Qing Lin

"Is that so? That's good. Come to think of it, us brothers haven't gotten together in years. Come on, let's go inside and talk!" Hearing Xiao Kun's words, Xiao Li was delighted and hurriedly pulled him into the mercenary group, intending to give him a proper welcome.

Thus, the three of them walked into the mercenary group, chatting and laughing.

They passed through several narrow paths along the way and encountered quite a few members of the Mo Iron Mercenary Group.

When they saw Xiao Kun, surprise appeared on their faces, and they began whispering among themselves.

It seemed to be the first time they had seen their usually calm and steady commander so openly excited, so everyone began guessing at Xiao Kun's identity.

After turning down another small path, a spacious hall came into view.

Pushing the door open, the three of them went in and casually sat beside one another.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, everyone in your group looks quite spirited! It seems you've managed them well!" Xiao Kun remarked as he recalled what he had seen along the way.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance, smiles appearing on their faces as they said:

"When we first established the Mo Iron Mercenary Group, your second brother and I wanted to strengthen the family's power. If anything unexpected happened, we would at least have another place to take refuge. Naturally, we had to strive for the best."

"Mm, with Big Brother's cultivation as a five-star Da Dou Shi and Second Brother's as a three-star Da Dou Shi, you should have truly established yourselves in Shimo City by now, right?" Xiao Kun asked with a smile.

"A month ago, we annexed the Sand Mercenary Group, the other mercenary group in Shimo City with a Da Dou Shi! Now, we're the largest mercenary group in Shimo City."

"Speaking of which, we have you to thank, Third Brother, for the medicinal pills you had Father send us a year ago. We were utterly stunned when we saw so many precious pills!"

"That's right! At first, we even thought... you and Father had been swindled. Only after we tried them did we confirm that the pills were real, and only then did we truly realize how accomplished you had become!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li said eagerly.

Seeing the excited expressions on Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's faces, Xiao Kun continued with a smile, "It's nothing. Now that I've made something of myself, it's only natural for me to give back to the family. Big Brother, Second Brother, you must work hard at cultivation. Strength is what matters most."

"Definitely!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li answered in unison.

On his first night in Shimo City, Xiao Kun, who never drank, made an exception and drank himself into oblivion with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Unfortunately, even after Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had passed out drunk, Xiao Kun only felt slightly dizzy. Their cultivation levels were probably too far apart. Xiao Kun shook his head helplessly.

After settling Xiao Ding and Xiao Li down, Xiao Kun went to sleep as well, his head slightly dizzy.

The next day, when Xiao Kun slowly opened his eyes, he found that the lingering effects of yesterday's alcohol had long vanished, and his dark eyes had regained their usual calm.

Not long after Xiao Kun opened his eyes, the door was gently pushed open, and a dainty figure quietly slipped inside.

However, when she saw that Xiao Kun was already awake, she was slightly startled and hurriedly bowed to him. In a timid voice, she said, "Young Master Xiao Kun, you're awake?"

The girl who entered did not look very old, seemingly a little younger than Xiao Kun.

She wore an elegant light-green outfit. Though her body was petite, she had developed rather maturely in a strangely striking way, though she still retained a slight youthful immaturity.

Her delicate, adorable oval face was like that of a beautiful porcelain doll. Her timid appearance, like a frightened little rabbit, could not help but stir one's pity.

Xiao Kun thought that this was probably Qing Lin from the original story. He paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded at her.

"Young Master Xiao Kun, I've come to help you wash up!" Qing Lin said nervously in a low voice as she placed the basin of water on the wooden stand beside the bed.

"Thank you, but there's no need. I'll do it myself!" Xiao Kun shook his head with a smile, got out of bed, and washed up simply. Turning his head, he smiled at Qing Lin and asked, "What's your name?"

"Ah!" Qing Lin was slightly stunned by Xiao Kun's question before replying nervously, "I... I'm Qing Lin."

"Oh! Qing Lin!" Xiao Kun nodded slightly and placed the towel he had finished using into the basin.

Seeing that Xiao Kun had finished washing up, Qing Lin hurriedly picked up the basin and jogged toward the door.

Watching her somewhat clumsy yet adorable figure, Xiao Kun smiled faintly and began putting on the rest of his clothes.

Just as he finished dressing, Qing Lin returned after pouring out the water. Seeing that Xiao Kun had given no instructions, she could only stand cautiously to one side.

Seeing Qing Lin being so careful, Xiao Kun felt a little heartache. He also knew that this was caused by Qing Lin's unusual background.

Near the Tagor Desert, there were occasionally cases of human women being violated by snake people. Though pregnancy was rare under normal circumstances, there were still a few exceptional cases where they became pregnant and even gave birth.

Qing Lin was a human-snake person hybrid born under such circumstances.

Xiao Kun looked at Qing Lin with pity, thinking that it had not been easy for her to survive to this age.

Human-snake person hybrids generally found it difficult to live past the age of two. Qing Lin had likely only been able to grow up because she had awakened the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

People like Qing Lin were regarded as curses by both humans and snake people. Having lived so many extra years, she had likely endured countless scornful looks and taunts. Just staying alive required tremendous courage.

Although Xiao Kun merely looked at her with pity, the sensitive Qing Lin still noticed something. Her face turned pale, and she hurriedly said, "Young Master Xiao, you know about my background too."

Without waiting for Xiao Kun to answer, she directly crouched down, trembling as she hugged her calves. With a trace of tears in her voice, she said, "I'm sorry, Young Master Xiao. I'll leave right away and have the commander arrange a new maid for you."

Qing Lin's sensitive reaction left Xiao Kun momentarily stunned. Looking at her frightened appearance, he crouched down as well, rubbed her little head, and comforted her softly.

"I do know about your identity, but there's no need to replace you. I think you've been doing very well!"

"R-Really?" Qing Lin raised her head and stared at Xiao Kun with her moist jade-green eyes.

"Of course it's true. I didn't explain myself clearly earlier and frightened you. I apologize," Xiao Kun reassured her.

Qing Lin hurriedly shook her little head, her small hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes. In her understanding, this was the first time anyone had ever apologized to her.

Seeing that Qing Lin was much better now, Xiao Kun thought that if he wanted to change her timid personality, he would have to do something.

Under Qing Lin's shy gaze, Xiao Kun took her little hand. Then, amid her frightened expression, he lifted her sleeve. Looking at the green scales that appeared beneath it, he suddenly said gently, "Such beautiful scales."

At his words, the fear on Qing Lin's face instantly vanished, and she froze.

Since the day she was born, Xiao Kun was the first person to praise the scales that even she herself feared as beautiful.

A strange feeling flashed through her nearly scarred soul, and she asked timidly, "Young Master, aren't you afraid?"

"I'm not afraid. I even like them a little. I'm curious about them too!" Xiao Kun said with a smile.

Hearing Xiao Kun's answer, Qing Lin immediately lowered her head shyly. A faint smile finally appeared on her little face, which had always looked so miserable.