The injury was minor; Shen Nong only needed to raise her hand.
However, this blood is truly quite malevolent. Although he had drunk it before, he was still conscious then and could control himself to stop when he had drunk too much.
I wasn't really conscious this time; all I could think about was drinking more.
When Wolf Rain arrived, he saw Ze and the priest sitting on the ground, with Ze embracing the priest completely.
He fell into doubt.
Could it be that Ze and the priest really had a relationship of going into the cave together?
Anyway, he and Bao Qiu wouldn't do that...
Chapter 44 "Airlift" Plan
Does he treat me like his father?
Although Yingxi was still unconscious, he had been poisoned for a long time, and the poison was very potent. This time, Shen Nong snatched his life back from the jaws of death.
Even if an orc has excellent physical functions, it's roughly equivalent to someone who has died once, and they need to lie down and recuperate for a period of time.
Shen Nong examined him and said that all his bodily functions had recovered very well. He woke up once during this time and was given a lot of water by Yu Ji because he was thirsty.
Originally, they were going to discuss the deal, but Yu Ji was worried about Ying Xi, so the meeting place for her and Shen Nong to discuss the deal was also set in the cave where Ying Xi was.
Shen Nong never does anything that doesn't benefit him. He went to great lengths to save a beastman he didn't know, especially a clan leader whose background he didn't know, not to show off how capable or kind-hearted he was.
He recalled the promise Yu Ji had made to him at the beginning, "You said that as long as this person is saved, your Yu tribe can do anything?"
Yu Ji nodded.
Seeing that the other party hadn't reneged on the debt, Shen Nong was in a good mood. But even if the other party had reneged, Shen Nong wouldn't have cared.
When treating Yingxi, he feared that the Feather Tribe might harbor ill intentions because of his abilities, so he left a wisp of spiritual power in Yingxi's body.
There's nothing wrong with leaving this wisp of spiritual energy in your body; it can even make you healthier.
But if Shen Nong wanted to, this wisp of spiritual energy could easily take the eagle's life.
He endured the pain of depleted spiritual energy to save people. If the Feather Tribe reneged on their debt, although he wouldn't kill Yingxi, he would draw upon his spiritual energy to make them suffer every day.
"You don't need to worry that I'll make you pay with your lives. However, there will indeed be some dangers."
Yu Ji waited earnestly for Shen Nong to continue.
"I want the orcs of the Feather Tribe, who take the form of birds, to help me establish a trade route and deliver goods for us. However, there will be some dangers when contacting new tribes, so we need to be careful."
The land is filled with mountains, forests, wilderness, and rivers, presenting numerous obstacles. The shortest route from the Wood Tribe to the Feather Tribe would take them five days to traverse.
But it's different in the sky; the journey is unobstructed, with the only threat being the weather.
Moreover, they don't have cannonballs now; the orcs on the ground are helpless against the orcs flying in the sky.
There's no need to worry about the goods being stolen by tribes along the way.
After arriving in the Feather Tribe, Shen Nong had been thinking about "air transport." Now that he had finally found an opportunity, he was determined not to give it up.
"It's not like I'm letting you deliver it for nothing."
Remembering that Yu Ji had told Ying Xi that he would exchange meat and animal hides with them, implying that they were short of meat and animal hides, Shen Nong said, "After completing the delivery, the orcs who delivered the goods will be given meat or animal hides as commission."
Yu Ji tried very hard to understand. He could understand the beginning, but he really didn't understand what commission was.
Shen Nong could see his confusion and couldn't find a better way to explain to the primitive beastmen, so she could only give a rough example: "For each delivery completed, we will give the beastmen who deliver the goods extra meat or animal hides. We will discuss the specific amount later."
Yu Ji understood. His eyebrows lit up with joy, but also with doubt. "Are you telling the truth?"
You can get meat or animal hides with just one flight? It's unbelievable that something like this is so easy!
Shen Nong affirmed, "It's true."
Hunting has always been difficult for the Feather Tribe, partly because of their beast-like form; they fly in the sky, surrounded by dense forests, which provide many obstacles.
Another reason is that the surrounding tribes have united to exclude the Feather Tribe. Whenever the Feather Tribe hunts, other tribes will unite to start hunting within the Feather Tribe's hunting range.
The prey left for the Feather Tribe were either too small to eat or too large to fight.
The orcs of the Feather Tribe have to fly far away to hunt, avoiding other tribes, in order to get enough to eat. But this consumes a lot of energy, and to recover their strength, the orcs need to eat more meat.
The Feather Tribe has also undergone several migrations, all due to being ostracized by neighboring tribes. However, they cannot survive on land where no other tribes live.
Land where no tribe can survive is the territory of wild beasts.
Yu Ji knew why those tribes rejected them so much. Ultimately, it was because of their beast-like forms.
They could fly freely in the sky, and the tribes were constantly worried that the Feather Tribe might suddenly attack them.
Yu Ji knew in his heart that the Yu tribe would not do such a thing. But if he said it, no tribe would believe him, and it wasn't like they hadn't tried it before.
Therefore, Yu Ji was both delighted and somewhat surprised by Shen Nong's suggestion.
Isn't this tribe afraid that they will use the pretext of transporting goods to attack their tribe?
Yu Ji thought so, and he asked so; he was genuinely curious.
After all, the Feather Tribe has been ostracized by surrounding tribes for this reason.
When Shen Nong heard this question, she really didn't know how to answer it for a moment.
Could it be that I'm not afraid because our tribe has ballistae, which can hit anything within range, whether it's flying in the sky or running on the ground?
Shen Nong couldn't say that, so she casually said, "Because I believe that the orc warriors of the Feather Tribe are upright and honorable, and would not do such a despicable thing as sneaking attacks."
Although Yu Ji didn't quite understand some of the words in Shen Nong's words, it didn't stop him from being moved.
“That’s right! Our Feather Tribe’s orc warriors won’t launch sneak attacks!” Yu Ji said with utmost seriousness. “If we’re going to fight, we’ll let you know in advance!”
Shen Nong: Can we still win?
Having finished their discussion, Yu Ji remembered Shen Nong's abilities and, having some doubts about them, asked, "Are you a priest of a large tribe?"
Shen Nong didn't intend to hide his identity, but his tribe was small and couldn't be considered a large tribe. He shook his head and said, "I am a priest of the Wood Tribe, but our tribe is not a large tribe."
Wood tribe?
Yu Ji had indeed never heard of it, so he didn't ask any further questions.
Tribal priests all possess certain abilities that others lack; otherwise, how could they lead their tribes to development? Yu Ji himself has one. Although their fire manipulation abilities have been lost, as the priest of the Yu tribe, he possesses an ability that others do not have.
Yu Ji felt he had finally met someone who understood their tribe, and he was overjoyed. He also wanted to show Shen Nong his abilities.
"Come on, I'll show you something!"
As he spoke, he reached out and pulled Shen Nong. The touch from another person made Shen Nong feel uncomfortable, and he wanted to shake off Yu Ji's hand. But seeing Yu Ji's joyful expression, he pursed his lips and thought that he might as well bear it and wipe it off later.
Ze noticed Shen Nong's unusual behavior, so he grabbed Yu Ji's wrist and tightened his grip slightly. Yu Ji winced in pain and quickly let go.
He didn't understand what was going on with this tall orc. It was the same before and the same now; he really wouldn't let anyone touch their priest.
But on second thought, it's not hard to understand. After all, he's a priest of a tribe, so it's not wrong for him to be careful.
But when Ze took out a small, square piece of animal hide that he had seen before and wiped the place where his hands had touched, Yu Ji was stunned.
? ?
Yu Ji didn't understand or comprehend Ze's actions, but Shen Nong knew perfectly well. This kid remembered that he didn't like being touched, and his germaphobia was more reliable than he was himself.
Sometimes he gets his hands dirty while handling things, but he doesn't seem to mind. However, Ze will prepare water for him to wash his hands as soon as he finishes his work.
Sometimes, even things that Shen Nong herself didn't care about or could tolerate, Ze would remember and wipe them clean for her.
Even Shen Nong, who had used the most considerate home robot in the interstellar industry, had to admit that this guy was the most considerate he had ever seen. It was incomparable to any other intelligent robot.
even…
Shen Nong looked at Ze wiping her wrist, tracing the curve of his handsome face with her eyes, and cared for him more than anyone else around him.
Including the master.
Shen Nong knew from a young age that no one would be kind to another for no reason; either there were feelings involved or there was something in return.
Even a fool could see that Ze cared about him a lot and treated him very well. It was a different kind of care than Hu Xiao and the others; it was somewhat like his master's, but also a little different.
His master was kind to him and cared about him; it was out of affection, like kinship.
So, is it because she has feelings for him that she chooses to treat him this way?
It doesn't feel like family affection, is it... love?
Shen Nong couldn't explain it; the feeling was very strange.
To be honest, he doesn't understand love.
He was in interstellar space, and his daily interactions consisted mostly of books, plants, his mentor, and colleagues. His days were very fulfilling, leaving him no time for anything else.
Moreover, he was young, and his master kept a close eye on him, not allowing him to act recklessly.
But no matter how much she didn't understand, she knew that love involved desire and longing. Shen Nong was certain that Ze had no desire or longing for her.
Shen Nong thought about many things in a short period of time. Every little thing from their first meeting to the present played in her mind like a movie replay.
Looking back, Shen Nong's gaze at Ze was slightly dazed. He pondered deeply, and seeing how considerate and thoughtful Ze was... and how respectful he usually was to him...
Is this kid treating him like his father?
The more Shen Nong thought about it, the more likely it seemed. His master treated him like a son, with familial affection. But he felt that Ze and his master treated each other somewhat similarly, yet differently, because Ze treated him like a father!
Things will definitely be different if the positions are reversed!
Ze had no idea what Shen Nong was thinking. After wiping Shen Nong's wrists, he stood back beside her. Shen Nong glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and didn't see Ze's face, but she did see his perfect pectoral muscles.
Shen Nong's face flushed slightly, his thoughts, which had been racing for so long, were completely replaced by the powerful and beautiful figure of the woman he had chosen. He controlled his tone and said in a serious voice, "Although your clothes were dirty and you couldn't wear them before, it can still be chilly on spring evenings. Remember to find a clean set to wear later."
He paused for a moment, but he didn't actually feel cold; in fact, he felt quite hot. Not wanting the priest to worry, he suppressed his discomfort and nodded in agreement.
Leopard Autumn and Wolf Rain, being the captain and vice-captain of the caravan, also entered the cave and stood aside listening to their conversation.
The scene of Ze pulling Yu Ji's hand away and taking out an animal skin handkerchief to wipe Shen Nong's wrist fell into Lang Yu's eyes. This scene made Lang Yu's wolf body tremble.
Hey!
He was certain that the priest and Ze were connected through the cave!
Orcs, influenced by their beast blood, possess a degree of territoriality. The more powerful the orc, the stronger their territorial instincts.