《中華一番！極》（即舊版《中華一番！》續作，俗稱《小當家》漫畫在最新第182話劇情中爆出震撼發展——男主角劉昴星竟然在料理對決中落敗後被處死，讓眾多忠實讀者與童年粉絲感到震驚與錯愕。這位曾經憑藉無敵廚藝與熱血信念征服無數對手的少年廚神，竟然在「賭命料理」中落敗，並被當場斬首，令讀者直呼：「童年破碎了！」

本次劇情背景設定於主角團與「黑暗料理界」延伸勢力——「料理聖堂」之間的衝突升級。劉昴星為拯救遭囚禁的同伴，被迫接受與鳳凰八仙之托塔天王丁泰鳳的「生死料理決鬥」，規則殘酷，失敗者須以生命賠罪。裁判盤古大人出的主題是「奶汁烤菜」，這場對決中，對手製作的是外觀精緻的通心粉管風琴，結合義大利通心粉與法式奶油白醬等元素，而劉昴星則選擇製作中西融合的奶汁焗餃子料理，內餡為白菜、高湯及奶油通心粉，卻意外地填入重口味的中國朝天椒豆瓣醬。

這種極端混搭讓現場評審認定味道失衡，文化融合失敗，最終判定劉昴星落敗。按照規則處死，之後出現主角死亡的畫面，觀者無不錯愕。這場「敗北即死」的情節被認為是本作至今最黑暗、最劇烈的轉折之一。

這一集的結果引起網絡廣泛熱議，不少80、90後粉絲感慨：「這還是我們當年看的《小當家》嗎？」「從熱血料理番變成修仙番再變成黑暗番。」更有網友批評本作近年劇情過於獵奇與極端，尤其是“賭命料理”設計讓人難以共鳴，從最初熱愛料理、為人民帶來幸福的初心逐漸變質為鬥爭與誇張戲碼。

也有部分觀眾指出，主角之死或許只是暫時性的劇情安排，未來很可能會以「奇蹟重生」或「東方神秘藥膳」等方式復活，畢竟漫畫此前已有超現實甚至接近「修仙」設定的描寫。然而此舉仍被質疑是在消費童年情懷、過度操弄情節，以博取話題熱度而忽略了角色成長與劇情邏輯。

從最初1997年播出的動畫《中華一番》，到如今的《中華一番！極》漫畫版，作品風格已明顯轉變，從強調食物與人心連結的美食番，逐漸走向熱血戰鬥與超現實風格的混合體。此次劉昴星的「死亡」無疑是對這種風格轉向的一個極端體現，也讓不少老粉絲重新思考：我們記憶中的《小當家》，是否已經變成了另一個完全不同的故事。

“Chūka Ichiban! Kiwami” (also known as the sequel to the classic Chūka Ichiban! and popularly referred to as Cooking Master Boy) has taken an explosive narrative turn in its latest Chapter 182, shocking long-time readers and childhood fans alike. In a twist no one saw coming, the protagonist Liu Maoxing, once hailed as the invincible boy chef fueled by passion and skill, is executed after losing a culinary showdown—sending waves of disbelief through the fanbase. Many exclaimed, “My childhood is ruined!” in response to the devastating development.

This dramatic arc takes place amidst escalating tensions between Liu’s team and the expanded forces of the Dark Cooking Society, now represented by a sinister organization known as the Culinary Sanctuary. To rescue a captured comrade, Liu is forced into a life-or-death cooking duel against Ding Taifeng, the “Pagoda King” of the Phoenix Eight Sages. The rules are cruel: the loser must pay with their life. The duel’s theme, selected by the fearsome judge Lord Pangu, is “creamy baked dishes.”

Ding Taifeng presents a visually stunning “Macaroni Pipe Organ” dish, blending Italian pasta with French white sauce. In contrast, Liu opts for a fusion of East and West—creamy baked dumplings filled with napa cabbage, rich broth, and creamy macaroni. However, he unexpectedly adds an overpowering punch of Sichuan chili bean paste, resulting in a jarring flavor clash. The judges deem the dish unbalanced and a failed cultural fusion. Liu is ruled the loser—and, by the rules of the duel, is executed on the spot, with the scene depicting his death, leaving readers utterly stunned.

This “lose and die” scenario is considered one of the darkest and most shocking plot twists in the series’ history. The outcome has sparked intense online debate, with fans from the 1980s and ’90s lamenting: “Is this really the same Cooking Master Boy we grew up with?” and “It’s gone from a cooking battle anime to a fantasy cultivation drama, now turned into a grimdark series.” Many have criticized the recent story arcs as overly grotesque and extreme, particularly the use of life-or-death cooking battles, which seem to stray from the original heartwarming spirit of spreading joy through food.

However, some fans believe that Liu’s death might not be permanent. Given the manga’s increasingly supernatural and cultivation-like elements, a resurrection through mystical Eastern cuisine or miracle medicine may be on the horizon. Still, critics argue that such twists feel like emotional manipulation—exploiting nostalgia and shock value while sacrificing character development and narrative coherence.

From its 1997 anime origins that emphasized the emotional connection between food and people, to today’s Chūka Ichiban! , Kiwami the series has clearly evolved into a hybrid of action-fantasy and surreal drama. Liu Maoxing’s apparent death marks a turning point—an extreme symbol of this transformation—and has left many fans questioning: Has the Cooking Master Boy we once loved become something entirely different?