Chapter 95: I Am Luo Sang’s Partner

Since Luo Sang left, the responsibility of patrolling the tribe had fallen on Mao Li.

At this moment, while on patrol, Mao Li saw two figures approaching the tribe and immediately heightened his vigilance.

As the figures got closer, he recognized them and greeted them with a smile.

“Lord Luo Sang, you’re finally back!” Mao Li’s eyes glistened warmly as he looked at them.

Fei Li couldn’t help but laugh, teasing, “Mao Li, are you really that excited?”

After reining in his emotions, Mao Li respectfully followed behind them.

Along the way, Luo Sang briefly asked about the situation in the tribe.

Perhaps because Fei Li had set up a barrier before leaving, the tribe had remained safe during their absence.

It was the hot summer season, with the scorching sun baking the earth to the point of steaming.

Fei Li wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and looked at Mao Li, asking, “How’s my rice paddy doing?”

When he left, the rice had already grown to knee height, and he guessed it should be in the flowering stage by now.

At his question, Mao Li instinctively lowered his head, avoiding Fei Li’s probing gaze.

Realizing something was off, Fei Li stopped in his tracks. “What happened to my rice?”

Luo Sang also fixed his gaze on Mao Li, who could only sigh and explain that the rice had withered.

It turned out that during the time they had just left the tribe, the rice had been doing well.

Mao Li and Xiao Chun had followed Fei Li’s instructions and checked the fields daily.

But over time, they had naturally become negligent.

When they finally went to check on the rice again, they found it had already turned yellow and shriveled, no amount of water they added seemed to help.

Suddenly, Mao Li knelt before them, remorsefully saying, “Lord Luo Sang, it’s all my fault. I didn’t keep an eye on the rice. Punish me as you see fit!”

Luo Sang remained silent, simply looking at Fei Li. “You handle this.”

“You can get up! I’ll head to the fields right away to see what’s going on.”

The three of them passed through the tribe and headed straight for the fields.

Just a few steps out, they ran into Aola.

Upon seeing Fei Li and Luo Sang, Aola’s expression changed dramatically, and before he could say anything, Mao Li had grabbed him and pulled him forward.

“Let me go,” Aola complained, trying to break free from Mao Li’s grip.

Mao Li held on tightly. “Back then, you damaged the rice, and Fei Li didn’t hold it against you. I can’t believe you haven’t learned your lesson and have only made things worse.”

“I didn’t! I didn’t damage the rice!”

“Then who else could it be?”

Aola was momentarily speechless.

From their conversation, Fei Li understood what was going on.

Because Aola had previously damaged the rice, it was only natural for Mao Li to blame him for its current state.

Fei Li stepped forward and gestured for Mao Li to let go of Aola.

Mao Li hesitated but reluctantly released him.

“Did you really damage the rice?”

Aola glared at Fei Li with a cold smirk. “You’ve never liked me, and now you finally have an excuse to drive me out of the tribe, right?”

“I’ll ask again: was it you?” Aola’s deflection infuriated Fei Li.

“It wasn’t me. I wouldn’t stoop to do the same thing twice.” Aola spoke with a bold expression, refusing to admit to something he didn’t do.

After staring at Aola for a few seconds, Fei Li finally said, “Fine, I believe you.”

Both Aola and Mao Li were taken aback.

Is this still the same Fei Li? He believes so easily?

“Let’s check on the rice first!” Luo Sang interjected, and both men turned to him in surprise.

Moments later, the four of them appeared at the edge of the fields.

Standing on the ridge, Fei Li felt heartbroken as he looked at the withered rice.

Luo Sang pulled his gaze away and tried to comfort him. “There should still be seedlings in the irrigation ditch, we can plant some more.”

“Rice planting is seasonal. It’s summer now, and the time for transplanting has passed.”

Luo Sang furrowed his brows in confusion.

“I’ll explain these common knowledge details to you later. Right now, let’s save my rice!”

After saying that, Fei Li stepped into the cracked, dry field, crouching down to inspect the state of the rice.

Seeing the cracked soil, it was clear that the field had been without water for a long time.

Before leaving, he had emphasized over and over that they must not let the field run dry.

How could it be this dry?

He stood up and turned to Mao Li. “Why has the field been without water for so long?”

“I don’t know what happened. This small river suddenly ran dry, and now the tribe is having a hard time getting water. There’s no extra water for the parched rice,” Mao Li sighed, frustrated as he rubbed his head.

Hearing this, Luo Sang quickly walked toward the small river, but found only a deep trench where the water once flowed.

The reason he chose this place to establish the tribe was largely due to the water source.

Now that there was no water, daily life for the tribe’s residents had become a challenge.

Back at the ridge, Luo Sang shook his head at Fei Li. “The river really is dry.”

“How could this happen?” Fei Li’s brows furrowed as he shifted his gaze from the river back to the field.

Even if he could revive the withered rice, it would be futile without a water source.

After thinking for a moment, he stepped out of the field and headed upstream along the river.

Just a few steps in, he suddenly turned to Aola. “I believe you didn’t damage the rice. You can go back to the tribe.”

Aola stared at him in surprise. Everyone in the tribe doubted him, why would Fei Li believe him?

“Do you really trust me?”

Fei Li smiled. “Do you have the ability to dry up the river?”

Aola was speechless. It seemed that Mao Li standing nearby was starting to understand. Could it be that he had really misunderstood Aola?

Aola coldly snorted, unwilling to change his opinion just because of Fei Li’s trust. “Don’t think that because you believe me, you can buy me off. In my heart, you still don’t deserve Lord Luo Sang.”

“Deserving or not, I’m still Luo Sang’s partner, while you are nothing.”

“You…” Aola was left speechless.

Fei Li’s words inexplicably lifted Luo Sang’s spirits.

He liked this side of Fei Li.

Glancing at Aola, he stepped forward, naturally positioning himself beside Fei Li. He took Fei Li’s hand, effectively slapping Aola in the face with his actions.

Suddenly, Fei Li leaned on Luo Sang’s shoulder and provocatively looked at Aola. “He’s my man, you’d better not keep thinking about him, or I’ll be unhappy.” He added, “Aola, you should find a partner.”

Aola panicked. “No, Lord Luo Sang, I don’t want to.”

“Suit yourself!”

With those cold words, Luo Sang pulled Fei Li and walked upstream.

Watching their retreating figures, Aola bit his lip in frustration but ultimately called out to them.

“I know someone tampered with this river.”

The three present turned their attention to Aola.

Aola nervously clasped his hands together. “After you left the tribe, I saw a lion orc appear around the tribe. A few days later, the river dried up.”

“A lion orc? Don’t think you can push your own actions onto the lions just because they have a feud with us.” Mao Li was the first to doubt Aola’s words.

“I’m not lying to you, what I said is true.”

Sometimes, once you’ve done something, the suspicion never fully washes away.

Ignoring Aola, Mao Li turned to Luo Sang. “Lord Luo Sang, don’t believe him. He has destroyed seedlings before, and Fei Li didn’t hold it against him. He still hasn’t repented and now thinks he can confuse us with the lions.”

“You…” Aola shot a vicious glare at Mao Li, remaining silent and refusing to speak again.

Fei Li asked, “Did the lions really come here?”

“If I’m lying, may I die a horrible death.” Aola raised his hand to swear.

Mao Li was about to speak when he caught sight of Luo Sang’s serious expression and swallowed his words.

“Alright, we understand. You can go back now!”

After giving the two a glance, Aola turned to head back to the tribe.

As soon as Aola left, Mao Li rushed to Luo Sang. “Lord Luo Sang, you don’t believe Aola, do you? Don’t forget he…” Mao Li’s words trailed off when his gaze landed on Fei Li standing next to Luo Sang.

The exchanged glances between Mao Li and Luo Sang caught Fei Li’s attention.

“What’s wrong with Aola?” Fei Li pressed.

“Nothing much, let’s first see why the river has dried up. Without a water source, the tribe can’t survive.”

As soon as he spoke, Luo Sang pulled Fei Li toward the river, not giving him a chance to ask more.

The two climbed along the bank, continuing upstream.

Looking at the inexplicably dried river, Fei Li asked in confusion, “How could a good river suddenly dry up? I feel like Aola isn’t lying, someone must be behind this.”

“This river has been here ever since the wolf tribe established itself.”

“Can you smell any traces of the lions here?”

Luo Sang shook his head. “It’s been too long, the scent has long since faded.”

Both sighed and continued walking.

Suddenly, Luo Sang stopped and blocked Fei Li’s path.

Fei Li looked at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a trap here.”

A trap?

Fei Li looked around but saw nothing unusual.

However, he believed Luo Sang’s words, although this orc was not very talkative, he was observant. Last time, it was Luo Sang who discovered the trap, preventing them from falling into someone else’s scheme.

“It seems they were waiting for us to fall into the trap,” Fei Li murmured.

Without looking back, Luo Sang said, “You wait here, I’ll go check ahead.”

Before Fei Li could respond, Luo Sang had already stepped forward cautiously, taking a few careful steps before stopping.

Lowering his gaze to examine the soil beneath him, Luo Sang noticed that some thatch was covered by dirt.

He kicked away the loose soil in front of him, revealing a large pit right before him.

Fei Li stepped closer, incredulously staring at the carefully concealed trap.

“There really is a trap. I wonder if this was set by the lions.”

As he spoke, Fei Li leaned in to look inside the pit.

He was curious about what primitive orcs would put in a trap.

Once he saw what was at the bottom of the pit, goosebumps ran all over his body.