Return to the Clan's Daily Life

Hearing their Chieftain say that they had brought about this victory, the orc warriors raised their fists and cheered loudly, expressing the joy in their hearts.

"Chieftain, what should we do with that Behemoth?" After the cheering died down, Saxi, who was bandaging Leiluo's wounds, asked softly.

Hearing Saxi's question, Leiluo pushed him aside and walked over to the Behemoth.

"Hey, big guy, do you want to come with me? There'll be roasted meat!" Leiluo asked beside the Behemoth's head.

The Behemoth, which had been lying listlessly on the ground, suddenly turned its head at the words "roasted meat" and let out a low growl at Leiluo. Its somewhat hurried growls seemed to convey its impatience.

Seeing the Behemoth's reaction, Leiluo felt both delighted and helpless. He was delighted that roasted meat had actually won over this future Land Overlord, but helpless because if roasted meat could win over a Behemoth, then others could do the same. Leiluo silently resolved to reach Heroic Rank as soon as possible, then defeat the Behemoth properly and make it a true part of his clan.

With that major problem settled, Leiluo finally had time to observe the terrain around the valley. The moment they had entered, they had encountered the rampaging Thunder Lizard, followed by the battle between the Thunder Giant Lizard and the Behemoth, and finally the Ogre Mage's ambush. One thing after another had left him no time to look around. Now, Leiluo suddenly realized that the basin within this valley was enormous, easily enough to house tens of thousands. There was only one entrance at the front, forming a natural barrier, while the rear led into mountain forests. As long as they built walls, this valley would become a massive, impregnable fortress.

Then, using this valley as their core, they could expand outward. As long as they had enough people, Leiluo's Pebble Clan could quickly become one of the largest clans among the orcs. When the Dark Portal arrived, Leiluo would finally have a voice within the Horde.

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed. Leiluo summoned Saxi, and after hearing him out, Saxi also approved of the idea. However, Leiluo only told him that the valley was suitable for living in and could defend against wild beasts or annexation by other orc clans. He said nothing else.

Since both the clan's Chieftain and its foremost warrior approved of the plan, it became the clan's direction for future development.

Leiluo left five orc warriors behind to roast meat for the Behemoth. Taking Saxi and the remaining warriors, he met up with those left guarding outside the valley, then hurried back to the clan.

"The Chieftain is back! The Chieftain is back!" As soon as they reached the outskirts of the clan, the sentry Leiluo had temporarily appointed spotted them. He immediately shouted the news into the clan. Upon hearing it, everyone put down their work and came to greet them, eager to know whether they had brought back enough food for the clan to survive the winter.

An old orc, surrounded by the clan members, came before Leiluo. He had once studied under shamans from other clans but had failed to become one, learning only a little medicine. Even so, his medical skills had earned him some prestige within the clan.

"Chieftain, may the Ancestral Spirit watch over you. I'm glad you returned safely." The old orc's tone was relieved, but then he asked expectantly, "Did the Chieftain and the warriors have a successful hunt this time?"

"Oh, Old Witch Doctor, we successfully hunted enough food for all the clan members to survive the winter. Don't worry," Leiluo replied loudly, knowing that this was the question everyone wanted to ask.

Sure enough, upon hearing their Chieftain's good news, the orcs of the Pebble Clan erupted in cheers.

Seeing that everyone was present, Leiluo also told them about the relocation. Learning that there was a safe place for them to settle, the clan members burst into cheers once more.

Leiluo was very happy when he returned to his dwelling. Since the entire clan was relocating, they would not be able to set out until the next day. But when he thought of the clan's future potential, he felt that he had taken another step toward his small goal: becoming a powerful clan among the orcs.

Just as Leiluo was considering the matter of the clan's relocation, Delong, the laborer foreman, came to find him. "Chieftain, I heard today that you found enough food for the clan members to survive the winter. Is there much of it?"

"Delong, what do you mean, you heard? Didn't you come out to welcome us today? Enough food for the clan members to survive the winter—what do you think?" Leiluo replied somewhat gloomily, thinking his subordinate was making fun of him.

"Oh, Chieftain, how could I go out to welcome you? That is the right of clan members. I'm only a laborer." Hearing the reproach in Leiluo's tone, Delong answered nervously, "I only wanted to ask whether there might be a little extra food after the clan members have enough for the winter—enough to give some to the laborers, so fewer of them will die."

Only then did Leiluo understand. The status of laborers among the orcs was no different from slaves, like the peasants attached to powerful families in his country's history. They did the hardest labor, had no status, and had no security in life.

Seeing Leiluo fall silent, Delong thought he was angry. He quickly bowed and said anxiously, "Chieftain, please don't be angry. I shouldn't have asked such a question. I'll leave now."

Leiluo only snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Delong's voice. He hurriedly stopped him. "I'm not angry. I was just thinking about something. Tell me about the laborers in the clan. The more detailed, the better."

Hearing this, Delong halted and began telling the Chieftain about the laborers in the clan.

From Delong, Leiluo learned that his small clan of barely over a hundred people actually had more than a thousand laborers, even though quite a few starved to death every winter.

These laborers were like the peasants attached to powerful families in Leiluo's country's history. They used every possible means to stay alive. Even if they had to eat grass roots and tree bark, they struggled on. And because laborers' children were born as laborers, lacking the food that clan children received and unable to receive warrior training, laborers remained laborers and could never become clan members.

Furthermore, Leiluo's cheap father—the great former Chieftain of the Pebble Clan—only hunted enough food for the clan members to survive the winter. How could he spare any for the laborers? Thus, many laborers always died during each hardship. Yet he was still a great Chieftain, because he had not allowed his clan members to perish in the harsh winter.

Learning all this, Leiluo's heart surged with emotion. He thought of a plan—a plan that could allow the Pebble Clan to rise rapidly and make his golden finger truly useful.

How could Delong have known that his single question today would make him the savior of all laborers, and would also make Leiluo the eighth great hero of Draenor?