Chapter 148: First the Soldiers, Then the Courtesy

The first floor is a lounge for receiving guests, and the goods are only displayed on the four floors above.

Lin Manzhi crouches on the staircase of the third floor; from here she cannot see the lower level, and she unconsciously slows her breathing, tilts her head, and listens for sounds below.

Soon, a clattering of footsteps on the stone stairs grows louder, followed by a booming voice:

"Hey, bring me all that Dragon Tongue Honey Water you sell here!"

Xiong Kui climbs the stairs, his well‑developed tendon muscles trembling, his brown eyes flashing as he looks into the second‑floor room, finally seeing a living person.

He pulls a bag from his waist, gives it a casual shake that produces a crisp metallic clink, and says, "I've had my fill of Dragon Tongue Honey Water; these are yours. If you ruin my fun, you won't be able to keep this shop open in Central City."

Mo Lie leans elegantly against the wall, relaxed, as if he doesn't even consider the other's threat.

His voice is calm and indifferent: "Oh? You call the shots in Central City District, then what about Jia Jian?"

"Hahaha…" Xiong Kui laughs contemptuously: "Of course I can call the shots."

Impatience colors his brown eyes as he darts his gaze left and right, staring at the cargo containers inside.

Dragon Tongue Honey Water, Dragon Tongue Honey Water.

"Where did you little folk come from? You only know Jia Jian and don't even recognize me, Xiong Kui... I have nothing to discuss with you ignorant people."

A chill deepens in Mo Lie's eyes.

He steps toward a nearby white‑ceramic container; the container, sparsely stocked, is mostly empty, with a row of delicate, beautiful little glass bottles on the bottom shelf.

Xiong Kui, seizing the moment, fixes his gaze on the little glass bottle, about to step forward.

Suddenly, from below, a thudding door‑closing sound echoes.

A sealed room.

Xiong Kui, having lifted his foot, stops; only then does he realize something is off about this shop—other establishments have at least dozens of staff and guards, yet since entering, this place has had only two…

Wait, two people!

He suddenly recalls that when he first entered, there were clearly two figures; he whirls around to look back.

The blond beast had silently slipped to the stairwell behind him at some point.

Xiong Kui surveys the shop, noting the only exit is the downward staircase, and draws a conclusion.

They came here on purpose!

Honestly, he's not afraid; Xiong Kui looks at the two beasts whose muscles aren't as strong as his and sneers, "Heh heh heh, you have some nerve, trying to catch me?"

The instant Xiong Kui's words finish, his brown eyes flare red, exposed muscle glints with a patch of brown fur, the air around him whirls with a whooshing rush, and he is about to undergo Beast Transformation—

Swift as light, the dim interior sees fine dust suddenly levitate as if alive, instantly coalescing into a thin veil that tightly envelops Xiong Kui's body like a windless, fluttering gauze.

In that instant, the room returns to utter stillness.

Xiong Kui's violently expanding Beast Transformation body is halted; his face, unable to breathe, has eyes widened like never before.

He looks at Mo Lie by the cargo counter, his legs turning to sand, a spine‑chilling terror filling his chest.

"Long time no see..." the other's voice is low and icy, with a hint of casual murderous intent: "You're still as impulsive as ever, huh?"

The thin sand surges, splitting into filaments that silently rush toward Xiong Kui's nose and ears.

The fine dust harbors a violent, terrifying power, reminding Xiong Kui of the fear he felt years ago when facing the Young Master of Ansen City.

He chokes, collapses, coughs wildly, then bursts into tears, his tears wetting the sand and streaming down his face as two broad yellow streaks, "Um…"

In the unseen area near the entrance to the third floor, Xiong Kui tightly shields Lin Manzhi's aura, letting not a trace leak out.

Mo Lie, though already prepared to restrain Xiong Kui's Beast Transformation, feels his mood sour at the thought of Lin Manzhi just upstairs.

"Young Master... cough... have mercy..." Xiong Kui's voice is hoarse and weak.

How could I run into Mo Lie here!!!

Facing a male beast that can control earth, I couldn't have escaped at all.

Xiong Kui's cunning is completely gone; he honestly dares not move a muscle.

Mo Lie's eyes are cold, yet the murderous intent in his heart roars.

But sensing the surrounding dust, the tiny figure of a Little Female crouched on the third floor is better than the finest medicine, instantly pulling a few strands of his rationality back.

He releases the dust that enveloped Xiong Kui, allowing him to breathe; Xiong Kui's face shows a miserably unlucky expression as he watches the drifting thin sand, terrified, clutching his head and crouching.

The room is very quiet.

Hua Zheng is also startled by the sudden sandstorm.

When will the master regain the ability to use powers??!!

He is stunned into a blank mind by the surprise; only when the room becomes eerily quiet does he recover, walk in from the stairwell, arms crossed, head lowered, staring at Xiong Kui.

This bear has finally behaved; it's time to discuss business. Hua Zheng lifts his foot and kicks Xiong Kui's leg: "You know why we brought you here, right?"

Xiong Kui, with a bewildered, miserable expression, says: "... I don't know."

Hua Zheng says nothing, watching him.

"Could it be because I'm an enemy... you don't like me, huh?" Xiong Kui guesses cautiously, lifting his head, hugging his knees, looking at Hua Zheng, muscular yet pitiful.

Hua Zheng sneers, "Then your head won't stay on your neck now."

Xiong Kui looks at Hua Zheng; not feeling any terrifying pressure, his brown eyes shift, and he again feels like fleeing.

The Young Master of Ansen City can't guard him forever; once he leaves, I'll have a chance to escape.

Not far away, Mo Lie turns, leans slightly, and reaches down; a small, exquisite glass bottle is taken out, its cap removed, releasing a sweet, fragrant scent that fills the room, as if they've been transported to a honey‑gathering forest.

Still trembling, Xiong Kui's nostrils twitch, and his gaze uncontrollably sticks to that glass bottle.

Mo Lie stares coldly at Xiong Kui, his icy‑blue eyes flashing emotionless cold light: "Tell me the Stronghold of Jia Jian and all its Private Cache locations."

He lifts his hand, shaking the glass bottle: "For my use, this is yours."

Xiong Kui is stunned: "You want to become the leader of Central City?"

He hesitates, saying: "He is the Lord of Sajin City Cha Lan, who stayed here…"

Hearing Xiong Kui say that, Hua Zheng crouches beside him, eyes fixed, and asks, "Why do you still follow Cha Lan? Look how long you've been driven by your lord to this barren land."

Xiong Kui heard that and felt a slight tension on his face.

Xiong Kui said, "It's not that we drove him out, it's that we sent him out; it's been over five years."