Chapter 121
The wandering orc, who had been called a "monster" by the little orcs in the valley, found himself followed by the chattering boy all the way back to the valley.
The entire trip, the wandering orc remained silent while the little orc spilled his life story like pouring beans from a bamboo tube. It turned out the boy was also an unknown orc, but his traits were so subtle that no one had noticed until recently. When he finally realized and confessed to his family, he was promptly driven out from the tribe, just as expected.
Surprisingly, the boy held no resentment. Compared to other unknown orcs, he considered himself lucky. At eleven years old, he was old enough to hunt and survive on his own. Though life outside the tribe was dangerous, he optimistically saw it as training for adulthood.
When the wandering orc returned to the valley with the little unknown orc in tow, he worried about causing trouble and went straight to Hunter, the leader.
Hunter inspected the boy but said nothing, simply arranging for a place for him to stay.
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Meanwhile, with their biggest threat eliminated, Su Yi’s mood improved significantly. Over the next few days, he stayed home doting on his freshly "baked" little bun.
Little Eli had been feeling particularly important lately. With a new female in the family, his friends had become unusually attentive. Females were rare in the valley, and the young orcs were practically vibrating with excitement. They often tagged along with Eli or Dino to Su Yi’s house, sneaking peeks into the room whenever possible.
One day, Sinoer returned from hunting to find a young orc with round-faced and looked adorable, standing on tiptoe by the window, drooling as if staring at a feast. The sight filled Sinoer with complicated emotions. His precious female was still so small, and already attracting admirers? What would happen when he grew up?
Lately, Su Yi’s baby had grown more beautiful by the day - soft, pink, and delicate as a snow sculpture.
By the time the child’s full moon celebration arrived, the hot season was in full swing. Su Yi finally carried his little bun outdoors. With the heat came swarms of insects, but Su Yi had planted bug-repelling herbs around his home the previous year. He’d even asked Mino to make a repellent spray, which he now carried everywhere just in case.
The baby’s skin was too tender, a single mosquito bite would leave a red bump, making him whimper pitifully. Though nourished by the space spring water, his premature birth left him frailer than other female infants. His cries were soft, barely audible, but each one twisted Su Yi’s heart.
Compared to Su Yi’s delicate little bun, Tang Yu’s dragon cub was a full-blown troublemaker. The child embodied the phrase "bear child," causing chaos the moment anyone looked away.
[熊孩子 (xióng háizi): lit. bear child; fig. mischievous, unruly, or badly behaved kid]
Every time Tang Yu saw the aftermath of his cub’s rampages, he fought the urge to spank the brat.
One day, Su Yi visited with his baby just in time to see Tang Yu wrestling a mud-covered dragon cub into a wash tub in the yard.
Tang Yu’s face was dark as he scrubbed, muttering to himself, "Who does this bear child take after? I swear he’s not mine, maybe there was a mix-up at birth."
Jells emerged from the house with fresh clothes and deadpanned, "He’s a dragon child, not a bear child. I’m a dragon, remember?"
Tang Yu rolled his eyes, but before he could retort, the cub splashed a tidal wave of water straight into his face.
"Fine," Tang Yu huffed, wiping his face. "Dragon Dad, he’s all yours."
Su Yi burst out laughing, finally catching Tang Yu’s attention.
As Su Yi stepped closer, the cub tried guzzling bathwater until Jells yanked him out by the scruff.
Tang Yu dried his hands and eagerly reached for Su Yi’s baby. Holding the peaceful little female, he sighed. "Why can’t mine be this well-behaved?"
Su Yi handed his child over and asked, "Have you picked a name yet?"
Tang Yu grinned. "We’re calling him ‘Little Steamed Bun.’"
Su Yi’s eye twitched. He’d been considering asking Tang Yu for naming advice - until now.
Truthfully, Tang Yu had initially brainstormed names seriously. But his patience had worn thin after cycling through dozens of options. "Little Steamed Bun" only came about because Su Yi kept calling his female "little bun."
Jells, unfamiliar with human food, mistook it for a dragon-related name and approved.
[小笼包 (xiǎo lóng bāo): little steamed bun; 龙 (lóng): dragon]
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Later, a group of females returned from gathering, their baskets full of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Spotting Su Yi, they crowded around to admire the snow-like baby.
Ian arrived carrying a spiked dragon and hurried over. After wiping his hands, he gently took the baby while Su Yi shouldered the game.
Su Yi realized his stamina had deteriorated.
Once things settle, I need to resume hunting. I won’t let myself become weak like other females.
That evening, Su Yi hosted friends for a feast featuring fruit salad, milk ice cream, and chilled meat-porridge - all made with stored ice. The treats delighted everyone, especially Tang Yu and the children.
Dino, thrilled by the ice cream, even saved some for his future mate.
After dessert, Su Yi revealed his real agenda: naming his female.
Mino suggested "Arriel," while Ian proposed "Kinos." Their debate ended when Tang Yu offhandedly said "Suno" - a combination of "Su Yi" and "Sinoer."
The parents’ eyes met, warmth passing between them.
Tang Yu fake-gagged. "If we follow that logic, mine would be Tangsi (糖丝) sounds like ‘sugar threads.’ Way too sweet for a boy."
[Jells: 杰尔斯 (Jié'ěrsī)]
Jells smirked. "If you like it, we can always try for a female next."
Tang Yu's face turned scarlet. "In your dreams! If anyone’s getting pregnant again, it’s you!"
"Gladly," Jells purred, knowing full well how these things worked.
Dilson, ever blunt, asked, "Is there a trick to having kids? Mino and I have been trying forever."
The room fell silent.
Since when are there shortcuts for pregnancy?
Tang Yu’s gaze flicked to Su Yi, both remembering the space spring water.
Under the guise of fetching more food, Su Yi discreetly served Mino another portion, this time laced with a few drops of the water.
Whether it would work remained to be seen.
That night, after putting Suno to bed, Su Yi curled against Sinoer. "Think it’ll work?"
Sinoer nuzzled his neck. "We’ll find out soon enough."
Meanwhile, Dilson carried a pouting Mino home, determined to "punish" him for overeating ice cream. But when Mino tearfully stripped as ordered, Dilson's resolve crumbled.
This isn’t punishing him, it’s punishing me!
With a growl, he pounced.
