Chapter 205: It

No one considered retreating or negotiating; the Beastfolk's warlike nature, etched in their bloodline, led them, without the Lord of Sajin City's permission, to march their army across the border, which amounts to a declaration of war.

Moreover, everyone already knows that Jia Jian of Kuangsha City previously harvested a huge amount of treasure in Kuangsha City, which he took entirely to conduct extremely unfair trades with the Lord of Sajin City.

For example, food was traded at prices dozens of times higher than normal rates in other cities, a deal that effectively stripped Kuangsha City of its resources for Sajin City!

Thus the lord terminated cooperation with Sajin City—what a good termination!

Now they have the Fierce Sand Escort Bureau to travel everywhere, bringing back ample food, and even the continent‑shaking Holy Maiden Fruit elixir and other medicinal plants from Yuequan Lou, which locals can buy with money while outsiders can only obtain them with food.

Although Kuangsha City lies in the desert, food has ceased to be scarce since the Lord arrived.

In past apocalyptic drought seasons, food in Kuangsha City would skyrocket to the point where even money couldn't buy it, because many people died of hunger.

But this year in Kuangsha City, food and water prices have hardly risen even by the end of the drought, and the Lord's soldiers are living far better than before.

Everyone knows deeply that all this is because of Mo Lie and Lord Lin sitting above!

Since the Lord has only recently seized Kuangsha City, the city is less stable than other territories, and they must win this battle.

A group of imposing War Generals, eyes bright and spirited, shouted in unison: "Lord, this is Kuangsha City's first war; please send us."

Mo Lie raised an eyebrow subtly, expression unchanged.

He lowered his eyes slightly, slowly scanning the assembled people, then said calmly:

"I'll go myself. Hua Zheng, you prepare; we set out now."

Mo Lie looped his hand around Lin Manzhi's waist, helped her stand, and looked at her meaningfully: "Zhi Zhi, stay by my side."

Lin Manzhi was startled by the words, locking eyes with Mo Lie.

The black‑haired Beastfolk before her wore a cold expression; at such close range, his blue eyes reflected only his own silhouette, showing an obsessive possessiveness, a feeling rooted in a hidden thread of fear.

He feared losing her.

When war loomed, his worry was that if he left her side even briefly, something might happen to her.

In an instant, Lin Manzhi understood why Mo Lie said that.

She has a space she can hide in, and he had considered that, so he wants to keep her by his side at all times, hence his words.

Lin Manzhi nodded, "Alright, I'll go too."

The people below all felt a sudden jolt in their hearts: "……"

No one expected the Lord to go onto the battlefield and bring the delicate female with him.

Everyone looked at Hua Zheng, who was about to leave; his steps halted as he stared at the tall, ice‑cold aura‑radiating Lord before him and Lin Manzhi, whose face showed not a hint of fear.

Hua Zheng forced himself to speak: "Um… Lord Lin is female; she might be scared by such bloody, violent combat. Though I know she's safest by the Lord's side, half of Kuangsha City's 50,000‑strong Warrior Legion is stationed there, which should also be safe. Why not have Lord Lin stay in the city and await the Lord's victorious return?"

Mo Lie's brows twitched slightly.

"I'm not afraid," Lin Manzhi thought, noting that being on the Beast World continent sometimes requires pre‑emptively adapting to its brutal combat rhythm.

Even though the original plot is absurdly skewed, the source material's settings remain unchanged; she knows Beastfolk battles aren't the worst—each continent's wave of Exotic Beasts and birds in the original is truly terrifying.

She may be scared and dislike fighting, but in a world that worships the strong, she must steel herself to accept this savage survival rule.

Besides, if she can't stand it, she can retreat to her own space.

Seeing Hua Zheng's words cause doubt in Mo Lie's eyes, Lin Manzhi quickly opened her arms, grasped the hand hanging at his side, and pressed herself against him: "With you, I'm never in danger. Don't you trust your own strength?"

Mo Lie lowered his gaze, his icy blue eyes softening slightly, apparently not wanting to leave her out of sight: "…Fine."

He leaned down, pressed a light kiss to Lin Manzhi's forehead, and in a low voice said words only the two could understand: "If there's danger, go home and wait for me."

Lin Manzhi tilted her head slightly, eyes sparkling as she looked at Mo Lie: "Mm‑mm."

Watching the Lord's first indecisive moment, the onlookers felt an instant surge of mixed emotions.

Hua Zheng: "……"

He already knew this; the Lord before him was unlike ordinary females.

Bold, clever, and always unpredictable.

She shares a trait with her master: calm decisiveness, making it hard for anyone to sway them once a decision is made.

Hua Zheng took a deep breath in his mind.

Considering a merchant caravan has already slipped into Kuangsha City and the rest of Sajin City's people haven't been fully screened, staying by her master's side is truly the safest place… right!

……

Lin Manzhi rode with Mo Lie atop a flower leopard, leading a 40,000‑strong Warrior Legion out of the city; wherever the legion stepped in the desert, a massive cloud of sand rose.

A day later, while the Sajin City army marched through the desert, they saw the rolling dust on the horizon; the 20,000 warriors inside grew uneasy, a sense of dread spreading as if facing punishment from a terrifying celestial beast.

The roar of a giant beast echoed far across the sandstorm; before clashing with Kuangsha City's warriors, the Sajin City War General Hu Jiao realized one thing: the Kuangsha City lord is an absolute powerhouse!

Hu Jiao's intuition quickly proved true: from the rolling dust surged a giant beast, its front line a Gray Elephant legion over four meters tall, gray hide as hard as rock, charging with explosive power like a tank.

"Kill! Eradicate these who dared to enter Kuangsha's territory!"

Seeing the dark, looming enemy legion in the distant desert, the Kuangsha City warriors surged forward with blood‑pumping, fierce zeal.

Hu Jiao, unfazed, ordered the Sajin City Camel‑Deer brigade to charge ahead, establishing a defensive line, while the two sides of Beastfolk let out resonant roars across the desert.

The battle‑hungry beasts signaled that the desert was about to witness a primal, flesh‑to‑flesh mauling.

On the golden sand, the two Beastfolk forces, separated by a gap, lunged toward each other, the clash imminent.