| GB | Do You Have to Carry Me? | 93
"Next, I have some things to discuss with everyone," said Huo Duo'er. "These are matters that Bai and I have agreed upon."
Yu Bai nodded slightly in agreement.
Huo Duo'er continued, "First, bring A’Sheng and the others forward."
A’Li, visibly angry, interjected, "Big Huo, A’Sheng and his group caused trouble and even nearly attacked Bai. We can't let them off the hook."
Some orcs from the Yuan tribe pleaded for leniency for A’Sheng, as they were all part of the same orc tribe. Although they didn't agree with A’Sheng’s actions, they feared he might be punished too severely.
"Why shouldn't he be punished?" retorted Li, with the androgynous orc standing beside him chiming in, "Exactly, how can laziness be justified?"
"But he is still our tribesmen..."
A few of the more mild-mannered female orcs wanted to mediate, but the tense situation left them at a loss for words.
Yu Bai listened to the orcs arguing below, his expression one of helplessness, while Huo Duo'er remained unmoved.
When A’Sheng and the other troublemakers were finally brought forward, Huo Duo'er sternly declared, "Our new tribe has just been established, and there are some rules I hope everyone will follow."
Upon hearing this, the orcs quieted down.
They were accustomed to rules from their previous tribes, so they weren't resistant to the idea of tribal regulations.
Huo Duo'er glanced at A’Sheng and stated, "First, the tribe does not distinguish between different orc tribes. All orcs are equal, and we will no longer divide the inner and outer cities as before. Everyone will live together."
The orcs from the Yuan tribe whispered among themselves, while A’Li clenched his fists in excitement.
Huo Duo'er continued, "The tribe will not support lazy orcs. Now that our territory is settled, many areas and facilities need to be built. The more work you do, the more effort you put in, the sooner you'll be assigned a house. Not just houses, but food and cloth will also be allocated accordingly."
Noticing the older orcs hesitating to speak, Yu Bai stepped forward to add, "Don't worry if you think you can't contribute. Those skilled in hunting can hunt. Houses need mud bricks, so digging mud, mixing bricks, firing them, cutting wood, laying foundations, and building walls—all these tasks can be divided. Some are good at gathering, so they can collect more food. Others can weave cloth or make tools and utensils. In short, don't worry about not being able to contribute..."
Yu Bai cleared his throat and went on, "To ensure the tribe is built quickly, even the mud beneath our feet needs to be compacted by hand. Everyone has a role to play, regardless of age or strength. As long as you work and meet the standards, you'll have a house to live in, food to eat, and clothes to wear. If you contribute, your basic needs will be met."
Huo Duo'er then added, "On the other hand, those who cause trouble, stir up conflict, or harm others will face corresponding punishments, such as warnings, withholding supplies, or expulsion from the territory. These rules will be detailed soon."
Yu Bai nodded in agreement.
Huo Duo'er concluded, "Anyone who disagrees with the tribe's rules can leave immediately. If you stay, it means you accept these rules. If you cause trouble again, don't blame me for being harsh."
Yu Bai added, "For the tribe to grow, we'll need more than just the current number of people. So, we'll first select individuals with experience and ability to lead. If anyone disagrees, they can challenge the leaders. Only those capable will rise."
The orcs grew restless.
"Who will be chosen?"
"Probably the giants..."
"Ze from the Heiyao tribe is also very strong."
Huo Duo'er: "Man, Ze, each of you select a team of fifty male orcs. Take turns hunting daily and conduct regular training. If any other tribe provokes us, you will be the first line of defense."
"Xiu is more meticulous. You can pick five orcs to follow you and be responsible for tallying the tribe's population and all matters, big and small. They should also record each orc's daily contributions to the tribe. Resources can be allocated based on individual or family efforts. Specific details will be outlined starting today."
"Jiu Fe, select twenty orcs to take turns patrolling our territory daily. Handle any issues promptly."
"Mian, choose fifteen orcs to learn healing and gather herbs."
"Li, Jiang, you are responsible for leading the sub-females out for gathering."
"A’Sen, A’Lin, A’Liao, Mao Mao, pick twenty-five male orcs to form a squad. Besides helping with tribal tasks, they must train daily and serve as the second line of defense."
"A’mi is skilled in carpentry and will teach everyone how to make tools. A’Xin is good at animal breeding, so this task is yours to manage."
Huo Duo'er's voice echoed one after another, assigning orcs to oversee each aspect. These leaders would then delegate tasks to each orc, specifying what they should do.
In the blink of an eye, it was already afternoon. The orcs sat cross-legged, trying to digest the new tribal rules they had just heard.
The named leaders took this opportunity to select their teams and assign tasks.
Yu Bai was feeling tired, so Huo Duo'er took him back to their hut. He touched Yu Bai's forehead and found it slightly warm.
His eyes filled with concern: "Bai, are you feeling unwell?"
Yu Bai patted his face, trying to perk up.
"We've traveled from the north to the south, and now the seasons are changing. A low fever isn't a big deal. I'll rest early and see how I feel in a couple of days."
Yu Bai was the tribe's most skilled healer. No matter how anxious Huo Duo'er was, he couldn't treat Yu Bai himself. His thick brows furrowed, wishing he could take the illness upon himself instead.
By nightfall, Yu Bai didn't develop a high fever but continued to have intermittent low-grade fevers.
However, the low fever didn't make him feel much better. His body alternated between chills and heat, and his head ached faintly. He nestled in Huo Duo'er's arms, wrapped in blankets, and only managed to fall asleep in the early hours of the morning.
Huo Duo'er stayed awake all night. Before dawn, his jaw was already stubbled with short, prickly beard hairs. He gently rubbed his forehead against his mate's slightly warm one.
Since arriving at the tribe, the strength Yu Bai had mustered during their journey had dissipated. He had lost weight, and his appetite hadn't returned yet.
Huo Duo'er prepared some porridge and hot water. He helped Yu Bai sit up, but the young man didn't even open his eyes, leaning softly against Huo Duo'er's chest. He drank some sweet wild yam porridge with his eyes closed.
The thin sweat on Yu Bai's skin was wiped away by Huo Duo'er using a warm, damp animal hide.
Feeling refreshed, Yu Bai's spirits lifted a bit.
He nudged Huo Duo'er: "Aren't you going out?"
"Everything has been assigned. Xiu is overseeing things, so there shouldn't be any issues for now."
Huo Duo'er took Yu Bai's hand: "I'll spend more time with you these days."
Huo Duo'er was filled with guilt.
There were many things to manage in the new tribe, and he couldn't balance his attention between the tribe and Yu Bai as he had in the past.
Yu Bai pursed his lips and smiled faintly.
"Why feel guilty? When you were building the house, it wasn't convenient to keep an eye on me. Did you expect to carry me around all the time?"
Huo Duo'er had actually considered it...
But the weather had turned cold, and the construction site was noisy. Yu Bai couldn't handle the chill or the noise, so he couldn't bring him along.
Yu Bai grabbed Huo Duo'er's rough hand, comparing their sizes, and gave it a few squeezes.
"Don't overthink it. Without you leading everyone in the work, how could I have moved into the house so quickly?"
He leaned in, his soft lips brushing against Huo Duo'er's mouth, giving a gentle kiss.
After finishing the sweet potato porridge, a faint sweetness lingered between Yu Bai's teeth.
Huo Duo'er chased that sweetness, cradling the back of his head with his palm, eagerly pressing against the soft, shy tip of his tongue, taking the lead.
He held Yu Bai in his arms, kissing him for a long time before reluctantly pulling away from those moist, soft lips, breathing heavily.
Yu Bai's face turned red, frozen in place.
Huo Duo'er didn't move either...
Except for the thing in his animal robe, which was jumping wildly.
Yu Bai: "..."
Huo Duo'er shifted slightly, holding him, his expression somber.
In the middle of winter, a drop of sweat rolled down his brow.
Yu Bai licked his lips: "If..."
Huo Duo'er shook his head, his voice deep and rough.
"We can't do it."
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