After Being Stranded in the Wilderness, I Became the Bride of the Giant Tribe - 25

 

| GB | Under the Sacred Tree | 25

The morning light enveloped the figure standing in front of the door.

Yu Bai was dressed in a black wolf fur coat, and kept walking in circles with his head down.

He appeared somewhat uneasy, repeatedly rubbing his hands in his pocket, then adjusting the ear flaps on his hat.

Hearing the sound of the door closing, he raised his gaze in a daze, and Huo Duo'er stepped out.

He was carrying a small burlap sack, with one end of the string wrapped around his wrist.

The sack contained flatbread, a few fruits, dried meat strips, and boiled eggs.

Worried that Yu Bai might get hungry on the way, Huo Duo'er had prepared the food in advance.

Upon seeing this, Yu Bai looked embarrassed and said, “I completely forgot…”

He had been so nervous since early morning that his mind went blank, and he even forgot to prepare the things needed for the journey.

Huo Duo'er looked up and said, “Let’s go.”

They stood in silence, both gazing at the highest mountain peak near the tribe.

They set off promptly while it was still early.

By the time the sun hung slantwise from the treetops, they had reached midway up the mountain.

Yu Bai's cheeks were flushed, and his lips panted softly.

Huo Duo'er looked at him with concern. “Bai, let me carry you.”

He had wanted to carry him from the beginning, but Yu Bai hadn’t agreed—he wanted to walk to the Sacred Tree on his own.

His expression was resolute, full of quiet determination.

“Today is the day we make our bond. On such a special occasion, it feels more sincere to walk up by myself.”

Though his pace was slow, his will was firm.

By sheer determination, he made it halfway up the mountain.

Huo Duo'er stayed close the entire time, eyes fixed on him, afraid he might suddenly fall.

By early afternoon, they were nearing the top of the mountain.

The higher they climbed, the thinner the air became, and the signs of oxygen deprivation in Yu Bai grew more obvious.

He sat down, leaning against a tree trunk that jutted out across the ground, slowly nibbling at the fruit Huo Duo'er had peeled barehanded.

His pale lips pressed hard into the fruit flesh, drawing out the sweet, refreshing juice.

Huo Duo'er's gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed on the sub-female's moist, glistening lips.

 His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he silently peeled a fruit for himself.

With just one bite, the juice burst out and spread down his throat, so sweet it made him frown.

Yu Bai caught this moment and laughed through his shallow breaths.

“Huo Duo'er, you don’t like sweet things, do you?”

“...Mm.”

“Then why eat it? If you don’t want it, give it to me. Throwing it away would be a waste.”

In this other world, every bit of food was precious.

He didn’t want to waste any.

Huo Duo'er hesitated, which was something rare for him, so Yu Bai took that as silent agreement.

He raised his arm and took the half-eaten fruit from Huo Duo'er's hand on his own.

Among orcs, food in a male orc's mouth was not to be taken by others.

Especially for males, letting someone snatch food from their mouth was almost a form of provocation.

Yu Bai didn’t know this custom, and Huo Duo'er never mentioned it.

Still, a subtle joy rose in his heart.

They continued forward slowly and came across a pair of mates descending from the mountain summit.

The male and female pair were being overly affectionate, leaning against a tree stump.

The female's legs were wrapped around the male, her fluffy gray ears twitching back and forth, making unabashed noises.

One glance made it clear what was happening.

Yu Bai was stunned.

Without a word, he darted behind Huo Duo'er to hide, and gave his waist a light poke, urging him to move along quickly.

The entangled pair under the tree stump felt the chill in Huo Duo'er's gaze.

The male orc knew he couldn’t win against a giant, so he immediately picked up his partner, bare-bottomed and all, and scurried off to a more distant spot.

“It’s okay now, Bai.”

Looking at the cautious sub-female hiding behind him, Huo Duo'er gently pulled him to the front and pointed ahead.

“That’s the Sacred Tree.”

Following the direction Huo Duo'er pointed toward, they saw the mountain’s peak ahead.

Mist drifted lightly all around.

Winter had already arrived, and the summit was blanketed in snow.

A sturdy ancient tree stood firm and tall.

The giant tree soared into the sky, its canopy spreading like an umbrella.

Lush greenery thrived atop it, a splash of vivid green amid the snow-white world, as if radiating an endless source of life energy.

In this season where all things had fallen into silence, Yu Bai gazed at the Sacred Tree from afar.

The closer he drew, the more he could feel a power stirring within him.

The fatigue from climbing melted away in an instant.

His spirits lifted quickly, and he even softly urged Huo Duo'er to walk faster.

Soon, the two of them arrived before the Sacred Tree.

Not far from the tree stood a small wooden cabin, surrounded by bark walls.

A strong orc with massive antlers coiled atop his head stepped out from within.

He wore a weathered beast-skin robe, and his face was painted with large totems drawn from plant-based pigments.

His gaze rested on Huo Duo'er for a moment, then shifted to the smaller Yu Bai.

He said nothing and just gave them a nod.

Huo Duo'er stood beneath the Sacred Tree.

“Bai, come here.”

Yu Bai approached and quietly stood beside Huo Duo'er.

The antlered orc stepped up to them, removed a wooden bead bracelet from his wrist, and began turning it slowly while chanting in a complex, ancient tongue.

After a while, the orc gave them a slight nod.

Huo Duo'er took a thorn from a vine that hung from the ancient tree.

He pricked his fingertip with it, and the blood that welled up dripped onto the soil below.

Then he gestured for Yu Bai to do the same.

Yu Bai didn’t quite understand, but still followed suit.

He pulled out a thorn and pricked the pad of his left ring finger, letting a bead of blood fall onto the same spot.

As he watched their blood mingle in the soil, a strange and subtle emotion stirred within him.

In this moment, under the witness of the Sacred Tree, it truly felt as if a deep and binding connection had formed between him and Huo Duo'er.

The antlered orc watched as the blood fully seeped into the soil, then handed each of them a wooden token.

“May the gods bless you both.”

With that, the orc turned and went back into the wooden cabin.

“Bai, time to head down,” Huo Duo'er said.

Yu Bai clutched the wooden token etched with runes, dazed and uncertain, trailing behind Huo Duo'er.

The sun was past its peak.

At Yu Bai’s pace, they would likely reach the foot of the mountain by nightfall.

He had summoned all his strength for the climb.

Now, after forming a bond under the Sacred Tree with Huo Duo'er, that energy had drained away completely.

Huo Duo'er crouched slightly.

 “I’ll carry you.”

Yu Bai replied softly, “Mm.”

He was worried they’d linger too long in the mountains.

After sunset, the temperature in the hills dropped sharply, so getting back early was a good idea.

He was lifted into Huo Duo'er's arms, and the hand holding the wooden token rested gently on Huo Duo'er’s broad shoulder.

Yu Bai felt dazed, as if he were caught in a dream.

He murmured softly, “So… we’re bonded now?”

Huo Duo'er: “Mm.”

“Why did we drip our blood into the soil?”

“The Sacred Tree has stood for a thousand years. The blood of orcs nourishes the earth, and in turn, nourishes the tree’s growth. Its thriving branches and leaves symbolize the continuation of our kind.”

After hearing that, Yu Bai thought to himself: But I can’t even have children.

“That antlered orc…has he always guarded the Sacred Tree?”

“He’s the Tree Keeper.”

Huo Duo'er didn’t speak much, but whenever Yu Bai had a question, he always answered.

The Sacred Tree, soul bonding, the Tree Keeper, these were all common knowledge among the orcs of every tribe.

Yet the sub-female in his arms knew nothing about them.

Still, even with the confusion in his heart, he didn’t ask why.

At this moment, Huo Duo'er had only one thought in his mind, Yu Bai had bonded with him.

From now on, he was his sub-female.

They made it back to the cabin before dusk, Huo Duo'er carrying Yu Bai all the way.

**

Though it all happened for a reason, a bond was still a cause for celebration among orcs.

So that evening, Yu Bai made a big pot of grilled fish to mark the occasion.

He pulled four fish from a stone jar, cleaned them thoroughly, then sliced a few shallow cuts on each side.

Afterward, he marinated them with wild ginger, salted beans, and other fragrant herbs.

Huo Duo'er tried to help, but he had never seen such a cooking method before.

That huge frame of his stood clumsily by the stove, making it hard for Yu Bai to move around.

His hands were slick with oil and marinade, so he could only nudge Huo Duo'er's waist with his elbow and say gently,

 “Help me chop the pre-washed vegetables.”

Without a word, Huo Duo'er went to slice the vegetables.

Yu Bai pressed his lips together in a smile, poured oil into the clay pot, and began pan-frying the marinated fish to a perfect golden finish.

After frying the fish, Yu Bai mixed the oil from the pan with the vegetables and stir-fried them, adding water to create a broth.

Finally, he placed the fried fish into the pot to simmer.

Although the ingredients Yu Bai had available were limited, this method of grilling fish had never been seen before in the orc world.

Huo Duo'er's gaze darkened as he watched.

His eyes lingered on the sub-female by the stove, a question forming in his mind, but he swallowed it back.

Up until now, he had seen more and more novel things in Yu Bai.

These were things even the wisest high priests of the orc tribes didn’t know.

“Huo Duo'er,” Yu Bai’s call snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Come try this grilled fish.”

Huo Duo'er picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and nodded silently.

“It’s delicious.”

Yu Bai’s expression showed a hint of regret.

“If only I could find more ingredients.”

Huo Duo'er: “After next spring, we can trade with other orc tribes for supplies.”

Yu Bai was curious.

“Is that really the case?”

Huo Duo'er briefly explained to Yu Bai about the exchange of goods between tribes.

Trade of goods mostly happened between the more powerful tribes.

Smaller, weaker tribes were often directly raided or absorbed.

Large tribes regularly sent orcs out for hunting and to gather resources.

It wasn’t uncommon for male orcs to be killed by wild animals or perish due to disasters.

Therefore, the main tribal city would recruit warrior beasts every year to strengthen the tribe’s power.

Yu Bai blew on the fish to cool it and took a bite.

He ate slowly and quietly.

Once finished, he sighed softly.

“There’s still so much I need to learn.”

Huo Duo'er stared at him absentmindedly.

Yu Bai was truly one of a kind.

He feared that other beastfolk tribes might covet him.

No matter what happened in the future, he would protect his sub-female and make sure no other orcs claimed him.

—

After finishing the whole pot of grilled fish, it was already late at night.

Yu Bai washed up and climbed into bed first.

He awkwardly patted the spot beside him.

“Huo Duo'er, come, come sleep.”

Even though they had slept together a few days ago, things were different now, they hadn't formed a bond at that time.

With their relationship having changed, Yu Bai felt a bit uncomfortable.

After speaking, he curled up, facing away from Huo Duo'er, tightly closing his eyes.

A wave of warmth enveloped him from behind. Despite the cold weather, Huo Duo'er seemed to burn with heat, despite sleeping shirtless.

His waist was pulled tightly, and Yu Bai found himself pressed against the warm, solid chest of the giant.

“Huo, Huo Duo'er…” Yu Bai stammered, not daring to turn around.

“W-what are you doing…”

Huo Duo'er didn’t understand.

“Bai, we’ve slept like this for the past few days.”

Yu Bai replied, “Y-yeah...”

Huo Duo'er retracted his arm.

“Is it warm like this?”

Yu Bai: “...”

“Mm...”

They slept soundly through the night.

**

In the orc’s world, there weren’t many leisure activities.

Unless one was sick, Yu Bai had gotten into the habit of going to bed early and waking up early, adjusting to a regular biological rhythm.

Before he even opened his eyes, he heard the fierce howling of the wind outside.

Winter had set in with its biting cold, but this time, Yu Bai didn’t wake up with icy hands and feet like before.

His whole body was warm.

He moved his legs slightly and, through the thick animal bedding and felt the presence of another body.

Huo Duo'er was like a giant furnace, constantly sharing warmth with him in the cold winter.

Yu Bai found himself reluctant to leave the warmth of this moment.

“Bai, are you awake?”

Yu Bai turned his head, the bed was too small, and his nose was suddenly pressed against the orc’s chest.

The soft breath brushed against the orc’s chest.

Huo Duo'er’s arm tensed, and instinctively, he pressed Yu Bai’s waist, the part of the animal robe wrapping around him immediately bulged.

“Bai...”

Huo Duo'er’s deep voice concealed a fiery emotion that was about to erupt. The young sub-female’s face was close to him, and the warm breath brushed like feathers, it was unbearable.

Yu Bai’s mind went blank for a moment, but after all, this wasn’t the first time he had encountered such a situation.

He struggled to calm his embarrassment, his eyelashes fluttering nervously.

“Huo Duo'er, you’re really healthy…”

He then shifted back a little: “I didn’t crush you, did I?”

The stone bed was so small. He lay flat to sleep, and in order to accommodate him, Huo Duo'er always lay on his side the whole night.

Forgetting about his embarrassment, Yu Bai asked apologetically: “Is your arm numb?”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

Yu Bai silently curved the corner of his mouth, leaning against the warm body beside him, lingering a bit longer in bed.

When the sky was fully light, the two got up.

They had already bonded, and today they would go to the capital to register with the chief. According to the process, after bonding, orcs who register can receive a plot of land in the city.

After finishing the cooked meat and egg stew, Yu Bai washed up with warm water, carefully tidying his animal robe.

Noticing that Huo Duo'er was always watching him, the words he wanted to say lingered on the tip of his tongue as he struggled to calm his racing heart.

Although he never allowed Huo Duo'er to look at him like this, it was pointless to say anything.

He wasn’t going to lose anything by being looked at, so Yu Bai simply decided to ignore it.

Walking out of the run-down courtyard, the north wind howled against his face.

The wind was so strong that Yu Bai staggered, his beast robe fluttering in the gusts, facing a lot of resistance.

The clouds were a dull gray, and before long, it seemed like it was going to snow again.

Huo Duo'er shielded him in front, slightly bending his knees. “Bai, come up.”

Yu Bai didn’t waste any time. Gritting his teeth, he used his arm to hold onto the orc's neck and climbed on, his cheeks turning pink with an unmistakable flush.

Huo Duo'er held him steadily as he walked away.

Around the tribe, orcs were scattered, building houses. They all raised their heads, one by one, widening their eyes.

Huo Duo'er was the only giant among the tribe, having single-handedly killed an adult yak, and the orcs had long heard this news.

They also heard that the sub-female who had treated the giant’s injuries seemed to have some skills, but was too small and weak, always sporting messy hair, and was very inconspicuous.

But now, seeing the sub-female in Huo Duo'er’s arms clearly, they were utterly shocked.

The sub-female actually had a fair and soft face, looking very obedient. Now, under the gaze of so many eyes, he appeared a little shy.

The strong wind blew against them, and Huo Duo'er raised his hand to shield Yu Bai’s face. Yu Bai instinctively pressed his face into Huo Duo'er’s neck.

The orcs watching from the sidelines thought to themselves: He’s even more obedient than an orc cub!

After Huo Duo'er carried Yu Bai further away, the group of orcs snapped out of their trance in the cold wind.

"That sub-female is so pale, I've never seen any orc in the tribe who looks like that."

"He’s really good-looking..."

"What's the use of looking good? He’s so small and skinny, with his small butt, he can’t have any cubs."

The more powerful the male orcs were, the more their standards for choosing mates were consistent.

They all wanted healthy, strong, hardworking females with big buttocks.

Only such females could withstand the strength and energy of the male orcs and be able to bear more cubs.

The cold wind scattered the orcs' murmurs as Huo Duo'er carried Yu Bai into the tribal capital. After passing through the gates, the wind against their faces weakened considerably.

The towering, solid stone walls formed a defensive barrier, greatly reducing the force of the wind.

The howling wind in their ears gradually faded, and Yu Bai lifted his head from Huo Duo'er’s shoulder.

Inside the city, rows of wooden houses crisscrossed, with wooden racks placed on both sides of the muddy ground for drying things.

He looked around, observing the surroundings, while the orcs doing miscellaneous tasks also stared at them.

Huo Duo'er was the first giant orc to appear in the tribe, and while the other orcs seemed somewhat fearful of him, they were also filled with immense curiosity.

Two patrolling male orcs raised their wooden forks to block their path: “Giant tribe?”

“What are you here for?”

Huo Duo'er coldly replied, “Where does the chief live?”

Yu Bai, afraid of causing trouble, took out the wooden plaque given by the Guardian of the Tree during their bonding ceremony and showed it to the orcs, signaling that they were here to register with the chief.

Orcs who bond under the Sacred Tree always receive a pair of wooden plaques, which Yu Bai temporarily understood as a marriage certificate.

The orcs were surprised and pointed them in the right direction.

Huo Duo'er continued walking with Yu Bai in his arms, while the two patrolling orcs stopped in place and started discussing.

"Why did the giant bond with a sub-female?"

"Such a weak sub-female, how could he withstand that giant?"
...

Yu Bai: “…”

Huo Duo'er also heard every word clearly.

Yu Bai cleared his throat. "Don’t listen to them. We're not that kind of relationship."

Huo Duo'er’s beastly eyes flickered slightly, and he fell silent for a moment.

—

Arriving at the chief's residence, they waited outside the door, where two pairs of orcs were already waiting.

After the storm, every day, male orcs would bring their bonded females to the capital, but not all orcs could register smoothly.

The orcs were somewhat wary of the giant, too afraid to stare directly, but they quietly observed Yu Bai in Huo Duo'er’s arms.

The gaze from behind was too intense, so Yu Bai gestured for Huo Duo'er to set him down.

When Yu Bai’s feet touched the ground, the other females were even more surprised.

Such a small sub-female actually managed to bond with a giant orc, and they couldn’t help but feel envious. After all, everyone hoped their male orc would be the strongest.

Yu Bai hid behind Huo Duo'er, and before he could gather his thoughts, the chief appeared with two strong, formidable orcs.

From what Yu Bai understood on the spot, only male orcs who passed the trial could enter the capital.

At this moment, the first snowflakes were falling. The chief led them to a nearby open area, where three massive stones were placed in front of them. From left to right, the stones grew progressively larger. Even the smallest one was bigger than a full-grown male orc.

On the opposite side of the giant stones, wooden posts and bows were set up.

The trials the male orcs had to pass were precisely these two tasks.

Two male orcs were eager to try. They stepped forward, loosening their muscles.

The bison male orc tried the largest stone first. His dark face scrunched up as he exerted all his strength, but after a moment, the stone didn’t budge.

The male orc’s face grew disappointed, and he moved on to the middle-sized stone.

He gritted his teeth, and this time, he could only manage to lift the stone slightly before putting it back down.

Finally, the bison male orc lifted the smallest stone on the far side, struggling to make it back and forth.

The chief nodded slightly.

Yu Bai opened his mouth to say something but paused. At that moment, Huo Duo'er suddenly moved, walking straight toward the largest stone.

With a single motion, Huo Duo’er raised his massive arm, and his shoulder muscles rippled as he lifted the giant stone, walking back and forth with ease.

He placed the stone back in its original position, took the bow and arrow in hand, and walked to the furthest distance. With a swift and clean motion, he shot the wooden arrow.

Huo Duo'er remained expressionless, not holding back any strength in his shot. With a loud bang, the single wooden arrow struck the target post, causing a visible crack.

The chief and several of the male orcs were shocked, seeing the Giant Tribe’s extraordinary strength for the first time.

The chief’s gaze deepened, and he looked up at Huo Duo'er.

“The Yan Tribe welcomes a warrior like you.”

The chief’s attitude was clear, and he immediately registered them on the spot, while also explaining the rules of the city.

It turned out that male orcs who resided in the capital had to take turns patrolling each month, regularly joining hunting parties, and contributing five stones' weight of meat. In addition, they were also required to pay a bundle of hemp ropes and eight stones' weight of fruits and vegetables.

After hearing the chief’s words, Yu Bai’s mood became complicated.

There was no such thing as a free meal in the world. To obtain a plot of land in the city, they would also have to pay a price.

The bison male orc behind the chief shouted in a deep voice, “Follow me.”

The bison male orc was warm-hearted and enthusiastic. “I’m A’Chang.”

He pointed to a stretch of barren land ahead. “This is the land the chief has allocated to you.”

The land was about two to three times the size of a small house. Yu Bai was astonished. “It’s that big?”

A’Chang chuckled. “Your mate is impressive. The stronger the warrior, the better the land they’re given.”

Yu Bai pursed his lips, his expression showing a hint of emotion.

The snow grew heavier, and a blanket of white covered the barren land.

Once A’Chang left, Huo Duo'er picked up Yu Bai and hurriedly walked back.

Yu Bai rested against Huo Duo'er’s shoulder. Even as they walked farther away, his eyes still lingered in the direction of the land, his mind wandering for a long time before he came back to himself.

Suddenly, he tightened his arms around the orc's neck, and a few tears welled up in his eyes.

“Huo Duo'er, it seems like we’re going to have a home.”

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