Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 266

Chapter 266: Backstab [3]
Realization clicked in Shan Yifeng’s mind, and he grinned. “Elder Akha. She’s a proper lady, kind and soft-spoken.”

Angie nodded, eyes gleaming. “Yes, that’s her. She is the one. I need you to get that ring for me, Shan Yifeng.”

There was a pause.

Not pressure. Not command. Just a favor. A small request, sealed in the trusting tone of a big sister whispering secrets under the sun.

Shan looked at the half-eaten apple in his hand, then back at her.

“…Alright. I’ll find a way.”

Angie smiled, warm and sweet but in her mind, the gate to freedom was already half-open.

That evening, after the training grounds had emptied and the sun dipped behind the mountains, Shan Yifeng found himself drawn toward Elder Mati’s house…

The sun had begun to dip behind the mountains, casting golden light across the rooftops, and the wind carried the faint scent of wild herbs.

As he stepped into the herb-lined porch, Mati looked up from her potted plants with a gentle smile.

“Well now, what brings you here, little one?” she asked, wiping her hands on a cloth.

Shan Yifeng grinned sheepishly. “I was training nearby, and your house was the closest one… So I thought I’d drop in for a visit.”

“Ah, I see.” She chuckled knowingly, eyes twinkling. “Come, come. Take a seat. You’ve been training hard, haven’t you?”

He nodded and flashed a wide smile, baring his teeth.

Mati laughed softly as she reached out to ruffle his hair, her touch full of affection. Her fingers lingered a little longer this time.

“Mmm… now I understand why Master loves to rub your hair and your senior sisters’ too. It’s addictive,” she murmured with amusement.

Shan Yifeng just laughed along, cheeks reddening slightly.

“Alright, rest up. Let me fix you something to drink.” She stood up and headed into the kitchen. “Where’s that teacher of yours, the dragon, Angie?”

“Oh, she’s… uh, she said she didn’t feel like visiting today. I’m not really sure why.” He scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.

Mati paused, then nodded. “That’s understandable. Not everyone likes visiting bald ladies like me,” she said with a chuckle. “Alright, make yourself at home.”

As she moved into the kitchen, Shan Yifeng rose from the cushion and wandered around the living space, admiring the cozy arrangement of bookshelves, woven mats, and dried herbs hanging from the rafters.

“Wow… this place is so spacious,” he muttered in awe, feeling the warmth and peace that clung to every corner of the house.

A few minutes later, Mati returned holding a tray with two carved wooden cups.

A fragrant steam curled lazily from the surface.

“Here, drink this,” she said, handing him one of the cups. “It’s made from pink ginger herb and moonstone flower. Very good for the body and very tasty, too.”

Shan Yifeng accepted the cup gratefully and took a sip his eyes widening in delight.

“Waaah! That’s delicious!” he exclaimed with unfiltered joy, his voice bouncing off the walls.

Mati’s grin widened. “You want another?”

“Yes, please!”

“Haha, alright, but this will be the last cup,” she said, wagging a finger.

“Drink too much and you’ll be puking moonstone petals for days. Two cups is enough to heal your muscles.”

She returned to the kitchen with a chuckle and came back with the final cup.

Shan Yifeng raised the wooden cup and downed its contents in a single gulp.

The warm, fragrant liquid slid down his throat, leaving behind a tingly sweetness.

“Waaah!” he exclaimed with wide eyes. “That’s amazing!”

Mati laughed heartily at his reaction, then lifted her own cup. “Well, I can’t let the junior show me up now, can I?”

With a playful smirk, she tilted her head back and finished her drink in one smooth motion.

“Aaah,” she sighed, setting the cup down with a satisfied grin. “Still as good as ever.”

Their laughter mingled with the soft sounds of the evening, filling the room with a comforting, familial warmth.

Mati took the wooden cups to the basin, gave them a quick wash, and returned with a towel in hand, drying them casually as she sat beside Shan Yifeng on the cushioned floor mat.

She glanced at him with a curious smile, but before she could speak, Shan Yifeng tilted his head and asked with innocent sincerity, “Elder Mati, are you sick? Why don’t you have any hair?”

Mati blinked in surprise, then let out a rich, hearty laugh that filled the room.

“No, no,” she said, still chuckling. “You see, Grand Elder Akha, Elder Khani, Elder Kathum, and I. We’re a different variant of humans. We’re born without any hair.”

Shan Yifeng leaned in, brows furrowed in fascination. “No hair? Not even nose hairs?”

“None!” Mati puffed her chest slightly. “Not a single strand, not even a rogue nose hair to curse in the mirror. As smooth as the river stone.”

Wagging a finger, “But, there’s a funny story behind that. Want to hear it?”

“Yes! Yes, please!” Shan Yifeng nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling with excitement.

With a playful grunt, Mati sat opposite him, crossed her legs, and leaned forward, hands folded over her knees.

“According to our legends,” she began, voice dipping theatrically, “We’re descended so the old stories claim, from a divine woman. Beautiful beyond belief, crowned in moonlight, skin like crystal.”

She chuckled, but there was a glimmer of something else in her eye, half jest, half memory.

She paused for effect, only to catch Shan Yifeng eyeing her with a puzzled tilt of his head.

“Ahem… I know what you’re thinking,” she said dryly, raising a brow. “You’re wondering how someone like me came from someone beautiful, huh?”

Shan Yifeng’s eyes flew wide. He waved his hands, flustered. “Elder Mati! You’re beautiful! I swear!”

Mati blinked.

Then she blinked again.

A faint flush bloomed across her cheeks as she looked away, caught completely off guard. “Ah… R-right… Thanks.”

Mati looked away, her smile softening into something quieter. She rubbed the back of her neck, caught somewhere between embarrassment and unexpected warmth.