Shan Yifeng.

After sending Liu Mei off, Ace turned his attention back to the system interface.

Four plots of land. Ten Moonstone seeds.

Even an idiot could figure out what that meant.

Cultivation!

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. If this was anything like those farming games he used to play, then…

Ace activated the farming function, and the world around him shifted.

Suddenly, he found himself standing in a vast open space—a virtual farmland within the system. It had an oddly realistic 3D feel, like stepping into an immersive game. The soil was dark and fertile, the air crisp, and a warm golden light bathed everything.

The best part? He didn't have to do the farming manually.

With just a thought, he willed the Moonstone seeds into the soil. The earth shifted as if responding to his will, neatly planting each seed in place.

[Moonstone Seeds Planted!]

[Growth Time: 4 hours.]

Ace smirked. Easy.

What's more, he realized he could leave at will—there was no need to stay in the system world while the crops grew.

Back in reality, he stretched his arms, considering his next move. Four hours to kill, huh?

A nap would be nice.

…Nah.

Instead, he decided to clear the area behind his house.

The land was overgrown with weeds and wild shrubs, but with some effort, he could turn it into a proper garden. Since the system allowed him to take game items out into the real world, he figured it wouldn't hurt to experiment.

Raising the remaining Moonstone seeds outside would not only test their growth in the real world but also give him something productive to do.

And so, with renewed energy, Ace picked up a nearby hoe and got to work.

___________

In a quiet corner, hidden behind a thicket of overgrown bushes, two children crouched, their eyes fixed on the figure working diligently in the garden.

Liu Mei held her basket close, her expression calm yet oddly content. Beside her, a boy of similar age—Shan Yifeng—furrowed his brows, his posture tense with suspicion.

"I thought you were just having one of your stupid moments again," Shan Yifeng muttered, keeping his voice low. "But it seems… you were actually right."

Liu Mei tilted her head. "Teacher is different now."

Her voice was light, almost dreamy, as if stating an obvious fact. Shan Yifeng frowned.

Unlike Liu Mei, he was genuinely afraid of Ace—of Xiao Zhi. Everyone in the village knew the kind of man their teacher had been: a drunkard, a brute, someone who lashed out at his students for the smallest of reasons. The only reason Shan Yifeng was still here was because he was the only one in the village with a bit of knowledge about real cultivation. He wanted to learn. He wanted to grow stronger.

But he also didn't want to get beaten.

That was why he had tricked Liu Mei into coming with him, using her as a buffer between himself and their unpredictable teacher.

And yet…

Shan Yifeng glanced at her, guilt creeping into his chest.

She's too trusting.

For a second, he felt bad. But he quickly shoved the feeling aside.

In this whole village, I'm the only one who plays with her. The least she can do is this much for me.

That thought didn't sit well with him either, but rather than dwell on it, he grabbed a small stone from the ground and handed it to her.

"Here," he whispered, pressing it into her palm. "Go throw this at Teacher."

Liu Mei didn't hesitate. She didn't ask why.

She simply took the stone, turned, and began walking straight toward Ace.

Liu Mei walked closer, the stone clutched tightly in her small hand. She raised her arm, and with a soft grunt, tossed it toward Ace .

Ace was in the middle of clearing out a stubborn patch of weeds when he felt something small and hard hit his back.

He froze.

Slowly, he turned around, only to find Liu Mei standing there, empty-handed, staring up at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

"…Did you just throw a rock at me?" Ace asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Liu Mei nodded. "Mm."

Ace exhaled sharply, pressing his fingers against his temples. "Why?"

Liu Mei blinked. "Shan Yifeng told me to."

Ace followed her gaze to a nearby corner, where a boy—Shan Yifeng, the other student—was currently trying (and failing) to blend into the shadows.

Their eyes met.

Shan Yifeng stiffened like a deer caught in torchlight. Then, in a split-second decision, he turned and bolted.

Ace sighed. "Liu Mei."

"Yes, Teacher?"

"Go get him."

Liu Mei nodded, turned around, and immediately took off after Shan Yifeng.

Ace watched them go, rubbing the spot where the rock had hit him. He had a feeling that dealing with these two was going to be more exhausting than the actual farming.

______________

In the blink of an eye, four hours had passed, and Ace eagerly rushed into the system to check on the crops he had planted.

Moonstone seeds? He had never heard of them before—definitely not something that existed on Blue Planet. Curiosity bubbled up as he entered the system to harvest whatever it was he had grown.

As he approached the plot, he was greeted by a bright blue screen that materialized in front of him.

Item: Moonstone Flower (Level 1)

Effect: Used in alchemy, works as a tonic.

Quantity: 16 flowers

Value: 10 Gold Credit each

Each seed had yielded four flowers. Ace blinked at the screen in disbelief.

Moonstone flowers could be sold for 10 gold credits each. With 16 flowers, that made a decent sum. He quickly calculated the potential of farming.

"If each flower sells for 10 gold credits and each seeds for 10 gold credits…" he muttered to himself. "Every yield, I earn triple the investment. By the tenth yield, it'll be 1200 gold credits.That's enough for the Spirit Cleansing Apple seed."

His excitement surged as he began to think of all the possibilities. He could make real progress here, grow stronger, and accumulate wealth with just a little time spent farming.

But before he could get too lost in his thoughts, the sound of crying broke through his concentration. Ace turned toward the source.

It was Shan Yifeng.

The boy was on the ground, one of his legs being pulled by Liu Mei, who—surprisingly—was strong enough to drag him with ease. Ace blinked, unsure of what to do as he watched them approach.

Liu Mei's small frame contrasted sharply with the boy's, but her grip on him was firm, and she walked toward Ace as though it was no big deal.

When they made eye contact, Liu Mei smiled brightly and shouted cheerfully, "Teacher! I got him!"

Ace simply stared in disbelief. He couldn't help but think, No wonder people thought she was… well, whatever they thought it'll be gone.

Liu Mei grinned proudly, her mission accomplished. Shan Yifeng, meanwhile, looked thoroughly embarrassed, trying and failing to break free.