Under the catalysis of heat, the overflowing peppery fragrance made Mana's fingers twitch.
She instinctively picked up a small spoon, gently scooped up a perfectly formed tofu cube, blew on it briefly—thinking it had cooled—and then opened her mouth slightly to taste it.
"Ah—ouch, ouch…!"
The moment it entered her mouth, Mana's eyes widened.
Despite her caution, she had severely underestimated the scorching heat of this magical Mapo Tofu. The boiling, combined with the thickening agent, had locked in an almost volcanic temperature.
The moment the tofu touched her tongue, it unleashed an eruption of fire. The explosive spiciness of Sichuan peppercorns, coupled with intense heat, made her feel like she was chewing lava. Tears welled in her eyes—but then came the numbing wave. The peppercorns tingled and danced on her tongue with addictive precision.
Then it hit—layer after layer of flavor from Pixian bean paste and fermented black beans, coating the tofu in a rich, spicy umami that was aggressive, yet strangely comforting.
Her God's Tongue immediately transmitted the verdict to her brain:
Keep eating!
"It's incredibly hot, but the flavor is divine!"
Mana blinked away tears as she spoke, trying to stay composed.
"I remember… you used Pixian bean paste. A staple in Mapo Tofu. It's made from 70% chili and 30% broad beans, right?"
As she chewed further, her eyes suddenly widened again.
A crisp "crunch" came from within the tofu and meat mixture, causing her to freeze.
"Wait… why is the minced meat crispy?"
She closed her eyes, her God's Tongue shifting into high gear. A moment later, they snapped open with revelation.
"It's not real beef… It's soy-based meat—fried until crispy! That's how it delivers a meaty flavor and texture."
"Ah? That must be the sixth flavor… crispiness?"
"Exactly," Zane nodded with a smile. "It's crispiness."
When people think of Sichuan cuisine, dishes like Douban Fish, Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork, Couple's Sliced Beef, and Mapo Tofu often come to mind—all famed for their intense heat. But Sichuan cuisine isn't only about being spicy and numbing.
Delicacies like Boiled Cabbage in Chicken Broth, Dongpo Pork, and Crispy Pork Slices prove there's much more depth to this regional cuisine. Even Mapo Tofu itself isn't just a fiery, numbing ordeal.
It embodies eight core elements: spicy, numbing, hot, fragrant, colorful, tender, fresh, and crispy.
Zane believed that chefs who reduced Mapo Tofu to merely "spicy and numbing"—as Kuga Terunori often did—had missed the point entirely.
At this moment, paired with a bowl of rice, Mana fully experienced the complete harmony of flavors.
The fermented beans offered freshness.
The red oil and chili paste gave it vivid color.
The tofu was delicately tender.
The Sichuan pepper added its signature tingle.
The chili sparked intense heat.
And then—the crispness of the soy meat tied it all together.
Each layer struck her taste buds in waves. Her whole body grew hot—not just from spice, but from euphoria. Sweat dripped down her cheeks. Her mind began to blank.
"I… I can't stop… Faster… More… Ahh!"
Her whole body trembled, her eyes hazed over, and she opened her mouth, panting slightly, a dazed smile on her face.
Annie and Zane were stunned.
"Is it… really that overwhelming?"
"I didn't even use that much chili or pepper!" Zane muttered, astonished.
He had expected Mana's God's Tongue to be repelled by the heaviness of this dish.
Instead, it overwhelmed her more than the Frozen Bream or Comet Fried Rice ever had.
Mana didn't stop until she'd devoured every last bite, not even sparing a drop of sauce.
"This is… still Mapo Tofu," she whispered, "but it's so much more. The crisp soy meat—so clever… Zane, you've mastered the art of doing more with less."
She leaned back, still breathless. "I've never had anything this exhilarating in my life… You've elevated Mapo Tofu to the peak of Chinese cuisine."
Zane handed her a glass of water.
"Here, to help with the spice."
"Thank you," she smiled, taking it.
Annie tried to stop her—but it was too late.
"It's over…" she mumbled anxiously. "The God's Tongue can't handle plain water…!"
But to her surprise, Mana drank it without hesitation—and didn't gag.
The lingering flavor of Mapo Tofu masked the blandness, making even water taste satisfying.
"Strange… I didn't feel nauseous at all," Mana said, surprised.
That long-dormant appetite in her heart had ignited into a blazing fire.
The glistening, steaming Mapo Tofu—so simple in appearance—had branded itself into her soul.
"Zane… could I have another plate?"
She looked up, cheeks flushed, voice trembling with hope.
"Of course. But given the time and your condition, I'll make a lighter portion with more rice."
"Okay. As you wish."
"Then give me just a moment."
This dish was much easier to prepare than the Frozen Bream, so Zane could make it often—but he knew better than to overload Mana's still-recovering body.
Night deepened.
Back at Totsuki Academy, the campus stood quiet and still. Over a thousand freshmen were currently at the resort, leaving the school nearly deserted.
A black car rolled to a stop outside the gate.
From it stepped a graceful woman with fair skin, soft silver hair cascading like moonlight, and eyes that shimmered with quiet power.
"I've finally arrived… I wonder how much Totsuki has changed?"
With a calm, elegant stride, she walked toward the academy, her hair swaying like silk in the dim light.
Meanwhile, at the Totsuki Resort…
"So tired… I'm dying here…!"
Yuuki collapsed dramatically on the hotel lobby floor.
"It's already 10 PM. Are they seriously going to give us another test?"
The past two days had drained her of every ounce of energy.
Though fewer students had been eliminated today, the remaining ones were naturally stronger, and the pressure hadn't let up.
"Megumi, I heard you had Shino-senpai this morning?" Yuuki asked, still sprawled out.
"Yeah… it was terrifying." Megumi shivered at the memory.
"You actually passed his test?"
"Barely. I never want to see him again."
"Ugh, I feel you. That guy's a monster."
Just as they were commiserating, the towering figure of Gin Dojima appeared.
He looked around at the exhausted faces and nodded approvingly before speaking into the microphone.
"Congratulations on completing the second day of training."
Gasps and murmurs rippled across the lobby.
"Wait… does that mean…?"
"No more tests tonight?!"
"YES! We can finally shower and sleep!"
Their cheers were short-lived.
Dojima raised a hand for silence.
"I'm not done yet."
He smiled faintly.
"Tomorrow at 7 AM, the resort will reopen to the public. We expect approximately 2,000 visitors."
"Your task: cook breakfast. Two conditions. One—the main ingredient must be eggs. No other protein allowed."
"Two—you must sell at least 200 portions in two hours. Fail to do so, and you're expelled."
The room fell deathly silent.
"Eggs? Only eggs? 200 servings?! That's… insane!"
"No," Dojima said calmly. "It's 10 PM now. You have nine hours to prepare. That's more than enough time."
With a final look, he stepped away.
It took a moment for the reality to sink in—then the entire lobby erupted into motion.
A sleepless night had just begun.