| GB | Bai is Our Priest | 92
The sub-female orcs responsible for gathering wild vegetables were in an uproar.
Yu Bai, accompanied by A’Li, hurried over. The little wolf, who had just feasted with Jinjin nearby, also came running with a leopard cat in its mouth to join the commotion.
Two sub-female orcs named Li and Jiang were pushing and shoving each other. If it weren't for the other female orcs holding them back, they would have already started fighting.
Seeing Yu Bai's figure, several female orcs called out as if they had seen a savior.
"What happened?" Yu Bai asked, panting, as he looked at the two who were in a dispute.
The sub-female orcs didn't hold back when they started fighting. Li's shoulder-length hair was all messed up, and she was frantically searching for the hair tie.
The hair tie was made from the tendons of wild beasts. Yu Bai had originally found long hair inconvenient, so he improved the hemp rope used to tie hair with the tendons of wild oxen. Later, this method spread throughout the orc tribe and became quite popular.
Li cherished her hair tie very much. As she bent over to search for it, she spoke angrily.
"To increase efficiency, we planned out each person's area before we went to dig for wild vegetables. Whoever dug the most today would get an extra share of meat. That was what we agreed on! But Jiang didn't dig in his own area. Instead, he came to mine and took what I was supposed to dig! How could he do such a thing?!"
After shouting, Li continued to search for the lost hair tie with red eyes.
The other sub-female orcs and female orcs remained silent. Some of them thought Jiang was wrong, while others thought Li was too slow. If she had dug faster, how could Jiang have taken her share?
Yu Bai didn't think this was a big deal. The group of female orcs and sub-female orcs who went out to gather were usually quite diligent, especially the sub-female orcs.
The status of sub-female orcs was originally quite low because they were almost unable to bear children and were therefore unpopular.
Since Yu Bai arrived, they suddenly realized that sub-female orcs were not weak or useless. So they worked hard, followed the tribe's exercise routines every day without complaint, and never shied away from tasks.
Yu Bai took the initiative to mediate and gave Li the hair tie he had tied around his wrist.
Fighting over such a small matter would only hurt their relationship.
He cleared his throat, his eyes gentle.
"Li, Jiang, would you be willing to sit down and listen to me for a moment?"
The two sub-female orcs glanced at each other and awkwardly sat down around Yu Bai.
No one in the tribe dared to defy Yu Bai, especially the sub-female orcs.
Since Yu Bai had spoken, how could they refuse?
While they ate roasted sweet potatoes, Yu Bai spoke kindly for a while. The little wolf crouched beside him, howling majestically at Li and Jiang.
"Arf arf arf arf!"
If you don't listen, you'll make the small two-legged creature upset!
Li: "..."
Jiang: "..."
They both wiped the saliva that the wolf had sprayed on their faces, feeling embarrassed.
In the end, the conflict between the two sub-female orcs was resolved
—
As autumn turned to winter, by the end of the first month of winter, the new tribe's two protective walls and temporary houses were finally completed, and over 560 orcs moved in smoothly.
The initially built houses were only meant to shelter from wind and rain, and the workmanship was quite rough.
Except for a few leaders who had their own private rooms, most of the orcs lived in houses with 20 to 30 people. It was a bit crowded, but no one complained.
Once the houses were built next year, they would move into the planned areas. For now, they would make do, as long as they had enough to eat and wear.
Yu Bai and Huo Duo'er lived in the same house. Besides a bed made of wooden planks, a table, and two chairs, the room was empty.
Huo Duo'er held his orc partner's hand and carefully rubbed it.
"Give me half a month, and I'll try my best to make the furniture."
Yu Bai held the orc's hand and said, "Don't worry, let's make do for now. I don't feel it's hard work; instead, I'm grateful that you're still by my side after the disaster. Nothing is more important than that."
He examined the rough, scarred palm and decided to get some medicine to apply to Huo Duo'er's wounds.
During this period, Huo Duo'er had been working day and night to build walls and houses, taking on both heavy labor and technical tasks. His hands and arms were repeatedly scratched and injured, healing one day only to be wounded again the next.
The hardships Yu Bai endured were nothing compared to what Huo Duo'er faced.
Huo Duo'er's orc eyes flickered as he kissed Yu Bai's hand and then pulled him into his arms, gently patting him.
"Sleep now, it's getting cold. Tomorrow night, I'll bring back a couple more animal hides."
Yu Bai obediently closed his eyes, his legs nestled between Huo Duo'er's knees, and he fell asleep pressed against the warm chest.
—
The southern winter didn't affect the orcs as much. They could withstand the cold with just one animal robe, and those with weaker constitutions might wear two at most. Therefore, the demand for animal hides wasn't as high as when they lived on the northern continent.
Yu Bai's physical condition wasn't as robust as most orcs, so Huo Duo'er needed to prepare a few more hides.
The hunting tasks were handled by Man, who led the team out every day at dawn.
When the A’Lin heard Huo Duo'er mention this, he slapped his forehead heavily and said, "I've been so busy, I almost forgot about this."
Man had previously instructed the male orcs responsible for handling the beasts to set aside a few hides specifically for Yu Bai.
Yu Bai's presence was too important to the tribe. Whenever there was something good, they always thought of sending it to him first.
Huo Duo'er didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to collect the hides.
The male orcs in charge of this task were somewhat older, and some had old injuries or disabilities. They were very afraid of being left behind during the southern migration.
Therefore, after being assigned this job, they worked especially hard.
Seeing Huo Duo'er come to collect the hides personally, they quickly handed over the already tanned hides.
"Big Huo, take a look first. If these aren't suitable, there are a few more that will be ready soon."
The male orcs looked nervous. They weren't strong anymore, and the only skill they could boast of was their hide tanning.
Huo Duo'er felt the hides; the fur on the back was very soft, free of any odor, and clean. After being sun-dried, they retained a dry and warm scent. Yu Bai would surely like them.
He looked down at the anxious male orcs in front of him and said, "Thank you, Bai will like them."
The male orcs were delighted and were about to speak when an orc who had been building houses with Huo Duo'er ran over and shouted, "Big Huo, something bad has happened! They're fighting!"
—
In the new territory, after settling for only two months, countless conflicts, big and small, had occurred.
When Yu Bai arrived, the fighting orcs almost injured him.
A’Li and Jiu Fe reacted quickly, standing in front of him. A’Lipulled Yu Bai to safety, while Jiu Fe called on the male orcs from the same team to take down the troublemakers.
Staring fiercely at the male orc who had almost hit Yu Bai, Jiu Fe flapped his wings and slapped him hard with a large wing.
Yu Bai, who had been called to mediate, found that speaking kindly wasn't working and was now a bit annoyed, his face flushed with anger.
Huo Duo'er and Man, along with a few other leaders, arrived and asked, "What's all the noise about?"
As he spoke, he pulled Yu Bai to his side and checked him from head to toe.
The orcs present were all clamoring to speak about the matter. Yu Bai tugged at Huo Duo'er's hand and said, "Let's go inside to discuss."
The orc from the Yuan tribe who had been pinned down shouted, "Let me go!"
"What are you yelling about? Yu Bai was trying to talk to you nicely, but you not only refused to listen, you even resorted to violence!"
"That's right, relying on your strength, you've been slacking off a lot lately. Many tasks have been left to the female orcs to finish!"
"Lazy and gluttonous, and now you even dare to attack our priest!"
The orcs all turned their gaze to Huo Duo'er.
"Big Huo, you can't let him off!"
"Chief, A’Sheng has been going too far lately! And those who help him are no good either! They've insulted Yu Bai, insulted our priest!"
Man chuckled, crossing his arms as he looked down at the orc pinned to the ground.
"I work hard every day leading my brothers on hunts. This meat is not for lazy good-for-nothings."
Nearly six hundred orcs from different tribes had settled into the new territory, and conflicts arose daily. Over time, tensions had built up and now they were erupting.
Man was the first to speak, "Anyway, I only listen to Big Huo and Yu Bai. They are the chief and priest of our tribe. I won't submit to anyone else."
When Man spoke, it was as if the giant tribe had made their stance clear. Most of the remaining orcs agreed, while a few, like A’Sheng, though unwilling, had no choice but to concede.
"That's right, I only follow Big Huo and Yu Bai. Whatever they say, I'll do!"
"Us too!"
"The Gray Rabbit tribe is the same!"
Huo Duo'er's expression remained unchanged as he tacitly accepted their allegiance.
Then he spoke in a deep voice, "Since everyone is willing to listen to Yu Bai and me, after we have lunch at noon, everyone should gather. We will announce the decisions we've made to all the orcs."
As for those who were lazy and causing trouble...
Huo Duo'er said, "Lock them up first."
—
The sun had passed its zenith. Inside the house, Yu Bai and Huo Duo'er had been discussing for nearly two hours, their voices hoarse.
Huo Duo'er gave him a bowl of water to drink, then unfolded a newly retrieved soft animal hide, wrapping him snugly from neck to toe. He also placed a bone necklace around his neck.
The bone necklace looked familiar to Yu Bai...
Huo Duo'er said, "The priest gave it to me before we left."
"Bai, let's go out."
Yu Bai felt a bit nervous.
He hadn't yet figured out how to be a priest, but Huo Duo'er reassured him not to worry. Seeing how calm Huo Duo'er was, Yu Bai felt less lost.
The tribe had gathered all the orcs, and under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, Huo Duo'er took Yu Bai's hand and led him to the front of the crowd.
He lifted Yu Bai high into the air: "From now on, Bai will be the tribe's priest—"
As soon as the words fell, many orcs spontaneously knelt down.
"Bai! Bai is our priest!"
"Bai is a gift from the Orc God to us!"
"By the Orc God, as long as Bai remains in the tribe, we have hope!"
Yu Bai felt awkward, his legs kicking slightly. After Huo Duo'er set him back on the ground, he spoke up, telling all the orcs to rise.
At first, the orcs were reluctant, wanting to kneel a bit longer. They were slow to get up.
After all, the longer they knelt, the more the Orc God would sense their devotion.
Huo Duo'er gave them a cold glance, and they immediately straightened their backs and all stood up.
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