.
Zhang Wei could only categorize them by their taste characteristics and then calculate their effects.
"Damn it, to familiarize myself with hundreds of seasonings simultaneously and use them to their maximum effect, six hours is not enough!"
With a resolute decision, Zhang Wei put all the seasonings into the Treasury of Treasures!
There was a tenfold time dilation inside and outside the treasury, which was more than enough.
...
...
The Soul of Soup suddenly awoke and looked at his pocket watch.
"It's been six hours! Damn... Thankfully, thankfully, I wasn't delayed."
"This damn assistant chef almost hindered my important business!"
The Soul of Soup angrily walked towards the soup pot. Zhang Wei had already collapsed on the ground, with streaks of blood a stark red and glaring!
The kitchen looked as if it had been ransacked, all the bottles and jars had vanished.
The Soul of Soup was startled, dodged the fallen Zhang Wei, and rushed towards the Lingxi Five-Bird Soup.
"Phew~ Fortunately, my soup is okay."
"Huh? Other things were stolen, but my soup is untouched?"
Although he felt relieved, something still felt off.
The Soul of Soup called for guards while completing the final steps of turning off the heat.
Only then did he remember Zhang Wei lying on the ground.
"Still breathing! He can be saved!"
Soon, a burly man with an imposing aura entered the room, greeted respectfully by numerous guards.
"Greetings, Lord Wuyong!"
"What's the situation?"
The Soul of Soup quickly replied, "This morning, after I woke up, I found the kitchen ransacked, and my assistant chef was injured and his life was unknown!"
Wuyong asked in bewilderment, "Theft within the glacier?"
Ordinary people within the glacier could not reach the high-level areas, and the powerful figures in the high-level areas had status and prestige. Why would they resort to theft?
Besides, this soup was meant for the enjoyment of the high-level individuals, why would anyone steal it?
"Wait, the soup is unharmed?"
"Yes."
Wuyong was shocked. The most valuable item in the entire kitchen was this Lingxi Five-Bird Soup... how could it be unharmed!
Could it be...
"Poisoned?"
The Soul of Soup let out a mournful cry, rushed to the stew pot, scooped a ladleful, and poured it into his mouth with grief and indignation.
Clink...
The spoon fell to the ground and shattered.
"Hurry and save him, induce vomiting! You, quickly call a doctor!"
Wuyong was inwardly furious, wondering if the soup maker had a faulty brain.
"All of you, stop!"
The Soul of Soup called out to everyone, his expression extremely conflicted.
Anger... confusion... shame...
"My soup... is fine. Quickly take it to the ministers who have returned from the expedition. I heard some of them are severely injured, and this soup can help them recover."
"This..."
The Soul of Soup continued, "Lord Wu, do not make this public. I will replenish the lost seasonings and ingredients, and you should act as if nothing happened."
Since the Soul of Soup said so, Wuyong could not push the matter further.
Even Zhang Wei, who had just regained consciousness, was warned by the Soul of Soup and promised a considerable amount of hush money.
The medical staff clearly did not want to waste time on an ordinary laborer, so they simply prescribed some cheap medication and sent Zhang Wei away.
Glacier Core Area
A magnificent banquet table was laden with a feast, attended by over a dozen of the actual rulers of the glacier.
Above them all was the food display window – the Century Ice Pillar.
Minister Odd of Personnel Management, the weakest among them, and Minister Roger of Resource Distribution sat at the far end.
Minister Wuyong of Security was seated in the front row.
Above the eight ministers were four Culinary Inspectors, primarily responsible for leading teams to capture rare beasts. Two Regenerators and two Nutritionists. And the strongest of all, the Chairman – Xifeng.
Currently, everyone except Wuyong, Odd, and Roger was injured.
It was evident that the hunting target this time was so formidable that the entire association had been mobilized.
"Everyone worked hard on this operation. Fortunately, there were no casualties in battle."
"Chairman Xifeng, please begin the feast soon... the patients can't hold on any longer." Despite all being scratched, they still had the spirit to joke.
Xifeng was unconcerned and smiled, "Then I'll get straight to the point. To reward you all, I specifically asked the Soul of Soup to prepare his specialty."
Everyone's eyes lit up, and they exclaimed, "Lingxi Five-Bird Soup?"
"I've heard of its fame, but it's a dish that's hard to come by."
"I was fortunate enough to taste it once, and the flavor was truly rare in this world."
"Haha, our association has roamed through numerous dangerous places in the human world, possessing countless rare ingredients, yet we still appear so impoverished."
"Alas, after all, the soul of cuisine is the chef; having ingredients alone is not enough."
Minister Wuyong of Security chuckled, "Heh heh, Chairman Xifeng has known Master Soul of Soup for many years, he must have drunk it often."
Xifeng said proudly, "Naturally. The ingredients for Lingxi Five-Bird Soup are extremely rare. Without me, how could he have gathered them? Since I contributed, would the soup be lacking for me?"
"Here it comes!"
Under everyone's expectant gazes, a large clay pot was brought in.
Underneath the pot, an alcohol stove burned with a faint flame, keeping it warm even under the Century Ice Pillar.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle~
Beneath the intense aroma, the sounds of rumbling stomachs filled the air.