After Being Stranded in the Wilderness, I Became the Bride of the Giant Tribe - 138

 

| GB | Giving Birth | 138 | Ex. 14

The frequent spring rains had just passed, and after a day of scorching sun, the two trees in front of the door had grown even more lush.

Now, Yu Bai would observe the sprout on his head every day, carefully avoiding it while combing his hair, and making sure it got enough sunlight. He even considered watering it.

He took meticulous care of it, fearing it might wither or fall off.

Although Huo Duo'er assured him that this sprout wasn't as fragile as an ordinary one—it was a manifestation of the mountain god's power and didn't need watering or would easily wither, Yu Bai still remained cautious.

The next morning, Yu Bai, who had slept in until almost noon, woke up with a dazed look, his eyes wandering along the ceiling. His fingers instinctively rested on his abdomen, which was covered by a small blanket.

He felt the slight bulge of his belly. Six months had passed, and his stomach had grown a bit larger, though not dramatically so.

Yu Bai usually wore loose, sleeveless linen vests, and his exposed arms and legs hadn't changed much. His belly looked like a small half-sphere, and from a distance, it just seemed like he had gained a little weight. It didn't look like a typical pregnant belly.

As he touched his belly, his scattered thoughts began to focus.

Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock. He realized that his pillow had somehow ended up at the foot of the bed, and his forehead had been pressed against the headboard, crushing the sprout.

Yu Bai immediately woke up in a panic, supporting his belly as he sat up, and gently touched the top of his head.

...

This touch made him break out in a cold sweat.

He hurriedly slipped on his slippers and rushed out, pushing aside the hanging door curtain.

The sunlight hit him, bringing with it a wave of heat.

Yu Bai squinted his eyes, passing through the glossy vegetable patch, and hurried toward the kitchen.

Huo Duo'er was boiling water when he heard the commotion. He quickly supported his unsteady orc partner, sitting him down on his lap and firmly holding him by the waist, looking him over.

"Bai, what’s wrong?"

Yu Bai pointed to his head, his face flushed with anxiety. "It's... it's crushed..."

His soft, pale face was filled with distress. "I didn't notice while sleeping, and my head was pressed against the headboard. I crushed the cub's sprout..."

Huo Duo'er: "..."

He calmly said, "It's not crushed."

Yu Bai stretched his neck, trying to see his reflection in the nearby water jar.

After a long moment, he pursed his lips tightly, sinking into self-blame, and his eyelashes gradually became damp with tears.

The green sprout still looked crushed and wilted.

Huo Duo'er suddenly raised his hand, his fingertips brushing through the green sprout, gently stretching it upward.

The originally limp sprout, after being stretched a few times, trembled and stood upright again.

Yu Bai's moist eyes widened in surprise: "..."

H-how could this happen...?!

Huo Duo'er: "There, it's done."

He then kissed Yu Bai's wet eyes: "Bai, the orc cub is fine, don't worry."

After this incident, Yu Bai dared not move around in his sleep and added two soft pillows to the head of the bed to prevent the sprout from being crushed again.

He still insisted on attending class every half month. Because he was pregnant with an orc cub, the entire tribe was extremely concerned about their Priest, so the students who came to listen to his lectures were particularly obedient, and the efficiency improved significantly.

During the break, Man accompanied Ze to attend the class. Even Man, who was usually unruly, behaved himself, staring enviously at the green sprout on Yu Bai's head.

Man had only recently developed the power of the Mountain God, and the process had required immense effort and perseverance, known only to his tribesmen.

The orc cub in the little priest's belly had already condensed its power before birth. Even Huo Da had not been able to cultivate such power in the womb, which naturally made them all envious.

If even Man felt this way, it was no surprise that the other orcs in the tribe did too.

It was already rare for a sub-female orc to conceive, and the cub of the Priest had already gained the power of the Mountain God while still in the womb...

In just a few months, Yu Bai's authority as a priest had significantly increased in the eyes of the orcs. Some orcs would even stop and kneel on the ground when they saw him from afar, murmuring prayers for the blessings of the Orc God and the priest.

Yu Bai felt awkward and, fearing he might encounter more orcs kneeling to him from a distance, and simply stopped going out.

There was another reason he stayed indoors.

After carrying the orc cub for over six months, he had initially been relieved that the cub was considerate of him as a father. But just in the past couple of days, a small green bud had appeared on the sprout on his head.

Once the bud appeared, he clearly felt his body weakening, as if something was draining his strength.

In the early evening, Yu Bai was basking in the warm sunlight and enjoying the breeze under the pavilion.

His relaxed smile suddenly stiffened, and his vision blurred with dark shadows.

The fingers that had been gently stroking the little wolf's head began to tremble uncontrollably, and cold sweat poured down his back. He wanted to call out to Huo Duo'er, but before he could make a sound, he collapsed into the lounge chair, losing consciousness.

The little wolf and Jinjin, who was lying on the railing, both looked up and let out anxious howls.

Awooo!

The small two-legged creature has fainted!

Hearing the wolf's howl, Huo Duo'er poked his head out from the kitchen door, holding a spatula. With just one glance, he was nearly scared out of his wits.

—

On a midsummer night, the chirping of insects was incessant.

Yu Bai was awakened by the noisy calls of the insects. When he opened his eyes, he saw the dim light of a bean-sized flame in the room. Huo Duo'er was leaning against the headboard, his large hand holding Yu Bai's, his chin rough with stubble.

Yu Bai let out a soft groan, and the other man stiffly leaned down, his beast-like eyes flickering. His muscular arms tightened, but he gently encircled Yu Bai.

Huo Duo'er's voice was hoarse: "Bai, you're finally awake, thank goodness..."

Mian and several elderly witch doctors, who were guarding the main hall, hurried into the room and frantically began examining him.

Both the human and the orc cub were fine, though the body was quite weak and needed proper nourishment; otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to sustain the demands of the orc cub.

With just over half a month left, Yu Bai stopped attending classes, spending his days eating and resting at home. Huo Duo'er also stopped going out, dedicating himself entirely to staying by Yu Bai’s side.

Huo Duo'er even took the time to learn how to prepare medicinal meals, holding Yu Bai in his arms to feed him every day. In the evenings, as the summer heat faded, he would carry Yu Bai into the courtyard to bask in the setting sun.

As night fell and the stars twinkled, green fireflies appeared around them, swirling in the air.

Yu Bai’s hair had grown longer, reaching his shoulders. Huo Duo'er picked up a bone comb, his rough fingertips gently brushing across Yu Bai’s forehead as he slowly and carefully combed the strands into place.

Lately, Yu Bai had been sleeping more and speaking less. The two of them spent their time together in quiet companionship. Worried that Yu Bai might feel bored, Huo Duo'er, though not skilled at storytelling, would occasionally share tales of the giants’ past while holding him in the sun or the breeze.

Accompanied by the deep, resonant voice of the orc, Yu Bai curled up in the broad, warm embrace and fell asleep once more, the green bud on his head vibrant and lively.

By the third month of summer, Huo Duo'er was fully prepared.

A room in the courtyard had been cleared out, and Mian, along with several female orcs, had cleaned and prepared it thoroughly. Every day, they fumigated the room with medicinal herbs to disinfect and remove odors, ensuring it was ready for the birth.

A sudden downpour of rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, struck. Yu Bai’s stomach began to ache. He hugged his belly, his eyes moist with tears, enduring the pain as the green bud on his head swayed violently.

Huo Duo'er picked him up, his entire body tense with worry.

“Bai…”

He called out again, “Mian—!”

Mian, who had come specifically to help these past few days, along with the female orcs, quickly took their positions and ushered Yu Bai into the adjacent birthing room.

The pain wracked his entire body, and Yu Bai clenched his teeth, sweat soon drenching his neck.

He struggled to keep his eyes open, his mind in a fog of confusion. Even Huo Duo'er’s voice became indistinct, and all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart, like a drum.

Yu Bai tried to hold onto his consciousness, a thought crossing his mind: Would he die…?

As soon as the thought emerged, his eyelids felt warm. Huo Duo'er kissed his eyes repeatedly, his lips moving rapidly.

Though he couldn’t hear what Huo Duo'er was saying, Yu Bai closed his eyes and smiled faintly.

The sudden fear vanished, replaced by a firm resolve: He wouldn’t die.

Neither he nor the orc cub in his belly would perish today. They would make it through safely.

Until his strength drained completely, Yu Bai slipped into a deep, unconscious darkness.

The green bud on his head was bright and full, as if it had gathered enough energy.

Huo Duo'er tightly held one of his mate’s hands, his gaze fixed on Yu Bai’s unconscious face.

Amidst the thunderstorm, time seemed to blur. Suddenly, Mian let out a cry of surprise.

Several pairs of eyes watched as the green bud blossomed, extending numerous thin, delicate strands.

The strands spread across Yu Bai’s belly, weaving into a soft, intricate net. They gently pushed, massaged, guided, and urged. Nearby, the plants and flowers in the courtyard silently grew taller.

Between Yu Bai’s bent legs, guided by the strands, a small orc cub, even smaller than a human baby, was born.

At the moment the cub emerged, the green bud withered completely, falling from Yu Bai’s hair.

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