Chapter 70: Going Home

Hua Zheng knew Mo Lie's current residence, and after acknowledging said, "Then after I finish dealing with the Iron Claw Gang, I'll go to the desert near the Luosangya tribe to report to you."

Mo Lie nodded.

Having arranged a rendezvous point with Hua Zheng, after he took care of his business, he would secretly go to the Luosangya tribe to find him.

Lin Manzhi had no objection to Mo Lie's arrangement, and did not voice any further protest.

The Luosangya tribe, as a border tribe of Ansen City, has a Beastfolk army garrison of Ansen City stationed nearby, guarding only a crucial crossroads.

But the desert is vast, and there are many border tribes, so the Luosangya tribe is quite relaxed; the massive Rock Giant Wall entering the tribe has essentially no Beastfolk troops stationed.

After discussing the upcoming plans, the three quickly returned to the spot where they had left their luggage; Hua Zheng hoisted the luggage on his back, and together with Lin Manzhi they went back to the sand dunes, fetched the empty cart frame that held the goods, and carried it up.

Hua Zheng returned, soon leading over fifty Beastfolk from the Iron Claw Gang with food to leave this place; the desert quickly fell quiet again, only a faint scent of blood lingered, a reminder of the harshness of this lordless desert.

When Hua Zheng and his men departed, Mo Lie also prepared to set out back during the cool night, and went downstairs to retrieve the cart frame Hua Zheng had left.

Lin Manzhi followed Mo Lie as he pushed onto the now‑quiet sand, and by the weak firelight, her eyes lit up at the haphazardly scattered cart frames on the desert.

The merchant caravan's cargo frames resemble handcarts, except the two wheels on the chassis are replaced by long wooden planks like skis, making them better suited for sliding over sand.

The rectangular panel of the frame has three low sideboards; only the front lacks a board. On both sides of the front, a long wooden pole protrudes, used to tie to a Beastfolk for securing.

Custom‑made for the local Beastfolk's Beast Form, this frame is about the size of a small freight cart, easily accommodating six large sacks of Meat Jerky plus three Water Cellars.

Mo Lie moved the luggage into the frame, walked to the front, grasped the long pole of the frame and lifted it; the goods slid down the slightly inclined board toward the back, landing on the bottom board.

Mo Lie pulled it forward a few steps to test the feel; the wood at the frame's base was very smooth, dragging across the sand with little resistance, much easier than he had imagined.

He stopped, pulled down his headscarf; his black hair was slightly disheveled, and as he turned his head, the firelight revealed his sharp jawline softened with a hint of warmth.

He set the pole down, tilted his head slightly toward Lin Manzhi at the frame, and said, "Come up. Traveling with this frame is a bit slower than the merchant caravan, but we'll still reach home in five days."

Standing beside the frame, Lin Manzhi glanced inside; the cargo filled most of it, leaving only a small area at the front. With her size, she could sit there without taking much space, even lie down.

She was about to climb up when she saw Mo Lie, whose stature was much smaller compared to the frame, and paused, saying, "The luggage is already heavy enough; I'll walk beside you."

Hearing Little Female's words, Mo Lie turned toward Lin Manzhi, his expression melting like a snow‑capped mountain, and in his deep voice a hint of amusement, "I've tried—it's very light; in Beast Form I wouldn't need this hassle at all."

He curled a finger and tapped the protruding pole lightly, his face bearing an indescribable expression, "Unfortunately, now I can only use this method to bring my female; Zhi Zhi, don't despise me."

"How could I despise you! I'm just afraid you'll be tired." Lin Manzhi's eyebrows lifted, she quickly interrupted his recollection of scars, then walked to the frame and climbed in.

She was overthinking; whether by day or night, relying on her own feet to walk through the desert, she had no idea how many days it would take to return.

Moreover, she understood that the male beasts here take pride in carrying their females in Beast Form; she and Mo Lie had always interacted in human form, sometimes forgetting that Mo Lie himself is a powerful Beastfolk of his race.

"Is that so?" Mo Lie chuckled lightly, raising an eyebrow; his dark blue eyes fell on Lin Manzhi, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, "Zhi Zhi, I've noted everything you said."

Saying that, he grasped the pole again, lifted his head to check the direction, and walked toward a point in the desert.

Lin Manzhi sat in the slightly rear‑tilted frame, the cargo behind her preventing her from sliding down; in the dimming firelight, she looked toward the silhouette of the male beast pulling the cart ahead.

Was I just having a normal conversation just now?

Why did the topic drift into something a bit ambiguous?

……

Even without the camel Beastfolk mounts of the merchant caravan, Mo Lie's imposing presence was still quite effective; the journey went smoothly, encountering no robber gangs trying to steal.

However, the two took more rest while traveling back, so the return speed was slower than the outbound trip; it took six days to get back to the Luosangya tribe, and they arrived near noon.

The air was a bit humid.

Mo Lie pushed the frame toward the entrance of the Rock Giant Wall, sighing in relief; the rainy season was about to arrive within two days, and fortunately he had brought Little Female back before the rain.

Lin Manzhi sat on the cart, her back against a sack of Meat Jerky, her feet dangling in the air.

She tilted her head slightly forward, and beneath the thick, light‑blocking yet cool headscarf, her unveiled skin was as white and luminous as a pearl.

At the gap in the tribe's Rock Giant Wall, a hunting party of six Beastfolk walked up from behind; Lin Manzhi heard the movement and looked up.

They were Beastfolk of the Luosangya tribe; this time they had captured little prey, only carrying two Exotic Beasts she had seen before forward.

As the six passed, they immediately recognized the now‑famous Lin Manzhi and Mo Lie in the tribe, the male beast who taught everyone to build Water Cellars and killed the hunting team leader Lang Cang.

The six quickened their pace, easily overtaking the leisurely Mo Lie pushing the frame; Cichuan and Cihe saw the joy on Lin Manzhi's face and wanted to greet her, but since Mo Lie was there, they followed the hunting party.

Thus, when Lin Manzhi returned home and saw Xi Tao in the courtyard wearing a teal robe, he exclaimed with surprise and urgency, "Lin Manzhi! Where have you been these past days? I came looking for you a few days ago but couldn't find you; I heard you went with the Luo Lai Caravan?"

Lin Manzhi jumped down from the frame; there was nothing to hide, as the tribe's chieftains all knew that the Luo Lai Caravan had hired Mo Lie as a guard.

She smiled, "Yes, I've been with the caravan to Kuangsha City these past few days."

"Oh." Xi Tao exhaled heavily, "I heard you wanted to go to Kuangsha City, and I didn't expect you could actually join the Luo Lai Caravan. Traveling through the desert must be exhausting, right? I once went out of the tribe with Cihe and nearly died of heat…"