CFSMS -Chapter 40 I’m About to Die—How About a Bite of Pork Knuckle?

After much hesitation, the pork knuckle was finally bought.

Holding the fragrant knuckle in his hands, the hired extra walked toward Jiang Yunhe with increasingly sluggish steps.

Qin Zhan had already started eating. Standing beside Jiang Yunhe, he noticed the man’s hesitation and immediately burst into laughter.

“Looks like your pork knuckle isn’t making it to you.”

“Want some? Call me Senior Brother and I’ll share a bite.”

Using a strip of pork skin to wrap up some rice, Qin Zhan ate right in front of Jiang Yunhe with exaggerated speed.

Before Jiang Yunhe could respond, he saw the hired extra turn around and start walking away.

Not only was the man keeping the knuckle for himself, but he was also planning to pocket Jiang Yunhe’s two bottles of pills.

A prophecy fulfilled.

Jiang Yunhe was gentle by nature, but that didn’t mean he lacked a temper.

His expression instantly turned cold. Forming a hand seal, he summoned a vine from the ground. It shot upward, wrapped around the man’s waist, and yanked him back.

The pork knuckle flew from the man’s hands.

With a light tap of his foot, Jiang Yunhe moved like a soaring swan, gracefully catching the knuckle in midair.

For the sake of a pork knuckle, he had even brought out a top-tier movement technique.

Qin Zhan clicked his tongue in amazement.

After confirming the knuckle was unharmed, Jiang Yunhe lowered his gaze to the despairing figure on the ground.

His belongings were not something others could simply take.

With a flick of his sleeve, he slapped the man across the face.

The water in his brain practically sloshed around.

“I was wrong! I’ll return everything!”

Momentarily blinded by greed, he hadn’t expected to run into someone this troublesome.

He hurriedly pulled out the antidote pills and offered them back.

Jiang Yunhe looked at him with undisguised disgust.

“I hate people who casually break contracts.”

“Congratulations. You’ve been blacklisted by Divine Physician Valley.”

As a disciple of Divine Physician Valley, he prided himself on doing whatever pleased him.

“Get lost.”

After teaching the man a small lesson, Jiang Yunhe sat down before his stall, took out a bowl of rice, and spread the pork knuckle over it.

Only after the rich sauce had thoroughly soaked into the rice did he begin eating.

He stirred it a few times with his chopsticks to distribute the sauce evenly.

Ignoring Qin Zhan’s disappointed expression, he enjoyed the meal with refined elegance.

After witnessing Jiang Yunhe’s display, several people in the queue abandoned any thoughts of trying to eat from both sides.

Meanwhile, deep within Myriad Poison Valley, an expedition team was advancing.

They specialized in exploring dangerous regions and accepted commissions to locate rare heavenly treasures for clients.

This time, they had come for something called a Witch-Poison Stone, a material found deep inside the valley—and obtaining it would be extremely dangerous.

The deeper they ventured, the lower the visibility became.

Pitch-black leaves blocked out the sky. Even the brilliant sunlight, after filtering through the thick poisonous miasma above the valley, could only cast faint patches of light.

The surrounding soil was damp.

One careless step could send someone sinking into a hidden swamp.

The man leading the team advanced cautiously.

“Hey, Xiao Si, what are you thinking about?”

Scarface nudged the distracted young man beside him, frowning.

“You can’t afford to lose focus in a place like this. It’ll get you killed.”

He issued a warning.

Though they were experienced adventurers, Qingyuan World was filled with dangerous regions they had never explored before.

Myriad Poison Valley was one such place.

Its entire ecosystem thrived on poison feeding poison.

Everything here was venomous—birds in the sky, creatures in the water, beasts on the ground.

Worse still, the toxins constantly evolved, producing countless new poisonous creatures every year.

“I was thinking about what to eat for lunch.”

Xiao Si scratched his cheek and grinned sheepishly.

“You’re still thinking about that pork-knuckle stall outside the valley? Fine, I’ll buy you one after we get out. For now, focus and stay alert.”

Scarface smacked him lightly on the head.

Xiao Si had no interest in money.

He only cared about food.

That pork-knuckle stall outside the valley had been packed with customers. The flavor must be incredible.

Unfortunately, they were in a hurry and hadn’t had time to queue up.

They had missed their chance.

Who would’ve thought Xiao Si would still be dwelling on it?

“That pork knuckle has to be delicious.”

As a true foodie, Xiao Si could tell it was a masterpiece just from the aroma carried by the wind.

“Enough. Stop thinking about it. We’re almost there.”

The moment the cave entrance appeared, everyone became vigilant.

According to their research, wherever Witch-Poison Stones existed, powerful venomous beasts would always guard them.

Even before entering, they could smell a pungent, fishy stench drifting from inside the cave, enough to make one’s head spin.

“Take the antidote pills first.”

Scarface gave the order.

Everyone complied.

Using spiritual sense to scout ahead, they discovered a giant python inside.

Ordinary pythons weren’t venomous, but in this environment it had mutated.

Its fangs looked terrifying, and its scales were a dark purplish black.

Fortunately, the team had come prepared.

After a fierce battle, they successfully killed the giant snake.

The depths of the cave were illuminated.

Embedded in the walls were glowing green stones.

Their target.

“Hurry up.”

Scarface signaled everyone to start mining.

Xiao Si joined in.

Spotting an area rich in stones, he walked over.

With the danger seemingly gone, he was already imagining what it would be like after they left the valley.

“Xiao Si, get away from there!”

A furious shout rang out.

Too slow to react, Xiao Si suddenly felt a sharp pain in his wrist.

Only then did he notice a snake shooting out from the shadows and biting him.

“It’s a juvenile snake!”

Scarface rushed over and smashed the little snake dead with one slap.

But it was already too late.

Looking at the rapidly blackening wound on Xiao Si’s wrist, Scarface shoved an antidote pill into his mouth.

“Eat it. Quickly.”

Xiao Si could feel a cool sensation spreading through his stomach.

At the same time, darkness crept into his vision.

“I feel sleepy…”

He muttered.

The tool in his hand fell to the ground.

His body swayed.

Before he could steady himself, he collapsed.

Scarface caught him and immediately realized the wound showed no sign of improvement.

“The antidote didn’t work.”

Panic entered his voice.

He hurriedly fed Xiao Si every other detoxification medicine he had.

But blood had already begun seeping from Xiao Si’s lips.

Even after force-feeding the medicines, nothing changed.

At this rate, Xiao Si wouldn’t survive long enough for them to leave the valley and find a healer.

“The antidotes are useless.”

Scarface spoke heavily, regret filling his eyes.

He should have inspected the cave more carefully.

The others gathered around, their faces full of worry.

They opened their mouths to speak, but no words came.

“It’s okay.”

Xiao Si realized what was happening.

Grabbing Scarface’s arm, he spoke softly, his voice seeming ready to drift away at any moment.

His parents had died when he was ten.

It was Uncle Scarface who had taken him in and helped him survive.

Over the years, he had learned many things and lived happily.

If he had one regret, it was never getting to taste that pork knuckle.

“Uncle… when I’m dead, remember to buy a serving of pork knuckle as an offering.”

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to smile.

But darkness had already consumed his sight.

His soul seemed to be floating upward.

Even on the brink of death, all Xiao Si could think about was pork knuckle.

“Woof! Woof!”

Just as everyone was at a loss, a bark sounded from outside the cave.

Dog Aotian walked in.

There was no hostility in its movements.

The human-like intelligence in its eyes caused the team members to exchange puzzled glances, unsure how to react.

Dog Aotian walked over to Xiao Si and looked at his dying state.

It remembered its former self.

Boss Lu had saved it.

And now, it would save someone else.

“Woof!”

Along with the bark, a pork knuckle appeared before everyone’s eyes.

This was the protective charm Boss Lu had left for it in Myriad Poison Valley.

The pork knuckle could cure poison.

Eat it, and everything would be fine.

It urged Scarface to hurry.