Teacher by day, Farmer by passion-Chapter 181: Deception [8]

"So, what exactly is your role within the sect?" Ace asked as they strolled down the street, his tone casual.

Zhao Yun walked with her hands clasped behind her back, her eyes lighting up every time they passed a food stall.

The aroma of grilled meat and sweet buns seemed to lift her spirits by the second.

"Uh, well… I'm one of the core disciples, so I do a lot," she said, half-distracted, already peeking at a vendor's tray of skewered snacks.

"And what exactly is a lot?" Ace raised an eyebrow. "You always seemed to have plenty of free time—especially when you were stuck babysitting Shan Yifeng."

"Ahaha… well, that was part of the job," she laughed nervously. "You gave us ten spirit pigs a week, remember? So they sent me to 'foster a relationship' with you. You know… good diplomacy and all that."

"Fair enough," Ace said, letting the topic slide as he kept walking.

But then Zhao Yun tilted her head and glanced at him.

"Hey, Master Zhi… since when did you start going by Master Ace?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Ace let out a low chuckle.

"Remember the time Liu Mei told you my name was Xiao Zhi?"

Zhao Yun scrunched her face, trying to recall, but Ace remembered that day all too clearly.

That day,

he and Liu Mei had stepped out of the old house to check on Shan Yifeng who was training by himself outdoors, the first time he'd ever encountered real cultivators since coming to this world.

And he hadn't met just one, but three of them.

Yet what he felt that day wasn't awe.

Nor was it joy.

It wasn't even the excitement of finally stepping into a world of cultivation.

No, it was something far colder. Something that lingered like a shadow behind every memory of that encounter.

That very day,

he could already feel his life at the peripheral of live and death.

"Well, you know—one gold coin for a spirit apple," Ace said with a shrug.

"Ah yes, yes, I remember that," Zhao Yun replied, grinning.

"You and those kids clearly weren't even cultivators back then. Honestly, I was surprised you dared lie to my face. Were you testing me or something?"

"If I had known you were the holder of the Divine Garden," she continued, "I wouldn't have dared to disturb your nap, let alone your students."

"I don't know about that," Ace muttered, dodging the compliment with a smirk.

Just in time, they arrived at the inn. It was a cozy, low-key tavern nestled between two larger buildings.

Its wooden frame leaned just slightly to the left, like it had seen a few more winters than it should've.

The scent of roasted meat and spiced broth wafted through the half-open door, and a flickering lantern hung just above the entrance, giving off a warm, rustic glow.

"Let's go in," Ace said, holding the door open. "This is where my two disciples always love to dine."

Zhao Yun stepped in first, eyes sparkling as she took in the humble setup, the rough-hewn tables, mismatched stools, and a sleepy cat curled up on the counter like it owned the place.

"Well, is this a date?" she teased, plopping into one of the corner seats with a playful smile.

Ace ignored the bait and flagged down the innkeeper. "Two whole chickens. Roasted."

He slid into the seat beside her and folded his arms. "I don't date kids."

"Hey! I'm already an adult!" she shot back.

"And I'm already married."

"Huh?"

"...Nothing."

Zhao Yun blinked. "Wait—what?"

"I said nothing."

"No no no, you definitely said 'married.' Who? When? Does Liu Mei know?!"

Ace reached for his cup, took a slow sip of tea, and muttered, "Spiritually married. To peace and quiet."

***

Meanwhile, back at the Blue Sea Restaurant...

Princess Soho strolled in, humming lightly, a fresh duck meal balanced in her hands.

Her expression radiated sunshine contentment, as if nothing unusual had happened moments before, as if her life wasn't in danger moments ago.

But as she stepped further inside, her smile began to fade.

"Ace? Zhao Yun?" she called out, glancing around.

But there was absolute silence, not a single response was thrown back.

She turned in a slow circle, eyes narrowing slightly. The room was still, almost too still.

The scent of duck still lingered in the air, but the warmth, the presence, of others was gone.

Then, like a shadow crawling out of the void, the assassin from earlier emerged from the far corner and knelt before her.

"Master… they have left a while ago."

There was a moment of quiet.

And then Princess Soho smiled again but this time, it wasn't the same.

Slowly, she reached up, fingers brushing against her face. With a graceful motion, she pulled her hair. And within moments,

she pulled the face off, a mask.

The transformation was instantaneous.

Gone was the playful, casual woman from before.

In her place stood a transcendent beauty, otherworldly in her elegance.

Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall of ink, her gown whispering with each breath of air, as if even the wind wished to serve her.

Her skin was flawless, smooth, milky, radiant under the restaurant's dim light.

Her hands, as pale and perfect as carved jade, moved with quiet power.

She stepped toward the kneeling assassin, placing one delicate hand atop his bowed head.

Her voice was calm, gentle, even soothing. but it carried a weight that made the assassin tremble.

"Now tell me," she said softly, "for what reason did you dare interrupt a peaceful meal between a mother and her son?"

The person in front of the assassin,

the head huntress, was the exact

mother of Ace, Xiao Ziyun.

The assassin sweat poured freely now, soaking his collar.

Though her tone was warm, every instinct he had screamed danger.

Xiao Ziyun approached the wooden table, her eyes narrowing as they landed on the crude symbol etched into its surface—a pine tree.

"Hm… who left this?" she murmured.

A pause. Then a soft voice behind her answered, "It was the girl."

For a moment, Xiao Ziyun chuckled, a light, melodious sound but the air around her remained cold, the aura she exuded anything but playful.

Then came the rest of the answer.

"But it was your son who said, 'let's leave her a message.'"

Her smile faded.

A flicker of silence.

Did he know? she wondered, her gaze lingering on the symbol. Did he know all along… that I wasn't Soho Verilith? But how?