After Being Stranded in the Wilderness, I Became the Bride of the Giant Tribe - 99

 

| GB | Initiative to Kiss | 99

On New Year's Day, before dawn, Yu Bai rubbed his eyes and got up to wash and change his clothes.

In the room, a wooden rack stood against the wall, holding two sets of clothes.

The larger set was simple yet majestic, made primarily of black fur with bone ornaments from long-toothed beasts. This was the attire of the chief.

The other set was smaller in size but more intricate in craftsmanship.

The priest's attire was quite heavy, made from the finest leathers, with a sleeveless jacket. The collar and waist were layered and interwoven, adorned with beast bones and teeth, and finely stitched with patterns of flowers, grass, and mountains using hemp threads.

These hemp threads were dyed with plant juices to achieve dark green and dark blue hues.

Both sets of clothes were made by A’Sen orc mate, Jiao, along with a few skilled female orcs.

With Yu Bai's guidance, after much effort and research, they finally managed to produce dyed fine threads.

Apart from the natural colors of the leather, Yu Bai's priestly attire was the first multi-colored garment in the tribe.

The priestly attire consisted of several layers, and Huo Duo'er helped Yu Bai put them on one by one in order. Seeing Yu Bai looking a bit dazed, Huo Duo'er leaned down and kissed his reddened eyes.

"Don't be nervous, Bai."

Then, after a moment of thought, he said, "I believe in you."

Yu Bai looked up, trying to muster his spirits.

He had been thinking about the ceremony all night, unable to relax, which left him feeling listless in the morning.

When he was in the Yuan tribe, the old priest and the priest had taught him the steps of the blessing ceremony, but he had always tried to avoid becoming a priest and had no experience.

Even though Huo Duo'er had practiced with him several times during the night, now that the moment had arrived, despite the cold weather, Yu Bai was so nervous that his palms were sweating.

The thick and complex attire weighed heavily on him, making it hard to breathe.

He took a deep breath, then suddenly stretched out his arms and hugged Huo Duo'er tightly around the waist, burying his face like an ostrich.

He didn't say he didn't want to be the priest, nor did he say he was afraid of leading the ceremony.

Huo Duo'er comforted Yu Bai, his palm gently stroking the slender nape of his neck.

The ceremony was the priest's duty, a sacred mission, and in the past, Huo Duo'er had never thought there was anything wrong with it.

But now, holding his mate who had buried his head in silence, his heart softened and ached, and his boundaries... began to blur.

"Bai, I'll prepare this ceremony for you."

Yu Bai looked up gloomily, meeting the orc's worried gaze. He pursed his lips, his eyelashes fluttering.

"How can that be? We practiced last night, and I can't always rely on you for everything. What if the other orcs have opinions?"

He thought of the priesthood as a job, and now this job was his to do.

With that, he handed the bone comb to Huo Duo'er: "Help me comb my hair."

After combing his hair, he would also wear a headdress adorned with long feathers and beast bones.

Huo Duo'er helped him arrange everything neatly.

As the priest, Yu Bai should have had disciples to attend to him, but he didn't want them, intending to do things himself. However, most of the time, Huo Duo'er took on this role.

After changing into the priestly attire, Huo Duo'er washed up and changed into the chief’s clothes.

Yu Bai picked up the bone comb: "Sit down, I'll comb your hair."

Huo Duo'er's dark brown hair was casually draped over his shoulders. Since Yu Bai had instructed him to wash it with herbal-infused water and rice water, its texture had improved significantly compared to when they first met.

After the two had changed their clothes, the sky brightened.

Before stepping out, Huo Duo'er said, "Bai, if you're really scared, just put on a cold expression. That way, no one will notice."

When it was just the two of them on the stage, with a little help in private, nothing unusual would be detected.

Outside, the world was shrouded in a gray haze, with a few drops of cool rain falling from the eaves.

Braving the fine drizzle, Huo Duo'er led Yu Bai to the tribal square.

In the center of the square, Xiu and Ze, along with the orcs, had erected a high platform for the ritual. The offerings for the blessing were neatly arranged according to tradition.

At this moment, the orcs stood in concentric circles around the platform.

When Huo Duo'er appeared, leading Yu Bai by the hand, countless eyes fell upon them. Then, in unison, they knelt down, their faces filled with piety, awaiting the blessing of the Orc God.

Yu Bai: "..."

He took a deep breath inwardly, maintaining a cold expression on his face.

Huo Duo'er led him up to the platform. In previous years, it was rare for a chief to accompany the priest on stage. But now, as the orcs watched, it seemed perfectly natural.

The chief and the priest were inherently bound together as mates. Across the entire wilderness continent, there was no tribe with leaders as powerful as theirs.

A mighty giant orc blessed with the power of the Mountain God, and a priest favored by the Orc God.

Where else could one find such leaders?

The orcs erupted in cheers, shouting for their chieftain and priest.

"Chief—!"

"High Priest—!!"

"The chief and high priest will lead Fantasy Land to become the strongest tribe!"

Yu Bai kept his gaze straight ahead, his initially trembling body now steady as he ascended the platform.

The priest's attire was simply too heavy...

He clasped his hands together, bowed to the heavens, and picked up the bone armor used in the ritual. He began to chant the sacred beast language passed down by the Orc God.

He prayed for the blessings of the Nature God, for favorable weather and abundant harvests.

He prayed for the blessings of the Orc God, for the health and safety of the tribe's people, and for their lineage to continue for generations.

Huo Duo'er watched intently, his eyes fixed solely on the figure before him.

Yu Bai bowed in several directions, then placed the bone armor into the brazier to burn. The ashes were sprinkled into a basin of clear water.

He slowly sprinkled the ash-infused water over the kneeling orcs, marking the final step in the ritual where the Orc God bestowed his blessings.

With the New Year's ritual concluded, Yu Bai, supported by Huo Duo'er, descended from the platform, his legs weak.

Once inside, he completely relaxed, allowing Huo Duo'er to cradle him on his lap.

Their clothes overlapped in layers, and Yu Bai smiled faintly, gripping the orc's wrist.

"Did I do well just now?"

Huo Duo'er: "Bai did very well."

Yu Bai's ears turned slightly red. Although he knew Huo Duo'er was always generous with his praise, he could never get enough of it.

Especially when the man looked at him with such calm and earnest eyes.

Yu Bai straightened up in Huo Duo'er's embrace, cupping the orc's firm, chiseled jaw.

He licked his lips, not missing the dark intensity in Huo Duo'er's beastly eyes, and leaned in to kiss him.

His crimson tongue shyly and clumsily traced the thin lips.

After a moment of kissing, the chief’s attire was already in disarray, his chest exposed, revealing his solid muscles.

Yu Bai's hair was slightly damp from the rain. Huo Duo'er, panting, brushed it aside and pressed the much smaller hand to his chest.

The soft fingertips scratched a few times, and Huo Duo'er immediately stiffened.

—

Until Yu Bai was picked up, he clenched his legs and stammered, "We still need to prepare food, it's New Year's today..."

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