Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 278

Chapter 278: The Ring [3] (NEW!)
The door closed behind her with a gentle click, and once outside, Elder Mati stood in the hallway for a breath too long.

Then the quiet pressed in.

She stared at the empty corridor. Then down at her hands. Then back at the door.

“…What in the four dragons am I doing,” she muttered.

Her cheeks, still warm, didn’t seem to agree with her sudden bout of sternness. She reached up and pinched them, hard.

“He’s seventeen. Se-ven-teen,” she hissed, pacing like a spirit beast in a cage. “Barely legal. And he’s wounded heavily to top it off.”

She stopped and pointed a sharp, accusing finger at no one in particular. “I’m ninety-eight. Ninety-eight! That’s a gap you can bury kingdoms in!”

She turned around in a huff and stormed down the corridor leaving behind only the faint scent of herbal soap and embarrassment.

In the meantime, inside the room:

Shan Yifeng stirred in his bed, wincing immediately as pain lanced through his ribs.

His head throbbed faintly, cushioned under a damp cloth. A blanket weighed over his body, warm, but unmistakably light against bare skin.

His eyes fluttered open and he blinked twice.

“…I’m naked under this, aren’t I,” he whispered hoarsely.

He sat up slowly, every joint protesting. His back ached. His ribs were bruised and possibly even cracked.

Even his left leg spasmed when he tried to move it. He gritted his teeth, one hand pressing down on the side of the bed while the other clutched the blanket tightly around his waist.

His gaze fell upon the small table beside the bed, his folded clothes, still stained with blood from earlier, were neatly set atop it.

Unlike what he thought, he saw not smell any blood scents from his clothes.

One step at a time. He muttered out as he limped over, blanket trailing like a royal train. The cold floor bit at his feet.

His muscles screamed. With a grunt, he reached the table, gripped the edge for support, and began dressing with one arm while holding the blanket up with the other.

Every movement was slow and awkward.

Lifting his arms to don the robe pulled at the bruises under his ribs. Tying his sash sent a fresh sting up his side.

Finally dressed, he looked toward the dresser where his interspatial ring had been placed.

He hobbled over with a limp. His left leg dragged slightly behind him, the sole of his foot scuffing the wood.

He reached out, fingers trembling just a little, and slipped the ring back onto his finger.

A flicker of soul sense and he peeked at the contents inside.

There, nestled among golds and his formation brush, was the wooden replica ring he had forged earlier.

He exhaled deeply, almost collapsing in place with relief.

Still here.

He adjusted his collar, pulled the cloak tighter around him, and limped out of the room, one hand gripping the doorframe for balance.

Shan Yifeng stepped out of the house, still limping, his body sore with every motion.

Just as he reached the steps, a familiar figure approached him from the garden path.

Elder Mati, sleeves rolled up and a basket full of freshly dug herbs cradled in her arms.

Dirt clung to the hem of her robes, and smudges stained her cheeks.

She looked up, surprised. “You’re out already? Are you sure you should be up though?”

He gave a tired smile, careful not to wince. “Elder, I should get going—”

“Oh no, you won’t,” she cut him off with a wave of her hand. “You are still recovering, you see. Get back in, i will brew you something for your health. You will feel better after a proper tonic.”

“Ah… okay. Thanks, Elder.”

“It’s fine,” she said with a little smile, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

They walked back into the house together, Shan Yifeng trailing behind her slow, purposeful steps.

She led him into the sitting room and pointed to a nearby cushion.

“Sit down. I need to take a quick bath, handling herbs always leaves me a mess.” She chuckled softly, already untying the sash at her waist.

Shan Yifeng nodded wordlessly and lowered himself onto the cushion, his eyes following her movements, no, not her exactly.

His gaze locked on the object in her hand: a delicate, faintly glowing ring.

Elder Mati reached the table, pulled the ring from her finger, and set it down with a casual flick of her wrist.

Without another word, she turned and disappeared toward the bathing chamber, the sound of water running echoing faintly a moment later.

Shan Yifeng stared at the door she had vanished behind.

Then down at the ring.

His pulse quickened.

Was this… a trap?

The whole day, everything had been going his way, except for Angie who beat him up. But at the same time, that had also turned out for the best and it had brought him to this situation.

The ring lay perfectly still, gleaming in the dim light, unguarded, vulnerable. It could be bait. But hesitation wouldn’t serve him now.

It was now or never. If she noticed it missing later, he would have already be gone.

With a steadying breath, he slipped a hand into his spatial ring and drew out the replica, flawlessly carved, shaped and detailed to mimic the real one down to the faded inner inscriptions.

With practiced fingers, he lifted the original and slid the fake into its place in one smooth motion.

There. Done.

He let out a slow exhale, shoulders relaxing slightly. That should hold… long enough.

Now all he had to do was get it to Angie. Then, they could find the clue to the next realm.

The tension slowly bled from his limbs. His body sagged against the cushion. The scent of herbs in the room, the warmth of the sunlight, and the distant sound of water…

His eyes grew heavy.

And then, without meaning to, Shan Yifeng drifted into a deep, exhausted sleep.