| GB | Untied The Knot | 121
The courtyard was quiet all around, with the animal hide curtains on the windows half-open, allowing a beam of bright autumn light to fall onto the floor.
Yu Bai had been awake for a while now, curled up in the most relaxed posture in bed, a blanket covering his stomach, his arms and calves exposed to the air, his skin marked with traces left over the past few days.
He lifted his arm to examine it, then blushed and put it down.
Preparing for winter for more than five hundred orcs had arrived, and the tribe was piled up with various tasks. Huo Duo'er had already gone out to work and would return after noon to have lunch with him.
After some aimless musing, Yu Bai slowly got up.
The little wolf squeezed through a crack in the door and entered the room, lying by the bed and wagging its tail at him.
Awoo~!
Small two-legged creature, you sleep so much~!
Of course, the little wolf didn't blame the little small-legged creature for sleeping so much, after all, it was all the big two-legged creature's fault!
The little wolf continued to howl indignantly.
The big two-legged creature was too much, taking the small two-legged creature out for so long, and not letting him get up when they returned, often monopolizing him until midnight, causing the small two-legged creature to sleep until the sun was high in the sky every day.
As noon approached, Yu Bai got up to wash up, and just as he changed into a flaxen-colored cross-collar robe, there was movement outside.
Huo Duo'er brought back a stack of polished wooden boards, planning to make a larger wardrobe.
His beastly eyes caught sight of the figure behind the door, and after washing his hands, he swiftly served the food that had been kept warm on the stove into the room.
On the table was a clay pot. Yu Bai was accustomed to drinking some warm water after waking up, so Huo Duo'er had developed the habit of boiling a pot of water every morning, making it convenient for Yu Bai to drink, and the extra could be used for washing.
Yu Bai added a small spoonful of honey to the water, drank half a bowl, and then brought the remaining half to Huo Duo'er.
His pitch-black eyebrows curved into crescents: "Drink some."
Huo Duo'er didn't take it but instead squatted down, supporting his mate's slender and soft waist, and drank it all in a few sips from the spot where Yu Bai's lips had touched.
Yu Bai: "It's busy outside, isn't it?" he said, wiping the sweat beads hanging on Huo Duo'er's neck. "After eating, I'll go out to help too. I can't keep going on like this."
Huo Duo'er didn't refuse, his palm resting on Yu Bai's lower back, even sliding down to caress him gently.
After lunch, Yu Bai turned over the soil in the vegetable patch. He suddenly turned back, as he had these past few days, catching those beastly eyes that were always fixed on him.
He actively approached Huo Duo'er, taking hold of that rough hand.
"Why do you keep staring at me?"
Yu Bai thought carefully, it seemed that Huo Duo'er had been more nervous about him when they were by the sea.
Because he sensed this emotion, Yu Bai had been very indulgent towards Huo Duo'er's slightly excessive demands in the past few days. Now, upon closer examination, a strange feeling surfaced in his heart.
"Huo Duo'er, did something happened?"
"..."
After repeated questioning, Yu Bai finally pried the truth from the other's mouth.
Tracing back, it was actually because of the illusion created by the little priest.
Huo Duo'er held Yu Bai on his lap, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on him.
"Bai, was it true?"
"..."
Yu Bai's silence was the best response.
In an instant, those calm and steady beastly eyes welled up with faint tears, and the arms encircling Yu Bai trembled uncontrollably.
Yu Bai quickly spoke up: "That's all in the past."
He couldn't think of a better way to explain it. Feeling the twitching muscles on Huo Duo'er's forearm, he carefully began, "As you saw back then, that was my past life..."
Meeting the orc's complex and pained gaze, Yu Bai licked his lips, "We were both trapped in the same illusion. You could only see my past, while I could see everything."
Huo Duo'er: "...Last time, you didn't tell me."
Yu Bai softly hummed in acknowledgment.
"It really wasn't a good memory..."
Moreover, just the thought of the other person diving into the lake to save him without hesitation, only to end up powerless, watching him slowly lose his vitality...
Such a scene, if experienced again, would undoubtedly hurt Huo Duo'er once more.
Yu Bai smiled faintly, though his eyes were slightly moist.
"Don't be sad, it's all in the past. You saw the situation back then, I... had no choice..."
"Before coming here, the one I worry about the most is my mother. If that dream was real, and mother and uncle can take care of each other, support one another, and life gradually returns to peace and quiet, I would be truly happy to see them like that... It's just that my grandfather passed away..."
He pretended to sigh lightly, "Grandfather was already old and he didn't suffer much when he left. He fell asleep and opened his eyes in another place. It's much better than me..."
Yu Bai swallowed the sour lump in his throat, "For a person to leave without pain is also a kind of blessing."
"Huo Duo'er, don't be sad for my past. I'm really happy to see you always by my side. Thank you for staying with me. Let's treat that dream as a beautiful memory. With you, mother, and grandfather watching over me, I am very happy, truly happy..."
The two sat under the tree talking, the warm autumn sun falling on them, their skin touching, the warmth reaching deep into their hearts.
Huo Duo'er's heart knot finally began to unravel, and Yu Bai's eyes were a bit wet from crying.
By the time he calmed down, it was already past noon.
He carried a basket for gathering on his back and wore a straw hat.
Huo Duo'er led him out, and the little wolf and Jinjin ran ahead, following closely.
The mountains and fields formed a natural planting ground, bustling with activity in the autumn.
Huo Duo'er brought Yu Bai nearby, and Lian, who was in charge of gathering, quickly gathered around with the other sub-female orcs.
"Bai~"
"Big Huo brought Bai again~"
After Huo Duo'er left, Lian approached Yu Bai, eyeing the string on his wrist.
"Bai, what is this? It's so beautiful, it looks like what the shell orcs wear."
Yu Bai: "Huo Duo'er made this pearl bracelet for me."
He added, "After returning from the Water God's domain this time, we exchanged a few good things with the shell tribe. We'll see how Xiu arranges them after he checks and stores them."
Orcs also have a love for beauty, and Lian liked pearls. Normally, Yu Bai wouldn't hesitate to take some off and give them to her.
But this string of pearls was a gift from Huo Duo'er. They had just resolved a heart knot, and their feelings had deepened. He couldn't bear to part with the pearl bracelet.
Lian wasn't discouraged, her eyes lighting up.
"Then I'll work hard and save up enough contributions. Next time, I'll ask Leader Xiu if I can exchange for some of these shiny beads."
Colorful, glowing things were very popular among orcs, they were like the stones the original Heiyao tribe dug up, which were very popular in the tribe.
Ze had collected several beautifully polished stones, and some bolder orcs tried to exchange things with Leader Ze, but were all refused.
Lian mentioned this: "A’Liao wanted to exchange ten wild beasts with Leader Ze for that stone, but it didn't work out! Then, just a few days later, we saw those stones boldly placed on Leader Man's table! A’Liao went to ask Leader Man, and he said Leader Ze gave them to him!"
Yu Bai: "..."
Lian: "Leader Man doesn't know how to cherish them. Such beautiful stones could definitely win over female orcs, but he just casually tossed them in his house, and Leader Ze didn't even get angry."
Jiang and a few other sub-female orcs nearby also gathered around, digging the ground while chattering and gossiping.
Yu Bai listened quietly to the gossip of the sub-female orcs, deep in thought.
Both Man and Ze were very strong-willed individuals. If there was really something going on, and the parties involved didn't speak up, it wasn't appropriate for others to intervene.
He collected herbs at the foot of the mountain and didn't return to the tribe until evening.
Since many facilities and houses in the tribe were still under construction, and over five hundred more people had been added a few days ago, there were no conditions for cooking. Xiu arranged for the orcs to set up several large pots in the square.
The pots were boiling porridge, sprinkled with minced meat and vegetables, the rich aroma wafting through the air.
The orcs, who had worked all day, each carried their own bowls and lined up to get their meals.
With so many people, it was inevitable to have noise and even conflicts.
When Yu Bai arrived, he noticed a tall orc cutting in front of the gray rat tribe. The gray rat orc who was cut off timidly lowered his head and did not get angry, seemingly accepting the act of being cut in line.
Yu Bai frowned, and before he could speak, Lian shouted, "Hey, you! You're cutting in line?! Get back!"
The named orc glanced at the small and weak gray rat orc behind him, about to retort, but upon seeing the priest nearby, he quickly stepped back.
"P-Priest Bai..."
The orcs in the territory respected and were close to Yu Bai, but they also knew that this gentle and mild priest always adhered to a bottom line: the rules.
The rules set by the tribe must not be broken.
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