I've been transported to the orc continent.

Bai Ling turned his head to look at Yue. Yue was also extremely handsome from the side, with a smooth face, sharp eyebrows and eyes, a high nose bridge and beautiful lips, like an oil painting that had been carefully painted.

Bai Ling smiled faintly: "Yue, I will leave the first ironware forged from iron ore to you."

Yue turned her head and, without warning, met a pair of obsidian-like eyes. Yue suddenly realized that Ling's eyes were so beautiful, like a kind of black fruit she had eaten when she was a child.

The fruit was sweet and sour. When his father gave it to him, it had just been washed in the stream. Transparent water droplets dripped from the fruit. He thought it was fun, so he held the fruit up to the sun. The sunlight shone on the fruit, making it sparkle. The surface of the fruit even had a layer of colorful light. He thought the fruit was extremely beautiful and wanted to keep it safe. So he stuffed the fruit into his arms.

His father was amused by him and picked a fruit from a bunch of fruit and put it in his mouth. The fruit's skin was very thin and it crumbled with a gentle bite. The sweet and sour juice quickly filled his mouth. He didn't even have time to chew it twice before he swallowed the fruit.

He had only eaten that fruit once, but the taste of it remained in his heart, along with the image of the fruit, which was so black it shone brightly.

Yue suddenly felt that Ling's eyes were exactly like those fruits after they had been washed with water—extremely beautiful.

Yue was lost in her own thoughts and didn't answer Bai Ling's question immediately. Bai Ling thought Yue was still disappointed: "Yue, how about you name the first piece of ironware you make?"

Yue replied, "Do we still need to name it?"

Bai Ling laughed and said, "Of course we should have it. This is the first iron weapon in the orc world, so it must have a name." He gazed into Yue's eyes and said, "This name will be passed down forever, recorded in history books, and recited and commemorated by countless people. As long as civilization exists, this name will be remembered."

And your name and mine will be passed down through the ages, recorded together in history books, and mentioned together in the mouths of countless people. When people talk about you, they will surely mention me, and when they talk about me, they will surely mention you.

Our names will be like the sun and the moon in the sky, never to be separated, always together.

*

Yue asked, "Ling, what does ironware look like?"

Bai Ling thought for a moment and said, "Iron tools have many uses. There are weapons like stone knives and axes, daily necessities like pottery pots and pans, and small items like nails and needles. I want to farm, and iron tools can be used to make plows, which will make farming much easier."

"Weapons also include bows and arrows. Arrows, like wooden spears, can be shot quite far, but arrows are much more lethal."

"Moon, I can't even begin to describe all the benefits of iron. Once the ironware is made, you'll know just how good it is."

Yue's eyes lit up. His icy blue eyes gazed into the distance, his gaze unfocused, as if he were deep in thought. After a while, he smiled and said to Bai Ling, "Ling, I can't imagine how powerful ironware really is. I can only imagine what it would be like if stone knives were harder and easier to use."

"When hunting, stone knives break after a short time, and skinning wild animals with them is also troublesome. Sometimes we have to tear open the animal's flesh with our claws. The iron tool you mentioned must be much better than a stone knife, right? It won't break as often, and it can cut through the animal's flesh. Can an iron tool last for a year?"

Bai Ling laughed and said, "It will definitely last a year. Oh, by the way, what kind of ironware do you want, Yue? A knife, an axe, or a dagger?"

Without a second thought, Yue said, "I want a knife."

Bai Ling: "Alright, I'll make you a knife." He had already decided that he would make a mold based on the stone knife that Yue was comfortable using, so that the knife would be easy for Yue to use.

*

When Bai Ling and Yue were almost at the foot of the low hill, they found three people standing there. By the dim moonlight, Bai Ling recognized them as her father, her father-in-law, and her younger brother.

Yue saw them too. After the two approached, Yue greeted Cang and Feng, while she simply nodded to Chen.

Feng was carrying a small basket on his back. He handed the basket to Yue and said with a smile, "Yue, you've had a long day. I heard you love fish, so here's some dried fish. Please accept it."

The son was able to return to the tribe just as it got dark because Yue carried him back. To thank Yue, Feng specially went back to his cave where he stored things and retrieved some dried fish to give to Yue.

Yue waved her hand and said, "Uncle Feng, Ling went out with me. It's my duty to bring him back safely. I can't accept your things, Uncle Feng."

Feng shoved the basket into Yue's arms: "Just take it. Ling has never traveled far before, and you've been taking care of him these past few trips. I'm Ling's father, so it's only right that I bring you something." He smiled and said, "I heard you love fish. The tribespeople often see you fishing by the river. These dried fish were sent by the Rock Turtle tribe. Their dried fish tastes even better than fresh fish. Yue, take it and try it."

Since things had come to this point, Yue couldn't refuse. He thanked Cang and Feng, nodded to Bai Ling, picked up his basket, and left.

As soon as Yue left, Chen immediately asked, "Brother, is the stone you found really that useful?"

There were too many people in the clan during the meal, and Bai Ling didn't explain what iron ore was used for. Now that his younger brother had come to ask him specifically, Bai Ling explained to his family what iron was used for.

Cang and Feng both fell silent, each trying to imagine what the iron could be used for. Chen, however, didn't think that far ahead. He asked cheerfully, "Brother, once that iron is made, can you give me some?"

Bai Ling smiled and said, "Of course, Chen, what kind of ironware do you want? Weapons or daily necessities?"

Chen said, "I want an axe. Stone axes aren't very useful. If iron axes were really that good, I could wear an iron axe on my waist when I go to work. That would be so cool."

Just thinking about that scene made Chen very excited. His back straightened involuntarily, and his expression became smug, as if he had really gotten his hands on the iron axe and was showing it off to his friends.

Bai Ling: "Alright, then I'll make you an axe. Father, whatever you need, I'll make it for you too."

Cang thought for a moment and said, "I want a knife, a knife like the stone knife, one that I can use when hunting."

Feng also said, "I want a knife too, a knife that's better for gathering."

Bai Ling remembered all his family's needs, and once the iron ore was smelted, he made axes, knives, and sickles for them.