Chapter 399: Relocation

"How did she get in! Where is the Guard Team? Where is the barrier? Is everything gone?"

"How could this happen, the days were just getting a little better, and humans have come again…"

"Will there be war again? When will Sister Lang Jiu be able to bring the king back?"

Cheng Shuili's ears are sharp; the wolf clan beastmen's clamor of opinions and the low sobbing sounds reach her ears.

They are obviously nervous and scared, assuming Cheng Shuili is an invader, here to cause destruction.

But…

She is their king, after all.

Cheng Shuili sighed, about to draw the wolf tooth, when Lang Jiu arrived hurriedly with the Guard Team's werewolves.

The previously panicked wolf clan beastmen, as if they had seen their backbone, straightened their backs one by one, waiting to see what fate would befall this stinky human, but then they saw their all‑powerful Guard Team leader Lang Jiu kneel before the human.

She didn't just kneel; she also bowed her head heavily!

Now all the wolf clan beastmen were stunned.

The fiercest young beastman just now stepped forward, stammering, "Jiu… Jiu'er sister, you, what are you doing?"

Cheng Shuili looked at the kneeling Lang Jiu, took the wolf tooth symbolizing the wolf king's authority from her pocket, and held it aloft.

In the sunlight, the simple wolf tooth glowed with a warm sheen, and an invisible, imposing aura instantly spread, overwhelming all the clamor and unease in the area.

"Wolf king's token!"

An elderly wolf clan beastman let out a startled cry, his cloudy eyes bulging.

"It's really a wolf tooth! Exactly the same as the one carved on the altar!"

"King... she is our king?!"

Incredulous whispers spread quickly through the wolf clan, the previously hostile and fearful gazes now replaced by shock, bewilderment, and a hint of rising fervor.

Lang Jiu lifted his head, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, yet clearly echoing across the venue: "Salute my king! I am Lang Jiu, the Wolf Clan's Third Guard Team Leader, respectfully welcoming the king's arrival to the wolf clan territory!"

Behind her, the Guard Team members followed in unison, kneeling on one knee, heads bowed in salute, their movements synchronized, exuding the efficiency and loyalty characteristic of soldiers.

With that, there was no longer any doubt.

After a brief deathly silence, like a tide washing over the beach, every wolf clan beastman in the village, young and old, knelt and paid homage toward Cheng Shuili.

The young werewolf who had previously threatened Cheng Shuili now buried his head even lower, his body trembling slightly, both out of lingering fear and supreme reverence.

"Salute my king!"

"Respectfully welcome the king!"

The shouts were initially chaotic, but soon merged into a torrent, resonating across the barren land.

Many old werewolves were moved to tears; they had waited far too long for a king who could lead the wolf clan out of hardship.

Cheng Shuili inhaled deeply, feeling the faint warmth from the wolf tooth in her hand and the hopeful gazes of nearly a thousand wolf clan subjects.

She spoke calmly, her voice clear to every wolf clan beastman's ear: "Everyone, stand up."

The wolf clan beastmen rose as instructed, yet still stood with hands lowered respectfully, daring not to look directly.

Cheng Shuili looked at the still‑kneeling Lang Jiu, her tone softened: "Lang Jiu, you also stand. Lead me to see the situation here."

"Yes, king!" Lang Jiu rose briskly, stepping aside to guide, "King, please follow me."

Surrounded by Lang Jiu and the Guard Team, Cheng Shuili began to survey this territory that was hers yet her first step upon.

The deeper she went, the tighter her brows knit.

The situation was worse than she had imagined.

The houses were low and dilapidated, many barely able to shield against wind and rain.

The beastmen were sallow and gaunt, especially the pups, showing obvious malnutrition.

The land was barren, scarcely any decent crops, only a few hardy root vegetables scattered sparsely.

Resources were depleted to the extreme.

"King, our wolf clan's territory… has always been like this," Lang Jiu said with deep resignation and shame, "During the reigns of the previous… several wolf kings, the situation kept worsening, and by the time we realized, it was already beyond repair."

Cheng Shuili nodded, offering no extensive comment on the predecessors; if that old man had been reliable, the wolf tooth wouldn't have fallen into her hands. She simply asked, "What are the main difficulties?"

"First, the soil—salinization is severe, good crops won't grow. Second, water sources: only a deep well, its output barely enough for drinking, far insufficient for irrigation. Lastly… trade. Our wolf clan's reputation is poor; other races refuse to trade with us, forcing us to exchange low‑priced pelts and salt‑iron for scant food, and we are further exploited at every turn."

Cheng Shuili listened silently, already weighing options in her mind.

This land simply cannot sustain these wolf clan beastmen; even if the old wolf's solution is useful, it would only be a short‑term improvement.

To solve the wolf clan's fundamental problem, they must start with a larger territory.

Coincidentally, Black Feather currently lacks both manpower and resources.

Although this wolf clan territory is barren, it does have a stable output.

Pelts and salt‑iron are also essential goods; the former can be made into clothing, the latter is needed by a tavern and a blacksmith shop.

If a steady supply can be provided, it would also be a boon for Black Feather.

But before making a decision, she needs to fully understand the wolf clan's situation.

Cheng Shuili halted, looked at Lang Jiu and the surrounding clan members staring at her, then turned back to Lang Jiu: "How many beastmen does the wolf clan have in total?"

Lang Jiu immediately straightened his back and replied respectfully: "Reporting to the king, the wolf clan currently has 273 members, about seventy percent of whom are prime‑aged, while the pups and the weak elderly make up the remaining thirty percent."

Cheng Shuili gave a slight nod; this number was far fewer than she had expected, yet nearly two hundred are able to work, enough to sustain a safe zone.

Her gaze swept over the surrounding ruin, and she quickly reached a decision.

"I have good news."

She announced loudly, her voice clear to every wolf clan beastman's ear, "Your king, that is, me, has established a brand‑new safe zone."

Her words were like a stone tossed onto a calm lake, sending ripples through the wolf clan; the beastmen exchanged glances, their eyes showing both confusion and a faint hope.

"Safe zone?" a senior werewolf murmured, "Is it human territory?"

Cheng Shuili shook her head slightly, her gaze sweeping the crowd: "No, that belongs to my domain, our own territory."

These two explanations differ fundamentally.

The wolf clan beastmen were initially hesitant and fearful, but upon hearing it was the king's domain, pride and resolve instantly returned to their faces.

Cheng Shuili continued, "There, the soil is fertile, the water abundant, there is no hunger, and no endless conflict."

She paused, letting the news settle in the hearts of the clan members for a moment.

"More importantly, that place welcomes all races willing to abide by the rules. The Wolf Clan will there receive the respect and equal trading rights they deserve."

A suppressed gasp rose from the crowd.

Equal trade?

To the Wolf Clan, long excluded from the mainstream trading circles, that is nothing short of a pipe dream.

Lang Jiu stood beside Cheng Shuili, her eyes filled only with complexity.

She understood the Wolf Clan's current plight more than anyone, and grasped the weight of this promise more than anyone.

"King," Lang Jiu whispered, her voice audible only to the two of them, "Is what you say true? Can the Wolf Clan really......"

"I can understand your doubts."

Cheng Shuili raised her voice, cutting off the murmurs rising in the hall, "But I, as the wolf king, assure you this is not an empty promise."

She lifted the wolf fang in her hand; in the sunlight, the fang glowed even more brilliantly.

"I give you the right to choose."

Cheng Shuili said, "Those willing to follow me to the Safe Zone will depart in half an hour. Those who choose to stay, I will also do everything I can to improve the living conditions here."

As soon as the words fell, the young werewolf who had previously threatened Cheng Shuili stepped forward, kneeling on one knee: "King! I am Lang Qing, a new recruit of the First Guard Team! I am willing to follow you!"

His action was like a signal.

"I also am willing!"

"Take your whole family with you!"

"King, we believe in you!"

Pledges rose one after another, and more and more werewolves knelt in loyalty.

In the end, the ground was covered with a tidy line of kneeling bodies.

Black Feather does not favor this kind of kneeling ceremony, but for these wolf clan beastmen, the deeply rooted habit is not so easy to change.

Cheng Shuili personally helped Lang Jiu to her feet, then ordered her to lift each kneeling beastman from the ground, only then did she begin to explain Black Feather's situation.

When the beastmen heard about the endless fields, they suddenly realized, "Is the land we saw last night actually the king's domain?"

Cheng Shuili was slightly startled by the words, then understood.

It seemed those footprints were left by these wolf clan beastmen.

"Exactly, that is Hei Yu An Quan Qu," she affirmed, "What you see are our fields."

A gasp rose among the wolf clan beastmen.

So much land, so many plants—if we could harvest them, if we could live there…

"King," a young werewolf couldn't help asking, "Can we… can we also farm there?"

The question was so naive that Cheng Shuili almost laughed.

Labor has never been a happy thing, yet for these wolf clan beastmen it seemed like a pie falling from the sky.

Cheng Shuili looked at those yearning young eyes, a trace of bitterness rose in her heart.

She scanned the surroundings and found almost every wolf clan beastman holding their breath, awaiting her answer.

Fine, these people are now following her.

She enjoyed the wolf clan's loyalty, resources, and information; she should also bear responsibility for these wolf clan beastmen.

"Of course you can."

Cheng Shuili's voice was unusually gentle.

"In Black Feather, anyone willing to work can obtain food and shelter. We have fertile fields that need hands to till. We have a camp under expansion that needs craftsmen. We also have restaurants and blacksmith shops that need various apprentices. Every wolf willing to labor can find their place there and receive the rightful reward."

She looked at the eyes gradually lighting up before her, continuing to paint a concrete and realistic picture: "The Safe Zone operates a contribution point system. Whether farming, building, patrolling, or other work, contribution points are recorded. Contribution points, like Game Coin, can be used within the Safe Zone to purchase anything."

These words were more persuasive than any hollow promise.

"We are willing to go!"

"King, lead us away!"

The cries grew hotter and more resolute.

Cheng Shuili's gaze swept over their faces, then she nodded, "Lang Jiu, where are the other Patrol Team members?"

Lang Jiu lowered her head and replied, "Today the Third Patrol Team is stationed near the domain, while the First and Second Patrol Teams are out hunting and likely won't return until nightfall."

Cheng Shuili understood; she had originally thought the wolf clan's pelts were their own production, and now realized they must come from hunted prey.

"Then there's no rush. You now have enough time to return home and pack your belongings; you may bring everything to live in Black Feather."

Cheng Shuili said, her brow furrowing again; those few had already delayed too long, and if she returned without finishing the city plan, those werewolves would be left homeless tonight.

Thinking of this, Cheng Shuili opened a private chat and sent a threatening message to Guang Hui.

Guang Hui, upon receiving the message: "???"

Though unclear about what happened, he followed Lao Da's orders.

He hurried nonstop to the domain, and upon seeing those few bald men muttering, he finally understood Lao Da's meaning.

Putting aside the matters here, on the other side, Xinxue's hair was about to fall out from worry.

The Safe Zone was completed, and the workload multiplied.

Logically she is also a senior of Black Feather, so she shouldn't have to handle everything personally; Lao Da indeed brought her a batch of people.

But these people are all novices, and novices mean they need training!

Thus Xinxue's workload not only didn't decrease, it seemed to double as she had to train these newcomers.

Work was already busy, and when she encountered one or two unreasonable subordinates, Xinxue was completely overwhelmed.

She stared at the prices of medical supplies on the trading channel for a while, thought it over carefully, and felt that stockpiling goods still shouldn't be her responsibility.

The ID Xin Xue Chuji is too conspicuous, with too many labels attached — a member of Black Feather, a lackey of Wu Ya.

She is now completely a weather vane; whatever she purchases, a group of people follows and buys the same.

Although she no longer relies much on buying low and selling high to make money, one shouldn't forget one's roots; her original line of work that brought her wealth must absolutely not be abandoned.

Xinxue pondered for a moment, feeling it was time to cultivate a second Xinxue.

As for the candidate…

Her gaze swept over the few newcomers following her, and when she saw Bing Meishi, her eyes lit up suddenly.

Bing Meishi is practically a ready-made candidate, right?!

Having just finished coordinating a matter, Bing Meishi raised their head, and saw Xinxue's fiery gaze; if it weren't for Bing Meishi knowing the third-in-command's sexual orientation, they would have thought Xinxue was interested in them.

Speaking of the third-in-command, Bing Meishi fell into thought again.

Everyone knows Wu Ya is undoubtedly the boss, but when ranking further down, the order among the few of them gets a bit fuzzy.