Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

The next day, after a brief talk with Liu Hong, Ace had a clearer understanding of the village's issue.

It hadn't rained in two months, an anomaly considering it was supposed to be the rainy season. Without rain, the villagers couldn't till their land properly.

Their fields had remained dry, and with each passing day, the risk of famine loomed one step closer.

Today, however, wasn't going to be any normal day.

Lily and Rei accompanied Ace on what they called a "vacation," though he doubted it would be anything but relaxing.

The enchanted hoe in his hand vibrates violently, responding to his grip.

Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei hopped along beside him, full of enthusiasm.

They soon arrived at the village farmland, Liu Hong greeted them, already dressed and prepared for labor.

"We're here." She clapped her hands, surveying the land with a keen eye.

The farm was located a bit far from the houses, a sensible choice—keeping their work separate from home life, yet still within reach.

From where they stood, Ace could see the neighboring fields of other villagers, equally dry and in desperate need of water.

Liu Mei and Shan Yifeng practically buzzed with excitement.

"Alright," Ace announced. "Let's till the land. Grab a hoe each and get to work."

Liu Mei and Shan Yifeng needed no further prompting. They dashed off, returning moments later with tools in hand, eager to begin.

Lily, however, observed the scene for a moment before turning to Ace.

"Master, I'll cook food," she declared with a bright smile.

Ace raised a brow. "You… don't want to help with the tilling?"

Lily stretched lazily, conjuring a small, hand-carved wooden fan and waving it dramatically. She plopped down under the shade of a nearby tree, reclining like a noblewoman at a tea ceremony.

"Master, I'm on vacation," she declared with exaggerated dignity.

"Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to manage a farm with no breaks? My hands have tilled more land than I can count!"

Ace arched his brow. "You have a system managing everything for you."

Lily gasped, placing a hand on her chest like she'd been gravely insulted.

"I supervise! That's practically the same thing."

Before he could reply, Rei twirled in the air, her tiny figure glowing faintly as she spun.

The temperature became shifted. The wind, which had been stagnant and dry, suddenly carried the scent of rain.

Shadows danced over the cracked fields as thick clouds rolled in—not the slow crawl of an approaching storm, but an unnatural, deliberate formation.

Birds took flight in startled squawks. Somewhere in the distance, a stray goat bleated in confusion.

Then, the first drop of rain landed with a soft hiss against the parched earth, sending up a tiny wisp of steam.

A cool breeze swept through the field.

Liu Hong stared up in shock.

"Clouds—?!"

Liu Hong's breath hitched as she looked up. The sky, once an endless stretch of barren blue, now rumbled with promise.

She raised a trembling hand, feeling the cool droplets kiss her fingertips.

Her knees nearly buckled, and she hastily pressed a hand to her chest, whispering an old prayer under her breath. "Bless the heavens…"

She turned to Ace, her eyes glistening. "Xiao Zhi… when you said last night that you could bring rain, I didn't really believe you."

Ace simply chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Aunty, have a little faith in me."

A droplet landed on her cheek.

Then another.

And another.

Her eyes welled with tears as she looked toward Rei, realization dawning on her.

"It's really raining…" she whispered, her voice trembling with joy. "It's finally raining!"

Liu Hong wiped at her eyes, overwhelmed by the sight of dark clouds rolling in.

Liu Hong clutched her chest, looking up at the sky like a woman who had just witnessed a miracle.

Meanwhile, Rei finished with her duty, dusted off her tiny hands before fluttering toward Lily. The two of them exchanged smug glances, clearly enjoying their well-earned vacation.

Ace sighed as he watched them lounge around. "Unbelievable. I have the laziest workers in existence."

At that moment, Shan Yifeng stood absentmindedly, staring up at the clouds, lost in thought.

Splat.

A lump of dirt hit him square in the face.

He blinked. "...Huh?"

Liu Mei giggled behind her hoe, feigning innocence. "Oops! Sorry!"

Ace raised a brow. He knew that tone.

Yifeng wiped his face and gave her a suspicious glare. "That better have been an accident."

Splat.

Another clump of dirt hit him.

Liu Mei was grinning now, tilting her head in mock confusion. "Oh no~ My hands slipped again~"

Yifeng narrowed his eyes. "You little—!"

He scooped up a handful of dirt, infusing it with a trace of his soul energy, and hurled it at lightning speed.

Liu Mei sidestepped effortlessly, the clump soaring past her like a harmless pebble.

"Too slow," she chirped, tossing her own projectile.

Yifeng dodged—barely.

The dirt grazed his cheek.

Ace watched with amusement. They were Gold Rank cultivators, warriors who could demolish walls with a single punch.

And yet, here they were, treating a dirt fight like a life-or-death battle.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, shaking his head. "They might as well be practicing evasive maneuvers."

Their hoes were momentarily forgotten as they engaged in a full-on battle, kicking up dust as they laughed and taunted each other.

Liu Hong shook her head, smiling despite herself. "Children… I swear, it's like raising two puppies."

The two little warriors continued their duel, neither willing to admit defeat.

The rain continued for hours, soaking the land as they worked.

By the time they finished tilling, the once-dry earth had turned soft and rich, ready for planting.

Liu Mei and Shan Yifeng had made quick work of the field.

Their strength and speed were far beyond ordinary farmers—they didn't even need hoes.

With their bare hands, they tore through the hardened soil with ease, each handful of earth crumbling effortlessly under their grip.

But despite their efficiency, they were now completely covered in mud.

Liu Hong let out a hearty laugh at the sight of them.

Liu Mei, grinning from ear to ear, had mud streaked across her cheeks and arms. Shan Yifeng, on the other hand, looked considerably less amused.

He was still sulking over the fact that Liu Mei had managed to throw more mud at him than he had at her—and worse, their master had put an end to their fun before he could even their score.

Ace simply watched them in silence, arms crossed.

"Just kids," he thought. "They may be Gold Rank, but they're still just kids at heart."

His gaze softened.

"Everyone, I've prepared drinks!"

Lily's cheerful voice rang out from the distance.

Liu Hong smiled and patted Ace's arm. "Go on ahead, Xiao Zhi. I'll take these two to the pond to wash off before they get dirt everywhere."

Ace nodded and turned toward the source of the voice, while Liu Hong herded the muddy duo toward the water.

As he walked away, he could still hear Shan Yifeng grumbling.

"It's not fair… she threw way more than me."

Liu Mei giggled mischievously. "hehe~ that's what I call, skill issues."