Teacher by day, Farmer by passion
Chapter 257 - 257: Little Aoki [3]

The girl next to him elbowed him sharply. "What he means is… we don't get tired. We actually enjoy doing this."

Ace let out a quiet chuckle. "Well, it's a good kind of training. Keep it up. You're doing great."

Their eyes lit up. "Thank you, Sect Leader!"

As he walked away, he could still hear their voices behind him, bubbling with joy.

"Did you hear that? He said 'good job!'"

"Yes!!"

Their delight was genuine and pure—it made Ace smile without even realizing.

Chuckling to himself, he reached the crest of the hill and looked off into the distance.

"Well then," Ace murmured, already bracing himself, "let's see what disasters Tushan and Liu Mei are up to this time…"

Ace climbed the hill with steady steps, the wind rustling through the trees as he neared the clearing.

A strange sound met his ears, sinister giggles, playful yet somehow threatening, followed by the unmistakable whimpering of… a bear?

He sighed, already knowing who the culprits were.

Pushing through the trees, he stepped into the open.

A warm campfire crackled at the center of the clearing, with a large black pot bubbling atop it.

The smell wafting from it was surprisingly delicious, rich, savory, and strangely nostalgic.

"Master!" two familiar voices cried out in unison, startled.

Ace's gaze moved from the pot to the girls seated beside it, Liu Mei, grinning mischievously, and Tushan, eyes alight with manic enthusiasm.

He walked over and casually sat down next to the trembling giant bear, Little Aoki, who was clearly traumatized, fat tears welling in his big eyes.

Ace gave him a pat.

Then he turned to the girls. "Alright, what exactly are you two up to?"

Liu Mei let out an awkward laugh, nudging Tushan with her elbow. "Eh, well, Master... it's kind of her project. Let her explain."

Tushan perked up, practically glowing with excitement. "Yes, Master! So, you know how everyone loves the spirit pig meat? But it's rare and only you have a steady supply."

"I do have millions in my system storage, you know, you don't have to worry about it," Ace replied flatly.

Tushan waved it off. "Yes, yes, but what if you're not around someday? I've been researching on ways to replicate the taste and effects of spirit pig meat using more common ingredients. This dish is the result of my latest experiment!"

Ace raised a brow, amused. "Alright, let's hear it."

She beamed. "I call it... Spirit Pig Replacement Version 1.00.e4!"

He blinked. "What's with the name?"

Liu Mei groaned, covering her face. "Don't ask. Sister Tushan has a weird obsession with version numbers."

Unfazed, Tushan turned to the pot and clapped her hands. "Silence assistant Talk-a-lot! It's already time to stir!"

She stared at Liu Mei expectantly.

Liu Mei rolled her eyes but laughed. "See what I mean? She's completely insane, but it's the fun kind."

With a grin, she stood up and went to stir the bubbling concoction, humming as she worked.

The fire popped softly as Liu Mei stirred, and Tushan sat proudly beside her bubbling creation.

Ace leaned back, resting on one arm, watching the fire crackle and the girls banter.

Despite the madness, he couldn't help but smile.

"How many successful runs have you two had so far?" Ace asked as he calmly fed Little Aoki a handful of spirit mangoes.

The massive bear eagerly devoured them, his earlier trauma momentarily forgotten.

Luckily for him, Ace had more than enough stored away to keep his fuzzy disciple well-fed and happy.

Tushan lit up like a lantern, practically vibrating with excitement.

"We've had a few decent ones, actually! There was even one that surpassed the effects of spirit pig, way stronger muscle regeneration and better strength gains."

Liu Mei groaned, cutting in, "but it tasted like wet socks and spiritual regret."

Ace blinked. "...You gave up on something stronger than spirit pig because it tasted bad?"

Liu Mei folded her arms. "Master, it was unholy. I took one bite and nearly cried.."

Tushan nodded seriously. "There are a few close contenders too. Some taste okay but are a bit bland, and others… well, hehe."

Ace stared at them, dumbfounded.

Spirit pigs, when consumed, boosted muscle regeneration and passively enhanced base strength with every serving.

To hear these two lunatics had not only replicated that effect, but exceeded it, only to abandon it because of taste?

He sighed… then chuckled, shaking his head.

"So, Tushan," Ace asked as he bit into a juicy spirit mango, reclining slightly under the settling sun.

"Can I get the ingredient list for the one that exceeded the effects of spirit pig?"

At the question, Tushan immediately began shaking her head, her face tightening like a child guarding a dangerous secret.

Ace narrowed his eyes playfully. "Come on now, don't disobey your master. Just tell me."

Tushan looked betrayed. "Master… please, don't make me say it..."

He raised a brow and gave her that familiar calm, expectant stare, the one that always meant you're not getting out of this.

She groaned, slumped her shoulders, and finally gave in. "Alright, alright, but remember, it was you who asked for this."

She took a deep breath. "The first ingredient… is bear vomit."

PFFT—

Ace instantly choked on his spirit mango, coughing violently as he spat chunks of golden pulp out onto the grass.

"You fed that to people?" Ace wheezed between coughs.

Tushan looked away, trying not to make eye contact. "Only in very small quantities! It's rich in restructured spirit bile… in theory. Besides, they don't know it. "

"And what about the ingredients in this current batch?" Ace asked, his tone suspicious. "Does it… also include bear vomit?"

Liu Mei slowly turned her head toward Tushan.

Tushan turned her head just as slowly toward Liu Mei.

There was a long pause.

"I see…" Ace muttered, massaging the bridge of his nose.

"No wonder. That explosion earlier... Liu Mei, did you seriously punch your soul bond in the stomach hard enough to make him vomit?"

Liu Mei scratched her cheek and gave an innocent giggle. ""Ehe… Master, you know how it goes…"