| GB | Vision Restored | 10
Yu Bai had only said it casually, but didn’t expect Huo Duo’er to actually obey him that he even shifting his gaze to the other side.
Yu Bai: “…”
He pressed his lips together. For some reason, his mood brightened, and he curved his eyes slightly with a faint smile.
A’Jiao stared in surprise.
Yu Bai said, “Can you tell me what’s going on?”
A’Jiao explained everything about Wu Yan and Wu Zhui in detail, her eyes filled with pleading.
“Bai, if you were able to save other orcs, then you must have a way to heal them too, right?”
“Wu Yan asked me to come beg you for help. If you have a way, we’re willing to offer you something in return. Just name it, it can be whatever you want.”
Yu Bai had been worrying about things just a few days ago. After hearing the female orc’s words, he was moved: “Alright, I can go take a look.”
Then he added, “If there’s a way to heal them, I’d like to trade for something with you.”
A’Jiao immediately nodded. “Of course! That’s exactly what Wu Yan instructed.”
Yu Bai planned to go with A’Jiao to check the situation. As he turned back, ready to leave a few words for Huo Duo’er, the latter unexpectedly said he’d go out with him.
“…,” Yu Bai hesitated a bit. “But your eyes…”
Huo Duo’er felt around by the door and found a wooden stick, then handed one end to Yu Bai.
Yu Bai couldn’t help but laugh.
“Alright, I’ll lead you.”
The two of them headed out one after the other. Yu Bai walked very carefully, always avoiding stones or potholes on the road and turning back to warn Huo Duo’er whenever needed.
A’Jiao, who was walking ahead and leading the way, kept glancing back at them again and again.
Yu Bai thought she was getting impatient from waiting and apologized, “Sorry, his eyesight isn’t great at the moment. I have to guide him.”
A’Jiao looked embarrassed and quickly explained.
“No, I’m not upset…”
She had just never seen a sub-female and a male orc get along so well before.
Moreover, the male orc following behind was from the Giant Tribe, many other orc tribes would avoid him in fear.
Yet the sub-female in front of her didn’t seem to mind at all. A’Jiao quickly looked away, not daring to stare any longer.
Even though that giant orc couldn’t see, he still gave off an overwhelmingly intense pressure that made her uneasy.
When they arrived at A’Jiao’s wooden hut, the moment they stepped inside, they saw Wu Yan and Wu Zhui, lying on a wooden bed.
A’Jiao’s eyes immediately turned red. “They fell from the mountain and have been like this ever since. Their legs won’t move at all.”
This wooden shelter was more spacious than the stone huts. Yu Bai settled Huo Duo’er down in a resting spot, then stepped forward to examine the father and son’s injuries.
After about fifteen minutes, Yu Bai came to a conclusion.
“Their legs are broken.”
There were still traces of bruising where rocks and branches had scraped their skin. Fortunately, the swelling had gone down a lot over the past few days, though the area around the wounds was still red and inflamed.
He needed to apply fresh medicine as soon as possible, and also splint their legs with some wooden boards for proper alignment.
A’Jiao moved quickly, taking down a basket of herbs hanging from the roof beam.
“Bai, can these herbs be used?”
Yu Bai walked over and looked through the herbs, then shook his head.
“These are all common grasses from around here. They’re decent for stopping bleeding, but if I can find some oak fern in the nearby mountains, it’ll be much more effective for treating bone fractures and injuries.”
Wu Yan’s family looked confused. “What’s that?”
Yu Bai replied gently, “You’ll understand once I bring it back.”
He originally planned to go collect the herbs himself, but just as he reached the door, two voices rang out from inside the hut.
Huo Duo’er: “Bai, I’ll go with you.”
A’Jiao: “I…”
Just as Huo Duo’er finished speaking, her voice instantly softened, “To help you…”
Having more help was always better, so Yu Bai didn’t turn them down.
He found the firepit in Wu Yan’s house, took out a piece of charcoal, and squatted down to draw a plant on the ground.
“This is called oak fern. It usually grows on rocks or large trees. Its leaves look like feathers, splitting into fine threads, and the area around the roots is covered in golden-yellow scales.”
Yu Bai looked at A Jiao and said, “You check around the nearby rocks, if you find any, harvest the roots. I’ll search on the trees.”
As he spoke, he glanced up at Huo Duo’er and couldn’t help but feel a bit impressed.
Being tall really was useful.
—
After splitting up, they wandered around the area for a while.
Yu Bai had jumped under a tree several times, each time with a quiet and slightly embarrassed little grunt.
“Huo Duo’er, I think there’s oak fern growing up near the top of the tree. Can you lift me up to take a look?”
Huo Duo’er replied, “Alright.”
As soon as he spoke, Yu Bai felt a sudden tightness around his waist and hips, his whole body stiffening for a second, then he was steadily lifted up, close to the treetop.
Yu Bai exhaled the breath he’d been holding in his chest, stretched his arm out to reach, but came up just a bit short.
He placed his hand lightly on the back of Huo Duo’er’s neck and said in a soft voice, “Go forward about four more steps.”
The tree was indeed quite tall, but since they were on a slope and Huo Duo’er was so tall himself, lifting Yu Bai onto his shoulders and shifting just a few steps was enough to get him within reach of the tree’s crown.
He examined carefully, the lips he had pressed together curving into a faint smile. “There really is oak fern growing here.”
Yu Bai harvested everything within reach, arms full of the plant’s rhizomes, and led Huo Duo’er back to Wu Yan’s wooden hut.
Not long after, A’Jiao returned empty-handed, looking so anxious she was on the verge of tears.
Yu Bai took some clean water from a stone jar, washed the oak fern roots, then held them up and gave them a little shake, sending droplets flying.
“Don’t worry. I found some on the treetop. This should be enough. Go prepare a few wooden boards, shave the surfaces and edges smooth. Also, bring some hemp rope and clean cloth. We’ll need them soon.”
A’Jiao wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, laughing and crying at the same time, then quickly went off to do as he asked.
The items Yu Bai requested were all common and easy to gather. A’Jiao had everything ready in no time.
Yu Bai sat on a wooden stool, carefully grinding the oak fern roots. Every now and then, he turned slightly, eyes drifting through the loose strands of hair falling over his face, quietly watching Huo Duo’er.
He explained softly, “I used oak fern for you last time too, but we ran out of what I’d previously collected.”
Huo Duo’er’s gaze seemed to settle on him. “From now on, I’ll take care of gathering these things.”
Yu Bai smiled faintly, but didn’t take those words to heart.
How long could a “from now on” really last?
Huo Duo’er still had tribesmen out there. Once he recovered, he’d surely leave to reunite with them.
Yu Bai didn’t ask, and he wouldn’t try to keep him either. As long as Huo Duo’er didn’t leave just yet, being friends for the time being was good enough.
Yu Bai entered the hut and applied the oak fern poultice to Wu Yan and Wu Zhui. His voice was gentle: “Pass me the cloth.”
A’Jiao handed it over.
Once the medicine was applied, Yu Bai continued, “Now the boards.”
A’Jiao brought the wooden boards she had smoothed down. Yu Bai took them, positioned them against the broken parts of the orc’s legs, and then used the hemp rope to tie everything in place, securing the splints.
Meeting A’Jiao’s tear-reddened eyes, Yu Bai paused for a moment. Then he lowered his head slightly and spoke to the father and son on the bed: “You’re both still young. There’s a good chance you’ll recover fully, but… there’s a small risk of lasting effects.”
A Jiao pressed him, voice trembling: “You mean they might not get better?”
Yu Bai spoke gently, “There’s a chance they might end up lame.”
Wu Yan's face darkened, but he said nothing. Wu Zhui immediately cried out, “Mother, Father, I don’t want a lame leg—”
Wu Yan snapped irritably, “Enough! What’s more important, your life or your legs?!”
One glare from his father, and Wu Zhui clamped his mouth shut instantly.
Yu Bai left them with a few things to be mindful of during recovery. After finishing, he directly took Huo Duo’er’s hand and led him out. Not long after, A’Jiao came behind.
She smiled through teary eyes. “Thank you so much, Bai.”
Yu Bai replied, “I’m leaving the oak fern with you. Remember to change the dressing once a day.”
A’Jiao nodded quickly, overwhelmed. “Really, thank you, Bai. Thank you so much.”
Yu Bai tightened his grip on Huo Duo’er’s fingers slightly. His voice softened all of a sudden, and a faint blush flickered across his face.
Huo Duo’er gently tightened his grip in return, his palm firm and warm. Yu Bai felt as if some unseen strength was flowing into him through that touch.
He looked at A’Jiao, and finally voiced something he’d been too embarrassed to say a moment ago.
“I’d like to trade for some animal hides. Winter’s almost here, and I don’t even have two decent ones to keep warm. I was wondering if you might have any spares?”
Animal hides and meat were often collected among orcs, especially for storage. Wu Yan, being in his prime and a strong male orc, along with Wu Zhui, who had already grown up often hunted in the deeper parts of the wild.
Over the past few years, they had taken down quite a few large beasts.
With three orcs in their family, each owning four or five hides, giving Yu Bai one or two wouldn’t be much of a loss.
So A’Jiao went back into the house to ask Wu Yan. Not long after, she returned with two hides made the year before, and a freshly tanned fur cloak from just before autumn. She handed them all to Yu Bai.
The cloak retained the wild beast’s natural brown fur on the outside, and the inside had been thoroughly cleaned by A’Jiao. It felt soft and supple to the touch.
Yu Bai was a little stunned. “You’re giving me such a new hide?”
A’Jiao smiled and nodded. “Mm, Wu Yan insisted. I’m just following his lead. Go ahead and accept it.”
Yu Bai only accepted three hides from them, which was not much.
If they had sought treatment from a priest, the offerings would’ve cost far more than just a few hides.
—
On the way back, Yu Bai cradled the newly acquired furs in his arms, deliberately stepping on the crisp, dry leaves piled along the roadside. They made soft, crackling sounds beneath his feet.
Huo Duo’er held firmly onto one end of his walking stick. “Bai is happy?”
Yu Bai didn’t deny it.
He ran his hand over the fresh pelts, already thinking through how to make the best use of them.
One could be used to cover Huo Duo’er while he rested. Another could be cut and sewn into a proper beast robe.
It was deep autumn now. The days were sunny, but the nights had become cold.
Huo Duo’er usually wore only a simple hemp robe, which was barely enough. But with his towering height, the robe only reached down to his knees—making it look somewhat ridiculous.
Yu Bai’s gaze drifted to the lower half of the other’s legs—those knees and calves, strong and well-shaped, muscles lean and even. The hair on his skin looked dense and lightly curled...
As he watched, he silently withdrew his gaze.
They returned to the small hut just after midday.
Yu Bai took out the animal hides to air them in the sun. The sunlight at this time was dry but not too harsh, making it the most pleasant part of the day.
He moved a wooden stool to the side of the eaves, where the light filtered in from the side. Sitting down, he squinted against the rays, feeling a warmth spread through his body.
Yu Bai called out into the house, “I’m feeling a little sleepy. I'll take a short nap.”
Then, with a gentle smile, he added, “Huo Duo’er, basking in the sun is good for your health. Come join me.”
Huo Duo’er filled a bowl with water, holding it carefully with one hand while leaning on the wall to steady himself as he stepped outside.
He intended to hand the bowl to Yu Bai, but as he reached the doorway, the dim haze of his vision suddenly brightened, and a sharp pain shot through his eyes.
Huo Duo’er braced himself against the stone wall, gasping for breath as the veins in the back of his head throbbed painfully.
The air around the yard was filled with the scent of herbs and dryness, but there was also a distinct aroma, a mix of sweetness and warmth with a slight tang.
Huo Duo’er instinctively wanted to get a better whiff. He opened his eyes wide, trying to trace the scent’s origin, and in that moment, his gaze landed on the sight of the young sub-female leaning against the wooden chair, basking in the sunlight.
—
Yu Bai had tied his long, loose hair up behind his head for more comfort while sunbathing. The soft, black strands shimmered in the sunlight, giving off a gentle glow.
He squinted his eyes, as if lost in a beautiful dream. His long, thick lashes rested against his eyelids, and his brows and eyes curved gently, giving him an almost serene expression.
Huo Duo’er froze in place.
So, Bai was actually such a small young sub-female.
So delicate and frail, it seemed almost unbelievable. His skin was pale, his hair softer than water, and his eyes were like two crescent moons in the sky.
Huo Duo’er endured the sharp pain in his eyes, reluctant to close them for a moment.
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