Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 229

Chapter 229: Royal Crisis [3] (NEW!)
Ace stepped into the bar with a grin.

“Time to get drunk. Wonder what that even feels like…” he muttered to himself.

He made his way to the counter, nodded at the bar owner, and casually ordered a beer. While waiting, he took in the surroundings.

Laughter, murmurs, the clink of mugs, it had the exact chaotic energy he had expected.

“Right… inns and bars are always information hubs,” Ace recalled, smirking. “At least that’s what all the novels I have read always say.”

Just then, loud voices rose from a nearby table.

“Hahaha! Did you see the way the Second Prince ran with his tail between his legs?”

“Hey! Shut up! You trying to get us all killed?” someone hissed, eyes darting nervously.

But the drunken speaker didn’t care. He banged his mug on the table.

“I’m a proud supporter of the First Prince, damn it! I’m one of the Royal Guards myself! Who’s gonna kill us, huh? WHO?!”

That was the last thing he ever said.

In a blur, a blade gleamed and then vanished just as quickly. The drunk slumped forward, blood spilling silently.

The mug slammed down. Laughter cut off mid-guffaw.

No one moved. No one even breathed.

“Blasphemous, vile creature,” a cold voice echoed through the stunned silence.

A young woman stood, calmly sliding her sword back into its sheath. “Don’t you dare insult the Royal Guards’ name.”

Gasps rippled through the room. Eyes locked onto her and the tall, cloaked figure standing silently behind her.

“Wait… is that the Royal Guard insignia on her shoulder?” someone whispered.

SMACK! A drunk man slapped the speaker across the head.

“You idiot! You care about insignias when someone just died in front of you?!” he hissed, dragging him toward the exit in a hurry.

Ace, deciding that his beer could wait, slipped off his stool to follow the exiting crowd.

But as he neared the door, the cloaked man extended an arm, blocking his path.

Ace blinked once.

“Really?” he muttered.

Then, without hesitation, he bent his knees and launched himself upward, smashing through the roof and disappearing into the sky.

“Yeah… no thanks.”

“Catch him!” the girl shouted, and both she and her cloaked companion darted after Ace.

Ace glanced back, utterly bewildered.

“What the heck did I even do?! I just wanted a drink!”

He leapt from rooftop to rooftop, trying to lose them.

But his pursuers weren’t playing nice.. blades of wind, sharp and fast, flew past him like arrows.

One nearly grazed his head.

“Is that… sword qi?!” he yelped.

Another sliced through a rooftop, sending wood and tiles flying.

“Hey! What about the poor folks living here?! Their homes!” Ace yelled back as he kept running. “Don’t you people have any feelings for mortals?!”

“Stop right there, suspicious man, or we’ll kill you!” the girl called out.

Ace rolled his eyes mid-leap.

“Oh, please. Let me show you a magic trick. Ever heard of peek-a-boo?”

Still running, the girl frowned.

“What’s a peek-a-boo?”

“Peek-a—BOO!” Ace yelled as he turned a corner and vanished into thin air straight into his system space.

The two pursuers arrived moments later, staring at the empty alley.

“Where is he?! Stupid egghead, find him! Don’t just stand there!” the girl snapped.

The man nodded silently and disappeared in a blur.

She groaned, dragging a hand down her face.

“Right… you’re renowned for your speed. So why didn’t you use it earlier, you idiot!” She sighed and sat down, fuming.

At the exact moment, within the system space:

“I wonder what the deal was with those two…” Ace muttered, still catching his breath.

“Hell, I thought being a Major Dark Gold was something to brag about. And yet, two random strangers in a bar could keep up with me? That’s insane.”

Shaking his head, he made his way toward Aunt Hong’s house.

As he stepped through the gate, the rich aroma of sizzling pork filled the air.

He chuckled softly.

“Well, nothing beats a meal cooked by a mother.”

When Ace entered the house, the scene that greeted him was nothing short of extraordinary.

There she was—Liu Mei—seated cross-legged by the low table, both hands gripping a massive slab of roasted pork like it was a sacred treasure.

Her cheeks were puffed out, lips glistening with grease, and sauce trailed dangerously close to her chin.

She was completely immersed in battle… against the meat.

Ace blinked once, then burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha ha! I forgot this is how you look when you eat!”

Liu Mei looked up, eyes sparkling with delight.

but instead of responding, she doubled down.

She shoved another chunk of pork into her already full mouth, cheeks ballooning as she chewed ferociously.

“Mmmf—Maaashturr! You’re back!” she mumbled through the meat, beaming. “Mom made da besht pork ever—mmm—thish ish my fifth one today!”

She swallowed hard, patting her stomach with pride, then pointed to a half-empty platter.

“Huhu—Elder Mati picked it—said it’s Grade 3! Can you believe dat? Grade 3 pork!” Her eyes sparkled like she’d just won the lottery.

“Mmm—sooo juicy—sooo tender—” chomp chomp “—tashte like victory…”

She looked up at him with grease-glossed lips and pure happiness written all over her face.

Ace shook his head, still grinning, as he stepped further inside.

“Little Zhi, you’re back! Do you want some too? There’s plenty left,” Aunt Hong called out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “I cooked a lot today—my daughter was home, after all.”

She let out a soft laugh, but it carried a slight edge. Her smile was warm, but Ace didn’t miss the twitch in her brow or the barely contained sigh behind her chuckle.

“Little Zhi,” she said sweetly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly, “I’m so happy you turned my precious baby into a gluttonous little p—”

She paused, her gaze drifting toward Liu Mei, who was still going to war with her fifth plate of pork.

Ace followed her eyes just in time to see Liu Mei tilt the platter to slurp the last of the juices.

Aunt Hong blinked.

Pig.

She had been about to say gluttonous pig.

Oh, the irony.

Her daughter was literally devouring pigs—and not just a bite or two. Four whole roasted pigs had already disappeared into that tiny stomach.