Walking in the cycle of reincarnation

Chapter 10 Eavesdropping

Zhang Nanfeng immediately abandoned the venomous snake, leaped forward, and silently darted back into the crevice in the rock.

However, those sounds followed like a shadow, getting closer and closer to the pool.

"Uncle Stone, it's just ahead! Downstream is it!"

A young voice came through the forest, carrying a carefree air of inexperience.

Zhang Nanfeng felt a chill run down his spine.

It really is a human voice... Could it be coming for me?

But this guess was unfounded and he quickly put it aside, his heart filled with only excitement and curiosity.

Fortunately, the crevice in the rock here is uniquely advantageous, making it difficult to see inside from the outside, but from the inside one can see all the activity around the pool.

The footsteps grew louder, six different kinds of footsteps, some light and some heavy, approaching from afar.

Before long, figures appeared upstream of the stream.

The leader was in his thirties, with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, and an honest-looking face, but his eyes held a sharp glint that contradicted his appearance. A short sword hung at his waist, and his aura was as heavy and imposing as a mountain.

Two boys stood beside him; one was tall and slender with a cold expression, while the other was thin and lively with curious eyes.

The three people behind them were dressed in rags, looked pale, and walked timidly, clearly slaves.

"How could this be... We were perfectly fine when we left."

The thin boy ran to the edge of the pool, and looked at the withered grass and trees and the uneven rocks on the ground with a look of shock on his face.

The aloof young man stood by the stream with a livid face, his fists clenched, not uttering a word.

"Xiaoshan," the leading man said to the aloof young man, "do you know why the Purple Star Toad is so rare?"

Meng Yuanshan bowed deeply, his tone respectful:

"Uncle, the Purple Star Toad is a rare and poisonous species that is extremely difficult to reproduce, hence it is seldom seen in the world."

Meng Shi shook his head slightly, patted his shoulder, glanced at the mess by the pool, and said with a hint of regret:

"You're right, but you haven't gotten to the heart of the matter. The most unusual thing about the Purple Star Toad is that when it lays its eggs, if it is disturbed even slightly, it will explode along with its eggs."

"Don't overthink it. What you've gained today is already quite substantial. These kinds of poisons are all about fate; you can't force them."

"This junior has learned much." Meng Yuanshan stood with his hands at his sides, his posture respectful.

Zhang Nanfeng understood from within the crevice of the rock.

No wonder that mother toad exploded; the noise I made when I was born must have startled it.

Suddenly, Meng Jinchuan let out a low cry, crouched down, and pointed into the pool:

"Brother! Uncle Stone! There's another toad egg here!"

He pointed to a pebble in the water, his eyes gleaming, "Right under that pebble, that must be the egg of the Purple Star Toad!"

As he spoke, he was about to roll up his sleeves and wade into the water to retrieve the fish.

"Ogawa, stop!"

Meng Shi gave a low shout, his figure darted to the edge of the pool, and grabbed his wrist.

"You recognize the Purple Star Toad, but didn't know its eggs are also highly poisonous?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinchuan hurriedly withdrew his hand and awkwardly stepped back, but his gaze remained fixed on the egg.

Meng Shi formed a claw with one hand, and his fingertips turned jet black in an instant.

He dipped his hand into the water, causing a soft hissing sound and rising white mist. With a gentle flick of his fingertips, he removed the stone that had been pressing down on the egg, retrieved the barely surviving toad egg, sealed it in a rough pottery bottle, and then dissipated his power.

Zhang Nanfeng lay hidden in the crevice of the rock, secretly alarmed.

This method, though lacking the celestial air of Su Chan, still exudes an eeriness. Could this person be a cultivator?

The thought immediately made him want to flee, but then he calmed down.

If he were truly a cultivator, he would probably have already discovered that I was hiding here.

It's best to hold back for now and observe how things develop.

While he was pondering, Meng Jinchuan suddenly staggered, clutching his forehead, his face turning pale, and he almost fell headfirst into the pool.

He hurriedly pulled out an oiled paper packet from his pocket, took out several dark pills, first handed two to Meng Yuanshan, then quickly walked to the three slaves and stuffed the pills into their hands:

"Take it quickly, don't delay!"

The three slaves tremblingly accepted and swallowed the pills, their eyes filled with gratitude.

Meng Yuanshan put the pill in his mouth, looked at his younger brother's actions, his throat bobbing as if he wanted to scold him, but in the end he gritted his teeth and endured it, turning his face away and no longer looking.

Meng Shi saw this but remained noncommittal, only giving a slight smirk.

Meng Jinchuan then held the pills up to Meng Shi, his tone solicitous:

"Uncle Stone, this is for you."

Meng Shi glanced down at it, did not take it, and said indifferently:

"I don't need to."

Meng Jinchuan's eyes darted around, unable to hide his excitement:

"Uncle Stone, you've been refusing the 'Malaria Relief Pill' for quite some time now. Could it be... that you've already entered the 'Poison Vein Realm'?"

Poisonous Vein Realm.

Zhang Nanfeng memorized these three words.

Meng Shi smiled without saying a word; his expression said it all.

Upon seeing this, a hint of longing, which could not be concealed, flashed across Meng Yuanshan's cold and aloof face.

"Uncle Stone," Meng Jinchuan pressed, moving even closer, "will you be able to become an immortal someday?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Nanfeng, who was hiding in the crevice of the rock, and Meng Yuanshan, who was by the pool, both pricked up their ears to listen.

Meng Shi chuckled when asked, his tone tinged with self-deprecation:

"My Meng family has been established in the Southern Frontier for over two hundred years. During that time, countless geniuses and powerful figures have emerged, yet none of us have ever seen a true immortal. What do you say?"

The two boys lowered their heads, their expressions somber.

"What exactly does that immortal look like?" Meng Jinchuan was still unwilling to give up.

Meng Shi looked up at the sky, his gaze unfocused.

"Immortals live on wind and dew, their whereabouts are elusive and unpredictable, and no one can know them."

As soon as he finished speaking, he withdrew his gaze, his tone turning stern:

"Don't daydream about the path to immortality. First, you should master the poison techniques of your clan. That's the important thing."

......

Zhang Nanfeng overheard the entire conversation, confirming his suspicion that the man was an ordinary human.

He thought of Su Chan again.

She had once promised that once he had mastered the Purification Fire, she would guide him onto the path of immortality and help him transform into human form. At the time, he thought it was just a lie, but now he realized that the concept of immortal destiny was so unattainable.

But there's no going back in this world.

"After resting for another incense stick's time, we'll head back."

Meng Shi waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the three slaves, instantly turning as cold as ice.

"You three, search carefully again to see if there are any remaining toad eggs."

One of the slaves was so intimidated by his gaze that he immediately collapsed to the ground.

Meng Shi frowned and drew his short sword.

"waste."

Before the cold drink could even finish, blood splattered.

Before the slave could beg for mercy, he was beheaded.

The remaining two slaves were trembling with fear, frantically searching with their heads down, their faces covered in tears and snot, but they dared not wipe them away.

Meng Jinchuan turned his head away, unable to bear to look any longer. Meng Yuanshan, on the other hand, remained expressionless, as if what he was seeing was just an ordinary scene.

Meng Shi wiped the blade with the hem of the deceased's clothes, his movements calm and composed.

He didn't have to do this; he did it simply to make Meng Jinchuan see the difference between the noble and the lowly, and to recognize his own identity.

Zhang Nanfeng stared at the headless corpse, feeling no fear. Instead, the lingering smell of blood stirred up a burning hunger in his stomach.

He abruptly retreated into the crevice and slapped it hard across the face with his claw.

No! Even if we live like animals now, we must never entertain the thought of cannibalism. This is the bottom line, the dignity we held in our past lives.

He suppressed his restlessness, swallowed hard, and peered in again.

Just then, the sound of a branch snapping was heard from the woods.

A white-bodied, black-nosed hunting dog emerged from the bushes, carrying half a long snake in its mouth.

It threw the snake carcass on the ground, its nose twitching incessantly towards the crack in the rock.