Walking in the cycle of reincarnation

Chapter 21 Accepting Fate

On the top floor of the wooden building, four figures each occupied a corner.

Meng Cang sat leisurely behind his desk, playing with a ceramic bottle in his hand, a drop of liquid gold sliding from his wrist.

Meng Shisu stood solemnly to the side of the table, his thick eyebrows furrowed, looking at the young man before him with eyes full of anger.

Meng Yuanshan stood with his arms crossed in front of the window, his cold and aloof silhouette against the backlight.

In the center of the attic, Meng Jinchuan knelt on both knees, looking up at his elder brother, his eyes still filled with resentment.

Meng Yuanshan met his gaze indifferently, without even blinking.

"Ogawa."

Meng Cang spoke, easing the heavy atmosphere in the room.

I summoned you here today for no other reason than to have some questions that I need you to answer in person.

He leaned slightly forward, his hands clasped together and resting on his chin.

"My uncle has led his men to search for so many days, but they have found nothing. But what about you? You've been sending gold poison and strange liquids to your brother's house without stopping."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Meng Jinchuan's pale face.

"Xiao Chuan, if you have already captured the spirit seed, you can simply report the truth. Why should your uncle waste so much manpower and resources? If it weren't for Yuan Shan coming to find me yesterday, we elders would still be in the dark. Let me ask you..."

Meng Cang lowered his voice, making it even softer:

"Do you want to monopolize that spirit seed?"

Meng Shi added in a deep voice:

"Those who conceal and fail to report such acts shall be punished with caning according to clan rules."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinchuan trembled, abruptly looked up, his eyes filled with grievance:

"I don't!"

"I never kept it hidden! I... that wasn't a spirit seed..."

"Oh?"

Meng Cang raised an eyebrow slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Meng Jinchuan immediately realized his slip of the tongue and, meeting the scrutinizing gazes of the three people in the hall, hastily added:

"I cannot disclose its origin, but if... the family needs poison, I... I can provide it daily!"

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions.

Meng Shi turned his face away, his lips pressed down, a dark glint in his eyes. Meng Yuanshan chuckled, the sarcasm in his voice unmistakable.

Only Meng Cang's expression remained unchanged.

He slowly leaned back in his chair, looking at the kneeling boy with pity, and gently shook his head.

"Xiao Chuan, the fact that you've given all the Golden Poison and the Strange Liquid to your brother these past few days shows how much you care about him and the clan."

Before his gentle words had even finished, his tone suddenly shifted.

"But you deliberately concealed this; could it be that you have ulterior motives? Is this concern also for some other purpose?"

These words strike at the heart.

Meng Jinchuan swayed slightly. He subconsciously looked at Meng Shi, at Uncle Shi who had usually treated him fairly well. But the other man lowered his eyes, avoiding his gaze.

Meng Yuanshan made a move.

He strode forward and looked down at his thin younger brother.

"Tell me! Are you trying to harm me? Do you have ulterior motives?!"

Meng Jinchuan looked up at him, then shook his head again, his voice trembling but still stubborn:

"I didn't, I can't say..."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuanshan's anxiety finally erupted, and he suddenly raised his hand and slapped Meng Jinchuan across the face.

"Hill!"

Meng Shi shouted to stop him, took half a step forward, and tried to step forward to stop him.

Meng Cang glanced at him indifferently. Meng Shi ultimately retreated to his original position.

Meng Jinchuan was dizzy from the beating, his ears were ringing, half of his cheek was numb and red, and blood was seeping from the corner of his mouth. But he didn't utter a groan of pain. He slowly turned his gaze back to his brother. The anger in his eyes had completely faded, leaving only grievance and confusion.

This palm strike seemed to shatter the shackles in Meng Yuanshan's heart. He grabbed his brother's collar, lifted him up, and roared angrily:

"explain!"

Meng Jinchuan stared intently at his brother's face, so close to his own, a chill running through him. After a long silence, he whispered:

"...I said."

Then, he recounted his experiences over the past few days in a straightforward manner, as if he were telling someone else's old story.

The story ended, and the attic remained deathly silent.

Meng Shi looked bewildered as he gazed at Meng Cang. Meng Cang, meanwhile, stared at Meng Jinchuan, his eyes flickering with uncertainty, his expression shifting several times.

Meng Yuanshan's hand remained firmly in his grasp.

His brows furrowed into a tight knot, and he forced out the words through clenched teeth:

"Nonsense! Golden Toad Ancestor? You can actually make up such nonsense?!"

Having said that, he raised his hand to strike.

"Distant mountains!"

Meng Cang had already stood up. He quickly stepped forward, pried open Meng Yuanshan's tightly clenched hand, squatted down to smooth out Meng Jinchuan's collar, and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles.

"Silly child," Meng Cang sighed, his voice filled with indulgent reproach, "You should have said so earlier."

Meng Jinchuan stared blankly at his uncle, his lips moving, speechless for a moment.

Meng Cang stood up, put his hands behind his back, paced around twice, and when he turned around, his face was a mixture of solemnity and kindness.

"This matter is of great importance. Since the Golden Toad Ancestor only trusts you and only sees you, from now on, you will be fully responsible for the sacrificial rites."

Meng Jinchuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes gleaming.

"Uncle..."

"Your uncle will arrange for the poisonous insects to be prepared for you behind the scenes. Just ask if you need anything."

Meng Cang raised his hand, placing his palm on Meng Jinchuan's head, and gently instructed him, his tone becoming increasingly loving:

"There is only one condition: from now on, any Golden Poisonous Liquid obtained from the Golden Toad Ancestor must be handed over to the clan for unified allocation."

He lowered his voice, just enough for Meng Yuanshan beside him to hear clearly:

"Xiao Chuan, although you are young, you have great opportunities and great fortune. The rise and fall of my Meng family will ultimately be entrusted to... a junior like you."

Meng Jinchuan was startled.

He never expected that his usually distant uncle would not hold him accountable for concealing the truth, but instead would return his trust and responsibility to him.

A surge of warmth welled up from the depths of Meng Jinchuan's cold heart, making his eyes sting. He kowtowed heavily, his forehead pressed against the floorboards, his voice choked yet resolute:

"Thank you, Uncle! Chikakawa... Chikakawa will certainly not fail your trust!"

Meng Cang smiled as he helped him up and wiped the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth. Every move he made showed the loving kindness of an elder.

Meng Yuanshan stood in the shadows, his previous sharpness shattered, leaving only shock and anger.

Meng Cang turned to Meng Shi, his tone as calm as ever:

"Third brother, you stay. This matter involves many aspects and we need to discuss it in detail with you."

He then looked at the two brothers and gently instructed them:

"You may all leave now. Remember, what happened today must never be known to your father. I don't need to elaborate on the seriousness of the matter."

"Your nephew will remember this," Meng Jinchuan replied respectfully.

"Nephew understands." Meng Yuanshan also lowered his head.

"Go." Meng Cang waved his hand, and then specifically instructed Meng Jinchuan, "Go into the mountain as usual tomorrow. Don't keep the Golden Toad Ancestor waiting for too long and lose his trust."

"yes!"

As the two walked out of the main building, the intense sunlight in the village stung their eyes.

Meng Yuanshan did not stop walking, never turning his head to look back, his posture cold and hard, walking straight ahead alone.

Meng Jinchuan gazed at his brother's increasingly distant and solitary figure, his mind in turmoil.

He opened his mouth, but a thousand questions choked in his throat.

He wanted to ask his brother why he had betrayed him, whether he had already broken through and no longer needed help. But all his words turned into a mouthful of bloody sweetness, which he swallowed back down.