| GB | Hugging Became a Habit | 73
It was early spring, marking the fourth year since Yu Bai arrived in the orc world.
The development of the Yuan tribe had reached a stagnant phase. With the rapid population growth over the past few years, the tribe's farmland could hardly sustain the food supply for all the orcs. Therefore, from spring until autumn, the number of warriors sent out for regular hunting missions only increased.
Apart from the small tribes settled around the Yuan tribe, a formidable orc force had emerged in the northwest this year—the Giant Tribe.
Most orcs had no idea where this Giant Tribe came from, but they dared not provoke this orc clan, which was believed to be blessed by the mountain god. In the wild or hunting areas, when encountering the fierce-looking orcs of the Giant Tribe, they would actively avoid them, cowering and hiding in corners.
Moreover, the plains in this area began to spread the infamous reputation of the Giant Tribe. It was said that this orc clan was brutal and cruel, and if angered, they could crush orcs as easily as ants.
Those who had not interacted with the Giant Tribe but had seen them from afar were further convinced by their appearance. By the second month of spring, not a single orc dared to set foot in the northwest territory, fearing they might displease the Giant Tribe.
—
In the third month of spring, as the snow and ice on the mountain pass roads had just melted, the chief arranged a team of orc warriors to head to the top of the western mountains to fetch salt.
Accompanying the Yuan tribe's warrior team were two male orcs from the Giant Tribe, arranged by Xiu.
This matter caused some tension between the two tribes.
The chief believed that the Giant Tribe had sent too few warriors. Man, with a cold sneer, claimed that two male orcs from the Giant Tribe were enough to match an entire team sent by the Yuan tribe. After two days of dispute, a competition was held.
The competition was set in the training square of the Yuan tribe, and both Yuan tribe orcs and Giant Tribe orcs came to watch.
A light rain fell like fine hairs. Yu Bai, with his hands tucked into his fluffy fur coat, tilted his head and joined in the excitement.
The orcs blocking the back, seeing him straining his neck, pushed him forward: "Make way."
The orcs who were pushed aside were displeased and wanted to make a few sarcastic remarks. But upon seeing it was Yu Bai, they immediately fell silent, shouting, "Let Bai stand in front to watch." As soon as the words were spoken, a path opened up in front of Yu Bai.
He pulled out one of his steadily tucked arms, scratched the fluff on his hood, and smiled gently, speaking in a soft and polite tone.
"I can stand at the back just fine."
"No way!"
"Bai, come over here~"
Some, taking advantage of Huo Duo'er's absence, boldly suggested: "Bai, why don't I carry you on my shoulders to watch?"
The one who said this was punched by nearby orcs: "Keep dreaming."
"Then I want to carry him too."
"I'll tell Huo Duo’er!"
Whether male or female orcs, they all vied to carry Yu Bai.
There was no other reason; Yu Bai was small and soft, and he carried a faint, pleasant scent.
Female orcs like Mian, who were closer to Yu Bai, had privately asked him why he always smelled so nice.
Yu Bai blushed, sniffed his own arm, but couldn't detect any particular scent.
However, during winter and spring, to prevent his skin from cracking, he would apply some homemade ointment.
The ointment was made from animal fat and a few medicinal herbs, carrying a slight plant-like aroma, but it wasn't particularly fragrant.
He shared the method of making the ointment with the orcs in the tribe. Mian and the others quickly made it and applied it to their faces and bodies, but they didn't end up with the same scent as Yu Bai.
Yu Bai always exuded a pleasant fragrance, and with his fair and clean appearance, he looked exceptionally soft and gentle. Who wouldn't want to give him a hug?
With so many roundabout ideas swirling around, giving way wasn't such a big deal.
Yu Bai had brought so much inheritage to the tribe, and as long as one wasn't blind, they could see the attitude of the chief and the priest towards him.
Even though Yu Bai hadn't agreed, many orcs already regarded him as the next priest.
Jiu Fe, holding a wooden spear, walked up to him with a cool and aloof expression, but his eyes were no different from the orcs around him who were vying for attention. It seemed that as long as Yu Bai nodded, he would carry him up to the sky to watch the competition.
Yu Bai declined the orcs' offer to carry him and quickly walked to the center of the training square.
The chief waved at him, smiling warmly, "Bai, are you here to watch the excitement?"
Then he asked, "Bai, who do you think will win?"
Yu Bai hesitated, not giving a direct answer.
He thought the two male giants would win, but he was afraid that telling the truth might upset the chief, so he chose to play dumb and not say anything.
As he had predicted, the orc team, including Mao Mao and sixteen other warriors, took turns to fight but ultimately lost by a narrow margin.
The giants were naturally incredibly strong, and although the two male giants sent by Man didn't possess very powerful mountain god abilities, they were more than enough to deal with ordinary orcs.
They launched attacks using mud and stones, forcefully separating each orc. The field was filled with flying sand and stones, obscuring vision. Yu Bai couldn't keep his eyes open, but the giants moved freely in such conditions, breaking through the isolated warriors of the Yuan tribe one by one.
After the battle ended, Yu Bai silently glanced at the stiff-faced chief.
On the opposite side, Man grinned fiercely, staring at the chief and asking, "Well, convinced now?"
Some orcs from the Yuan tribe were still unconvinced. Man stepped forward, his voice cold and mocking, "If you're not convinced, then come and fight me."
Most of the orcs shouting their defiance were native to the Yuan tribe, while those like Jiu Fe and Ze, who had joined the Yuan tribe from other clans, stood calmly on the sidelines, not participating in the conflict.
They hadn't been part of the Yuan tribe for long. Their service to the tribe was more out of respect for the powerful leaders, such as Huo Duo'er, or because of the presence of orcs like Yu Bai, who had inherited the orc god's legacy, which made them choose to stay.
After two years of adjustment, their relationship with the Yuan tribe was more like a partnership. They were willing to step forward if the balance of their survival environment was threatened, but they were unwilling to engage in a show of strength with the giants like this.
Jiu Fe and Ze both knew they needed to establish an alliance with the giants and not drive away such a powerful ally.
As for the rumors that had been spreading these past few months...
Jiu Fe and Ze exchanged glances, seeing the same speculation in each other's eyes.
Although the Yuan tribe's chief was old, his mind was still sharp.
He wanted to keep the giants and establish an alliance with them, but he was also worried that the giants might win over the hearts of other nearby orc tribes by expanding their influence. So, while on the surface they were friendly, secretly they still competed.
One by one, the male orcs of the Yuan tribe stepped forward and were defeated, especially when the giants only sent five orcs to battle, making their expressions even more grim.
Huo Duo'er was leading a patrol around the territory today, and there was no one to mediate the situation.
As the atmosphere grew tense, Ze's eyes shifted, and he had an idea.
As the former leader of Heiyao, he had dealt with countless orc tribes to protect his people. Now, stepping forward to deliver a few diplomatic words to ease the tension was second nature to him.
With Ze stepping in to speak, Man, who had been seething with anger, calmed down a bit and glanced at him a few times.
Ze smiled: "Leader Man, the Giant Tribe is very strong. If there's a chance, I'd like to personally learn a thing or two from you."
Man's thick brows, which had just relaxed, immediately furrowed again: "Isn't Big Huo’s training enough for you?"
Mentioning this made Man angry. They had been trained by Big Huo since childhood, and now their own leader had gone to lead another tribe, gathering a group of followers who respected Big Huo. Man felt a pang of bitterness.
But now, he and Xiu bore the responsibility of the Giant Tribe. Some things, once done, could not be undone, just like how they couldn't bring Big Huo back.
Man could no longer act recklessly as he used to, and Big Huo wouldn't always be there to back them up.
Ze's handsome face remained amiable. Though he was tall, he was still half a head shorter than Man. Yet, as he took the initiative to extend goodwill, he didn't appear weak in the face of Man's fierce expression.
Man's anger inexplicably subsided a bit, and he looked at Ze with a hint of admiration.
"You seem different from that old goat. If you feel you can't stay in the Yuan Tribe, come to us. The Giant Tribe welcomes a warrior like you."
Ze laughed heartily, and with that, the previously tense atmosphere was completely dispelled.
Man turned his gaze to Yu Bai, crouched down, and waved his large hand at him.
"Bai, last time you taught us to use the spicy root to rub our hands, and sure enough, the frostbite on mine and Xiu's hands healed. When A’Ming and the others return from the hunt, I'll give you two pigs as a thank you."
He added: "Eat more. With so much meat, how can your body handle Big Huo?"
Yu Bai furrowed his delicate brows, seeing that Man was about to speak without restraint again, and quickly shook his head.
"Huo Duo'er takes good care of me. He doesn't withhold anything from me..."
Man grinned, raised his hand, and signaled for the orcs of the Giant Tribe to leave with him.
The conflict was temporarily resolved, and before noon, the warriors of the Yuan Tribe and the two male orcs of the Giant Tribe set off for the salt flats at the peak of the western mountain.
—
With the frequent rains in late spring, Yu Bai had dried medicinal herbs in the morning, but by evening, the rain had started again.
He hurriedly gathered the drying herbs, turned around, and nearly tripped over the little wolf following him.
When Huo Duo'er entered, he saw Yu Bai almost fall. He put down the yak he was carrying on his right shoulder, lifted Yu Bai under the eaves, and knelt down to brush off the wet mud from his knees and arms.
Yu Bai shook the items in his hand: "The herbs..."
Huo Duo'er said: "I'll take care of it."
Apart from the commonly used medicinal herbs, the rest were the ones Yu Bai needed to consume.
Over the years, he occasionally experienced leg pain, but it only resulted in a bit of growth and it was unrelated to any illness.
In the orc world, there were no instruments to check one's health, so Yu Bai couldn't determine if his ailment had been completely eradicated. To be safe, he took the medicine at regular intervals.
Though medicine is inherently toxic, he feared a relapse more.
Now, Yu Bai had something more important than death to live for—he wanted to survive.
—
Inside the house, Yu Bai changed out of his mud-stained pants. When he turned around, he caught sight of those silver-gray orc eyes fixed on his waist and hips as he bent down to change. He quickly straightened up.
Huo Duo'er's gaze flickered: "I hunted a yak. Later..."
Before he could finish speaking, a shout from A’Lin suddenly came from outside the door.
"Big Huo, something's happened—"
"The Brown Tribe, allied with the Yao Tribe, has ambushed the Chi Zu Tribe. A few injured warriors from the Chi Zu Tribe have escaped and are seeking our help."
The Chi Zu Tribe was the first medium-sized tribe to form an alliance with the Yuan Tribe. Though not exceptionally strong, they were by no means weak. If the Yuan Tribe were to lose this ally and abandon them, the Brown Tribe would likely continue to encroach upon other tribes friendly with the Yuan Tribe.
Huo Duo'er immediately decided to dispatch the brothers A’Sen and A’Lin, along with Ze, each leading a fifty-strong orc squad to provide support.
Yu Bai followed Huo Duo'er to his side. The rain and mist grew denser, and he grasped the other's hand.
Huo Duo'er said, "We'll stay behind to prevent the Brown Tribe from launching a surprise attack."
Yu Bai nodded gently.
"If there's anything you need help with, just let me know."
Huo Duo'er ruffled his hair.
A male beast would never let his mate charge into battle.
He said, "Let's go check on those injured warriors from the Chi Tribe."
With that, he scooped Yu Bai up in his arms, then picked up the bamboo hat hanging on the wall and carefully placed it on Yu Bai's head.
Yu Bai blushed and gave a light push.
"I can walk on my own."
Huo Duo'er remained expressionless. "It's a habit."
Four years had passed, and Yu Bai's features had matured slightly compared to before. The blend of youthful and adult traits made him appear slender, standing at around 178 centimeters tall.
However, this change in height was insignificant compared to Huo Duo'er. Carrying him outside had become a habit, something done without a second thought.
Yu Bai let out a soft "Oh" and didn't refuse again.
He added in a low voice, "Bring the medicine basket, just in case we need to treat injuries…"
Huo Duo'er casually picked up a small medicine basket and slung it over his shoulder.
Yu Bai's eyes curved slightly as he was quickly carried by Huo Duo'er to the large shelter in the tribe's square.
"Bai is here!"
"Big Huo is here!"
A few voices also called out, "Big Huo is carrying Bai—"
Under the rain, Huo Duo'er entered the shelter and carefully set Yu Bai back on the ground.
Mian was leading two female orcs in examining the injured orcs from the Chi Zu Tribe. Yu Bai joined them and soon bandaged the bleeding wounds of the injured.
As Huo Duo'er listened to the reports from the Chi Zu Tribe orcs, he noticed several gazes falling on Yu Bai. He shifted his stance slightly, shielding his mate completely.
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