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Before evening, they found a suitable place to rest, and all the orcs scattered nearby.
Some went to the river to fetch water, some gathered firewood and dry grass, while the rest prepared the site.
The sun in the savage orc world, like in the modern world, follows the pattern of rising in the east and setting in the west. As long as it was daytime with the sun hanging in the west, they followed the direction indicated by the shadows. If they encountered cloudy weather, Huo Duo'er and Yu Bai would determine their direction by observing the plants.
Most of the orcs who followed had never left their tribe in their lives. Now, embarking on this long and unknown journey, the momentary courage they had for survival faded, and their spirits sank, each one like a lost lamb.
They didn’t know if this endless journey over the past few days was right or wrong, but seeing the giant orc leading the way, who seemed to always hold up a piece of the sky, they managed to steady their minds, like grabbing a life-saving float in the water.
Huo Duo'er piled up a large rock, swept it clean with a bundle of grass, and let Yu Bai rest on it.
When the orcs who had gone to gather firewood and dry grass returned, they used flint to start a fire and smoked the nearby grass several times before starting to set up tents with tree bark.
The further south they went, the warmer the climate became, but it also brought many dangers.
For example, the increased humidity and pervasive miasma, as well as countless poisonous insects and ants in the jungle.
The orcs were strong in constitution. A few days ago, they found it too hot and walked bare-chested, only wearing a beast robe. But within half a day, they had to wise up, all putting on their robes and applying herbal juice to areas prone to attacks.
The reason was simple: a bite from a poisonous insect could cause skin ulcers, redness, swelling, and itching. In severe cases, it could even cause fever, and the bitten area would cause piercing pain during the fever.
The orcs tried to deal with the poisonous insects, searching carefully for a while, only to find that these vicious insects were smaller than a grain of rice, like a speck of dust on the skin, difficult to spot with the naked eye.
They couldn’t believe that such dust-like insects could be so deadly.
Yu Bai helped them treat the bitten areas, but the jungle was densely populated with poisonous insects. No matter how much medicine they applied, it was hard to prevent bites. To avoid skin damage from bites, it was best to wear clothes and tie the cuffs and legs tightly.
He did this first and asked Huo Duo'er to follow suit.
The two leaders set the example, and the other orcs gradually followed the order.
Managing hundreds of orcs on the run was not easy. Some male orcs wanted to tough it out, but Huo Duo'er coldly threw out a sentence, and the troublemakers quickly complied.
The gist of his words was that if he got bitten by a poisonous insect, developed a high fever, and couldn’t continue the journey, Huo Duo'er would leave him behind, and the other orcs wouldn’t delay for one orc.
On the southward journey, the orcs were already anxious. Even the strongest male orcs feared being left in the endless wilderness.
Moreover, Huo Duo'er’s words meant he would do it, and those who didn’t comply couldn’t beat him, so they had to follow orders.
As night slowly fell, after setting up the tents, Yu Bai boiled some hot water and filled the water bags. He also took a handful of rice from the hemp bag and tore off some smoked meat.
With limited food, they only added a handful of rice each day during rest, boiling it into porridge and mixing in a little torn smoked meat.
Man came over, holding something in his big hands, and gave Yu Bai a dozen or so.
Huo Duo'er glanced over, and Yu Bai widened his eyes in surprise. "Eggs?"
Man chuckled. "While patrolling, I took a quick look around. I didn't find much to eat, but I did manage to find a nest of eggs in a tree."
The imposing presence of several hundred orcs had driven away any nearby beasts that sensed danger. Now, as darkness fell, it was difficult to even catch a few fish from the river in the dark.
Yu Bai cracked the eggs and mixed them into the meat porridge. Once cooked, they didn't bother with bowls, each taking a spoon and eating directly from the pot.
Man stared at the egg and meat porridge in the clay pot, unconsciously swallowing.
But at the moment, no one had much food to spare. Yu Bai carefully cooked a handful of rice each day, and even though Man was tempted, he felt too embarrassed to ask for a bite.
After several days of travel, only Yu Bai remained steadfast in his routine of cooking porridge and boiling water. Many orcs, like Man, lived more roughly. With the exhaustion of the journey, they didn't bother cooking and even drank directly from the river.
Huo Duo'er waited for Yu Bai to eat first, observing his lean face with a heavy heart.
He silently added fuel to the fire, noticing a small insect flying by. His palm shot out, and with a "snap," he crushed it.
Yu Bai quickly grabbed Huo Duo'er's large hand, holding it up to the firelight for a closer inspection.
"Are you okay?" he said disapprovingly. "What if the insect's blood was toxic and burned your skin? Next time, just shoo them away instead of crushing them."
Huo Duo'er's beastly eyes flickered. "Alright."
Yu Bai was taken aback, moving closer and pushing the remaining egg and meat porridge to the side.
"Eat," he said.
Then he added, "Huo Duo'er, you just smiled. Are you feeling better?"
Huo Duo'er drank the porridge, lowering his head in silence.
It wasn't that he was feeling better, but seeing Yu Bai recover, he also felt a sense of relief.
Since the eruption of the Fire God Mountain and their separation from the Yuan tribe, their journey south had visibly taken a toll on Yu Bai. Apart from treating the orcs' injuries, he had been focused solely on the journey, barely managing a smile even when the little wolf tried to play with him.
In just half a month, Yu Bai had become more subdued, thinner, but also more resolute and mature.
While it was good that his mind was being tempered positively, seeing Yu Bai so deeply affected, Huo Duo'er understood that this was something Yu Bai had to work through on his own. Yet, watching him struggle, Huo Duo'er felt so anxious that he even started developing blisters on his lips.
All he could do was be there for Yu Bai as much as possible, constantly observing his reactions during the journey. When Yu Bai was tired, Huo Duo'er carried him; when he was thirsty or hungry, he fed him some food or wild fruits.
Huo Duo'er usually didn't care much for Man's carefree nature, but now he even envied him. If only he could be more eloquent, perhaps he could coax his partner into talking more and diverting his thoughts.
Unaware of Huo Duo'er's inner turmoil, Yu Bai held his hand for a while, checking for any signs of redness or swelling on the skin. Only then did he feel slightly reassured.
After a quick wash with hot water, Yu Bai crawled into the bark tent to sleep.
It was already summer, and the moonlight bathed the entire jungle.
Soon, Huo Duo'er, who had wiped himself down, squeezed into the tent and held the restless Yu Bai as they fell asleep.
—
The next day, after counting the members, the migrating orc group set off again.
Yu Bai walked with the group for the first half of the day. By noon, the clear sky turned overcast, and as they passed through a dense thicket of vines, large raindrops began to fall from above.
There were no caves in this area to take shelter from the rain. Seeing the rain intensify, Huo Duo'er directed the orcs to huddle under the trees for cover.
Yu Bai rubbed his shoulders; the mountain mist was icy, and goosebumps quickly formed on his arms.
He gazed through the treetops and murmured, "Luckily, there's no thunder."
Huo Duo'er glanced around and, taking advantage of his height, plucked a few large leaves. With a few swift movements, he wove them into a straw hat, even adorning the side with two small white flowers. He gently placed it on Yu Bai's head.
Yu Bai blinked slowly, his eyes curving into a soft smile.
Man squatted nearby, resting. He clicked his tongue and said with a touch of humor, "Big Huo, make me a straw hat too, with little flowers on it."
Huo Duo'er shot him a glance, too busy to respond, and instead uncorked his water pouch to give Yu Bai a drink.
Yu Bai tilted his head back and gulped the water down.
The little wolf and Jinjin sat side by side, both thirsty as well.
Yu Bai poured some water into his palm and took turns feeding the two animals. Once they had drunk their fill, the little wolf let out a few excited howls and dashed into the rain to cool off.
Jinjin, however, was afraid of water. No matter how much the little wolf nudged him, he refused to budge, staying firmly pressed against Yu Bai's leg, even letting out a soft whimper.
Jinjin rarely made a sound, so Yu Bai picked him up and stroked his fur, saying, "Little wolf, Jinjin doesn't like water. Don't force him."
The little wolf let out an "awoo" and bounded off to play on his own.
Yu Bai carried a bone whistle and wasn't worried about the little wolf getting lost. He could just blow it before setting off, and the wolf would hear it and come running back.
Huo Duo'er silently watched Yu Bai interact with the two animals, his gaze softer than usual, revealing a hint of tenderness.
Man, squatting nearby with his arms crossed, felt a pang of envy.
Ze, who had just returned from patrolling the area, chuckled. Man squeezed closer to Xiu.
Mao Mao and A’Liao finished counting the group and approached, only to be called over by Man.
"A’Liao, look at Big Huo! You've been following him since you were a kid. Make me a straw hat with flowers too, won't you?"
A’Liao looked up at his leader with admiration, his eyes sparkling, but he hadn't lost his wits yet.
"Big Huo made that for his orc mate, Man. You're not my orc mate, so why should I make one for you?"
Man laughed and cursed, then scooped up some mud and threw it at A’Liao, who ducked behind Ze.
Ze smiled and said, "Shall I make one for you?"
But he wasn't skilled enough to do it well.
Xiu joined in the fun, "Let me try?"
Man looked at Xiu, then at Ze, and shook his head, refusing.
"When will I ever find an orc mate to hold?!"
As soon as Man finished shouting, the rain stopped.
The orc team set off again, gradually venturing deeper into the wild forest. They noticed that the surroundings had taken on a vibrant hue.
"These vines are so beautiful..."
"Such fiery colors. Could it be that the vines are also under the protection of the Fire God?"
The orcs couldn't quite describe the vividness of the colors, but Yu Bai understood.
The wild forest was covered in vines, unlike any he had seen before.
Some were blue, others golden. Sitting on Huo Duo'er's shoulders and looking out, it felt as though they were immersed in a dazzling sea of trees. Breathing in the scent of the earth and plants washed by the rain, Yu Bai felt a sense of peace.
But soon, Yu Bai began to feel dizzy. He swayed slightly, and if Huo Duo'er hadn't tightened his grip in time, he would have tumbled into the mud.
Huo Duo'er sat on the ground, holding Yu Bai tightly in his arms, and shook his head vigorously.
The orcs following behind began to sway and collapse one after another.
"Why do I suddenly feel so dizzy?"
"Ah, I can't keep my eyes open. I'm so sleepy..."
The stronger the orc, the worse their condition. The male orcs fell to the ground, while the weaker sub-females and females remained standing.
Yu Bai only felt dizzy for a moment. He pushed the face pressed against his shoulder and called out softly.
"Huo Duo'er?"
Huo Duo'er's orc eyes showed a hint of confusion and exhaustion. Yu Bai felt anxious and patted the rough side of Huo Duo'er's face with his palm.
"Huo Duo'er!"
The dazzling and colorful sea of trees was soon enveloped by a thick, white mist. Seeing the rising fog, Huo Duo'er barely managed to regain some of his senses.
"It's miasma."
"Bai, let's retreat from this forest first."
Yu Bai struggled to support Huo Duo'er and slowly began to walk back.
Looking at the large number of fallen male orcs and the remaining twenty or so female orcs and sub-female orcs, the pressure of dragging hundreds of male orcs out was immense...
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