Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Ace stood before the four newly acquired bald humans, scrutinizing them with a critical eye. No, they weren't monks, nor were they enlightened beings with divine wisdom.

They were Variant Humans, an odd mix of human and something not quite human—perhaps akin to elves, yet distinctly different. It was difficult to put into words.

The moment Lily saw the four women wasted, no time as she approached them with eager curiosity, engaging them in conversation before Ace had even taken his first step toward them.

He let her talk for a moment before finally closing the distance, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. His gaze swept over them, assessing.

"I need the four of you to work on alchemy for me," he said, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

The women exchanged glances, some hesitant, others unreadable. Among them, one in particular stood out—one who, according to the system, had no affinity for alchemy. Ace's gaze landed on her.

"Well, since alchemy isn't your thing, you can assist the others or help tend to the herb garden," he added.

The woman blinked, her lips parting slightly before she abruptly blurted out, "Ah—I don't have to force myself?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize her mistake, her posture stiffening as if expecting immediate reprimand.

Ace, however, only chuckled. A small, amused smile played on his lips. "No, you don't," he reassured her.

"Work where you're comfortable. I won't waste talent in the wrong place."

The woman hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod, relief flickering across her face.

His attention then shifted to the one who held the highest level of expertise—the Rank Two Alchemist.

Her sharp eyes had been watching him from the moment he arrived, filled with a mix of wariness and quiet curiosity.

"If you all help me," Ace said, meeting her gaze directly, "I promise—I'll grant you your freedom in three months."

The Rank Two Alchemist tilted her head, skepticism clear in her features. "Only three months?" she asked, her tone dubious.

Ace gave a slow, confident nod. "Only three months," he affirmed.

The woman studied him, weighing the offer carefully. Finally, after a long pause, she exhaled and crossed her arms. "Fine, I'll trust you on that," she said simply.

"Good," Ace responded with a satisfied smile.

With the agreement settled, he turned on his heel, exiting the space momentarily.

Within moments, he returned, his hands full of various alchemy ingredients and—more importantly—three furnaces. All provided by the Hua family.

He placed them before the group, the weight of expectation heavy in the air.

"Make me proud," he said, his voice steady and firm.

With that, he left them to their work, disappearing once more, leaving behind only the flickering glow of the furnaces and the herbs.

______

After the outburst at Elder Lesy from Liu Mei. Currently Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei were inside the inn they had indulged in for food earlier in the day.

Shan Yifeng took a big bite of his drumstick, chewing lazily as he side-eyed Liu Mei. "Why did you do that to her?"

Liu Mei, sitting nearby with two drumsticks—one in each hand—didn't even pause. "Why? You like her?" She took another bite. "I don't."

Shan Yifeng frowned. "Why not?"

Liu Mei tore off a chunk of meat, chewing aggressively. "She's the reason we are here. She asked Master for help, and now we have left behind my mother to help some strangers."

Shan Yifeng hesitated. "Uh… but Master must have his reasons, right?"

Liu Mei rolled her eyes. "Of course he does. You think I don't know that?" She stuffed more meat into her mouth, her cheeks puffing up as she grumbled through the food. "But I also miss my mother, okay?!"

Shan Yifeng blinked. Liu Mei, with her mouth full, looked ridiculously pitiful. He almost laughed—but then, suddenly, their expressions shifted.

Their eyes sharpened.

A single thought passed between them.

Smell of blood.

They exchanged a glance.

Without a word, they set down their food, casually tossed a gold coin onto the table, and walked out calmly.

A moment later, their unfinished plates were taken by a passing waiter.

"Kids these days," he muttered, shaking his head.

Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei stepped into the alleyway, their footsteps light against the damp, uneven ground. The place was shrouded in darkness, its silence thick and unsettling. The air reeked of blood—metallic, pungent, and fresh.

Then they saw it. The cause of it.

A corpse, sprawled out in a grotesque display of violence.

Crows perched atop the mangled remains, their beady eyes gleaming as they pecked and tore at the flesh.

A few stray dogs lingered at a distance, their glowing eyes filled with hungry patience. Were the dogs waiting for their turn after the crows?

The body was missing a head.

Limbs, too. Whoever—or whatever—this person had been, there was no way to tell anymore. Male, female? It hardly mattered.

Liu Mei let out a low whistle, amusement flickering in her eyes as a slow smile curved her lips. "Kind of brutal, don't you think?"

She then tilted her head, her fingers tapping idly against her thigh. "No head. No limbs. Someone was thorough."

Shan Yifeng, in stark contrast, remained unreadable, his face cold and detached. He crouched down slightly, inspecting the remains with a practiced eye. "The body's seems to be still fresh." He straightened. "Let's get out of here."

"Ah, ah—why?" Liu Mei pouted, tilting her head in mock disappointment.

"Because the killers might return to dispose of the body."

He shot her a sideways glance. "Or do you want to be part of the cleanup crew?"

"Tsk." Liu Mei clicked her tongue, irritated but not foolish enough to argue. With one last lingering glance at the ravaged corpse, she turned on her heel and followed Shan Yifeng out of the alley.

Not far away, an elderly woman observed the two children with quiet amusement, her gaze sharp yet unreadable.

She had expected the corpse to remain undiscovered for a while longer, but to her surprise, these two had stumbled upon it.

More intriguing, however, was their reaction—or rather, the lack of one.

No shock. No fear. No frantic rush to report it.

Instead, the boy assessed the scene with a cold, calculating eye, while the girl… oh, the girl smiled.

As the pair turned and made their way back toward the small inn they had come from, a voice broke the silence.

"Elder Xiao Ziyun, what are you thinking?"

A woman stood before her, head slightly tilted in curiosity.

Xiao Ziyun waved a hand dismissively, a light chuckle escaping her lips. "Ah, it's nothing, nothing. Just admiring the view."

She turned her head, the amusement never fading from her expression.

Internally, however, her thoughts told a different story.

Oh, my little boy…

Excitement buzzed beneath her composed exterior. You've truly surprised your mother this time. What splendid disciples you've taken under your wing.

Her gaze flicked back to the retreating figures, lingering on the girl for just a moment longer.

And that little one… oh, she has the makings of a killer. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

The thought sent a thrill through her veins. This was going to be interesting.