Chapter 36: The Spiritual Spring Is Poisoned

Three minutes had passed.

Zhou Xiaoyu began to panic.

"Why hasn't the bumpkin come out yet?"

Gu Chiyuan was inwardly delighted, but he sighed aloud, "Ordinary people can't hold their breath for three minutes. He's probably drowned. We should call someone to retrieve the body."

"Young Master Gu, it just so happens that my father works as a body retriever. I'll call him right away," one of the lackeys offered eagerly.

Lin Shanshan also looked worried, inwardly blaming him, "Stupid bumpkin, doing something so reckless—did you not think of me at all?"

Five minutes went by.

Lin Yuan still hadn't surfaced.

Lin Shanshan was on the verge of tears. That was her man, after all.

"What should I do, what should I do..." She was so anxious she was spinning in circles.

"My condolences," Gu Chiyuan said, though inwardly he was jubilant.

If only he hadn't tried to show off, he wouldn't have died.

Serves you right!

"He's back, the bumpkin's back!" Zhou Xiaoyu suddenly shouted.

Everyone turned to look.

There was Lin Yuan, dragging a massive fish as he strode out of the water onto the beach. In his arms, he carried a heap of enormous blue crabs, sea snails, prawns, and other seafood.

Everyone was utterly stunned.

When Lin Yuan returned to the campsite, he casually dumped his haul onto the ground.

"My god!" Zhou Xiaoyu exclaimed, counting the varieties in astonishment. "Two eels, ten prawns, a huge pile of sea snails, eight blue crabs, and this snapper must weigh at least twenty kilos!"

She clicked her tongue in amazement.

As the others stood agape, Lin Yuan offered a faint smile. "Sorry, there weren't any big fish nearby, so I swam further out. Turned out to be a good haul."

More than just a good haul.

The group Gu Chiyuan had brought with him were green with envy.

"Alright, I'll go clean these up. You guys can chat," Lin Yuan said, picking up the seafood and heading off to prepare them.

Lin Shanshan stayed by the stove, adding water to the pot and lighting the fire.

A cold glint flickered in Gu Chiyuan's eyes. He turned and walked toward the cars. Making sure no one was watching, he took out a piece of Gelsemium elegans, crushed it with a stone to extract the juice, then dabbed it onto a paper napkin.

After finishing, he returned to the campsite.

"Ladies, Xiaoyu, Yuejia, why don't you go help Lin Yuan clean the seafood? I'll keep an eye on things here," Gu Chiyuan volunteered as he set up the barbeque.

"Alright, let's help Lin Yuan. That's a lot of seafood for one person," Lin Shanshan agreed, concerned for her man.

Once the group had left, Gu Chiyuan lifted the pot lid and said, "Let me see if the water's boiling."

Taking advantage of the moment, he slipped some of the Gelsemium juice into the pot.

Just one leaf of this plant could kill a cow; according to legend, the Divine Farmer himself was beyond help after just a few chews. Its lethality was no secret—even being near the plant could make others toxic.

"Hmph, Lin Yuan, you won't escape me this time," Gu Chiyuan thought, murder in his heart.

That display of affection just now had provoked him. It was clear something was going on between the two. Only by eliminating Lin Yuan could he reclaim his beloved.

Not long after, Lin Yuan finished preparing the seafood and returned to the stove.

"Gu Chiyuan, someone's smashing your car," Lin Yuan said, nodding toward the trees.

Gu Chiyuan turned to look. In that instant, Lin Yuan dipped his fingers in the pot's water and flicked droplets into Gu Chiyuan's dipping sauce.

Realizing he'd been tricked, Gu Chiyuan wasn't angry—after all, soon Lin Yuan would be a dead man.

But to his surprise, Lin Yuan poured out the water from the pot.

"Lin Yuan, how could you waste water?" Gu Chiyuan protested anxiously.

"I like it this way," Lin Yuan replied, rinsed the pot, and poured in a bottle of mineral water.

"Fine, do as you please," Gu Chiyuan said, disgruntled.

Damn it, the plan failed.

"Here, Shanshan, Xiaoyu, grill these," Lin Yuan offered.

"Okay!" Zhou Xiaoyu responded obediently.

"Pathetic lapdog, really thinks he's someone," Gu Chiyuan muttered sarcastically.

Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the air—a car arrived.

"That license plate... Damn, it's Young Master Wang!" Gu Chiyuan exclaimed, jumping up to greet him.

"Young Master Wang, what brings you here? You should've called ahead so we could prepare a welcome," he said as the car door opened.

A chubby man stepped out and asked, "Is Lin Yuan here?"

Gu Chiyuan nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes, he's right here."

Judging by Wang's imposing demeanor, he must have come to teach Lin Yuan a lesson.

Perfect—someone else could do the dirty work for him.

"As long as he's here," Wang Hao replied, then strode toward the beach.

Gu Chiyuan followed obsequiously. As they neared Lin Yuan, he shouted, "Lin Yuan, look who's here! You'd better beg Young Master Wang for mercy, or even I won't be able to save you."

"Shanshan, I've always said that guy's no good. Now he’s gotten into trouble with Young Master Wang—want me to plead on your behalf?" Gu Chiyuan was brimming with self-satisfaction; at last, his opportunity had come.

"Shut up!"

Wang Hao slapped Gu Chiyuan across the face, leaving him dazed.

"Young Master Wang, what are you—?" Gu Chiyuan stammered, clutching his face in confusion.

"Master Lin, I've come to thank you," Wang Hao said with a flattering grin.

The scene left Gu Chiyuan utterly dumbstruck.

What was happening? This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go!

Sun Yuejia, however, remained composed. If Lin Yuan wasn't capable, there was no way he could have won over Lin Shanshan. Her suspicions had been correct.

As for the lackeys, they were so frightened they didn’t dare make a sound; even nibbling on their barbecue, they were careful not to draw attention.

"I doubt you're just here to thank me. No one visits for no reason—out with it," Lin Yuan said, glancing at him.

"Ah, nothing escapes you, Master Lin," Wang Hao replied. "A friend of my sister’s is pregnant and has been coughing constantly. She’s seen countless doctors with no improvement. They heard of your reputation and are willing to pay twenty million for a consultation."

At the mention of that sum, the lackeys gasped in envy and jealousy.

"No need for me to go; I already know the illness. I’ll write a prescription for you," Lin Yuan said, pulling out pen and paper and handing over the formula. "Take this. Once she's cured, give the money to Shanshan."

Gu Chiyuan's expression soured. He hadn’t expected Lin Yuan to be skilled in medicine as well. Compared to his own gift of roses, Lin Yuan’s twenty million for the goddess was true generosity—true bravado.

"Thank you, Master Lin!" Wang Hao took the prescription and hurried away.

Just then, Lin Yuan’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen—it was Lin Weiwei.

"Weiwei, is something wrong?"

"Lin Yuan, something terrible has happened. Our spiritual spring has been poisoned. The factory used the tainted water to produce a batch of Jade Skin Powder, causing a famous actress to be disfigured!"

"We're now facing massive compensation claims and even legal risks!" Lin Weiwei said anxiously.