The Grand Duelist

"Egg Fried Rice? Uncle, this is an Egg Fried Rice?" The young boy had a look of amazement.

Joseph smiled, he was pleased: "Yes, that is an Egg Fried Rice."

"Really? Why does it look so pretty?"

Indeed!

The Egg Fried Rice that Joseph served looked incredibly out of ordinary. The spring onions that leaped over the dragon's gate and transformed into something different from its mortal counterpart along with the other ingredients made the plate, dazzling and gorgeous.

At this point, even Joseph wasn't so sure if he could still even call this Egg Fried Rice as an Egg Fried Rice.

It really did look beautiful.

The grains of the rice were perfectly separated from each other, forming their own independent identity with exquisite flavors that when combined with the meat and the vegetables within the Egg Fried Rice. No words could describe how delightful it was.

Joseph maintained his smile as he stared at the young boy.

The young boy, although reluctant was actually quite hungry. It was the reason why he even stumbled into this place.

Lifting the chopsticks and the bowl, the young boy's hesitation stopped as he proceeded to eat his first mouthful of the Egg Fried Rice and bam...

The young boy looked astonished.

But he didn't say anything at all.

His chopsticks moved even faster than before and in just under thirty seconds, he had already completed the bowl.

Raising his head with brightened eyes, he turned to look at Joseph and said in a crisp voice: "Uncle! That was so delicious! I never tasted such a delicious Egg Fried Rice before!"

Joseph let out a smile.

"But Uncle..."

The young boy suddenly hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Joseph urged him to speak.

"An Egg Fried Rice that's as delicious as that can't possibly cheap and I... no, we... we don't have money to pay for it, uncle... Will you call the police and put me into prison if I can't pay the Egg Fried Rice?" A tearful looked emerged on the young boy's face.

Joseph awkwardly scratched his head as he thought for a moment: "It's all right. You're my very first customer in this shop so you don't have to worry about payment. But I hope that you don't tell anyone about the existence of that Egg Fried Rice, all right?"

"Huh?" The young boy looked confused, "Why should I not tell anyone about the delicious Egg Fried Rice, uncle? Don't you want to have a lot of customers?"

Joseph was briefly astonished by how smart the young boy was despite his age.

"No, Uncle wants a lot of customers. But that Egg Fried Rice isn't perfect, yet. Your uncle is trying to make the best Egg Fried Rice in the world!" 

"Oooh!!! So that Egg Fried Rice can still be more delicious?"

"Yes, that is why I don't want you to tell anyone about the Egg Fried Rice here first. I want to perfect that Egg Fried Rice peacefully so I can't handle customers, yet..." Joseph patiently explained.

"Really? But..." The young boy looked hesitant once again.

"What's wrong? Go ahead and say it."

Joseph smiled and reassured him that he wouldn't be mad no matter what he said.

"If Uncle doesn't want any customers, does that mean that I can't eat the Egg Fried Rice anymore?" 

Joseph awkwardly scratched his head once again.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth chimed in: "[Master! Just let him eat your food every day! Look at him, looking so pitiful. I bet the food in his house isn't up to par and aren't even nutritious!]"

Joseph furrowed his eyebrows and he took another look at the young boy.

Sure enough, he discovered that the young boy was grossly malnourished. 

Joseph deeply sighed.

He didn't know but he could see himself on the young boy.

Ah, wait...

Now, I know...

Back when I abandoned my dignity and started begging for some food and spare change on the wet market.

I also had that look on my face when I saw myself in the mirror.

Joseph revealed a bitter smile.

Perhaps, the appearance of this young boy is a great opportunity for me to repay that karma?

Joseph turned to the young boy and said.

"It's okay, you can still keep eating the Egg Fried Rice here without paying anything. However! You must help Uncle with the chores here! Remember, those that do not work, do not get to eat!"

"There are no free lunches in this world so if you want to keep on eating that Egg Fried Rice, you must do your job, all right?"

The young boy was delighted by what he had heard, "Really? I can work here and eat that delicious Egg Fried Rice every day?! Yaaay! I'll go and tell papa and mama!" He then turned around and made a mad dash towards the exit of the shop but he was stopped by Joseph who cried out.

"Wait!"

The young boy stopped on his tracks.

He turned around and looked quite confused.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Didn't I tell you that I don't want any customers, yet? Why would you want to tell your papa and mama about this?"

The young boy was astonished by the sudden reprimand. He then hung his head low and explained: "It's because I... I also want to have mama and papa eat that delicious Egg Fried Rice..."

"They..."

"The two of them only eat wheat crackers every day so I want them to eat the Egg Fried Rice for a change... Can... Can I not do it...?"

It was Joseph's time to be flabbergasted by the words that he had heard from the young man.

He didn't expect this level of filial piety from the young boy.

A smile escaped on his lips as he said, "Fine... Your papa and mama can also eat here for free. They do not have to work here since I don't have the capabilities to give them a salary, yet."

The young boy was delighted, "Really? Thank you very much, uncle! Papa and Mama wouldn't work here, uncle even if you told them to since we have a wooden workshop! Papa is a carpenter and Mama is helping him on the job!"

Joseph merely smiled. He urged the young boy to leave with his eyes, and the young boy quickly caught on what he wanted him to do, but he looked hesitant to leave as he kept on glancing on the empty wok and the empty bowl and chopsticks on the nearby table.

Joseph lightly chuckled.

Since he had already come to this point when it came to helping this young boy...

Extra help wouldn't really matter.

"Stay here, I'll go and cook two portions of Egg Fried Rice for your father and mother." Joseph then moved towards the kitchen and started his work with the remaining ingredients.

The young boy, although delighted, didn't say anything when he saw how serious Joseph was on his preparations.

Half an hour later, Joseph had completed the two portions of Egg Fried Rice and he handed it over to the young boy along with the bowl. The bowls were covered with parchment of paper to seal in the freshness.

After saying his thanks and expressing his gratitude, the young boy bowed towards Joseph's direction before heading towards the exit.

But before he could leave, Joseph asked him another question.

"Where do you live?"

The young boy replied with a bright smile: "I'm from the wooden workshop across the street, uncle! Goodbye!" With that, he ran out of the shop and soon disappeared from Joseph's sight.

Staring at the direction where the young boy left, Joseph felt inexplicably peaceful. The spiritual energy in his body once again moved in a way that it never had before.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth suddenly chimed in from: "[Master, are you okay?]"

"Yes, I'm fine. What's wrong?" Joseph forgot that he could communicate with her telepathically.

"[I don't know the reason master, but when you were interacting with that boy earlier, you looked quite sad and melancholic. Did something happen in your past that made you see yourself in that boy earlier, master?]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth accurately struck the mark as to why Joseph helped the young boy earlier.

But he didn't say anything.

Despite the fact that he was living a much better life than the young boy, he was actually envious of the boy.

But why?

It was because at least, the young boy had parents that cared for him and he could care for, but him?

Since three years ago, Joseph had nothing.

This was why he felt envious of that boy.

The room fell silent, no one spoke.

But it was broken by Pixie Fairy Elizabeth who quickly switched the topic when she realized that Joseph was uncomfortable.

"[Speaking of this shop, master... I remember you saying that you do not want any customers. What does that mean, master? Does that mean that even though you will be cooking, you won't serve any customers?]" She asked in doubt.

Joseph nodded his head, "[That's exactly what I mean.]"

But Pixie Fairy Elizabeth unexpectedly erupted in anger: "[That cannot happen, master! If we do not serve any customers, how can we measure the value of your Egg Fried Rice? The value of something is only limited to how much a customer wants to pay for it, after all!]"

Joseph was astonished by what he had heard.

He really didn't expect that Pixie Fairy Elizabeth actually had the talent to be a merchant.

To think that she would know such a philosophical phrase...

Joseph inwardly chuckled.

He then yielded to her suggestion as he said, "[Fine, I will go and accept customers but how much should I sell a bowl of my Egg Fried Rice for?]"

"[As I said, the value of something is only limited to how much a customer is willing to pay for it. In other words, we won't know the value of that Egg Fried Rice until a customer has tasted it and has judged its value...]"

"[As for me, how can I possibly tell you the value of that Egg Fried Rice, if I haven't even tasted it, yet?]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth proudly replied.

Joseph bitterly smiled, "[So, in other words... You really don't know how much the Egg Fried Rice should be sold and you're just telling me all of this so there would be a proper logical reason for me to let you taste it?]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth went silent.

If she had manifested her physical form right now and was standing right in front of Joseph.

Joseph would've discovered that there was a furious blush on her face out of embarrassment of being caught red-handed.

Joseph sighed...

"[Okay, I understand your frustrations of not being able to eat the Egg Fried Rice, but how about this? I can let you eat the Egg Fried Rice, but you must also work and help with the chores here like what that young boy earlier will do.]"

"[Eeaaah...]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth pouted and loudly complained.

"[What Eeaaah? Those that do not work, do not get to eat. If you don't want to accept my proposal, then obediently stay there inside my mind!]" Joseph retorted.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth went silent once again but after a few seconds...

She broke that silence and said, "[How about I go and become a waitress in the shop? With someone as gorgeous as me, I bet we'd be full in just a single day.]"

Joseph lightly chuckled, "[Oh, so you want to be a waitress? I guess that sounds fine, but you must hide your wings.]"

"[No!]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth was quick to retort.

"[Damn, that pride of yours is really at the wrong place. How can you not be embarrassed to be a waitress? In fact, do you even know what are the jobs of a waitress?]" Joseph asked in doubt.

"[Of course, even I know that much? Isn't being a waitress just a simple job of delivering food to customers on their table?]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth proudly replied.

Joseph inwardly chuckled, but he didn't say anything anymore.

"[I'll take your silence as Yes. Does that mean that I am free to appear now and work?]"

"[No!]"

"[Why not?]"

"[It's because you are not suitable to be a waitress!]"

"[Why? You haven't even seen me in the field, yet. How can you say that I'm unsuitable?]"

"[No, means no! My words are the rules!]"

"[What? At least tell me why you think that I'm unsuitable for the job!]"

"[Nah, it's such a pain in the ass...]" Joseph shook his head and denied her an explanation.

"[Then... How can I... How can I eat that Egg Fried Rice, then?]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth replied in a heartbroken voice.

Joseph was startled and astonished by what he had heard. 

"[Okay, fine, all right. You don't have to be a waitress, I'll let you eat as much Egg Fried Rice as you want!]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's mood instantly turned for the better.

"[Really? Do you mean it? Does that mean that I don't have to work to eat?]"

Joseph nodded his head, "[Yes I mean it, but you still have to work to eat.]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth replied, "[Eeaaah... What work will I do? What else can I do if you don't want me to be the waitress?]" 

Joseph fell into deep contemplation, "[Let's see... Hmmm... How about you guard the place for me? If someday we'll have troublemakers in the shop, it's your job to teach them a lesson.]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth replied in delight: "[Yeah, that's a good idea! I'll do that! But how do I protect the place?]"

"[First, you must hide those wings.]" Joseph almost immediately replied.

"[No! I will do everything except hiding my wings!]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth also replied instantly.

Joseph facepalmed.

But then an idea popped up in his mind as he replied, "[If you really can't hide those wings of yours, how about you transform into something else? Can you do a transformation?]" 

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth replied in excitement: "[Yeah, I can do that! I can transform into anything that you want me to! But what should I transform into?]"

"[That's a good question if we want those troublemakers to lower their guards against you, how about you transform into something cute, like a kitten or a dog?]"

"[I don't like dogs!]"

"[You heathen...]" Joseph inadvertently accused Pixie Fairy Elizabeth of heresy for not liking dogs, but he quickly regained his wits as he cleared his throat and continued, "[Then, how about a cat or a kitten?]"

"[Yeah, I like them! I'll go and transform into a cat!]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth replied and a brilliant flash of light appeared in the middle of the shop.

The dazzling light washed the entire shop, but it disappeared as fast as it appeared. When Joseph could finally open his eyes properly, he saw a cat that was about a foot long.

The cat didn't look anything out of the ordinary. It also didn't have Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's wings.

It was perfect for Pixie Fairy Elizabeth who wanted to be low-key.

However, despite looking completely ordinary.

The cat suddenly opened its mouth and spoke in a familiar voice.

"How about this form, master? Will this suffice?"

Pfft!

Fuck!

The cat opened its mouth and spoke!

"[Don't do that! You're already a cat so you should only purr and meow! You should only communicate with me through telepathy!]" Joseph telepathically scolded Pixie Fairy Elizabeth.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth pouted, "[Okay, I will do that, but master... Can I change into my original form whenever we are alone? At least, I want to be with you in that form if there's only the two of us in the room.]"

Joseph nodded his head.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's request was reasonable and logical so there were no grounds for refusal.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth had a look of happiness on her face and she wanted to say more, but then footsteps suddenly came from outside the shop.

Those footsteps were clearly approaching the shop, so she instantly transformed into her disguise while Joseph faced the entrance with a calm and composed look on his face.

The doors of the shop opened and Joseph saw a man and woman walk in along with the young boy earlier.

The man's eyes lit up when he saw Joseph and he walked towards him with a smile, "Little brother, that Egg Fried Rice really was delicious."

He then handed over a pouch towards Joseph and said, "The flavor of the Egg Fried Rice alone meant that it took you great effort to make that Egg Fried Rice."

"It's the creed of my family to not do something that you are good at for free. We cannot accept those bowls of Egg Fried Rice for free, little brother..."

"The money inside that pouch may not be a lot but it's the most that I can gather right now. Tell me how much those bowls of Egg Fried Rice and I will save up to pay for it in the future."

Joseph was shocked.

Wow... This guy is a true man... He thought to himself.

But he shook his head and replied, "It's fine. Just consider those bowls of Egg Fried Rice as the token of my greetings, I am new here in this place, you see..."

The father of the young boy hesitated for a bit.

He swept his gaze across the shop and said with a smile: "In that case, since you do not want to accept the money. How about I just help you clean this place up? If you are planning on establishing a restaurant, the furniture and tools you have right now won't suffice."

Joseph felt a strange feeling in his heart when he heard the kind words of the man.

After hesitating for a bit, he nodded and agreed.

The boy's mother was a very kind-looking woman.

Although she was young, she was patient and mild.

She lacked the hot-headedness of the youth and it was clear that she was a virtuous wife and a responsible keeper of the house. With just a single glance at them, Joseph understood that despite their difficulties right now. They were a happy family.

Their child was a cute and sensible young man, while the husband and wife thoroughly loved each other.

Joseph felt envious of the young boy once again.

He suppressed the sadness boiling in his heart as he faced the family with a smile.

After the father of the young boy and Joseph agreed as to what furniture Joseph needed and how long would the job take along with the compensation required for the completion of the job.

The family soon left.

The father of the boy clasped his hands together as a sign of respect and gratitude, while the mother of the boy slightly bowed her head.

"Goodbye, uncle! That Egg Fried Rice was delicious!"

The young boy waved and soon, the family disappeared from Joseph's sight.

Joseph sat on the chair and stared blankly at the doors of the shop.

It was unknown what he was thinking about, but then a single tear suddenly dripped down from his left eye towards his chin.

"[Master!]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth quickly recognized the tumultuous turmoil of Joseph's emotions.

"[What's wrong, master? Are you okay?]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's voice awakened Joseph from his trance as he calmed himself down and chuckled.

"Yeah, I'm fine..."

"I was just..."

"I was just feeling a little bit jealous, you see..."

He audibly replied.