| GB | Three Rules | 24
The firelight wasn't bright, but even so, the young man who spoke still tightly covered his burning face, afraid that the giant would see his embarrassed expression.
He buried his face in the animal hide, not daring to look at Huo Duo'er’s expression.
"Bai, did you say..."
Huo Duo'er hesitated, thinking he had misheard, but seeing the young sub-female's reaction, it didn’t seem like he had.
After a moment, Yu Bai mumbled something into the animal hide and stammered as he asked again.
“W-would you be willing to form a bond with me?”
Yu Bai's ears and neck were burning hot, and he hid his little face, causing him to miss the obvious shock in the giant’s expression. The arm wrapped around him was even bulging with veins.
Huo Duo'er's chest rose and fell rapidly. After calming down a bit, he thought for a moment and responded in a deep voice, “Alright.”
“...Eh?!”
Yu Bai pulled his flushed face out from the covers, not expecting the giant to agree—let alone so quickly.
“Huo Duo'er, you... you’re not even going to think it over?”
“Was that what you were thinking about just now?”
So that’s why he barely ate anything during dinner, and avoided him every time they crossed paths.
The whole evening, Huo Duo'er had been looking for a chance to talk, but Yu Bai kept dodging him, preferring to bury himself silently in the animal hide rather than meet his eyes.
Yu Bai answered weakly, “...Yeah.”
He watched Huo Duo'er’s expression carefully, then lifted the hide, straightened his back, and sat upright. He licked his lips, his face full of hesitation, and finally opened his mouth after carefully choosing his words.
“Today, I overheard some sub-females saying that the main city of the tribe is recruiting warrior orcs again. As long as a strong male orc chooses a mate and forms a bond, they can be given land in the city.”
Yu Bai lowered his gaze, drawing his knees up and fidgeting with his fingers on top of them.
“The stone house we’re living in is too worn down. It’s small and cramped too. After the old house was damaged, I haven’t been much help. You’ve been working all day, and when I saw you out there cleaning up in the snow this afternoon, I suddenly started thinking about other possibilities.”
The words stuck in Yu Bai’s throat became clearer the more he spoke. Once he broke the initial barrier, it became much easier to continue.
“If I form a bond with you, we’ll have a chance to move into the main city and get access to better resources.”
“Huo Duo'er, I went to take a look and saw that the orcs in the city are doing well. The environment there is more stable, there are proper houses and vegetable plots. Even if a storm hits, the houses won’t collapse. We won’t have to worry about losing everything we built so hard, and you won’t have to brave the freezing wind and snow just to repair things.”
“I-I don’t want you to work so hard…”
He quickly added, “I know we don’t have that kind of emotional foundation, so none of this has to mean anything like that. Forming a bond between us would be more like a partnership, we can be good friends, like brothers, helping and looking after each other. The important thing is to get through this winter safely first. We can figure out the rest later.”
The giant said nothing, and Yu Bai felt increasingly uneasy.
Trying to calm the wild thumping of his heart, he went on speaking.
“I’m saying all this not to tie you down, you don’t have to feel any burden in your heart. In the future… Whether you want to leave or stay, either is fine. Or if… you meet another orc you truly like, you can choose to end the bond. I won’t pester you.”
Huo Duo'er: “…”
Yu Bai’s face drooped lower and lower. “At the end of the day, it’s just a cooperative relationship. There’s no need to fulfill any of the usual obligations of a bonded pair.”
He knew Huo Duo'er probably wouldn’t stay here long. After this winter, he might leave, maybe to reunite with his clan.
They were never meant to walk a long road together.
Yu Bai forced himself to stay composed, putting on a look that said he understood everything.
Even if they parted ways one day, having met someone as dependable and sincere as Huo Duo'er, he would remember it for the rest of his life. He would never forget.
He quietly lifted his gaze, trying to read Huo Duo'er’s expression.
But after a long moment, there was nothing to be seen, and he couldn’t figure out what the giant was thinking either.
“What do you think, Huo Duo'er?”
Then again, he thought it would be perfectly understandable if the other rejected him.
After all, this was just a one-sided proposal for cooperation. And someone like Huo Duo'er, such a strong and capable male orc, would surely have a wonderful female as his mate someday.
In the silence that followed, Huo Duo'er gave a small nod.
Yu Bai's tightly pressed lips finally relaxed, and his slightly damp eyes curved with a hint of relief.
“...So you’re agreeing?”
Huo Duo'er: “Mm.”
Yu Bai let out the breath he’d been holding in his chest, and in that moment, his whole demeanor softened completely, docile, quiet, and entirely well-behaved.
“Alright. Thank you for agreeing.” Yu Bai spoke gently, with warmth in his voice.
“Honestly, after forming the bond, things won’t really be any different from how they are now. The place we live in will be better, but nothing else has to change.”
He continued softly, almost like he was trying to reassure both of them.
“All the resources we get, we’ll share them.”
“There’s no need to fulfill... any obligations in bed. We can absolutely sleep separately. That won’t change either.”
“If you end up liking a female, you don’t have to hide it from me. I won’t be upset.”
Yu Bai blurted all of this out in a rush. His heart should’ve felt lighter afterward.
But for some reason, as he spoke the last few words, his voice grew quieter and quieter, and his mind began to wander to another question.
What kind of female would Huo Duo'er like?
Yu Bai stopped himself from thinking any further, after all, whoever the other chose to like was none of his business.
His wide, water-bright eyes lifted, locking with the gaze of the orc before him.
After saying so much, it was finally Huo Duo’er's turn to respond.
“Bai, I want to take care of you. After we become bonded, I will never abandon you. As for my clan, I always leave markers when I go out hunting. If they see them, they’ll definitely come looking for me.”
In the orc tribe, there were no flowery declarations of love, they rarely said things like “I like you.” In fact, the concept of "liking" hardly existed.
When an orc truly cared for their mate, what they showed was a lifelong commitment: to protect them, make sure they were warm and well-fed, and to eventually raise offspring together.
The firelight flickered, casting a warm glow on the misty, gentle look in Yu Bai’s eyes.
He smiled softly and said, “Then it’s settled.”
Huo Duo’er gently helped Yu Bai lie down, tucked the animal hide around him, and wrapped his own body around Yu Bai’s.
“Are you still cold like this?”
Yu Bai shook his head, resting against the orc’s broad, warm chest, and closed his eyes peacefully.
—
The next day, the sky was overcast and the cold wind howled. The spot beside the stone bed had been empty since early morning.
Yu Bai was still curled up in the animal hide, a few tufts of soft hair sticking up on his head, making him look a little dazed.
He was still somewhat in a trance. The memory of last night’s conversation with the orc drifted into his mind again, and he buried his face back into the covers.
After a long while, Yu Bai patted his warm cheeks, then bundled himself up in a thick wolf-fur coat before slowly climbing out of bed.
Dressed in so many layers, his movements were clumsy, especially when pushing open the door.
Outside, the little yard was quiet and empty. In one corner, Huo Duo’er had set up a simple stone stove. A pile of firewood sat next to it, and he was tending a fire, cooking meat soup.
Knowing Yu Bai liked vegetables, Huo Duo’er had halved a wild gourd, sliced it up, and tossed it into the pot to stew. He also cracked in two eggs.
The wind blew straight into Yu Bai’s face. He lifted his arm to shield his nose and mouth, waddling over slowly in his thick clothes.
“Huo Duo’er…”
Huo Duo’er turned his head. The moment he looked at the little sub-female who was about to become his mate, a heat surged in his throat and chest, his gaze couldn’t tear itself away.
The wind was too strong, it was even difficult for Yu Bai to walk against it.
Suddenly, his body felt light as the orc scooped him up and carried him straight to the sheltered corner behind the firewood stack.
“Bai, it’s too windy out here.”
Yu Bai’s thick, soft hair fluttered messily in the wind, revealing eyes that curved into a smile.
Their gazes met, and the concern in the orc’s eyes was open and honest, without a trace of hiding. It even seemed like… there was something more in it.
Even though they had agreed to become mates and talked everything through beforehand, Yu Bai’s heart still fluttered tightly in his chest. He didn’t dare meet Huo Duo’er’s gaze for too long. His eyes trembled slightly and dropped to the muddy ground instead.
He nodded, then used the warm water Huo Duo’er had prepared to crouch between the firewood stack and the wall to brush his teeth. After washing up, he carried a steaming bowl of meat soup back inside. The rising steam seemed to have flushed his face pink.
Huo Duo’er followed behind him and sat down beside him to eat.
The atmosphere remained silent for a long while. Yu Bai held the bowl, speaking slowly, “Last night…”
Huo Duo’er’s gaze was focused, and Yu Bai almost choked on his words under the intensity of that stare.
He lowered his eyes, his fingertips tracing the rim of the clay bowl. Trying to relax, he moved to stand by the door, gazing at the distant sky. In a quiet voice, he said, “Let’s find a day… to form the bond.”
The north wind sliced through the air like a knife, cutting into his skin with both cold and pain.
Yu Bai stared at the gray, overcast sky and surveyed the desolate, rundown yard, feeling a pang of sorrow in his heart.
He asked, “Will it snow?”
Huo Duo’er: “Mm.”
Yu Bai rubbed his hands together, then said, “Then let’s do it soon. Once the snow comes, staying here will be even harder.”
After he spoke, though still a little embarrassed, Yu Bai felt a flicker of uncertainty.
“How do we form a bond?”
He still didn’t know the exact process for how orcs form bonds.
Huo Duo’er’s voice was low and explanatory, “Every pair of bonded mates must go to the Sacred Tree to pray, allowing the tree to witness the bond.”
“The Sacred Tree?”
Yu Bai looked confused. “Where is the Sacred Tree?”
Huo Duo’er’s gaze shifted to the highest peak in front of the tribe. Yu Bai followed his line of sight.
Huo Duo’er: “It’s at the very top of the mountain.”
Yu Bai nodded with a soft “Mm,” but just then, a gust of wind blew fiercely, sending sand and gravel flying into his eyes. He quickly squeezed them shut.
His long eyelashes were wet with the moisture from his eyes, and despite rubbing them a few times, the discomfort didn’t go away. He swept the stray hair from his face, tilting his delicate, pale face completely upwards, looking at Huo Duo’er with a slightly pitiful expression.
“Huo Duo’er, can you blow on it for me?”
Just that simple request made the muscles in Huo Duo’er’s shoulders and arms tense up instantly.
When Yu Bai made that request, it stirred an uncontrollable, blood-pounding impulse within Huo Duo’er.
He lowered his body, his rough fingertips gently cupping Yu Bai’s soft cheek.
Unable to resist, his fingertip brushed against the smooth skin, making Yu Bai shiver and murmur in confusion, “Eh?”
Huo Duo’er’s gaze lingered on Yu Bai’s slightly parted, delicate lips, his throat tightening. He focused on the wet, reddened eyes and blew gently.
In a moment, the dust was blown away.
Yu Bai smiled softly, his eyes still red.
“It’s done.”
Huo Duo’er pulled his hand back, feeling a little absent-minded, and his beast robe became increasingly stretched and tight.
Yu Bai’s small frame was dwarfed by Huo Duo’er’s, and in that fleeting moment, he could clearly see the change.
To ease the awkwardness, he turned his back. “Y-you’re really amazing…”
Yu Bai felt that his words might not have come out quite right, so he quickly corrected himself. “I meant to compliment your good health.”
Orcs were indeed strong and full of energy, with great strength and vitality that never seemed to run out.
Unlike his own body, which had only shown brief signs of physical strain twice, there was little difference from before.
He was still too thin and weak, needing to slowly regain his strength.
—
The day was gloomy, gray, cold, and thick with fog, though there was no wind.
Yu Bai and Huo Duo’er had discussed waiting for the sky to brighten a bit before heading to the Sacred Tree to form their bond.
Even though it was just a formality, this would be Yu Bai’s first marriage in his lifetime, and he was taking it seriously.
To build up his body, he made sure to drink a bowl of meat and egg soup every day.
He went to the river to fetch water, the surface of the water smooth, reflecting half of his face, hidden behind his disheveled hair.
Yu Bai’s thoughts briefly flickered to the night before the storm, but he shook them off as he returned to the yard and picked up a thin stone knife.
Huo Duo’er watched as he raised the stone knife toward his head, his brow twitching. He quickly seized Yu Bai’s wrist and took the knife from him.
“Bai, what are you doing?”
Yu Bai was surprised and confused by Huo Duo’er’s intense reaction. After a moment, he couldn't help but laugh, explaining, “I’m not trying to hurt myself. I just want to cut my hair shorter.”
His hair had grown long enough to reach his neck after a year of growth.
In the past, when he lived alone, his health was poor, and he had a tendency to avoid the outside world. He kept his hair long as a kind of defense.
Now that he had decided to bond with Huo Duo’er and start a new life, he wanted to cut his hair short as a symbol of a fresh beginning.
After hearing his explanation, Huo Duo’er smiled faintly.
“You smiled?” Yu Bai blinked in surprise. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a smile on your face.”
Huo Duo’er: “Bai, I’ll cut your hair for you.”
“You know how?” Yu Bai asked with doubt.
Huo Duo’er: “When the old chief was sick, I used to help him trim his hair.”
“Well then, I’ll trouble you,” Yu Bai said, trusting Huo Duo’er completely. Even if it didn’t turn out well, he wouldn’t be upset.
Huo Duo’er carefully combed through Yu Bai’s hair with a bone comb. Due to poor nutrition, Yu Bai’s hair had a slightly yellowish tint, but it felt thick and soft to the touch.
As Huo Duo’er’s fingers wound through Yu Bai’s strands, his heart softened, too.
He was careful with his touch, mindful not to accidentally cut the delicate skin.
As he trimmed the hair strand by strand, Yu Bai’s face gradually became fully visible.
His delicate features were gentle and almost ethereal, his small, upturned nose and the curve of his lips, which made them seem as though they were always on the verge of a smile.
Huo Duo’er’s gaze lingered, lost in thought, his eyes fixated on those soft, moist lips.
Yu Bai's light, soft lips pressed together, which caused a stir in his heart.
Huo Duo’er stared at Yu Bai’s lips, unsure of what to do. The sensation of his blood rushing, which he had suppressed earlier, started to resurface.
—
A few days later, the thin layer of snow began to melt, and the sky brightened a little.
Yu Bai ran to ask Huo Duo’er, “What do you think the weather will be like tomorrow?”
Based on Huo Duo’er’s experience, tomorrow might be a clear day.
So, Yu Bai and Huo Duo’er planned to head up the mountain the next day to the Sacred Tree to formalize their bond.
The storm had passed, and the wild chickens and rabbits that had been kept in the yard had already been blown away by the fierce wind. Huo Duo’er was preparing to go into the nearby mountains to hunt some wild chickens.
The weather was harsh and dry, and Huo Duo’er was planning to be out for most of the day.
Yu Bai decided to prepare some hot water for Huo Duo’er to take with him. The clean water in the stone jar had almost run out, so Huo Duo’er went out to fetch more water.
Yu Bai was sweeping the dust and dirt that had accumulated in the yard when A’Li, who was on his way to fetch water, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Bai?”
He stared at Yu Bai in disbelief, his mouth hanging open. “You... you cut your hair?!”
Feeling awkward under A’Li's unblinking gaze, Yu Bai lowered his head. “Does it look weird?”
“No, no!” A’Li stuttered, his words tangled. “It doesn’t look weird at all, it’s just... you look really good with short hair...”
“Bai, why did you cut your hair?” A’Li asked, his expression full of confusion. He felt something was off, as Yu Bai seemed different from the last time he had seen him. His emotions were on edge, as though he couldn’t quite understand the change.
Yu Bai gave a gentle smile. “I’m planning to bond with Huo Duo’er... tomorrow.”
“Bond?!” A’Li’s eyes widened in shock, and he hurriedly began walking circles around Yu Bai.
“Last time, didn’t you say you weren’t going to bond? Why the sudden change?”
Yu Bai’s face flushed a little, and he felt a bit awkward. “It’s not like you’re thinking. This is... complicated, and it’s hard to explain right now.”
A’Li was clearly confused. After all, just recently, Yu Bai had said he wouldn’t bond, yet now he was saying he would bond with Huo Duo’er. What exactly was happening?
Looking at Yu Bai’s soft and pale face, A’Li could hardly contain his emotions. He couldn’t hide his feelings and kept pacing anxiously around Yu Bai.
“Bai, if you want to bond, can you choose me instead? I... I’ll take care of you, and I’ll always be good to you!”
Yu Bai hesitated, feeling torn. Finally, he shook his head.
“A’Li, there are things I can’t explain to you. If I bonded with you without any feelings, it wouldn’t be fair to you. I don’t want to waste your time.”
He looked into A’Li’s eyes and said softly, “We’re friends, okay?”
A’Li’s face fell in a miserable expression, and he rubbed his hands together, trying to calm himself down.
“Then do you have… feelings for that giant?”
Yu Bai: "Yes, but it's different from what you think. He and I may separate in the future."
A’Li didn't hear the second half of the sentence clearly: "It can only be him?"
Yu Bai: "It can only be him."
A’Li left in a daze, holding a jar of water.
Yu Bai’s quiet sigh lingered in the air as he watched A’Li leave, clutching the water jar with a downcast expression.
He had said everything he could to explain his situation, but it seemed like his words had fallen short of easing A’Li’s pain. The feeling of guilt gnawed at him, but he couldn’t help his own feelings and choices.
His gaze then shifted to the doorway, where Huo Duo’er stood, the water from the broken jar spreading across the floor, a silent witness to the tension in the air. Huo Duo’er had a frown etched on his face as he stared at the mess, seemingly lost in thought.
Yu Bai quickly approached, concern flashing across his face. "How did the stone jar break?" he asked, his voice a little more anxious than intended. He reached out instinctively, carefully taking Huo Duo’er's hand to check for any injuries, relieved to find no harm done.
"It’s fine," he muttered, trying to reassure both of them. "You didn’t get hurt, did you?"
Huo Duo’er didn't respond immediately. He seemed to be mulling something over in his mind before kneeling to clean up the broken pieces of the jar. Then, without a word, he stood up, picked up another jar, and silently walked toward the river.
As he reached the halfway point, he turned back. There, in the distance, he spotted Yu Bai trailing behind, his small frame struggling to keep up. A flicker of something unreadable passed over Huo Duo’er’s face, and he slowed his pace to allow Yu Bai to catch up.
Yu Bai gently held Huo Duo'er’s outstretched palm and asked, “Did you hear everything I said just now?”
Huo Duo'er replied, “Mm.”
“Then... are you angry?” Yu Bai spoke cautiously. “I called you several times just now, but you didn’t hear me…”
Huo Duo'er’s gaze softened with a hint of apology.
Yu Bai whispered, “I didn’t dare tell A’Li the whole truth, for fear he might accidentally let it slip.”
Then, speaking more to himself, he added, “I really hope tomorrow comes quickly. Once the bond is formed, and we move into the main city, life will settle down slowly, and you won’t have to work so hard anymore.”
The young sub-female’s words melted Huo Duo'er’s heart, and all his earlier frustration faded away.
“Bai, I don’t feel like it’s hard work,” he said.
Yu Bai’s little face was filled with worry as he grasped Huo Duo'er’s other free hand and followed his pace, walking slowly.
“But I can’t be of much help.”
Especially during the winter, he struggled to move even a step, and almost all the work was shouldered by Huo Duo'er.
He was afraid of encountering another storm or some other natural disaster. He didn’t want to just stand by, helpless, unable to lend a hand, nor did he want to burden the other person.
In his past life, he had dragged his family down, making them worry about him for over ten years. Even in this new world, he hadn’t given Huo Duo'er any peace of mind.
Huo Duo'er carefully observed Yu Bai's anxious expression, and his heart ached slightly.
"Bai, everything I do is willingly," he said.
Yu Bai lowered his lashes and pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
He was somewhat afraid of hearing such words, but once he did, his heart couldn’t help but race, feeling lost and more than a little panicked.
He tightened his grip on Huo Duo'er’s hand, quietly drawing closer to him. Yet, out of habit, he left a bit of distance, cautiously and uncomfortably pressing against him.
—
The next day, just as Huo Duo'er had said, the weather turned out to be quite pleasant.
There was no fog around the mountains and fields, the wind blew gently, and a bit of sunlight broke through the clouds.
The winter morning light bathed the entire run-down courtyard, with a hint of warmth lingering in the air. It was a perfect day for forming the bond.
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