May Ramen Reign Supreme! (1823)

"Look~"

"That's Ryan's ramen shop! Mr. Ryan traveled the world for three years before perfecting his noodle making skills. After success he returned to Su Harbor and now his new restaurant is the most popular in the city!"

Dugu Yun glanced at the direction Rubia pointed. In the distance was a tall two story tavern with an endless stream of people coming and going.

Pasted near the door was a signboard that said "Ichiraku Noodles and Ramen".

"This…he changed the name?" Dugu curiously asked. He recalled that the previous name was simply "Ramen Shop".

"Yea. Legend has it that while traveling around the world, Mr Ryan met a certain group of people with a unique culture that had great attainments in the art of ramen. After learning from them, Mr. Ryan changed the name to commemorate his journey."

Rubia's eyes sparkled and she pulled on Dugu's sleeve.

"Hurry, let's go. The lines not very long now." She urged.

Following Rubia's excitement. Dugu helplessly rolled her wheelchair forward and entered the restaurant.

There were a few small steps near the entrance but fortunately with his physical strength, he easily carried Rubia over the steps.

On the way in, several bags that hung on him were caught against the door panel.

It was unknown when but there were a few extra bags hanging on his shoulders and left hand respectively.

Dugu's face was dark and he silently adjusted his position before he was able to enter the shop.

It seemed that no matter which world the female erect ape species had similar tendencies.

Males were merely carts with two legs.

After entering the restaurant, the two obediently waited in line. There were wooden tables and diners silently slurping noodles. Occasionally steam wafted around and a bartender that was the shopkeeper's son was busy serving dishes.

Soon it was their turn.

"Shopkeeper, two big bowls of your specialty ramen with extra meat!" Rubia enthusiastically ordered and then paused momentarily. After a second of thought she continued, "Also pack six extra orders to go please!"

She wanted to bring some back for the family. Anyway money was not a problem. Her cousin was treating and the family had a mine back at home.

Back in the kitchen, the shopkeeper's ears perked up after hearing a familiar voice.

Rubia?

Hearing the familiar voice of a regular, the shopkeeper Mr. Ryan automatically responded. "Wahhohoho. Miss Dugu you're here again! Will do, will do!"

The shopkeeper cheerfully filled up two big bowls of aromatic broth. Then he skillfully placed the noodles, meat, and other ingredients in an aesthetically pleasing pattern. Along the way, the shopkeeper even secretly added several extra slices of rich fatty pork.

This young lady was a big customer. Generous in tips and didn't have a pretense like other nobles. He didn't mind giving some extra benefits.

He filled up two bowls quickly, and packaged the other dishes in a special wooden container.

Mr Ryan picked up the 9 servings of ramen skillfully. He was going to personally hand it over to the nice lady.

He understood the importance of making connections.

"Haha, Young lady, your ramen is done! Extra one is on me! Here you g….Dammit!"

Just when he was about to hand over the food…

What did he see?

A 1.83(6ft) meters tall muscular boy with an eerily bland face and the young lady pitifully sitting on a wheelchair. 

The dull lifeless eyes of the muscular boy reminded him of those cold blooded serial killers.

Inevitably some strange associations formed in the mind of Mr. Ryan.

"Y-young lady here's your ramen…and uh..how should I address this gentlemen?"

Rubia gently smiled, "Shopkeeper, have you forgotten my cousin so quickly?"

Mr. Ryan was instantly shocked and carefully observed Dugu. Clear bronze skin, sharp jawline, straight nose, and a set of expressionless eyes. Coupled with the luxurious silk clothing, Dugu's appearance was like a delicately carved statue with a streamlined beauty. After carefully observing, he instantly connected Dugu's deadpan face with the little boy from years ago.

Dammit! Was this still that little precocious twerp from years ago? The shopkeeper Ryan wasn't really sure but he felt like there was something about this Dugu that was ... .different? More extraordinary?

"Wow, it turns out to be you Sir Dugu! Wahaha, it's so good to see you again after so many years. You certainly put on some muscles. Must be hard work ehh?"

"Likewise Mr Ryan." Dugu squeezed out a stiff smile.

"You look so mighty now Sir Dugu. I bet your martial arts are incredible now! If only my son was as accomplished as you…" the Shopkeeper Ryan enviously muttered while vaguely glancing in a certain direction. "I could laugh even in my dreams then!"

A certain bartender: ???

"Haha, you're exaggerating Shopkeeper!" Dugu's eyes twitched and he quickly waved his hands in embarrassment. "I'm really not that strong, Shopkeeper!"

The Shopkeep Ryan sighed, "So strong but still so humble…Oh, how I wish my little boy had a fraction of your charm! But that's just my wishful thinking I guess...Sigh…If only you were my son."

Dugu: ….

A certain bartender: ….

At the side, a slight chuckle escaped Rubia's lips.

Dugu decided to quickly change the subject before the shopkeeper had the desire to be his father.

"Mr. Ryan, thank you for your compliments. I'm certain your son has his own merits as well. It's getting late and the noodles will get soggy. I'm going to eat with my cousin now. The other customers are also getting impatient…"

"Ah yes! Look at me, already so old and forgetful." the shopkeeper hurriedly thanked Dugu and headed back into the kitchen, guiltedly glancing at the long lines of customers watching him with unkind eyes.

…

The two people temporarily shared a wooden table to enjoy their meals.

Dugu first took a sip of the broth. It was rich, mellow, and left a beefy aftertaste. The ramen noodles had just the right amount of chewiness. Taking a bite of beef left a mouthful of tender juicy flavor.

"How is it?" Rubia asked.

"Better than what I remember," Dugu nodded.

Soon Dugu had wiped out all the beef slices in the bowl. After a whole day, he was really hungry.

Before he had the chance to continue eating, a pair of chopsticks placed an extra slice of beef in his bowl.

Dugu looked up.

"I'm not that hungry. You eat more." Rubia smiled and suggested, " This time try the beef with some sauce."

"Yeah" Dugu nodded and accepted her kindness, not forgetting to return a sincere smile.

Rubia saw the smile and couldn't help but sigh. However she didn't say much.

Like a doting older sibling, slices of beef were constantly placed in Dugu's bowl.

Dugu frowned, "Stop. You eat too."

Rubia shook her head and started munching too. After a while she couldn't help but sigh with nostalgia.

"Hey Dugu. Doesn't this just remind you of the past? Just you, me, and your older brother stopping at Mr. Ryan's shop every week."

"It does. I miss him too." Dugu's chopsticks paused momentarily. After a while he added, "But don't make it sound like he died. He's still at the capital. I wonder how he's doing though."

Rubia grinned. 

Thinking back then the trio stuck together like honey. Through the entire Su Harbor, no one was their match. Under her leadership, no child within a thousand miles could withstand their one punch.

Now the trio was separated, each taking their own path in life.

She chose to stay in the city studying in local schools preparing to help with family business matters.

Unlike her, Dugu's older brother had a talent in martial arts and was subsequently recruited into the imperial academy at the capital of the Human Federation.

More than a century ago, when the current royal family conquered the world, they along with several allied forces jointly established the imperial academy dedicated to enlightening the people.

In addition several basic schools were established across the Central Plains along with a compulsory education order.

Children of all ages started in these 'preschools' learning basic language and life skills while those discovered to have martial arts talent were sent to the imperial academy at the capital for further education.

This universal education system was a great success and literacy rates skyrocketed creating many jobs.

At the same time the old system of sects, schools, and nobles monopolizing martial arts knowledge was broken.

Now besides joining a sect or worshiping a master, an easier option was to display sufficient martial arts progress and be recommended to join the imperial academy for further studies.

The requirements to join the academy were not very harsh, only requiring some progress in the free basic body tempering methods provided by the state along with passing a written examination.

While Dugu's older brother went to the capital, Dugu himself walked the traditional path of joining a sect…

Thinking of his older brother studying at the imperial academy, Dugu was suddenly reminded of his cheap master and the Hidden Dragon Temple.

Suddenly he felt cheated. If not for that liar, with his talents, he would have long broken through the innate realm perhaps even touching the grandmaster.

Official. Innate. Grandmaster. Saint

In the four realms of martial arts, Dugu could have been a monstrous genius reaching the innate at 16 but now he was still stagnant at the peak of an official martial artist.

But Dugu was still optimistic. Although not as shocking as innate, an official martial artist that completed tempering their body was still a great talent.

It would take the average person with a fairly good talent to finish the official realm in their late twenties, innate in their thirties or forties, grandmaster in their fifties, and finally if they were lucky enough, touch the saint in their hundredth year.

The average lifespan of martial artists was around 150 years according to official data.

Dugu felt that he had plenty of time. He was just a little ignorant back then. His past life self had not fully awakened. Living between fragmented dreams and reality. Seeing scenes in dreams that a young child shouldn't have seen. All it served to do was add a bit of maturity beyond his peers. In the blurry fog the little Dugu couldn't understand what these high rise buildings were helpless staring at the complexity of modern life. Until one day a strike from the heavens shattered these illusions. 

Dugu was not going to blame himself or others. He didn't really hate the cheap liar master. All he could do from the moment on was to forge forward.

Having lived two lives he understood something.

If you make mistakes, simply acknowledge it, and try to remedy it. There was no need for pity or self loathing.

He could only hope that this mistake wouldn't cost the destruction of his family.