Chapter 358 (1/2)

Almost Dying From Tasting Grass

Shao Xuan had no hopes of the old man changing his habit of ordering people around either. Perhaps he’d been doing this all his life, it would be hard for him to change now. It was probably hard for him to say the word ‘help’ too.

When he saw how emotional the old man was, Shao Xuan looked towards where he was pointing at.

It was another bunch of plants growing on the walls of the hill. This plant looked very normal- no special patterns and similar to the grass around his feet- but its leaves were slightly narrower and a little longer.

“What plant is this? What’s it for?” asked Shao Xuan.

“I don’t know.”

“...If you don’t know, what are you getting all worked up for?”

“That’s why I’m getting all worked up! Because I don’t know!” the old man stared intently at the spot where the plant was, shooing Shao Xuan, “hurry up!”

Shao Xuan shook his head, deciding against arguing with the old man. However, going up the hill to pluck some grass was just a moment’s work for him. It wasn’t difficult, he didn’t need to hesitate. Just like before, Shao Xuan dug up the plant with the old man’s knife and tossed it over.

Other than common herbs used in the tribe, plus some plants written in the records, Shao Xuan did not recognise other plants. There were even more plants he didn’t recognise after crossing over to this side, he didn’t know what was so special about this one and waited to see what the old man was going to do.

The old man was studying the plant intently. After a few sniffs, he cut off a leaf, then nibbled on the blade to taste.

“Does it have a taste?” asked Shao Xuan.

The old man shook his head. “It’s tasteless. This is odd, it doesn’t even have the smell of regular grass.”

“What do you think of it?” Shao Xuan asked again.

“What do I think? It feels… like something is wrong,” commented the old man.

Something feels wrong and you’re still eating it?

Shao Xuan watched as the old man ate the entire leaf. Then, his face contorted- not the kind when resulting from pain, but the uncontrollable kind. His face turned a shade of grey-green.

It’s poisonous!

“Spit it out!” said Shao Xuan hurriedly. He looked around, snapped off a branch and ripped off the bark. He was going to help the old man regurgitate the plant.

The old man, whose face was quickly turning grey, saw Shao Xuan about to stick the twig at his throat. Knowing what Shao Xuan was about to do, he turned his head to dodge the twig and shoved him. “Go away!”

Shao Xuan was stunned for a moment before he understood. The old man wanted him to go away, as if he was IN his way.

Fine, I’ll go. I’m not the one who’s poisoned right now, I don’t care.

The old man’s face was pale as ever, the wrinkles in his face cutting deeper from the contortions of pain. His features were squeezed together, it was obvious he was in a lot of pain. He forced himself to take two steps, then sat leaning against the hill.

“Sigh, old man, are you really alright? Do you want something to neutralise the poison?” said Shao Xuan.

The old man did not speak, only waved his hand weakly and then sat, unmoving. He did not speak either. With his eyes closed, other than the slight movement of his chest, he looked dead at first glance.