Chapter 241: Difficult Birth?!

The sky was a deep, dark shade of layered black clouds, the light dim.

Below the rolling mountain valleys, on the rugged road concealed by thick piled snow, wind and snow raged as a massive contingent of Beastfolk raced at high speed across the snow.

They were wrapped in thick furs, mostly sturdy male beasts; the trained Beastfolk warriors solemnly followed behind a carriage frame that resembled a small house.

Mo Lie was discussing matters with someone in the study on the first floor.

Lin Manzhi sat on a thick, soft blanket in the second‑floor lounge, looking out through a clear, flat glass window at the snow‑white scenery, a vast expanse of white.

The whole room was warmed by a fireplace, comfortable; she felt no cold, and the air crackled with the sound of burning wood.

After staying on An Sen Da Lu for over a month, Lin Manzhi finally set out with Mo Lie to return to Kuangsha City.

Ansen City is the nearest continent to Kuangsha City; she recalled that she once rode horseback for seven days to the border of Ansen City with the Rosanya tribe, then followed the Luo Lai Caravan on camelback for about two days to Kuangsha City, making the total journey roughly nine days.

Of course, if the fastest leopard race were used, the time could be halved, with the message delivered in about four and a half days.

Thus, after inheriting An Sen Da Lu, Mo Lie spent a month reorganizing the armies of Kuangsha City and Ansen City, then took Lin Manzhi back to Kuangsha City.

After all, Kuangsha City was a city they had built together; regardless of weather or terrain, their attachment was surely deeper than to Ansen City.

—That Planting Base took her a lot of effort to complete!

Lin Manzhi was a bit worried that, while she was away, she didn't know whether the crops for sale had encountered any problems.

On the way back, the daily travel boredom gave her an extra sense of anticipation.

She arrived at the border Rosanya tribe a day earlier than expected; the snow had vanished, and the yellow earth and long‑unseen bright blue sky lifted Lin Manzhi's spirits considerably.

She sat beside the carriage, her thick fur already replaced by a light, sun‑shielding robe; wind slipped through the window, bringing a brief coolness.

This was the southern desert; daytime temperatures in the cold season were still around thirty degrees, while the northern desert was frigid, and it was said that snow even fell there.

The Rosanya tribe was built within a rocky wall, insufficient to house such a massive Beastfolk force; Lin Manzhi only wanted to return low‑key to see Xi Tao, not cause a stir that would affect Xi Tao.

After consulting her, the main force, following Mo Lie's orders, camped in the desert, and Mo Lie set out with her toward the Rosanya tribe.

Beastfolk warriors erected Exotic Beast Skin tents by the wide river and built a fire to roast meat. Without the lord's permission they would not leave a step, but this did not apply to the self‑styled personal guard Hua Zheng.

Lin Manzhi sat on the back of a Flower Leopard, with the cold‑faced Mo Lie beside her.

From the start, Hua Zheng closely followed behind Lin Manzhi and his master, and when he realized Mo Lie wanted to drive him away, he hurried to prove his usefulness to his master.

He was excited about his cleverness: "I told you! You still have to have me follow, right? I'm very useful; you sit on my back and don't have to move yourselves, how great."

Lin Manzhi: "Indeed, you have a house in the Rosanya tribe; sleeping in a dwelling at night is more comfortable than a tent."

Previously, when Hua Zheng went from Kuangsha City to the tribe to trade Lettuce and Su Li, he was assigned to stay in the courtyard next to his own house; even if they hadn't returned to the Rosanya tribe for a while, the presence of male beasts kept the tribe's people from barging in.

Thus, Hua Zheng was the one left behind to enter the tribe.

By now the sun had set, and dusk was dim.

When the three entered the tribe, many Beastfolk carrying game entered through a breach in the massive stone wall; they froze upon seeing the imposing Flower Leopard, only moving again after smelling the familiar scent on its back.

They were the most ordinary Beastfolk townsfolk of An Sen Da Lu, aware a new lord had taken over but unaware who the lord of Ansen City was, let alone having seen him.

Thus, seeing the Beastfolk who lived near the tribe's lake return was surprising to them, and they kept sneaking glances.

One Beastfolk who had once had Lin Manzhi repair his Water Cellar recognized her, tilted his head upward, and curiously said, "Ah, long time no see you; today we hunted a tasty Exotic Beast, come buy it tomorrow, we'll give you a good price."

Lin Manzhi, wrapped in a golden robe, showed a pair of jet‑black bright eyes; looking down, the four each supported a massive Exotic Beast leg as tall as a person, and while speaking to her they furtively glanced at Mo Lie beside them.

They bore no ill will; although Lin Manzhi no longer lacked fresh meat, and the lord's residence bred game far superior to theirs, considering they hadn't brought live game on the journey, she had brought fruit and Meat Jerky for Xi Tao, who was about to give birth, and now wished to add more fresh meat.

"Fine, I'll take all your fresh meat; later you can deliver it to my courtyard." Having not returned to the tribe for a long time, Lin Manzhi felt as comfortable as before.

"Alright, alright, I'll prepare the meat and deliver it to you." The Beastfolk was overjoyed, unable to say whether it was the good price or selling to a beautiful female.

Before the fearsome male beast on the Flower Leopard could speak, the four moved with wheel‑like steps, sprinting away swiftly.

From the tribe's gate to her house was reached in no time.

The Flower Leopard halted at the doorway; Mo Lie scooped Lin Manzhi and leapt down from four meters high, landing silently on the ground, and at the same moment Hua Zheng reverted to human form.

Ah—

Lin Manzhi, just steadied, turned her head, startled by a lung‑rending scream from the neighboring courtyard.

Mo Lie frowned slightly; the air carried a scent of blood, emanating from the nearby female's house that Lin Manzhi cared about.

Although Lin Manzhi could not smell the blood, she could hear where the scream came from, turned toward the adjacent courtyard, felt a bit anxious, walked that way, and called softly, "Xi Tao!"

Mo Lie, seeing this, followed behind her.

Just as the three were about to enter Xi Tao's house.

At that moment, Xi Tao's scream in the courtyard ceased, and immediately a figure rushed from behind; as it drew near, they saw it was Cihe carrying a figure, sprinting toward their courtyard.

Lin Manzhi widened her eyes slightly, looked toward the nearby Cihe and asked, "Huh? What's wrong with Xi Tao?"

"She, she, the cub hasn't been born yet, I need to fetch the Shamaness." Cihe, seeing the three, hurriedly replied, for the first time when meeting Mo Lie feeling no fear.

After speaking, he carried the person straight past the three and rushed toward his own home.

Lin Manzhi was startled.

Difficult birth??