Hatred

"Human and snake-person offspring?!"

Xiao Yan and the other two were all startled when they heard of Qing Lin's origins.

Qing Lin seemed frightened by their startled cries. She blinked and hid behind Xiao Jing again, this time not even daring to peek her head out.

"Ah, ah, ah, sorry, sorry! We didn't mean anything by it!"

"Exactly! You don't have to be so scared~"

Seeing Qing Lin's reaction, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu immediately realized something was wrong and hurried over to comfort her.

With the two of them doing their utmost to reassure her, Qing Lin gradually poked her head out from behind Xiao Jing again. Her little eyes reflected Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu's figures, filled with deep confusion.

"You're... not afraid of me?"

"You're such a cute little sister. What's there to be afraid of?" Xiao Yu squatted beside Qing Lin and gently stroked her head with affection. "My name is Xiao Yu. If you run into any trouble here, just come find your sister~"

Feeling the abundant kindness radiating from Xiao Yu, Qing Lin gradually lowered her guard and nodded vigorously at her with a smile.

"Mm!"

Seeing Qing Lin's response, Xiao Jing chuckled softly and looked toward Xiao Yu.

"Cousin Xiao Yu, this child hasn't rested much along the way. It would be too lonely for her to stay in a guest room alone. Could I trouble you to look after her for the next few days?"

"Ah~ Leave it to me." Xiao Yu agreed without hesitation. Looking at Qing Lin again, she held out her hand. "Little Qing Lin, come rest in the room with your sister, alright?"

"Okay!"

Qing Lin answered, placing her tiny hand in Xiao Yu's palm and letting Xiao Yu lead her away slowly.

Xiao Yan stood up and watched Qing Lin's departing back view, his brows furrowing slightly before he turned to Xiao Jing.

"Big Sister, that child..."

"She's very afraid of strangers, isn't she?" Xiao Jing said softly, sympathy appearing in her eyes. "Yan'er, you know where your Second Sister and I established our Mercenary Group, right?"

"Mm. You mentioned it before. It's in the Tagor Desert."

Xiao Yan nodded lightly, and Xiao Jing continued.

"The Mercenary Group we established borders the Snake-people Territory."

"The snake-people race is extremely hostile toward humans, and humans are the same toward them."

"Although they both belong to the Jia Ma Empire, the snake-people race and humans have always been sworn enemies."

Listening to Xiao Jing's description of the snake-people race, Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

"Why?"

A blood feud between any two factions could never arise without cause.

Xiao Jing slowly opened her mouth and continued.

"A long time ago, the Jia Ma Empire had a slave trade. That isn't exactly a secret."

"Because the snake-people race was unusual, their organs were considered precious medicinal ingredients. They were often targets of the Slave Traders, especially snake-person women. Their beauty was invariably breathtaking, making them highly sought after by those Slave Traders."

"Gradually, the snake-people race began to feel hostility and hatred toward humans. Yet they could not contend with humanity's immense power, so they relocated their entire race deep into the Tagor Desert."

"Yet even then, those Slave Traders refused to give up. By all sorts of means, they infiltrated the Snake-people Territory and seized the snake-people they regarded as merchandise."

"To resist, the snake-people race began using force. But the greed of the Slave Traders far exceeded their expectations. Even though they became somewhat more restrained due to the snake-people's use of force, they never gave up their intentions."

"Only after the Jia Ma Imperial Family underwent a major purge, and all slave trading was banned, were those Slave Traders finally eradicated."

Said this, Xiao Jing paused, her brows knitting faintly.

"But..."

"The snake-people race believed it was their force that eradicated the Slave Traders, so ever since then, they have continued treating humans with hostility. Is that right?"

Xiao Yan quietly supplied the rest. Xiao Jing nodded lightly and added,

"Not only that, they embraced the Law of the Jungle in their hearts. They began repeatedly invading human territory through force to seize more resources, gradually stirring up humanity's hatred toward them as well."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan clenched his fists.

It was clearly only the actions of a small number of people from two races, yet in the end, the entire races had been implicated.

The snake-people race, once harmed by the Law of the Jungle, had ultimately turned around and used that same principle to persecute humans.

How tragic.

At this moment, Xiao Jing began recounting Qing Lin's past.

"Qing Lin's mother was human, while her father was a snake-person. When your Second Sister and I had just formed our Mercenary Group in the Tagor Desert, we met them in a wooden house far from both human towns and the Snake-people Territory."

"They told us that Qing Lin's mother had once saved Qing Lin's father when he was on the brink of death in the desert. Qing Lin's mother held no prejudice against the snake-people race and cared for him devotedly. During that time, Qing Lin's father, who had once hated humans, came to realize that perhaps not all humans were the villains they believed them to be."

"Afterward, the two naturally fell in love and had Qing Lin. She should have been six or seven when I first met her." Xiao Jing smiled at Xiao Yan. "She was just as cute as you were when you were little~"

"Uh..."

Xiao Yan scratched his cheek lightly and said,

"Isn't that a good thing? As long as they loved each other."

"Indeed. Although only the family of three lived where they did, it seemed Heaven had blessed them. There was a small spring near their house, an oasis covered a small area around it, and they could even grow food. Their family could live there self-sufficiently without any problem."

As Xiao Jing spoke, her tone abruptly shifted.

"However, disaster struck."

"This year, Qing Lin's mother fell gravely ill because she had long been unable to adapt to the local climate and environment. Qing Lin's father took her to the nearest human town to seek help, but all they received was endless abuse and flashing blades. To protect Qing Lin's mother, Qing Lin's father was wounded all over. By the time they returned home, he was already on the verge of death."

"After receiving word at the Mercenary Group, I immediately took a physician to the little house where they lived. But what I saw was Qing Lin's mother, already dead, and Qing Lin's father, with only his last breath remaining. Qing Lin was lying over her mother's body, sobbing quietly."

Xiao Jing's voice grew increasingly heavy. Sorrow filled even Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan, who listened in silence. Xiao Jing breathed a deep sigh and continued.

"When Qing Lin's father saw me, relief finally appeared in his eyes. With his final breath, he asked me to take care of Qing Lin, then passed away."

That ending made the entire atmosphere heavy. Xiao Yan felt awful as well and asked in a low voice,

"Why... didn't they seek help from the snake-people race? Qing Lin's father was a snake-person, wasn't he?"

"Yan'er, the snake-people race's hatred for humans is far beyond what you can imagine." Xiao Jing looked at Xiao Yan and said softly, "When Qing Lin's parents went to the human town, the humans only drove them away. But if it had been the snake-people race, they would have killed Qing Lin's mother on the spot. Even Qing Lin's father would have been executed as a traitor to his race."

"..."

Xiao Yan fell silent, while sorrow also appeared in Xiao Li's eyes beside him.

"When Big Sister and I were in danger in the desert, Qing Lin's parents were the ones who saved us. That was also when we first met them." Xiao Li clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth. "They were clearly such kind people, yet in the end..."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan stood there, both silent.

This must have dealt Qing Lin a tremendous blow...

She could not even find anyone to hate.

Should she hate the humans who had driven her parents away with insults and blades?

But they had become that way because they, too, had once suffered persecution at the hands of the snake-people race.

And the snake-people race had harmed humans because of those unforgivable things humans had once done to them.

At that moment, Xiao Jing spoke again.

"After burying Qing Lin's parents in that oasis, I brought Qing Lin back to the Mercenary Group. At the same time, I made up my mind."

Xiao Jing's eyes were filled with determination as she declared solemnly,

"I will resolve the conflict between humans and the snake-people race! I will dispel this hatred!"

Xiao Jing knew that she did not possess boundless love in her heart, nor did she have the ability to care for everyone.

But Qing Lin's parents had saved her and her sister's lives.

Such kind people had met such a tragic end because of the racial hatred between both sides.

Xiao Jing could not accept it! That should not have been their ending!

If there had been no hatred between humans and the snake-people race, Qing Lin's parents would never have met such a fate!

Even if only for Qing Lin's deceased parents, she, Xiao Jing, would definitely resolve this matter!

"Big Sister..."

Xiao Yan stared blankly at Xiao Jing's resolute expression. Then his expression turned solemn, and he clasped his fist in salute to her.

"Your little brother wishes that you may fulfill your wish!"

Xiao Jing looked at the younger brother who had already grown up before her. Her gaze turned momentarily distant before a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"Ah~ I'll do my best."