The hunting team walked into the cave against the fading light of dusk.
Qi Bai immediately spotted Langze among them. Though Langze had just reached adulthood, his towering height already surpassed that of most grown orcs. However, despite his impressive stature, Langze’s gaunt frame revealed his malnourished state, a stark reminder of the hardships they all endured.
The children erupted into cheers as the hunting party approached.
Qi Bai caught Leopard Star’s excited voice above the noise: “It’s a rabbit! The hunting team caught a rabbit!”
“And wild mice! We have meat to eat!”
Beside Lu Guo was a tiny half-orc, the youngest of all the children. She clung to the edge of Lu Guo’s skirt, her large, doe-like eyes fixed intently on the rabbit Houyan carried in his hands. Unlike the other children, she didn’t cheer or jump around. Instead, she bit her fingers and swallowed hard, as though she already understood that this meat likely wouldn’t be hers.
Qi Bai couldn’t help but feel deeply moved by the little girl.
He had noticed her earlier, while he had been chiseling the stone pot. Despite being no more than three or four years old, she had worked quietly by Lu Guo’s side all afternoon. Her tiny hands could barely hold a handful of wild vegetables at once, yet she never asked for help. Instead, she made countless trips back and forth, carefully processing each leaf and carrying them one by one.
Now, she stood silently, her gaze locked on the rabbit, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes.
However, Qi Bai also noticed something odd. Unlike the children’s excitement, the hunting team’s expressions were subdued, even somber.
Aside from Houyan, who carried three hares and two wild mice, the remaining nine hunters were empty-handed.
Houyan walked up to Yang Luo and handed him the prey. He spoke softly, his voice barely audible above the din: “We walked for half a day, but only Langze caught these three hares, and Foxfire found the two wild mice.”
Qi Bai, who was standing nearby, overheard the quiet exchange, though it seemed no one else had caught it amidst the noise.
Yang Luo’s expression remained calm. He smiled at Houyan reassuringly, then climbed onto a raised stone platform to address the group. Holding the hares high, he motioned for silence.
“Thanks to the Beast God! The hunting team has brought us prey. Today, everyone can have a taste of meat!”
The cave erupted into cheers once more.
“Thank the Beast God!”
“Thank the Beast God!”
The little half-orc beside Lu Guo tugged anxiously at his skirt, her voice trembling with hope. “Does everyone include us? Can we eat meat too?”
Lu Guo knelt beside her, gently stroking her hair. “Yes, it includes us. We can all have a bite of meat.”
Her face lit up with a childlike joy she hadn’t shown before. She hopped up and down, her voice brimming with excitement. “We can eat meat too! We can eat meat too!”
Yang Luo raised his hand again, and the crowd quieted. His sharp gaze swept over the hunting team before he finally called out, “Foxfire, come here.”
A ripple of murmurs passed through the group as Foxfire limped forward, his movements uneven due to an old injury.
The crowd instinctively parted, leaving Yang Luo and Foxfire standing alone in the center.
Yang Luo unhooked the bone knife from his waist and picked up the largest hare. Holding it aloft, he gestured to Foxfire.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Foxfire knelt on one knee before Yang Luo. He tried to remain composed, but Qi Bai noticed the glimmer of tears in the young orc’s eyes.
Yang Luo lifted his head and sang loudly, “Beast God above!”
With those words, he swiftly slit the rabbit’s throat with the bone knife.
Blood gushed from the wound, and Foxfire caught the limp body, drinking deeply from the hare’s throat.
Qi Bai watched the scene, his thoughts swirling.
This was a blood ceremony.
Through the memories inherited from this body, Qi Bai knew that such a ritual was only held for the most powerful orc warriors. Drinking the first blood of the prey was both a blessing and an honor, signifying their status as protectors and hunters of the tribe.
However, this ceremony was not a common occurrence. It was usually reserved for times when the hunting team returned triumphant during the peak of the hunting season. The tribal priests would oversee the event, and the entire tribe would gather to witness the celebration of their warriors’ strength.
Even now, without a formal priest or a proper tribe, Yang Luo had chosen to hold this ritual. It wasn’t just about the hunt—it was about rekindling hope and unity in their struggling group.
The fire at the heart of the cave flickered and danced, casting long shadows over the gathered orcs. As Foxfire finished drinking the blood, cheers erupted once more, their voices filled with reverence and gratitude:
“Blessed by the Beast God!”
According to legend, warriors baptized in blood would be blessed by the Beast God, their strength becoming unparalleled, their spirits invincible.
Although they were nothing more than a group of old, weak, and downtrodden individuals brought together by fate, today marked their first hunt and their first sacrificial ceremony. From this moment onward, things would change.
As the cheers of the crowd grew louder, the hunters finally began to smile. This was only the beginning. Tomorrow, they would surely bring back more prey.
The gathered orcs chanted a single name: “Foxfire!”
In this vibrant atmosphere, Yang Luo performed two more sacrifices, slaughtering another two hares. The blood of one was given to Houyan, and the other was shared between Hu Meng and Niu Yong, who had made fire for the group.
Hu Meng and Niu Yong were stunned by the honor. They never imagined they would be included in such a sacred ceremony. Overcome with joy, Hu Meng pounded his chest enthusiastically, his face flushed with pride.
Despite the celebratory mood, Qi Bai’s thoughts kept drifting back to Langze.
After all, the three hares used in the sacrificial ceremony had all been hunted by Langze. Yet, amidst the excitement and chanting, Langze’s name had been completely overshadowed.
When Qi Bai turned to glance at Langze, their eyes unexpectedly met.
Langze’s gaze was intense, deep and enigmatic, like a stormy sea—wild yet strangely calm. Qi Bai couldn’t decipher the emotions hidden within.
The two stared at each other for a moment before Langze broke eye contact, looking away. As he turned, Qi Bai caught sight of the faint slave mark branded on the back of Langze’s neck.
Qi Bai lowered his gaze, a knot tightening in his chest. For reasons he couldn’t fully explain, an unfamiliar irritation brewed within him.
By the time darkness had completely fallen, Yang Luo began directing everyone to prepare dinner.
Tonight, they would have their first hot meal since escaping to this cave. With the promise of a bite of meat for everyone, the group threw themselves into the work with renewed vigor.
The stone pot that Qi Bai and the others had spent the entire afternoon chiseling was finally complete. Though rough and uneven, it was functional and ready to be used.
Hu Meng and Niu Yong, still buzzing with excitement from their earlier honor, carried the heavy stone pot outside with ease. Using large leaves, they scrubbed it clean in the rain before placing it atop a stone platform the hunting team had built.
The two worked with great enthusiasm, arranging smaller stones beneath the pot to serve as a base. Dry grass and twigs were stacked underneath, and embers from the fire were carefully transferred to ignite the makeshift stove.
Meanwhile, Huxue and Lynx, the captains of the other gathering teams, began preparing the ingredients they had collected earlier in the day.
Cooking, as it was understood here, involved pouring rainwater—collected in large leaves—into the stone pot, followed by tossing in handfuls of cleaned wild vegetables.
Huxue used a thick branch to stir the mixture while Lynx focused on keeping the fire alive.
As the water slowly heated, Houyan and several orcs got to work processing the three hares and two wild mice.
Qi Bai watched curiously as Houyan expertly skinned the rabbits. The process was far simpler than Qi Bai had expected. Houyan used a bone knife to cut around the rabbit’s legs and gently tugged at the skin, peeling it off like removing a glove. In no time, the rabbit’s pelt came off in one seamless piece.
The wild mice were handled with the same efficiency.
The animal skins were carefully set aside—these were valuable assets to the group. Though tanning them would be a long and labor-intensive process, they would eventually become essential items for the tribe.
Houyan then moved on to processing the meat. Using a stone knife, he separated the organs and laid them on large leaves that had been prepared in advance. The knife, though crude and blunt, was sufficient for breaking bones and carving meat.
Several other orcs eagerly joined in, picking up stone knives to help butcher the prey.
At this point, the water in the stone pot still hadn’t boiled, but that didn’t stop the group from tossing the processed meat directly into the pot already brimming with wild vegetables.
Qi Bai observed the chaotic yet collaborative scene with fascination. This was the first time he had witnessed such a “grand” cooking process. He wasn’t sure what the resulting dish would taste like, but the infectious enthusiasm of the group spurred him to pitch in.
Once all the ingredients were added, the remaining task was to keep feeding the fire and wait for the food to cook.
Given the size of the stone pot and the poor thermal conductivity of stone, it would take at least one to two hours before their first hot meal was ready.
The smell of steaming wild vegetables and fresh meat began to fill the air. Though faint at first, it quickly drew the attention of the entire group. Even those who were exhausted after a day of labor couldn’t resist peeking at the simmering pot, their faces full of anticipation.
Tonight, they would not only fill their stomachs but also rekindle the hope of survival—together.
The wait for dinner was long, but it was filled with laughter and anticipation, making it a happy one. Everyone sat around the stone pot, clutching their “stone bowls”—simple stones with concave surfaces that served as crude utensils. Qi Bai had picked out his own smooth-surfaced bowl earlier in the day and carefully washed it with clean water, treating it as if it were a treasure.
The atmosphere was lively, a stark contrast to the gloom of the previous day’s escape.
The aroma wafting from the stone pot wasn’t exactly pleasant, but to Qi Bai, it was irresistibly tempting. He had only eaten raw wild vegetables and sour fruits that day, and his stomach growled in protest, loud and insistent.
The first time his stomach growled, Qi Bai felt a little embarrassed. However, he soon realized he wasn’t alone. Stomach rumbles echoed all around the cave, each as loud as his own.
Langze, who sat beside him, didn’t bother to hide his hunger. His sharp wolfish eyes were fixed intently on the stone pot, unblinking, as if it were prey. The complicated expression he’d worn earlier was gone, replaced by raw hunger and focus.
But despite the rumbling stomachs, no one made a move toward the pot. Instead, they all turned their eyes to Yang Luo, waiting patiently for his signal.
Yang Luo, holding his stone bowl, approached the pot. But rather than serving himself first, he began ladling out portions for everyone, a gesture of leadership and care that further unified the group.
He started with Hou Yan, who stepped forward without hesitation. As agreed, Yang Luo gave Hou Yan a piece of rabbit meat and a generous helping of vegetables and soup.
One by one, everyone stepped forward to receive their share.
Hu Meng, ever the exuberant one, grinned ear to ear when he got his portion. Without hesitation, he tossed the meat—bones and all—into his mouth, chewing greedily. Yet, despite his eagerness, he refused to swallow immediately, savoring every bite as if it were a priceless delicacy.
Niu Yong, in contrast, approached his meal with great care. He sipped the broth slowly, then picked through the vegetables one by one. The piece of meat in his bowl sat untouched, as if it were sacred. Niu Yong’s plan was clear—he wanted to refill his bowl with vegetables to ensure every bite carried the taste of meat.
After all, Yang Luo had said that while each person was limited to one piece of meat, they could have as many servings of vegetables and soup as they wanted.
Of course, the reality was that the wild vegetables gathered during the day were limited. At most, each person could have two or three bowls. But that didn’t stop Hu Meng from staring longingly at the untouched piece of meat in Niu Yong’s bowl, drooling and clearly regretting his earlier haste.
For Qi Bai, who had once enjoyed all kinds of delicacies before his illness and rebirth into this world, the simple soup in his bowl felt like the best meal he had ever had.
The first sip of hot broth was a revelation. The warmth spread through his body, and he felt an almost overwhelming urge to cry.
After days of fleeing on an empty stomach, this meal—simple as it was—felt like salvation. For the first time since his arrival, Qi Bai felt truly alive.
The rabbit meat, barely cooked and still tough, was stringy and bland. Yet, as Qi Bai used his small leopard teeth to tear off strips of meat and chew slowly, he found a surprising sweetness in its flavor.
The meal stretched on for quite some time as everyone refilled their bowls a few times, Qi Bai included.
Though a single piece of meat and some vegetables were far from enough to fill an orc’s large appetite, no one complained. Instead, their faces glowed with contentment. It wasn’t about fullness—it was about hope.
By the time the meal was over, it was late at night. The fire had dried the rain-soaked clothes clinging to their bodies, and the sound of rain outside had subsided to a faint drizzle.
But Qi Bai found himself unable to sit still.
His gaze fell on Foxfire, who was skillfully weaving a straw rope from peeled grass stems.
The sight sparked a memory of the piranhas he had seen earlier that day, their sharp teeth and swarming schools flashing through his mind.
An idea began to take shape—a wild, reckless idea that refused to leave him.
The wheels in Qi Bai’s mind began to turn. Perhaps this rope Foxfire was making could be the key to his plan.
The idea grew clearer with every passing moment, and Qi Bai couldn’t help but smile to himself. If this worked, it could change everything.
