The wicked female is extremely fierce, but she's pampered by her seven beast husbands.

Chapter 283 The Vicious Dog Submits
Although there were no Crane Clan warriors among the Beast City's warriors, there were Stone Forest warriors, so upon seeing Bai Qingyu, they immediately ordered her to pass.

As the city gate slowly opened, Bai Qingyu returned to human form, her figure stretching endlessly beneath the gate's opening.

He slowly walked into the city, looked up at the giant forest that covered the entire city, and was unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

Since the city's founding period, he had basically never been here before, so he was completely unfamiliar with the city in front of him and didn't know which direction to go for a moment.

But before he could decide which way to go, a familiar figure walked towards him.

Lin Jing, carrying a bow and arrows, emerged from the shadows beneath the city wall. Upon seeing Bai Qingyu's back, he paused for a moment, then walked over and patted Bai Qingyu on the shoulder: "When did you get back? Didn't the hunting team from Shilin say they wouldn't arrive until the day after tomorrow?"

Bai Qingyu instinctively stepped aside, but upon discovering that it was a snake clan warrior, he frowned slightly: "What are you doing here?"

Lin Jing realized his aloofness and did not step forward again. Instead, he explained, "A few days ago, the Uga tribe led several thousand warriors to try to seize the city. The defenses of Beast City were weak, so our chieftain led the tribe's warriors to help surround and suppress them. The Stone Forest hunting team has not yet returned, and there are still more than two thousand prisoners in the city. Our warriors are also helping to guard them, so of course I am here."

Bai Qingyu said in a deep voice, "Seize the city? What about En'en? Is she alright?"

Seeing that his expression suddenly became anxious, and that he even tried to grab him, Lin Jing immediately took a step back and raised her hand to block him: "Don't be in such a hurry, I haven't finished speaking yet."

“You know what abilities the young clan leader of Shilin is capable of, and our clan leader is here as well, along with her two beast husbands and your brother. How could anything happen to her?”

"However, in order to repel the enemy, Young Clan Chief Ling chose to set fire, so her burns were a bit severe. But with Yu Heng's treatment, her injuries should be fully healed by now. However, perhaps due to excessive consumption of her supernatural power, she fell into a deep sleep after the encirclement and annihilation of that group of fleeing enemies. She has been asleep for three or four days now, and I don't know if she has woken up today."

"The young clan leader Ling has been placed in the City Lord's Mansion. If you walk straight along this road, you will find the City Lord's Mansion. It's on the right-hand side of this road. The entrance is very large, and there are words on it. There are stone carvings at the entrance, so it's easy to spot."

Bai Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and asked, "Is your clan leader also in the city?"

Lin Jing nodded and said, "Yes, he's over at the POW camp."

"The number of prisoners of war captured this time is too large. Without high-ranking soldiers to keep order, things may get out of hand."

Although Bai Qingyu harbors some resentment towards the snake clan because of Chang Tianchen, she is clear-headed when it comes to matters of principle.

After thanking Lin Jing, he quickly walked forward.

Because the city of ten thousand beasts is full of giant trees with gnarled roots, it is not suitable for the large Moonfeather Azure Crane to fly, so he can only walk forward in a proper manner.

As soon as Ling Chengen stepped out of the City Lord's Mansion, she sensed a long-lost aura. After releasing her spiritual power, she was clearly stunned for a few seconds. Chongzhen, who was carrying things and crossing the threshold, saw her suddenly stop and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Did you forget something?"

Ling Chengen shook his head, belatedly realizing, "My superpower seems to have become stronger; it should be at level thirteen now."

Chongzhen stood beside her, stunned for several seconds, then said with a normal expression, "This is normal, isn't it? You were already at the peak of the twelfth rank, and you could enter the thirteenth rank at any time. This breakthrough was a natural progression."

"Congratulations--"

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his head and looked towards the south side of the street.

A familiar figure came into view, and he frowned slightly, inwardly scoffing.

The most favored person has returned.

Ugh, so annoying! Why didn't they just spend more time outside?!
"Mmm—"

Upon seeing Ling Chengen's figure, Bai Qingyu's steps slowed down, as if she felt a sense of trepidation as she approached home.

Hearing his voice, Ling Chengen looked up and smiled: "You're back early?"

Bai Qingyu's figure suddenly disappeared from the spot and appeared in front of Ling Chengen in the blink of an eye. Standing on the steps below her, he reached out and hugged her, buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath.

The familiar scent instantly calmed his extremely anxious emotions.

Ling Chengen reached out and patted him on the back, touching his somewhat dry long hair. He tilted his head, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Bai Qingyu let out a soft sigh and shook her head, saying, "It's nothing, I just wanted to hug you."

Ling Chengen couldn't help but chuckle and said, "I didn't expect you to be so sentimental."

Bai Qingyu released his arms from her body, put his hand on her shoulder and looked her up and down: "I heard you were burned when I first came to the city. Is your injury healed?"

"Everything is fine."

“With Yuheng here, as long as it’s not a matter of life or death, he can cure it.”

He glanced at Chongzhen; the two of them seemed to be heading out. He grasped Ling Chengen's hand and asked, "Where are you going?"

Ling Chengen then remembered the important matter and said, "I plan to go and check on the POW camp. I just woke up, but we need to make arrangements for the POWs first, otherwise there might be trouble later. You go in first, pick a courtyard, take a shower, and rest for a while. We'll come back when we're done, and we can have dinner together then."

Bai Qingyu grasped her wrist, frowned, and said, "I'll go with you."

Chongzhen carried the things down the steps, looked back at the two of them who were still sticking together, and said, "Why don't you go inside and rest for a while? You came back a day early, aren't you tired? Besides, the rooms in the mansion are all empty, and I don't have time to prepare furniture for you. So after you choose a courtyard, you can decorate it yourself, otherwise you'll have to sleep on the floor tonight."

"Yu Shaochen is inside. You can go find him."

“He has basically moved all of your assets from Shilin to you, and he is in charge of all these things.”

Ling Chengen pulled his hand away from Ling Chengen's grasp and gently stroked Ling Chengen's cheek: "Go and rest. You look very tired. I'll call you when it's time to eat."

Bai Qingyu was still somewhat reluctant to part with her, but Ling Chengen had already made it very clear that if they continued to dawdle, she was afraid that Ling Chengen would become impatient.

So he slowly let go of her hand, watching the two leave one after the other, then walk side by side, occasionally turning their heads to talk about something, their figures getting farther and farther away until they disappeared.

Bai Qingyu stood on the steps, her eyes slightly lowered, feeling that some things were different from before they parted ways.

I wonder if it was his imagination.

With a sense of doubt, Bai Qingyu entered the city lord's mansion. Looking at the vast estate, he was momentarily at a loss.

We need to find Yu Shaochen, but where should we begin?

……

When Ling Chengen and Chong Zhen arrived at the prisoner-of-war camp in the north of the city, Chang Tianchen was sitting alone on a pile of wood. His long, rainbow-colored snake tail was hanging down beside him, with the tip of the tail swaying slowly in the air. Occasionally, it would curl up and tuck up. His upper body was leaning against the wood behind him. He looked lazy and relaxed, with his eyes lightly closed. He was wearing a slightly heavy light gray sealskin coat.

After Chongzhen and Ling Chengen approached, Chang Tianchen impatiently opened his eyes. He was about to curse when he met Ling Chengen's amused gaze. He sat up straight instantly and asked in surprise, "Why did you come here?"

Ling Chengen turned to look at the prisoners of war, who were bound hand and foot and huddled together in a group of twenty, and frowned, saying, "Is this how you've been guarding the prisoners of war these past few days?"

Chang Tianchen rested his chin on his hand, his eyes cold as he glanced at the prisoners of war, his gaze revealing a bloodthirsty edge: "I just don't understand why you told them not to kill the prisoners of war before you fell asleep."

“I can understand your interest in the Xiama tribe and your decision to stay. After all, these orcs are fast runners, and keeping them around can provide transportation.”

"But what use are these useless Greedy Hounds and Twilight Hound Beastmen, as well as those incredibly weak Crab-Eating Fox Clan and Half-Bears?"

“Keeping them is a waste of food, so it’s better to kill them all.” Ling Chengen tilted his head and said, “There are no useless people. In most cases, they are just not used in the right place.”

"The rat-beastmen are also useless in your eyes, but under Chongzhen's leadership, they built the City of Ten Thousand Beasts."

Chang Tianchen was refuted on the spot, pursed his lips, and did not argue further.

"Controlling these people isn't that simple. Be careful not to fall into a trap," Chang Tianchen kindly warned.

Ling Chengen turned his head and asked, "Are you going back to Snake Mountain during this time?"

Chang Tianchen sat atop a high pile of firewood, looked down into her clear eyes, and said with a smile, "That depends on what you think. I would be very willing to stay in your city, but you dislike me quite a bit, so wouldn't my staying be an eyesore to you?"

Ling Chengen pursed his lips, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Thank you for protecting the Stone Forest."

Chang Tianchen suddenly laughed and said leisurely, "Only a verbal thank you?"

"what do you want?"

Chang Tianchen raised an eyebrow and retorted, "What do I want? Can you give it to me?"

Ling Chengen remained unmoved by his probing and sarcasm, replying without revealing any flaws, "That's not necessarily true; it depends on the situation."

"But how am I supposed to know whether I can grant your request if you don't tell me?"

Chang Tianchen looked down at her quietly for a long time, then sighed softly: "What do you plan to do about those small tribes on the grasslands that were forced to migrate by the fires?"

"I plan to leave this to Chongzhen to negotiate. If they are willing to be incorporated into Stone Forest, Beast City will have a place for them. Otherwise, they can exchange some supplies for compensation. Moreover, if they want to move back, I can't guarantee that if someone else seizes the city later, it won't affect them."

Chang Tianchen scoffed, "Isn't this a forced sale? Aside from accepting your bad luck and taking some compensation supplies, the only other option is to submit to you."

Ling Chengen did not defend himself against his sarcasm, but only said, "Shilin doesn't have that much wealth either. If they don't accept it, then we can only fight. As long as they can win, Shilin's resources will be theirs."

Chang Tianchen suddenly smiled and said, "Simple and straightforward, I like that."

"Snake Mountain has also submitted to your Beast City, what do you think?" he suddenly asked.

Ling Chengen looked up at him, puzzled, and asked, "Are you serious?"

Chang Tianchen nodded: "Actually, I've been thinking about this ever since the city was built, but I haven't had a good opportunity to bring it up."

"Conditions?" Ling Chengen asked.

"Please forgive me for angering you when I was out of control of my emotions and reason."

"I will find a way to help you resolve the issue of Yin Xin Huo."

Chang Tianchen glanced at the setting sun that was about to sink below the horizon and said slowly, "I also want a fair chance to compete."

Ling Chengen said incredulously, "Did a donkey kick your brain?"

She hadn't realized before that he had the potential to be a hopeless romantic.

"You gave me Snake Mountain for free, just in exchange for the chance to become my beast husband?"

Chang Tianchen spread his hands and collapsed onto the wood behind him: "Snake Mountain wasn't given away for free. I'm a very greedy person, but I know you're a very ruthless person."

Ling Chengen: "Have you discussed the matter of Snake Mountain surrendering to our Beast City with the elders of your clan?"

"No." Chang Tianchen smiled nonchalantly. "But don't worry, with me here, they can't cause any trouble. Snake Mountain's submission to Ten Thousand Beasts City is a done deal."

"The elders of Snake Mountain are all shrewd and experienced. They can easily figure things out with just a little thought. Stone Forest is growing larger and larger, and sooner or later it will expand its territory to Snake Mountain. Submitting now will definitely bring excellent development opportunities, and even a place in Beast City. If we wait until we lose in battle to submit..."

"Ah--"

Chang Tianchen only let out a breathy sound, but the meaning was all too clear.

Ling Chengen did not refute his statement, but said, "Your strength is not weak either, and you may not be at a disadvantage in a fight with us."

Chang Tianchen flipped off the pile of firewood and chuckled, "I still have some self-awareness. My chances of winning against you and Bai Qingyu, or even Ling Xiao, are probably about 50/50. But against your witch doctor, I have no chance at all."

Ling Chengen lowered his eyes and said, "You seem to know him quite well."

Chang Tianchen's expression was subtle as he scoffed, "Do you think I've never fought him before?"

He was arrogant and haughty, but not truly stupid.

Ling Chengen quickly made a decision and said seriously, "Since you are willing to hand over Snake Mountain, and the conditions you have proposed are not even conditions, but are all in my favor, I don't seem to have any reason to refuse you."

Chang Tianchen tilted his head and stared at her face: "So?"

"make a deal."

Ling Chengen extended her right hand. Chang Tianchen hesitated, not quite understanding her meaning, but seeing that she did not retract her arm for a long time, he tentatively placed his right hand on her palm.

"Is that right?"

Ling Chengen chuckled softly, nodded, and grasped his hand: "Yes, it's a pleasure to work with you."

“Since you are determined to enter Beast City, I will naturally not waste a talent like you.” Ling Chengen released his hand and said seriously, “I want you to organize an army that can fight in the north and south, and you will lead this army.”

Chang Tianchen was stunned for several seconds, and for a moment he could hardly believe it. He lowered his head slightly in front of her, gently tapped the tragus of his right ear with his finger, and his thumb brushed against the earring that was as beautiful as the sunset.

His delicate earrings swayed incessantly, and his voice, slightly low and hoarse with a hint of uncontrollable agitation, said, "Say it again, I didn't hear you."

As Ling Chengen looked at the slightly protruding spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra on the back of his neck when he lowered his head, and the inexplicable docility that he revealed when he lowered his eyes, he suddenly had the illusion that a vicious dog had lowered its head.

She sighed softly and said deliberately, "It seems I misjudged you. Your hearing doesn't seem to be very good; you might not be suitable to command an army..."

"Who says I'm not suitable?!" Chang Tianchen immediately looked up, his previous laziness gone, his eyes sharp and filled with his usual sinister aura. He made no attempt to hide his aggressiveness, and with a slight smile, he said with extreme confidence, "No one is better at leading soldiers than me, and no one understands combat better than me."

"Ling Chengen, a word spoken is a word that cannot be taken back!"

"As agreed, this job is mine."

Looking at his profile, Ling Chengen inexplicably glimpsed a hint of his former spiritedness in his unruly demeanor.

She's starting to believe what Bai Xi is saying.

Chang Tianchen may have actually been a very good young clan leader before.

(End of this chapter)