“I know it is dangerous, but I cannot give up searching for the Source Heart just because of danger. Although I still do not know what secrets the Source Tree and Source Hearts actually hold, they are certainly of great importance,” Lin Yun said earnestly.
“I am not against taking risks, but this risk is simply too great,” Zou Dongsheng replied.
“How about this: I will only search within the territory of Mu Li’s clan. That way the risk will be much smaller, right?” Lin Yun suggested.
Within Mu Li’s clan territory, since Mu Li was the leader, as long as he did not cause trouble for Lin Yun himself, Lin Yun’s safety would still be guaranteed.
Stepping into the sphere of influence of other clans, however, carried the possibility of being attacked by those clans.
“That… would be acceptable, but we must first get Mu Li’s permission,” Zou Dongsheng said.
“Good, I will go find Mu Li right now.” Lin Yun stood up.
“Young Master, I have one more request,” Zou Dongsheng called out to stop him.
“What request?” Lin Yun turned back to look at him.
“My request is to let me come along. I followed you here precisely to protect you, Young Master. Wherever you go, I go,” Zou Dongsheng said.
“Zou Dongsheng, you stay behind to protect Master Hong Yuan. He came here because of me, so I owe him a favour. Nothing must happen to him,” Lin Yun said.
Zou Dongsheng replied, “Young Master, this is Mu Li’s main base. If danger arises here, there are only two possibilities. First, Mu Li decides to move against us. If that happens, this being his lair with all his forces present, even if both of us stayed it would be useless.
“The second possibility is that another clan breaches this place. If even Mu Li’s stronghold falls, we still would not be able to protect anyone.
“Apart from these two scenarios, Master Hong Yuan is safe here. Moreover, Mu Li needs Master Hong Yuan to build the formation for him, so right now he will protect the master well. There is no need for me to remain, and with Dong Jian here too, that is already sufficient.”
“Hm, what you say makes sense. Very well, you can come with me,” Lin Yun could only nod in agreement.
Thereupon, Lin Yun and Zou Dongsheng left the room together and went to find Mu Li.
Because Mu Li had given prior notice, the two humans walking through the palace encountered no obstruction.
Inside the tribal palace.
After meeting Mu Li, Lin Yun said, “Mu Li, building the grand formation will take Master Hong Yuan several years. Waiting here is far too boring. Since the two of us rarely visit beastman lands, we would like to go out and look around. Of course, we will stay only within your Golden Wolf tribe’s territory.”
Mu Li replied, “You may go out and walk about, but you must not leave the boundaries of my Golden Wolf tribe’s domain, nor go near the edges. The further towards the borders, the weaker my Golden Wolf tribe’s influence becomes. If you leave my territory without permission, I cannot guarantee your safety.”
“I understand that,” Lin Yun said.
“Also, do not actively cause trouble within my tribe,” Mu Li added.
“Naturally,” Lin Yun nodded.
“Shan Qi, go with them and act as their guide. Handle anything that comes up,” Mu Li ordered a tribal officer standing nearby.
“Yes, sir.” The dark-skinned, towering officer answered.
“No need. The two of us can go by ourselves,” Lin Yun said.
“That will not do. He must accompany you. If you go out alone, even though I have not ordered anyone to attack you, as humans you might still be attacked by beastmen of my tribe. Unless someone goes with you, I will not allow you to leave,” Mu Li stated firmly.
“This… very well.” After brief consideration, Lin Yun could only agree.
If Mu Li refused to let him out, there was nothing Lin Yun could do.
The officer named Shan Qi then turned to the two of them.
“You two, follow me then. I will show you around,” Shan Qi said in an equally rough and resonant voice.
“Alright, we will trouble you,” Lin Yun replied.
Next, Shan Qi led Lin Yun and Zou Dongsheng outward.
Lin Yun did not leave the palace immediately. Instead, he first visited Master Hong Yuan who was working on the formation, informed him that he would be going out for a while, then went to see Dong Jian and told him the same.
Only after notifying both of them did Lin Yun, under the guidance of the beastman Shan Qi, finally leave the tribe.
