The Grand Duelist

Kenneth endured an unreasonably hellish training under Joseph just for the sake of inheriting his culinary arts. Not only Kenneth had to constantly endure the heat of the kitchen even though when he was sleeping.

Joseph also made him meditate every day according to some breathing techniques.

Joseph had consulted Pixie Fairy Elizabeth regarding this and she gave Joseph a set of breathing techniques that Kenneth could practice without becoming a cultivator.

But why didn't he just gave Kenneth a set of cultivation manuals?

It was because even though Joseph wanted Kenneth to control his Spiritual Energy in order to infuse them to mortal ingredients so, that they could become spiritual ingredients...

He didn't want Kenneth to be a cultivator.

Despite not having any practical experience regarding the life of cultivators. Within the past few months that Joseph stayed here within the world made by the King's Trial. He found out that the life of cultivators was indeed quite ruthless and harsh. 

Joseph didn't want Kenneth to live in a world like that, but he also didn't want Kenneth to be defenseless when the war that Matthew was talking about arrived.

This was the reason why he asked Pixie Fairy Elizabeth for a set of breathing techniques that could fortify Matthew's strength and body, enough for him to survive the war of mortals against mortals.

Joseph doubted that those arrogant and haughty cultivators would deliberately attack mortals.

If Kenneth had some brain cells, he should know when to retreat or advance.

But Joseph actually wanted to do more for Kenneth.

Sadly, he received a warning from Pixie Fairy Elizabeth, saying that if he intervened too much with the fate of a mortal. 

Something undesirable may happen.

Joseph could only sigh and oblige.

Time quickly passed, and three years swiftly passed in the King's Trial.

Joseph felt quite weird for even though he had spent a long time within the King's Trial.

Only a few hours had passed in the outside world.

This abnormality created a strange confusion in his mind which always resolved itself whenever Joseph returned to the world of the King's Trial.

The breathing techniques that Joseph gave to Kenneth made him grow stronger, sturdier, and taller.

The grossly malnourished young boy who had a physique that made him look like a matchstick was now a thing of the past. The owner of the hardware shop beside Joseph had died two years ago and was now replaced by a Fabric Shop.

Kenneth's parents now had a few more wrinkles on their faces, yet the smiles on their faces remained as kind as ever. 

But even though they were still young, they couldn't avoid the passage of time.

It was also worth mentioning that within these three years, countless families within the City of Eichenwalde had visited Joseph's restaurant that now had dozens of branches within the City of Eichenwalde under Kenneth's leadership.

All of them came to the restaurant to talk about marriage. 

Sadly, all of them were kindly rejected by Joseph in all of their attempts.

Matthew had gotten married once again after two decades and had a healthy baby.

Matthew visited the small restaurant to pay respects and offered several gold coins to Joseph so that Matthew's baby could be his godchild. Joseph merely laughed and said that he'll be the godparent of the child even without the money to which Matthew laughed in delight.

Winter came and autumn passed. The sun rose and went down.

During these three years, Joseph saw the birth of the young and the passing of the old.

He felt incredibly sad by their passing.

Especially the passing of that particular customer who often talked to him regarding his sons and daughters and how they liked Joseph's food.

That customer would always come to the restaurant at the exact same time, without a second more, or a second less and he would order the same dishes every time.

Namely, Pork Nilaga, Pork Adobo, and the two Egg Fried Rice.

But after a simple and delightful afternoon. That old customer bid him farewell and he never returned the next day.

His sons and daughters visited and informed Joseph of his passing.

In the last three years, Joseph had never even cultivated again. With Matthew's backing, no one within the City of Eichenwalde dared to cause trouble in his restaurant and its branches. In other words, Joseph lived a laidback life within the world of the King's Trial.

The restaurant's growing branches made it so that the workload also became astronomical.

But Joseph's heart was still calm, he believed in the young boy, Kenneth...

Unfortunately, when the third year arrived. Kenneth was unable to refuse his father anymore and he began to learn the art of carpentry. But of course, whenever he was on a day off. He would go to the restaurant and cook for the customers, assisting the other workers of the restaurant and Joseph.

Speaking of other workers, Matthew had dissolved the gang that he made and Joseph adopted them all in his restaurant.

With the prospects of good food and a comfortable salary...

None of the men refused and they all became gentlemen with pleasing, yet unique dispositions.

Treating the customers as the king was now their number one priority.

Today marked the fourth year since Joseph came to the City of Eichenwalde.

Joseph experienced a whole new experience every year, but there were still some regrets that he had in his heart whenever the celebrations for the new year came.

And that was the fact that he spent most of his childhood playing video games instead of interacting with his parents.

Kenneth ran out of the wooden workshop from across the street with fireworks in his hand.

There was this smile on his face that Joseph greatly envied as Kenneth played.

However, Joseph's enviousness was soon replaced with happiness when he saw how happy the hardworking Kenneth was...

Joseph had watched this young boy grow up from a twelve-year-old kid to a sixteen-year-old kid after all.

Igniting some fireworks and holding it in his hand as he ran and hurled them away at the distance.

A booming sound rang out as Kenneth laughed in delight.

Afterwards, he ran towards his Uncle Joseph and sat down beside him on the cold bench.

He didn't seem to mind the cold as he winked at Joseph and said.

"Uncle... I heard some rumors that shopkeeper Dan beside our workshop wants to have his daughter marry you. I also heard that you rejected him... Uncle... Why did you not agree? I actually saw her face behind her veil for the moment and I saw that she was very beautiful..."

"[T-T-This brat... Saying something like that again...]"

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth almost immediately exploded in fury when she heard what Kenneth had said.

Joseph felt a shiver run down his spine. But he maintained a calm facade on the outside. He smiled and ruffled Kenneth's hair before saying: "Uncle already has a wife."

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth was startled but she didn't say anything.

"Ah? Really? How come I have never seen her?" Kenneth jolted in shock, there was this look of disbelief on his face that looked incomparably amusing to Joseph.

"She's in a very very far away place, waiting for me. One day, I'll be back there and be with her again!" Joseph's voice was incomparably gentle as he said these words. 

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth went strangely silent.

Kenneth lifted a mischievous smile: "I see, I see! So the reason Uncle came here to Eichenwalde is to earn money to come back to where she is and get married!"

Joseph smiled.

But he didn't refute what the young man had said as he replied: "That's right, once your uncle here made a lot of money. I'll be back there and get married."

Kenneth lightly chuckled and the two talked with each other for quite a long time.

However, Kenneth's father suddenly shouted from across the street, eliciting a bitter smile from Kenneth as he awkwardly scratched his head and said: "I am really sorry, Uncle... I have to go back to the workshop again."

"Go..." Joseph merely smiled.

Kenneth soon disappeared from Joseph's sight and he was now left alone sitting on the cold bench. Staring at the starry skies, the snowflakes struck his face and quickly turned into ice water. Joseph opened his palm and with a will, the snowflakes surged towards his opened palm.

Taking a deep breath...

Joseph retracted his spiritual energy and the snowflakes scattered in all directions.

This happened so quickly that none of the passing mortals noticed something strange.

But it wasn't really anything out of the ordinary that they didn't notice something extraordinary for they had their heads hung low as they hurried towards their homes.

Tonight was the celebration of new years, these mortals were excited to go back to their houses and celebrate this holy night with their loved ones.

The night deepened and the number of mortals passing by decreased until there was no one left on the street. All the shops in the entire City of Eichenwalde had closed due to the harsh coldness of the outside world.

Everyone had gone over to their families for the new year's eve feast and for the warmth from their fireplaces that could expel the cold.

Joseph glanced at the imposing restaurant that had gone from being a small restaurant into a prestigious four-story restaurant.

Within these past few years, Joseph earned a lot of money along with Spirit Stones as well as Experience Points. However, sadness filled his eyes, and bitterness overwhelmed his soul every time the new year's eve came.

This bitterness and sadness wasn't something that a mere wine could dissipate.

The coldness that surrounded the City didn't really physically harm him, but when he saw the smiles of the mortals and the laughter of the children when they received their presents from their parents. The coldness of the surroundings seemed to seep into Joseph's heart.

This type of coldness came from Joseph's bitter experience of losing both his parents from that tragedy. But this coldness also came from comprehending the heavens and was a must for cultivators that wanted to experience life.

In order to be a true immortal. One must first become a mortal.

Of course, Joseph was a mortal for this was only a game.

But here in the King's Trial...

He had the body of an immortal, as a being who could be considered as an immortal.

Was it really that easy to become a mortal?

Right now, Joseph was experiencing unprecedented loneliness.

But despite knowing that this loneliness was a mere product of his deep-seated insecurities.

He must keep on experiencing this loneliness for the sake of the King's Trial.

Joseph began to ponder. No one knew when, but Joseph eventually stood up. His face looked young, but his eyes seemed as if he had just aged a lot.

He slowly turned around, opened the doors of his restaurant, and went inside.

Inside, Joseph sat in front of the fire. It was very warm inside the restaurant, but coldness was the only sensation that his heart and soul could feel. After thinking for a long time. He went into the kitchen and started working.

Soon, the smell of Egg Fried Rice filled the air.

Joseph eventually returned to his seat, carrying a bowl of Egg Fried Rice and a pair of chopsticks.

Staring at the greasy Egg Fried Rice made with mortal ingredients.

Joseph let out a smile.

The smell of this Egg Fried Rice that he didn't enhance with his spiritual energy may be quite strange, but for Joseph...

It was incomparably familiar. 

The coldness in his heart lessened a bit.

He opened his mouth and stuffed a mouthful of Egg Fried Rice into his mouth. 

"As always... It's really delicious..."

Another smile leaked out of his mouth, but although this smile looked to be of satisfaction. Anyone who saw this would think otherwise. After all, the eyes were the windows to one's soul, and despite the satisfied smile on Joseph's face...

His eyes were radiating the light of bitterness, regret, and loneliness.

"I won't let go... I will never forget... Never let go..." Joseph lightly uttered. Despite it being several years since the tragedy, there was no way that Joseph could forget about his family and the tragedy that dramatically changed his life.

Even though he may look like he had moved on from that incident. Deep inside his heart, there was still this pang of regret that he secretly harbored.

"If I wasn't... If I wasn't playing in that internet cafe so late in the night... Both of you wouldn't have..."

Joseph clutched his chest in pain.

A cultivator fighting against the heavens must be ruthless and detached from everything.

But if an immortal wanted to become a mortal to comprehend the ways of the heavens. They must remember everything that they had done back when they were a mortal. They must experience the joy, the sorrows, the seven deadly sins, and the six eternal desires that plagued the mortals.

If a cultivator truly became detached from everything and had lost the emotions that he had as a mortal.

It would be impossible for them to transform into a mortal and comprehend the ways of the heavens. 

At this moment, Joseph was immersed in thoughts about his parents and the regrets that he had back then.

The spiritual energy in his body wildly surged.

They soon came out of his body and formed threads that transformed into phantoms that were incomparably familiar to Joseph.

"Seph... If you want to learn cooking, you must learn it the same as me! You must not ask questions! Just watch and learn!"

"Dear... You must not be so harsh on Joseph... He's also trying his best, you see?"

"What being harsh? This is the gentlest that I can be when it comes to teaching this brat! Hey, come here! Don't use the knife like that or you'll hurt yourself!"

Familiar voices rang out within the room.

Joseph raised his head and was astonished to find three illusory figures laughing and talking in the restaurant's kitchen.

One of the figures was a man who had this stern expression on his face, but a gentle and patient light in his eyes. The other was a woman who looked to be in her early thirties.

The woman had a worried look on her face, but it was clear from her eyes that she was amused and joyful about what was going on...

As for the last figure...

It was the figure of a young boy.

That young boy stood on a stool and was trying his best to imitate the way his father cooked.

Despite the numerous scoldings that he received...

The determined look on his face never faded.

Joseph let out a smile and stood up.

As soon as he stood up.

The illusory figures vanished and silence descended from the restaurant once again.

"[Master...]" Pixie Fairy Elizabeth's voice rang inside his mind.

"[It's fine... I'm fine...]" Joseph replied.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth wanted to further express her worries, but seeing the defiant look on Joseph's face...

She kept her silence.

Joseph walked towards the doors of the restaurant and opened it.

Kenneth and both of his parents were about to leave the wooden workshop from across the street when they saw Joseph staring at them. Kenneth wore a smile on his face, he ran towards Joseph and said: "Uncle... Did you wait for us here?"

"Huh?" Joseph replied in astonishment.

"Oh... I thought Uncle knew that we were going to come." Kenneth revealed a smile before he rushed inside. He sat next to the fire inside the restaurant.

Kenneth's mother carried a wooden basket with her as she said: "Brother Seph... Are you busy?" 

Joseph let out a smile as he shook his head: "No, I'm not... Come inside. It's cold here outside."

Kenneth's mother chuckled, "Really... The winter this year is particularly harsh. It makes me think that something ominous is about to happen. I just hope that I'm just being overly dramatic."

Joseph paused for a moment before he shook his head and bitterly smiled. He didn't say anything towards what she had said as he turned around and guided Kenneth's father into the restaurant.

Kenneth's father found a table and he helped his wife place the wooden basket on top of it. Joseph glanced at the basket and realized that it was filled with all sorts of food, delicacies, and even some wooden bottles of wine.

Kenneth's mother revealed an apologetic look.

It was clear that she didn't expect to hide the smell of food from a master chef like Joseph.

Kenneth's father saw the expression on his wife's face as he said: "I know that the food that my wife makes can't possibly compare to your food, Brother Seph. But I hope that you accept it." 

Joseph smiled, "Yes, I'll do. Let me get some plates..."

"From the looks of it, all of you still haven't eaten yet, right?"

Kenneth almost immediately replied: "That's right, uncle! Father insisted that we eat here with you because he wants to borr-"

"Kenneth!" Kenneth's father scolded Kenneth and the young boy revealed a wronged look: "What's the problem with borrowing some silvers? Uncle here can easily earn those silver coins in just a single bowl of Egg Fried Rice!" He coldly harrumphed and revealed a proud look on his face.

He felt proud since he was an employee of this incredibly lucrative restaurant.

Kenneth's father revealed a look of embarrassment as well as his wife: "Brat, let's see when we come back home..."

Joseph turned to look at him and said: "Brother, you want to borrow some money from me?"

Kenneth glanced at his father and found that he had a sheen of red on his cheeks.

Kenneth then lightly chuckled, seemingly teasing his father as he said: "Since father is too embarrassed to say it. I'll say it. Uncle, they think that the wooden workshop is not earning enough to sustain us in the next few years..."

"Mother wants to expand the shop. She wants to buy the two shops beside us."

Joseph smiled and nodded: "How much do you need brother?" 

Kenneth's father let out an awkward smile and said: "Those shops are pretty big and we have to pay two years rent at once along with a year of safety deposit so, it would be seventy-five... no, fifty pieces of silver will do."

Kenneth puffed his cheeks and stared at his father in disapproval: "But mother said that we need at least ninety pieces of..." Before he could finish, his father gave him a vicious glare.

Joseph lightly chuckled and stood up. He went to the second floor and walked towards a certain back room. There was a basket filled with gold coins and silver coins. Joseph casually scooped some gold and handed it over to Kenneth's father.

When Kenneth's father saw that there were at least a dozen gold coins. He revealed a look of astonishment and hurriedly said: "Brother Seph... This is too much... fifty pieces of silver will do."

Joseph let out a smile and glanced at Kenneth: "I'm not lending you this money. This is an advanced payment for Kenneth's work here in the restaurant. You see, this kid is not only talented with his hands. He's also quite good when it comes to logistics. He's now a great asset to this restaurant."

Kenneth's father hesitated for a bit.

There was a trace of sorrow in his eyes that Joseph captured.

Joseph further explained: "Don't worry, I won't stop Kenneth from inheriting your wooden workshop. But until that time comes, I hope that he can work with us and be with me."

Kenneth's father raised his head and stared at his son for a moment. Seeing the look of anticipation and excitement on Kenneth's face. His father could do nothing other than sigh: "If that is what my son wants to do, then it's fine. I won't say anything against it anymore, Brother Seph."

"But Kenneth... aren't you too focused on cooking? You should also listen to me, all right? Who is your father here?" He then proceeded to scold his son as laughter rang within the restaurant.

Joseph laughed along with them. Staring at the pair of father and son before him. His heart was no longer cold. He felt a little bit of warmth and he didn't envy Kenneth anymore.

That night, Joseph made an exception and decided to get drunk.

He and Kenneth's father drunk a lot. Only when they had drunk at least twelve jugs of wine did the two of them passed out from drinking. Pixie Fairy Elizabeth materialized in the middle of the night and there was a strange smile on her face as she stared at the sleeping Joseph.

She summoned a quilt out of nowhere and covered Joseph with it.

She then turned to look at Kenneth's father and discovered that even though he was unconscious...

He was tightly holding the gold coins that Joseph gave unto him.

Pixie Fairy Elizabeth also covered him with a quilt as she said.

"Really... I'm such a bad woman."

"I'm such a bad woman for wanting this trial to continue forevermore."