Chapter 149: The Beautiful Dark Elf
"Yue E, is it still nearby?"
Yue E's enormous body swam leisurely in the surrounding waters.
"Probably not. I can't sense it anymore!"
Li Meng lowered his head and looked at the Dark Elf beside him.
He reached out and poked her face.
It was a little smooth and slightly soft.
Time ticked by as the noise from the Black Mountain Tribe continued for a long while.
It wasn't until the sun set that the Black Mountain Tribe finally quieted down.
---
The next morning, in the southern waters of the Ancestor Tribe.
A flash of white flickered beneath the shimmering water's surface.
Looking southward over the water, one could see a layer of pure white ice.
A massive Swamp Crocodile King was sunbathing on the ice.
At the edge of the ice sat a tall, green-skinned figure.
"Ah!"
Li Meng yawned, his sturdy legs splashing the water.
The previous night was peaceful; the black-robed figure who fled did not return to rescue their companion.
The Black Mountain Tribe remained silent as well.
Lowering his head slightly, Li Meng gazed into the water in front of him.
A white silhouette flickered beneath the surface.
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A round, white lizard head emerged from the water.
"Boss, it’s done!"
Li Meng looked toward the distant Black Mountain Tribe.
"After this mess, their population shouldn't be much left."
Bai Ling nodded lightly.
"At its peak, the Black Mountain Tribe had around sixty thousand people, with numerous camps scattered across the Black Mountain Marshlands. Now, fewer than thirty thousand remain. Yesterday's chaos claimed the lives of nearly three thousand Lizardmen in the turmoil."
Standing up, Li Meng stretched his stiff waist.
"Bai Ling, I'll leave things here to you. There's no rush for the tribute; send it over in half a year."
The Throne Tribe couldn't accommodate three thousand female Lizardmen all at once.
Half a year was needed for large-scale expansion projects.
Although the number was a bit much, a surplus wouldn’t hurt.
Not all of the three thousand Lizardmen would be used for breeding.
Some could be tasked with weaving bowstrings, a meticulous job suited for females.
As for the three thousand male Lizardmen, their roles were simpler.
Some would be sent to the Iron Cavern, while the rest would fish and prepare military rations.
"Boss, are you heading back?"
From his words, Bai Ling could sense his intention.
Li Meng turned and walked toward Yue E.
Climbing onto Yue E’s back, Li Meng hoisted the Dark Elf onto his shoulder.
Then, carrying the nude Dark Elf, he leapt off Yue E’s back.
"Bai Ling, Yue E will stay here. If you encounter uncontrollable danger, leave with Yue E."
Bai Ling nodded lightly, understanding the implications of his words.
Apart from himself, the boss didn't really care about the lives of other tribespeople.
If necessary, he would let Bai Ling abandon the tribe and escape.
"Any news, have Yue E inform me. She's fast. When Yue E isn't here, be vigilant. You're a Lizardman; the deep waters around Black Mountain make it easy to dive and escape."
Li Meng turned to Yue E.
"Yue E, Bai Ling is in your hands!"
Yue E waved her short, stout arm.
"Boss, don't worry, I’ve got this!"
Grinning, Li Meng said no more.
Bai Ling was a very special Lizardman.
It would be a pity if she died due to negligence.
After leaving some instructions, Li Meng departed.
Running north, he left a long trail of ice on the water's surface.
Watching the boss's receding figure, Bai Ling remained silent.
"Hey, little one, the boss is impressive, isn't he?"
Yue E muttered, scratching her scaly skin with her stubby hand while gazing at the distant figure.
"Uh… I guess!"
Bai Ling smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond to the totem beast.
"Why would the boss take a liking to you weak Lizardmen? I just don't get it!"
Yue E yawned, flipped over, and continued basking in the sun.
The totem beast’s disdain left Bai Ling speechless.
Compared to humans, swamp Lizardmen were indeed weak.
In the past, Goblins were considered the weakest among the savage tribes, barely stronger than beasts.
But now, Goblins could no longer be called weak.
"The boss asked me to look after you, so I’ll help you out. If there's danger, just shout 'Yue E.' Remember to pronounce it in Goblin language, or I won’t understand."
"I… I understand!"
Bai Ling turned and dove into the water.
Her graceful figure swam toward the tribe's direction.
Thus, with Bai Ling’s help, Li Meng once again altered the future.
---
Goblin River's northern forest.
Throne Tribe.
Early in the morning, Li Meng emerged from the southern forest of the Throne Tribe, carrying the Dark Elf on his shoulder.
"It’s the boss! The boss is back!"
The Goblins on the wooden wall spotted him coming out of the forest.
A commotion erupted along the wall.
All the Goblins stared fanatically at the tall, green-skinned figure outside, as though seeing their savior after months of absence.
"What's that on the boss's shoulder?"
"No idea!"
"Looks dark and doesn’t look tasty!"
---
Upon reaching the wooden fort, Li Meng marched straight to the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Inside a wooden house, he threw the Dark Elf onto a bed roughly.
"Take good care of her. Don't wake her up. I'll be back soon!"
The female Lizardmen in the room nodded hurriedly.
Several of them approached the unconscious Dark Elf carefully.
Li Meng left the wooden house in large strides.
Stopping briefly outside, he asked, "Where's Benben?"
"Boss, Benben is at the Iron Cavern. He’s been there these days."
Benben at the Iron Cavern?
Li Meng said no more and left quickly.
After leaving the village, he returned two hours later with a large bamboo bucket in hand.