Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

Chapter 136: Surprise

Soren folded Ryan’s note and set it aside, his gaze returning to the handwritten manual.

Knowing this technique originated from the Sunless Emperor changed everything. He flipped to the first page, his eyes scanning the text as he quickly began to read through the contents.

The manual detailed an incredibly profound method of energy manipulation. Unlike standard skills that merely masked a person’s presence, this technique was vastly more complex, involving intricate pathways and precise control to perfectly alter how one’s power appeared to the outside world. It allowed the user to perfectly mimic lower cultivation tiers, falsifying their mana capacity. According to Ryan’s notes, if a cultivator mastered the technique to its absolute peak, they could completely suppress every ounce of their energy signature, essentially turning themselves into a ’mortal’ in the eyes of any sensor or tracking spell.

’So that’s why it’s called like that,’ Soren thought, a quiet wave of realization hitting him. ’A pebble among stars. An invisible, insignificant speck of dust hidden in plain sight, completely ignored by the world no matter how bright the surrounding stars shone. As expected of Senior.’

Satisfied with the incredible utility of the gift, he closed the manual and slid it into his inventory for later study.

The living room fell quiet again, the pleasant morning light filtering through the windows. As Soren cleared the empty boxes from the table, a sudden realization struck him. He paused, turning his attention back to the woman sitting across from him.

"Right," Soren said, looking at Ethea. "You were about to tell me something earlier, before the courier arrived."

Ethea shook her head gently, her eyes dropping toward the table. "No, it’s nothing important."

"Are you sure?" Soren asked, leaning forward slightly. "Please, don’t hesitate to tell me if something is on your mind."

Ethea opened her mouth to repeat her dismissal, to claim once more that it didn’t matter, but the words caught in her throat.

’...I have to stop this.’

If she kept drawing back into her shell, hiding every little thing out of habit, there would never be any real progress between them. Scolding herself for her own indecisiveness, she took a quiet breath and looked up to meet his eyes.

"...Watch," she said, giving a firm nod.

Soren blinked, his attention shifting as she turned her focus entirely toward the half-empty teacup resting on the wooden table.

For a few seconds, the room remained completely still. Ethea stared intently at the ceramic cup, her posture locked in absolute concentration.

Then, the cup trembled against the wood. Slowly, it lifted off the surface, hovering a few inches in the air. It stayed suspended by an invisible force for a brief, breathless moment, completely defying gravity.

Just as quickly, the unseen grip vanished. The cup dropped back down with a sharp clack, splashing a few droplets of tea over the brim.

Soren watched the entire sequence play out, completely frozen. His mind raced as his eyes moved from the still-vibrating teacup back to Ethea, utterly shocked by what he had just witnessed.

"Y-You..."

"This..."

Soren stumbled over his words, his voice stuck in his throat. However, the initial shock shattered the moment he noticed Ethea’s head loll slightly to the side, her chest heaving as she took rapid, shallow breaths. Exhaustion washed over her features, making her look incredibly drained. Thoroughly alarmed, he cast his confusion aside and leaned over the table.

"Are you okay?" he asked hurriedly, his eyes scanning her face with deep worry.

Ethea offered a faint, strained nod, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I’m fine..."

Soren could easily tell she was lying, her pale complexion and sudden shortness of breath giving her away instantly, but he chose not to push her on it. Instead, he reached for a fresh glass, filled it with water, and carefully brought it to her lips, supporting her head gently so she could take a few small, slow sips.

Soren waited patiently, keeping his focus entirely on her until the tension in her facial expressions faded and her breathing finally returned to a steady, rhythmic pace.

Once she had regained her composure, Soren set the glass down and looked at her, the lingering awe returning to his eyes. "Have you... already learned how to use it?"

A genuine, soft smile broke through Ethea’s usual reserved expression, lighting up her face as she gave a small nod. "Mm. I’ve been practicing a lot whenever you were away, and I finally managed to do something like this. And... That’s why... I wanted to show you."

Soren felt a massive wave of relief and pride wash over him, and his own smile widened in response. "That’s incredible news, Ethea. Seriously, you did amazing. But..." His expression softened into one of gentle earnestness as he looked at her. "Please, promise me you won’t overexert yourself like this again. Your health is the most important thing, always."

Ethea fell silent, her eyes locking onto his. The sheer earnestness in his voice and the warmth of his sincere smile caught her off guard, sending a quiet tremor through her chest. For a moment, she could only stare, a faint warmth rising to her cheeks before she finally managed a small, soft nod.

Soren chuckled, the lingering worry melting from his face as he leaned back.

"However, this is definitely worth a celebration! I actually learned a new sweet recipe recently. Let me whip it up for you before I head out. Consider it a reward for your hard work."

Ethea couldn’t help but giggle softly at his sudden, bright enthusiasm, the sound light and airy.

"Do you... want to come along and watch me make it?" Soren asked, gesturing toward the open doorway.

The soft smile lingered on her lips as she gave a small nod. "Okay."

Soren smiled back, stepping behind her wheelchair to disengage the brakes. As he began pushing the chair smoothly toward the kitchen, he broke the comfortable silence to introduce his creation.

"It’s called Glacial Dew Mochi. It’s actually my first time making it, but I promise it will definitely be tasty! Plus, it should help you feel a bit better, too."

"Oh, is it one of those special recipes?"

"Yep. You guessed it right."

"..."

"..."

A relaxed chatter flowed between them as the gentle hum of the kitchen welcomed them in.

With Soren eagerly setting up his workspace and Ethea keeping a watchful eye on her ’master chef,’ the morning felt brighter, wrapping the room in a cozy warmth that lingered long before the stove was even lit.