Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Why?
As the door creaked open, Liu Hong turned her head and called out, “Xiao Zhi!”

Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Shan Yifeng stepping inside, supporting Ace.

Liu Hong’s hands froze mid-motion, her brows knitting together. “Why are you already walking?”

Ace waved a hand lazily. “I’m fine, Aunt Hong. See? Perfectly alive.”

He waved it dismissively before settling into a chair.

Then, he glanced up.

Phew.

No stone ceiling—just wood.

Even if it collapsed, the worst-case scenario was a few injuries.

Much better.

Ace leaned back, letting the warmth of the room settle in. Only then did he shift his focus back to Liu Hong.

“Alright, where’s Xie Ning’er?”

“She’s down in the fields,” Liu Hong replied casually.

Ace frowned. “What for?”

“Lily asked her to help out,” she explained.

“Help out?” Ace echoed, his frown deepening.

“Yes,” Liu Hong chuckled. “She showed up earlier saying she needed someone to help plant watermelon seeds.”

“Oh… okay.” Ace nodded, though he still found it a little strange.

Beside him, Shan Yifeng spoke up. “Master, should I go call her?”

“Sure. And while you’re at it, ask Lily to bring some spirit products that help with internal injuries,” Ace instructed.

With a nod, Shan Yifeng turned and left.

Ace then turned to Liu Hong, inhaling deeply as the scent of food drifted through the air.

“Aunt Hong, what are you cooking?”

“Spirit chicken,” she said with a smile. “Little Lily won’t let me eat the food I have.” She laughed lightly.

Ace raised an eyebrow.

The food Liu Hong originally had wasn’t defective or bad—just ordinary.

Spirit products, on the other hand, were far superior in quality.

Lily must have been adamant about making sure Aunt Hong only ate the best.

“Oh, Master, you’re awake.”

Shane strode into the room, carrying a pair of freshly plucked spirit chickens, one in each hand.

Ace glanced at him, raising an eyebrow.

Shane grinned. “Ah, it’s like this, Master. After I’m done cooking for the thousands of new people, I come here to eat Aunt Hong’s meals.”

Ace narrowed his eyes. “Did Lily make you do that?”

Shane settled down, beginning to prepare the chickens with practiced ease.

“Well… she did at first,” Shane admitted, plucking a feather from the chicken. “But after one bite, I realized that this wasn’t just food. This is magic.”

Chop.

He cleanly severed one of the chicken’s heads.

Ace gulped.

Shane turned to Liu Hong, flashing a bright smile. “Aunt Hong, let me help cook the chicken for you while you guide me on how to add those ‘items.'”

Ace didn’t interrupt, merely watching as the two worked in perfect harmony.

As he observed, it finally clicked.

The ‘items’ Shane was referring to—those were just condiments.

* * *

The fields shimmered in golden hues, some stalks standing tall while others were being methodically cut down for harvest.

Shan Yifeng’s eyes wandered across the landscape until he spotted Lily, Xie Ning’er, and a girl he didn’t recognize.

From a distance, their body language suggested a heated discussion, or perhaps even an argument.

As he made his way closer, their words became clearer to his ears.

“Lily, can you stop treating me like… like some farm tool?” the girl pleaded, her eyes red with frustration.

Lily blinked. “But… you are a hoe.” Her voice held genuine confusion, as if the very idea of the girl being anything else was incomprehensible.

“I’m not! I’ve changed!” the girl insisted.

Lily crossed her arms, looking her up and down as if inspecting her very soul. “…You sure?”

“Yes! I’ve been trying to be better!”

Xie Ning’er stood to the side, watching the exchange, her face unreadable.

Lily finally sighed, rubbing her temples. “Alright, alright. I’ll tell Master you did good, and I’ll even start call you ‘Yuu.’ But—” she jabbed a finger at her, “—can you please turn into a hoe and till the land I just finished harvesting?”

Yuu hesitated for a moment, then nodded begrudgingly. “Hmph, just this once. But don’t forget to tell Master.”

With that, she transformed into a gleaming diamond-colored hoe, floating effortlessly toward the freshly cleared land.

Lily dusted off her hands and turned to Xie Ning’er. “Alright, that settles it. Let’s get to harvesting before she finds another reason to complain.”

Just then, Shan Yifeng stepped forward. “Sister Xie, Master is looking for you.”

Lily’s head snapped toward him, her eyes lighting up.

“What about me?! What about me?! Did Master miss me too?!”

Shan Yifeng smiled politely. “Master only called for Sister Xie, not you, Elder Lily.”

Lily’s gaze slowly shifted to Xie Ning’er.

She clicked her tongue in irritation but didn’t say a word.

Shan Yifeng, turned to Xie Ning’er. “Sister Xie, shall we?”

Xie Ning’er nodded. “Alright.”

As they walked, Xie Ning’er remained silent, her thoughts preoccupied.

Shan Yifeng, didn’t say much either.

The quiet atmosphere lasted until they encountered Liu Mei, who was currently perched atop White Fur, her soul beast.

The fox trotted gracefully, its pristine white fur gleaming under the sunlight.

“Where are you two going?” Liu Mei asked, her tone carrying both curiosity and confusion.

“Master called for Sister Xie,” Shan Yifeng answered plainly.

Liu Mei’s expression shifted immediately. Suspicion flickered in her eyes. “Why?”

Xie Ning’er subtly glanced at Shan Yifeng.

What is this boy trying to do? she wondered. Is he trying to pit me against Liu Mei?

“I said, why, Shan Yifeng? I want an answer,” Liu Mei pressed, her voice demanding.

Shan Yifeng’s expression remained as innocent as ever. “I don’t know, I’m also curious. Sister Xie, care to enlighten us?”

Now it really was two against one.

Xie Ning’er narrowed her eyes at Shan Yifeng, observing him closely.

Then something unexpected happened—when she tried to gauge his cultivation base, she found… nothing.

A sharp breath escaped her before she could stop it. This… this wasn’t right.

There were only two explanations for this.

One, Shan Yifeng had never cultivated before, which she knew wasn’t true.

Or worse—his cultivation had surpassed hers to the point where she couldn’t even sense it..