HLM – Chapter 145 The Heart of the Spring

As soon as Bartier spoke, Wang Bo immediately guessed what he was about to ask.

Most likely, little Bartier experienced sleep disturbances again after returning home. The domineering CEO would only trouble him for such issues.

As expected, Bartier’s weary voice came through: “I want to bring my son and stay at your place for a while again. Wang, I’m sorry to trouble you once more, but I don’t know why—after returning to Wellington, Bartier Jr.’s condition has worsened again.”

This was to be expected. The Heart of the Castle couldn’t cure illnesses. According to Wang Bo’s speculation, it merely improved sleep quality—more of a soothing and calming effect on one’s mental and emotional state, rather than actual treatment.

Wang Bo didn’t mind: “Don’t mention it, Bartier. If you’re willing to come as a guest, that’s the greatest compliment you could give my castle. Of course, you’re welcome.”

If the Heart of the Castle allowed him to befriend Bartier, then it had done an incredible job.

The connections and wealth that a domineering CEO represented could be an enormous help in developing Sunset Town.

And from what he’d seen so far, the CEO didn’t like to owe favors. For instance, last time he visited, he promised to open a branch bank in the town. So what would he do this time? Wang Bo eagerly looked forward to earning his gratitude.

However, after the phone call, the CEO didn’t show up at the castle right away. There was no further news, and it was unclear whether Bartier Jr.’s condition had improved.

By late May, the Draw had once again absorbed enough energy for a new draw.

Wang Bo rubbed his hands in anticipation. What he wanted most this time was the Heart of the Road. The Chinese Road was completed—how great would it be to draw a Heart of the Road?

When the pointer stopped, it indeed landed on the Heart of the Territory slot. However, the prize was not the Heart of the Road, but the Heart of the Spring.

This territorial heart was beautiful—a fist-sized orb of water, crystal clear, constantly twisting and bouncing like a living source of water.

Wang Bo considered it. Since it was called the Heart of the Spring, it should be used on a spring. But his territory had no springs, no rivers—though it was quite close to a lake.

With no obvious use for it, he decided to experiment as before. He casually picked a spot on the pasture and placed the Heart of the Spring there.

As soon as it touched the grass, it sank in. Then, on the pasture’s model in the sandbox, a small patch of green shimmered—this was the effect of the Heart of the Spring taking hold.

Soon, the grass where the heart had sunk began to slowly dissolve, and a spring began to seep up from the ground, gently flowing northwest—toward Lake Haweya.

This enlightened Wang Bo—the Heart of the Spring could generate a freshwater spring on its own. Not bad at all.

Previously, everything about his pasture was great, except for the lack of flowing water. Cattle and sheep had to go all the way to the lake to drink, which took a lot of effort.

Now that a spring had appeared, though the flow was small, it already provided some drinking water. Nearby cattle and sheep gathered and began drinking from it.

With a clear understanding now, Wang Bo put away the Heart of the Territory and picked up a book on traffic regulations to study.

The surprise came the next day during lunch. Ian excitedly said, “Hey, guys, guess what I discovered today?”

“A herd of sika deer?” Darwin laughed. “I saw them already—such beautiful creatures.”

Ian shook his head. “No, not the deer. By the way, since when did our pasture raise sika deer? What I found was a spring—a stream has appeared in the pasture!”

While spreading spicy meat sauce on his egg pancake, Bowen laughed: “You must be seeing things, buddy. That’s impossible. I’ve been all over the pasture countless times—there’s definitely no spring, and no stream either.”

Being doubted annoyed by Bowen. He slammed the table and snapped: “Bowen, you bastard, don’t dismiss others so easily, OK? If you didn’t see it, that just means you haven’t been managing the pasture properly! There is a spring, and there is a stream!”

His professionalism questioned, Bowen got even more annoyed. He grabbed his pancake, stood up, and shouted, “Then let’s go take a look! Let’s see exactly where this ‘stream’ is!”

“Can we eat first? I’m hungry…” Beebe said weakly.

The commander scornfully looked at him and shouted, “Ugh, glutton! Just eat, you damn rice bucket!”

Wang Bo glared at the little parrot: “No more swearing, or I’ll throw you to the brawny guys as bird food!”

Though the parrot had a big mouth, it had one great trait: it never talked back to Wang Bo.

The big guy was especially sensitive to the word “eat.” Upon hearing it, he immediately lifted his head, opened his mouth, and squinted as if waiting to be fed.

The commander kept swearing: “Ugh, you glutton too! Eat, eat, eat my—!”

Lunch was clearly not happening anytime soon. The cowboys even started placing bets on whether the stream was real.

Juan announced the odds: “Betting on Ian pays five to one. Bowen’s at two to one. Place your bets!”

Charlie: “I’m betting on Bowen—he’s my bro, after all.”

Bowen: “Charlie, when have you ever treated me like a bro?”

“When you make me money!”

Little Hani also cheered: “I’m betting on Bowen too! He’s my big bro!”

Kobe also bet on Bowen, since they had both been to the pasture and seen no spring or stream.

The other five cowboys were a bit hesitant—not sure whom to bet on.

Wang Bo scolded them: “What the hell are you guys doing? Turning your friends’ arguments into gambling opportunities? How could you!”

Juan awkwardly grinned: “Just kidding, boss…”

“Put me down for Ian—I support him. We can’t let the new guy feel alienated.” Wang Bo continued.

Juan: “…”

Wang Bo knew Ian was going to win. He was fully aware that the pasture now had a spring and a stream.

What he didn’t expect was that the spring would be so large—and the stream so fast.

In the southeast of the pasture, a patch of grass had sunken into a small pool about a meter wide, where clear spring water was bubbling out and flowing swiftly toward Lake Haweya.

This was beyond Wang Bo’s expectations. The previous night, the spring was only about the size of a sea bowl, and the water trickled out without any clear streambed. But overnight, the spring had fully formed.

Charlie and the others were dumbfounded. Bowen practically scratched his head bald: “Shit! What the hell? How is this possible? When did this thing show up?!”

Ian triumphantly stretched out his hand: “Pay up! Come on, cough up the money!”

The herds of cattle and sheep had already moved to both sides of the stream. Although it hadn’t yet formed a proper river, the flow was steady and directional—just like a miniature above-ground stream.