Chapter 22: A Handy Wooden Rake

Two self‑proclaimed hunters stared at a hunter who was in the act of hunting.

Here in the desert, Mo Lie gripped a wooden spear the size of an arrow shaft that he had crafted yesterday, and thrust it swiftly, mercilessly, into the eye of the Small Exotic Beast.

Sss—

The Small Exotic Beast, its body covered with hard scales, suddenly thrashed its head wildly, opened its huge mouth reeking of fishy stink, its two rows of neat sharp teeth exposed as it rolled and struggled in the yellow sand, and after a few breaths it fell still.

When the tremor of the sand settled, Mo Lie approached, lifted the long tail of the crocodile‑like Small Exotic Beast, and walked forward with ease, as natural a hunter as any.

These Small Exotic Beasts fetch no price and yield little meat, so it seems we must hunt the meat‑rich Great Exotic Beast; the market today has no Great Exotic Beast meat, so we can sell it and give the Beast Coin to Lin Manzhi.

Mo Lie thought of the female's face when she murmured about lacking Beast Coins, and the corner of his mouth curved.

Suddenly, his steps halted.

In the shade behind a sand dune near the rocky area, a swath of dark green rose abruptly, standing as tall as an adult Beastfolk.

It differed from the low‑lying plants here that press their leaves to the ground; instead it grew upward, its whole body a juice‑laden dark green, its skin smooth as oil‑soaked leather, glinting with a glaze under the scorching sun.

Mo Lie stopped in place, gazing at the green plant.

It had no leaves or thorns; its trunk was as thick as an adult man's waist, the dark‑green rhizome was plump, bearing four or five branches.

The four or five twisted branches stretched upward, their tips swelling into egg‑shaped Water Bags; as the hot wind caused them to sway slightly, a muffled slosh could be heard from the liquid inside.

The water oak, a harmless water‑storing plant, would be perfect to bring back to Lin Manzhi.

Mo Lie released his grip on the Small Exotic Beast's tail and headed toward the rocky area.

As he drew nearer, he examined the water oak; its roots were buried several meters deep, making it somewhat difficult to uproot it without a single hair damaged.

He considered that extracting this water oak, while he was not in Beast Form, would take a whole morning.

Between what Lin Manzhi wanted and the hunt, Mo Lie did not hesitate; he ignored several Exotic Beasts lying by the water oak, nibbling, which scattered and fled at the sight of him.

Mo Lie found a handy rock in the rocky area; his long, fair hand grasped a blade‑like stone, applied a slight force, and scooped at the water oak's root.

The sand‑yellow hard soil under his hand, like sand‑converted mud, was easily carved into a gap, revealing the water oak's thick roots embedded in the hard earth.

He stared at the water oak before him and, following the roots, quickened his digging pace.

This scene fell upon two pairs of eyes not far away; Lang Cang felt a shame for the flicker of fear that had just risen in his heart.

Water oak is common here; its texture is so coarse that even a male beast would find it hard to swallow, so only a group of starving weak ones would choose it.

He said, "He now lacks even the ability to chase Small Exotic Beasts; Lang Feng, you're right— a male beast that cannot use its powers is no different from us, and besides, he probably no longer can maintain Beast Form either."

Lang Feng barely concealed the contempt on his face, lowering his voice: "Even if his Spirit Core isn't as bad as we think, and he has a sliver of energy to sustain Beast Form, it still means nothing."

He and Mo Lie bear no real grudge, but among male beasts the law of the jungle prevails, each vying for whatever they desire.

More importantly…

He recalled the promise made by the female Lin Ling, so he would see through the task she entrusted to him, no matter what.

Lang Feng grinned: "The two of us aren't strangers to hunting leopard male beasts; killing Mo Lie would be a piece of cake for us."

Since they'd both seen Mo Lie's condition with their own eyes, Lang Cang naturally nodded in agreement without hesitation.

However, the two, following their naturally suspicious natures, planned to track and monitor Mo Lie as scheduled, to find the optimal moment to strike.

…

Near noon, Mo Lie, just as yesterday, came to fetch people; he proactively helped Lin Manzhi collect and pack the Sand-tail Grass Stalks on the ground.

The male beast arrived, and Lin Manzhi barely needed to do anything; she straightened her back, stood beside it, and rotated her wrist to loosen the hand that had grown sore from too much work.

Soon after, Cihe and Cichuan also came to fetch their own Wife Master, Xi Tao.

It was about to enter the hottest part of the day, scorching like an oven; the tribe's Beastfolk generally avoid the peak sunlight hours, let alone the delicate females.

"Lin Manzhi, we dug fifty‑three plants today!" Xi Tao, after packing the Sand-tail Grass Stalks she had harvested in the morning, wore a thin red flush of excitement and heat, and said to Lin Manzhi.

She used to dig only about twenty plants a day, but today, using the Wooden Rake Lin Manzhi gave her, she never expected it to be so effective!

That's double the usual! The Sand-tail Grass Stalks she harvested today in one day equal what she used to gather in two days, and the Beast Coins earned also doubled!

Lin Manzhi turned her head, also delighted, and said, "We're still not quite familiar with how to use it today; tomorrow we can harvest even more."

Without thinking, Xi Tao exclaimed, "Wow! That means we can earn over a thousand Beast Coins each day; Lin Manzhi, you don't have to worry that Mo Lie will go out daily and starve from not catching food!"

Lin Manzhi: "Hm?"

She smiled slightly: "Mo Lie has caught food."

Xi Tao glanced at the two Exotic Beasts her Beast Husband had brought back today, then cast a look at Mo Lie, who had brought nothing, and then, full of sympathy, looked at Lin Manzhi.

That look seemed to say, "I see it; don't pamper your own male beast and give him face."

For the past two days Mo Lie hasn't caught any food; each time he returns his hands are empty, and she truly worries about how Lin Manzhi and he will live together in the future.

Mo Lie once saved her own family, and Lin Manzhi is also very kind, so Xi Tao hopes the two will live as well as her own family does.

Xi Tao hesitated, then, remembering the Wooden Rake was a gift from Lin Manzhi, carefully said to her, "My Beast Husband is very capable; he can hunt food every day. In the future I can sell you some at a low price: Small Exotic Beast meat, 25 Beast Coins per kilogram."

"Actually, Mo Lie brought back a bunch of Exotic Beasts yesterday, believe it or not."

Lin Manzhi blinked, "Oh…"

"Don't be embarrassed," Xi Tao said, stealing a glance at the handsome male beast beside her—what a pity... he's injured so severely.

Mo Lie, being questioned:?

He casually lifted his gaze at the female, feeling no malice from her.

Mo Lie let out a brief, light laugh, but that faint indifferent smile was like a thin cloud in the sky—dispersed by the wind: "Thanks, but no need."

Xi Tao was startled deep inside.

Hearing a male beast speak to her, his eyes' unmistakable coldness made her so nervous her scalp felt like it would explode.

She truly admired Lin Manzhi, who could live daily with such an indifferent male beast.