Orc Priest (8): 

Zhou Qinghao brought the priest of the Monkey Tribe to the Monkey Tribe’s settlement.

There was no one around, but when Zhou Qinghao spoke, he still lowered his voice: “Priest of the Monkey Tribe, when you become a priest in the future, you must rely on yourself, not the Beast God.”

The Monkey Tribe’s priest froze.

Zhou Qinghao then explained that his own teacher and the former priest of the Monkey Tribe also could not communicate with the Beast God.

If the former priest of the Monkey Tribe really could communicate with the Beast God, how could he have fallen to his death in the storm?

The Monkey Tribe’s priest looked incredulous: “But… but you made preparations in advance and dealt with the storm.”

Zhou Qinghao said, “Every year during this season, there are always a few storms. I prepare for them every year.”

The Monkey Tribe’s priest was about the same age as Zhou Qinghao. He also knew there were storms every year, only this year’s was unusually strong.

In fact, the former priest of the Monkey Tribe had made some preparations, but the storm was too strong, even toppling trees, so what was done wasn’t enough.

As for the Hippo Tribe, since they lived on the ground, their situation was much better.

“If you want your people to live well, you must rely on yourself.” Zhou Qinghao spoke again, his expression very serious.

Although still flustered, the Monkey Tribe’s priest finally nodded solemnly.

Zhou Qinghao said, “I will tell your tribe’s people that you are already a qualified priest. In the coming days, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me. I will teach you.”

“Thank you.” The Monkey Tribe’s priest took a deep breath and thanked Zhou Qinghao.

After talking, Zhou Qinghao began teaching him various knowledge.

However, while teaching, Zhou Qinghao was a bit distracted.

According to the former priest, the vast majority of priests did not have the ability to communicate with the Beast God.

But he was different—he could foresee the future.

He believed he could use this ability to ensure his tribe lived well and help Gu Juntian be a good chief.

Thinking this, Zhou Qinghao looked at Gu Juntian, only to see him leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

He did not disturb Gu Juntian and continued working.

By dusk, the hunters of both the Hippo and Monkey Tribes returned with plenty of game.

The Monkey Tribe had fewer participants in the hunt and felt embarrassed to take a share, but Zhou Qinghao still set aside some for them, then took the rest back to the Hippo Tribe with the hunting party.

Although Gu Juntian had “slept” all afternoon, on the way back he was full of energy, leading the group at the front.

Zhou Qinghao noticed and looked at him several times.

Seeing this, Gu Juntian asked, “Qing, do you want me to transform into my beast form and carry you back? Do you want to ride a tiger?”

Earlier, he had only thought of carrying Zhou Qinghao, forgetting he could do it in his beast form.

If Zhou Qinghao were riding a tiger…

Just imagining the scene made Gu Juntian’s nose feel itchy and hot.

Zhou Qinghao replied, “No need, I can walk.”

Gu Juntian felt a little disappointed, sighing softly, but soon cheered up again.

That afternoon, he had tried a demon cultivator’s cultivation method and discovered it worked.

However, since this world had little spiritual energy, cultivation was difficult. To achieve results, he would need plenty of time.

Gu Juntian decided to cultivate in secret first. Once he had made some progress, he would show Zhou Qinghao and then teach him.

By then, he would tell Zhou Qinghao it was the Beast God who had taught him, and that he had received the Beast God’s favor.

Gu Juntian was delighted with this thought, but when they returned to the Hippo Tribe, his mood soured.

The people living in Zhou Qinghao’s house had moved out!

“Priest, our houses are finished.”

“We’ve gone back to live in our own homes.”

“Priest, we cleaned your house for you.”

…

Gu Juntian went to look and saw Zhou Qinghao’s house cleaned spotless, with piles of soft dry grass neatly laid in his bedroom.

The priest’s residence looked even better than his own.

Was Zhou Qinghao going to move out of his home?

Gu Juntian wanted to cling to Zhou Qinghao and have him live at his place, but then he remembered something else.

He needed to cultivate at night.

For demon cultivators, to increase cultivation speed, they had to absorb the essence of sun and moonlight—ideally in their original form, basking under the moon.

Forget it. In time, they would live together anyway. No need to mind this for now.

Zhou Qinghao also thought about moving out from Gu Juntian’s place.

In his heart, he wanted to live with Gu Juntian, but he knew it wasn’t right.

He liked Gu Juntian, feared losing control and doing something he shouldn’t, and even more feared Gu Juntian discovering his feelings.

So moving back to his own house was for the best.

But he didn’t want to go.

In the past few days, Gu Juntian had been so close to him—would he try to stop him? If Gu Juntian asked him to stay…

Zhou Qinghao looked at Gu Juntian, but no such request came.

“Qing, your place looks nice.” Gu Juntian helped him carry his things back and looked at his house again.

In the future, when they were together, they could live here!

“Mm.” Zhou Qinghao answered, glancing at Gu Juntian.

When Gu Juntian was a child, he often clung to the priest’s residence. Would he do that now?

But Gu Juntian didn’t: “Qing, go to sleep early. I’ll come find you tomorrow morning.”

For now, he would go back and cultivate.

He could feel Zhou Qinghao liked him. As for why Zhou Qinghao always turned into a rabbit and didn’t want anything further, it must be because he was a priest.

Priests weren’t allowed partners—Zhou Qinghao probably didn’t dare defy the Beast God.

Once he had cultivated enough, he would lie to Zhou Qinghao, saying he was the Beast God’s messenger. Then Zhou Qinghao would surely agree to be with him!

Gu Juntian returned home and immersed himself in cultivation.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qinghao lay down to rest.

He had always slept in human form, and did so again that night, but for some reason, he couldn’t fall asleep until he shifted into a rabbit.

But like that, he missed Gu Juntian even more and couldn’t sleep at all.

The next morning, Zhou Qinghao was a little tired.

He chewed on some refreshing grass to clear his head, then followed the hunters to the Monkey Tribe again.

Gu Juntian walked beside him, sniffing from time to time.

Today, Zhou Qinghao carried a minty scent, very pleasant.

After dropping Zhou Qinghao off, Gu Juntian found a spot to sit, closed his eyes, and continued cultivating.

The faint spiritual energy around them gathered toward him and flowed into his body…

While caring for the Monkey Tribe’s wounded, Zhou Qinghao occasionally glanced at Gu Juntian, sighing when he saw him “asleep” again.

Gu Juntian bore no hostility toward the Monkey Tribe, but clearly didn’t have fondness for them either.

Fortunately, they would leave in a few days.

Sure enough, a few days later, the Monkey Tribe departed.

Before leaving, they gave many gifts to the Hippo Tribe.

Most were woven goods. The women and elders of the Monkey Tribe were far more skillful with their hands than the Hippo Tribe, so they produced more woven items.

They had made these right under Zhou Qinghao’s eyes, and he had even learned their weaving techniques.

Through the Monkey Tribe’s priest, Zhou Qinghao also came to know more plants and which tree leaves could be eaten.

Although the Hippo Tribe usually didn’t eat leaves, learning more was never a bad thing.

The Monkey Tribe’s visit and departure were fresh experiences for the Hippo Tribe, and the people talked about it for days. When they saw the woven items brought back by the hunting party, they marveled at the Monkey Tribe’s skillful hands.

Seeing everyone so happy, Zhou Qinghao felt very good.

In his original prophecy, after the hunting team clashed with the Monkey Tribe, not only did people from his tribe die, but many were injured. Because of this, the tribe had been gloomy and lifeless.

Now everything was different, and that was wonderful!

In the following days, Zhou Qinghao did not foresee any major events, and life in the Hippo Tribe was very stable.

He was satisfied with this life.

Although Gu Juntian did not live with him, he was much closer than before, and the tribe lived well.

“Qing, eat some meat.” Gu Juntian handed Zhou Qinghao cooked meat.

The Monkey Tribe had deep knowledge of forest plants.

When hunting couldn’t provide enough, they ate leaves and fruits.

Gu Juntian had tried some and thought a few could be used as seasonings.

Today, while cooking dinosaur meat, he added bark from a certain tree.

This bark had a fragrant smell. The Monkey Tribe used it for teething children, but Gu Juntian thought it worked well as a spice.

Zhou Qinghao reached out for the meat, but Gu Juntian caught his hand with his free one.

It wasn’t the first time. Zhou Qinghao didn’t know why Gu Juntian did this, but he didn’t refuse.

He liked holding hands with Gu Juntian.

Gu Juntian, unaware of Zhou Qinghao’s feelings, thought they were in the stage of mutual affection, with only the last barrier left to break.

Zhou Qinghao was just shy, and as a priest, forbidden from having a partner. That was why he sometimes turned into a rabbit when Gu Juntian pushed too far.

That was normal—he didn’t mind pursuing him a bit longer!

After squeezing Zhou Qinghao’s hand, Gu Juntian finally let go, satisfied, and returned to cultivating.

Zhou Qinghao went to bed with a heavy heart.

Then, he foresaw the future again.

Gu Juntian would bring back from outside the tribe a man who could not transform into an animal.