Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

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.

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."