Chapter 18

Qin Yi was speechless. "Why didn't you just fly directly from Los Angeles to Augusta? You made me come all the way to Los Angeles to fly back with you! If you're going, you should have gone earlier. We could have visited the sights in Los Angeles on the way."

Qin Yi booked a flight to Los Angeles online, took a shower, and went to bed.

The next morning, he woke up at 5:00 AM, got dressed, and went outside. In the distance, Burke and Rachel were practicing boxing by the stables. Qin Yi nodded, thinking that even if they might not achieve much in the future, their persistence would certainly help them stay fit.

Qin Yi also started practicing boxing.

Every time he practiced these days, his punches were powerful and full of vigor. Why hadn't his previous practice been effective? After some serious thought, Qin Yi concluded that it was because of the Blood Spirit Fruit and the Spirit Yuan Grass, which had enhanced his physical strength and deepened his understanding of the techniques.

In the past, without any cultivation techniques, he couldn't generate qi, and he didn't know the proper way to exert force. Although his punches had some power, they weren't much better than fancy but ineffective moves.

Now, things were different. His physical strength far exceeded that of an ordinary person, and his techniques were no longer rigid. He had started to develop his own understanding, which made his moves more powerful. As the saying goes, "One force can overcome ten skills," and when your strength is sufficient, you don't need to rely on clever techniques to achieve the same effect.

Of course, if he knew some techniques for exerting force, it would make his strength even more effective. Unfortunately, cultivation techniques were closely guarded secrets, and no one would share them with him. He would have to figure it out on his own!

Sweating all over, he finished his practice, took a deep breath, and got on his horse, Little Black.

After grooming Little Black, he rode him for a couple of laps and returned to the stables, where Ryan had just finished his horseback ride.

"Ryan, I'm going to Los Angeles today and will be back tonight. Keep an eye on the mutant grass!"

Mentioning the new grass, Ryan couldn't hide his smile. "Don't worry, Yi. I'll check it after breakfast!"

The mutant grass was a treasure, and Ryan visited it three times a day. Seeing the circles grow larger each day, Ryan and the cowboys were initially at a loss. They had never seen such a strange situation. Qin Yi had reassured them that he would invite an expert to study it and that the grass was developing positively, which would benefit the ranch and the cowboys. Gradually, everyone got used to it.

It was just a mutant variety, and this time it had mutated more dramatically. The cowboys found various reasons to explain it away and didn't pay much attention.

Back in the house, Qin Yi took a shower, cooked some rice porridge, and made a tomato and egg stir-fry for breakfast. At 8:00 AM, he drove his silver Dodge Ram to Augusta Airport. After parking the pickup, he would drive it home that night, so he didn't need anyone to pick him up.

An hour later, the plane landed at Los Angeles Airport.

It was only a little past 10:00 AM, and it was too early for lunch. He couldn't waste time, so he searched for tourist attractions in Los Angeles. The Getty Center, an art museum, was ranked first. "Okay, let's go there!"

He hailed a taxi.

The driver was an elderly black man. Black people had a natural affinity for hip-hop music. The old man was dressed in a colorful outfit, wearing a large pair of sunglasses, and playing an unknown Western hip-hop song. He was singing along and swaying to the rhythm, exuding a star-like aura!

However, Qin Yi was breaking out in a cold sweat, wondering if the old man had ever been complained about for driving like this!

"Hey, buddy, you must know Los Angeles well. Do you have any recommendations for fun places?"

Qin Yi tried to chat with him, thinking it would be safer than letting him dance to hip-hop while driving!

Sure enough, the old black man immediately turned off the music and turned around to speak to Qin Yi enthusiastically. "Hey, man, you asked the right person. I've lived in Los Angeles all my life. By the way, what's your name? You can call me Frieson."

"I'm Yi, nice to meet you, Frieson. Go straight... go straight..."

Qin Yi was introducing himself when he suddenly noticed the car was going too fast and was about to hit the car in front. Frieson was still looking at him, unaware of the situation, so he shouted in panic.

"Hey, Yi, no problem, no problem!" Frieson looked ahead and finally noticed the car in front. However, he greeted Qin Yi first before sharply turning the steering wheel to avoid it and continuing to drive. Qin Yi, who wasn't prepared, almost hit the right door!

After passing a car, Frieson turned around again to look back. "Yi, the Getty Center we're going to is a great choice. It's definitely worth the trip. Okay, let me tell you about other attractions."

Damn, you're a taxi driver! What are you doing looking back all the time!

Qin Yi pointed forward helplessly, and Frieson glanced back and continued to face Qin Yi. "Hollywood Walk of Fame is a must-visit; The Grove shopping center is a must-see, with so many brands that will make your eyes pop! And if you want to observe outer space, you can go to the Griffith Observatory. Of course, I guess you're Chinese, so you might want to visit the TCL Chinese Theatre..."

Qin Yi held his forehead in silence. "I'll never interrupt a black brother's hip-hop music again!"

On the way, Frieson talked non-stop, and Qin Yi was on edge the whole time!

Finally, they arrived at the base of Santa Monica Mountain in West Los Angeles, where the Getty Center was located on a cliff 881 feet high. Qin Yi paid and got out of the car, feeling a sense of relief: "It feels so good to be on solid ground!" He waved goodbye to the enthusiastic old black man, Frieson, and boarded the small train to the top of the mountain.

The Getty Center housed various artworks and crafts. Now, Qin Yi was about to immerse himself in the world of art!

After admiring sketches by Van Gogh and Ingres, he observed the masterpieces of French, Italian, and Dutch painters from the 14th to the 19th centuries, read medieval Byzantine manuscripts, and appreciated Napoleon-era fashion art. Finally, he studied Renaissance sculptures and statues.

Well, studying sculptures, Qin Yi just wanted to see if the carving techniques had any similarities to the carpentry work on the ranch. If he could learn something, it would be useful for building a house or a cabin on the ranch in the future! He couldn't help but mock himself: "Okay, I admit, I don't really have the heart to appreciate art. I'm just a commoner. I'll go for a walk in the garden instead!"

Walking in the garden, Qin Yi felt much more relaxed. The ranch was a vast, natural landscape, while this garden was a delicate and refined man-made landscape.

He saw many unknown plants on the garden paths, smelled the fragrances of various flowers, and regretted not bringing a camera. Taking photos in this garden and looking at them while lying in a rocking chair, sipping coffee, would be a great way to spend the afternoon!

Walking and stopping, Qin Yi came to a large rest area with a restaurant and an outdoor café. The restaurant offered various cuisines from different countries, and Qin Yi chose a Chinese restaurant. He sat facing the door, and the Chinese waitress was very friendly. He ordered some small dishes and a beer and slowly savored them while enjoying the view outside.

The authentic Chinese flavors satisfied Qin Yi, and he left a $30 tip for the waitress, who thanked him happily. Qin Yi also left happily.

It was his first time giving a tip, and it felt pretty good!

Leaving the restaurant, Qin Yi chose a seat in the outdoor café closest to the garden. Sitting there, he could smell the delicate fragrance of a cluster of white flowers nearby.

"A cup of Salvador, please!" He smiled at the beautiful waitress and ordered a coffee. Qin Yi took a deep breath, and the delicate fragrance lingered in his nose, filling his lungs and making him feel happy!

The waitress glanced at Qin Yi and smiled, thinking he was a man who knew how to enjoy life!

The coffee arrived quickly. Qin Yi took a small sip. It was rich and aromatic, not as acidic as Blue Mountain, but the balance between the acidity and bitterness was different. After a closer taste, it lacked the subtle fruitiness of Blue Mountain. It made sense why it ranked behind Blue Mountain, but overall, it was a great coffee.

He wondered what the top-ranked coffees tasted like!

Qin Yi had tried Blue Mountain, but to say he could taste the nuances was a bit of an exaggeration. The acidity, balance, and fruitiness were all things he had read online. The Blue Mountain coffee left by the Moore family was very limited and ran out after a few days. Recently, he had been drinking regular coffee.

Should he plant a coffee tree in the space? Qin Yi thought about it and decided that he could squeeze one in among the fruit trees.

He continued to enjoy the view.

Drinking the rich coffee and admiring the beautiful scenery, he felt great!

Unfortunately, enjoying the scenery often means being interrupted!

"Sir, could you please change seats? I apologize for any inconvenience, and here is $500 as compensation."

It sounded polite, but why did it feel like he was being looked down upon? Qin Yi shifted his gaze from the cluster of white flowers to the side.

A young Eastern man and woman stood beside his table. The man, dressed in a well-fitted designer suit, was 1.8 meters tall and looked handsome and elegant. He held out a few dollar bills between his index and middle fingers, his head slightly raised, and a polite smile on his lips. The woman, dressed in a sexy outfit, had a graceful figure, but her heavily made-up face was a bit off-putting.

Qin Yi wasn't wearing any designer clothes and didn't exude any noble or regal aura. The two assumed he was a Chinese student and thought $500 would easily get him to give up his seat. However, seeing that Qin Yi wasn't leaving immediately, they grew impatient.

The young man, mindful of his image in public, spoke politely, while the woman was less restrained. "Take the money and leave. It would take you days of part-time work to earn $500!" She gave Qin Yi a pitying look, thinking he was foolish for not taking the money.

The young man waved his fingers, urging Qin Yi to take the money and leave!

Qin Yi was speechless. Did he really look so unrefined as a billionaire? He glanced at himself. Well, he did look like an ordinary young man...

The quiet café was suddenly disrupted by the two, attracting many onlookers. Americans stopped drinking their coffee and admiring the scenery, instead staring or glancing at the scene. Qin Yi was surprised to find himself the center of attention in a foreign country, feeling quite embarrassed.

Qin Yi just wanted the two to leave, but getting angry would be beneath him. He thought for a moment, took out a checkbook, wrote a $5000 check, and pushed it toward them. "I'm very satisfied with this seat and have no intention of selling it. Please don't disturb me while I'm drinking my coffee. Of course, to ensure a quiet environment for everyone, I'm willing to pay $5000."