| GB | We Will be True Mates | 58
On a clear day, the orcs from the Yuan tribe set out on their return journey after completing their trading.
The group that had initially consisted of exactly one hundred people now numbered one hundred and sixty-five on the way back.
The additional orcs came from four different tribes.
Three of these tribes had only a dozen or so members left. The primary purpose of their journey was to seek the protection of a larger tribe during the trading fair. The remaining dozen orcs were from the Heiyao tribe.
The Heiyao tribe had some historical connection with the Yao tribe; their ancestors were once part of the same lineage. However, due to various disagreements, their ancestors led a group away and established the current tribe.
Apart from the dozen orcs who had come out, the Heiyao tribe still had over fifty members remaining in their territory. This time, they first followed the Yuan tribe's group back to their territory to assess the situation. Once settled, they planned to bring their remaining tribesmen over.
Among the several orc tribes, the Brown tribe was the largest. The Heiyao tribe had originally intended to negotiate with the Brown tribe for protection.
However, during the trading fair, the leader of the Heiyao tribe witnessed the arrogance of the larger tribes and thus abandoned the original plan.
The Chi Zu tribe and the Yuan tribe were similar in size, but the Yuan tribe's display of linen and pottery caught their eye. Moreover, the combat prowess of the Giant orc and their skilled witch doctor who excelled in healing further solidified their decision to seek protection.
Yu Bai rested on Huo Duo'er's shoulder, observing the orcs while the orcs behind him also kept an eye on him.
A group of orcs, especially those who had been bandaged by him after sustaining injuries, looked at him with trust and warmth in their eyes. As for Huo Duo'er, the gazes directed at him were filled with fervent admiration for his strength.
It was unclear what Huo Duo'er had said to the recruited orcs, but this newly integrated group of nearly two hundred orcs managed to traverse the mountains and wild forests in an orderly manner without any mishaps.
—
At noon, under the blazing sun, the group passed through a valley.
The valley was situated at a wind gap, and the wind rushing into the valley fiercely whipped against their faces.
The wind in this otherworldly place was harsh. Even the thick-skinned orcs felt their faces dry and painful, and their exposed skin seemed almost deformed by the strong gusts.
Huo Duo'er cupped the back of Yu Bai's head with his palm, shielding the small face against his chest. Halfway through the valley, the intense sunlight was suddenly blocked by a thick cloud.
In an instant, dark clouds rolled in, obscuring the sky, and a storm was imminent.
The summer rainy season was always unpredictable. Huo Duo'er spotted a few caves outside the valley and immediately ordered all the orcs to take shelter inside, temporarily avoiding the impending storm.
Inside the cave, the sub-females in charge of supplies had just lit a fire when the horizon was engulfed in darkness.
The scent of soil and plants rose continuously from the ground. Just moments ago, they had been sweating from the heat, but with the sudden onset of the storm, Yu Bai couldn't help but shiver.
Warmth enveloped his back as Huo Duo'er took out a fur blanket and draped it over him, then rubbed his shoulders and arms with his palm.
"Bai, are you cold?"
Yu Bai wanted to hold out a little longer, but he dared not risk falling ill on the journey and becoming a burden, so he nodded gently.
Huo Duo'er then removed his fur robe and pressed Yu Bai against his warm chest, holding him tightly.
The orcs sitting around them glanced over, chuckling softly.
Yu Bai's face flushed red, and he buried himself completely in Huo Duo'er's embrace, gripping the other's hand without a word.
The rain didn't last long. As soon as it stopped, Huo Duo'er instructed A’Li, A’Lin, and Mao Mao to take a headcount, and the group reassembled to continue their journey.
After passing through the valley, they entered a patch of low forest.
As evening approached and the rain had just stopped, many wild animals came out to drink and forage.
The orc scouts discovered a group of short-haired beasts lingering around the water source. Huo Duo'er dispatched a small team to capture them. After finding a suitable resting spot, he still had A’Lin lead the orcs in defense while the others started a fire nearby to prepare the evening meal.
Even the injured orcs in the group did what they could, such as fetching water or gathering firewood from the vicinity. Seeing this, Yu Bai didn't stay idle either. As night fell, he made a round of the area to check on the injured orcs.
When the orcs returned with water, the orcs from the Heiyao were so thirsty that they eagerly prepared to drink the water straight away.
Yu Bai was applying medicine to an orc with a shoulder injury when he noticed they were about to drink untreated water and quickly stopped them.
"Wait."
The Heiyao was quite amiable towards this sub-female. If their tribe had a priest who could pass down knowledge and treat injuries, they wouldn't have fallen into such dire straits.
"Little... witch doctor, what's wrong?"
Yu Bai: "From now on, don't drink untreated water. Boil the water you fetch before drinking it."
"Boil it before drinking? That's so troublesome..."
"I've seen the Yuan Tribe orcs also boil their water before drinking."
Yu Bai shook his head: "Drinking untreated water for a long time greatly increases the chance of contracting diseases."
On the return journey, he noticed that every day, some orcs in the group suffered from stomachaches, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Upon inquiry, he learned that these symptoms had persisted for quite some time.
Yu Bai had examined their feces and found worms inside.
As it was inconvenient to gather herbs on the return journey, he planned to give these orcs some herbal concoctions to drink once they returned to the tribe.
A’Li, who came over to count the numbers, said: "You should believe what Bai says! We used to drink unboiled water and eat uncooked food, but we often had stomachaches and even expelled worms. You must have experienced the same!"
The orcs from other tribes who were listening intently nodded in agreement.
A’Li continued: "Just follow Bai's advice. From now on, boil the water until it bubbles before drinking it. This is called... boiling water. Also, cook your food thoroughly. Once we return to our tribe, take some medicine, and these symptoms will soon disappear."
Hearing about these benefits, the orcs silently took note!
At the same time, they thought to themselves, this sub-female from the Yuan Tribe is truly generous to be willing to share such knowledge with them.
After all, in many tribes, apart from the priests and the most powerful orcs, the ancestral knowledge of the Beast God is not widely shared among the orcs.
The Heiyao orcs looked at Yu Bai with even greater eagerness.
If it weren't for the Yuan Tribe's considerable strength, in other smaller tribes, an orc like Yu Bai would most likely have been taken away by a larger tribe.
—
Four days later, the group returned to the Yuan Tribe.
Huo Duo'er handed over the recruited orcs to the chief for arrangement, hurriedly gave a few instructions, tightened the beast fur in his arms, and carried Yu Bai back to their courtyard.
Yu Bai had fallen ill.
The weather during the journey had been unpredictable, with scorching sun and violent storms alternating frequently. He had endured for several days, but since yesterday afternoon, he had been running a high fever that wouldn't subside. After taking medicine, he had been sleeping deeply.
The little wolf responsible for guarding the home was particularly excited upon catching the scent of the small two-legged beast. Seeing the large two-legged beast carrying the small one through the door, it was about to pounce when Huo Duo'er scolded: "Don't disturb him."
The little wolf tucked its tail, sensing something was amiss, and followed quietly, letting out low whimpers. It crouched halfway, using its fluffy head to nudge the little two-legged creature's leg.
Huo Duo'er placed Yu Bai into the bed and went to the kitchen to boil water.
The little wolf lay at the foot of the bed, occasionally rubbing its head against Yu Bai's leg. The little two-legged creature had fallen ill again after going out, worrying the wolf to death.
But there was nothing it could do except try to nudge the little two-legged creature awake. Concerned that he might be hungry upon waking, the wolf soon leaped over the wall, disappearing like lightning into the wilderness to hunt for the small two-legged creature.
—
Night fell, and the starry river hung in the sky.
Huo Duo'er finished brewing the medicine and used warm water to wipe Yu Bai's body.
Yu Bai, who had been sleeping for a full day and night, groggily opened his eyes and called out hoarsely, "Huo Duo'er..."
Hearing the fragile voice of his mate, Huo Duo'er changed Yu Bai into a clean linen robe, then held him on his lap, one arm embracing him while the other fed him the medicine.
"Bai, drink some medicine."
Yu Bai responded vaguely, the bitterness of the medicine causing his delicate brows to furrow. He didn't want to drink it anymore.
In the past, he would swallow any medicine without hesitation, no matter how bitter it was.
But over the past six months, he had developed a bit of a temper. Now, with his damp, hazy eyes open, he pitifully said, "It's too bitter."
His slightly feverish face nuzzled against Huo Duo'er's chest. "When can I stop drinking medicine..."
Huo Duo'er felt at a loss, his palm gently patting his mate's back.
Orcs were naturally strong-willed, both mentally and physically. As long as they had breath in them, they could endure any pain or hardship to survive.
He had never considered physical pain to be a big deal, let alone something like drinking medicine. How could that be considered suffering?
But seeing his mate's small face scrunched up, his cheeks flushed with fever, Huo Duo'er felt that this kind of suffering was truly unbearable. Why did Yu Bai have to endure it?
"Bai, you won't feel uncomfortable after drinking this..."
Huo Duo'er clumsily comforted him.
He took a sip of the medicine and slowly fed it into Yu Bai's mouth, his tongue sweeping through the warm, narrow cavity, trying to lick away the bitter taste of the medicine.
Yu Bai's lips were wet, his eyes dazed.
Huo Duo'er whispered, "I'll lick away the bitterness for you."
Yu Bai, his mind foggy, truly believed this would help.
So he parted his soft lips, a trace of moisture spreading from the corner of his mouth to his chin.
Huo Duo'er licked his mouth repeatedly, cleaning the wet traces that had slipped from the corners.
By the time the bowl of medicine was finished, Yu Bai's mouth felt almost melted from all the licking.
After three days of such care, his body finally recovered, the heaviness fading away.
When Yu Bai woke up, Huo Duo'er wasn't by his side. There was some commotion in the yard.
Not long after, Huo Duo'er sent away the orcs who had come to visit Yu Bai. Upon entering the room and seeing Yu Bai awake, he hurried over, pulling him into his arms and touching his forehead and cheeks, relieved.
"Bai, you've finally recovered."
The little wolf, lying at the foot of the bed, nudged Yu Bai's hand with its big head. Huo Duo'er shooed it away.
Yu Bai chuckled softly, "Why are you bullying the little wolf..."
As soon as he spoke, he swallowed.
He vaguely remembered that over the past few days, Huo Duo'er had been licking his mouth while feeding him medicine, inside and out. He felt a mix of guilt, shame, and a hidden sweetness.
Huo Duo'er had taken excellent care of Yu Bai. Even while sick, he cleaned his body daily, combed his hair, and trimmed his nails neatly and smoothly.
When there was no wind, they would take him out to bask in the sun in the courtyard.
In the entire tribe, there was no other orc as clean, soft, and exuding such a pleasant scent as Yu Bai.
Yu Bai's heart was filled with a bittersweet feeling, and his eyes were moist.
Huo Duo'er wiped the corner of his eye with his thumb: "Bai, why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell? I'll go find the old priest to take a look at you."
Yu Bai shook his head.
"It's not that I'm unwell."
"Then why are you crying?"
Yu Bai: "People cry when they're happy too..."
Huo Duo'er's constant care made him want to do something in return, a kind of psychological urge to offer a sacrifice after being overly satisfied.
Suddenly, Yu Bai made up his mind and straddled the orc's lap.
He endured his shyness but firmly rubbed against him. Huo Duo'er held his waist tightly, the concern on his face not yet faded, and his cold, hard features twisted slightly due to the stimulation.
"Huo Duo'er, next... next time, we..."
Huo Duo'er pressed him down: "Bai..."
After saying that, it jumped up fiercely, almost tearing his hemp robe.
Yu Bai's eyes turned red, still moist.
He slowly squeezed out the words he wanted to say.
"Next time we... will become true mates..."
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