Chapter 215: Everyone Is Anxious

Mo Lie, while speaking, gently smooths a few tangled strands of hair on Lin Manzhi's cheek, his voice calm as if stating something ordinary:

"Fortunately, during this period Zhi Zhi had already stocked ample food for Kuangsha City, covering my deficiency; the Kuangsha City army won't encounter problems because the merchant caravan left, and after a while the enemy's food will also be sufficient to replenish the goods in Kuangsha City's various shops."

Lin Manzhi felt comforted, then, angry, she widened her eyes and shouted, "How can they assume Kuangsha City will lose!"

She looked out the window toward Central City's still bustling streets, where half the shops on both sides were closed, and felt a stubborn resolve not to be outdone by others.

"Fine, since the merchant caravan doesn't want Kuangsha City's medicinal herbs, I won't sell them either! Reclaim all the vacant shops, audit the merchant caravan's dominoes, list them and put them on the blacklist. Do they think Kuangsha City can only obtain food by trading with the merchant caravan from outside?"

Lin Manzhi withdrew her gaze, turned to Mo Lie, whose jet‑black pupils were large and bright, and she snorted coldly, "Hmph, laughable, we'll wait for them to regret and come begging to us."

"Fine."

Mo Lie looked at Lin Manzhi, his dark eyes settling with a genuine hint of tenderness: "This territory now belongs to you; everything has always been at your command."

His gaze fell on the Little Female's eyes; he lowered his head and pressed a kiss, the scorching breath of the kiss carrying an affectionate, coaxing, comforting tone: "I also listen to you, Zhi Zhi, yours."

The anger in Lin Manzhi's heart was soothed by Mo Lie's kiss: "…Hmm."

Getting angry at others only hurts oneself; don't be angry.

At that moment, a rapid knock sounded at the door.

Lin Manzhi's heart leapt; snapping out of the daze from the kiss, she realized her hand was hooked around Mo Lie's neck, her head pressed against his as he kissed her.

Mo Lie's kiss was light; his lips were soft, occasionally interspersed with the beastly habit of gently nibbling with his canines, not unpleasant but imparting a hint of masculine aggression and sensuality that made one unknowingly addicted.

But it was clear that now was not the time for intimacy, so Lin Manzhi's hand pressed against Mo Lie's shoulder and pushed him away.

Mo Lie lifted his head and released her.

She looked up, seeing the handsome Beastfolk's lips tinged with ambiguous redness, realizing she wasn't any better off, she turned away and took several deep breaths, steadiering her unsteady breath.

Mo Lie sat upright in his chair; after Lin Manzhi paused for a few seconds, he finally looked toward the doorway and said lightly, "Come in."

Having received the approval, Hua Zheng pushed the door open and entered.

After entering, he walked a few steps to the desk, saw Lin Manzhi there as well, and was not at all surprised.

He knew the Lord's Wife was the most powerful person in Kuangsha City, even more important in the lord's eyes than he was.

Hua Zheng, having followed Mo Lie for so many years, had never seen a female by his side.

He had also never seen any lord accompanied by a female while discussing state affairs, but she was special; honestly, in his heart he had already regarded Lin Manzhi as a lord.

Hua Zheng bowed his head to the two, and relayed the intelligence he had received, without any concealment, recounting it to the two behind the desk.

The information returned from various regions was spread out, with several thin sheets of paper bearing Beastfolk script.

Mo Lie lowered his head, his expression growing colder, his fingertips lightly tapping the thin paper on the desk, producing a faint tap‑tap sound.

Hua Zheng inhaled deeply, then said slowly, "Among the five continents… I suspect at least three lords aim to seize Kuangsha City."

Seated behind the desk, Mo Lie lifted his eyes and said coldly, "These were already within my expectations."

Hua Zheng was startled, looked up toward the back of the desk and asked, "Huh? You know?"

Mo Lie: "Any lord, upon learning the value and function of our medicinal herbs, will be tempted."

He lifted his hand from the stack of thin papers, his gaze first landing on Lin Manzhi; he slowly raised his hand and placed it on the back of the chair behind Lin Manzhi, a gesture revealing his protective stance toward the Little Female.

Mo Lie turned back, looked again at Hua Zheng and said, "Since I have openly presented the medicinal herbs and have already completed the preparations required to protect them, to truly safeguard and possess such a treasure, it inevitably requires bloodshed to baptize the land's lords into yielding."

Hua Zheng's eyes flashed sharply as he listened, "Indeed, the medicinal herbs are yours; anyone who dares to seize them will learn that Kuangsha City's strength is not to be trifled with."

Mo Lie raised an indifferent eyebrow, pulled Lin Manzhi to her feet, and said concisely, "Relay my order: eleven legions stand by; I will launch a preemptive strike."

Hua Zheng promptly took the command and left.

In the desert, Kuangsha City's various legions were stationed; enemy reports from the continent could not remain hidden once they entered the desert. Beastfolk combat is always straightforward, without scheming or trickery; when war is declared, it is a contest of sheer strength.

These people brought their army to Kuangsha City; what was their purpose? They offered no pretense, stating outright that they came to seize the medicinal herbs she had brought.

Lin Manzhi will not surrender willingly.

"Wait…" Lin Manzhi watched Hua Zheng leave excitedly after receiving orders, followed Mo Lie as they rose from Yuequan Lou, and said, "Send a squad to Jia Jian regarding exchanging medicinal herbs for food; I have a very suitable partner for that."

Mo Lie nodded without asking, "Fine."

The two exited Yuequan Lou; a gray elephant, bearing a carriage, was already waiting at the door. Mo Lie lifted Lin Manzhi and placed her inside the carriage, setting her onto the soft cushions.

The gray elephant rose, moving along the wide Beastfolk road in the middle of the street toward the Lord's Residence; Lin Manzhi, seated up high, reached out to lift the linen curtain and look outside.

The Beast Form road, once crowded, now appeared much emptier; on the human roads flanking it, the people of Kuangsha City, cloaked in robes, hurried along, their demeanor exuding a restless panic.

She was somewhat concerned; before outsiders even breached, her own city was already in chaos. Although Mo Lie had already ordered the city guard to intensify patrols, the hearts of the people are the hardest to control and soothe.

Lin Manzhi focused her gaze outward, the fragmented chatter of passersby drifting in:

"…Everyone who could run has fled… a lord is about to strike Kuangsha City!"

"Really? May the Heavenly Beast God protect us; Kuangsha City must not fall! … My whole family, over twenty of us, have nowhere to run."

"Help! Is a lord coming to attack? What do we do!!"

"No wonder I woke up wanting to buy meat jerky and water; the shop I usually go to hasn't opened yet—turns out they abandoned Kuangsha City and fled…"

"What to do, what to do, another lord's army is about to break in; I feel I'm about to meet my ancestors in the Beast God's realm."

"What are you afraid of? Our lord has formed legions… I have brothers in the lord's legions…"