Chapter 92: Listen to Her

He probably can't come over to eat together.

Hearing Mo Lie's answer behind her, Lin Manzhi was startled, turned at the doorway and asked, "Why can't he come over…".

Halfway through speaking, Lin Manzhi was so distracted by the scene in her sight that she almost had to ask herself what it was.

She saw a tall, handsome male beast standing inside the house, specks of fragmented sunlight scattering from above his head; he was half‑naked above the waist, his chest and abdominal muscles neither too thick nor too thin, his waist lean and strong.

He showed no sign of discomfort at being seen, lifted his hand and leisurely put on his linen robe, his sapphire‑like eyes brighter than starlight, a smile at his lips: "He doesn't have an Ansen City identification badge."

If he suddenly appears in a small border tribe, once discovered he'll be treated as an enemy, prompting the border garrison to come for inspection and pursuit.

Y‑you, why didn't you go behind the leather curtain to change clothes!

Lin Manzhi averted her gaze, asking herself internally, but Mo Lie in front of her seemed too natural, and he wasn't completely naked, so asking like that would make her seem too deliberate, right?

Don't panic.

She calmly shifted her gaze back to the male inside, watching Mo Lie use his almost pale, slender fingers to tighten the long robe at his waist, his tone rising slightly: "Where is Hua Zheng now? We'll deliver some food and water to him later."

Mo Lie, having dressed, walked toward Lin Manzhi: "I've placed him in the courtyard beside us."

He reached out to lift the brown leather curtain hanging at the doorway for Lin Manzhi, slightly turning his body, "He arrived late last night, so he should still be sleeping. Zhi Zhi, you don't need to worry about him; leave it to me to handle."

Lin Manzhi nodded, walked out of the house, and headed upstairs.

Come to think of it, after traveling for several days, a good rest is indeed necessary.

Hua Zheng wasn't brought here by Ansen City's warrior squad; everyone in the tribe knows the lord's warrior squad, so she and Mo Lie can settle here quite easily.

The tribe is small and rarely has outsiders; the Beastfolk living here have almost all been seen. If a stranger as powerful as Hua Zheng, a male beast, appeared here, he'd be instantly recognized as not a Beastfolk of the tribe.

Therefore, he can't appear during the day; when he needs to travel out of the city, he does so at night.

Lin Manzhi stopped worrying about it and let Mo Lie arrange things for her subordinate.

The two walked to the kitchen; after washing up, Lin Manzhi went to the backyard to tend the few jars of lettuce in the vegetable greenhouse made of leather, while Mo Lie cooked by the mud stove.

Following the dish Lin Manzhi made last time, today she prepared a light breakfast for the little female who hadn't eaten much this morning.

The lettuce, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes in the bowl were washed clean; Mo Lie, knife in hand, swiftly sliced the cucumber into thin pieces and returned them to the bowl, sprinkling some salt to pickle.

Then he boiled two potatoes, peeled and mashed them, squeezed the excess water from the cucumbers, added a spoonful of oil refined by Lin Manzhi, and stirred evenly.

This entirely vegan dish called potato salad mash wasn't to Mo Lie's liking, so he made only a portion just enough for Lin Manzhi; when he saw her emerge from the greenhouse, he sliced a few bright red cherry tomatoes onto the potato mash and handed it over.

Lin Manzhi took it, scooped a mouthful with a spoon; the creamy potato mash mixed with green cucumber slices, the pickled cucumber, after being squeezed dry, was crisp, with a faint salty taste—only missing bits of ham sausage and egg, which would have made it even better.

Lin Manzhi sat on the leather curtain, eating bite after bite.

After preparing the meal for the female, it was easy; Mo Lie took some meat jerky, placed it on a plate, shaved it into bite‑sized strips with a knife, and served it with raw vegetables.

After breakfast, Mo Lie glanced at the sky, got up, and prepared to deliver food to Hua Zheng.

She thought, "Just carrying a bag of meat jerky and water, it's a bit dry, right?" Lin Manzhi realized that the original story treated Hua Zheng as if he were a person, and also considered that they'd have to rely on the flower leopard to carry her and Mo Lie across the desert.

She chopped the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and lettuce, added oil and salt to make a vegetable salad, thought about coordinating the departure time to Kuangsha City, and simply went along with Mo Lie to deliver it to Hua Zheng.

Hua Zheng knew lettuce was a big deal; Mo Lie, however, didn't hide in this unguarded place, and, taking the little female while it was still early, entered the neighboring house.

The sleeping Hua Zheng's ears twitched; hearing the courtyard gate move, he woke immediately and saw Mo Lie and Lin Manzhi carrying things into the house.

He sat up against the wall, and at first glance saw the dish Mo Lie brought—plants mixed with red fruit—without noticing Lin Manzhi wrapped in a cloak beside him.

"…What is this?" Hua Zheng asked blankly.

The weather is scorching, and in the tribe one can barely see a hint of green; this pot of fresh leafy vegetables and fruits before them is extremely rare and precious, even the pheromone females in Kuangsha City's dining tables seldom see such vegetables, yet here it appears in a pot in a dilapidated courtyard.

Hua Zheng rubbed his eyes hard, doubting whether he had seen incorrectly.

"Don't ask so many questions." Mo Lie calmly lowered his gaze, studying the flower leopard who stared dumbfounded at the vegetable salad.

Lin Manzhi, smiling, stood nearby and said, "This time's product we want to sell, give it a try."

Hua Zheng lifted his head from the vegetables, eyes sparkling with surprise as he looked at Lin Manzhi, "Wooden Female! Long time no see."

Lin Manzhi's black eyes, visible from beneath the linen headscarf, curved in a smile, "Long time no see."

Mo Lie gave Hua Zheng a cool glance.

Hua Zheng felt a chill, looked away from the Wooden Female, lowered his head to start eating, and asked, "Master, what are your plans next? Are you moving to Kuangsha City? I've already arranged a place there that's safer than here."

Mo Lie remained silent, looking toward Lin Manzhi beside him.

Lin Manzhi: "The lettuce at home is ready; we plan to go to Kuangsha City in the next few days. As for moving…"

The male beasts in Kuangsha City are stronger; if Mo Lie's body hasn't recovered much before moving there, and she sells lettuce—a sky‑high priced food—she fears they'll target her.

It's better to stay in the Rosanya tribe; the male beasts here are generally weak, no one dares to intrude on one's courtyard, and the lettuce matter can stay hidden.

She smiled, "We'll talk about it later; for now we'll stay in this tribe."

Hua Zheng clutched a plate of vegetable salad, ate hungrily, his eyes growing brighter with each bite.

What's this red thing! It's tastier than sweet fruit, and this green‑white root, crunchy and fragrant, so satisfying!

For Mo Lie, who eats such fresh vegetables daily, tasting again food rich in relaxing spirit core, Hua Zheng only felt a comforting sensation rising from his soul.

Hua Zheng, accustomed to obeying orders, saw Mo Lie had no objection, and also had no objection to Lin Manzhi's words.