Walking in the cycle of reincarnation

Chapter 18 Offerings

Another day has passed.

Zhang Nanfeng woke up and sifted through all the scents of the morning.

After confirming that there was no danger around, he crawled out of the cave and followed the old path towards the narrow passage.

Even before you get close, the scent of human body mixed with the fragrance of soapberry and the smell of sweat wafts on the wind.

It was that same boy from yesterday.

Zhang Nanfeng was quite surprised.

He thought he had gotten up early enough, but the boy was even earlier? Moreover, the boy's aura was still and unmoving, indicating that he had been waiting in the same spot for a long time without moving.

Zhang Nanfeng did not reveal himself rashly. He hid behind a clump of poisonous ferns, listening intently.

The breathing ahead was shallow, interspersed with one or two suppressed yawns. There was little other sound or breath around, and there was only one person.

Even so, he was still uneasy. He circled around again, climbed up an old tree on a steep slope to the side, and looked down.

Beneath the narrow crevice path from yesterday, the boy was kneeling on the ground.

Meng Jinchuan knelt on the cold, damp ground, his body swaying precariously from sleep. His head bobbed up and down like a pecking chicken, each nod waking him with a start, as he frantically looked around, afraid of missing the slightest sound.

His eyes were dark and swollen, indicating that he had not slept all night or had sneaked into the mountains before dawn.

Zhang Nanfeng squatted on a branch, his mind filled with doubts.

What exactly is this boy after?

He was merely a rat-toad with a strange appearance, golden skin and purple spots. Yet this young man had kowtowed and wept upon seeing him yesterday, and today he was kneeling and waiting early, which seemed far too devout.

Could it be that this body... hides some unknown origin?

The thought crossed my mind several times, but I still couldn't find a solution.

Zhang Nanfeng shook his head, clearing his mind of all distractions. After confirming that there was no danger around him, he leaped down from the branch, circled around the bushes along the path in front of the young master, steadied himself, and slowly climbed out.

The withered branches rustled softly.

Meng Jinchuan was yawning, his mouth halfway open, when he caught a glimpse of a figure in gold and purple emerging from the shadows of the trees. The yawn was forced back down his throat, causing him to cough repeatedly.

He patted his chest, his knees rustling against the decaying leaves, and immediately prostrated himself in deep worship, speaking respectfully:

"Golden Toad Ancestor! You've finally arrived!"

Golden Toad Ancestor?

Zhang Nanfeng stood three steps away, completely bewildered by this sudden title.

He did not respond, but simply gazed silently at the older boy in front of him.

Seeing that the other party did not move, Meng Jinchuan looked up.

Seeing the other person staring at her, she suddenly felt flustered, and the joy on her face gradually turned into embarrassment.

As if remembering something, he hurriedly reached into his robes, pulled out a package of oiled paper, peeled it open layer by layer, revealing a handful of dark pills inside.

"Golden Toad Ancestor, these are yesterday's pills!"

He held it up with both hands and offered it forward, his voice low but unable to conceal his eagerness.

"Did you like those pills you took yesterday? I've prepared a few more today, please...please eat them."

The pill emitted a bitter and pungent aroma, which wafted into Zhang Nanfeng's nostrils.

He didn't move an inch.

He tried this stuff yesterday, and it not only did not help when he ate it, but it also acted like an oily film that coated the poison glands, making it much harder for him to expel the miasma.

He didn't like it.

What he needed right now was a poisonous insect. But the boy was oblivious, just kneeling there holding the pill, staring at him expectantly.

But he couldn't bring himself to say it.

However, using writing to convey meaning is too outrageous, even bizarre, and should only be used as a last resort.

Zhang Nanfeng was helpless, but he knew he couldn't rush things. He could only continue to watch the boy without making any move.

The scene froze, the atmosphere heavy. The morning breeze swept through the woods, swirling fallen leaves into a dance.

Meng Jinchuan's hand hung in mid-air, unsure whether to retract it or hand it over, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

After a long pause, as if he had made a great decision, he carefully put the pill back, kowtowed to Zhang Nanfeng again, and said respectfully:

"Golden Toad Ancestor... I dare to ask for another drop of Golden Poison. My elder brother urgently needs it for his cultivation. If the Golden Toad Ancestor is merciful, I am willing... I am willing to come here every day to offer sacrifices!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Nanfeng almost let out a sneer.

This young man is quite interesting.

Yesterday, he had bestowed upon him a drop of golden poison, and today he dared to ask for it again, promising to "offer it daily." In his previous life, this was called getting something for nothing.

So innocently cute.

Zhang Nanfeng was too lazy to waste any more time with him. He let out a few short, sharp croaks, then turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest without looking back.

"Golden Toad Ancestor! Golden Toad Ancestor!"

Meng Jinchuan called out softly behind him, not daring to raise his voice or chase after him. He could only kneel stiffly on the spot, watching helplessly as the golden-purple figure disappeared into the miasma.

He lowered his head, his shoulders and back slumped, as if his spine had been removed.

Zhang Nanfeng did not go far.

He circled around to the top of the slope behind a strange rock, crouched down, and peered down at the boy below through the gaps in the rocks.

Meng Jinchuan knelt there for a long time, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face, muttering a curse in a low voice:

"Fool... You must have been rude and offended the Golden Toad Ancestor."

He lowered his head and murmured to himself, as if reviewing what had just happened. Zhang Nanfeng's casual chirping echoed repeatedly in his mind.

"Five tones..."

Meng Jinchuan suddenly looked up, a bright light flashing in his eyes, and blurted out:

"Five sounds? Those are the five poisons!"

He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly everything became clear, as if he had been enlightened. He immediately leaped to his feet, bowed deeply in the direction Zhang Nanfeng had left, his voice trembling with emotion:

"This junior understands! The five cries of the Golden Toad Ancestor were a sign that I should offer the five poisonous items, not these pills! It was my foolishness that led me to this death!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and then knelt down with a thud, kowtowing heavily:

"Golden Toad Ancestor! Tomorrow! Tomorrow this junior will bring a full array of poisonous insects as an offering! I humbly request that the Golden Toad Ancestor come here again tomorrow to meet me!"

After shouting, fearing the wind in the forest might dissipate his message and prevent it from reaching his ears, he hastily climbed a nearby high rock, cupped his hands to his mouth, and shouted into the vast forest:

"I'll bring poisonous insects tomorrow! The Golden Toad Ancestor must come—"

The shouts echoed through the woods, startling a flock of forest birds that fluttered into the grey sky.

After seeing the strange rock, Zhang Nanfeng was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He had only muttered something casually, yet this young man had managed to comprehend the "Five Poisons."

This boy was not dull-witted; on the contrary, he was exceptionally quick-witted. But... why was he so foolishly devout to himself?

Unlike the young man, Zhang Nanfeng never quite grasped the reason behind it.

However, it must be said that this situation is advantageous to him.

Because starting tomorrow, a steady stream of poisonous insects will be delivered to their mouths.

He glanced one last time at the boy who was still standing there, looking around and refusing to leave, then turned and fled.

......

The next day, at dawn, the time was the same as yesterday.

As usual, Zhang Nanfeng followed the scent to scout ahead, circled half the forest to confirm there were no ambushes or dangers, and waited for a long time before heading towards the narrow path.

The boy was indeed there.

Judging from the smell, it arrived earlier than yesterday.

Meng Jinchuan knelt in the same spot, head bowed, with a bamboo basket in front of him.

Zhang Nanfeng stood at the edge of the forest shadows, sniffing the bamboo basket, his venom glands instinctively contracting.

The scent emanating from the basket was characteristic of poisonous creatures.

The toxins are potent, and there is more than one type.