After seeing his master's lifeless body lying on bed, Leo couldn't secure his balance. It was the first time that he felt something in his heart, pain of losing someone important, and tears appeared in his eyes, making the vision blurry.
Of course, he didn't have parents on earth and died a virgin without even asking a girl out. He found it difficult to accept that the person whom he regarded as a father figure, friend, and teacher was lying dead.
Leo's already blurred vision made it more difficult for him to see anything. His tears didn't stop because in this large house of his no one lived except the master-disciple duo. Hence, no one to consolidate him.
If not for his successful efforts in establishing a restaurant, he didn't falter in any aspects of wealth or clothing. It was just too quiet here.
It took him a total of 10 days to escape from the dilemma after burying the body with all rites.
Leo lost a lot of his well toned body's muscle due to insufficient nutrients. He would not even dine after the food was done or would leave it eating half of it.
He was just broken, and needed some emotional support. But it was difficult for him to approach any person with his current condition.
Knowing that his master's death was natural, Leo didn't pursue his food strike anymore. He started to get well soon and came back to the track of his regular life, which was to cook with the resolve of serving the best now.
Two months later, after the old man's passing…
Leo was busy in his kitchen while he was thinking about something with a conflicted expression on his face.
He checked the flames before lifting the lid of a wok and muttered, "Hmm, I guess it will be done in half an hour. It will be easy to get everything settled."
Leo left the kitchen and headed towards his late master's room with a huge toolbox in both his hands. As soon as he opened the door, he felt his nose sting from the mild cigarette smell that lingered around.
He couldn't help but speak with a soft smile on his face, " Master, you really left behind a mess for me to take care of."
He immediately started with the bedsheets, pillow covers, cobwebs, and made sure to not forget cleaning the ceilings that were stained with cigarette smoke.
Leo had a very clean personality from the beginning and his master was the same in some aspects, but sometimes he would be beaten by a bamboo stick for going overboard.
While he was thinking about all the memories he spent with an unknown man for 3 years, he stumbled upon a strange box.
The box was made up of normal metal and had signs of rusting. At first sight, Leo hesitated to open it.
He only dared to open the box after building up courage and willpower. The contents of the box were simple as they contained a well folded paper and a golden scroll with strange engravings on it.
Before he could think more, the folded paper started floating and immediately dashed towards his face. Eventually it disappeared after somehow entering swiftly in his forehead.
Everything happened in a flash, making it impossible for him to react. Leo heard a familiar voice from the depths of his soul that. It belonged to his master.
"Leo, if you are listening to this message, then it means that I am no longer an existence worth mentioning in the world of alive. I left behind this note so that you can understand who this old man was."
The voice continued after a small pause.
"My name was Alex, an orphan that didn't have any support from the beginning of my life. I scavenged through garbage to find edible items. I even got involved in thievery for the sake of filling my empty stomach. Furthermore, I was only 8 years old when I awakened my spiritual root that opened up my path to cultivation. There were many who didn't want me to advance in the world of cultivation, forcing me to stay in the slums. As I grew up and started to get the hang of my talent, so I planned to turn into a Spirit Chef, an unprecedented profession among the cultivators that only I had created and walked onto. It was only a few years later when the praises of my cooking reached the 10 heavenly emperors that stood upon every cultivator and were everyone's role model. The 10 emperors called upon me to make them a buffet that satisfied them. Taking it for a granted challenge, I succeeded in satisfying their mouths, and as a result they showered me with gifts occasionally. But one day they all made a scroll from a piece of their flesh and combined them into one. The contract stated that my disciple whom I deem worthy of being able to surpass me shall marry a princess each from the 10 emperors' royal family."
The voice in Leo's head sighed softly before it continued its explanation.
"I signed the contract willingly, thinking that never ever would anyone be able to surpass me. All my arrogance was wiped into nothing when I met you. Never had I dreamed that a mere human like you with cultivation base will be able to surpass me. Before I could think of how to make you become my disciple willingly, you shocked me by the way you bowed to me. I spent all my time with you, teaching everything I could. You had already surpassed me a year ago, but I stayed behind and face my natural death. I have never found a permanent residence throughout my entire existence, however, if I were to have a child, I aspire that it would be you. I have left you a final gift from me, and do make sure that you are ready for the change of course in your destiny, Your master: Alex (The Supreme Chef)"