| GB | Blood | 7
After chatting idly with Huo Duo’er for a while in the evening, Yu Bai temporarily cast aside his feelings of discouragement and negativity, enjoying a night without dreams.
He had a rare good sleep and felt much better than the previous day, though his nose was still a bit congested.
So, early in the morning, he drank several bowls of hot water. As the warmth spread through his body, it alleviated some of the discomfort caused by the cold.
Huo Duo’er had woken up earlier than him and sat silently on the bed, seemingly just waiting for him with complete focus.
Feeling a bit guilty, Yu Bai stopped dawdling. He quickly dressed in his linen robe and straw shoes. “I’ll go prepare some food.”
Huo Duo’er’s gaze followed the small, moving gray figure, tracking him intently the entire time.
The meat and egg custard were soon ready.
Yu Bai noticed that after finishing the jam-glazed roasted meat, Huo Duo’er seemed to be silently savoring the taste. His lips curled into a small smile, but this brief moment of joy was quickly replaced by worry.
The pork he had received from a hunting trip with the orc of the tribe could have lasted him two to three months based on his usual consumption.
But now, with another mouth to feed, especially since Huo Duo’er’s appetite was far greater than his—his stored meat likely wouldn’t last through the month.
Right now, winter had yet to arrive, so he needed to find a way to store more meat.
The orcs wouldn’t be organizing another group to gather supplies this year, which meant he had to rely on himself to catch small prey in the nearby areas to replenish his stock.
Yu Bai had no hunting experience. His only option was to find time to ask A’Li for guidance or request him to take him along on a hunt.
He said, “I’ll head out for a bit. If A’Li isn’t around, I’ll be back soon.”
Huo Duo’er silently nodded. Yu Bai glanced at the man’s increasingly unkempt stubble, touched his own smooth chin, and thought that maybe he could find time to give him a shave.
He left quickly, but unfortunately, A’Li had already gone into the mountains before dawn with his older brother.
Muttering to himself, he sighed, “I was still a step too late.”
A’Li’s mother walked out from a shed and returned the stone jar he had used to bring her the fruit jam the day before, along with some edible bird eggs.
Grinning, she said, “Last night, I tried stewing the jam just like Bai said. I made a big pot of it, it was sweet and sour, perfect for dipping roasted meat. A’Li and his brother couldn’t get enough of it, and even the Yuan family next door came over to share.”
Yu Bai chuckled along with her. “As long as everyone likes it, that’s good.”
A’Li’s mother hesitated for a moment before asking, “Bai, you don’t mind if I share the recipe with Yuan’s family, do you?”
Yu Bai shook his head, indicating that he didn’t mind.
Near the wooden shed, in a pile of stones, he noticed some yellowish objects.
At first, he thought it was just dirt, but when he picked one up and wiped it clean, he was surprised. “Ginger?”
A’Li’s mother frowned. “What’s ginger?”
She glanced at the item in Yu Bai’s hand. “Oh, you mean this? That’s just a spicy root.”
Yu Bai’s curiosity deepened. “Where did you dig it up?”
A’Li’s mother replied, “A’Li and his older brother picked some up yesterday when they went to the Chizu tribe for trade. The smell was too strong for us, so we threw it away.”
Yu Bai hesitated for a second. “...Can I have it?”
A’Li’s mother looked puzzled. “Take all you want. Can you even eat these?”
Yu Bai didn’t take all of it, he left half behind.
"If you're cooking meat or stewing fish, you can wash this 'spicy root,' slice it, chop it up, and cook it together with the food. You'll be surprised by the results."
A’Li’s mother was skeptical.
Bai was too young, he was just a single sub-female without any real hunting skills.
But Bai always knew things they didn’t, so maybe he was right.
"Thank you for telling me this, Bai. I’ll try cooking meat that way next time..."
Yu Bai, delighted, carried the jar filled with bird eggs and wild ginger back to the stone house.
Just as he reached the doorway, he was startled to see Huo Duo’er standing in the courtyard.
He hurried his steps. “Why are you outside?!”
Upon closer look, he realized that Huo Duo’er was actually helping him sort out medicinal herbs.
The autumn wind was strong. When he had gone out earlier, the wind had picked up, blowing down many of the herbs he had left to dry on the stone wall.
Huo Duo'er, standing nearly as tall as the wall itself, steadied himself with one hand against the stones while his other muscular arm carefully searched for and rehung the fallen herbs.
Lowering his head slightly, his rough and unkempt face turned toward Yu Bai. “I need to move around a little.”
Then he explained, “I heard a noise and figured the herbs you set out had fallen, so I picked them up and put them back.”
Since Yu Bai often took herbal medicine, Huo Duo'er assumed these herbs were important to him and wanted to gather them quickly.
Yu Bai was momentarily speechless.
Looking around, he realized the courtyard was almost completely tidied up, Huo Duo'er had done most of the work.
He sincerely thanked him, “Thank you, Huo Duo'er. I really appreciate it.”
The weather still looked good, so today would be a great time to patch up the gaps in the roof.
Carrying the jar of bird eggs and wild ginger inside, Yu Bai then tied his hair up with a woven hemp string, revealing his fair and delicate face.
Standing in the sunlight like this made him feel a little uncomfortable. He stared at the dirt floor for a moment before finally lifting his head again.
“Huo Duo’er, I want to patch up the gaps in the roof. After that, I’ll boil some water for you to take a bath and shave your beard.”
Huo Duo’er frowned. “Bai, are you planning to climb up there yourself?”
He tried hard to make out the small figure in front of him, his voice laced with concern.
Yu Bai didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Today, he felt physically and mentally well, so he decided to get it done.
If he delayed any longer, the colder, windier days ahead would make it much harder.
In the orc tribe, families either lived together in groups or survived on their own. Since Yu Bai had chosen to live, he never intended to rely on anyone. There was always a first time for everything.
He picked up a bundle of wooden planks. “Huo Duo’er, can you hold these and pass them to me when I need them?”
Huo Duo’er took the wood from him, but Yu Bai quickly ran into an obstacle.
He needed to first lay the reinforced wooden sticks across the roof in an interwoven pattern, then layer leaves over them, and finally press everything down with stones to secure it.
The process required him to climb up and down the wooden ladder repeatedly, which was exhausting.
Huo Duo’er placed a firm hand on the ladder. “Bai, I’ll carry you.”
Yu Bai’s cheeks were flushed from exertion, his bright eyes catching the light. He didn’t quite catch what was said at first.
“…Huh?”
Huo Duo’er repeated, “Just tell me where to stand, and I’ll lift you up.”
Yu Bai hesitated. “But your injury…”
Huo Duo’er’s response was firm. “I’m fine.”
The giant race was taller than most orcs, and Huo Duo’er was nearly the height of the roof itself.
Yu Bai glanced at the unfinished rooftop. To speed up the process, he hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
In a soft voice, he said, “Let’s try. But if you feel any pain, put me down immediately.”
Huo Duo’er bent his knees into a crouch, resembling a massive lion preparing to spring.
“Bai, come here.”
As soon as Yu Bai stepped closer, he felt a firm grip around his knees and waist. In an instant, he was lifted onto Huo Duo’er’s shoulder, then repositioned to sit on the back of his neck.
Huo Duo’er’s deep voice rumbled, “Sit tight.”
“Ah—”
Yu Bai let out a small yelp. Afraid of falling, he instinctively squeezed his legs together, tightening his hold around the giant’s neck.
Huo Duo’er straightened up.
Yu Bai’s vision suddenly soared to a height he had never experienced before. The sudden shift left his ears burning.
Clinging to Huo Duo’er’s head, he couldn’t help but squirm slightly in discomfort.
“Please just put me down,” he muttered.
This felt way too strange.
“Bai, tell me where to go,” Huo Duo’er said, his grip steady on Yu Bai’s waist and legs.
Yu Bai was about to speak when Huo Duo’er’s voice interrupted him.
“Don’t move.”
His tone was slightly tense. Then he added, “Just tell me.”
Huo Duo’er found it difficult to shift his focus. The soft warmth pressing against the back of his neck made him stiffen with every slight movement.
Yu Bai carried a uniquely clean and warm scent, mixed with a faint hint of medicinal herbs.
Huo Duo’er forced himself to concentrate, beads of warm sweat forming on the bridge of his nose.
“Bai, speak.”
Yu Bai hesitated before finally saying, “…Take three steps to the left.”
The giant didn’t move: “...”
Annoyed, Yu Bai patted Huo Duo’er’s left arm. “Walk toward in this direction. Stop when I tell you to.”
Huo Duo’er focused on his instructions, moving steadily and smoothly.
Surprisingly, the roof repairs progressed faster than Yu Bai had expected.
When Yu Bai got down from Huo Duo’er’s shoulder, his ears were flushed a deep crimson, and his whole body felt warm.
Their gazes met, and Yu Bai found himself staring into Huo Duo’er’s dark yet somber eyes. Before he could think much further, he cleared his throat and raised his voice, “Huo Duo’er, sit down for a moment. Let me check if your wounds have opened.”
He tried to sound authoritative, but only his voice grew louder while his presence remained weak.
Huo Duo’er gave a low “Mm” in response and sat down in front of him.
Fortunately, after checking, Yu Bai found that not only were Huo Duo’er’s scars intact, but they were healing at an impressively rapid pace. His injuries had healed about seventy to eighty percent.
Yu Bai secretly exhaled in relief.
After the examination, both of them were drenched in sweat.
Yu Bai quickly said, “I’ll go boil some water,” before Huo Duo’er could respond. He hurried out and soon returned with water, heating up four pots in the stone stove.
He used one pot to wash up, then mixed the remaining three with cold water to create lukewarm water.
Huo Duo’er stood in the courtyard, pouring one basin of warm water after another over himself, scrubbing his hair and body thoroughly.
Afterward, Huo Duo’er took a piece of animal hide and wrapped it around his waist.
“Bai, I’m done washing.”
Yu Bai, hearing the movement, grabbed the stone knife and walked out of the stone house.
—
As evening approached, the sunlight was warm and dry.
Yu Bai sat on a stone step a few levels up, while Huo Duo’er sat in front of a lower stone.
The orc’s uninjured leg was bent slightly, revealing his thick, muscular thigh. The fur on his legs curled lightly, embodying the raw strength of a giant’s physique.
Yu Bai didn’t linger on the sight, focusing instead on Huo Duo’er’s face. He took the stone knife in his hand and began shaving the stubble from the Huo Duo’er’s face.
The stone knife wasn’t as sharp as modern scissors, and Yu Bai struggled to use it, occasionally tugging or pinching the skin. Huo Duo’er remained perfectly still, not making a sound.
The setting sun cast long shadows, and Yu Bai blew gently on the freshly shaved face.
“Done.”
Huo Duo’er turned his face back to its proper position, and Yu Bai remained silent for a while.
The giant in front of him had a strong presence.
Huo Duo’er’s hair, usually messy on his shoulders, was now neatly combed back, revealing his strong, defined features. His deep eyes, high nose, and the powerful, cold curve of his brows conveyed a sense of fierceness. His gaze was sharp, like that of a hawk, distant and piercing.
But his aura was one of maturity and composure. The blend of these two contradictory qualities felt entirely natural, as if they belonged together.
Yu Bai found himself feeling both intimidated and comforted by that aura, as if being by Huo Duo’er’s side brought an undeniable sense of safety.
He snapped out of his daze and suddenly noticed that Huo Duo’er seemed lost in thought as well.
“Eh?” Yu Bai said, tilting his head. “Huo Duo’er, what’s wrong?”
An orc's sense of smell and hearing were like their eyes.
Although Huo Duo’er couldn’t see, Yu Bai was so close to him that the clean, pleasant scent made his body tense with an increasing heat. His blood felt almost too hot to handle.
The animal hide wrapped around his waist bulged up,
Huo Duo’er took a small step back. “It’s nothing.”
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