---
Lin Feng stared at the scroll in disbelief, his eyes twitching as he read the elegant calligraphy that adorned it. The Dim Sum Sect. He'd heard of them, of course. Everyone had. They were known not only for their culinary prowess but also for their mysterious cultivation techniques, which were said to transform even the most ordinary of chefs into immortals of flavor.
"Dim Sum Sect? Seriously?" Lin Feng muttered to himself, his hand rubbing his temple in a desperate attempt to ward off the headache that was fast approaching.
Flame Duck, who had excitedly snatched the scroll from his hand, squinted at it. "Ooh, I've heard of them. They've got the best dumplings in the world. They say they can make dumplings so good, they transcend taste itself."
Bai Xue, who had been watching the scene unfold with growing exasperation, crossed her arms. "And you're going to go, aren't you?"
Lin Feng groaned. "I swear, I didn't ask for any of this. I just wanted to learn how to cook, maybe have a peaceful meal without dragons or cults getting involved. But noooo…"
Before he could finish his rant, a booming voice interrupted him from the temple doorway.
"Chosen of the Celestial Kitchen!" The voice rang out, and Lin Feng's head snapped up to see a monk from the Wok Temple standing at the entrance. The monk wore a robe that shimmered like oil in the sun, and his face was carved with deep wrinkles that only someone who had cooked for centuries could possess. "I have come to deliver a message on behalf of the Wok Dragon."
Lin Feng blinked. "The Wok Dragon? You mean, that thing I accidentally summoned by overloading a wok with too much hot sauce?"
The monk nodded solemnly. "Indeed. The Wok Dragon has decreed that you must embark on a journey to master the Nine Sacred Dishes of the Celestial Kitchens."
Lin Feng stared at the monk, then turned to Bai Xue and Flame Duck. "I can't… I can't do this anymore. I'm a simple guy, okay? I just wanted to eat some normal food."
Flame Duck, ever the optimist, chirped, "But Lin Feng, think about it! The Nine Sacred Dishes are legendary! If you master them, you'll become a culinary immortal! You'll be able to cook anything, anywhere, and become the greatest chef ever!"
Lin Feng, still skeptical, looked at the monk. "Okay, fine. What's the catch? What do I need to do for these Nine Sacred Dishes?"
The monk's expression became serious. "You must travel across the lands, to the most dangerous, remote, and mysterious kitchens. Each dish must be cooked in a place where only those with great courage can go. Only then will you truly understand the art of cooking."
Lin Feng sighed deeply, but there was a spark of curiosity in his eyes. "Fine. Where do I start?"
The monk handed him a small jade pendant. "This will guide you. It contains the map to the first kitchen—the Dim Sum Sect. Their dumplings are the first dish you must master."
Lin Feng reluctantly accepted the pendant, and as he touched it, the pendant shimmered with light, a map unfolding in his mind. The Dim Sum Sect was located in a far-off mountainous region, accessible only by navigating a treacherous path known as the Dumpling Peaks.
"You have your destination," the monk said with a bow. "We will not interfere with your journey. However, be warned. The road ahead will not be easy. There are trials you will face that will test not only your cooking but your heart and soul."
With that, the monk turned and left the temple, leaving Lin Feng with a new, more terrifying quest than he had ever imagined.
---
The Journey to the Dim Sum Sect
Bai Xue's eyes narrowed as she scanned the jade pendant. "So, we're really going to the Dim Sum Sect?"
Lin Feng's face hardened as he looked at the pendant, the weight of the responsibility starting to sink in. "I guess so. I've already summoned a hot sauce dragon. What's the worst that could happen?"
Flame Duck, who had been squawking in excitement, suddenly stopped and looked at Lin Feng, his feathers rustling. "Uh, Lin Feng… have you ever heard the legends about the Dumpling Peaks?"
Lin Feng shook his head. "No. What legends?"
Flame Duck gulped. "Well, they say that the Dumpling Peaks are guarded by the legendary Dumpling Beasts—creatures made entirely of dumplings that come to life and attack anyone who dares to venture into their territory. They're really protective of the Dim Sum Sect."
Bai Xue snorted. "Dumpling Beasts? You're telling me that we have to face living dumplings that will try to eat us?"
"Well, not eat you, per se," Flame Duck explained. "But they do get a bit… aggressive."
Lin Feng groaned. "Why does this always happen to me?"
After a few more complaints, the group set out, traveling through dense forests and across winding rivers toward the Dumpling Peaks. As they journeyed, the terrain grew more treacherous, and strange things began to happen. The wind started to carry the faint scent of soy sauce and garlic, and the ground seemed to tremble with the sound of sizzling oil. Occasionally, they would pass strange, almost otherworldly sights—smoking pots of broth floating in mid-air, and distant glimpses of massive wok-shaped clouds swirling overhead.
Despite their strange journey, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. There was something inexplicably magical about all of it. Even in the face of all these absurd culinary challenges, he felt like he was part of something bigger—something that connected him to a deeper, more ancient tradition.
The journey to the Dumpling Peaks took longer than they had anticipated. Days turned into weeks, and still, they had not reached their destination. Lin Feng's patience was wearing thin, and Bai Xue was becoming increasingly irritated by the lack of progress.
"Maybe we should just turn back," she said one day as they sat around a campfire. "This is ridiculous. We've been walking forever, and still no sign of the Dim Sum Sect."
Lin Feng threw his hands up in frustration. "I'm doing my best, okay? It's not like I'm trying to make this more difficult than it already is."
Flame Duck, who had been happily pecking at some rice Lin Feng had cooked, looked up with a wide grin. "I'm just waiting for those Dumpling Beasts to show up. I bet they'll be adorable!"
Bai Xue and Lin Feng both glared at him in unison. "Adorable?" they asked in perfect sync.
Flame Duck puffed out his chest, unfazed. "Well, they are dumplings. What's not adorable about dumplings?"
Lin Feng groaned again. "Flame Duck, just… just stop talking."
---
The Dumpling Beasts
As they neared the base of the Dumpling Peaks, the landscape began to change. The air grew thick with the smell of steaming buns and dumplings, and the ground became soft and bouncy, as if it were made of dough. Strange shapes began to appear in the distance—large, round figures with thick doughy bodies and crispy golden exteriors.
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. "Uh, I think we've found them."
Bai Xue squinted. "Are those… giant dumplings?"
Flame Duck's eyes lit up. "They're even better than I imagined!"
Before anyone could respond, a loud, deep growl echoed through the air. The ground beneath them shook, and the giant dumplings started to stir. They rolled forward, their doughy bodies gliding across the ground, and Lin Feng realized with a start that they were not just dumplings—they were living creatures.
"Get ready!" Lin Feng shouted as the Dumpling Beasts surged forward, their giant doughy paws slapping against the ground.
But instead of charging with the intent to harm, the creatures stopped just a few feet from them and began to circle, eyeing them curiously.
"Uh, are they friendly?" Lin Feng asked hesitantly.
Flame Duck squinted. "I don't think so. But they might just be testing us."
Bai Xue's eyes narrowed as she reached for the jade pendant. "Only one way to find out."
As the Dumpling Beasts continued to circle, Lin Feng braced himself for whatever would happen next, knowing that the journey to the Dim Sum Sect was far from over.
To be continued...