| GB | Take a Few Sips | 37
The two of them leaned against each other, cuddled up in the room. The heat of their bodies was like a furnace wrapping around Yu Bai. He was getting drowsy, winter made it easy to feel sleep-deprived and he nearly fell asleep again in Huo Duo'er’s arms.
After a while, he remembered that there were still quite a few orcs outside waiting to be dealt with. The faint sound of chattering and murmuring could still be heard from outside.
Yu Bai asked, “Has the chief left?”
Huo Duo'er didn’t want to care. He just wanted to hold his mate and stay inside the room forever.
Yu Bai pulled his face away from the giant’s and gently urged, “Just go say a word. You can’t leave them all hanging outside. He is the chief, after all.”
Hou Duo'er replied, “Mm.”
He agreed, but the big hand resting on Yu Bai’s waist didn’t move.
Yu Bai looked down, pulled his hand away, and stood up first.
Huo Duo'er didn’t go out, so Yu Bai had to go outside and send away the onlooking orcs himself.
—
As Yu Bai had expected, the orcs watching the scene hadn’t left. In fact, even more had come, and the chief hadn’t left right away either.
They had just finished dividing up the cooked taro. The orcs who were curious about the clay pot brought it close to inspect it, even as they burned their hands a little. They did a small experiment, using leftover embers to reignite a flame and found that this kind of pot heated up much faster than a stone pot.
When Yu Bai appeared at the doorway, so many eyes turned to look at him that the words he had meant to say got stuck in his throat.
Huo Duo'er followed behind, and Yu Bai took advantage of his taller figure to hide behind him.
Seeing his slightly timid expression, Huo Duo'er frowned. His gaze swept over to the orcs holding the stone pot and signaled for him to put it down.
There were only two clay pots made so far. If one of them got damaged, it would be a huge waste of Yu Bai’s effort.
The orc who received Huo Duo'er's warning glance quickly set the clay pot down and scratched his head.
The chief looked at the overly shy and reserved sub-female, ran his hand through his graying beard, and assumed a kind and friendly demeanor.
“Bai, did you make all of these?”
Yu Bai replied, “I came up with the idea and made them together with Hou Duo'er.”
The chief, “Could you teach us how to fire this kind of pot?”
If all the orcs in the tribe could use this kind of pot, it would greatly speed up the time needed to cook food and save firewood.
According to A’Li, who lived outside the city, this type of pot offered more cooking methods than a stone pot.
Yu Bai glanced at A’Li. A’Li scratched his head and muttered, “I didn’t say anything.”
Although A’Li respected the chief, he thought of Yu Bai’s situation and forced himself to stay quiet.
Fortunately, Yu Bai and his mate came out quickly. Otherwise, if it had just been him, he wouldn't have been able to hold out much longer, if they’d delayed even a little more, he would’ve spilled everything.
After Yu Bai had told him how to fire clay pots last time, A’Li had gone home to tell his father and mother, but for various reasons, they still hadn’t started making any.
Yu Bai lifted his head slightly, his eyes shifting gently as he gave Huo Duo'er a look.
Not only had he shared the method of firing pottery with A’Li, but after the storm, he had also briefly mentioned it to a few other sub-female’s.
If the chief took some time to investigate, he’d find out sooner or later anyway. So it would be better to agree to his request now and gain his goodwill.
Huo Duo'er gave a slight nod. Yu Bai remained standing behind the giant as he spoke to the chief.
He agreed to the request and, in front of all the watching orcs, explained the method of firing pottery in detail, what materials to use, how to shape the clay body, how to build the kiln, how long to fire it, and what the proper firing conditions should be.
Most of the orcs looked confused and couldn’t immediately grasp the information, even the chief furrowed his brows slightly.
The chief’s assistant, A’Chang, quickly scratched notes onto a stone tablet using charcoal, likely translating Yu Bai’s explanation into terms the orcs could understand.
As for those who did understand, they didn’t care about the winter chill. Some immediately headed to the riverbank to break the ice and dig clay from the riverbed to try making pottery.
Others went into the area where itchy grass grew, using wooden shovels to dig through the snow and collect the underground stems into baskets.
Before leaving, the chief gave Yu Bai a deep, long look. “Bai, the tribe will always be grateful to you.”
News of how to fire pottery spread like a winter wind. Soon, every orc in the tribe had heard.
At the same time, their impression of Yu Bai began to change.
They had originally assumed that the giant’s mate was just a weak and unremarkable sub-female. They hadn’t expected that this sub-female would be clever and generous enough to openly share the method of firing pottery with the tribe.
Light snow was falling from the sky, but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the orcs who were eager to dig up clay and try firing pottery. Even the chief personally led a group to gather materials, planning to attempt firing something themselves.
—
The small courtyard returned to calm. Yu Bai stepped slowly through the snow, strolling back under the eaves.
Huo Duo'er had tidied up the clay pots and firewood outside. A’Li hadn't left yet either, he stood under the eaves, grinning as he chatted with Yu Bai.
“Bai, you were so impressive just now. The way the chief looked at you,” A’Li gestured at his own eyes, “it was like they were glowing.”
Huo Duo'er usually wasn’t much of a talker. Most of the time, Yu Bai had to be the one to start a conversation, and Huo Duo'er would just respond simply.
But today, with A’Li in town, words poured out of his mouth nonstop. Yu Bai had been holed up inside for nearly two months, and it was usually him who had to initiate conversation.
He didn’t mind chatting with A’Li, who he got along well with. His brows and eyes softened slightly as he listened, enjoying the lively atmosphere he hadn’t felt in a while.
Suddenly, Yu Bai asked, “Aside from itchy grass, is there anything else near the tribe that the orcs think is strange, but something that might actually be useful?”
A’Li scratched his head. “Huh?”
Yu Bai gave an example: “Like how orcs don’t like spicy root because of its strong smell, or itchy grass, many orcs get itchy when they touch it and dislike it. Besides those, have there ever been other things like that?”
With the explanation, A’Li immediately understood.
“There is something, actually,” A’Li said. “I just remembered, last year, my big brother and I went to the sacred altar to pray. We took a longer path that looped around Fire God Mountain, and in the mountains over there, we found some fruit that hadn't ripened yet.”
A’Li scrunched up his face, clearly reluctant to recall the taste.
“They were about the size of my little finger and were not big at all and they never seemed to ripen. I tried a few bites and ended up crying. My throat burned like it was on fire, and I had to drink a lot of water before it eased up.”
“My mother said it was because the Fire God had left, and Fire God Mountain had gone out. That’s why the fruit couldn’t ripen anymore. Back when the mountain still burned, the fruit could supposedly ripen properly. But now that the Fire God has left, to punish the orcs, the warmth disappears and if orcs eat those unripe fruit, they’ll tear up nonstop as part of the punishment.”
Yu Bai’s eyes lit up. “It burns your throat like fire and makes you cry?”
Suspicion stirred in his mind. Following A’Li’s description, he couldn’t help but guess what Ali was talking about sounded a lot like chili peppers.
Before Fire God Mountain went dormant, the area was said to be blessed by the Fire God, remaining warm all year round and untouched by snow. If the climate had once been suitable, it was entirely possible that chili peppers could have grown there.
“How long does it take to get from the tribe to that place you mentioned?”
Huo Duo'er had just finished tidying up the courtyard. When he saw his mate deep in conversation with A’Li, he frowned slightly and walked straight over.
A’Li froze for a second, but then noticed Yu Bai gently squeezing Huo Duo’er’s thumb. The giant’s expression eased slightly, and only then did A’Li continue.
“It takes about two days to walk from the tribe to the Fire God Mountain’s altar. From the altar to that spot I mentioned, it's another half day’s journey.”
Yu Bai figured that orcs generally traveled faster than he did. If he wanted to investigate whether the fruit was actually chili pepper, it would be best to have Huo Duo'er accompany him.
After seeing A’Li off, Yu Bai returned inside with Huo Duo’er. He sat at the edge of the bed, deep in thought about what to do next, while the giant crouched in front of him, watching him intently.
Outside, bits of bark fell from the trees. Inside, the room was dim, lit only by the burning firewood that cast a warm glow over the wooden bed and brought heat to the space.
Two clusters of flames flickered in Yu Bai's pupils. A warm hue softened his pale cheeks, making his face look even rounder and softer, like something easy to squeeze.
He remained still, lost in thought.
Huo Duo’er said nothing, simply crouching nearby, quietly accompanying him.
After a long while, Yu Bai made a soft “mm” sound, a bit surprised. “Hou Duo’er, have you been here the whole time?”
He gave Huo Duo’er a light pat on the shoulder. “You can just sit next to me. Doesn’t crouching make your legs go numb?”
Huo Duo’er replied, “No.”
Then added, “This way I can look at you.”
Yu Bai lowered his gaze, thinking how straightforward orcs could be, he always said or did things that caught him off guard.
But Huo Duo’er treated him as his true mate. He wasn’t like some other male orcs who would force things on their partners. That alone meant a lot to Yu Bai. He didn’t like being pressured, and Hou Duo’er never forced him into anything he didn’t want.
Yu Bai relaxed a bit. “When the weather gets warmer, let’s visit that place A’Li mentioned. I suspect that the fruit might actually be a very important spice. If my guess is right, those unripe fruits could be chili peppers.”
He stared at Huo Duo’er’s shoulder. “I can’t walk fast. When the time comes, I want you to take me there.”
A faint smile lifted Huo Duo’er’s brows. “Okay.”
Being needed by his mate was something he longed for, if only Yu Bai could rely on him more in other ways, it would be even better.
—
In the afternoon, after a nap, Yu Bai and Huo Duo’er went to the damp lowlands near the river to dig for taro.
Earlier in the day, many orcs from the city had gathered there, leaving scattered patches of dug-up earth behind.
The river was wide, and after finding a firm spot in the wetland, Yu Bai and Hou Duo’er used wooden hoes to dig into the mud and feel for the taro underground.
Since it hadn’t been discovered by orcs before, there were still plenty of taro left and big ones too. In no time, their basket was nearly full.
Back at the courtyard, Yu Bai had Huo Duo’er go to the earthen kiln to cut some rib bones from a boar. He picked out a few large taro roots, washed off the mud, then chopped them into chunks, filling an entire plate. Then he began preparing the other spices.
In the evening, Yu Bai made a pot of taro stew with ribs.
Once the lid was lifted, the aroma wafted up, making his mouth water. He swallowed, eager to share the meal with Huo Duo’er.
He took a sip of the broth and quickly urged Huo Duo’er to try it as well.
After simmering, the taro had become thick and creamy, and when mixed with the ribs, the soup turned velvety and soft, rich and flavorful. Both the taro and the ribs were exceptionally delicious.
Yu Bai slowly sipped the soup, his lips glistening, his eyes comfortably narrowing in satisfaction.
Huo Duo’er quickly finished an entire bowl of soup and stew, then filled up a second bowl.
By the time Yu Bai finished his first bowl, Huo Duo’er was already on his third.
Yu Bai couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “I’ll make this for you again next time.”
Huo Duo’er’s throat bobbed, his eyes burning as he looked at him.
Yu Bai blinked. “Why aren’t you eating?”
Huo Duo’er’s body was warm. He replied, “You eat first.”
Yu Bai nodded, picking up the pace.
Huo Duo’er had a habit when eating: every time he reached his third bowl, he would wait for Yu Bai, not touching the remaining food until Yu Bai had slowly finished his meal, making sure not to waste a single bit.
—
A few more days of snow fell. After a heavy blizzard, the tribe seemed to have frozen in place. The orcs hadn’t left their homes in all this time.
But after the blizzard stopped, there was a stir. Huo Duo’er was preparing to leave.
The snow had fallen for over a month, and everything was silent and cold. The wild animals that had been hibernating in the mountains were likely starving by now. Their food supplies would be empty, and they would come down from the mountains after the snow stopped, searching for food.
According to the plan the chief had mentioned earlier, the winter hunt would take place now.
Yu Bai woke up early, watching as Huo Duo’er packed his things.
He carried a stone knife, a stone spear, and had a bow and arrows strapped to his back.
However, compared to these weapons meant for combat, his ability to summon the power of plants was his primary fighting skill.
Yu Bai, wearing short boots made from animal pelts and fur, paced around him for a while, feeling a bit anxious.
“Can’t you skip the winter hunt?”
Huo Duo’er lifted him effortlessly, holding him in his arms. “I’ll come back as soon as I can. The food’s already been prepared in advance and stored in the cellar. You just need to go down, bring it up, and cook it.”
He added, “I’ve asked A’Chang to keep an eye on things while patrolling. If you need anything or have heavy work to do, you can ask him to help.”
Since the tribe had learned how to make pottery, the chief had become especially attentive to Yu Bai. He instructed A’Chang to pay extra attention here. If Yu Bai had any new discoveries, he could tell A’Chang, and A’Chang would relay the message to the chief.
Moreover, the High Priest had some issues with Yu Bai. Although the chief had suppressed him and told him not to cause trouble, the High Priest still feared further complications. To prevent any issues from arising, he had A’Chang keep a closer watch.
A’Chang had been with the chief for many years and had a certain amount of respect and influence in the tribe. The High Priest had always looked down on him, but out of respect for the chief’s orders, he hadn’t caused trouble for him.
Yu Bai remembered Hou Duo’er’s instructions, wrapped himself in his coat, and unsteadily stepped into the snow, following him to the central clearing of the tribe.
The summoned warrior orcs had already gathered. With Huo Duo’er, there were a total of twenty.
The male orcs in the city all had mates, and their mates, like Yu Bai, had come to send their partners off.
Yu Bai’s face was filled with reluctance. Huo Duo’er knelt down, half-squatting, equally unwilling to part from his mate.
But the winter was too cold, with snow everywhere that hadn’t melted. Taking Yu Bai outside at this time would risk freezing him to death.
Yu Bai said, “Make sure to take care of yourself.”
Huo Duo’er nodded. “I will.”
After promising, he cupped Yu Bai’s face in his hand, and just like the time when Yu Bai had been sick and asked for a kiss on the forehead, Huo Duo’er gently pressed his lips to Yu Bai’s pale forehead, giving a few small kisses.
Yu Bai’s face instantly turned red.
Huo Duo’er wasn’t quite sure how to kiss, and the soft sounds of his lips caused Yu Bai to flush even more, drawing the attention of the surrounding orcs.
“What are they doing?”
“Is he licking him? But it doesn’t seem like it…”
Yu Bai covered his forehead, feeling the weight of so many eyes on him, making his normally reserved self nearly die of embarrassment. His heart raced as he quickly ran away.
By the time the warrior team left the tribe, he regretted it, thinking that he shouldn’t have run away just because he was too shy.
0 Comments
Post a Comment