Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 252

Chapter 252: Farm Life [2] (NEW!)
“Sister-in-law!” Liu Mei called out with unrestrained joy, dashing forward and throwing herself into Ruby’s arms.

Ruby laughed, warmth blooming across her face as she caught the spirited girl in a tight hug.

“Mei’er, Yifeng, how many times must I have to tell you two to atop feeding spirit grains to the chickens?”

Ruby pinched the bridge of her nose, an expression so familiar it mirrored her brother’s when he was exasperated.

She glared at the coop where dozens of chickens clucked happily, too happily for normal poultry.

“But Aunt Ruby,” Liu Mei chimed innocently, “just imagine how many of them could hatch into spirit chickens! Think of the potential!”

Shan Yifeng nodded solemnly. “Exactly, it’s worth the experiment.”

Ruby sighed, deep and heavy, as if carrying the weight of every decision that had ever led her to this moment. “Yifeng, you’re already sixteen. And you too, Mei’er. It’s time you both started acting more responsibly, don’t you think?”

Liu Mei giggled, then leaned into Ruby, nuzzling against her affectionately. “Aww, fine~ I can be responsible. I am the eldest sister now, after all.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow, but her heart softened. She scooped Liu Mei into her arms with a warm smile. “Yes, yes… but you’ve definitely gotten heavier, haven’t you?”

Liu Mei’s cheeks puffed out. “That’s rude!”

As the two playfully bickered, Shan Yifeng cleared his throat and turned to Ace, who stood silently observing.

“Ahem,” he began, composed but firm.

Ace raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

Shan Yifeng looked him straight in the eyes. “Master, I wish to hone my alchemy skills. I want to participate in the upcoming International Alchemy Competition.”

Instead of giving a direct answer, Ace simply asked,

“What does Elder Akha have to say about this?”

Shan Yifeng’s face lit up like a lantern.

“Master! Teacher said I’m ready to bring chaos to the alchemy world!”

Ace blinked. His brows twitched.

“She said that?”

“Un! Un!” Yifeng nodded enthusiastically, his smile never once faltering.

Ace turned away slowly, as if already bracing for the inevitable fallout.

Ruby, who had been watching from the side with arms crossed and a barely-contained grin, chimed in,

“Brother—ahem, I mean Master—Senior Brother Yifeng will bring great fame to your name.”

But her voice cracked with a giggle halfway through, and before Ace could comment, she darted off, dragging Liu Mei with her.

“Come on, Mei’er, let’s go check on the spirit chickens before they turn into peacocks again!”

That left Ace with Shan Yifeng, whose smile only grew wider by the second.

Ace raised a brow.

“Well, fine. But… is your training with Angie finished?”

Yifeng rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

“She’s still a bit rough. Keeps muttering stuff like ‘Why does this brat have the Crimson Dragon Seal?’—but she said I should be done by next week.”

Ace gave a slow nod.

“Good. That should be enough. I won’t be coming with you.”

Shan Yifeng’s grin stretched so wide it could’ve split his face.

Ace stared at him flatly.

Yifeng froze, cleared his throat, and tried to look solemn.

“I-I mean, I understand, Master. I’ll do my best.”

But the spark in his eyes betrayed it all.

Ace sighed. He had definitely seen that flash of pure joy when he said he wouldn’t be tagging along.

Kids.

“All right. Once your training with Angie is complete—you can go.” Ace finally said.

“Thank you, Master!”

Shan Yifeng gave a quick bow, then bolted out of the barn like a child who had just been handed candy and freedom in one breath.

Ace stretched as he stepped outside, arms behind his head, sighing into the breeze.

“Oh, little Zhi, there you are,” came a familiar, motherly voice.

Ace turned his head and smiled.

“Aunt Hong. Getting the hang of it?”

Descending gracefully through the air on a flying sword, Liu Hong nodded with a soft smile.

“Yes, little Zhi. I never imagined I’d be a cultivator at my age, but… it’s not so bad.”

She landed gently, adjusting her balance.

“Though, there’s still something I’m curious about.”

Ace raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? What is it?”

“I don’t get hungry anymore, not like by my past standard. If I push myself, I can just compensate with soul energy. Is that normal? Or does it depend on cultivation technique? Because I can see that my daughter still eats every hour like clockwork.”

Ace chuckled as he shook his head. “No, no, that’s just because your daughter’s a glutton. Technique has nothing to do with that.”

They both laughed, warm and easy.

Ace wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

“Oh well… your daughter really is one in a million.”

“Thank you,” Liu Hong said softly, her eyes gentle.

Ace gave her a quiet nod.

With a final smile, Liu Hong stepped back onto her sword and took off slowly into the sky, wobbling a bit but correcting herself with determined poise as she practiced flying, her figure gradually disappearing into the horizon.

Ace glanced once at the barn behind him, chickens, kids, warmth and exhaled. Then he was gone. into the system space without a sound.

In the next breath, he stepped into the serene expanse of the Herb Garden, a quiet realm blooming with radiant flora.

The air was rich with the gentle hum of life, and the herbs, glowing faintly with spiritual energy, swayed as though they recognized him.

He didn’t linger.

With a casual stride, he vanished again and entered the Immortal Market.

The shift was jarring. Gone was the peace, replaced by the chaos of clashing vendors, bargaining immortals, and mystic beasts wandering about.

It was loud, vibrant, and suffused with strange scents and stranger people.

Ace navigated it effortlessly. He had long grown used to the madness.

Eventually, he stopped in front of a modest but well-kept shop tucked between two larger pavilions.

The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up the moment he saw him.

“Sir, it’s you! I’ve got the items you asked for.”

Ace nodded once. “Show me.”

The man brought out a lacquered black box, treating it like it weighed a fortune.

He opened it.

Ace leaned forward and peered inside.

Ace stared at the item, his gaze unreadable. So much trouble for something so small… But necessary. Always necessary.

He simply gave a quiet nod. “This is it…Alright. Here’s the Hundred Red Immortal,” he said, producing a scarlet coin that pulsed with refined energy and tossing it to the merchant.

The transaction was smooth, wordless after that.

Ace took the box, tucked it under one arm, and turned away.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished from the Immortal Market, just as quietly as he had come.