Chapter 610: The Great Tea Thief

How could some unassuming wild vegetables and tubers have such an effect when boiled together? Shen Yibin got up and stretched, feeling sharp, clear-headed, and bursting with energy. It was a far cry from his usual morning grogginess, even after washing up. 'This has to be the Turtle Immortal's doing.'

"Is this what you normally eat? Is that why you've lived so long?" Shen Yibin asked, crouching down beside the Turtle Immortal. He wondered, 'Are all amphibians masters of wellness? Do they have some unique insight into longevity?'

The Turtle Immortal was giving Hah'Er a ride on its back again, taking a stroll. It stopped when it saw Shen Yibin approach and gave a slight nod, confirming his suspicion. This was, in fact, its usual diet.

"Tsk! Why didn't I look for seeds yesterday!" Shen Yibin was filled with regret. 'If I'd brought some seeds back for Maphario to plant, I could have this all the time!' He quickly asked, "Uh, if we go back today, can you still find them?"

This time, the Turtle Immortal shook its head. It was unclear if it meant it couldn't find the plants anymore, or if there simply weren't any seeds this time of year. Shen Yibin was crushed. 'What a perfect opportunity to extend my life, and I just let it slip by! I wasn't hoping to live three or four hundred years like the Turtle Immortal—I'd be satisfied with a hundred. But now even that chance is gone?'

'Sigh, I'll set it aside for now. Are these plants exclusive to the shores of Dongting Lake, or can they be found in other places too? Once I'm home, I'll have the Turtle Immortal search the area around the estate first. If we find similar plants, that's that. If not, I can always come back to Dongting Lake. By then it'll be Spring—the perfect time, when everything comes back to life and plants start to sprout. Even without seeds, I should be able to dig up some young shoots. They ought to survive the transplant. Maphario is more than capable, after all.'

'Alright, that's the plan.' "I'm going to call for some breakfast. After we eat, we'll head to Jun Mountain. Maphario, I'm counting on you today!" He'd already missed out on the wellness herbs; he couldn't afford to miss the Junshan Silver Needle Tea as well.

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" The previous night, Shen Yibin had spent a long time showing Maphario pictures on his tablet and explaining the plan. Maphario was taking this mission very seriously. It had developed a keen interest in this particular tea plant just from the images alone. Even if Shen Yibin hadn't stressed its importance, Maphario would have found a way to get some seeds.

After making the call, he sat down at the dining table. "What a pity. Why was I in such a rush to have them clear the table yesterday? I'm sure there was some of that soup left in the tureen. It would have been perfectly fine to reheat for breakfast!" Shen Yibin stared wistfully at the spot where the tureen had sat. 'Such precious stuff, gone to waste. Had I known, I would've just drunk it all in one go last night.'

'Then again, maybe not. Too much of a good thing can be bad. I only had a little bit yesterday, and it was already so potent it gave me a nosebleed. If I'd finished the whole pot, all my hair probably would have fallen out. Bald but stronger? That's not really my aesthetic.'

'Sigh, I should just let nature take its course. It's never good to force things.' Shen Yibin gradually calmed down. A short while later, a hotel employee delivered their breakfast. After the meal, Shen Yibin checked out at the front desk, got Hah'Er, the Turtle Immortal, and the others into his car, and began the drive to Jun Mountain.

The hotel chain had a branch near Jun Mountain, and all the arrangements for Shen Yibin had been made the day before. After he arrived and checked in, the hotel immediately assigned a private guide to take him and his entourage by boat to Junshan Island, located in the middle of the lake. From a distance, the island's shape resembled a river snail, which had once inspired the poet Liu Yuxi to write the immortal line: "Gazing from afar at Dongting's verdant waters, a single azure snail in a silver platter."

As they drew closer, they could see ancient trees piercing the sky, lush forests of elegant bamboo, and pavilions and terraces nestled within the greenery. The hotel employee pointed out the island's landmarks to Shen Yibin: the mottled bamboo left behind by Ehuang and Nvying, the mountain-sealing seal of Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han's Terrace for Shooting Flood Dragons, and the Liu Yi Well where Liu Yi was said to have met the Dragon King of Dongting.

Jun Mountain has seventy-two peaks, with terraced tea plantations wrapping around the hillsides like brilliant jade belts. This was where the Junshan Silver Needle Tea, Shen Yibin's primary objective, was grown. Unfortunately, it was winter and the tea leaves were not yet ready for harvest, so there was no chance of tasting this year's fresh tea. 'But as long as Maphario succeeds,' he thought, 'I'll have as much as I could ever want in the future.'

"We've arrived, Mr. Shen!" The boat docked at a pier, and the employee led Shen Yibin and his companions onto the island for a tour of its scenic spots. But Shen Yibin had no interest in visiting historical landmarks; he insisted the guide take him directly to the Junshan Silver Needle tea plantation, specifying that he wanted to see the oldest trees.

'The tea leaves aren't ready at this time of year. What's there to see?' the employee wondered, completely baffled. Still, a client's request was a client's request, so he had no choice but to oblige.

Once in the tea plantation, Hah'Er, Bald Qiang, and the Turtle Immortal stayed close to Shen Yibin, listening to the guide's commentary. Maphario, however, secretly wriggled out of Hah'Er's pocket and zipped into the rows of tea plants, unnoticed by anyone.

As it turned out, a tea plantation in winter was indeed not much to look at. Shen Yibin fought off his boredom while waiting for Maphario to return. His gaze happened to drift over to the Turtle Immortal, and he suddenly spotted something new.

"Huh? What's this?" The Turtle Immortal was resting in a stream bordering the plantation, and several small turtles were climbing onto its back. 'Could it be? You have descendants here?'

"Oh, my goodness, Mr. Shen! Those are Junshan Golden Turtles! They aren't just beautiful to look at; they also have immense medicinal value. They're practically extinct on Jun Mountain—I can't believe we're seeing them here!" the guide exclaimed in delighted surprise. "Don't mind the people you saw selling 'Junshan Golden Turtles' on your way here. Those are all fakes. But these few... these are the real deal!"

His exclamation attracted the plantation workers as well. They crowded around the Turtle Immortal, marveling at the cute little turtles. They immediately started discussing how to protect the precious creatures, dashing any hopes Shen Yibin had of taking them home. He was quite disappointed.

However, the commotion over the golden turtles drew the attention of all the staff in the vicinity, which made things much easier for Maphario. From the corner of his eye, Shen Yibin saw it dart back and forth several times, completely undetected.

As dusk fell, Shen Yibin reluctantly gathered Hah'Er and the others to leave Jun Mountain and return to the hotel. While boarding the boat, he discreetly felt Hah'Er's pocket. It was filled with hard, longan-sized pellets. He could tell by touch that they were tea tree seeds.

'Looks like from now on, I'll have Junshan Silver Needle Tea at home to make tea eggs!'