Chapter 94 - Pineapple Flavored Beastman Gong (12)
Translated by Hua Li ^_~
Sorry for the slightly late update. Today was my final exam and my department’s symposium also started….was so busy that I slept as soon as I came home. Then rushed and did the work. Hope you enjoy! ヾ(≧ ▽ ≦)ゝ
Under the red moon sky, the forest floor was strewn with fruits in shades of green, red, and yellow. A tall, muscular man, clad only in an ap.r.o.n fashioned from animal tails, was reclined on the ground.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting its warm rays onto his st.u.r.dy back. His fair skin couldn’t conceal the latent power exuding from his taut muscles. Amidst the forest’s symphony of chirping insects and birds, a barely audible, subtle sucking sound persisted. Only a careful observer would discern the hidden presence of the female beneath the man.
Animal skins that had once enveloped the now-scattered fruits served as a cushion for Gou Liang beneath him. Meng Hao, with his large hands gently cradling Gou Liang’s head, expertly led their pa.s.sionate kiss. His advances were a.s.sertive, almost bordering on intensity, marked by a dominating desire to conquer. Gou Liang’s irresistible moans only seemed to fan the flames of Meng Hao’s excitement, drawing them closer together.
The joy in his heart is even greater than when he, as a white orc, killed the beast for the first time with his own hands. At the same moment, his other hand gently ma.s.saged Gou Liang’s neck and shoulders, demonstrating his loving care.
[Ding, the work progress bar is moving forward; the current task progress is 10%!]
The sweet perfume of pineapple pervades every breath, and Gou Liang continuously tastes and swallows the sweet and sour soul power through tongue collision and entanglement.
In comfort, he closed his eyes and focused on competing with him for the sweet flavor.
Until he couldn’t breathe anymore.
The wet and hot lips and tongue lingered at the corner of his mouth after he was freed, waiting for Gou Liang to replenish the air in his chest before launching another attack.
Gou Liang kissed him on the lips, panting and smiling as he asked, “I’m right, isn’t it very sweet?”
Meng Hao had long forgotten about the kiss’s original motive – Gou Liang was interested in the green silk fruit he admired at the time. The male orc didn’t agree and insisted on tasting it. Finally, he tried it, and they swapped excellent food and rolled together.
Meng Hao, in reality, had no idea what the green silk fruit tasted like.
Meng Hao was ready to nod in agreement when he realized that if he gave a favorable answer, Gou Liang would not “ask” him the same question again…A flash of light lit in Meng Hao’s eyes.
Cleverly avoiding the answer, he kissed the corner of Gou Liang’s mouth and said in a hoa.r.s.e voice,”Let me try it again.”
Gou Liang, who had seen through his disguise, trembled with laughter and was finally kissed by him until he was addicted. He couldn’t do anything else.
As for the green silk fruit? who cares.
The two kissed inseparably, and Meng Hao’s movements gradually became more and more impatient. His palms kept sliding down and resting on Gou Liang’s waist, rubbing back and forth through the clothes, eager to remove this barrier.
However, just when Gou Liang was expecting Meng Hao to make the next breakthrough, a big white wolf appeared again and leaned on Gou Liang.
The large white wolf, whose hind limbs were retracted to conceal a certain reaction, crouched on the ground, its tail sweeping gently over Gou Liang’s forehead. Gou Liang, with his eyes tightly closed, managed to regain control over the heat surging through his body. When he finally opened his eyes, he shot a fierce glare at the wolf. The big white wolf let out a low whimper, its ice-blue eyes filled with reluctance, but it refrained from taking any further action. Instead, it lay down and licked the sweat from Gou Liang’s neck, offering comfort.
Gou Liang bit onto the wolf’s tail and made soft whining sounds. Although he didn’t possess the ability to communicate in beast language, his flushed cheeks and shy yet straightforward gaze effectively conveyed his feelings to Meng Hao.
Meng Hao spoke softly, “Xiaoxi, don’t worry. The Red Moon Festival will be here soon.”
Gou Liang pouted, saying, “There are still over a hundred days left. How is that soon?”
He expressed his dissatisfaction by rolling on the ground while hugging the wolf’s tail. Meng Hao, however, remained focused on watching him. The fragmented light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a radiant glow upon his ice-blue eyes, full of gentle tenderness.
But time pa.s.sed quickly in the mountains, amid the busy activities of gathering and hunting.
The Red Moon Season slowly drew to a close, and before the Red Moon Festival, which took place during the transition between the red and white moons, the Red Moon Gatherings of various tribes began.
***
Flying across the gra.s.slands, soaring through the forests, and crossing rivers.
After two days of flight under the sun, they finally arrived at the designated gathering spot for the Wobu Plains.
This location was at the delta where the Bal River emptied into the sea. The beastmen of the Wobu Plains had established an unspoken contract generations ago, promising never to compete for food or females in this area. Any beastman who broke this pact and violated the promise would face cruel punishment from the Beast G.o.d. The beastmen had adhered to this unwritten rule for generations, and even the deeply resentful Wolf Tribe and the Burei Tribe set aside their differences when they gathered here.
After a night’s rest, the Wolf Tribe members were full of energy.
The Red Moon Gathering was an excellent place for information exchange. Many tribes have not heard about the great luck of the Wolf tribe because they are too far away. When they came here, they came to know everything that they should know.
Therefore there were many orcs who came to exchange supplies or seek help on behalf of their tribe. As soon as the Wolf Tribe opened its doors, many visitors flooded in.
Gou Liang watched the bustling scene outside with eager antic.i.p.ation, but he was held back inside by the old priest and Meng Hao. They had more important matters to attend to today.
Soon, Meng Hui and Lang Fei returned with three strangers.
One of them was an elderly female, well into her twilight years, while the other two were young beastmen, clearly here to protect her. When they saw the old priest, they greeted him with warm smiles. The elderly female said cheerfully, “Priest Woqing, it must have been more than a hundred years since we last met. What brings you to invite me with these children?”
The old priest performed the respectful ritual of the younger generation within the tribe and explained, “Priest Hongye, indeed, there is something we need your help with.”
He proceeded to explain Gou Liang’s condition in detail and continued, “I remember my master once mentioned that the Red Rock Tribe had a male beastman with a similar ailment. I wonder if he is still alive or if he managed to recover?”
Meng Hao’s nerves tensed, and he pulled Gou Liang close, lowering his head to lightly touch Gou Liang’s forehead with his cheek, silently comforting him not to be too anxious.
Gou Liang smiled. He thought, maybe I’m not the one who needs comforting, my dear little pineapple.
Priest Hongye, being very old, struggled to recall for quite a while before sighing and saying, “If you’re referring to Dachang, it’s quite unfortunate. That young one suffered a head injury during a battle with an exotic beast, and afterward, he couldn’t remember his parents or his wife and children. He remained that way until he pa.s.sed away.”
“He’s dead?”
“Yes, he pa.s.sed away many years ago. Losing his most precious memories, he withered away like a tree without roots. Despite our advice, he refused to live with his loved ones and lived aimlessly for over a decade. In one White Moon Season, without seeking help from anyone, he quietly returned to the embrace of the Beast G.o.d.”
As he spoke, Priest Hongye looked at Gou Liang and Meng Hao, who were embracing each other, and said with a smile, “Compared to that child, this one is much luckier.”
He waved to Gou Liang, took out a round, glossy red rock from his robe, and placed it in Gou Liang’s hand. His withered hand gently patted Gou Liang’s hand, saying, “Good child, this is the Stone of Fortune, a blessing from the Beast G.o.d to our Red Rock Tribe. It provides warmth even during the White Moon Season. Even without memories, you still have hundreds of years to create new ones with your partner. I hope you both have a healthy and long life together.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Meng Hao and Gou Liang sincerely expressed their grat.i.tude.
The Red Rock Tribe Priest affectionately waved his hand, then turned to the Old Priest with a mischievous smile and said, “Oh, I heard that the mysterious Treefolk have given the Winged Wolves quite a lavish gift…”
Seeing his sly smile, Gou Liang’s previous feelings of grat.i.tude shattered.
So you’re here to bargain, huh? “Is this stone really that magical?” Gou Liang asked curiously, holding the red rock.
Meng Hao nodded and said, “This is the Sacred Stone of the Red Rock Tribe. It emits heat automatically during the White Moon Season, so the Red Rock Tribe isn’t afraid of the cold. However, this one is a bit small; it can only keep a young cub warm.”
He expressed some dissatisfaction with the stinginess of the Red Rock Tribe Priest who came to make friends and bargain.
Gou Liang smiled indifferently. “That’s perfect. I’ll give it to Sang Mi when we get back.”
Meng Hao was about to say something in response but was interrupted by Gou Liang, who continued, “With you around, what do I need it for?”
Meng Hao nodded in agreement, both approving and reserved.
The Red Moon Gathering was lively, but most of the attendees wandering among the stalls were young beastmen. The significant transactions would only take place between priests or tribal leaders. Today, the Old Priest had personally come to inquire about Gou Liang’s sickness, while the tribal chief Lang Xiong remained in the tribe. As a result, the Red Rock Tribe Priest was able to benefit from the situation and engage in the first barter with the Old Priest.
The items on sale at the stalls were varied and diverse, but the most popular were the decorative items made by the Merfolk from the Deep Sea Tribe using sh.e.l.ls and crystal formations.
Unmarried male beastmen would exchange a few pieces of dried meat for these necklaces to please their chosen females. Gou Liang used to receive them frequently. When he saw Meng Hao also wanting to join in, he stopped him. He was not particularly impressed with their aesthetics.
Meng Hao argued hard.
He told Gou Liang with the reliable att.i.tude of a mature orc that Gou Liang could not lack the things that other females should have in their coming-of-age ceremony. Even if you don’t like it, it could just be a decoration. He also said that marrying a white orc, according to him, had already caused Gou Liang to suffer great injustice. If he could not give him the greatest attention and make up for these details, then his life as a male orc would be a failure.
As he spoke, his eyes were tainted with a hint of melancholy.
Even though he knew he was pretending, Gou Liang still admitted defeat – Ok, just be happy.
Meng Hao had obviously prepared extensively for this. He bought a pile of luxurious items specifically designed for females in this world – health products, colorful and intricately patterned animal skins, and more.
If it weren’t for the substantial amount of dried meat he had brought along, it wouldn’t have been enough for his extravagant shopping spree.
Gou Liang couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched Meng Hao spend so extravagantly and enthusiastically. He felt both amused and touched.
Perhaps it was his naivety combined with his wealth that made him an irresistible target for the other beastmen. Even with his head full of white hair, he was never rejected, as no one refused the dried meat delivered to their doorstep.
“This brave one, take a look at this piece of animal skin I have. It comes from the rare Red Fox Beast. Not only is it soft and warm, but there’s no color more vibrant than this. When a little female lies on it, it’s snowy…hehehe, it only costs ten pieces of dried meat. It is absolutely high quality and cheap. If you miss it, it’s gone”
“This brave one, have a look at this miraculous stone. It glows at night and is adored by females. For a hundred pieces of dried meat, you can have these one hundred stones…”
“This brave one…”
Surrounded by these beastmen, Meng Hao, with his seemingly bottomless wallet, couldn’t resist. He decided to purchase a variety of goods, ranging from expensive animal hides to peculiar gemstones.
Listening to the endless pitches, Gou Liang couldn’t help but wonder how Meng Hao didn’t haggle at all. He asked, “Aren’t they clearly overcharging you? Why don’t you negotiate the price a bit?”
Meng Hao replied earnestly, “The High Priest said that a male who bargains in front of females before the bonding ceremony is a beastman who holds back and isn’t worthy of being entrusted with your life. I will do my best to give you the best… whether it’s these items or myself.”
Gou Liang sighed, “The High Priest is truly wise.”
—So picky, no wonder he’s still single.
Not hearing Gou Liang’s inner complaints, Meng Hao led Gou Liang and walked back to his residence with his head held high, and the curve of his mouth never dropped.
Gou Liang thought, if he had had a few white orc friends, he would have wanted to show off to the world at this time.
However despite their lack of friends, Meng Hui and Lang Fei couldn’t escape unscathed. On the same day, Meng Hao, in his capacity as the elder of the group, invited the entire family to dine at the most renowned restaurant in the Red Moon Gathering.
The restaurant was run by the Monkey orcs of the Aomori Tribe, and the fruits they served could fetch astronomical prices with a mere glance.
While many beastmen were aware that these fruits were readily available in the Aomori Tribe, they were still precious and highly beneficial for females. They were willing to exchange large amounts of dried meat to please their own females or the ones they admired.
The Aomori restaurant didn’t just cater to females; they also served exotic beast meat. While their culinary skills were far inferior to Gou Liang’s, among the beastmen, they were considered extraordinary. It was a delightful culinary experience for the beastmen.
However, very few male beastmen would indulge their appet.i.tes and spend ten times the amount of dried meat for a small quant.i.ty of exotic beast meat.
Under normal circ.u.mstances, Meng Hao would never spend such a large amount of dried meat on indulging in his desires. However, with Lang Fei by his side, he ordered almost everything on the menu, leaving Lang Fei and Meng Hui wide-eyed and astonished.
Lang Fei whispered, “Hui, is your brother… alright?”
Meng Hui, though also puzzled, gave Lang Fei a disapproving look and then scratched his head as he addressed his brother, “Brother, I’ll just have dried meat when we go back. Let’s not bother with this. Isn’t the goal just to fill our stomachs? This is such a waste.”
He was really upset about the ten times the amount of dried meat they had to pay for this meal.
What he hadn’t realized was that this time he was just a bystander; his brother’s intended target wasn’t him at all.
Meng Hao smiled and said, “Lang Fei, feel free to order whatever you want. It’s a rare occasion, no need to be polite.”
Lang Fei was puzzled again, looking at his brother, who was sitting beside him, with bright eyes and a radiant smile. Seeing his brother nod in approval, he didn’t refuse.
At the Aomori restaurant, you paid for your dried meat first, and then the dishes were served. Therefore, the monkey beastmen from the Aomori Tribe, famous for their treasures, were currently looking at Meng Hao as if they were looking at dried meat, eagerly recommending their own specialties. There was no way, since their quiet but already famous tree neighbors destroyed their old nest, the Aomori orcs who relocated to their tribe were in a hurry for food in the Red Rose season, so they could only save an extra piece of dried meat.
Meng Hao didn’t turn anyone away.
Lang Fei asked again, “Hui, is Haoge really…?”
This time, even Meng Hui couldn’t speak up for his brother.
While they were having their silent exchange, a heated argument suddenly erupted outside the Aomori restaurant.
“It’s Azan.”
Lang Fei recognized the familiar voice and, using his keen sense of smell, confirmed the scent of their Wolf Tribe companions. This made him anxious.
Meng Hao was still attentively listening to the recommendations of the monkey beastmen and Gou Liang had to suppress a smile as he said, “You and Hui should go check it out, but try not to get into a conflict with anyone.”
Only then did Lang Fei and Meng Hui leave.
When they went outside, they indeed found a dispute between the Wolf Tribe and another tribe.The other party was none other than a rhinoceros orc from the Burei tribe who had a deep grudge against the Wolf tribe.
Rhinoceros orcs have a single horn on their foreheads. Because they are born with dark skin, they have a natural advantage in fighting. The rhino tribe is also very warlike. This is why their population is less than one-fifth of the Wolf tribe, but they often fight with the Wolf tribe. This is the reason for the tribe’s disobedience and repeated attacks.
However, this time it wasn’t due to ancient grudges between the tribes. Instead, it was caused by a beautiful female who was currently being protected by the Wolf Tribe members.
Yue Jin.
As Lang Fei and Meng Hui arrived, they heard a c.o.c.ky beastman from the rival Rhino Tribe arguing, “Who does he think he is, a female from the Wolf Tribe? He’s a priest from the Moon Fox Tribe. Leaving him in the Wolf Tribe will only bring disaster. If I offer ten females in exchange, I’m sure your chief would be happy to trade him to me.”
“Shut your filthy mouth!”
Several Wolf Tribe beastmen, led by Azan, could no longer hold back their anger.
Lang Fei quickly stepped in, Azan and Meng Hui flanking him on either side, glaring fiercely at the Rhino beastman. “Bor, do you want to s.n.a.t.c.h a female during the Red Moon Gathering and provoke a war? Aren’t you afraid of the wrath of the Beast G.o.d for breaking promises, you despicable beastman?!”
“Oh, isn’t this the son of the Wolf Tribe chief?” The rhinoceros orc named Bor, sneered dismissively. “You’re not qualified to speak to me. I recall that the next chief of your tribe is supposed to be someone else.”
Meng Hui, who has always adopted the refined speaking style of his brother, snapped, “Leave.”
Bor was furious, but one of the beastmen from the Green Swamp Tribe, who stood beside him, whispered something to him.
Bor then a.s.sessed Meng Hui and said, “So, you’re the crippled Black Winged Wolf from the Wolf Tribe, who suddenly recovered. What a pity. We’re not trying to steal anyone. We came to the Red Moon Gathering for trade, right? I just happen to be interested in that female. I’ll offer fifty females in exchange for him! Your Wolf tribe takes advantage, right?”
“Are you dreaming–?”
“Lang Fei”
Gou Liang interrupted him,”The food is on the table. Come and eat with your friends”
Lang Fei put away his offensive and was about to respond when he saw Bor staring at Gou Liang with squinting eyes and said excitedly: “I don’t want that female anymore, fifty females for him! ”
He pointed directly at Gou Liang.
Gou Liang was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.
“Are you saying… me?”