Seeing the curious look on Bonanus's face, the other two glanced over as well. There really was a large crowd there, and from time to time, cheers could be heard from within.
At the front of the crowd stood a host, and behind the host lined up a group of people who looked like contestants.
Seeing this scene, both Bonanus and Bosacius were curious—just what kind of competition could attract so many people?
Watching his two family members act like country bumpkins, Xiao couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.
Although he usually wasn't present for the Lantern Rite festivities—usually being the key word—there had been a few times when curiosity had gotten the better of him and he'd come to take a look. Most of the time, though, he stayed on the outskirts of Liyue Harbor watching the Xiao lanterns.
And once, due to an accident, he'd even served as a judge. So he actually knew something about these competitions.
"Looking at the decorations and the Xiao lanterns above, they're probably holding a cooking competition there." Xiao explained calmly to the two.
Hearing this, Bosacius looked over in surprise. This little wooden blockhead Xiao actually knew about these things? So he wasn't completely hopeless after all!
As for Bonanus, her thought was: That means there must be lots of delicious food!
For a woman of quality, tasty food was absolutely irresistible. Actually, no one could resist good food!
Thinking about it, Bonanus swallowed hard. Her eyes sparkled with gold as she looked expectantly at Xiao.
"Come on, Alatus, let's go see!"
Bonanus's shining little stare was so bright Xiao could barely keep his eyes open. Sister Bonanus really was such a foodie...
If he learned some cooking techniques, would Sister Bonanus like him a bit more?
That was a question worth considering...
"This cooking competition is themed 'Food That Adepti Would Love' here in Liyue."
"Simply put, it's a friendly exchange between chefs. The cooks will use their skills to make dishes that they think the adepti might enjoy."
"But whether any actual adepti show up to judge... that's another matter." Xiao explained unhurriedly to his two country-bumpkin companions.
"Then that means all the participants are famous figures, right?" Bonanus thought aloud. Since the theme was adepti, the competitors must all be top chefs.
"Yes. Xiangling from Wanmin Restaurant is one of them."
Xiao nodded slightly. Whether they were all famous chefs, he didn't know, but he knew that Yanxiao and Xiangling were among them.
There were no foreign chefs in this competition. What would foreign chefs know about a contest themed around Liyue's adepti?
"How exciting!" Upon hearing that famous chefs were participating, Bonanus became even more enthusiastic. Without any hesitation, she dashed straight toward the crowd.
She wanted to see up close!
"Hey! Little sister, wait up!" Watching Bonanus disappear in a flash, Bosacius could only stretch out his hand helplessly in a futile gesture.
When did little sister become such a foodie? Could Indarias have corrupted her? It must be that—after all, that one was always a glutton back in the day!
Honestly, he just knew little sister wouldn't learn anything good from that one! What if she got fat?
But thinking from another angle, a chubby little sister might be even cuter. He'd once had the fortune of seeing a plump Ganyu, all round and adorable!
Thinking this way, Bosacius decided not to stop her. Back then, a chubby little Ganyu had choked a god to death.
And that was a god—during that era, gods were the peak combat power in Teyvat. Bosacius knew that even going all out, using his full strength, he might not be able to take one down.
But Ganyu had done it. It seems getting fat really does increase your power!
Nodding to himself, Bosacius followed after her. Watching this, Xiao frowned slightly, sighed, and trailed behind Bosacius.
---
At the Cooking Competition Venue
"Dear fellow countrymen! Welcome to what might be the who-knows-which-annual, but still incredibly lively, 'Adepti Cooking Competition'!"
The person speaking loudly was the host. Dressed like a scholar, he gave off a learned impression and looked quite young.
But compared to Zhongli, he was like a small witch next to a big one—though that wasn't the point.
"The chefs participating this time are all famous cooks from Liyue: Head Chef Wu Fei from Xin Yue Xuan!"
The head chef from Xin Yue Xuan was an elderly man who looked very experienced, followed by a group of apprentices assisting him.
"Head Chef Na Xu from Liuli Pavilion!"
The head chef from Liuli Pavilion was a woman in her thirties. Despite her youth, her culinary experience was beyond ordinary imagination.
"Head Chef Yanxiao from Wangshu Inn!"
Yanxiao used to be a bandit but later retired and discovered his strong talent for cooking. He looked rough and tough but was exceptionally meticulous with food.
"Head Chef Xiangling from Wanmin Restaurant!"
"And many other renowned chefs who've studied abroad: Chef Xu, Chef Yan, and Chef Ji!"
As the host's introductions finished, the crowd waiting to watch burst into enthusiastic applause.
The onlookers buzzed with excited discussion—these were all truly famous chefs!
Everyone gathered here had a deep love and interest in food. Though they couldn't taste the dishes, just watching these famous chefs compete up close was satisfying enough.
Among the crowd were Flaggie from Snezhnaya and Jeremy from Fontaine—traveling food enthusiasts who went wherever delicious food took them.
"I think Miss Xiangling will win again this time. She's won several competitions before—that genius chef always comes out on top!"
"That's not necessarily true! I heard Wangshu Inn has an adeptus staying there, and Chef Yanxiao has cooked for that adeptus before!"
"Going by that logic, you're not wrong, but don't forget—Wanmin Restaurant hosted three whole adepti just yesterday!"
Most people were only interested in the chefs from Wanmin Restaurant and Wangshu Inn. Their prices were reasonable, unlike Liuli Pavilion and Xin Yue Xuan, which were outrageously expensive.
Those two restaurants were probably only for the wealthy, right?
Though Liyue didn't have many poor people, most still preferred affordable places to eat.
"True, I happened to be eating at Wanmin Restaurant yesterday and was lucky enough to see the three adepti in person. Especially that female adeptus—her appearance was simply beyond comparison!"
"I saw them too! I was buying things at the harbor earlier! Though I only saw Mr. Zhongli from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and that four-armed adeptus."
Hearing these conversations, a Liyue scholar stepped forward with some displeasure, speaking seriously.
"Don't give the adepti nicknames. According to ancient records, the two newly returned ones are the 'Mighty and Illuminated Eleuth the Swift'—General Bosacius—and the 'Whirly-bird Bonanus'—General Bonanus."
"They are the Yakshas serving under Rex Lapis! Giving them nicknames like that—aren't you afraid of retribution?"
Hearing this, the gossiping crowd deflated somewhat. Using such casual terms was indeed disrespectful to the adepti, so they said nothing more.
But nobody noticed they'd completely derailed the conversation—from food to adepti.
The host on stage, seeing the crowd's enthusiasm, smiled contentedly.
"Since everyone is so interested, I won't waste time with more words. Tonight, we yield this stage to our chefs!"
"I declare! This cooking competition... officially begins!"
As soon as the host finished speaking, the competing chefs immediately sprang into action. Beside them, their assistants worked just as diligently, not daring any carelessness.
Though it was just an entertaining competition, claiming first place would certainly benefit those concerned with reputation.