CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 0028: THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD BEYOND THE BRIDGE_1

"Xiao Qian, can you pull the rope across the Single-log Bridge and tie it to a Large Tree? Can you do it?" Zhang Bin asked expectantly.

The Little Fox nodded emphatically, clearly understanding Zhang Bin’s words. What else could this be if not a Fox Spirit?

So, the Little Fox took the rope in its mouth and slowly made its way across the Single-log Bridge. It was surprisingly strong and didn’t seem to struggle at all.

Before long, the Little Fox had pulled the rope to the other side, tied it around a Large Tree, and waved at Zhang Bin.

Joy appeared on Zhang Bin’s face, and he quickly tied his end of the rope to a Large Tree as well. Then he hung from the rope and zipped across.

An ordinary person would have found it difficult to accomplish. After all, the distance was at least thirty meters.

As soon as Zhang Bin crossed, he widened his eyes and began to examine his surroundings intently. The area on this side was quite spacious, like a vast platform halfway up a cliff. It was overgrown with Thatched Grass and brambles and also had many Large Trees—pines, firs, banyans, locust trees, and some others that Zhang Bin didn’t recognize.

A bluestone path also ran through this area, leading straight to the mouth of a pitch-black cave.

The Little Fox, as if it had returned home, hopped and skipped ahead.

Zhang Bin walked along the bluestone path, looking around, when he suddenly let out a cheer. He had spotted three Mingqing Trees. The largest was nearly three meters tall and the smallest was about two meters, though none of them bore fruit. After all, although there was Spiritual Energy here, it was far too thin.

But to Zhang Bin, these three Mingqing Trees were real money-trees. They could generate nearly a hundred million in wealth for him every year. Of course, to turn them into wealth, he still needed to manage the company well.

He dashed over like the wind and grew even more excited. Beneath the three Mingqing Trees, he saw that some Small Trees were growing! He counted fifteen in total, but they were only about a foot high. To grow larger, they would probably need to be nurtured with Spiritual Water for some time.

"I’m going to be rich, and all those people with eye diseases will be happy too!" Zhang Bin shouted excitedly, taking out his phone to call Liu Ruolan.

Instantly, an image of Liu Ruolan, as beautiful as a Fairy, appeared on the screen. She was sitting in an office, seemingly reviewing some documents.

"Sister Lan, it’s Xiao Bin! I have good news! Our Bright Eye Liquid production can soon be tripled. In a few months, we can increase it by another five times on top of that," Zhang Bin said joyfully. "Now are you happy?"

A blooming smile spread across Liu Ruolan’s face, but her words were still full of dissatisfaction. "What? That’s the only increase? I’m not satisfied, not at all. You’ve seen how hot the sales of Bright Eye Liquid are! As long as we produce it, it immediately turns into cash. So, we must expand more, expand wildly! You have to overcome any and all difficulties."

You’re actually very satisfied. Thank goodness I have a magic phone that lets me see your expression, Zhang Bin muttered to himself. He certainly wouldn’t say it out loud, so he didn’t take her demands to heart. Instead, he said with a grin, "Sister Lan, this is pretty much the limit for now. Any future expansion will depend on luck."

It was true. Future expansion depended entirely on whether the Mingqing Trees would sprout new saplings. It was something beyond his control.

"What about the other special medicines? Any leads?" Liu Ruolan asked after a deliberate sigh.

"I’m still researching it. It’ll take some more time," Zhang Bin said, then changed the subject. "Where’s your sister, Liu Ruomei? I still don’t understand why she was wearing a mask yesterday. It caused a misunderstanding, and we ended up fighting."

Liu Ruolan giggled sweetly. "She was just testing your martial strength. So? Is my sister pretty? Do you like her?"

Zhang Bin’s face turned crimson, and he was at a loss for words.

"I knew you liked her. In that case, you should boldly go and pursue her. I’ll create opportunities for you," Liu Ruolan said with another giggle.

"What if I like you?" Zhang Bin blurted out.

He truly liked Liu Ruolan, not just for her stunning beauty, but also for her intelligence, sophistication, and competence. If he had to choose between Liu Ruolan and Liu Ruomei for a wife, he would pick Liu Ruolan. Although Liu Ruomei looked exactly like her sister and was incredibly beautiful, she seemed a bit willful and spoiled. Of course, marrying Liu Ruomei would still be wonderful.

"Stop joking. Anyway, I have to get back to work. Talk to you later." A gorgeous blush spread across Liu Ruolan’s face, but she feigned indifference and quickly hung up.

My god, Sister Lan actually blushed just from that one sentence! Could it be... she actually likes me? If I pursued her, could I succeed? Zhang Bin felt as if he had discovered a new continent. His heart wavered, and a look of sheer disbelief appeared on his face.

In his mind, Liu Ruolan was like a beautiful, noble Princess, a typical high-society beauty. Winning her over seemed harder than climbing to the heavens, and he had no confidence he could do it. He had been a humble farmer for too long; even after his miraculous good fortune, he still lacked self-assurance.

But now, he suddenly realized that might not be the case. Liu Ruolan actually seemed to have a special fondness for him.

Could it be that she likes me, but can’t be with me because she’s already engaged? Is that why she’s encouraging me to pursue her sister, Liu Ruomei?

"Sigh..." Zhang Bin sighed softly. A deep sense of regret and melancholy welled up in his heart, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what he was regretting. Perhaps he just couldn’t bear to see a woman as beautiful and noble as Liu Ruolan marry another man.

SQUEAK! SQUEAK! SQUEAK!

Seeing Zhang Bin standing there motionless like an idiot, the Little Fox grew impatient and let out a few anxious chirps.

The sounds snapped Zhang Bin out of his reverie. Instead of immediately digging up the Mingqing Trees, he started walking toward the cave. He was now one hundred percent certain that the cave was a Cave Mansion where an ancient Cultivator had once lived. The Little Fox must have lived here for some time.

He quickly followed the bluestone path to the cave’s entrance. There, he discovered a clear spring emerging from the cliff face, feeding into a small pool. The pool overflowed, its water cascading down into the Abyss below.

The cave was pitch-black, and a dense white mist billowed out from its mouth. This mist contained a fairly rich concentration of Spiritual Energy. It was indeed an ideal place for Cultivation. No wonder a Cultivator had carved out a Cave Mansion here.

I wonder what era that Cultivator was from. Could there be any treasures or Cultivation Methods inside? Filled with curiosity and anticipation, Zhang Bin followed the Little Fox into the mysterious cave.