Time passed quickly, and another beautiful day began.
All first-year students of Totsuki High School were already on buses, heading towards Totsuki Resort.
Liu Ming was also woken up early. After breakfast, he boredly followed Gin Dojima and the others towards the lobby.
"Wow~ They're really rich."
"Indeed, worthy of being a noble academy."
When the Polar Star Dormitory group arrived at Totsuki Resort, they were all startled by the luxurious scenery before them.
Totsuki Corporation was truly wealthy; there were many hotels here alone, as well as many other industries.
However, since everyone was there for training, they didn't delve into this aspect. After putting their luggage in their rooms, they followed the crowd to gather in the lobby.
Twenty minutes later, over a thousand students had all assembled.
Chapel, as the representative of Totsuki Academy, gave a speech, briefly outlining the rules of this lodging training.
In summary, anyone who failed to meet the examiners' requirements would be forcibly sent back to school and expelled.
Many students, upon hearing his words, involuntarily tensed up.
This was different from classes at school, where the school would only give you a failing grade. Here, one failure meant direct expulsion.
Absolutely no failures were allowed.
The pressure involved was imaginable.
"Regarding the evaluation of this task, we have specially invited guest examiners." Chapel shifted his gaze to the entrance of the stage.
He then continued, "Graduates of Totsuki Academy and highly skilled guest chefs who have taken time out of their busy schedules to serve as temporary examiners."
Upon hearing this, the students present became even more nervous, following Chapel's gaze.
Those confident in their culinary skills, however, had burning eyes.
What they were focused on were not the ordinary graduates, but the graduates who held seats, the former Elite Ten.
A fierce flame called ambition began to burn.
Tadokoro Megumi's originally calm gaze suddenly froze when she saw someone.
She covered her mouth, looking at that person with disbelief.
How could he be here!
"Megumi, Megumi, isn't that your master? How can he be standing up there too?" Yoshino Yuuki shook Tadokoro Megumi's shoulders non-stop, her face full of surprise.
Not only her, but the rest of the Polar Star Dormitory also saw Liu Ming.
After all, their impression of Liu Ming was too deep; even having only met him once, they remembered him clearly.
And Liu Ming didn't hide; he stood openly at the forefront of the crowd.
They couldn't help but notice him.
"It seems it really is Master," Tadokoro Megumi said foolishly.
"It must be him, that man must be Liu," Yukihira Soma said seriously.
He had always wanted to challenge Liu Ming, but unfortunately, before challenging Liu Ming, he needed to defeat Tadokoro Megumi first.
However, after so long and several matches, he had not won once.
But he didn't lose heart; his fighting spirit became even more intense.
"Megumi, don't you know he's here either?" Sakaki Ryoko asked in confusion.
Tadokoro Megumi shook her head and said, "Master never told me; I had no idea about this."
"Perhaps he wanted to give you a surprise," Sakaki Ryoko thought, and could only come up with this reason.
It didn't matter what it was; seeing Liu Ming here already made Tadokoro Megumi very happy.
Liu Ming also found Tadokoro Megumi and the rest of the Polar Star Dormitory members in the crowd.
Taking advantage of Kojiro Shinomiya's showboating and expelling students, he also walked down.
"You, do you want to shut down my restaurant?" With Kojiro Shinomiya's imposing words, that student was mercilessly expelled.
It wasn't his business anyway; expulsion was expulsion. Liu Ming couldn't be bothered to get involved.
He pulled Tadokoro Megumi behind him before Donato Gotoda could get his hands on her.
"Mr. Liu, you're going too far. I saw her first," Donato Gotoda said, looking at his empty hands. "My encounter with her was fated. This is a destiny arranged by Heaven; you shouldn't break it."
Before Liu Ming could speak, others refuted him.
"No, Chef Gotoda, this adorable child should belong to me," Inui Hinako said, holding Tadokoro Megumi's hands and looking at her with a strange expression. "So cute! She looks like she'd taste very good."
Seeing that the other person was female, Liu Ming didn't stop her.
He was just that biased.
However, these two didn't stay long and were soon glared back by Chapel.
Liu Ming had never studied at Tootsuki, so Chapel wisely ignored him.
He didn't want to make a fool of himself and end up in an awkward situation.
He had witnessed Liu Ming's aura last night.
"Master, is it really you?" Tadokoro Megumi no longer cared who was speaking on the stage above; her pair of beautiful big eyes were fixed on Liu Ming.
"Hehe, Megumi, it's been a while. How have you been at school?" Liu Ming reached out and gently stroked Tadokoro Megumi's head.
"Hehe." Tadokoro Megumi squinted her eyes, enjoying the moment.
She hadn't experienced this in a long time; her Master's palm was still so warm.
"Hello, Mr. Liu. Why are you here?" Yoshino Yuuki popped out from behind Tadokoro Megumi and asked curiously.
The Polar Star Dormitory members also gathered around.
"I remember Mr. Liu isn't a Tootsuki graduate, is he?" Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses and said.
"Indeed, I'm not a Tootsuki student. The reason I'm here is that I was invited by an old man to temporarily serve as an examiner," Liu Ming said, withdrawing his hand and explaining gently.
"So that's how it is." Yoshino Yuuki nodded.
Marui Zenji's glasses glinted. He asked, "The old man you mentioned wouldn't be Director General Nakiri Senzaemon, would he?"
"That's right, it's that guy," Liu Ming said.
"As expected of Mr. Liu, to be personally invited by the Demon King of Cuisine." Sakaki Ryoko's eyes showed admiration.
Yukihira Soma's fighting spirit soared even more, his eyes filled with battle intent.
Mito Ikumi stared intently at Liu Ming. "Is this Megumi's Master? He's so young. I heard he taught Megumi to this level in just one month. I wonder if he'd be willing to give me some guidance."
"Should I go up and say hello? But he doesn't know me. If he ignores me, won't I be very embarrassed?"
"No, I've joined Megumi's club now, so I should be considered Megumi's person. Strictly speaking, I'm also her Master's person. Saying hello doesn't seem inappropriate."
"Oh, what do you mean I'm her Master's person? I don't know him at all, so I'm not his person."
At this moment, Mito Ikumi was extremely conflicted internally, not knowing what she was thinking.