| GB | Life Experience | 146 | Ex. 22
Yu Jialai is sixteen years old. Although he is a sub-female orc, he was no less capable than his male peers.
Over the years, he had diligently trained his strength under the guidance of his big father, and with several uncles frequently taking him to the hunting grounds. This year, he believed it was time for him to undergo the orc's rite of passage.
Ordinary male orcs would typically venture out for their trials at the age of fourteen or fifteen. His father, concerned for him, had delayed Jialai's departure by a year or two.
When he brought up the matter with his father a few days ago, his father had been visibly anxious. So last night, his big father made sure his father wouldn't be able to get up this morning...
Although his father would surely be upset afterward, given big father's deep affection for him, he would endure any scolding or beating without retaliating.
Thinking of his two fathers, Jialai couldn't help but smile.
—
In the square, the male orcs who were to set out today gradually gathered. The group of forty-seven was composed of orcs around Jialai's age, all ready for their trials.
Jialai, tall and slender, appeared "fragile" among the robust male orcs. Yet, none of the orcs underestimated him. Their eyes lit up as they greeted him warmly.
"Jialai, we've finally got you to go with us this year."
"Jialai's backpack looks really nice."
Jialai tugged at the straps of his backpack, which was made from high-quality beast leather, offering excellent waterproofing.
He smiled and said, "My father prepared it for me."
"Of course, we knew that!"
In the tribe, anything of good quality usually came from the ideas of Priest Bai.
Priest Bai was the wisest priest!
The group of young, spirited orcs joked and teased each other, showing no fear of the impending trials. To them, as long as they were alive, no matter how severe the injuries, it didn't matter. The scars and the spoils of war were their badges of honor!
Although Jialai felt a hint of unease about this trial, he was more filled with anticipation.
—
The chosen location for this trial was the Emerald Sea, a second-level hunting zone. Apart from experienced warriors venturing in groups, few orcs dared to enter such a dangerous area.
The decision to hold the trial at the Emerald Sea was twofold: first, the beasts there were less frequent compared to other second-level zones, making it "relatively safer"; second, the Emerald Sea was rich in precious medicinal herbs.
Jialai's goal was to search for these precious herbs to give to his father.
Both he and his big father had orc blood running through their veins, granting them natural advantages and making them rarely fall ill. But his father was different.
Over the years, although his father had been well cared for and remained the same as in his memories, Jialai, who was skilled in medicine, couldn't help but worry occasionally. Therefore, besides training in combat with his big father, he also studied medicine diligently.
He wanted to find the most precious herbs in the world for his father, hoping to keep him by his side a little longer, much longer.
—
After five days of trekking through the wilderness and crossing a narrow mountain range, they finally saw the forest ahead, stretching like a sea, shimmering with emerald waves under the sunlight. The mountain wind blew, creating a rolling wave-like motion.
The Emerald Sea was so green it appeared almost black, and the area before entering its boundary was eerily silent.
The young orcs automatically formed a square formation, trusting their backs to their comrades. Jialai, being the only sub-female orc in the group, despite his strength, was naturally placed in the center.
Cough, it was just an instinctive action!
Jialai drew the bone knife he carried, and his companions also brandished their defensive weapons.
As they passed through a narrow path, the wind carried a faint earthy scent.
Jialai looked up and saw the green that blended with the trees rising continuously. He immediately spoke, targeting the hole on the left with rocks as a natural barrier.
"Get down, a group of orcs is coming out!"
Jialai leaped into the slope and his companions followed.
Several orcs with eerie black-green skin leaped up. On the high cliff of another mountain, a group of orcs pointed at the hole: "They went down, there's... huh, is that a female beast among them? No, it seems like a sub-female orc."
But whichever it was, it was enough to surprise them.
A sub-female orc had actually entered the second-level hunting zone!
As his companion spoke, a silver-gray light shadow descended before them, flying towards the hole like a feather, landing beside the sub-female beast below.
Before Jialai's feet touched the ground, he felt his body lifted by a gust of wind, landing on the peak formed by piled rocks.
A shadow loomed over his head. He turned to see a tall and agile orc landing behind him, with deep-set eyes, a high nose, and an arrogant demeanor, his back adorned with expansive silver-gray wings.
Nearby companions shouted, "There are snakes here!"
Despite the warning, they didn't stand still to be bitten but instead used their snake-catching skills to evade the snake attacks.
Several winged orcs flew in, throwing something into the hole, causing the surrounding snakes to scatter.
Ji still had his massive wings half-spread, his light brown pupils slightly trembling as he deeply gazed at the sub-female orcs before him.
"This place is dangerous, come with me—"
Before Ji could finish, Jialai frowned, "They're here."
He slightly turned, moving to the right side of the winged orc. In the blink of an eye, his raised left hand made a gesture of opening and then clenching.
A fierce wind blew, lifting Jialai's hair, his gentle silver eyes now cold and focused.
With his movement, the surrounding trees erupted, countless vines shooting out and instantly forming a dense net, firmly entangling the tree beasts that were leaping towards them.
Jialai concentrated, tightening his left hand further.
The small sprout tattoo on his wrist heated up as he controlled the vines, swinging them to the right, throwing the entangled tree beasts into the pit.
The temporarily trapped tree beasts howled wildly. By then, Jialai's companions had also reacted, immediately grabbing their weapons, using the tree cage as a barrier, their bodies nimbly moving, working together to deal with the three trapped tree beasts.
The winged orcs who had flown down with Ji, ready for a big fight, were left gaping.
Uh...
This was the first time they saw Ji spread his wings before a sub-female orc, originally thinking they could save him and gain some favor, but...
It seems he didn't need Ji's rescue...
And... where did such a powerful sub-female orc come from?!
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