Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Chapter 19 From Teacher to Master.

"Why?"

Ace couldn't comprehend it.

Had he not mention that Spirit Milk was only meant for cultivators?

The answer returned as yes, it was negligence on his part..

Yifeng must have believed he was helping his father, sharing something precious with him.

Liu Hong sighed, her expression solemn as she began to recount what had happened.

"Shan Erbi... Yifeng's father... had been ill for a long time. His wife, Yifeng's mother, ran away from the village, leaving them both behind. But Yifeng doesn't know that. His father always told him that she was working... and he believed it."

Ace clenched his fists.

"Yesterday," Liu Hong continued, "the two kids came to me, asking for help. Yifeng said his father was injured, so I went over to cook for them. But what I saw..."

She took a shaky breath. "It was unbearable."

Ace remained silent, waiting.

"When I walked into the kitchen... Shan Erbi was on the floor, already crawled toward the pot of boiled milk. He was drinking it—gasping, desperate—like a man dying of thirst. He must have been starving."

Ace's stomach twisted.

"Yifeng ran in and saw him. He panicked."

Liu Hong closed her eyes briefly before continuing.

"He screamed at his father, begged him to stop. He cried, calling him stupid—saying he was going to 'go BOOM.' He threw punches, small, weak punches, barely more than protests. But his father just smiled."

Her voice grew heavy. "I didn't understand at first. It was just milk. But then Liu Mei whispered to me—'Master gave it so that yifeng and I can drink it, we are learning cultivation so it's good for us but uncle isn't a cultivator. It's poison for him."

Ace felt a chill crawl up his spine.

"Shan Erbi... that idiot," Liu Hong whispered, her voice shaking. "He hugged Yifeng, pulled him close, and said—

'Your dad loves you, but I'm sick. I can't help you anymore. Let me rest.'"

A bitter silence followed.

Ace inhaled sharply. What could a ten-year-old do? Left all alone in this world whose only relation left was a mother who abandoned him?

Liu Hong shook her head. "Yifeng hasn't stopped crying since. Only now, after exhausting himself, has he finally calmed down."

Ace looked at the sleeping boy, his chest rising and falling in quiet sobs, his small hands still gripping the fabric of Liu Hong's dress.

Zhao Yun stepped forward, giving a respectful nod. "Master Xiao, let me introduce Hua Tiger."

Ace forced a polite smile, suppressing his weariness. "Welcome. Please, come in."

"Thank you once again for the Spirit Cabbage, Master Xiao."

Zhao Yun spoke the moment they stepped inside, her tone carrying both gratitude and formality.

"As promised, I'll uphold my end of the deal since you've fulfilled yours."

She then turned to Hua Tiger, who gave a respectful nod before speaking.

"Master Xiao, the Hua Family would like to establish a business relationship with you. We'll ensure you're given a fair price—50% higher than the market rates."

It was an enticing offer, but Ace wasn't in the mood for negotiations. His mind was still clouded from yesterday's events.

Forcing a polite smile, he responded, "I appreciate the offer. I'll need to consult my master first before making any decisions."

Neither Zhao Yun nor Hua Tiger showed any doubt. They fully believed he had a master.

That worked in Ace's favor.

"Teacher!"

"Master!"

Two voices rang out in unison.

Ace froze for a moment before abruptly standing up, emotions swirling within him—relief, guilt, something else he couldn't quite place. His grip on the teacup tightened before he quickly set it down, rushing toward the familiar voices.

Zhao Yun arched an eyebrow, intrigued by his reaction, but said nothing.

Hua Tiger, curious about the sudden shift in atmosphere, exchanged a glance with Zhao Yun before following Ace as he strode toward the entrance.

Outside, standing at the edge of his courtyard, were Liu Mei and Shan Yifeng.

Liu Mei had a bright yet hesitant smile, her usual cheer dimmed by the incidEnt yesterday . Shan Yifeng, however, looked different. There was no playful argument, no sarcastic remark. His eyes were red-rimmed, his fists clenched at his sides.

They had come back.

Ace let out a slow breath, steadying himself before stepping forward to meet them.

Then—

Shan Yifeng dropped to his knees.

"Please take me in as a disciple, Teacher!"