| GB | I Feel Sorry For You | 68
Huo Duo'er shifted his gaze, avoiding Man's teasing look, signaling him to stop.
He lowered his head to look at the chief: "What is it you wish to discuss?"
This question was asked out of politeness and respect for the chief, as Huo Duo'er had already guessed what the chief wanted to talk about.
The chief’s wrinkled eyes curved slightly: "It's warm inside, let's all go in and sit down to talk."
The hall was heated with charcoal and a fire was lit. Nowadays, the fire was not just fueled by wood.
After the early spring, the orcs of the tribe went out to search for supplies and discovered a type of resin they had never seen before.
Since Yu Bai led the orcs to use branches and charcoal ash to make asphalt and pave the roads, they had become very enthusiastic about finding new things, bringing back anything they hadn't seen before, thinking it might be useful.
It's worth noting that the roads paved with asphalt were much smoother and neater than the original dirt roads, and they didn't get muddy on rainy days.
The old, dilapidated roads in the tribe were gradually being replaced by asphalt roads, with the main thoroughfares extending from the city to the outskirts, making it very convenient for orcs to travel both inside and outside the city.
When the orcs found the new resin, they immediately brought it to Yu Bai.
Yu Bai and a few experienced old orcs studied it and found that this new type of resin burned slowly, which meant it could be used to make candles.
The old orcs didn't know what candles were, so Yu Bai explained it to them.
At the time, the idea was good, but the amount of resin was limited, and using it all to make candles would be too wasteful.
After some discussion, the old orcs decided to use treated bark and combustible grass to make something the length of an arm, coating the surface of the ignition point with a layer of resin to make it burn slowly.
Yu Bai thought that what the old orcs came up with was more durable than wood and looked very much like a torch, so he named it a torch.
They also tried making candles with honey, but honey was precious and scarce, and the candlelight was too small, so they gave up on the idea of mass-producing beeswax candles and used torches for lighting instead.
At this moment, several torches illuminated most of the council hall. Man and Xiu looked at the new thing with great interest. Without guessing, the strange name "torch" must have come from Big Huo’s mate.
If the priests of other tribes had received so much inheritance from the Orc God, they would have long since looked down on the orcs, but Big Huo’s mate blushed easily, spoke softly, and had such a small frame.
If it weren't for Big Huo’s protection, he would probably have been bullied by the orcs or taken away by a more powerful orc tribe.
Man shook his head and, hearing the chief call him, looked over boldly.
At this moment, the chief of the Yuan tribe wanted to discuss something with him and Xiu, and they had a good idea of what it was.
Just as Man thought, after some polite words, the chief directly asked if the giant orcs Man had brought were interested in joining the Yuan tribe.
The chief deliberately avoided mentioning that these giant orcs were brought back by Huo Duo'er, only saying that Man had brought them.
Huo Duo'er had lived in the Yuan tribe for three years, and his status was no longer the same as before. The chief would never push such a powerful male orc away and directly recognized him as a member of the Yuan tribe.
This little scheme was even noticed by Yu Bai, who was usually slow to react in interpersonal relationships.
After hearing the chief’s words, Man's tattooed eyebrows twisted, and he crossed his arms, snorting coldly.
"You old goat have quite the nerve, trying to swallow the giant orcs in one gulp?"
The chief looked at Man's fierce and imposing demeanor, then glanced at Xiu, who had a more refined temperament but was equally unyielding. He let out an awkward "uh" and wiped the cold sweat that had formed on his brow.
The chief rubbed his hands together and said, "Here's the thing, we will never mistreat any orc who joins our tribe. You are the strongest warriors, and you will have everything you deserve. Moreover, the tribe will distribute food and cloth to the warriors every month, and the rewards will only increase, and never decrease."
"Over the past two years, tribes like the Heiyao and the one-horned tribe have joined the Yuan tribe. You warriors can inquire about it—our tribe will never mistreat any of you."
Yu Bai glanced at the chief and swallowed some words he wanted to say.
The rules for entering the inner city had not changed to this day. If they wanted to recruit orcs like Man, who had no mates, would the chief be willing to let all orcs into the city?
With the construction of the territory's walls completed, both the inner and outer cities had an additional layer of sturdy protection. Even living in the outer city was much safer than before.
Nevertheless, ambitious orcs would undoubtedly want to enter the inner city.
Man and his group of giant orcs clearly lived by their own rules, each with their own pride. To expect them to follow the Yuan tribe's customs, find mates, form bonds, and pass assessments—even Yu Bai thought they wouldn't agree.
Man chuckled, shook his head, and outright refused.
"The Giant tribe will never beg for help from any other tribe, nor will we abandon our own to join with other orc tribes. Even if we were to join, it would be other tribes submitting to us. If anyone disagrees, let them prove their worth."
Man's gaze shifted, and his usual rough demeanor changed. "Big Huo, although you are the leader of the Yuan tribe, you don't have absolute authority. Why stay here and take orders from this old goat? If you were to lead us, we can establish the Giant tribe's territory elsewhere."
He paused, then added with a threatening tone, "Big Huo, if you really like this place, we can take it together and make it our tribe's territory."
Several elders of the Yuan tribe slammed the table and stood up, stammering, "You... you..."
The chief struggled to maintain his composure. "We have treated you warriors with kindness. Isn't this a bit like biting the hand that feeds you?"
Man didn't back down. "If we hadn't stepped in to help, how many of the Yuan tribe's warriors would have died in that beast tide? Isn't it only right to treat our tribe well?"
"We helped you out of goodwill, yet you turn around and try to swallow us up to strengthen the Yuan tribe. Who's biting whose hand here? You know the answer."
Xiu spoke up, "If the tribe were to declare itself as the Giant tribe's territory in the future, we might be willing to stay."
They made their stance clear—they had no intention of leading their people to join the Yuan tribe.
The chief took a deep breath and cast a pleading look at Huo Duo'er.
Even a fool could see how Man and his orcs felt about Huo Duo'er. If Huo Duo'er could help, perhaps the situation wouldn't be so ugly.
"I respect Man and his group's wishes," Huo Duo'er said. "I stayed in the tribe after being saved by Bai, and that was my own choice. As for the others, whether they stay or leave, I won't interfere."
Noticing the chief's pale face, Huo Duo'er softened his tone, leaving some room for negotiation.
Over the past three years, he had traveled to many places and knew exactly where would be suitable for establishing an orc territory.
For the orc tribes to develop, they couldn't remain isolated and closed off.
With Yu Bai's ideas and the repeated practices of the orcs in the tribe, after two years of construction, the strength of the Yuan tribe has surpassed that of the Brown tribe this year.
Around the territory, there are some small tribes that have not yet submitted but have migrated and settled. These small tribes can exchange resources hunted in the wild with the Yuan tribe for food, linen, and pottery, or they can work for the Yuan tribe, using their labor to obtain necessities.
However, the resources of the orcs are limited, especially the powerful male orcs. Facing the Brown tribe and the Yao tribe, who might attack the Yuan tribe at any time, as well as the potential sudden outbreak of a beast tide, maintaining friendly relations with small tribes is not enough. They need to forge stronger alliances.
If the Giant tribe is willing to ally with the Yuan tribe, with Huo Duo'er mediating, a balance between the two sides can be maintained in terms of territory construction and resource supply.
The chief's expression softened slightly. Seeing Man's face about to change, Huo Duo'er spoke in a steady tone: "Man, go back and discuss this matter with the tribe members."
Xiu patted Man on the shoulder and said to Huo Duo'er, "Big Huo, we will consider it carefully."
Man's earlier words were not without reason, but after listening to Huo Duo'er, Xiu thought carefully and calmed down.
He saw the Yuan tribe's territory, which was different from most tribes, with things beyond the orcs' expectations. If they could exchange for useful resources, it would be best.
The Giant tribe had been reclusive in the past, not interacting with any orc tribes. After three years, they clearly understood that complete isolation was not a long-term survival strategy.
After the meeting ended, Huo Duo'er picked up Yu Bai, who had been sitting quietly on the fur chair, and covered his forehead with the hood.
Yu Bai's arms wrapped around, and looking back, he caught a glimpse of Man's dissatisfied and aggrieved expression, his eyes flickering.
As they walked out of the meeting hall, the night was dark, but the asphalt road was illuminated by torches hung at intervals under the eaves, ensuring that the orcs wouldn't stumble in the dark, making life more convenient.
Huo Duo'er carried Yu Bai for a while, and Man caught up.
"Big Huo, you are clearly our leader, why are you siding with the Yuan tribe?"
He continued, "Is it because you formed a bond with the Yuan tribe's sub-female orc that you want to stay in someone else's tribe forever?"
Huo Duo'er didn't even raise an eyebrow. Man glared and turned his gaze to Yu Bai.
"Bai, Big Huo is the leader of the Giant tribe, and we all listen to him, but if Big Huo stays in the Yuan tribe, not all orcs will respect him. That old goat has bad intentions!"
Yu Bai lowered his eyes, his expression wavering.
Seeing this, Man continued, "If Bai is willing to leave the Yuan tribe, Big Huo will surely leave with us. Why suffer under the control of other orc tribes here? If you teach us your heritage, we can build a strong tribe too."
Huo Duo'er's unchanging expression showed a ripple, and he warned Man, "Don't force Bai to do what he doesn't want to do."
"Big Huo, you..."
"My life already belongs to Bai."
Man clenched his fists, his gaze at Yu Bai complex.
Yu Bai had been gentle and quiet all along, but now he looked at the two orcs and sighed softly.
Though slow, he was not entirely clueless.
Without directly answering Man's earlier question, he tightened his arms around Huo Duo'er's neck and only asked, "Man, I'm a bit curious, why didn't you come to find Huo Duo'er in the first place?"
Over the past three years, regardless of the weather, Huo Duo'er had persistently left marks in more and more places. Even in the harsh cold, fearing that the marks might be covered by snow, he would still venture out to replenish them, despite the freezing conditions.
At first, he would try to dissuade him, but seeing the determination in Huo Duo'er's heart and understanding his persistence, he gradually stopped obstructing.
"Huo Duo'er never gave up looking for you. Those marks, I guess some of you must have seen them, but no one contacted Huo Duo'er."
"Have you ever considered Huo Duo'er? Have you ever inquired about his thoughts? He went out time and time again, returning disappointed each time, not because he didn't make an effort, but because you avoided him, simply because you didn't want to return to the original tribe."
"Now that you guys have reunited, he has already fulfilled your wishes."
Huo Duo'er's eyes welled up, and his chest, pressed against Yu Bai's body, suddenly heaved.
Yu Bai turned his eyes away, still staring at Man's face.
"No matter what Huo Duo'er does, he said he wouldn't force you, I believe that you... you shouldn't force him to make a decision either."
Man was stunned, and after a long while, he nodded and turned to leave.
After Man had gone far, Yu Bai let out a sigh of relief.
He thought he was being reasonable just now, but after speaking, his eyes were still wet with tears.
Yu Bai wiped the tears on his broad chest.
Huo Duo'er didn't say anything, but over the years, he had seen everything he had done. It was fine when he endured it in his heart, pretending not to know, but once he opened his mouth, that emotion poured out like a floodgate.
Yu Bai hugged the other's neck tightly and said in a muffled voice, "I feel sorry for you."
Even without a response, Huo Duo'er still persisted in searching for his tribe day after day, but his tribe didn't want to meet him so soon.
Huo Duo'er's silent and cold face twitched slightly. He didn't know that Bai would be so attentive. The thin tears that trickled down his neck, though warm, felt like a prairie fire, almost softening and burning his heart.
This kind of long-term, silent attention made Huo Duo'er's emotions crack open. He hugged Yu Bai tightly.
"Bai, thank you..."
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