Chapter 109
Ed and his group rested for a day before hurriedly leaving. After the first snowfall, the temperature would drop significantly. Although most orcs were quite resilient to the cold, it didn’t mean they weren’t afraid of it.
The cold of this orc continent was unimaginable. Many females and weak young orcs would freeze to death in such harsh weather. It showed just how brutal and unforgiving the temperatures could be.
On the third day of the temperature drop, the river froze over with a thick layer of ice. Fortunately, Su Yi had the foresight to fill many wooden buckets with water beforehand.
Many households in the tribe had their wells frozen, forcing them to travel long distances to the river to break the ice and fetch water.
Hunter had been extremely busy these past few days. To prevent anyone in the new tribe from freezing or starving to death, he made rounds to check on every family. He even personally helped the elderly, weak, and disabled fetch water.
These orcs had never received such treatment before. Since coming here, they found their lives improving day by day. Even the previously cold and distant neighborly relationships began to warm up.
With the snow season in full swing, most people had more free time. When someone went out, they traveled in groups, as Hunter had specifically instructed, to prevent encounters with migrating beast horde.
The clothes Su Yi had commissioned from a skilled female arrived. Su Yi had asked for the finest furs to be sewn inside, with another layer of fur on the outside, making the clothes exceptionally warm.
When the second snowfall began, Tang Yu started overeating again. Fortunately, his partner was Jells. If it had been anyone else, they might not have been able to keep up with his appetite.
Jells’ constitution was better than most, so even with the drastic temperature drop, he didn’t feel particularly cold.
However, the pregnant Tang Yu was very sensitive to the cold. Their house had already heated the kang bed early on, and to allow Tang Yu to move around, Jells had covered the bedroom floor with long-haired furs.
Eli began his transformation late that night. Dino, who had been sleeping in Eli’s room, was a light sleeper. Hearing Eli’s uncomfortable whimpers, Dino immediately ran to knock on Su Yi’s door.
Su Yi and Sinoer quickly threw on their clothes and rushed to Eli’s room.
They found Eli flushed and sweating profusely. Su Yi, who had no experience with this, turned to Sinoer for guidance. Sinoer closed the door and lit the lamp Su Yi had made, illuminating the room.
“Don’t worry. Many young orcs go through this,” Sinoer said, placing a cushion behind Su Yi to make him more comfortable. Su Yi realized that Eli’s transformation wouldn’t be over quickly.
Su Yi had always doted on Eli, and seeing him in pain was heartbreaking. Watching Eli suffer was torture for Su Yi.
Eli first whimpered in a daze, then seemed to wake up from the pain. He opened his eyes and saw Su Yi, trying to crawl toward him. Sinoer gently stopped him.
“You’re transforming. Focus your energy,” Sinoer said sternly. Eli glanced at Su Yi, who remained silent, and reluctantly lay back down on the furs.
Dino had transformed into his beast form, a small leopard lying nearby. Compared to Su Yi, these two, who had already undergone transformation, were much calmer.
The entire transformation process was nerve-wracking for Su Yi. Eli’s bones creaked and cracked, and the little one whimpered in pain.
The usually pampered Eli didn’t cry or ask for help. Instead, he kept his head down and endured the pain.
Seeing Eli like this broke Su Yi’s heart.
Later, Sinoer carried Su Yi back to their room. Su Yi wanted to stay and watch, but Sinoer stopped him.
“Su Yi, stay here,” Sinoer said, gently touching Su Yi’s chin.
Su Yi hesitated but obediently curled up on the bed.
Sinoer had once said that Su Yi spoiled Eli too much, and that young orcs shouldn’t be coddled, or they would become too delicate. Now, as Eli underwent his transformation, a necessary rite of passage for orcs, Su Yi’s heart ached. Sinoer probably didn’t want him to suffer.
By dawn, Sinoer carried a wet little bundle into their bedroom. Su Yi, who hadn’t slept and had been anxiously waiting, sat up immediately.
Sinoer had already bathed Eli, who was still damp and naked.
“It’s done. Let him sleep for a while.”
Su Yi found a soft fur and laid Eli on it. His hands trembled slightly. “This… this is incredible.”
Although he had always known that orcs transformed like this, seeing a little white snake turn into a chubby, fair-skinned baby was still astonishing.
Eli also had white hair, though it was sparse and short, making him look a bit funny.
But the little one was undeniably beautiful, with a charm that was neither distinctly male nor female. His arms and legs, like tender lotus roots, were curled up. His little mouth pouted slightly, and his belly rose and fell with each breath.
The kang bed in their house was well-heated, and the thick walls kept the warmth in, making the room cozy.
After the sun rose, Su Yi called Mino over to check on Eli.
Mino examined Eli carefully and smiled. “Haha, Eli is perfectly healthy. He just needs a good sleep, and he’ll be fine.”
After Mino left, snow began to fall again. This time, it was heavy, and soon everything was blanketed in white.
Su Yi dug out the clothes he had prepared for Eli, waiting for his child to wake up so he could dress him up.
Before Su Yi could put his plan into action, he suddenly heard the sound of a horn. This wasn’t the usual welcoming horn but the one signaling an enemy attack or a beast horde. Su Yi had thought such a horn would only sound during the cold season. He hadn’t expected to hear it in the middle of a snowstorm.
Sinoer was about to go out, but Su Yi stopped him.
“You stay with Eli. I’ll go see what’s happening,” Su Yi said and rushed out.
As soon as he stepped outside, the biting wind and snow made him shiver.
Su Yi hurried toward the lookout post, calling out as he ran, “What’s going on?”
An orc running ahead turned back and said, “It seems a beast horde is migrating and has passed near our tribe.”
A beast horde?
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