"Yifeng," Ace called out softly.
The boy flinched at the sound of his name, turning back hesitantly. But the moment he saw his master standing there, calm and steady, something in him broke.
Without thinking, he rushed forward, throwing himself into Ace’s arms.
"Master, I swear—I wasn’t crying! I don’t know why my tears fall. Please don’t punish me… please don’t," Yifeng choked out, gripping Ace’s robes tightly, his small body trembling.
Ace sighed, kneeling down and wrapping his arms around the boy. "Why would I punish you?" he asked gently, lifting Yifeng slightly to hold him closer.
Yifeng sniffled, his voice barely above a whisper. "B-But… you always said men shouldn’t cry. And whenever I did… you’d hit me before…" His words faded into a quiet sob.
Ace froze for a moment, realization settling in. Then, with a warm chuckle, he rubbed Yifeng’s back. "You still think I’d hit you?"
He shook his head. "Come here. Give me a proper hug."
Yifeng hesitated, then clung to him tighter. Ace let him, holding him with quiet patience.
"It’s okay, Yifeng. Cry if you need to. If you’re hurting, let it out. You don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me."
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The boy’s walls crumbled completely at those words. His sobs grew louder, his small hands grasping desperately at Ace’s robes.
He buried his face into his master’s shoulder, shaking with grief that had been locked away for far too long.
"Tell me what happened." Ace asked.
"Master…" Yifeng’s voice cracked. "I’m a bad person, I was jealous of Liu Mei."
Ace’s heart clenched. "Why did you think so?"
"She… she has a mother to laugh with." Yifeng’s breath hitched. "I-I miss my father… but he’s gone. And I—"
He choked on the words. "I’m so bad… I’m a bad friend… I shouldn’t be jealous of her, but I am…"
Ace tightened his hold. "You’re not bad, Yifeng," he said firmly. "You’re just a boy who lost too much, too soon. You’re allowed to feel this way."
"But—"
"No buts. Listen to me." Ace pulled back slightly, resting a hand on the boy’s head. "You miss your family. That doesn’t make you bad. It makes you human." He wiped away Yifeng’s tears with a rough thumb.
"And you’re not alone. You’ve me."
Yifeng let out another broken sob, his fingers curling into Ace’s robes once more. He didn’t speak again, just cried, letting out all the pain he had kept hidden for so long.
Ace held him through it, his hand never leaving the boy’s back.
Ace carried Shan Yifeng back in his arms, the boy’s face still red from crying, though exhaustion had dulled his expression. His arms hung loosely around Ace’s neck, his breathing steady but uneven, as if the emotional outburst had drained every ounce of his strength.
As they approached the others, Liu Mei immediately perked up, her eyes lighting with mischief.
"Shan Yifeng, you big baby! Crying like that when you’re supposed to be a strong cultivator?" she teased, crossing her arms.
Yifeng groaned, his face heating up again. He turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze.
"Shut up, Mei’er…" he muttered weakly.
Liu Mei giggled. "I should start calling you Crybaby Yifeng now. What do you think, Master?"
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Ace chuckled but said nothing, merely ruffling Yifeng’s hair before setting him down. The boy straightened his back, trying to regain some dignity, but the slight puffiness around his eyes betrayed him.
Just as Liu Mei was about to continue her teasing, a sudden, chilling aura swept through the air.
A group of men emerged from the trees, their faces hidden behind black masks, their robes shifting ominously with the wind.
There were at least a dozen of them, their presence sharp and suffocating, the air around them crackling with suppressed energy.
Ace’s gaze sharpened.
One of the masked men chuckled, stepping forward. "Haha… finally, you’ve left that place. Can’t have her highness witnessing a bloody scene, now can we?"
Ace tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Oh? You’re afraid of her? How about you introduce yourself then?"
The man laughed, shaking his head.
"Hmm… you’ll be a dead man soon and curiosity is a dangerous thing. But don’t worry—you won’t have to wonder for long."
Ace’s gauged their ability.
A mixture of Silver Ranks, and at least four Gold Ranks. Not bad.
"You dare attack me with just this much?"
Ace burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the field.
Liu Mei and Yifeng immediately tensed, their expressions shifting from playfulness to focus.
Ace turned slightly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Mei’er, take care of your mother."
Liu Mei nodded, stepping closer to Liu Hong, her teasing nature instantly replaced by deadly seriousness.
Ace then glanced at Yifeng, who, despite his earlier breakdown, now stood firm, his fists clenched.
"Yifeng," Ace said, his voice calm yet filled with unshakable confidence, "let’s get ready for a fight."
Yifeng took a deep breath, wiping away the last traces of weakness from his face.
"Yes, Master."
The leader of the ambush felt a sudden flicker of doubt. Something about Ace’s unwavering confidence unsettled him.
His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but he quickly shoved the hesitation aside. They had the numbers. They had the advantage.
Still, he couldn’t ignore the unsettling aura Ace exuded. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to speak.
"We have four Gold Ranks and nine Silver Ranks. Why are you so confident?"
Ace let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
His gaze was steady, unbothered, as if the enemy before him was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
"It’s your ignorance that will lead you to your death," he said casually, his voice carrying an air of amusement.
"Tell me… what were you expecting? That I’d walk around unprepared for unexpected assassinations?"
Ace took a step forward, a smirk playing at his lips. "You brought four Gold Ranks?"
Ace smirked, his eyes gleaming. "Cute. My students eat Gold Ranks for breakfast."
The air grew heavier.