Teacher by day, Farmer by passion
Chapter 292 - 292: Fairy Pavilion [1]

Ace stood alone in the vast whiteness of the system space.

It felt… very empty.

Not physically of course.

The fields stretched endlessly, glowing faintly with ethereal light.

But the silence, the stillness, there was a hollowness to it that couldn't be ignored.

A flicker of movement broke the monotony.

Rei, the tiny field fairy, zipped through the air like a playful spark.

When she saw him, she circled thrice in greeting, her wings leaving a trail of shimmering dust.

Ace offered a faint smile. "Hey."

Rei twirled once more before darting off toward the golden grain fields in the distance back to her domain.

She was, after all, a field fairy. Quiet, whimsical, and always busy.

Ace turned and walked toward a lone structure on the horizon: a shadowy prison built from soul stones and bound with glowing chains.

Inside lay a figure, lounging like a bored emperor.

Qiong Qi.

The lazy beast cracked one glowing eye open.

[You're here again. Go back.]

Ace sat outside the bars, resting his arms on his knees. "Qiong Qi, why are you so stubborn?"

[You are unworthy,] the beast replied, not even lifting his head.

Ace didn't argue. "Yeah… maybe."

He stared at the shimmering floor beneath him, a frown tugging at his lips. "I just wonder why the system gave me a beast like you if you were going to be this much of a pain."

Qiong Qi gave a low snort.

[As I've said before, human… this system of yours is sentient. Take that as your only warning.]

Ace sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. You've said that."

He stood up, brushing invisible dust from his sleeves. "I'll leave you to your nap."

Without another word, he exited the prison and stepped out of the system space.

The moment he reappeared in his room, he blinked only to see Elder Akha jolting awake at his desk, drool smearing the parchment she'd been working on.

She shot up, wiping her mouth. "M-Master!"

Ace raised an eyebrow. "Sleeping on duty?"

"I was meditating with… enthusiasm," she said quickly. "Also.. White Snow Sect came to cause a commotion while you were gone!"

Ace blinked again. "Oh?"

She nodded. "They arrived, acted all high and mighty… then attacked. So we sent them back."

"…You what?"

"We sent them back," Elder Akha repeated, voice steady. "They were the first to attack, so we retaliate back. The walls took some damage, but the disciples are rebuilding."

Ace let out a long sigh then he looked at her. "You've done enough. Take a break, Akha. Hand things over to Grand Elder Lily for two days."

Akha's eyes widened slightly. "A-are you sure?"

"You've earned it," Ace said with a half-smile. "Besides… Lily could use the chaos."

Elder Akha beamed like a disciple receiving her first spirit treasure.

"Yes, Master!" she chirped, practically skipping out the door. "I'll leave everything to Grand Elder Lily. She'll be thrilled!"

The door slammed shut with a cheerful thud.

A few seconds later, somewhere down the corridor, a faint but unmistakable scream echoed through the halls:

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M IN CHARGE?!"

Ace stared blankly at the now-quiet doorway.

"…I'll deal with that later."

With chaos held at bay, even if only temporarily. Ace exhaled and made a quiet decision to visit the fairy pavilion.

It had been a while since he visited the Fairy Pavilion after all.

He left the mountain, his robes trailing like mist behind him, and soared toward the nearby city nestled at the foot of the eastern ridge.

Though the war loomed ever closer, the land remained deceptively still. No thunder of armies. No cries of battle.

When Ace arrived at the city, it was already on high alert. Patrols roamed the streets.

Spirit arrays shimmered on rooftops. Archers manned the gates.

He ignored all of it.

Flying straight in, without so much as a greeting or clearance, he descended like a falling star.

Not a single guard dared raise a hand.

They were mortals. And mortals who wished to live... did not stand in the path of immortals.

Even if the immortal in question wore his robes half open and looked more bored than wrathful.

In the city's heart stood a towering pagoda of carved jade and rainbow-glass tiles.

It shimmered under the sunlight, each tier lined with paper lanterns, wind chimes, and soft laughter that didn't quite belong in the mortal realm.

At its front, a gently glowing sign read:

"Fairy Pavilion."

Ace stepped forward, the air growing subtly sweeter, heavier with spirit energy.

"Halt right there."

A voice rang out sharp as steel.

Ace turned his gaze slightly to the side, finding a spear planted firmly in his path and behind it, a girl clad in armor.

Her gear was made of a brownish metal, oddly styled. It covered her chest in a sturdy plate, but left her midriff completely exposed.

Her toned stomach gleamed under the sun, belly button on full display as if daring the world to comment.

Ace blinked.

Was this… supposed to be armor? Or bait?

He gave her a once-over, then sighed inwardly.

Ah, one of those 'distract-then-strike' martial schools, perhaps. Cultivation fashion really had no shame.

He didn't bother asking.

Instead, he met her eyes and spoke plainly. "Tell your Pavilion Master that the Sect Master of the Sky High Sect is paying a visit."

The girl held his gaze, her spear steady.

She seemed to size him up, head to toe, taking note of the way he stood, how relaxed he looked.

Then, after a few quiet breaths, she stepped aside.

"You may enter," she said flatly.

Ace blinked. "That's it?"

He'd expected resistance. Bureaucracy. At least a condescending sneer and a 'please wait while we prepare a reception' like in those novels he'd skimmed through.

The armored girl looked faintly annoyed. Her expression twitched, as though she were holding back an eye-roll.

"You. May. Enter," she repeated, slower this time.

"…Huh," Ace said, walking past her. "I guess not everything has to follow a plot."

The girl muttered something under her breath but didn't stop him.

As he passed through the tall gates of the Fairy Pavilion, he couldn't help but glance back once.

The armored girl was still watching him.