The final operation was also smooth. With the advantage of numbers and a surprise attack, they successfully captured the target location. Although Li Yi managed to escape, she was injured in the eye by Li Hai and had lost her chance to turn the situation around, so there was no fear of her causing trouble in the future.
Jimo Ling didn't participate in the follow-up work; instead, she took the wine from the deal and half of the orc warriors back to the Green Tribe.
After reporting the trip to the chief, she coincidentally arrived just in time for dinner. To avoid the embarrassing situation of being surrounded by the triplets again, Jimo Ling quickly declined, saying she needed to go home and pack, and hurried off.
After a good night's sleep, Jimo Ling woke up refreshed, practiced her punches, washed up, and had breakfast. Suddenly, she heard someone moving outside the door but not knocking. Curious, she decided to go out and see.
As she began to unlock the door, the person outside seemed to pause for a moment upon hearing the noise, then quickly walked away. When Jimo Ling opened the door, she only saw a figure darting into the woods.
With a puzzled look on her face, Jimo Ling found it quite fresh. It was the first time an orc had been scared away by her appearance. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something on the ground. Upon closer inspection, she couldn't help but laugh.
It was a bunch of red wildflowers, neatly arranged with the stems tied together with grass, looking very beautiful. This seemed to be the first non-food gift she received. Jimo Ling bent down to pick up the bouquet, lowered her head to sniff it, and found it quite fragrant. She decided to take it back to her room to put in a vase. As for the orc who delivered the flowers and ran away, that figure seemed somewhat familiar.
In the distance, hidden among the bushes, a person crouched down, their slightly curled black hair covering their forehead, with equally black eyes intently watching Jimo Ling's actions, their expression serious.
When they saw her smiling as she picked up the bouquet and took it inside, their expression suddenly brightened, and they couldn't help but grin, revealing two sharp canine teeth. Their previously stern features softened, showing a hint of youthful innocence.
At this point, instead of leaving immediately, they stayed hidden for a while, watching as Jimo Ling came out again, locked the door, and walked toward the tribe, disappearing from view. Only then did they emerge from the bushes, leaving reluctantly.
Ever since receiving that bouquet, Jimo Ling found a bunch of dew-kissed flowers waiting for her at her doorstep every morning, each time a different variety, but she never saw the figure again. However, she already knew which orc was responsible. He was truly the shyest orc she had ever encountered.
On the fifth day, Jimo Ling deliberately woke up early and set up a ladder to wait on the wall.
As usual, he placed the flowers at her door, lingering for a moment, estimating that she would be waking up soon, then turned to leave.
"Rui! Good morning!" A cheerful female voice came from above.
Startled, he turned around to see her leaning over the wall, smiling brightly at him. Caught! Rui's first reaction was to run away.
Jimo Ling found it both amusing and perplexing, seeing him caught red-handed and still wanting to sneak off: "Stop! Don't move."
Confirming that he was as good as frozen, Jimo Ling climbed down the ladder to open the door.
Outside, there was no sign of him; only a large black mastiff lay there, its front paws covering its eyes as if embarrassed and unwilling to be seen, which made her want to laugh, and she indeed laughed out loud: "Pfft~ Haha!"
Hearing her laughter, Rui, who had transformed into his beast form, noticeably stiffened, unable to suppress his feelings of grievance: "Woo… woo…" He felt humiliated! This must have ruined Jimo Ling's impression of him!
Seeing that he looked as if he wanted to dig a hole and hide, Jimo Ling quickly stopped laughing. Given how much he had devoted himself during their travels together, she decided to be kind and not tease him: "Ahem, have you eaten breakfast yet?" Given the early hour, he probably hadn't.
Noticing that Jimo Ling had stopped laughing and seemed not to dislike him, and was even gently concerned for him, Rui lowered his paw from his face and looked at her. Sure enough, Jimo Ling just gazed at him kindly and sincerely, prompting Rui to honestly shake his head, indicating he hadn't eaten.
"Then come in and eat together." A giant iron-clad dog, powerful and vigorous, looked over with glistening eyes. Jimo Ling realized she didn't feel out of place at all and even thought it was somewhat cute (:зゝ∠)
Jimo Ling invited him in to eat breakfast together! Rui couldn't believe it; he perked up immediately, standing up and shaking his ears as if he had misheard, while his tail began to wag vigorously in response to his inner joy.
"Come on." Jimo Ling waved him over, but seeing him still in beast form, unable to enter, she sighed in exasperation, "Transform back to human." She pointed to the animal skin loincloth that lay nearby, suggesting he change back to his human form.
However, lost in his excitement, Rui didn't catch her meaning and thought she wanted him to become a smaller version of his beast form, which put him in a bit of a dilemma.
Orcs valued strength, and the larger their beast form, the prouder they felt. After maturity, they usually switched between human and their strongest beast form.
But Jimo Ling clearly preferred smaller, fluffy forms; it was evident from how she always cuddled Chen's mini dog. It posed a question: should he choose the dignity of being an orc or the embrace of the one he liked?
Rui's thoughts spiraled for just a second or two.
From Jimo Ling's perspective, the giant dog hesitated for a moment, looked around to see if anyone was watching, then shrank and shrank… transforming into a round, fluffy little Tibetan mastiff!
The little Tibetan mastiff trotted toward her on its short legs, its round black eyes shining brightly as it lifted its front paws in a cute gesture that seemed to ask for a hug.
Jimo Ling was taken aback, wide-eyed as she stared at the little cutie, frozen in place. She hadn't yet recovered from the stark contrast.
Seeing that she didn't react, Rui assumed she didn't like him and immediately felt wronged: "Awoo…" Did that mean Jimo Ling only liked the white bear dog and not the black mastiff? His eyes began to glisten with tears.
Now it was Jimo Ling's turn to be conflicted. Logic kept reminding her, "This is an adult orc, this is an adult orc…" while her emotions screamed, "So cute, so cute! Pick it up, pick it up!"
In the end, she couldn't resist the temptation, bent down, and picked up the little Tibetan mastiff, stroking its fur… ah, it felt so good!
One person and one beast enjoyed a delightful breakfast together. Rui, after seeking pets and hugs from Jimo Ling for a while, reluctantly left when it was time to head out into the world.
That day, only Jimo Ling and Qian were in the "hospital" as they followed the hunting team out. They spent the morning drying herbs and organizing medicine packs, and time passed quickly.
Jimo Ling thought there wouldn't be much going on that day. After lunch, she and Qian sat under a tree to drink flower tea and exchange herbal medicine insights. Just as they were having a great time, a few orcs entered, surrounding a woman.
Upon closer inspection, the woman, who appeared helpless but couldn't hide her joy, turned out to be Chen Lan. She was carefully supported on either side by Li and He, while Fa followed behind, holding Bai.
"What happened?" At first, Jimo Ling thought Chen Lan was hurt, but after observing their expressions, it didn't seem like it.
Qian, being attentive, quickly noticed the pink mark under Chen Lan's left eye and exclaimed, "Lan, you're pregnant! Congratulations!"
"Thank you!" Li, usually serious, couldn't help but wear a smile.
Chen Lan was settled on a chair in the shade, with her two husbands surrounding her, serving tea, fanning her, and massaging her shoulders, making her feel like a queen. Jimo Ling was momentarily stunned, while Fa stifled a laugh beside her.
Even though Chen Lan had experienced it once before, she still felt a bit speechless. Seeing her good friend's surprised expression only made her want to cover her face, quickly stopping her husbands: "Enough already! Stop it! I'm not a first-time mother, and I just found out; there's no need to be so nervous!"
Hearing that, the two orcs calmed down, but they still remained close by, ready to assist her at any moment.
He, showing his disapproval of his wife's dismissive attitude, insisted, "It's precisely because you just found out that you need to be more careful. The first two months must be treated with caution. This is your second chance after giving birth to Bai; you should take this seriously, especially since it might be a girl!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I will take it very seriously. But you don't need to be too nervous; my health is great, so relax a bit," Chen Lan understood her husbands' expectations. She also hoped to give birth to a girl as soon as possible within the ten-year period, but such things truly depend on fate.
Li gently patted Chen Lan's hair and said softly, "We know. You talk with Ling, and I'll go with Qian to get the prenatal tea." That prenatal tea was made from several herbs and fruits beneficial for pregnant women and their babies. It tasted good and was loved by expectant mothers. Whenever there was a pregnant woman in the tribe, her family would come to get it here.
As soon as Ji Mo Ling was mentioned, she moved closer and said, "Congratulations, congratulations!" While speaking, her eyes curiously observed the mark under Chen Lan's eye, feeling that it was quite magical!
"Pfft! Just by looking at you, I can tell you've never seen a pregnant woman before. You don't know much about this, do you?" Chen Lan generously turned her face to make it easier for her to see.
"Hehe! Can I touch it?" The mark was the size of a fingernail, a bright peach-red color, vaguely resembling a flower, hanging at the corner of Chen Lan's left eye, making her already beautiful face even more enchanting.
For Ji Mo Ling's bold request, Chen Lan didn't mind at all. She smiled indulgently and nodded in agreement.
Once she got permission, Ji Mo Ling immediately reached out her index finger and gently touched it. Hmm, it didn't feel raised; it was very natural to the touch. After pulling her hand back, she indicated that her curiosity was satisfied.
Then she was pulled by Chen Lan, who began to educate her on girls' physiological hygiene.
Girls usually experience their first menstruation around the age of eighteen, signifying their official coming of age, and they can start families and bear children. This process lasts about five to seven days, during which they can go to the cotton trees to pick cotton leaves and fruit.
Afterward, there won't be any menstruation until after pregnancy and childbirth, when they will have about seven days of bleeding again.
When a woman becomes pregnant, a peach-red mark the size of a fingernail will appear below her left eye. During the first two months of pregnancy, she needs to pay attention to rest. Generally, the birth will be an orc baby after ten months, while a baby girl will be born at twelve months. After the baby is born, the fathers can distinguish whose child it is by scent.
After hearing all this, Ji Mo Ling only focused on one key point! There would be no periods from the first menstruation until having a baby! It was simply a blessing! She liked it a lot! ︿(￣︶￣)︿