Chapter 267: Just Keep This Distance

Su Li's expression reflexively showed disgust: "I don't know what method Lin Ling used to get the Great Witch close to her, even the dozen‑plus Shamaness holy elders in the Wushen Temple now place great importance on Lin Ling."

Lin Manzhi had always known that Lin Ling was not ordinary; although she had long anticipated this, she still felt an inexplicable premonition.

Even the elixir so crucial to male Beastfolk failed to earn Su Li any regard in the Wushen Temple; if anything surpasses the life of a male Beastfolk, it must be… the female's reproductive ability, right?

In that instant, the suddenly mentioned Huo Mother Elixir—something she herself had never heard could dramatically increase Beastfolk breeding odds—inevitably made her think of Lin Ling.

The matter of increasing Beastfolk breeding probability—

Even Mo Lie would care.

Sending people to investigate the Huo Mother Elixir is to verify whether this elixir is harmful to females or truly effective.

If it genuinely boosts the female's breeding probability, then this Huo Mother Elixir becomes exceedingly important to any Beastfolk territory—a matter of great significance for the continuation of Beastfolk life.

Thus, presenting an elixir that solves Beastfolk propagation would draw the Great Witch's attention and regard beyond that given to the male Beastfolk Spirit Core elixir; Lin Ling's victory would be a piece of cake.

Lin Manzhi felt a slight surprise and instantly became more interested in going to the Mountain Classic Beast Temple.

Lin Ling…

The last time she saw her was in Kuangsha City; she had followed the other party to find the Concentrated Spirit Dew, and hadn't met again since.

She had long known that Lin Ling was no longer the Lin Ling from the original book; she had previously guessed Lin Ling was also an outsider, and the other side would surely bring some cheat.

Lin Ling had little relevance to her daily life, so she never thought of contacting Lin Ling, and she didn't really care how the other side was.

This time, Lin Manzhi realized that Su Li personally came to invite her to the Wushen Temple, probably hoping she could help Su Li, stand opposite Lin Ling, and enable Su Li to claim the Great Witch position.

But…

Lin Manzhi thought for a moment.

If the Huo Mother Elixir truly works, and Lin Ling can claim the Great Witch position on her own merit, then she might not be able to help Su Li.

She is an outsider; the Wushen Temple has its own rules.

…

Lin Ling stood on a cliff at the seaside of the Tide‑chasing Tribe forest on the Lei Ting Continent, anxiously watching the waves crashing against the rocks below.

She hasn't been able to stay away from the Great Witch for long lately; meeting Diao Yi can only be arranged at the nearest point to the island.

This matter must be settled quickly.

Having finally struggled to reach her current standing, and with next month she could become the Great Witch, she could not let Su Li bring that female who cultivated the medicinal plant to meet the Great Witch.

She was confident that even if the female who cultivated the medicinal plant came, the Great Witch would not let her usurp her position.

But Lin Ling didn't want any "what‑if" scenarios.

Alone there, Lin Ling pitifully explained her predicament, asking Diao Yi to help by intercepting the person who would bring Su Li back.

She adopted a fragile, needing‑protection demeanor, her eyes full of pleading, and Diao Yi's sharp gaze beside her was filled with compassion.

Diao Yi's expression turned grim.

He is one of the three War Generals under the Lei Ting Lord, commanding one hundred thousand Beastfolk soldiers, with nearly a fifth of the territory under his sway.

Regarding the Beastfolk who cultivated the medicinal plant in Kuangsha City, all information has always been tightly concealed; he doesn't even know who they are.

Is the request Lin Ling put forward even feasible to fulfill?

Diao Yi's mind raced, and his expression was no longer as grim as before.

Traveling from Kuangsha City to the Mountain Classic Beast Temple inevitably requires crossing the Lei Ting Continent, and entering another territory needs the lord's permission, but an invitation from the Wushen Temple to lead a party bypasses the need for such a pass.

However, to head to the Wushen Temple, the Beastfolk guards from Kuangsha City certainly cannot exceed two thousand.

At most, it's a force of just over two thousand.

Diao Yi's combat power ranks among the top five on the Lei Ting Continent, so he looks down a bit on such an ordinary Beastfolk squad.

It seems the ambush Lin Ling requested isn't as hard as he thought.

Being a War General who takes orders directly from the Cangqiong Lord, he cannot secretly mobilize his legion, but to support his Wife Master, he can covertly bring brave Beastfolk warriors for a quick, decisive strike, provided it doesn't get aired before the lord.

Regarding the female's suggestion to eliminate a squad emerging from Kuangsha City, he considers it a very easy task.

Diao Yi reached out and embraced the soft, fragrant female, recalling a muddy scene of the two together, and said firmly, "Don't be sad; I'll go take care of this trouble for you."

Lin Ling leaned in Diao Yi's arms, looking up tenderly, "I could get this far thanks to you; you must also return safely this time. When I become the Great Witch, I will Bond with you."

In an instant, Diao Yi said without fear, "For our future, I won't disappoint you."

Even if it means risking the death penalty for secretly moving troops under the Cangqiong Lord's nose, as long as Lin Ling becomes the Great Witch and pleads for him afterward, he would only lose his influence on the Lei Ting Continent; as long as his life is spared, he'll stay by Lin Ling forever.

He is willing!

…

The rolling mountainous forest, drenched in heavy rain, was shrouded by dense black clouds that blocked out any light.

Torrential rain hammered the thick underbrush, which crackled under the downpour, as a thousand‑person contingent silently marched through the endless mountains.

At the front, a massive elephant and a water buffalo each bore a small house‑like carriage; as they moved, wet foliage constantly brushed against the carriage walls on their backs.

They did not stop for shelter, pressing on under raincoats made of Exotic Beast Skin.

After all, the Lei Ting Continent is currently in the rainy season before the drought, not as relentless as the month‑long downpour near Ansen City's Rosanya tribe, but it still rains two out of every three days.

Lin Manzhi, dizzy and reeling in the carriage atop the elephant, was embraced by Mo Lie.

The black‑haired male Beastfolk's strong arm clutched her waist, trapping her in an inescapable wet kiss.

He traced the other's warm, soft skin with lips and tongue, from the slender, fair neck down to the disheveled collar of the clothing, kissing slowly, inch by inch.

Lin Manzhi's eyelashes fluttered, her rapid breathing made her chest rise and fall, and she reached out to push him, but couldn't move him.

She lowered her head, looking at the man who was ravaging her, leaned close and bit the tip of his ear.

Mo Lie froze as a warm, sharp pain shot through his ear, making him halt.

The next second, Lin Manzhi seized the chance, leapt up from Mo Lie's embrace, stepped back several large strides until her back pressed against the cool carriage wall.

In this cramped carriage, barely large enough for a two‑meter bed, the tear‑filled Lin Manzhi gasped, glaring warily at someone:

"Keep this distance; you must not come any closer to me!"

Mo Lie innocently softened his voice: "Why? Zhi Zhi, are you starting to dislike me? I just wanted to kiss you."