Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Sudden guest.
“The 4 Dragons and 3 Phoenixes Tournament is coming up,” Ace declared, his tone serious. “Both of you—at least one of you—needs to make it onto the leaderboard.”

Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei exchanged glances. Liu Mei, never one to back down from a challenge, stepped forward.

“Master, what’s the strongest technique you have? Teach me!”

Ace fell silent.

Uh… strongest technique?

He racked his brain, only to realize—he had no idea what he even had.

Just as he was about to stall for time, a notification popped up.

Ding!

Host, you’re in a grave situation! New task!

1. Kill Xie Ninger

Reward: Void Nightmare Footsteps (Divine Grade)

OR

2. Save Xie Ninger

Reward: Hostile reaction from Xie Ninger

Ace stared at the screen.

What kind of twisted choice was this?!

His gaze lingered on the first option. Void Nightmare Footsteps. A divine-grade movement technique. It was exactly what he needed for the tournament. No—he needed it.

But the price…

His fingers curled slightly. The system was testing him. Again.

“Master?” Shan Yifeng’s voice broke through the silence.

Ace didn’t react. He kept staring at the system prompt, his thoughts tangled.

“Master, are you okay?” Shan Yifeng pressed, concerned creeping into his tone.

Then—

“Master! Master! Look who this is!”

Lily’s voice rang out.

Ace snapped his head up, just in time to see her rushing in. In her arms was a human figure, clad in black.

His breath caught.

Xie Ninger.

Unconscious. Bloodied.

The choice was no longer just words on a screen.

Ace exhaled sharply. The system didn’t even let him think before shoving reality right into his face.

Damn it.

As he continued to stare at Xie Ninger’s unconscious form, his mind began an uneasy battlefield.

He had never taken a life before. Never stood at that stage where one’s hands were stained with another’s blood.

Yet, the wisdom of a hundred years whispered otherwise.

Kill her.

It wasn’t an impulse. It was cold, calculated reasoning. The system had laid it out plainly.

If he saved her, he would gain nothing but hostility.

If he killed her, he would gain a divine-grade movement technique—something that could change his fate in the tournament, in this world.

The benefits were undeniable.

At some point, Ace felt as though he had two selves—the one shaped by experience, a hardened strategist with a century of wisdom, and the other, a sixteen-year-old fool who still clung to peace.

But it was the fool that owned the body, he had the decision and he decided to follow his ideal.

“You’re a fool.” The thought crept in—was it the alter ego? Or simply cold reality pressing against his mind?

Ace clenched his fists.

Maybe he really was a fool.

Maybe his kindness would get him killed one day.

But today will not be that day.

“Get her to the bed,” he finally said, his voice steady. “We’ll do our best to save her.”

Lily nodded without hesitation, carefully placing Xie Ninger onto the soft mattress.

Ace exhaled. “Lily, after you lie her down, cook some spirit cabbages and grow some Spirit Tomatoes. Make a soup out of it.”

Lily blinked. “Spirit Tomatoes?”

“In case you’ve forgotten,” Ace muttered, rubbing his temples, “they enhance vitality and accelerate energy recovery. Even if it’s just a little, every bit helps.”

This… this was the first step.

Maybe saving her was foolish.

Maybe it would cost him dearly.

But he had already made his choice.

Ace worked in silence, his focus entirely on the deep wounds marring Xie Ninger’s pale skin. The cuts ran deep, some still sluggishly oozing blood despite the initial treatment.

He began treating her wounds. Although he had never done it before, with the hundred years of wisdom he received as a reward previously, his hands moved with practiced ease, as if he’d done it a thousand times.

Beside him, Lily moved with practiced efficiency, her hands steady as she helped undress Xie Ninger, peeling away the tattered, bloodstained fabric to expose the extent of her injuries.

Even with his resolve, Ace’s hands faltered slightly as he wiped away the dried blood. It was embarrassing—he had never treated wounds before—he had never seen a woman’s body naked before.

Although blood marred her skin, her body remained pristine—smooth and untouched beneath the wounds.

His gaze unintentionally lingered on her breasts, and for a brief moment, heat crept up his face. But he quickly shook off the distraction, reminding himself that he was treating an injury, not admiring beauty.

Perhaps it was the weight of his decision still pressing on him.

His fingers tightened around the cloth in his hand.

If I had chosen the other option… she wouldn’t even be alive right now.

Shaking the thought away, he refocused, carefully applying the medicinal salve before wrapping the wounds with fresh bandages.

An hour passed in painstaking care, each movement deliberate, each breath measured.

When it came time to administer the medicine, Ace hesitated. Xie Ninger remained unconscious, her lips slightly parted, her breathing shallow.

“…She can’t drink it like this,” Lily murmured, glancing up at him.

Ace frowned. “We’ll have to feed it to her mouth to mouth.”

Lily didn’t miss the way his expression darkened at the idea.

She blinked at him innocently. “You’re not going to do it, are you, Master?”

Ace sighed. “Of course not. You do it.”

Lily gave a satisfied nod. “Alright, then!”

With practiced ease, she took a sip of the warm medicinal broth, then leaned forward, pressing her lips gently against Xie Ninger’s to pass it along.

Ace immediately turned away, rubbing his temple.

“This feels weird.”

A few moments passed, the only sounds in the room being the soft trickle of liquid and Xie Ninger’s shallow breaths.

Lily pulled back, wiping a stray drop from Xie Ninger’s chin before turning to Ace with a victorious grin. “Done!”

Ace exhaled. “Good. Now, all we can do is wait.”

He glanced at Xie Ninger’s sleeping face, wondering what she would say once she woke up.

With his task done, Ace stepped into the courtyard, a cup of tea in hand. The steam curled lazily into the cool air as he leaned against the railing, his gaze settling on the two children before him.

Shan Yifeng’s breath came in short, ragged bursts as he sprinted after Liu Mei, his face twisted in sheer frustration.

“Liu Mei! Stop running, you coward!” he shouted, arms outstretched, nearly grabbing the back of her robe—only for her to slip away like a slippery fish.

Liu Mei giggled, twirling mid-step. “Coward? No, no, Junior Brother, this is called strategic retreat!”

“You’re just scared!” Shan Yifeng huffed, lunging again.

Liu Mei dodged effortlessly, hands behind her back. “If you’re so confident, catch me then.”

Shan Yifeng gritted his teeth and pushed harder. His legs burned, his lungs ached—yet Liu Mei still danced ahead, light as a feather.

“You’re too slow, Junior Brother~” she teased, spinning playfully.

A vein throbbed in Shan Yifeng’s forehead.

“STOP MOCKING ME AND LET ME CATCH YOU!”

Ace, watching from the side, took a sip of tea. He shook his head.

“What a peaceful moment.”