Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

”You’re already on the right track, so I’m not going to dump a bunch of complicated explanations on you,” Hector said, giving a relaxed wave of his hand. ”Trying to figure out everything right now would probably just make your head spin. Sometimes it’s best to let things come together on their own when you’re ready. Plus, everyone’s journey is different. Sure, you can pick up tips or inspiration from people like the Paragon of Order, but when it comes down to it, you have to walk your own road and make your own choices.”

Ethea nodded in understanding, quietly taking his words to heart.

”However,” Hector continued, resting his elbows on his knees, ”I can tell you the difference between an Emperor, a Sovereign, and a Paragon.”

Soren paused his chopping for a fraction of a second, his ears perking up as he listened closely.

”A Domain at the Seventh Circle is merely the entry point for controlling your immediate environment,” Hector explained smoothly, raising a finger. ”Think of it like building a kingdom on rented land. Within those boundaries, your mana suppresses everything else, but you are still bound by the fundamental laws of the kingdom.”

He raised a second finger.

”A Sovereign takes the next step. Reaching the Eighth Circle is about comprehending a fundamental law of reality to further refine your Domain and awaken a true Authority. You stop renting the land and start altering the rules governing it.”

Hector raised a third finger, his eyes narrowing slightly.

”And a Paragon? A Paragon has completely integrated that law into their soul. Their Authority doesn’t just bend the surrounding environment; it overrides the laws of the world entirely. Within their domain of influence, what they decree becomes reality.”

”Thank you, Teacher,” Ethea said softly, bowing her head in sincere appreciation. ”That clarifies a lot.”

”Do not mention it.”

Hector offered a nod, and with that, silence settled over the room once more.

”...” Soren paused mid-stir. For a fleeting second, he contemplated tossing out a light joke or a casual question to break the ice and keep the conversation flowing. But catching the distant look in Hector’s eyes and Ethea’s thoughtful expression, he quickly dismissed the idea.

Instead, he turned his attention back to the stove.

Right now, he was cooking a new dish called Braised Spirit-Beef Stew, one of the recipes that came from the returns. His primary goal was to prepare something deeply nourishing for Ethea, packed with vitality to help her fragile body recover even faster. Even so, considering the high quality of the ingredients and magic beast meat he was using, the dish was bound to carry a subtle benefit for Hector as well. It might be just a faint flow of pure mana combined with a soothing feeling of comfort, but it would still be something.

Watching the thick broth bubble and steam, a sudden thought crossed Soren’s mind.

’Hmm... If meals can nourish the body and replenish energy... are there dishes capable of aiding comprehension? Something that could trigger enlightenment?’

The idea sent a sudden pulse of excitement through him. If such recipes existed, it would open an entirely new path for him. He could use them to invest in high-ranking cultivators, Emperors, or perhaps even higher.

He caught himself and shook his head, pushing the grand ambition to the back of his mind.

’Focus on what is in front of you first,’ he scolded himself quietly. ’I can look into that later when I am stronger and have more free time.’

With the stew left to simmer, Soren spent the remainder of the cooking time mentally organizing what he needed to discuss with Ethea once they were alone. He needed to coordinate their next moves, review her recovery progress, and plan around Hector’s training schedule.

Just like that, an hour passed.

When the meat had softened to perfection and the rich aroma filled every corner of the house, Soren finally dished out the food. Carrying the warm bowls over to the dining table, he served Hector and Ethea first before taking a seat right beside her.

”Please enjoy,” Soren said politely, addressing the Emperor before turning his focus entirely toward Ethea.

He scooped a spoonful of the steaming broth and tender meat, blew on it softly until the heat dissipated, and carefully brought it to her lips. Ethea accepted the bite, a faint warmth touching her cheeks as she swallowed the flavorful stew.

”...” Across the table, Hector watched them in silence, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Seeing the young man attend to her with such unhurried care struck a forgotten chord deep within him. Memories of the distant past surfaced in his mind.

’...’

Decades ago, he had sat just like this, gently feeding his own beloved wife during the painful days when illness had bound her to her bed. She had lacked the gift of cultivation, remaining a mortal, and time had relentlessly claimed her youth and vitality until her final days arrived.

Hector chuckled bitterly to himself, keeping the quiet sorrow hidden behind his calm eyes. Shaking off the nostalgic melancholy, Hector picked up his spoon and took a mouthful of the stew himself.

To his surprise, the stew was genuinely impressive. The meat was tender, and a subtle trickle of mana seeped into his limbs before vanishing into his vast reserves. Still, to his older taste buds, it felt a little underseasoned. Or perhaps he had simply grown too accustomed to the bitter flavors of his long life.

Despite his personal preference, Hector cleared the bowl completely, leaving not a single drop of broth behind.

”Not bad,” Hector said, leaning back in his chair. ”The mana integration is clean, and you didn’t overcook the ingredients. But... I think you relied a bit too much on the natural oil of the meat to carry the flavor, leaving the broth slightly underseasoned. Work on balancing your seasonings next time, and it will be far better.”

Soren bowed his head respectfully. ”Thank you for the feedback, Sir. I will make sure to adjust it next time.”

”Mmm.” Hector glanced at the table, noticing that Soren was still patiently feeding Ethea her remaining portion. Seeing that they were taking their time, the old man pushed his chair back and stood up. ”I will leave you two to finish up. I have a few things to take care of.”