The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 303. Gina

The morning sun cast its golden glow over the village. Birds chirped softly, and the cool morning breeze carried the scent of damp earth and freshly baked bread.

Tyler was already awake. He had risen early, pocketing some rice cakes before stepping out of the hut.

He had planned to join a woodcutting team, but things hadn’t gone as expected.

Most of the woodcutters refused to accept him.

Not because he was unskilled.

Not because he was weak.

But simply because he was an outsider.

And, more than anything, because the women in the village wouldn’t stop gossiping about him.

Their jealous husbands and brothers weren’t too pleased about it.

Tyler sighed. "Seriously?"

---

Catherine, who had just finished preparing her basket of herbs, noticed Tyler came back with silent expression.

She frowned. Tyler told her what happened.

"So you’re going alone?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Tyler shrugged. "Yeah. But it doesn’t matter. It’s just cutting down some trees outside, right?"

Catherine bit her lip.

She had heard stories about the dangers of the outside.

"The woods can be dangerous... Even with your strength, you shouldn’t go alone."

Tyler chuckled. "What’s the worst that could happen? I trip and fall on a tree?"

"There are chances some beasts might appear." Catherine, however, wasn’t convinced. She turned on her heel.

"I’ll talk to the villagers! This is ridiculous. They should let you join!"

Just as she was about to leave, Tyler gently grabbed her wrist.

"It’s alright, alright. Don’t trouble yourself over me."

Catherine froze.

Her cheeks burned as she stared at their hands.

His warm grip made her heart pound.

She quickly turned away, coughing to hide her flustered expression.

"F-Fine! Then I’ll ask my herb-gathering team instead!" she said hurriedly, before running off.

Tyler chuckled softly as he watched her go.

At least someone was willing to help.

After a while,

Catherine rushed back to Tyler, her face glowing with excitement.

"I asked my team," she announced cheerfully. "The girls immediately agreed! Well, except for one girl, but since everyone else said yes, there’s no need to consider her opinion."

Tyler chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, that’s how the world works. If everyone has the same opinion and one guy has a different one, even if that guy is right, people will still hate him."

Catherine blinked in confusion, tilting her head. "Huh? Why the sudden philosophical talk?"

"For no reason at all," Tyler replied with a smirk, brushing off the topic.

Catherine pouted but didn’t press further. Instead, she linked her hands behind her back and smiled at him. "Well, now that it’s settled, you’ll be gathering herbs with us. Just don’t slack off, okay?"

Tyler smirked. "I would never dream of it."

Meanwhile, Elsewhere in the Village...

In the grandest house in the village, Leon lounged on an ornate chair, his delicate features illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns. A young girl knelt before him, her head bowed in submission.

"I am sorry, Leon-sama," she said hesitantly. "That outsider... he’s joining our gathering team as well."

Leon narrowed his enchanting eyes, irritation flickering across his face before quickly vanishing behind his usual graceful demeanor.

"Is that so?" he murmured, gently placing his hand atop the girl’s head. He stroked her hair like one would a pet, his fingers lingering against her scalp.

The girl trembled under his touch, a mixture of fear and admiration in her eyes.

"Then, drug them both," Leon commanded smoothly, his voice barely above a whisper.

The girl swallowed hard but nodded obediently. "Understood, Leon-sama."

Leon finally let go of her and leaned back in his chair, watching the flickering candlelight with an amused smile. "Make sure it works. I don’t want any interruptions this time."

The girl bowed deeply before scurrying away to carry out his orders.

Leon chuckled, his lips curling with anticipation. "Let’s see if you can resist me, Catherine."

---

There was still one more day before the Gathering Week officially began, and Catherine took it upon herself to ensure Tyler knew all the rules.

"You’ll be helping us gather herbs and ensuring our safety," she explained. "The forest is unpredictable, and while it’s mostly safe during this time, there’s always a risk."

Tyler nodded, taking in her words seriously. "Got it. Protect you and help gather. Sounds simple enough."

Catherine hesitated for a moment before reluctantly introducing him to the rest of her gathering team.

To Tyler’s surprise, the entire team was composed of girls—a small group of five, all around Catherine’s age. Most of them were eager to welcome him, openly flirting and giggling, which made Catherine visibly irritated.

Only one girl remained distant—Gina. She barely interacted with Tyler, only offering a polite nod during introductions.

Gina was the one tasked with drugging both Catherine and Tyler. Leon’s orders were absolute, and she had no choice but to obey. However, as she observed Tyler up close, she found herself in an unexpected dilemma.

He was even more handsome than she had imagined. His relaxed demeanor, confident smirk, and the way he easily fit into their group made her feel uneasy.

’Damn it, why does he have to look like that?’ Gina thought to herself. A part of her wanted to flirt with him just like the others, but she knew she couldn’t afford to raise Catherine’s suspicion. She needed to focus on her mission.

She just had to find the right moment.

After a brief round of introductions, the group finalized their plans for the next day. As they prepared to head home, Gina approached Tyler with a small offering.

"Huh... Gina, thanks for the bread. It is tasty." Tyler smiled as he took another bite of the soft, freshly baked bread she had given him.

Gina returned the smile, keeping up her act. "I’ll bring some more tomorrow too."

Just as she was about to say something else, Catherine suddenly appeared between them, her presence abrupt and imposing.

"Hurry up, Gina, it’s already late!" Catherine said sharply, pushing her away from Tyler.

Gina leaned in slightly and whispered in Catherine’s ear, her voice teasing, "Don’t worry, I won’t steal him from you."

Catherine’s face turned red instantly.

Flustered, she shoved Gina even harder, making her stumble forward.

Tyler chuckled at their interaction, oblivious to the underlying tension between the girls. "Well, that was interesting."

As the group dispersed for the night, Gina clenched her fists. freёwebnoѵel.com

’Tomorrow,’ she thought. ’Tomorrow, I’ll finish what I was ordered to do.’