As usual, every tool felt awkward in his hand. It didn’t matter if he used it with his left or his right arm, for they are equally inept.

Most people have a dominant arm; fewer are ambidextrous. Unfortunately, Kairos has two left hands. He doesn’t show it much in the past, because despite his lack, he was never clumsy. And after learning the Breath of the Ancients technique, it allowed him to control his body more properly and could compensate things with his willpower. But it doesn’t change the fact of how unwieldy things felt in his hands.

His ancestors, as his father told him, were from generations after generations of pig farmers, and not meant for the pen or the sword. A shovel maybe, or even a pitchfork if he practices.

It didn’t matter.

He began cutting the carrots. Each movement was swift and precise, and his rhythm was fluid. Another person might have a hard time to replicate what he is doing even with the control technique, given the mental strain it is required. As long as he is actively controlling the knife in his hand, he can make perfect movements.

Although his technique with knives is incomparable to how well-versed Laksa and some of the more talented chefs, he has outdone himself.

The other chefs quickly covered up their surprise and returned to their work.

A bespectacled chef who is the closest in the kitchen to be the next sous privately nodded.

“As expected of the master chef to have such a good eye on talents. These fools haven't noticed. I better have a talk to them soon, or who knows how many the Master Chef will fire.”

Laksa stared at Kairos for a moment and asked, “Young master, had you used a kitchen knife before?”

Kairos went silent, and the master chef immediately noticed that everyone had stopped and been watching.

“What are you all doing? Get back to work!”

The other chefs stunned a second, then quickly buried their heads in their work with only a single thought in their mind.

“The head chef didn’t know either?”

Seeing that there was no more attention on them, Kairos quickly whispered, “No, I just have a technique that allows me to take complete control.”

“Such a thing… I’m speechless… That is truly an unparalleled technique.”

The look on Laksa’s face was telling enough. Kairos considered a moment, then he said, “I can teach you the technique, but it mustn’t be passed around.”

The master chef nodded so fast that Kairos was worried that his head might spin off.

The way to use the ‘Breath of the Ancients’ is something he wanted to pass down to everyone in his group in the future. Only through sharing could there be progress. Unfortunately, without the strength to protect themselves, it will only lure the bigger fishes to gobble them up.

After promising to find the time and pass the technique to Laksa, the master chef, in turn, imparted several of his cooking techniques to Kairos.

Everything that was taught only needed to be said once. Understanding and remembering stuff is far easier for him than putting them into practice. The master chef nodded his head and continued to oversee the rest of the preparations.

After removing all toxics, the next step was to distil the ingredients. As much as possible, the Purifier will try to remove all specks of unwanted impurities from them through various tools.

Kairos was surprised to see test tubes and pressure heaters being brought onto the Purifier’s station. Laksa explained, “If there are too many tastes in a dish, it will only make the customers feel like they are eating dirt. Taking away all the unwanted parts will leave us with the flavour we want. Furthermore, it is good for cultivators.”

“It helps in training?”

Laksa nodded seriously and said, “You should know about how impurities are expelled from your body every time you breakthrough to the next major stage. Have you thought about how those contaminations enter you?”

“Through our food?”

Laksa nodded again.

“Yes, through the things we eat, and the water we drink, the air we breathe, even the things we touch.”

“Through the skin?!”

The master chef smiled looking at Kairos’ shock. No matter how monstrous is his talent, he is still a boy, and there are many areas where he is still as a white sheet of paper.

“Consumption of food is the main factor. If we can decrease the amount of unwanted particles that enter us, during expelling, it will be easier as well.”

Kairos’ eyes burned with seriousness as he bobbed his head. He looked at the processes of cooking.

The next few stations are no different from how the food was made in his house. Washing ingredients, preparing them, seasoning, and cooking.

But, at the last station, the readied meal fell into the hands of the Runes Engineer. Under Laksa’s instructions, he put together a series of mysterious symbols on his counter and activated it. An earthly mixture of runic energy ebbed out, like strands of ink dropped into water. The Runes Engineer took out a finger-long silver bar, and when the immaterial flow of energy touched it, everything wrapped around the rod. In this manner, the station chef directed it into the food.

The cooked stew brightened up immediately, and a strong fragrance filled the kitchen. However, before long, Laksa immediately ordered the process to stop. The Runes Engineer looked confused for a moment but did not dissent.

Soon, the dish is completed, and everyone sat down for the stew with rice.

The first thought that Kairos had was that the meal was rather… explosive. A swirl of flavours that clashed and mingled, yet bland in certain bites.

It was nice, in a rustic sort of way, but far from what he expected a great cook should deliver. What’s more, this simple dish had taken more than ten pairs of hands.

Laksa, on the other hand, was enjoying the meal greatly.

After everyone properly finished the food, the master chef asked, “How was it?”

The others around the table had a bit of a frown on their faces, but they dared not say much.

Some of them had a look that they wanted to give praises, but knowing how much Laksa hated deceit in his kitchen, they managed to curb their tongues.

After all, without knowing truly if their dishes taste good, the chefs cannot improve.

Laksa looked at each of them one by one, and they shrunk away from him until finally, the master chef set his eyes on Kairos.

Kairos looked back at him with an awkward smile on his face and said, “Speaking honest, it… umm… was a taste that's less than what I had expected.”

All the other chefs stared at the boy. Some of them looked at him with an expression that showed they wanted to agree but dare not speak up. Some made a face at him like he was stupid to talk without thinking. But, there were also those that looked at him with approval in their eyes for being daring.

“It is good to be honest,” Laksa laughed heartily, and patted Kairos on his back, “It was rather plain and odd on your tongue, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, the ingredients clashed with each other, and the Wendigo meat was too tough. It seemed as though the beast tensed up in its death.”

“Amazing! You can tell that much? However, this dish was what made me a true chef. You see, I lost my parents at a young age.

The bundle of meat we used was the last morsel I saved up. My parents procured it after a long and tough battle against a marauding Wendigo that was terrorising our village. By the end of it, all their weapons were worn down, and my father slew it with a blunted axe.

That battle cost me both my parents dearly. Wendigos are poisonous, and they never recovered. For me, this was the flavour of home that I sought after, and I spent many years trying to recreate that same taste that my parents made for me.

The food might’ve tasted bland for you, but to me, it was heavenly.

Remember.

We cook with the other party in mind. It may not be anything fantastic, but we consume more than just food alone.

From the moment someone walks past our store, the journey for their stomach has begun. The shop front, the smell of the meal, the smiles of people leaving the restaurant. Nothing is dismissible.

When a customer steps through the door, they will soak in the atmosphere of the restaurant. They will be bewildered by the colours and arrangement we set the food on the plate, breath in the tantalising meal, and they will relieve their fondest memories.

A lightened heart makes the most delightful spice.

Young master, you’ll find that at the top of the Culinary Arts, it is not unlike the Dao that you seek.”

The other chefs were flabbergasted.

They had been fighting for the best techniques, and the best combination of ingredients, to bring forth better foods.

But, all along, their master chef had been so far ahead of them in the art. They once again felt a profound respect for their teacher.

Questions immediately flooded the dining table.

“But, master how do you know what the patrons want?”

“You pay close attention to each person that steps into the restaurant. Watch and observe, and you will find out many things. For example, the clothes that the person is wearing. A person of high-station is used to rich foods. We need to increase the spice of some of our dishes for their taste buds, and entirely remove spices to bring out the fragrance of some other dishes.

A cultivator that had been in closed-door training for a while will want foods high in spiritual energy.

A guard returning from his patrol will need more salt to replenish their system and herbs for recovery.

Those from the slums can’t stomach things that are too rich, but they require highly nutritious ingredients.

The time of the day matters as well. In the morning, we prepare something hearty. In the afternoon, we refresh our diners. During the evening, we calm and soothe them.

Every dish is different like a unique existence, and it changes depending on who we are serving it to.”

The others went into deep thoughts from his words. Kairos, as well, had benefitted much, but he was too new at this to understand some of the deeper concepts.

Laksa knew of his difficulties, and he placed a large book and several scrolls in front of him.

“Young master, these should help you. The book lists all the ingredients we have in our store. The scrolls lists cooking techniques you can learn, and where they come from.”

Kairos was overjoyed at all the cooking manuals. He thanked him profusely, wanting to return to do his research immediately, but before he left, he kept his promise and gave his new teacher the Breath of the Ancients divine technique.

Laksa repeated the mantra of the skill a few times in his head. Each time, he understood a little more, each time his expression turns more to shock.

It was a divine technique. From top to bottom, there was no dispute on what this skill offers: the perfect control that godlings have over their own body.

Once mastered, the person could make the exact movements each time, and if he wished to, even changing the colour of his skin, hair or even irises, is just a matter of thought.

Unfortunately, Kairos’ talent in this area is, as expectedly, lacking. He understood the technique fully, but his flesh is stubborn and the concentration required for him to execute it is enormous.

Despite that, the chef grabbed the boy’s hands and thanked him with a face redden with excitement.

If not for considering his status as the teacher, he would’ve given Kairos a bear hug and kissed him on his cheeks.

Kairos studied the materials he was given throughout the day until the following morning. The entire time he chose to stay in the food stores so that he may take reference with each item listed in the book. Doing so, he was able to listen to the voices of the spirit herbs and other ingredients, and he studied new ways to wield them.

His interest in the subject sustained him, and his photographic memory allowed him to finish everything that Laksa had given him by daylight.

And at the end of it, he had gained much more than what the scrolls said. Thanks to his strong foundation in rune creation and the different crafts, new ideas had sprung up in his mind like a bottomless well.

Excited at the knowledge he gained, and rearing to try out new things, he quickly showered and put on new clothes. Then, once again, he entered Laksa’s kitchen and took his place at the Sous’ station. The rest of the apprentices had not dealt with the unhappiness of Kairos getting special treatment. If anything, their jealousy stroke them like red hot coals.