Chapter 69: Arrangement

Ning Tie didn't want to die, so Ning Tie immediately reverted to Human Form, covering the injured eye and weeping: "I'll give you the boss's position; from now on the Iron Claw Gang will be yours. With your skill you surely won't be satisfied with just the Iron Claw Gang. I'm pretty capable; keep me, and I'll obey everything you, the boss, say from now on."

Hua Zheng pondered.

The words struck the exact chord in his heart; to establish a foothold in Kuangsha City, the Iron Claw Gang's Snake Cat Beasts alone would certainly be insufficient, and the Ning Tie before him was the strongest fighter in the Iron Claw Gang.

In recent years their killing and looting has become a microcosm of all the beasts in Kuangsha City; because Kuangsha City has no lord, it adapts to the Lin's rule of survival even more than any territory that does have a lord.

He weighed the pros and cons of keeping the former boss, and when he looked up, he saw a silhouette on the tip of a hill that merged with the darkness.

Hua Zheng saw Mo Lie approaching, and habitually turned to his master for a decision; a roar of a Flower Leopard echoed across the desert: "Master, Ning Tie wants to stay and serve you; do you want—"

The Iron Claw Gang's beasts chattered each other's names of the new boss Hua Zheng, and upon hearing Hua Zheng's words they turned their bewildered faces toward the hill.

The Flower Leopard's voice boomed like thunder, drawing everyone present to look, and Lin Manzhi was startled.

In the darkness, the specks of fire were invisible; only a group of Human Forms could be seen. Though they looked like familiar humans, their eyes shone like green beast lights in the night.

How terrifying, just like stumbling upon a wolf pack in the desert at night.

Lin Manzhi bit her lower lip.

She leaned to the side and grabbed Mo Lie's collar.

Mo Lie's tall figure took two steps forward to the tip of the desert hill, shielding Lin Manzhi's silhouette solidly; from behind, a slender white hand reached out and grasped the hand of the Little Female who had tugged his collar.

His deep‑blue eyes flickered with a faint light, his pale lips curled slightly upward, looking in good spirits.

He didn't hide his being discovered, and he didn't really care how many of the Iron Claw Gang stayed.

Not far away, a male voice drifted down from a dark height, casual yet calm and cold: "Those who are willing to submit may stay; those unwilling to submit die."

He exuded no aura of power; the Iron Claw Gang below twisted into horrified faces, but because of the new boss Hua Zheng's stance, no one shouted back for the time being.

"You…" Ning Tie's single eye stared fixedly upward, his mouth opening to curse Hua Zheng as someone else's lapdog; realizing his fate now lay in another's hands, his survival instinct sharpened his mind.

He immediately knelt before the distant black silhouette: "Ning Tie is honored to follow you; from now on I will obey all your commands!"

Hua Zheng let out a low growl, his eyes full of killing intent sweeping over the silent Iron Claw Gang members affected by the turn of events, "My master's words are my words; you decide!"

The more than fifty beasts present wore grim expressions, thinking that if they left the Iron Claw Gang to join another faction in Kuangsha City, they would have to start over, and life wouldn't be any better than in the Iron Claw Gang.

Moreover, Hua Zheng is far stronger than Ning Tie; following the new boss means they can seize more, and their territory will expand!

"I'll follow the new boss's words!"

"Yes, yes, I'll listen too."

"The Iron Claw Gang is my home; I won't leave my home…"

Putting all matters first, they didn't want to leave and began, sparsely but excitedly, each pledging loyalty to Hua Zheng.

Standing behind Mo Lie, Lin Manzhi felt an indescribable emotion: "……"

Indeed, Hua Zheng is also a warrior notable enough to be listed in the Dark Forest City Lord's Mansion; having stayed in the Iron Claw Gang so long, winning the hearts of those beneath him is straightforward.

A short while later, the newly appointed Iron Claw Gang boss Hua Zheng rushed over, placing one hand on his left chest, bowing to Mo Lie in a warrior's salute, his voice trembling with excitement: "Master, the Iron Claw Gang has fulfilled your orders and secured it for you."

Lin Manzhi heard Hua Zheng's voice, and the hand she was quietly holding behind Mo Lie's back did not move.

"Well done." Mo Lie praised without expression, "Next, you'll lead them back to Kuangsha City to deal with the remnants, and swiftly bring the Iron Claw Gang's power fully under control."

"Yes." Hua Zheng replied promptly.

Hearing Mo Lie's praise, he felt delighted, looked up at the master before him and said, "I'll first escort you and the Wooden Female back; after I return to Kuangsha City, I'll settle all Iron Claw Gang matters."

Mo Lie half‑squinted his deep‑blue eyes, scanning the beasts below the sand hill; an inexplicable light flashed in his eyes and vanished:

He turned, leading Lin Manzhi slowly down, leaving the view of those below the hill, and without looking back said, "No need. You've just become the new leader of the Iron Claw Gang; first go with them back to Kuangsha City. I don't want any more complications."

Hua Zheng earnestly expressed his dilemma: "You're carrying a bunch of luggage… how will you leave?" Must you carry it yourself?

Lin Manzhi's eyelid twitched.

She walked beside Mo Lie, gently shaking his hand, leaning in to whisper, "Don't use Beast Form now; otherwise, shall we stay a few more days after returning to Kuangsha City?"

Even if this is on the way, it's only been about half a day; with Mo Lie injured and unable to use Beast Form, he'd have to carry her and all that food, walking a day and a half through the desert.

She worried that Mo Lie might collapse again; even though she now held two doses of Spirit Core‑restoring elixir, she knew that over‑using a fractured Spirit Core was extremely harmful.

Hua Zheng, walking beside them, nodded earnestly and said, "The Wooden Female is right; if you fear further trouble, why not come back to Kuangsha City with me first? I'll clear a private courtyard in the Iron Claw Gang for you and the Wooden Female to rest."

Mo Lie kept moving, his long arm reaching out to pull the slowly walking Lin Manzhi in the darkness into his embrace, his hand encircling her waist as they moved forward.

"Kuangsha City is no longer a safe place for you and me; the Iron Claw Gang's safety here is not as important as yours. Until the Iron Claw Gang's power fully returns to us, I don't want to expose you publicly, lest the people of Wushen Temple notice you. Let's first return to the Ansen City territory."

Lin Manzhi's heart skipped a beat.

Being valued by someone feels warm.

After answering Lin Manzhi, Mo Lie spoke again, the earlier hint of softness receded, and his voice turned cold: "Leave the cart frame of the Merchant Caravan; go and bring the luggage over, then go ahead and lead the Iron Claw Gang members away."

Hua Zheng, hearing that his master had not changed his mind, sighed helplessly, thinking that as long as Mo Lie doesn't force the damaging Beast Form method, there's no need to persuade further.