| GB | Flower | 4
The next day, Yu Bai shivered as he climbed out of bed. Wrapped in a beast hide, he stood at the front of the courtyard. The sky was overcast, and he felt drained of energy.
After waking up, Yu Bai ate a piece of fruit and a flatbread, then chewed on some medicinal herbs. Even as the medicine took effect, his head remained foggy, and his limbs ached terribly.
He didn’t force himself to stay awake and instead carried his fur back inside to continue sleeping.
By the time Yu Bai opened his eyes again, it was almost noon. The morning’s gloom and chill had faded, and the sunlight had grown more intense.
The sun illuminated the broken parts of the house, brightening the interior. He took a moment to adjust to the light before slowly putting on his straw sandals.
As usual, he first checked the giant orc’s breath on the stone bed, then sluggishly made his way outside.
Taking advantage of the good sunlight, he carried a basket out of the house and sat down in front of a small wooden stump.
Yu Bai carefully sorted through the medicinal herbs he had gathered earlier, hanging them in bundles on the relatively intact stone wall to dry.
Once these herbs dried, he planned to trade them with the orcs for some supplies.
He had a small appetite and didn’t eat much. What a single orc consumed in a day could last him three to five days.
Since Yu Bai lacked hunting skills, what he most wanted to trade for was animal hides.
Autumn was setting in, and after that, the wildlife would only grow colder. The two beast hides he had wouldn’t last him long.
Of course, this was just wishful thinking.
For orcs, survival revolved around food and reproduction. Supplies for resisting the cold were extremely valuable to them.
Yu Bai didn’t hold much hope for trading herbs for hides, but doing something was better than doing nothing. At the very least, he could try.
A'Li and a few young beastmen had gone out to gather supplies. On their way back, they passed by the small courtyard. Through the broken wall, they spotted Yu Bai drying herbs and called out to him.
“Bai—”
Yu Bai turned his head, his mud-streaked fingers appearing starkly pale under the sunlight. He waved. “A'Li.”
A'Li stopped outside the wall. “The weather’s turning cold. Instead of drying so many herbs, why not come with us and gather more food?”
Yu Bai replied, “I want to trade herbs for supplies.”
He asked again, “Is there any beastman willing to trade hides with me?”
A'Li frowned, and the orcs beside him chimed in one after another.
Most orcs wouldn’t trade something as precious as animal hides for mere herbs.
When orcs fell ill, they would tough it out. Only when they couldn’t endure any longer would they seek the priest.
A'Li came up with an idea.
“The priest treats orcs from all the tribes. Why don’t you go to the main city and ask if he needs them? If you're lucky, you might be able to trade for some hides.”
After hearing the suggestion, Yu Bai figured he would have to visit the Grand Priest another day.
A nearby orc asked, puzzled, “Are you still keeping that dying giant?”
A'Li added, “Bai, that giant is already dead. Keeping him around will add to your burden.”
Yu Bai was so thin that even supporting himself was a challenge, yet he was using his energy to care for a giant orc. A'Li strongly disapproved of his decision.
Another orc echoed, “Just leave him.”
Yu Bai braced himself against the wall with his left hand and took a few steps, gazing at the shadow on the ground.
“That giant still has a breath left. I’ll keep treating him a little longer.”
Back when the old gray sheep orc brought him back, he had also been unconscious for days. But even while lying in that room, he could still hear the sounds around him.
Many orcs had thought the old gray sheep orc was meddling too much, convinced that Yu Bai wouldn’t survive and urged him to abandon him.
Yet, despite lying there for so long, he had managed to pull through.
Thinking of the giant who had been lying inside for days, Yu Bai pressed his lips together. His voice was soft but firm. “Let’s wait a few more days.”
A'Li scratched his head, momentarily at a loss for words.
The other orcs all thought the same thing: This sub-female is too foolish. He’s taking on something way beyond his ability. That giant is too gravely injured, there’s no way he’ll survive.
—
After finishing hanging the herbs, Yu Bai spent the afternoon standing in the courtyard, soaking in the sun and stretching his limbs occasionally.
His body warmed up, and while he still had some strength, he lifted the pot’s lid, took out four steaming hot flatbreads, wrapped them in leaves, and then headed out once more.
Yu Bai gave A'Li a few flatbreads made from fine bean flour and asked him to take him around the safer areas near the tribe. At the same time, he planned to gather large leaves and wooden sticks.
Half of his roof was still exposed, making it easy for wind to seep through. It wasn’t too bad during the day when the sun was out, but as the nights grew windier, he needed to patch up the roof to keep warm.
Since Yu Bai wasn’t familiar with the surroundings of the tribe, A'Li guided him while explaining which areas were safe during the day and which places he should never enter alone.
Yu Bai responded softly, bending down to bundle the gathered sticks with vines.
Tying the wooden sticks together was a laborious task, and with his limited strength, he had to stop after a while, sitting down to catch his breath.
A'Li couldn’t stand watching him struggle and stepped in to help. “I’ll do it.”
“What do you need so much wood for?”
Yu Bai replied, “The roof is leaking. I’ll use these to cover it.”
A'Li glanced at Yu Bai’s hands, nearly scratched by a branch. Unlike any orc’s rough and strong hands, his were pale and slender, looking as if they might break with just a little force.
A'Li opened his mouth slightly but hesitated to speak.
In truth, weak sub-females like Yu Bai were rare and often looked down upon by orcs. He needed companions to take care of him, and it would be best for him to find a strong orc to partner with.
But A'Li also knew that Yu Bai didn’t like being around other orcs. Aside from himself, who could get somewhat close to him, Yu Bai always kept to himself.
A sub-female who was both independent and physically weak was even less favored by the orcs.
A'Li let out a long sigh. Yu Bai, thinking he was tired, reached out to take over the task.
A'Li quickly tightened the vine around the bundle. “You just rest.”
Yu Bai lowered his face slightly, his slightly long bangs covering his eyes. Feeling a little embarrassed, he murmured, “Thank you for the trouble.”
A'Li grinned. “Bai, how could you call it trouble? You gave me some flatbreads, these are fresh and delicious! I’ll bring them back for my father and the others to try.”
Yu Bai turned his face slightly away, his brows curving subtly beneath his bangs.
When they finally returned carrying two bundles of large leaves and wooden sticks, Yu Bai took the initiative to keep A'Li a little longer.
“Thanks for helping. If you’re not in a rush to go back, I’ll make something for you to eat.”
A'Li scratched his ear, then patted the flatbreads hanging at his waist. He couldn't help but swallow and chuckle. “Alright!”
Stretching his neck, he curiously asked, “Bai, what are you making?”
Yu Bai carried out half a basket of fruit and cut a piece of meat.
“Fruit jam roasted meat,” he replied.
A'Li didn’t seem too excited. “Roasted meat, huh…”
Orcs ate roasted meat all the time—it was the most common food they had.
Yu Bai simply said, “You’ll understand once you taste it.”
Hearing this, A'Li perked up and eagerly helped him start the fire.
Yu Bai took out the fruits and first peeled them with a stone knife. Then, he washed them clean and sliced them open.
He chose two types of fruit—one called bobo fruit, which had a slightly sour taste, and another called taotao fruit, which was sweet when ripe.
He diced the fruit into small pieces and placed them into a stone pot to simmer, without adding any extra seasoning.
The thick, simmering fruit jam released a rich, sweet-and-sour aroma. A'Li couldn’t stop swallowing, his mouth watering as he widened his eyes in curiosity. “Why does it smell so good?!”
Yu Bai chuckled, pouring the cooked fruit jam into a drained stone jar before moving on to prepare the roasted meat.
Finding his hair too long and in the way, he tucked the strands behind his ears, fully revealing his face.
By now, the evening sun had begun to set. The golden-red glow of dusk cast a soft, warm hue over the side of his face.
A'Li glanced up and found himself staring. Yu Bai’s face was small and pale, his eyes dark and glossy, and his lips were tiny, looking incredibly soft.
At that moment, Yu Bai was focused on slicing the meat, his lips slightly pressed together. He looked softer and more delicate than the most beautiful flowers in spring.
It was the first time A'Li had seen Yu Bai’s face so clearly up close. He blinked dumbly, his pointed brown ears poking out from his curly hair, gave an involuntary twitch. He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
—
Yu Bai threaded the cut meat onto wooden skewers and placed them over the fire to roast. As the meat sizzled, oil dripped down, releasing a slightly gamey scent.
A'Li was used to the taste of roasted meat—after all, orcs ate it all the time.
Once Yu Bai saw that the meat was cooked just right, he used a pig-hair brush to coat it with a layer of the simmered fruit jam, then handed a skewer to A'Li.
“Try it.”
A'Li sniffed the meat and asked, “What kind of way of eating is this?”
Before waiting for an answer, he caught a drop of sauce with his tongue and took a big bite of the sizzling, juicy meat.
“...!”
His eyes lit up in astonishment, and he nearly chewed the wooden skewer clean along with the meat.
He smacked his lips. “This is amazing!”
Normally, roasted meat was only dusted with some salty bean flour at most. But with the fruit jam, the natural flavor of the meat was infused with a sweet and tangy richness. It was delicious, cut through the greasiness, and even got rid of most of the gamey taste.
Yu Bai continued brushing fruit jam onto the freshly roasted meat and handing it to A'Li.
Realizing he had been eating non stop, A'Li blushed in embarrassment and said, “Don’t just focus on me, Bai, you should eat too.”
Yu Bai smiled faintly and, at his own pace, roasted some meat for himself.
As the sun set, Yu Bai finished eating a few skewers and began cleaning up. He also lit some insect-repelling herbs to keep the mosquitoes away.
A'Li helped Yu Bai move the pot into the house, and stretched his neck to peer inside.
“Bai, do you really think the giant will survive?”
Yu Bai, who was outside boiling water, replied with a quiet, “I’m not sure.”
If the giant passed away, he’d bury him on a nearby mountain, picking a spot where the sunlight was good—close to the old gray sheep orc, perhaps, as neighbors.
As night began to fall, A'Li knew it was getting late, and he couldn’t stay much longer.
He saved several skewers of fruit jam roasted meat and quickly headed home to let his father and brothers try them.
When he arrived, his older brother frowned. “You went to see that sub-female again?”
A'Li nodded, holding up the skewers. “Big brother, try this roasted meat. Bai made it!”
A'Li also took the flatbreads from his waist and handed them over. "And here are some flatbreads!"
His father and mother quickly gathered around, eager to try.
A'Li spoke up, “Father, do you look down on Bai too? Actually, Bai can not only help with treating injuries, his cooking is amazing. Just try a bite, you’ll see.”
He added, “The giant orc Bai saved last time is still alive.”
Though Yu Bai wasn’t sure if the giant would make it, A'Li found himself inexplicably believing in him.
His mother took a bite of the roasted meat and let out a surprised sound.
His father and older brother both asked at the same time, “What’s wrong?”
A'Li smiled and teased, “It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
His mother asked, “How did he make this meat? I’ve never had anything like this in the tribe before.”
A'Li licked his lips, his expression full of satisfaction as he recalled the taste.
He had barely eaten enough earlier but wanted to share this delicious roasted meat with his family, so he had forced himself to stop before he was fully satisfied.
“Bai made it with fruit, he cut it up and cooked it, then spread it on the meat,” A'Li explained.
His mother nodded. “That’s quite unique.”
His father asked, “That giant didn’t die?”
A'Li nodded. “And I heard that A'Luo and the others’ injuries are healing too. Bai helped stop their bleeding.”
His older brother frowned and said, “You should find a female orc in the future, it's best to stay away from him. Don’t spend too much time with him.”
A'Li stammered, “Big brother, what are you saying...”
—
Yu Bai had no idea what A'Li’s family was discussing about him. After he finished boiling some water, he wrapped himself up in his beast hide while he was still warm.
He was exhausted, and tears welled up in his eyes as sleepiness overtook him. Before he drifted off, he thought he saw the unconscious giant move slightly. He assumed it was just an illusion and didn’t think much of it.
The next day, Yu Bai slowly crawled out of bed, wrapping himself tightly in his beast hide like a cocoon. He rubbed his red, runny nose, sneezing a few times before drinking some hot water to warm himself.
As the dryness in his throat subsided, Yu Bai remembered the giant lying on the stone bed. He poured another half-bowl of hot water, letting it cool a little before preparing to feed him.
Upon checking the giant’s body, Yu Bai was surprised to see that the wounds had already started to scab over, it was healing much faster than expected.
Just as Yu Bai was about to feed the giant the water from the bowl, his wrist suddenly tightened. A large, rough hand gripped his wrist firmly.
The muscular arm, covered in intricate flower tattoos, the patterns seeming to shift and move as if they might tear through the skin.
Yu Bai was startled, his body freezing in shock as he quickly looked up.
In that moment of fear, his eyes met the wild, beast-like gaze of the giant.
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