Orc Priest (9): 

After Gu Juntian left Zhou Qinghao, he went back to his own place, changed into his beast form, and lay down in front of his house to cultivate.

While cultivating, he tried hard to block out the surrounding noises.

The hippo tribe’s houses had poor sound insulation, and the people of the tribe lived lively nightlife. It really wasn’t easy for him.

There was another reason why he wasn’t in a hurry to be with Zhou Qinghao—he was afraid that others would notice and it would be bad for Zhou Qinghao.

He didn’t want Zhou Qinghao to be questioned by the tribe.

Just as he was thinking this, Gu Juntian heard noises from the house nearby where his younger brother lived.

The lives of the hippo tribe were almost always the same. People generally didn’t think much about the long term—at most, they just wondered whether they could eat enough tomorrow. Once they were full, they would start looking for a mate.

Gu Juntian’s younger brother, Zhuang, had recently gotten very close with a woman a few years older than him.

Zhuang’s beast form was a hippo. In the hippo tribe, he was much more popular than Gu Juntian.

The women of the tribe were all willing to bear children with the beast form of a hippo.

Of course, Gu Juntian was also very popular—there were more than a dozen women in the tribe interested in him.

They had approached the original host, but he didn’t like women and rejected them all.

The people of the hippo tribe couldn’t understand his behavior.

If not for the fact that everyone in this prehistoric time only wore simple fur skirts, people in the tribe would have already suspected that Gu Juntian was incapable.

Even if they didn’t suspect that, they still thought Gu Juntian was strange.

Sleeping alone at night, how boring!

Gu Juntian also thought it was boring. He sighed silently and continued cultivating.

The next day, Gu Juntian, as usual, led the hunting team out.

The hunting team left early. After they departed, only then did the elders, children, and women of the tribe trickle out of their houses.

Zhou Qinghao woke up late. When he came out and didn’t see Gu Juntian, he felt a bit disappointed, but quickly gathered himself and started inspecting the tribe.

In last night’s prophecy, someone named Bai Yutian would come to their tribe, and this person clearly looked different from ordinary people.

Their tribe was already very clean, and the people lived well, but in Bai Yutian’s eyes, their tribe seemed shabby.

Bai Yutian himself was unusual.

His skin was very white, his teeth perfectly neat and snow white, showing that he had never suffered hardship before.

Only an extremely wealthy tribe could raise someone like Bai Yutian.

No wonder Gu Juntian would feel fondness for him.

Thinking about how, in the prophecy, after Gu Juntian brought Bai Yutian back to the tribe, he treated him with great care, Zhou Qinghao felt very unhappy.

As a priest, he had many valuable things in his possession.

In the prophecy, right after Bai Yutian came to the tribe, Gu Juntian gave those things to him, and even let Bai Yutian live together with him.

Why!

Thinking back to how Gu Juntian took care of him when they lived together, and then imagining Gu Juntian treating Bai Yutian that way… Zhou Qinghao felt very upset.

Would Gu Juntian make a bed for Bai Yutian? Sleep in the same bed as him?

He couldn’t accept it!

The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. But after walking around the tribe, that unease gradually dissipated.

Bai Yutian looked extraordinary. He might even be a priest from a large tribe. Gu Juntian being kind to him was actually the right thing to do.

If Bai Yutian was well treated, perhaps they could even learn knowledge from him that they had never known before.

Besides, men of this world all liked women. Unlike him, who liked men. Aside from his own house, Gu Juntian’s was the best in the tribe—living with Bai Yutian was normal.

If he didn’t want those two to live together, then he could always invite Bai Yutian to stay with him instead.

Having thought of a solution, Zhou Qinghao relaxed.

He had only prophesied the events of Bai Yutian’s arrival, not what came after. But when Bai Yutian first arrived, he taught them how to eat with two sticks, so he must be friendly.

That day, Gu Juntian returned with the hunting team, once again bringing back plenty of prey.

By now, the hunting team completely admired him.

Although Gu Juntian had been appointed chief by the priest, because of his youth and weaker strength, they hadn’t taken him too seriously before.

But now, following him always led to good hunts. They came to truly accept him as chief.

As soon as Gu Juntian returned to the tribe, he started looking for Zhou Qinghao. When he found him, he couldn’t help but smile: “Qing, I’m back.”

Zhou Qinghao saw him and also smiled.

While the tribe busied themselves handling the prey, Gu Juntian went to chat with Zhou Qinghao, telling him about the day.

Zhou Qinghao had already set aside some meat from the prey to prepare porridge for the children.

Gu Juntian sat on the hay beside him. While talking, his leg touched Zhou Qinghao’s.

Zhou Qinghao didn’t move his leg away, but his heart was in turmoil.

He felt that Gu Juntian must also like him—otherwise he wouldn’t treat him this way. But he still feared he might be mistaken.

As for Bai Yutian from the prophecy, Zhou Qinghao had already forgotten about him for now.

When the tribe finished processing the prey, Gu Juntian distributed the meat.

He and Zhou Qinghao got the biggest and best portion, and then, as usual, went to Zhou Qinghao’s place to cook it.

Though the meat without seasoning was bland, Gu Juntian still ate a lot. While eating, he couldn’t resist rubbing up against Zhou Qinghao.

Zhou Qinghao didn’t dodge at all.

Feeling pleased, Gu Juntian held Zhou Qinghao’s hand and squeezed it for a long while.

His A-Qing was truly adorable, just a little shy.

After everyone in the tribe had eaten and gone to sleep, the tribe grew quiet. Only then did Gu Juntian leave Zhou Qinghao, change into a tiger, and continue cultivating.

Though the cultivation session wasn’t long, it was effective. He felt his senses had grown sharper than before, and his strength had increased.

If he continued like this, his power would surely keep growing.

While Gu Juntian cultivated, the sleeping Zhou Qinghao once again saw a prophecy.

After Bai Yutian arrived in the tribe, Gu Juntian treated him very well, but became increasingly impatient with Zhou Qinghao.

One time, when someone in the tribe was injured and sought Zhou Qinghao’s healing, he failed to cure them. Rumors spread that he could not communicate with the beast god and wasn’t a true priest at all.

Compared to him, Bai Yutian grew more and more loved by the tribe.

After all, Bai Yutian’s background was extraordinary.

He came from a very large and prosperous tribe. According to him, no one in his tribe ever starved to death.

Bai Yutian could also tell stories, draw pictures, and do many things Zhou Qinghao couldn’t.

Before Bai Yutian came, the hippo tribe had faced one difficulty after another, and the atmosphere was heavy. But after his arrival, things improved greatly, and the people became spirited again.

Zhou Qinghao considered trying to get along with him and learn from him, but Bai Yutian rejected him, showing obvious dislike.

Gu Juntian treated Bai Yutian far too well, while treating Zhou Qinghao poorly. Under such circumstances, it was hard for Zhou Qinghao to feel goodwill toward Bai Yutian…

The conflict between them grew deeper and deeper…

Zhou Qinghao suddenly woke up, realizing it was still before dawn.

The prophecy he saw last night truly wasn’t good news for him.

He took a deep breath, and hearing sounds outside, walked out—just in time to see Gu Juntian preparing to leave with the hunting team.

“Qing, you’re awake?” Gu Juntian smiled as he walked over.

Seeing him, Zhou Qinghao felt dazed.

In the prophecy, Gu Juntian disliked him, while always circling around Bai Yutian.

But right now, Gu Juntian’s gaze was full of love for him. In his prophecy, Gu Juntian had looked at Bai Yutian this way, not him.

“I’m awake. Tian, do you go hunting every day? Don’t you get tired?” In their tribe, hunting was daily, but those who joined usually rotated.

Hunting was hard work. Doing it every day was exhausting.

Gu Juntian said, “My body is strong, I’m not tired.”

“You must take care to rest.” Zhou Qinghao reminded him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll rest well.” Gu Juntian was in a particularly good mood from being cared for by Zhou Qinghao.

Did Zhou Qinghao get up early just to see him off?

It was still dark, and Gu Juntian couldn’t clearly see Zhou Qinghao’s face, but he wanted very much to kiss him.

But with others around, doing so might startle him.

In the end, he only held Zhou Qinghao’s hand: “Wait for me at home.”

Zhou Qinghao responded, watching him leave.

That day, Zhou Qinghao remained in low spirits.

As a priest, although he cared for the tribe’s children and the injured, he wasn’t close to the people.

And the tribe didn’t dare get close to him either.

Bai Yutian accused him of being useless while still putting on airs, whereas Bai Yutian easily blended in with everyone…

So naturally, people preferred Bai Yutian.

Though upset, Zhou Qinghao forced himself to adjust his mood.

In the prophecy, he wasn’t liked because he lacked ability.

But now he could foresee the future, allowing the hippo tribe to live better lives. Things wouldn’t be as miserable as in the dream.

Telling himself this, he was able to face Gu Juntian calmly that night.

Sitting beside him, Gu Juntian chattered as always: “Qing, you were right. Hunting every day is too tiring. Tomorrow I’ll take a rest and stay home to make something.”

That day while hunting, Gu Juntian had gone further and discovered a vast bamboo grove.

The bamboo, each as thick as a child’s arm, was quite tough. The moment he saw it, ideas flooded his mind.

Bamboo chairs, bamboo rafts, bamboo beds… There were so many things bamboo could be used for!

In the tribe, people liked to weave with a type of reed growing in the marshes, but bamboo would surely be better.

Though without proper tools, splitting bamboo was troublesome. He could only try using his claws with the spiritual power from cultivation.

“You can rest a few more days in the future,” Zhou Qinghao said.

If Gu Juntian had taken a rest on that day, he might not have brought Bai Yutian back…

“I’ll do whatever you say!” Gu Juntian beamed, delighted by Zhou Qinghao’s concern.

Seeing this, Zhou Qinghao grew even more certain he didn’t need to worry about the prophecy.

In it, Gu Juntian disliked him, but the Gu Juntian before him clearly liked him very much.

And then, that night, Zhou Qinghao once again saw the future.

In it, Gu Juntian looked at him with loathing, as if he were something filthy.