Xiao Li Pledges to Serve You Faithfully!

"You think I am just anyone? I am the mighty Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor, the sovereign of serpent-type magical beasts. I—"

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's expression darkened as he spoke furiously, but before he could finish, the crimson-gold brand on his forehead suddenly began to burn.

"It is my honor to become your mount!"

"..."

The words at his lips were forcibly lodged in his throat. An ugly smile squeezed onto his dark face as his serpentine body lowered in submission before Lin Ran. Even his cunning triangular snake eyes had become much clearer.

He had yielded to reality.

What Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor? Just call me Little Black.

The corners of Lin Ran's lips rose slightly as his gaze shifted to Green Yi, who stood dumbfounded nearby.

"Letting Heavenly Snake Mansion take Qing Lin away would indeed have been a good choice. I do not know much about serpent-type Cultivation Methods, after all. But I do not like entrusting what I want to someone else for safekeeping."

"You understand what I mean, don't you?"

"..."

Green Yi lightly pressed her red lips together. In the end, she let out a soft sigh, dropped to one knee before Lin Ran, and gave him a deep bow.

"I am willing to ease Lord Lin Ran's burdens."

"See? Talking to smart people is easy."

Smiling, Lin Ran carried Qing Lin toward the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

At the same time, he sent a stream of Dou Qi into Qing Lin's body.

The unconscious Qing Lin let out a soft moan and slowly awoke, her expression dazed.

"I... I am..."

The groggy girl slowly opened her eyes, only to discover that she was in a young man's arms. Her delicate little face immediately flushed crimson. But when she looked around, she covered her mouth in shock, her pretty face turning pale.

Green Man's eruption of Dou Qi had reduced the Desert Iron Mercenary Group to ruins. Many mercenaries had been crushed beneath broken walls and rubble, and cries of pain and agony rang out without end.

"How did this happen..."

She only remembered delivering a letter to the captain and vice-captain, then encountering an extraordinarily beautiful woman.

After that, she had lost consciousness.

How had the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group become like this by the time she woke up...?

Qing Lin struggled slightly, wanting to get down from Lin Ran's arms. But the moment her feet touched the ground, her body went limp, and she collapsed back into his embrace.

"My lord, I..."

"Your meridians were sealed by Dou Qi. I have already undone the seal, but your body will still need some time to adjust."

Lin Ran spoke softly and picked her up again. "My name is Lin Ran. As for what happened here, you should go see your captain."

"Mhm..."

At his words, a trace of shyness surfaced in Qing Lin's emerald eyes.

Though she was a maid in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, few within the group actually liked her because of her mixed-blood heritage. Even the two captains treated her no more than passably.

Thus, this was the first time Qing Lin had ever been this close to a man.

As she softly inhaled Lin Ran's scent, Qing Lin did not know why, but she felt very safe. Yet when she heard the mercenaries' pained cries nearby, worry also spread across her pretty face.

The Desert Iron Mercenary Group was her home. These mercenaries might not have been family, but they were still companions.

Seeing them in such miserable condition immediately filled her heart with pity.

Instinctively, she wanted to go help bandage their wounds, but her powerless body left her with no choice but to remain limp in Lin Ran's arms.

Lin Ran carried Qing Lin onward, with Green Yi and White Fang following behind him. After only a few steps, Lin Ran noticed a beautiful figure moving continuously through the ruins, treating the wounded.

Whenever someone severely injured recovered under her care, she would reveal a gentle, kind smile that warmed people's hearts.

Even the mercenary brutes who were usually ferocious became as docile as little lambs before the girl, showing bashful expressions.

"Xiao Yi Xian."

Lin Ran called out softly. The girl who was treating the injured immediately brightened and hurried over to his side.

Her gaze briefly lingered on Green Yi and White Fang behind Lin Ran, a flicker of surprise passing through her beautiful eyes. But when she saw the girl in Lin Ran's arms, she pouted, looking a little jealous.

"You really are something, Young Master. You fought several Dou Huang experts and still managed to bring back a little girl."

"This little sister is so pretty. What is her name... ah!"

Xiao Yi Xian covered her little head with teary eyes, looking pitiful and wronged.

"H-hello, my lady. I am Qing Lin."

Qing Lin's timid, gentle voice rang out, causing Xiao Yi Xian to pause in slight surprise. Perhaps because Xiao Yi Xian was looking at her, the fear on Qing Lin's little face deepened. "I-is something wrong, my lady?"

"No, it is nothing."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled gently, like a warm spring breeze. Her slender jade hand pinched Qing Lin's lovely cheek. "I was only wondering where Young Master found such an adorable little porcelain doll. You are so pretty."

"N-no..."

Qing Lin's timid appearance made the smile on Xiao Yi Xian's face grow even brighter. With just that one glance, she had already taken a liking to the little girl.

This little girl was timid and weak-willed. Xiao Yi Xian was very familiar with that feeling.

Inferiority, fear, timidity—it was exactly how she had been when her poisonous body first erupted.

However, Qing Lin gave her an even stronger impression, because after Xiao Yi Xian's poisonous body erupted, only she herself had felt inferior. Everyone else who had witnessed it had already left her.

But Qing Lin was different.

Beyond the shame of her identity, she had to endure endless contempt and ridicule from others. Who knew how this little girl had managed to grow up and survive under such pressure?

At that thought, Xiao Yi Xian's gaze toward Qing Lin gained a measure of tenderness and pity. Light flickered over her Storage Ring, and a medicinal pill appeared in her hand.

"Eat it. Your body is very weak. This Blood Qi Pill should be quite effective for you."

"Ah, this..."

Qing Lin was at a loss and did not dare accept the pill.

"Take it, Qing Lin."

A weak voice sounded out. Supporting himself with a long spear, Xiao Li limped toward the group.

His gaze swept across them, pausing briefly on Green Yi and White Fang before finally settling on Lin Ran. He gave him a deep bow.

"My lord."

Xiao Li knew full well that if Lin Ran had not appeared, there would likely no longer be a Desert Iron Mercenary Group, nor would there be a Xiao Li.

That mysterious Dou Huang expert from earlier had clearly come for Qing Lin. As for Lin Ran's arrival, Xiao Li guessed that it was also inseparable from Qing Lin.

But what did that matter?

Lin Ran had truly saved his life!

The debt of saving one's life was greater than the heavens, to say nothing of Lin Ran's unfathomable, terrifying strength and his status as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist.

Moreover.

After this incident, the group's experts had suffered catastrophic losses, with fewer than one in ten remaining. The captain—his elder brother, Xiao Ding—had died tragically. The entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group was nearly finished, and even their camp had been destroyed.

Once the lingering effects of the Dou Huang experts passed and Desert City returned to its usual calm, the fate of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group was easy to imagine.

It would be fortunate if the other mercenary groups in Desert City merely carved them up completely. Those who had long held grudges against the Desert Iron Mercenary Group would likely seize this chance to kick them while they were down and seek revenge!

Especially the Sand Mercenary Group, which had always been at odds with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group!

At the thought of that outcome, Xiao Li simply could not accept it. That was why, after barely recovering enough strength to walk, he had put aside his grief over his elder brother's death and hurried over to greet Lin Ran at once.

This was the only chance to save himself and the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group!

Xiao Li took a deep breath, knelt before Lin Ran, and deeply kowtowed.

"My lord saved Xiao Li and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group from disaster. I have no way to repay this debt of life. I am willing to serve at your side and work myself to the bone for you!"