Don't rub it, it's itchy.

The people captured by the collection team at the waterfall were locked up in an abandoned cave in the back mountain.

The cave is very hidden, and even the people from the Mu tribe have to grope for a while before they can find the entrance.

When Shen Nong arrived, the two brothers Niu Mu and Niu Shan from the hunting team were standing outside.

Although it was bright outside, the cave was very large and it became darker the further in we went.

Niu Mu asked someone to fetch a torch from the firebox, "Priest, there is someone inside."

As the road illuminated by the fire turned several corners, footsteps echoed in the empty cave.

When Shen Nong had begun to lose track of east, west, south and north, he finally saw the person who had been captured.

"Leopard Qiu?"

It’s no wonder Shen Nong was surprised. If he remembered correctly, Bao Qiu was a level seven orc warrior.

The gathering team consisted of unawakened teenagers, old men and children. The only one who could fight was Tu Dong, and he was only a first-level orc warrior.

Even if the entire collection team were put together, it would not be enough for Bao Qiu to defeat with just one punch.

How could Bao Qiu be caught by the collection team?

Looking at the unconscious Bao Qiu, Shen Nong asked, "Mao Cao, where did you find him at the waterfall? Tell me more about the situation at that time."

"In the fruit forest not far from the waterfall," Maocao recalled. "I was picking fruits at the time and saw a lot of fruit cores on the ground. There were also bloodstains on the grass nearby. I followed the bloodstains and found the man."

So, he was seriously injured before meeting the collection team?

Shen Nong took the torch and looked at Bao Qiu in the light of the fire.

Only then could one see clearly that Bao Qiu had numerous injuries, big and small, and his left leg was twisted in a strange posture.

Bao Qiu was seriously injured and was hanging on to his last breath.

If the collection team hadn't brought him back, he would probably have died outside.

…

Bao Qiu, who was in the deep darkness and coldness, felt a source of heat.

He slowly opened his eyes, and the firelight came into view.

The priest of the Wood tribe was looking at him through the firelight. Bao Qiu suddenly opened his eyes wide and leaned forward, trying to see more clearly.

Only then did he realize that his hands and legs were tied up with vines and he couldn't move at all.

Shen Nong was a little surprised by Bao Qiu's reaction. Why was this guy so excited to see him?

The look didn't seem like one seeking revenge, but more like someone in trouble grabbing a lifeline.

Pray, desire.

Bao Qiu realized that he was tied up, so he stopped struggling and confirmed Shen Nong's identity again and again, "Mu tribe priest, are you Mu tribe priest?"

Shen Nong was really curious about Bao Qiu's reaction. He raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Help me, please help me." Bao Qiu said anxiously, "They are all dying. As long as you help me, I will do anything you want!"

Shen Nong listened to the incoherent words and frowned, "Who is dying? What can I help you with? Explain clearly."

Bao Qiu wanted Shen Nong's help and did not hide anything. "At the beginning, I led people to chase you and snatch the salt stone for exchange. Mang Lin said that the Beast God was furious because of this, and half of the salt mountain of the Salt Department was taken away."

"He wanted to send all those who were chased after to the cannibals to be used as meat to appease the wrath of the beast god. The priest didn't want the tribe to lose too many people, so he helped to plead for mercy, and finally Mang Lin agreed to send only me."

Salt mountain?

Shen Nong sniffed. The disappearance of the Salt Mountain was not a punishment from the Beast God...

"So, the Salt Department was punished by the Beast God..."

Before Shen Nong finished his analysis, Bao Qiu said with disdain, "In the past, the Salt Department has also taken back a lot of salt and stone in exchange, and the Beast God did not punish us. The Beast God punished us because Mang Lin did not abide by the rules of the orcs' battle."

"After Mangshan was badly injured in the battle with you, I could sense that Manglin wanted to kill me because of this."

Bao Qiu taunted, "The disappearance of Yanshan finally gave him a reason to eliminate me and my entire hunting team. But due to the priest's plea, he couldn't kill everyone."

"But as long as the rest of the hunting team survives, it doesn't matter if I'm sent to be eaten by cannibals."

At this point, Bao Qiu frowned, "But Mangshan died the night before I was sent away, and Manglin refused to listen to the priest's advice and wanted my entire hunting team to be buried with him."

Recalling the torture of the other members of the hunting team, Bao Qiu showed a painful expression on his face. "Mang Lin fed them the blood of human priests, and broke their hands and feet and sent them to the cannibals to be used as meat."

"The deer grass and sheep wood had been sent to the cannibals. I was tied up at the time and could only watch helplessly. I couldn't do anything..."

Bao Qiu struggled out of the pain, staring at Shen Nong with pleading eyes, "Now that Mang Shan is dead, Mang Lin wants all the people in my hunting team to pay for his life."

"Given Mang Lin's character, his brother died after being severely injured by you, and he will not let the Wood Tribe go. Priest of the Wood Tribe, as long as you help me rescue the people in my hunting team, they will all be loyal to you."

Shen Nong pinched his brows. No matter how you look at it, this matter has nothing to do with him.

He did not respond to Bao Qiu's words, but looked at the injuries on Bao Qiu's body again.

"You are a level 7 orc warrior, yet you were injured by the Salt Tribe and turned into a cripple. The Wood Tribe is just a small tribe. Do you think I would risk saving people for you?"

Shen Nong continued to ask: "Besides, the Mu tribe still has to rely on the Salt Tribe to exchange salt and stone. Is it worth it because you are at odds with the Salt Tribe?"

Bao Qiu lowered his eyes and clenched his fists, as if he was making some important decision.

When he raised his eyes again, his expression was extremely firm, "As long as you help me, I can make a blood pact with you."

Shen Nong's face showed no emotion, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

The sound of knocking on the system was a little hurried, "What is a blood contract?"

After searching the database for keywords, the system quickly replied, "It is a unique spiritual contract between orcs and priests. The orc drips blood into the bloodstone and swears to conclude a blood contract with the priest. The priest drips another drop of blood and is bound to the priest."

[Once the blood covenant is established, the beast blood gene in the orc's body will prompt the orc to be loyal to the priest who formed the blood covenant with him, and there will be no possibility of betrayal.]

After the system finished reading the information, it glanced at Bao Qiu, who was tied up like a meat dumpling, and said, "Host, he is quite sincere. Why don't you accept him?"

Shen Nong blinked and asked, "If we accept his words, does he also count as one of the five level seven orcs mentioned in the mission?"

The system was a little stuck for a moment. It ticked for a long time but couldn't say a word of denial.

It finally understood that the host was using a bug again.

[In theory, any level 7 orc from the Wood Tribe will do.]

Shen Nong raised his eyebrows slightly, hiding his emotions. He held his elbow with one hand, tapped his temple with his fingertips, and looked at Bao Qiu without saying a word.

Bao Qiu didn't get a response from Shen Nong, and the hope in his eyes slowly faded. Lang Yu and the others tried their best to let him escape, hoping that he could go as far as possible.

But Langyu and the others wanted to save him, and he also wanted to save them.

If he wanted to save people, it would be impossible for him to do it alone. He needed to find a strong helper.

The priest of the Wood Tribe was the only person he could think of.

Every time he faced this person, he always felt that he was being controlled by the other party. Except for the priest of the Wood Tribe, no one else had ever made him feel this way.

If the priest of the Wood Tribe does not help him, there will be no one here who can fight against the Salt Tribe.

Bao Qiu held on to his breath along the way with the belief that he would meet the priest of the Wood Tribe. He knew that the other party was more likely to reject him than to agree to him.

But since he hadn't heard the rejection himself, he would always think in his mind, what if the answer was yes?

Bao Qiu realized from Shen Nong's silence that his conditions did not impress the other party.

He knew that the other party would not help him, so he had to plead: "If the priest does not help me, let me go. I want to save them..."

Shen Nong took a look at Bao Qiu and said mercilessly: "Go to the Salt Department to rescue people? Relying on a half-crippled person like you?"

Bao Qiu said firmly: "If we can't save him, we'll die together."

"You are kind and righteous."

Shen Nong squatted down, lifted up Bao Qiu's face and looked at him carefully.

Bao Qiu has deep facial features and a straight nose. Although he can't compare with Ze, he is still pleasing to the eye.

Shen Nong has liked good-looking people since he was a child, whether they are people or things.

As the first person to form a blood pact with him, I can't be too ugly.

After Shen Nong had seen enough, he spoke up, "You can ask me to save people, but you have to agree to one condition. The orcs who are rescued and above level five must form a blood pact with me."

Bao Qiu's chin was held up by Shen Nong the whole time, his body was tied up, and his neck was very sore.

Hearing Shen Nong's words, his bitter face immediately brightened up, and he promised: "Don't worry, priest, they all listen to me, and they will definitely sign a blood contract with you!"

Shen Nong was very satisfied with Bao Qiu's answer. As soon as he stood up, a warm big hand held his wrist.

Ze lowered his head and held Shen Nong's wrist with one hand, and with the other hand held the soft and clean animal skin, carefully wiping the fingertips of Shen Nong that had touched Bao Qiu.

Shen Nong felt the warmth of the skin and the strong force coming from his wrist, as well as the soft and delicate touch of fur at his fingertips.

The fur brushed across his fingertips, and Shen Nong slightly retracted his fingertips to avoid the animal skin falling from Ze's hands.

Ze looked at Shen Nong, whose handsome face still contained some annoyance and confusion.

Shen Nong seemed to be aware of Ze's action, like a large dog guarding its food, but he couldn't grasp the point and always felt that something was wrong.

He couldn't figure it out, so he just gave up thinking about it. He looked at Ze's handsome face and said with interest, "Why are you angry? You touched my wrist, too. How about you wipe it for me?"

After hearing this, Ze was slightly stunned, and then lowered his head again. He obediently let go of Shen Nong's hand and wiped Shen Nong's wrist with animal skin.

Shen Nong couldn't see Ze's face, and didn't know what the other person's expression was. He didn't bother to think about it. His senses were focused on his wrist. After enduring for a while, Shen Nong couldn't bear it anymore.

He grabbed Ze's hand and stopped him from moving.

Shen Nong's tone was soft and imperceptible, "Don't rub it, it's itchy."