Chapter 208: Jealousy

Hu Jiao is a very powerful aide; in the original book he followed Mo Lie and did work for him, so of course we should accept him.

When the two interact and speak, they are very casual, creating an atmosphere that outsiders can't intrude upon.

Lin Manzhi looked at Mo Lie, her jet‑black eyes not blinking.

"Fine, Zhizhi, you decide." Mo Lie's aura softened a bit, and he looked at Hu Jiao and said, "You follow. If you betray me later, killing you will be easy for me."

He reached out, wrapped his arm around Lin Manzhi's waist and pulled her into his embrace, then, lowering his voice, ordered the quiet Beastfolk, "Return to the city."

Hua Zheng glared at Hu Jiao, "I'll keep an eye on you; if you dare do anything that harms Kuangsha City, I'll bite your throat off."

The battle ended quickly, and the army's marching raised rolling sand dust.

When the Flower Leopard turned and walked forward, Mo Lie half‑held the silhouette of that Little Female, now reduced to a sesame‑sized speck.

Hu Jiao, who had stayed behind and voluntarily put on the chains, stared in shock.

His expression was dazed and wandering, a look of existential doubt, prompting the squad leader guarding his unit to glance again, raise his hand and pat Hu Jiao's shoulder, "Let's go. Didn't Lord say you'd come back to the city with us?"

Hu Jiao was pulled out of his daze, followed the Beastfolk army forward, and, unable to hold back, asked, "Um… who is the female standing beside the Lord?"

He had never seen Mo Lie show such a genuinely gentle expression; it was completely different from the Young Master in his memory.

He had thought that this time, returning to serve under the Young Master would mean dying or at least being half‑dead, never expecting that once the female spoke, the Young Master would just settle for that?!

Hu Jiao walked forward, the chains on his neck and limbs clinking, yet he bore no injuries.

Although the squad leader didn't know the details about the Lord's Wife, he knew she was the female who brought them medicinal plants, and he absolutely wouldn't allow this newcomer to inquire about such crucial information.

His voice was harsh; he glared ferociously at Hu Jiao and said, "If you want to know, ask the Lord. Why all the useless chatter?"

Hu Jiao was choked silent.

Feeling guilty and unwilling to strike the one who dared lecture him, he lowered his head and quickened his pace with the group.

Many soldiers fled Sajin City; Cha Lan would soon learn of his betrayal, so he needed to quickly tell Mo Lie everything he knew about Sajin City.

At the forefront of the Beastfolk army, Lin Manzhi sat on the Flower Leopard's back, watching the massive yet orderly Beastfolk troops behind her, feeling a sense of awe.

So many Beastfolk warriors.

She had always known Mo Lie commanded a hundred thousand troops, but it never felt real; now, seeing it with her own eyes, marching through the dead‑silent desert, forty thousand soldiers traversing the sands, the astonishing momentum seemed to reach as far as the horizon.

Mo Lie, his expression calm, sat beside Lin Manzhi, his hand protecting the Little Female at her waist as he turned his head toward the Beastfolk behind, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you accept Hu Jiao just now?"

Lin Manzhi: "He is a War General with decent martial strength."

She withdrew her gaze, looked at Mo Lie, thought for a moment and said, "He was originally one of your subordinates; it seems his loyalty to you hasn't changed. Instead of refusing his renewed surrender, give him a chance."

Mo Lie raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Zhizhi, you have so much confidence he'll stay loyal to Kuangsha City. Is this your first time meeting him?"

Lin Manzhi lightly blinked her jet‑black eyes, as if she sensed a faint sourness in the air.

No way, Mo Lie's words sounded a bit odd.

Her hand emerged from her black cloak, slipped along Mo Lie's robe, and grasped his hand: "I have confidence in you; Kuangsha City needs people, and Hu Jiao is truly surrendering. You'll accept him then, won't you?"

Mo Lie turned his hand, clasped Lin Manzhi's hand in his palm, leaned down and kissed her forehead, a slight smile curling his mouth, his voice pleasantly elongated, "Oh, I knew Zhizhi was looking out for me."

Lin Manzhi was surprised that Mo Lie was actually jealous, and that with just one sentence he could be soothed so quickly; she hadn't even figured out how to bypass the original book, and told Mo Lie that Hu Jiao could be trusted.

However, since Mo Lie didn't bring up Hu Jiao again, Lin Manzhi didn't raise the subject either; whether Hu Jiao is loyal will be proven by his future actions over time.

Compared to the speed of going to meet the enemy, the return journey was slower; they had been walking in the desert for four days.

The massive Beastfolk army did not enter Kuangsha City; following the Lord's orders, they split into four units to return to the camp outside Kuangsha City to rest.

Lin Manzhi returned with Mo Lie in triumph; there were no walls or gates, and aside from the city guard cheering at the road junction, the townspeople had no idea a battle had occurred in the desert.

The next day, Kuangsha City's Lord Mo Lie sat in the main hall handling the post‑war arrangements, swift and decisive, while the Kuangsha City officials standing below each took orders and left.

High above, a throne exuding absolute supremacy stood, alongside another throne crafted from gems; all the Beastfolk following Mo Lie had grown accustomed, and the Lord's Wife sat beside him in the main hall.

Except for Hu Jiao, who had been dragged in.

The situation was unclear and tense; after returning from the desert, Lin Manzhi stayed almost constantly within Mo Lie's perception range.

Beside her, Mo Lie handled state affairs; she sat quietly nearby, not idle, with a thin parchment backed by a wooden board in one hand, and the other hand holding a feather pen, bent over the paper writing.

The newly built Planting Base next to Planting Base No. 2 collected some of the soil and fertilizer brought in from outside; they can fill as much soil as before in the base, while constructing the Planting Greenhouse and continuing to build and await more external soil and compost.

This batch of Holy Maiden Fruit is about to ripen; they will plant some early, so that the next batch can mature in succession, ensuring a continuous supply of Holy Maiden Fruit.

The fast‑maturing cherry radish will be replanted this time, allowing five more Planting Greenhouses to be added. There's also watermelon, now bearing fruit, which will be ready for harvest soon.

Agave is allocated ten Planting Greenhouses, and grapes two; both are suitable for winemaking, but Agave grows slowly—planted from seed now, it won't be usable for at least seven or eight years. Grape seedlings also need two to three years for a decent harvest. These long‑term crops can be placed around the outskirts of the Planting Base.

Lin Manzhi thought that after the Planting Base expansion, they could add corn, Potato and sweet potato—storable starchy crops—she shifted her stiff upper body that had been seated for a long time.

Mo Lie instantly turned his head, raised his hand toward her, and with a very gentle motion, gave the Little Female a light shoulder massage.

Lin Manzhi sat relaxed, naturally accepting the other's comfortable and attentive massage.

Hu Jiao: "...??"