Genshin Impact: A Guide to the Unofficial History of Teyvat — Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Xinyue Kiosk and Liuli Pavilion

The back kitchen of Xinyue Kiosk was a battlefield of culinary precision, forever busy yet flawlessly orderly. The rhythmic clatter of iron spatulas against woks, the violent sizzle of hot oil searing fresh ingredients, and the deep, rhythmic bubbling of rich broths intertwined into a chaotic but familiar melody.

On this particular afternoon, Head Chef Master Zhang finally managed to steal a rare moment of leisure. Wiping his grease-stained hands on a towel, he reached into his coat and pulled out a pristine set of books he had just scavenged from Sanyu Bookstore: the complete, highly anticipated collection of A Bite of Liyue.

He had always harbored a deep love for miscellaneous literature, and getting his hands on this mysterious new culinary monograph left him absolutely overjoyed.

Settling onto a small wooden stool in the corner, he cracked open Part One, his eyes scanning the pages as he nodded in frequent, emphatic approval.

“Shadow Beef Slices… Adeptus’Temptation fused with a rustic Native Chicken Pot…” Master Zhang muttered, his eyes widening. “This knife work, this stock-making technique—these are all classic Liyue dishes that require decades of genuine effort! Who on earth is this’Stay-at-Home Cook’? They write with such terrifying authenticity!”

Master Zhang felt as if he had unearthed a buried treasure. His chest swelled with a deep respect for the author’s boundless skill, accompanied by a restless, itching urge to sprint back to his cutting board and try the recipes immediately.

Adeptus’ Temptation notoriously involved simmering dozens of rare ingredients in a single clay jar, a delicate balancing act to maintain their individual characteristics while forging a collective, savory umami. The book suggested adding it to a native chicken pot, fusing the fowl’s strong, earthy taste with the luxurious, complementary flavors of the high-end ingredients.

“‘The exact timing of introducing the chicken pot is paramount…'” Zhang read aloud, tracing the text with a calloused finger. “‘Rich savory aroma, fresh and mellow layers…’ Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!”

Following that revelation, the pages offered Sea Urchin Steamed Egg, Three-Delicacy Menzi, Drunken Crab, Poached Shrimp, and Steamed Scallops with Garlic and Vermicelli. Recipe after recipe left the veteran chef entirely dazzled.

The deeper he explored, the more startled he became. Many of the dishes detailed in this volume were perfectly tailored to Xinyue Kiosk’s signature seafood-heavy, delicate style of cuisine!

Brimming with curiosity, he set the first book aside and eagerly flipped open Part Two.

“‘Melusine Consultant’?” he murmured to himself, squinting at the bizarre pen name before reading further.

“Cold-Tossed Hydro Slime? Anemo Slime Sashimi? Thun… Thunderlight Agar Jelly?”

Master Zhang’s brow furrowed, the creases deepening by the second. His expression rapidly shifted from mild confusion to sheer, unadulterated horror. The hand holding the book began to tremble slightly.

Although he had never in his life considered consuming a Slime as an “ingredient,” the vivid descriptions painted a gruesome picture in his mind: a slimy, freezing, and distinctly fishy liquid texture, coupled with the terrifying potential of suffocating on expanding Anemo Slime slices. His stomach gave a violent, involuntary lurch.

The ingredient lists only grew more deranged. There were raw minerals, frostpetals, highly toxic Fungus spores, and other materials that looked fundamentally inedible. One dessert recipe even demanded the addition of pure Electro Crystal solution to give it a “tingly kick.”

“This… can this really be eaten without dying?” he whispered, his eyes bulging.

Yet, looking at the deadpan, entirely serious descriptions written from this supposed Melusine’s perspective—which repeatedly praised the dishes as “exquisite” and “delicious”—he couldn’t help but find the sheer absurdity of it amusing.

‘If the other chefs saw this, they’d probably think the author belongs in an asylum,’Zhang thought, wiping a bead of cold sweat from his forehead.’But… I suppose the author’s preface makes a twisted sort of sense. One man’s arsenic is another man’s honey. The boundaries of gourmet food are far broader than we mortals imagine. Maybe for other creatures out there in Teyvat, these dishes truly are delicacies!’

Although the contents of Part Two were deeply shocking and shattered the boundaries of a human chef’s sanity, Part One had genuinely moved Master Zhang to his core.

The dishes recorded in the first volume featured exquisite techniques and wildly unique concepts. Though the names were unfamiliar to him—like ‘Ants Climbing a Tree’or’Yuxiang Shredded Pork’—any veteran could tell from the rigorous cooking process and flavor profiles that they were far from ordinary. They were brimming with a refreshing, revolutionary culinary wisdom.

Unable to contain his excitement a moment longer, he shoved the cursed second book deep into his pocket, grabbed A Bite of Liyue, Part One, and bolted out of the kitchen to find the owner of Xinyue Kiosk.

The owner was sitting quietly at a mahogany table in the main hall, carefully checking the week’s accounts. Seeing his usually composed Head Chef rush in like a madman, he raised a single, questioning eyebrow.

“Boss, you have to look at this!” Master Zhang slammed the book onto the table, aggressively flipping to the pages detailing the Shadow Beef Slices and the Adeptus’Temptation Chicken Pot. “I’ve never seen such exquisite, masterful descriptions of dishes! Look at this’soup-clearing’method, the strict knife work requirements for the beef, and the’fine cutting and coarse chopping’ technique for these Crab Roe Lion’s Head meatballs… It looks simple on paper, but it actually requires deep, decades-deep skill!”

The owner took the book with a skeptical hum. At first, his gaze was casual, but as his eyes tracked down the pages, his expression hardened into absolute solemnity.

He wasn’t a top-tier chef himself, but having managed Xinyue Kiosk for years, he possessed a razor-sharp eye for quality. He carefully read the preface and the introductions to several core dishes, nodding deeply at the philosophy behind the ‘Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth’—a dish that demanded extreme purity and freshness to mask its complex preparation.

“These dishes… are indeed unheard of in the harbor,” the owner pondered, tapping his chin. “But since the author has gone to the trouble of writing a book about them, recording the ingredients and techniques in such painstaking detail, their intention surely isn’t just for self-amusement. They hope these flavors can be passed down, known, and tasted by the masses.”

He snapped the book shut, a sharp, predatory glint flashing in his eyes. As one of the two premier high-end restaurants in Liyue Harbor, Xinyue Kiosk was locked in a perpetual war for dominance. They constantly needed innovation to maintain their leading position.

The sudden appearance of A Bite of Liyue, Part One was undoubtedly a gift from the Rex Lapis himself.

“Master Zhang,” the owner said, his voice dropping into a decisive, commanding tone. “The dishes in this book have extremely high technical requirements, which will perfectly showcase the sheer strength of Xinyue Kiosk’s kitchen. Immediately select our best masters—those with the most solid knife work and heat control—to study this book intensively. Especially the Steamed Scallops with Garlic and Vermicelli, the Crab Roe Lion’s Head, and the Sea Urchin Steamed Egg. You must master them flawlessly!”

He leaned forward, tapping the cover of the book. “We will drag these hidden delicacies out of these pages and make them the new, undisputed signature dishes of Xinyue Kiosk!”

Hearing this, Master Zhang’s blood boiled with excitement. “Understood! Just you wait, Boss! I’ll take the boys in the back and reproduce the absolute essence of this book!”

Not long after that fateful afternoon, Xinyue Kiosk’s menu was quietly updated, featuring the brand-new A Bite of Liyue series in a prominent, gold-leafed position.

The moment the series officially launched, it sent a massive shockwave through the culinary circles of Liyue Harbor.

Regular wealthy patrons flocked to the restaurant, fiercely competing to secure reservations. Avid readers of A Bite of Liyue were also driven mad by curiosity; they had long been salivating over the mouth-watering descriptions in the novel and practically broke down Xinyue Kiosk’s doors to finally taste reality.

For a time, the elegant restaurant was packed to the brim with bustling crowds, and private booths were booked out months in advance.

The rich, pungent garlic aroma and the sweet, tender scallop meat of the Steamed Scallops blended perfectly, while the glass vermicelli—having soaked up every drop of the savory broth—left a lingering, addictive aftertaste.

The Crab Roe Lion’s Head meatballs were impossibly soft and tender, with the fresh, decadent richness of the crab roe penetrating every single fiber of the minced meat. The soup base was crystal clear but packed a heavy umami punch, showing off the kitchen’s true, terrifying skill. And the seemingly simple Sea Urchin Steamed Egg, with its silky, custard-like texture and the explosive ocean flavor brought by the sea urchin roe, effortlessly conquered the palates of countless picky diners.

“Marvelous! This Yuxiang Shredded Pork has absolutely no fish in it, yet it carries the distinct, mouth-watering aroma!” an elderly, wealthy diner exclaimed, his face flushed with delight. “Sour, sweet, salty, spicy, and fresh—all the flavors strike in perfect harmony, and the layers of texture are incredibly rich! Truly wonderful!”

“This Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth looks so plain, but the broth is so outrageously fresh it’ll knock you right off your feet! Truly a dish of supreme skill!” another patron praised, eagerly signaling a waiter for a second bowl.

Voices of ecstatic praise echoed through the dining halls from morning until night, pushing Xinyue Kiosk’s business to an unmatched peak.

Although Master Zhang and the other chefs were sweating through their uniforms, working at a breakneck pace, seeing the deeply satisfied smiles of the diners and hearing the dining room erupt with praise filled their chests with an overwhelming sense of achievement.

They strictly followed the techniques outlined in the book, occasionally improving certain minor details based on their own deep Liyue culinary foundations. Together, they made these bizarre dishes from another world shine brilliantly on the soil of Liyue Harbor.

However, beneath the roaring craze, jealous ripples were already beginning to form.

The explosive success of Xinyue Kiosk naturally attracted the burning, envious attention of its peers—especially its bitter, eternal rival: Liuli Pavilion.

Standing on the opposite side of the street, the Chief Manager of Liuli Pavilion glared at his own entrance, which looked painfully deserted compared to the massive, winding queue wrapped around Xinyue Kiosk. His brow furrowed so deeply it looked carved from stone. He immediately dispatched an assistant with a heavy pouch of Mora, finally managing to secure a heavily circulated copy of A Bite of Liyue, Part One.

“Hmph! It’s just repeating what others have said and blindly following a fiction book!” the Head Chef of Liuli Pavilion scoffed, aggressively flipping through the pages. Although he spoke with biting dismissiveness, his eyes betrayed him; he was secretly shocked by the brilliant, unorthodox conception of the recipes.

He, too, saw the exquisite skill and the terrifying market potential hidden within the text.

“If those seafood-obsessed fools at Xinyue Kiosk can do it, can’t we at Liuli Pavilion do it better?” the Head Chef sneered. “Is there only delicate seafood in this book? Look at these heavy, spicy cuts!”

Liuli Pavilion acted with ruthless speed, organizing their own kitchen staff to study the hearty, meat-heavy recipes through the night.

Kung Pao Chicken, Mapo Tofu, Ants Climbing a Tree, Twice-Cooked Pork, Braised Pork with Dried Bamboo Shoots… a massive wave of rich, heavily seasoned dishes that perfectly fit Liuli Pavilion’s bold style were violently launched onto their menu.

Not only that, but Liuli Pavilion also aggressively marketed their new menu, raising massive silk banners outside their doors that read: Ancient Methods Reimagined, Liyue Flavors Elevated. They boldly claimed their interpretations of the book’s dishes were far more in line with Liyue’s true, traditional heritage than Xinyue Kiosk’s delicate seafood.

Within days, the diners of Liyue Harbor discovered that the two top restaurants in the city were both fiercely competing over dishes from the exact same A Bite of Liyue series! This immediately ignited the hottest topic of gossip across the harbor.

“Have you heard? Xinyue Kiosk and Liuli Pavilion are practically at war over the recipes from that new book!”

“I know, right! I’ve tried both sides, and they each have their own incredible merits! Xinyue’s seafood is divine, but Liuli’s Mapo Tofu is to die for!”

“It’s definitely a divine book sent from the heavens! Just looking at the recipes makes you crave it, and the actual results are so good they make you want to weep! The finished products have perfect color, aroma, and taste. Incredible!”

Late that night, long after the evening market had finally closed, Master Zhang sat alone in the quiet kitchen, finally catching his breath. He took out A Bite of Liyue, Part One once again, re-reading the familiar pages carefully under the dim, flickering light of a single lantern.

Looking at the modest pen name, ‘Stay-at-Home Cook’, his heart swelled with emotion.

This mysterious author had not only brought exquisite new dishes to the harbor but had introduced a brand-new culinary philosophy to their world. The ultimate pursuit of comforting, home-cooked flavors, the bold, fearless exploration of seasoning balance, and the masterful culinary skill of hiding complex, back-breaking effort beneath a simple, unassuming appearance.

He suddenly remembered Part Two, which he had carefully locked away in a drawer, and a bitter, helpless smile crept onto his face. That ‘Melusine Consultant’s’ recipes would probably never, ever be accepted by Xinyue Kiosk’s kitchen.

But that bizarre, unhinged ‘imagination’ existing right alongside the rigorous, exquisite skills in Part One seemed so peculiar. It was as if the author was gently reminding him that the vastness and the terrifying unknown of the world far exceeded the narrow imagination of a simple Liyue chef.

Long afterward, in the brief, quiet intervals of his busy work in the kitchen, Master Zhang would occasionally think back to that cursed Part Two.

Whenever he thought of the recipes for ‘Cold-Tossed Spring Water’or’Breath of Windrise’, he would chuckle softly to himself, shaking his head with a long, wistful sigh.

“This culinary world of Teyvat… it truly is full of wonders, as vast and terrifying as the dark sea…”