Chapter 362

Time and dates had little meaning in the Deep Realm. Not only was there no clear distinction between night and day, but most of those who lived there had lived for centuries, some even millennia, rendering such concepts practically irrelevant.

Yet, a calendar was seen hanging on one wall of the thatched house atop Mount Yeongryunsan. In the middle of cooking and serving food, Wei Zhongqi took a short break and stepped over to the calendar displaying the month of April. He focused on the number eight.

“It’s finally tomorrow,” he whispered.

Ever since being defeated by Guang Le, Wei Zhongqi had been permitted by Do-Jun to visit Earth periodically to study swordsmanship under him. Not that he received daily instruction; he would only ask for guidance when Do-Jun had free time, and always humbly. This was finally a chance to achieve mastery of the first stance of the Nine Heavens Seeking Sword Art.

Do-Jun never used the word “complete” when speaking of the sword. Instead, when one gained great insight and their swordsmanship improved significantly, he called it “attaining mastery.” A sword’s path was infinite, with no end.

Like a kid the night before a school trip, Wei Zhongqi couldn’t contain his excitement.

Then, he noticed that some patrons remained, huddled together in quiet chatter even after finishing their meals, seemingly sharing a book between them. Wei Zhongqi approached them indifferently to clear away the dishes.

“Apparently, this is called ‘dessert.’ You eat it after a meal,” the Dark Elf said, pointing at the page for chocolate cake, explaining the concept of desserts to the other Deep Realm residents.

Wei Zhongqi read the title of the book in the Dark Elf’s hands,

50 Truly Delicious Desserts.

It was a cookbook Kiriel had left behind a few days earlier.

“It looks like you’re all done. I’ll take your plates now,” he remarked.

All at once, the residents turned their eyes to Wei Zhongqi, their desire very obvious. They

yearned

for dessert. He tried to ignore them and just do his job.

Just as he picked up the empty salad plate in front of the Dark Elf, she said, “U-um, excuse me, sir!”

“I cannot do it,” Wei Zhongqi declined even before the question was asked.

“R-right...” The Dark Elf lowered her deer-like eyes, crestfallen.

Wei Zhongqi let out a long sigh. He already disliked how his humble thatched home had turned into a restaurant, and now they wanted him to sell desserts too?

I am Wei Zhongqi, an elite of the Heavenly Demon Sect and a Transcendent. I must not forget who I am

, he resolved.

His duty was to hone his swordsmanship and elevate the name of the Sect to new heights. But lately, he had been neglecting training and pouring all his energy into food service. This was absurd.

“Ah, I remember, you have a day off tomorrow... Right? Have a safe trip, sir.” The Dark Elf looked downcast.

The residents already knew it, but they still couldn’t hide their disappointment. The thought of going without Earth food for a while clearly saddened them.

Wei Zhongqi almost gave in, but he pulled himself together by remembering the Sect. “Thank you...”

***

Early in the morning, Do-Jun sat in the bedroom reviewing information he’d gathered through the Interpreter.

Encyclopedia of the Core compiled by Epicurus, a traveler of the Deep Realm (incomplete).

When he first entered the Core, Tusitala had said,

“I've only heard rumors, but they say there are seven Transcendents at the edge of the Deep Realm. They are those who broke through the Core and adapted to the Deep Realm. Epicurus, the one who compiled the Interpreter, is supposedly one of them.”

Recalling her words, Do-Jun began browsing the Deep Realm rankings, reviewing the names of each Transcendent. However, there was no one named Epicurus. Even if he wasn’t a Transcendent, the fact that someone who descended all the way from the Tutorial Zone to the Deep Realm didn’t appear on the ranking board struck Do-Jun as strange.

The Interpreter’s completion had exceeded eighty percent, triggering a grade change that then allowed him to travel between the Encroached dimensions. The fact that an encyclopedia created by an adventurer could wield such power defied common sense.

The doorbell rang, followed by Yoon-Hee’s greeting. “Ah, welcome!”

Do-Jun closed the Interpreter and went to the living room to see Wei Zhongqi greeting Yoon-Hee. He then bowed politely to Do-Jun, who smiled in return.

“You came at the perfect time. I was just about to start preparing breakfast. You haven’t eaten, right?” Yoon-Hee asked.

“I haven’t. If you’re still cooking, I’d be happy to help.”

Hearing that, Yoon-Hee scratched her cheek with an awkward smile. “Well, actually... Siel and I are baking cookies and cake. I think we have it under control.”

Cookies and cake were baking in the oven. It was a sight Wei Zhongqi had never seen before. He stared at the oven in fascination. They were baking the very desserts the residents had been so eager for yesterday.

“Yes, I suppose there’s nothing I can do to help with this one,” he agreed.

“Just make yourself comfortable, and I’ll bring everything over once it’s ready. Siel, can you grab the milk from over there?” Yoon-Hee asked.

“Yes!”

Wei Zhongqi sat at the table across from Do-Jun. He kept glancing over his shoulder, sneaking peeks into the kitchen.

Do-Jun took a sip of coffee and unfolded the morning newspaper. Normally, he would’ve asked about Wei Zhongqi’s recent activities, but seeing how fixated the man was on the baking, he chose to give him space.

Karsiel opened the oven and pulled out the baked cookies and cake. Meanwhile, Yoon-Hee quickly prepped the next batch of batter onto the tray. The two worked seamlessly as a team.

Karsiel began spreading whipped cream on the cake. Then she made eye contact with Wei Zhongqi.

“And why are you staring?” she asked with a cold gaze.

“M-my apologies if I’m bothering you. It’s nothing, really. I was just curious about how desserts are made.”

At that, Do-Jun lowered his newspaper.

“Are you planning to add dessert to your menu?” he asked.

“I’m... still undecided. It feels like it goes against my purpose. Ever since I started selling food in the Deep Realm, I’ve had less and less time for training.”

“I see.”

“As a member of the Sect, my duty is to refine our swordsmanship. I came to see you today to seek advice on the sword. But to have my mind wander elsewhere like this... I am sorry, Heavenly Demon.”

Do-Jun folded the newspaper and said with a gentle smile, “You should follow your heart.”

“Sir...? What do you mean?” Wei Zhongqi asked.

“I mean, don’t get too caught up in doing what you think is right for the Sect. The more you obsess, the further you might drift from the sword. When you rush things, you end up missing what’s important. What matters isn’t speed—it’s direction. The reason I taught you Nine Heavens Seeking Sword Art as your foundation was to help you understand which direction you want to guide your sword.”

Nine Heavens.

The highest reaches of the sky. There were no walls, only open space in every direction.

Seeking the Sword.

To seek the sword at the very center of that vast sky. And so, the sword could go anywhere.

In the end, the one who wields the sword is the heart.

“The truth is, there’s no such thing as a sword’s ‘true purpose.’ Just go where the sword leads you, where your heart leads you. Then you’ll see the path clearly,” Do-Jun explained.

“Where my heart leads me...” Wei Zhongqi murmured.

He closed his eyes. What did he truly want to do right now? He already knew.

What did his heart, what did his sword, truly long for? It wasn’t just learning how to make desserts. It went further than that. He wanted to make people around him smile, truly smile, because of those desserts. And through that, he himself would become happy too.

The pursuit of the sword was ultimately about protecting his own happiness and that of those around him.

It felt as if his chest were burning. A warmth he had never felt before radiated from his core, spreading through every vein and reaching the tips of his limbs.

Do-Jun watched silently, not missing a moment.

Though still immature, though it was just a small sprout, Wei Zhongqi had clearly formed a space in his heart where a sword could now take root. Whether it took years, decades, centuries, or millennia, that sprout would eventually grow, blossom, and become a towering tree. It didn’t matter how long it took. What mattered was that he was walking the path, steadily and true.

Wei Zhongqi placed his palm over his chest and tried to feel the warmth with his hand. And he understood. He couldn’t feel it with his hand, but his heart could sense it clearly.

So, this is my sword.

Wei Zhongqi looked up at Do-Jun, who was, as always, watching over him with a calm and gentle gaze. To Wei Zhongqi, it felt just like the look of a father seeing his child take their very first step.

Just like back then,

he thought.

Back when he was a student at the Black Assassins Martial Hall, when he was perpetually late and graduated dead last, he had been lost and hopeless. That was when Do-Jun extended his hand of salvation. For three whole years, he had personally guided him, one-on-one.

“This time, you graduated top of the class,”

Do-Jun had said.

It was an obvious outcome, but to Wei Zhongqi, it had been a moment of immense joy.

Wei Zhongqi realized that back then, he still had no idea Do-Jun was the Heavenly Demon. He remembered how Do-Jun would often make him snacks. They were usually just rice crackers, but they were delicious, and that memory came flooding back.

“Hey, want me to teach you how to make cake and cookies?” Karsiel asked, tilting her head.

“Yes. I’d like that.” Wei Zhongqi glanced at Do-Jun. “And...”

***

The next day.

The Dark Elf arrived early at Wei Zhongqi’s home. She wanted to apologize for the other day. Just asking him to cook for the residents was already more than enough, but asking him to make dessert on top of that must’ve been frustrating. She realized this after putting herself in his shoes.

It wasn’t like Wei Zhongqi had opened a restaurant by choice. He was doing it reluctantly, for the sake of the residents. Everyone in the Deep Realm knew that.

Fresh back from his break, Wei Zhongqi was preparing to open shop. He was neatly organizing boxes of groceries he had brought from Earth.

The Dark Elf cautiously approached him. “Um... excuse me, sir.”

“You’re early.”

“Uh, yes... I, um... about the other day...” She trailed off, suddenly noticing the updated menu board on the wall. There was now a dessert section, and at the bottom of it was the cake she had wanted.

She blinked in confusion.

“You’re... really going to make dessert?” she asked.

Wei Zhongqi nodded as he continued moving the boxes.

At that, the Dark Elf beamed and asked brightly, “Thank you! Um, may I just try dessert today?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm... then... the cake, and... rice crackers? Are they good?”

Wei Zhongqi replied with complete sincerity, “They’re the best.”