The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 304. The Week of Herb Gathering

Tyler walked forward, holding his head in frustration. His senses felt off, as if his perception had been dulled.

"Why are you holding your head like that?" Catherine asked, her brows furrowed in concern.

Tyler sighed and pointed ahead. "Do you see that branch over there?"

Catherine followed his gaze. "Yeah?"

"Well... I didn’t."

Before she could fully process what he meant—

Bang!

Tyler walked straight into another tree branch, knocking himself back slightly.

Catherine covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Oh wow, that herb really dulled your senses, huh?" She patted his back as he rubbed his forehead, looking both annoyed and embarrassed.

The Gathering Week Begins

The much-anticipated Gathering Week had finally arrived. Tyler, Catherine, and their group of six herb-gathering girls set out into the forest, ready to collect valuable plants.

As they left the village, Tyler frowned and scanned the surroundings. Something felt off.

"Isn’t there supposed to be a lake here?" he asked, his confusion evident.

Catherine turned to him, puzzled. "What are you talking about? There are no lakes here—just the river over there." She gestured toward the flowing water in the distance.

Tyler narrowed his eyes. He could have sworn there was a lake.

"Are you sure?" he pressed.

"Tyler, your memories are all over the place," Catherine reminded him. "You’ve been feeling weird ever since you ate that herb. Maybe it’s messing with your head?"

Tyler exhaled, deciding to let it go for now.

As they walked deeper into the forest, Catherine continued her lesson.

"Listen, Tyler, next time don’t just eat random herbs," she scolded. "We usually test them on small monsters first to make sure they’re not poisonous."

Tyler winced at the reprimand. "Got it. No more taste-testing mysterious plants."

Catherine sighed. "I was really worried about you."

He glanced at her, noticing the genuine concern in her expression. He smiled slightly. "I’ll be fine, don’t worry."

Despite his words, the strange feeling in his gut lingered.

---

A day passed, they returned to village at night and went back next morning. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Today , we are going even deeper. There is a chance we might stay in the wild." Catherine said.

Tyler took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of the forest. It was thick with towering trees, their branches stretching far into the sky, forming a dense canopy that filtered the sunlight. The leaves rustled gently in the cool breeze, creating a peaceful, rhythmic sound.

As he walked, he noticed a group of men chopping trees in the distance. Their axes swung in unison, striking the thick trunks with heavy thuds. The sound of cracking wood echoed through the forest as one of the trees finally gave way, crashing to the ground with a loud boom.

"Those are the guys who rejected me." Tyler said, his gaze lingering on the woodcutters.

The Woodcutters are glaring back at Tyler. Their face twitched when they saw Tyler surrounded by Young Girls. They now regretted rejecting him.

Catherine followed his gaze and smiled. "Oh the village woodcutters are arrogant as ever. They’re gathering lumber for the upcoming winter."

Tyler nodded in understanding. "Stockpiling wood, huh? Makes sense. Winters must be pretty rough here."

Catherine’s face turned a shade pinker as she glanced away.

"Well... it’s not just about surviving the cold," she murmured.

Before Tyler could ask what she meant, Gina leaned in close to Catherine and whispered with a mischievous smirk,

"Winter is the time for selecting a mate."

Catherine’s entire face went red as she stomped on Gina’s foot.

"Shut up, Gina!" she hissed, her voice flustered.

Gina laughed, waving her hands in surrender. "I’m just saying! You and Tyler have been getting along so well lately..."

Catherine groaned, covering her face with her hands. Tyler, oblivious to the teasing, continued observing the forest, taking in the sights and sounds around him.

Gina, still grinning, stepped back and reached into her pouch. Her fingers wrapped around a small bottle filled with a colorless liquid.

Her heart pounded.

This was it.

She had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to drug them both. If all went according to plan, Catherine and Tyler would be unconscious before they even knew what happened. Then, she would summon Leon-sama to come and claim his prize.

Catherine would be his pet when she wakes up.

She glanced at Tyler, who was still looking around curiously, completely unaware of what she was about to do.

She hesitated for a moment.

But then she clenched her jaw.

No. She had already made her decision. There was no turning back now.

She just needed to do it without getting noticed.

Slowly, she loosened the cork of the bottle, waiting for the right moment to slip it into their drinks.

Gina barely had time to react before another girl approached her. She quickly hid the small bottle in her sleeve, forcing a calm expression onto her face.

"Sister Gina, I found this herb," the girl said, holding up a small green plant.

Gina’s eyes widened, but she quickly dismissed it. "That’s not important. Where are the roots?" she asked impatiently.

The girl tilted her head, confused but obediently led Gina to the spot where she had pulled the plant. Gina crouched down, using a small tool to carefully dig into the soil. A moment later, she pulled out a potato-shaped black tuber covered in dirt.

"Black Diamond Potatoes!" Catherine gasped in excitement. She immediately began looking around for more, her eyes shining.

Tyler, standing nearby, crossed his arms and asked, "How do you guys name these things?"

Catherine smiled as she continued searching. "Our ancestors left behind many books about plants and survival techniques. It’s compulsory to learn them. According to the records, we’re trapped inside something, and the only way to see the light is to accept reality. But the ancestors also left behind one more phrase: ’Reality is cruel.’"

Tyler raised an eyebrow at the cryptic statement but didn’t question it further.

While Tyler, Catherine, and the others focused on searching for more Black Diamond Potatoes, Gina took the opportunity to put her plan into motion. She subtly pulled out the hidden bottle and quickly poured the colorless liquid into each of their water pouches.

She had to be careful. If Catherine suspected her, the plan would fail. But as long as no one noticed, everything would go as Leon-sama had instructed.

After about an hour of searching, the group successfully collected five Black Diamond Potatoes. Though small, they were considered extremely valuable. According to their ancestors’ records, these potatoes were key ingredients for a special potion that allowed people to travel safely through the darkness of the north.

Satisfied with their harvest, the group made their way to a small cave to rest. Tyler helped them block the entrance with a large rock, ensuring no wild beasts could enter.

As they sat together inside, they drank their water, chatting about random topics. No one noticed the subtle change in their bodies until it was too late.

Their eyelids grew heavy.

Catherine was the first to slump forward, her body swaying. "I... feel... sleepy..." she murmured before collapsing.

Tyler frowned, trying to shake off the sudden exhaustion. "Something’s... wrong..." But before he could react, his vision darkened, and he, too, collapsed onto the cold ground.

One by one, the others followed, their bodies going limp as the drug took full effect.

Gina remained standing. She smiled.

A few minutes later, the entrance of the cave shifted as the rock blocking it was carefully moved aside. A shadowy figure stepped inside, his presence exuding arrogance and confidence.

Leon.

His grin widened as he saw the unconscious girls sprawled on the cave floor. His eyes lingered on Catherine, her blonde hair falling over her face.

"Well done, my dear Gina," he whispered before pulling her into a slow, lingering kiss.

Gina blushed deeply, feeling her body heat up from his touch. "Anything for Leon-sama," she murmured breathlessly.

Leon chuckled before turning his attention back to the sleeping group. He stepped closer, admiring his work.

But then—

His smile vanished.

His body stiffened as his gaze fell upon one particular person lying among them.

His expression twisted into one of pure confusion.

"T-Tyler White...?" he stuttered.

Gina blinked in confusion. "Leon-sama? Do you know this outsider? I thought this was your first time seeing him."

Leon didn’t respond. His eyes remained fixed on Tyler’s face.

"He feels familiar." He says.

But he quickly shook his head.

He looked at Catherine. He licked his lips.

"Gina undress yourself." He ordered her. Gina quickly undressed herself without hesitation. Looking at her young body Leon nodded with satisfaction. Then he turned towards Unconscious Catherine.

Leon hands grabbed Catherine’s dress and tore it, revealing her milky breast. Even Gina blushed looking at her.

His hand extended to her breast ...

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To be continued... (つㅅ･`)･ᵇʸᵉ

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Author here:

NTR? Nah ... Nope.. never

I hate that.. so what is gonna happen? Just wait for the next Chapter.... Stay tuned....

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