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

Chapter 258 Foxes are easy to coax
Yu Heng nodded and said, "I already have an idea."

He did consider the Sea Clan at first, but considering the current situation of Shi Panxing and Shi Ruoan, the Sea Clan was clearly unreliable. However, the Shan Na Clan could be used.

Ling Chengen used the method of sun-drying salt fields to establish a close cooperation with the Shanna people of the Hailing tribe.

After several months of getting to know each other, they have basically grasped the personality of the Hailing tribe's orcs.

Compared to the ancient Juzhang tribe, which caused Ling Chengen's downfall, the orcs of the Hailing tribe are more simple and honest, and also more trustworthy.

The emergence of sea salt severely squeezed the salt trade of the two major southern tribes, so during this period the Hailing tribe was always at the forefront, selling salt under the pressure exerted by these two behemoths.

However, the orcs of the Sea Spirit tribe adhered to their agreement with the Stone Forest from beginning to end, and did not reveal the true method of making salt powder or the origin of well salt to anyone.

Instead, they described well salt as being refined from sea salt.

This claim, while causing many tribes to harbor ulterior motives, ensured the safety of well salt production in the Stone Forest area.

As for those who came to investigate Yuheng and unexpectedly discovered the well salt production site, not a single one of them is alive now.

Therefore, it is actually worth considering a deeper cooperation with the orcs of the Sea Spirit Tribe.

However, when it comes to secretly mining in the Southern Plains, the Hailing tribe is afraid they won't dare to get involved.

After listening to Yu Heng's explanation, Ling Chengen thought for a while and said, "What you said is indeed a good idea. The Hailing tribe... I can't say that all the people are reliable, but the leaders are trustworthy."

Ling Chengen: "And there's no need to tell them what our people were doing in the past. We just parted ways midway and need them to help us come back. The less they know, the better."

Yuheng nodded and said, "But they're not stupid either."

“Although the Hailing tribe are honest people, they are not stupid. They naturally know the secrets about the Southern Plains. The less they know, the better.” Ling Chengen had the most dealings with the people of the Hailing tribe, so he was quite clear about their personalities.

“Since Shi Ruoan took you to a Red Source Mine before, we don’t need to go to the Southern Plains people’s mine. We can just go to that mine directly.”

Shi Ruoan is a cautious person, especially when it comes to where he hides. Otherwise, the people in Huangyan Beast City wouldn't have conducted a thorough search for months, only to return empty-handed.

Ling Chengen: "I know the location of the mine, but you just said I shouldn't go to Nanyuan anymore."

Yu Heng glanced at her: "Let Bai Qingyu and Shi Ruoan arrange for anyone to lead the way."

“If you’re worried that Bai Qingyu isn’t strong enough and will be captured by the Nanyuan people and enslaved, then let Shi Ruoan go. He’ll definitely know the ropes. But you’ll have to persuade him.”

Shi Panxing leaned against the mobile bed, glanced at Ling Chengen who was pursing his lips and remaining silent, and quickly looked away, lowering his head thoughtfully.

Ling Chengen slapped the table: "I know that, let's skip it for now. Anyway, neither of them is here, so it's definitely not going to work out right now."

"The problem of the source of the Crimson Source Stone is relatively simple to solve." Yu Heng pulled the blueprint in front of him, stared at Ling Chengen's profile, and said word by word, "What we need to talk about now is how to get our hands on the kind of device that the Whiptail Lizard Beastmen have that can continuously generate heat and keep warm."

Ling Chengen immediately straightened his back and said seriously, "I thought this kind of technology would be hard to get my hands on. So you have a way?"

Yuheng: "For this kind of temperature control device, we either need to get the physical object and invest time and effort to study it, figure it out little by little, and then start mass production. But this process will definitely take a long time, and Beiyuan really doesn't have any talent in this area. Whether we can imitate it is a big problem."

"The second method is to directly steal their technology."

Ling Chengen raised his hand and said, "I support the second option."

Expecting the people of Kitahara, who are basically living like primitive people, to study something that obviously requires a lot of brainpower is less efficient than stealing, robbing, or cheating.

It wasn't that she wanted to take a shortcut, but that she couldn't see any hope ahead.

Moreover, she is indeed not good at researching these things, and recently her points were completely used up by the two water-repelling beads, so she doesn't have any cheat codes right now.

Upon hearing this, Yuheng couldn't help but chuckle and said, "I also think the second method is more reliable."

Shi Panxing looked at the couple who were openly plotting to steal other people's technology and was momentarily dazed. Although he hated the orcs of Nanyuan, he felt that the second plan was impractical. On the contrary, the first plan, which was done in a down-to-earth manner, might soon yield results.

Yu Heng and Ling Chengen ignored Shi Panxing, whispered to each other for a long time, and then the two hit it off and smiled at each other.

Ling Chengen grasped Yuheng's right hand and shook it excitedly: "Then I'll leave this matter to you. Whether we can live in a warm, big house this year depends on your abilities."

Yuheng smiled modestly: "Leave it to me, it's a piece of cake."

Although he hadn't done this kind of thing in a long time, he was actually quite good at petty theft... After all, just by being upright and honest, he couldn't possibly sneak into Beiyuan alive and kick, let alone sit here and discuss with her how to do bad things.

Ling Chengen put the blueprints away and turned to Shi Panxing: "Shi Ruoan gave me all those spatial containers and the things inside them."

"But the distant hunt requires a spatial container to store things, so I put all your secret stash in the corner of the stone cave where you sleep, covered with a straw curtain. You can sort through it when you have time, and I will return it to you after I retrieve all the spatial items."

Shi Panxing paused for a few seconds, then placed his hand on the blanket and said slowly, "You can choose those things first. Take what you like, or if you like them all, I can give them all to you."

Ling Chengen joked, "If I take it all, how will you make a comeback?"

Shi Panxing said calmly, "It doesn't matter if you can't get up. You can join your tribe and become your subordinate."

Ling Chengen curled his lip: "I really can't use you. The Third Prince of the Far North Sea, how much face do I have?"

"Isn't it because you're worried that my presence in your tribe will be leaked and cause a lot of trouble for your tribe?"

Ling Chengen nodded frankly: "That's part of the reasoning behind it."

Shi Panxing wasn't bothered by her straightforwardness. On the contrary, having experienced betrayal from his trusted confidants, he preferred to deal with people like Ling Chengen who spoke their minds without beating around the bush.

……

Ling Chengen stayed at home for a morning, and then left the tribe in the afternoon, heading straight towards the Mulan Plain.

On the way, they encountered Bai Xi from the Hanshan tribe.

When she saw him, Ling Chengen was a little surprised. She stopped in her tracks, looked up and watched as the huge blue crane circled in the air and landed in front of her.

After regaining her balance, Bai Xi smiled and raised her hand: "What a coincidence? Little tiger cub, where are you going?"

Ling Chengen glanced at him indifferently: "Don't call me 'little tiger cub' anymore, or I'll pluck the feathers off your wings."

Bai Xi clicked her tongue and chuckled, "Alright, where is Young Clan Chief Ling planning to go?"

"Mulan Plain." Bai Xi: "Before the autumn hunt, I heard that there was a lot of construction going on there, and I also heard that it was related to your Stone Forest. I didn't expect that it was really you who were causing all this trouble?"

Ling Chengen couldn't help but ask, "You didn't know about this? I thought Bai Qingyu had told you all about it."

“His mouth is so tight,” Bai Xi said with great disgust. “After he became your partner, his heart was set on you. He completely forgot about us, his old father and brothers.”

Ling Chengen: "Alright, why didn't you continue hunting south with your tribe's hunting team? I heard your autumn hunt this year didn't go well and you were short of supplies. Shouldn't you and Bai Xu have gone together?"

Bai Xi spread her hands and said, "My father is old but still young at heart. He replaced me and let me stay in the tribe to manage things. But I got bored staying in the tribe, so I came out for a stroll and to patrol. If I encounter any herds of bad beasts heading towards the tribe, I can give them a heads-up."

Ling Chengen nodded: "Then you can continue your patrol. I'll be going now."

Ling Chengen didn't transform back into human form at all; instead, he flew forward in his beast form.

Bai Xi followed her unhurriedly, hovering low in the air, and said in a low voice, "Do you want me to give you a ride? We're practically family, so beg me and I'll take you flying."

Hearing his lazy and smug voice, Ling Chengen felt a little like turning around and slapping him.

She said expressionlessly, "Thank you, but no need."

"I don't get tired running this short distance myself."

Bai Xi landed in front of her, blocking her way: "Is it alright if I want to go to the Mulan Plain? I heard that recently, many orcs passing over the Mulan Plain have been driven away from a great distance and made to take a detour."

"What exactly are you doing, making it so mysterious?"

"That place gets very flooded during the rainy season, so it's not very suitable for living. Plus, there's no natural barrier to protect against beast tides. Why did you choose that place?"

Seeing that he kept babbling on and on, Ling Chengen finally thought that since there was such a free ride that was offered to him, he might as well take it.

She jumped onto Bai Xi's back, patted him on the back, and said, "Fly first, you'll see for yourself when you get there."

"And I just don't believe that with your strong curiosity, knowing that construction is underway on the Mulan Plain, you can resist going to see it?" Ling Chengen didn't believe a word he said.

Bai Xi turned around and said, "You seem to know me quite well?"

Ling Chengen said with a forced smile, "I don't know you, your brother does."

Bai Xi: "..."

The two arrived at the Mulan Plain around 2 p.m. in a short time.

After jumping off his back, Ling Chengen ignored Bai Xi, who was following him around like a shadow, and walked straight in one direction.

She didn't need to ask for directions at all; once she landed, she used her mental power to pinpoint Chongzhen's location.

Chongzhen was in charge of overseeing the construction of the entire city, and he knew the progress of each project better than anyone else.

Ling Chengen wandered through the well-planned city streets and soon found Chongzhen, covered in dust, squatting in a stone house laying bricks. He was using metal tools to apply mixed mud to the brick wall and then neatly pressing down square bricks in his hands...

After Ling Chengen entered the room, he stood behind him and watched for a while. He noticed that the bricklaying speed was very fast, and the flue of the kang bed was made according to the blueprints, which was very standard. There was a circle of orcs around him, most of them were rats, and some were from the Stone Forest.

Although everyone occasionally whispered to each other, no one was slacking off; they were all studying with exceptional dedication.

Ling Chengen did not disturb him. After Chongzhen confirmed that the group had learned the technique, he gave up his position so that the people could try it out themselves. He did not leave but stood aside and watched attentively. If anyone made a mistake, he would immediately point it out and then personally demonstrate it again.

Ling Chengen leaned on the windowsill, resting his chin on his hand, looking at Chongzhen, who looked completely gloomy.

Chongzhen is actually a very clean fox, and he also loves to dress up. He cherishes his long red hair and pays great attention to his appearance. He has the most accessories, and each one is different or different colors.

But this clean and beautiful person now has long red hair covered in dust, which even looks grayish-white in the sunlight. Even his eyebrows are covered in dust... not to mention his clothes and limbs.

Ling Chengen felt inexplicably sad as he watched this scene.

He did a better job than she expected, and he was also patient and meticulous.

When Chongzhen came out of the house, Ling Chengen had already been sitting on the wall in the courtyard for almost two hours.

Ling Chengen watched him rub his lower back, called out to him, and threw the cup in his hand at him as he looked up.

Chongzhen instinctively grabbed the cup, but the lid fell onto the back of his foot, spilling some of the warm water onto his calves, insteps, and knees, leaving dirty water stains.

"When did you come back?"

Chongzhen bent down to pick up the cup from the ground. She wanted to wipe her face with her sleeve, but found that her sleeve was dirtier than her face. In the end, she could only give up in embarrassment and directly gulped down water from the cup.

"I didn't go hunting in the south these past two days. I figured things must be pretty busy here, so I stayed."

After drinking his fill of water, Chongzhen let out a long breath and grinned from ear to ear: "You're finally back! You dumped all this dirty and heavy work on me. I thought you'd banished me!"

Ling Chengen jumped down from the wall and handed him a space container shaped like an earring: "This is a space container I got from Shi Panxing's treasure cave. It contains some things you need. Keep it for yourself."

Chongzhen looked at her own hands, then at her fair and delicate palms: "Now? Let's wait until later. I'll wash up after dinner and then get it."

He looked at himself, dusty and gray, like a little clay figure whose colors had been wiped off with a single click, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Once this city is finished, you'll have to kowtow to me!" Chongzhen said through gritted teeth. "Do you know how much effort it took to build this city?"

Ling Chengen put the earring back and said with a smile, "It's unlikely that I'll get a house, but when it comes time to choose a house in the city, you'll be the first one I choose."

Chongzhen tentatively asked, "The biggest and most luxurious house?"

"For example, would the city lord's courtyard work?"

“Yes, I can,” Ling Chengen replied confidently.

"Alright, seeing how sincere you are, I'll forgive you for being a hands-off manager these past few days."

Chongzhen wasn't really angry; he'd just been bottling it up for too long. Usually, he only had the beastmen in charge of the construction, and there was almost no one he could talk to in private, so he just wanted to vent.

Since Ling Chengen was willing to cooperate, he accepted the offer.

Actually, he's a fox who's easy to fool.