Chapter 207: A Slightly Unexpected End

Mo Lie calmly narrowed his eyes.

The battle is already over; now it's time to bring Lin Manzhi back.

While everyone's attention was drawn to the tiger, a small image of Lin Manzhi floated in his mind, and he gently nudged it with his consciousness.

At the same time.

In the space, Lin Manzhi received a notification on the bronze lion panel at the doorway that there was new information.

Since she entered, her mind hadn't settled; when she saw the signal she and Mo Lie had agreed on for her exit, she immediately thought of leaving.

Lin Manzhi exited from the same spot she had entered the space.

She saw Mo Lie standing on the back of a massive Flower Leopard, his black palm‑wide leather belt gleaming, and silently, a pair of pale, slender hands suddenly appeared at his waist.

It was as if the spaces overlapped; Lin Manzhi wrapped both arms around Mo Lie's waist, stuck her head out, and saw a swath of black beasts standing on the sand.

No, there was a yellow figure sprinting, seemingly heading toward her side?

She blinked her dark eyes and hesitantly asked, "What's going on?"

Mo Lie, confident in his control of the situation, didn't look at the charging tiger silhouette; instead, his gaze fell low onto the Little Female in his arms.

He lifted his hand and embraced Lin Manzhi, feeling a concrete sense of reality, his sharp aura vanishing completely: "The battle is over; I have won."

Lin Manzhi was stunned.

This was faster than the half‑hour Mo Lie had mentioned; she hadn't been in the space very long...

Under Mo Lie's effortless influence, Lin Manzhi pursed her lips and finally mustered the courage to look closely at the post‑war scene.

Apart from a faintly heavy scent of blood, the imagined grisly battlefield never materialized, allowing her lingering anxiety to slowly ease.

At that moment, the sprinting yellow silhouette drew nearer, and Lin Manzhi realized it was a massive tiger over five meters tall.

Facing the approaching Hu Jiao, Hua Zheng tensed his muscles, stared intently at the newcomer, and coldly demanded, "So it's you! Hu Jiao, have you forgotten who you once swore to serve unto death!"

Lin Manzhi was taken aback.

Hu Jiao??

She whispered the name in her mind, and her eyes widened slowly.

Huh? This Hu Jiao, in the original story... was a loyal Beastfolk who, like Hua Zheng, followed Mo Lie; Hua Zheng and Hu Jiao were the villains' right‑hand men!

Lin Manzhi lowered her head and looked down.

The once‑powerful Beastfolk loyal to Mo Lie had taken on a less damaging human form—broad‑shouldered, with fiery golden eyes.

Hu Jiao knelt on one knee toward Mo Lie:

"Young Master."

Now Lin Manzhi was even more certain that this Hu Jiao was the legion War General from the original story, the Beastfolk who served the Young Lord of Ansen City and was fiercely loyal to Mo Lie.

From ahead came Hua Zheng's cold, hushed voice: "Heh, you were the one leading the Sajin City legion to take Kuangsha City just now? Now you finally know to call me Young Master."

Hu Jiao lifted his head, looking at the inscrutable Mo Lie atop the Flower Leopard's back.

A sudden thud struck his heart, and in a trembling, remorseful tone he said, "No, no, I didn't know Kuangsha City was your domain; had I known, I would have come to pledge loyalty to you, Young Master."

Mo Lie heard this, his expression revealing no emotion, making it hard to discern his true thoughts.

He lowered his eyes to the kneeling Hu Jiao below.

It seemed the other chose surrender out of loyalty, not because they realized they couldn't win and made a wise choice.

Hu Jiao, nervous under the Young Master's probing gaze, continued to explain uncontrollably:

"Since you were injured, the lord of Ansen City seized your legion and backed Mo Chi to the Young Master's seat. I refused to obey Mo Chi, was expelled from An Sen Da Lu, and was summoned by the Lord of Sajin City… hoping to build strength in Sajin City before returning to Ansen City to see you…"

Before Hu Jiao could finish, Hua Zheng let out a cold snort and sneered, "Really? You've become a Sajin City War General, yet I never saw you come to our master; I only saw you among the invading legion."

Hu Jiao's spine stiffened; he was furious at the blustering Flower Leopard, but realizing the latter had reached Mo Lie before him, he knew the Flower Leopard would now enjoy a bit more of the Young Master's trust.

He suppressed his anger and explained, "This legion was handed to me because my strength is not weak; Cha Lan wanted the medicinal plants of Kuangsha City, so he assigned it to me. I planned, after entering the desert, to send people to inquire about those plants and also to send others to Ansen City to gather news about you, so I could go personally…"

"Stop making excuses!" Hua Zheng's voice grew authoritative: "I've always known you were restless, not a good person. I was cast out because I was near death. Since you're healthy, how can you stand by and watch the Young Master be driven to a desolate tribe in Ansen City, with not a single attendant or guard by his side…"

Hua Zheng grew angry at this thought, about to scold Hu Jiao again, when a voice from above interrupted.

"Um..."

Watching Mo Lie's two loyal and powerful subordinates grapple and argue in his hands, Lin Manzhi observed the silent Mo Lie, his face expressionless, his blue eyes flickering with a hint of interest and a cold, icy murderous intent.

She understood the situation, thought, released her hand from Mo Lie's waist, and spoke, "It seems everyone from Sajin City has fled; should we give chase?"

Her voice was crisp and sweet, unmistakably feminine, and it came from the direction where Mo Lie stood above.

??

Hu Jiao was stunned.

He could hardly believe it, looked up again at the Young Master on the Flower Leopard's back, and was shocked to see a figure a notch younger than him standing beside Mo Lie; as soon as she spoke, Hua Zheng fell silent.

Even more surprising, the usually aloof Mo Lie, when facing the nearby female, exuded a protective aura.

"We won't pursue," Mo Lie's voice was low and gentle, his gaze drifting down to the Little Female's eyes, his affection unmistakably evident.

He raised his hand, his fingertip brushing Lin Manzhi's cheek, and asked the kneeling Hu Jiao below, "Do you wish to serve me?"

Hu Jiao stared blankly at Lin Manzhi, then, dazed, replied, "Yes, I am willing to follow you…"

Mo Lie said lightly, "Is that so."

His two words made Hu Jiao's heart feel like it was immersed in icy water, leaving him unsure how to prove himself.

No wonder he came with an army to attack the Young Master; this is something that can't be washed clean even if you jump into a river!

At this moment, Lin Manzhi spoke again: "I think what this Hu Jiao says is true; after we accepted the troublesome Beastfolk like Xiang Sa and the other five leaders, we might as well accept him too."