Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: From Teacher to Master.

“Why?”

Ace couldn’t comprehend it.

Had he not mention that Spirit Milk was only meant for cultivators?

The answer returned as yes, it was negligence on his part..

Yifeng must have believed he was helping his father, sharing something precious with him.

Liu Hong sighed, her expression solemn as she began to recount what had happened.

“Shan Erbi… Yifeng’s father… had been ill for a long time. His wife, Yifeng’s mother, ran away from the village, leaving them both behind. But Yifeng doesn’t know that. His father always told him that she was working… and he believed it.”

Ace clenched his fists.

“Yesterday,” Liu Hong continued, “the two kids came to me, asking for help. Yifeng said his father was injured, so I went over to cook for them. But what I saw…”

She took a shaky breath. “It was unbearable.”

Ace remained silent, waiting.

“When I walked into the kitchen… Shan Erbi was on the floor, already crawled toward the pot of boiled milk. He was drinking it—gasping, desperate—like a man dying of thirst. He must have been starving.”

Ace’s stomach twisted.

“Yifeng ran in and saw him. He panicked.”

Liu Hong closed her eyes briefly before continuing.

“He screamed at his father, begged him to stop. He cried, calling him stupid—saying he was going to ‘go BOOM.’ He threw punches, small, weak punches, barely more than protests. But his father just smiled.”

Her voice grew heavy. “I didn’t understand at first. It was just milk. But then Liu Mei whispered to me—’Master gave it so that yifeng and I can drink it, we are learning cultivation so it’s good for us but uncle isn’t a cultivator. It’s poison for him.”

Ace felt a chill crawl up his spine.

“Shan Erbi… that idiot,” Liu Hong whispered, her voice shaking. “He hugged Yifeng, pulled him close, and said—

‘Your dad loves you, but I’m sick. I can’t help you anymore. Let me rest.'”

A bitter silence followed.

Ace inhaled sharply. What could a ten-year-old do? Left all alone in this world whose only relation left was a mother who abandoned him?

Liu Hong shook her head. “Yifeng hasn’t stopped crying since. Only now, after exhausting himself, has he finally calmed down.”

Ace looked at the sleeping boy, his chest rising and falling in quiet sobs, his small hands still gripping the fabric of Liu Hong’s dress.

The atmosphere was heavy. No one spoke.

Ace sat there, staring at Yifeng’s sleeping form, his mind churning.

He understood now. Not everyone could consume the products he obtained from the system.

He should have known better.

Didn’t he recently receive a hundred years of wisdom? Where was that wisdom when it truly mattered?

Ace clenched his fists. Shan Erbi’s death was on him.

But… he was also just a kid at heart, you don’t change overnight. He had thought sharing something good would bring happiness, not tragedy.

Liu Hong sighed as she looked at Ace, who stood silently near the doorway, his usual carefree expression replaced by a rare solemnity.

“Xiao Zhi,” she said firmly, crossing her arms. “Go home. I’ll take care of Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei.”

Ace frowned, his hands clenching slightly. “But—”

“No buts,” she cut him off. “Yifeng needs time. He just lost his father. And Liu Mei… she’s shaken too. Let me handle them.”

Ace hesitated. He knew she was right, but a part of him didn’t want to leave. These kids had become his responsibility—or at least, that’s how he felt.

But what could he do here? Nothing would bring Shan Erbi back.

Liu Hong softened her tone. “I’ll send them to you once they’re better. You’re their teacher, and they need you strong, not lingering here, lost in guilt.”

Ace took a deep breath, forcing himself to nod. “…Alright.”

With one last glance at the sleeping Yifeng and the worried Liu Mei, he turned and walked out, the weight of the situation pressing heavy on his shoulders.

….

….

The next day, Ace focused on tending to the herbs in his garden. The work was grounding, a welcome distraction from the lingering guilt.

Unlike the instant results within his system space, the real-life process was painfully slow. The Moonstone Seeds he had planted were taking too long to sprout.

He sighed. If only reality worked like the system.

Then, two guests arrived at his secluded home.

One was a familiar face—Zhao Yun.

The other was an older man, perhaps in his forties, with a sturdy frame and an aura of quiet authority.

Zhao Yun stepped forward, giving a respectful nod. “Master Xiao, let me introduce Hua Tiger.”

Ace forced a polite smile, suppressing his weariness. “Welcome. Please, come in.”

“Thank you once again for the Spirit Cabbage, Master Xiao.”

Zhao Yun spoke the moment they stepped inside, her tone carrying both gratitude and formality.

“As promised, I’ll uphold my end of the deal since you’ve fulfilled yours.”

She then turned to Hua Tiger, who gave a respectful nod before speaking.

“Master Xiao, the Hua Family would like to establish a business relationship with you. We’ll ensure you’re given a fair price—50% higher than the market rates.”

It was an enticing offer, but Ace wasn’t in the mood for negotiations. His mind was still clouded from yesterday’s events.

Forcing a polite smile, he responded, “I appreciate the offer. I’ll need to consult my master first before making any decisions.”

Neither Zhao Yun nor Hua Tiger showed any doubt. They fully believed he had a master.

That worked in Ace’s favor.

“Teacher!”

“Master!”

Two voices rang out in unison.

Ace froze for a moment before abruptly standing up, emotions swirling within him—relief, guilt, something else he couldn’t quite place. His grip on the teacup tightened before he quickly set it down, rushing toward the familiar voices.

Zhao Yun arched an eyebrow, intrigued by his reaction, but said nothing.

Hua Tiger, curious about the sudden shift in atmosphere, exchanged a glance with Zhao Yun before following Ace as he strode toward the entrance.

Outside, standing at the edge of his courtyard, were Liu Mei and Shan Yifeng.

Liu Mei had a bright yet hesitant smile, her usual cheer dimmed by the incidEnt yesterday . Shan Yifeng, however, looked different. There was no playful argument, no sarcastic remark. His eyes were red-rimmed, his fists clenched at his sides.

They had come back.

Ace let out a slow breath, steadying himself before stepping forward to meet them.

Then—

Shan Yifeng dropped to his knees.

“Please take me in as a disciple, Teacher!”