Chapter 16: Yang Suo Shop

Lin Manzhi thought for a moment and decided that, instead of verbal thanks, she would show her gratitude with action.

She wrapped the sand‑tail grass stalks and placed them into a beast‑skin bag, and, hearing the other mention Mo Lie, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "You said Mo Lie saved you, but why are you so afraid of him?"

Xi Tao: "……"

She forced herself not to recall the memory of first seeing the black panther, yet her hair stood on end and she felt lingering fear: "Did you ever see his beast form? It was huge! His claws were …"

At that moment, a steady set of footsteps sounded on the ground.

Xi Tao was about to tell Lin Manzhi when she recalled that day they were chased playfully by a male beast into the yellow sand, two beast husbands were nearly killed, and in their most desperate moment, they watched a tower‑like black lizard get torn apart by a black panther in an instant.

Fresh blood rained down from mid‑air, warm and striking their bodies; she lifted her head to give thanks, only to meet the black panther's cold blue eyes, which held no trace of human emotion, only ruthless killing.

He gave a cold glance; Xi Tao seemed to have the illusion that, had the black panther not thought her too small, it would have torn her apart…

Just as she was about to speak about people, a corner of rock revealed Mo Lie's figure.

The male beast stood tall and upright; beneath a black headscarf, his handsome face and blue eyes glanced unemotionally at Xi Tao, as if a female life weighed nothing to him.

His aura was always violent, as if he wanted to slay every life within his sight.

Yet when facing Lin Manzhi, it oddly softened.

Only the sound of her own heavy breathing could be heard; Xi Tao shrank to the side, trying to lower her presence.

Lin Manzhi turned her head and saw Mo Lie approaching.

He had empty hands, looking as if he had gained nothing.

But that didn't matter; she had dug up many sand‑tail grass stalks today!

Lin Manzhi lifted her gaze; a flash of light seemed to swirl in her dark eyes as she watched Mo Lie walk over.

His blue eyes remained clear as ever, and his black cloak was spotless; as he drew near, a faint cool mist clung to him.

Lin Manzhi hadn't drunk water all morning, and her throat forced a swallow. "You're here," she said.

Mo Lie walked straight to Lin Manzhi's side, unscrewed the beast‑skin water bag from his waist, and handed it over: "Wife Master, it's nearing noon; I'm here to take you home."

Lin Manzhi took the water bag, tipped her head back to drink a few sips, then glanced at the sandy ground outside; the heat wave warped the horizon, indicating the hottest time of day had arrived.

Coincidentally, Cihe and Cichuan also arrived, silently standing beside their own Wife Master Xi Tao, glancing at Xi Tao before looking toward Lin Manzhi.

They had always obeyed the Wife Master; now seeing Mo Lie present, they instinctively looked at the female beside him.

With everyone's eyes on her, Lin Manzhi tightened the water bag in her arms; as Xi Tao hesitated, she pointed at the small bag on the ground and said to Mo Lie:

"We won't go back yet. These are the sand‑tail grass stalks I dug up this morning; if I don't process them now they'll spoil. We must sell them at the shop while fresh, so we can get a higher price."

Xi Tao nodded along.

"Very well." Mo Lie replied in a textbook‑like, stiff manner, his slender fair hand picking up the small bag from the ground, "I'll take you to the shop first."

The three nearby Xi Tao companions, accustomed to Mo Lie's presence, habitually remained silent unless spoken to.

Watching Mo Lie lift Lin Manzhi and head toward the city, Cihe hurriedly transformed into a sand mouse, carrying Xi Tao at a moderate distance while chasing the human silhouette ahead.

Then Cichuan ran ahead of the group, voluntarily leading the way; Lin Manzhi's head was cradled by a massive beast hand, and in the swirling sand‑storm she could not open her eyes to see the surroundings.

Fortunately the beast's speed was great; in no time she was brought to a wide gate by the roadside and stopped.

Two towering stone doors swung open to either side, and a hemp banner bearing "Yang Suo Shop" was planted at the entrance, unfurling in the wind and fluttering in mid‑air.

Lin Manzhi took the small bag from Mo Lie's hand, followed Xi Tao inside, with each of their beast husbands trailing behind.

Inside the shop, three walls were lined with shelves that reached the ceiling, each wall displaying different goods.

The left wall's shelves held blood salt and various expensive spices; the right wall's shelves displayed all manner of beast skins and fabrics.

The innermost wall's shelves faced a stone counter, where a beast in a linen robe sat, trading with customers.

Behind him, the shelves were packed with assorted herbs, and in the center were opened small boxes containing crafted medicines and soothing agents for pseudo‑females.

The entire shop stocked everything from food to clothing to medicines; it looked like a general store, yet it was the only establishment in the Rosanya tribe that could truly be called a shop.

It was high noon; Beastfolk bustled in and out, most heading straight for the medicines behind the counter…

The beast husbands who could not find the Wife Master here, when their Spirit Core entered a frenzy, could only rely on medicines, so each beast prepared supplies in advance.

Business at this shop was unusually booming; two or three people were already queuing at the counter, and no one noticed the commotion at the door.

Xi Tao was clearly a regular customer, leading Lin Manzhi toward the counter while saying:

"Behind the counter is Yang Suo. He works with the Luo Lai Caravan and travels frequently between major cities. If you ever lack something or want anything, you can go find him and ask Yang Suo to bring it back."

Lin Manzhi glanced at Yang Suo and gave a gentle nod.

The Luo Lai Caravan truly is the strongest caravan on the continent; the Rosanya tribe is called a desolate exile land by the people of Ansen City not only because it lies in a resource‑scarce desert, but also for a larger reason.

The surrounding desert of Rosanya is the harshest terrain in the Beast World, the largest lawless region with no governance, making it the darkest place on the continent.

Moreover, it lies very close to Sajin City, known as the Beast‑City, so the surrounding desert is often raided.

In this border tribe of Rosanya, traveling to other cities is extremely difficult; reaching Ansen City without a speed‑endurance‑strong horse‑tribe beast would take a normal beast at least half a month to a month.

Beyond that, raids are commonplace, effectively trapping one in the deep desert.

Yang Suo Shop follows the caravans that traverse the lands, gaining wide experience; as a merchant, hmm—what exactly are those fresh sand‑tail grass stalks that he can purchase at such a high price for?

The stalks… herbs—could they be for making some kind of medicine?