I've been transported to the orc continent.

After sleeping all day, Bai Ling felt a little tired when she set off again.

He had never walked such a long distance before, nor had he received any training. He just followed his instincts and ran forward, so it was inevitable that his body would ache.

Today he didn't have a basket on his back. The tribesmen who were traveling with him knew that this was Bai Ling's first time traveling so far, and they were afraid that he would get too tired, so they took the basket and carried it for him.

Bai Ling glanced at Yue, who was running ahead, and quickened her pace.

Yue didn't feel tired at all. Yesterday's speed was nothing to him. When he used to hunt in the tribe, he could run for most of the day without stopping and not feel tired.

Orcs were chasing after them. Yue leaned to the side and glanced over, only to find that it was Ling who had caught up with them.

The moon didn't say anything, it continued running forward, but then it heard a cooing sound coming from the side.

That was a sound coming from the lion's throat; it was a signal from the orcs that something was happening.

The moon turned its head again and looked at Ling, who was running alongside it. Its icy blue eyes flickered, as if wondering why Bai Ling would make such a sound.

Bai Ling blinked, her eyes pleading for help.

Yue slowed down, and Bai Ling followed suit, falling to the back of the group. Yue let out a few low howls. Bai Ling's father was Bai Lang, and he could understand Yue's words. Yue was asking him what was wrong.

Bai Ling suddenly stopped, and Yue also stopped. The white lion and the white wolf stared at each other for a moment. Bai Ling ran into the bushes and came out a short while later.

Bai Ling returned to human form and walked to Yue's side. Yue looked down at Bai Ling and let out two low growls.

The white wolf was beautiful; its smooth fur was like silk, and the golden sunlight shone on it, giving it a golden veil.

Its icy blue eyes held both doubt and concern as it stared intently at Bai Ling, in which Bai Ling saw her own clear reflection.

As if bewitched, Bai Ling wanted to reach out and rub Yue's ears, but he restrained himself. He couldn't do that; it would frighten Yue.

"Yue, I'm a little tired," Bai Ling said with apology and embarrassment in her eyes. "I... I've never left the tribe before. Even when I go out to gather, I'm with the children and I never go too far from the tribe."

“I used to be a little fool, and I never learned hunting skills like other beastmen,” Bai Ling scratched his head, not daring to look into Yue’s eyes.

Bai Ling didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: he was struggling to keep up with the other orcs.

Yue seemed surprised that Bai Ling was talking about this matter. He paused for a moment and let out a few low wolf howls.

Bai Ling suddenly raised his head, seemingly in disbelief or overjoyed, and then a blush spread across his cheeks.

Because what Yue said was: "Sit on my back."

In the orc world, carrying one's fellow orcs is not a big deal. When gathering or hunting teams are working, the slower orcs will ride on the backs of the faster ones.

However, Bai Ling also harbored unspoken feelings for Yue. Under such circumstances, how could Bai Ling remain calm? His heart was practically leaping out of his body.

"I'm sorry to say that," Bai Ling said softly, "I was just thinking that you could run a little slower for the rest of the way, so that we wouldn't attract too much attention if we were together."

Bai Ling seemed embarrassed and a little uneasy.

"As long as I have someone with me, I won't be so nervous, and I won't feel so helpless."

Yue's gaze softened. Ling used to be different from others, and now that he had suddenly regained his senses, he must be very strong-willed and didn't want others to look at him differently anymore. He had come to her for help, and she knew it must have taken a lot of courage for him, so of course she had to take care of him.

Yue had never had this experience before. Even before he came of age, many male orcs would intentionally or unintentionally approach him. Those orcs were all strong and brave in front of him, and they were all single-mindedly trying to show him their strength. There had never been an orc like Ling who cautiously sought his help.

Yue's heart softened. It stretched out its front paw and patted Bai Ling's hand, making a gurgling sound in its throat, which meant it agreed.

Bai Ling cheered, reached out and touched Yue's forelegs, then ran into the grass and transformed into his beast form.

The orcs ahead had disappeared from sight. Yue led Bai Ling to catch up with them first, and then the two slowed down to keep a certain distance from the orcs ahead.

Bai Ling was a little tired, but being with Yue made that tiredness seem insignificant.

*

What should have been a two-day journey took them three days to complete.

As they approached the tribe, the chieftain of the Great River tribe stopped running, raised his head, and let out a loud howl towards the sky.

The orcs from other river tribes also roared to the sky, and Yue and Gua joined in the howling.

Before their cries had even faded, the tribe was filled with the sounds of wild beasts. Bai Ling could only distinguish the roars of tigers, howls of wolves, and roars of lions; he couldn't tell the other sounds apart.

Li strides forward, running towards the tribe, and the other orcs quickly follow, heading in the same direction.

Orcs came out to greet them, among them a middle-aged orc whose expression was particularly excited. He rushed to the front and ran towards Bai Ling and his group.

The orc ran up to Gua, stretched out his long arm, and took the cub from Lan's arms.

The cub was a little confused, its wet eyes full of questions. It sniffed the beastman holding it, and then a big smile appeared on its furry face.

The cub stuck out its tongue and licked the orc's arm, making the orc laugh heartily. The orc picked up the cub, spun it around, and then held it in its arms and shook it hard. As the cub stuck out its tongue and licked its face, the orc put the cub on its shoulder and called Blue and Melon to head back to the tribe.

Moon was also embraced by an old orc. He pressed Moon's head against his cheek, gently pinched Moon's ear with one hand, and his whole face beamed with joy.

He held Yue in his arms, and she stuck out her tongue to lick the orc's face. The orc also kissed Yue's face.

Bai Ling had never seen Yue so expressive before. After taking a closer look, Bai Ling noticed that the orc's features were somewhat similar to Yue's. He figured this must be Yue's great-uncle.

*

The Great River tribe lived among several streams. Their houses were built of stone, not very tall and without windows, with only a door covered with animal skins, and the roofs were covered with hay and animal skins.

All the houses were painted with irregular patterns in colorful paint. The patterns were simple yet vibrant. Bai Ling also saw that on the stone wall of one house, there were three human figures, two large and one small, painted in reddish-brown paint.