Taking Qing Lin In

Although the Nine Nether Nether Python Clan ranked last among the three great Monster Beast clans and had only a few Dou Sheng, it made up for that with its large population.

At the very least, they could be used as cannon fodder. They would always serve some purpose.

Seeing Qing Lin's cautious demeanor, Shi Kang sighed inwardly.

How much mistreatment had she suffered for a child to live so humbly?

He thought that taking her away would count as helping her escape this sea of suffering.

Shi Kang admitted that he had initially set his sights on Qing Lin because of her rare talent.

But now, looking at the little girl before him—her shoulders hunched like a tiny mouse afraid of being stepped on, even her breathing carrying careful timidity—he suddenly felt that taking her away seemed to hold a different meaning.

If Qing Lin stayed here, she would probably spend the rest of her life buried among piles of filthy clothes, with people pointing at her back and calling her a "bastard."

Following him would definitely be ten thousand times better than staying here.

Shi Kang bent down into a squat and reached out to grasp Qing Lin's wrist.

Her hand had just been pulled from cold water. Her pale fingertips were wrinkled from soaking, and they felt icy cold to the touch.

Everyone present was stunned. Who didn't know that Qing Lin was a despised mixed-blood? Yet this distinguished-looking man, clearly someone of noble status, had actually crouched down and taken the initiative to touch her?

Qing Lin froze as well, and her long sleeve slipped back to reveal the patch of green snake scales on her arm.

As if she had been scalded, she hurriedly tugged her sleeve down. Her voice carried a sob as tears nearly fell. "M-Milord, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to expose it..."

Her tiny body was still trembling faintly.

Shi Kang himself was decisive and forceful, but afraid of frightening such a little girl, he spoke as gently as possible. "They look quite beautiful. Why apologize?"

Qing Lin could not help but look up. What had she just heard? This man had actually said her snake scales were beautiful? Ever since she could remember, those scales had been synonymous with "filthy" and "monster."

Children her age would chase after her, throwing stones and calling her a "Snake People bastard." Whenever the mercenaries in the group saw her, they either frowned in disgust or deliberately tossed their dirtiest clothes at her to wash. Even she had secretly wondered whether she could walk like other little girls without always lowering her head if she did not have those scales.

Qing Lin could hardly believe it.

"The snake scales are beautiful." Shi Kang looked into her eyes and repeated himself.

Qing Lin was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. Her eyes instantly reddened, tears swirling within them.

For the first time in her life, someone had said something like that to her.

"Are you willing to come with me? If you do, you won't have to do this work anymore. I can even help you cultivate into a strong expert, so they won't be able to bully you again." Shi Kang first pointed at the clothes, then toward Xiao Li and the others.

Shi Kang released a faint trace of pressure, directing it straight at Xiao Li and the others.

That aura was far too powerful!

Chills rose in Xiao Li's heart. His legs gave out, and with a thud, he dropped to his knees.

The several mercenaries behind him did the same, kneeling in a clattering heap.

Heavens bear witness, he had never bullied Qing Lin. It was clearly his subordinates who had done so. Though he had found it unpleasant to watch, he was the vice commander and had so many matters to handle that he had neither the time nor the inclination to interfere in such trivial affairs.

Besides, who could have imagined that this inconspicuous little girl would make a Dou Zong Expert come looking for her personally?

Xiao Li stammered, "M-Milord, it was my negligence. I failed to keep my subordinates under control..."

The dignified vice commander was now somewhat incoherent.

Shi Kang ignored them and simply kept staring into Qing Lin's eyes.

"Well? Are you willing to follow me?"

Qing Lin bit her lip and nodded hard. Her voice was choked with tears, yet firm. "I... I'm willing!"

"Good." Shi Kang answered, then turned toward the kneeling people. "Then let's settle who has bullied you."

The moment those words fell, Xiao Li and the others were scared out of their wits. They repeatedly slammed their heads into the ground, their foreheads quickly reddening. "Mercy, Milord! We'll never dare again!"

"Mercy, Milord!..."

"Milord, forget it." Qing Lin tugged at Shi Kang's sleeve and said softly, "Vice Commander Xiao Li has treated me quite well. They took me in..."

"What about the others?"

Qing Lin said, "Milord, they took me in. I don't blame them..."

It had to be said that Qing Lin was still far too kindhearted.

Since Qing Lin had already spoken up for them, Shi Kang said nothing more.

If Qing Lin regretted it later, she could come back and take revenge herself.

He looked at Xiao Li, who was still kowtowing. "I'm taking Qing Lin away. You have no objections, right?"

"No objections! None at all!" Xiao Li hurriedly waved his hands, shooting Qing Lin a grateful glance.

She was only a lowly little maid. Taking her away was no problem as long as this man did not vent his anger on them. It was practically like being handed their lives back.

"Let's go!" Shi Kang took Qing Lin's little hand and stepped into the air, leaving with her.

Watching the two vanish into thin air, Xiao Li collapsed onto the ground. His back was drenched in cold sweat as he muttered, "Walking through the air... a Dou Zong Expert..."

Xiao Li became even more thankful that he had humbled himself as much as he had.

Shi Kang brought Qing Lin back to the Snake People Clan and settled her in.

Since Shi Kang had ordered the Snake People Clan to arrange lodging, it was naturally excellent—a spacious room, a carved wooden bed, soft bedding, more than a hundred times better than the drafty little woodshed Qing Lin had lived in before.

Qing Lin had never stayed in such a nice place before, and she was extremely cautious.

Standing at the doorway, Qing Lin tightly clutched the hem of her clothes and did not dare step inside. She said softly, "Young Master, this room is too nice..."

On the way, Shi Kang had told her she could call him either Young Clan Leader or Young Master. She had chosen the latter, treating herself as a maid.

Having grown accustomed to crude surroundings, facing such luxury so suddenly made that feeling of unworthiness rise within her again.

"If I tell you to live here, then live here. As long as you obediently listen to me, you'll have every good thing..."

Qing Lin looked at him and nodded hard, her bright eyes filled with gratitude.

Shi Fei and Shi Long, who had been protecting Shi Kang from the shadows all along, had reached the peak of their admiration for their Young Clan Leader.

The two of them were Half-Saint Experts, so their experience spoke for itself. At a glance, they recognized that Qing Lin possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

"Our Young Clan Leader truly has incredible judgment!" Shi Fei said in a low voice. "He found such a treasure just after coming out to train. If the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are properly nurtured, she'll definitely become a Dou Sheng in the future!"

They finally understood why Shi Kang had come here to train. The Young Clan Leader must have investigated and learned that the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were here while he was still in the clan...

The two spoke back and forth. Shi Kang did not even need to explain anything before they had already imagined him as someone who was "far-sighted and deeply calculating."

Over the following days, Shi Fei and Shi Long were especially kind to Qing Lin and took the initiative to show her goodwill.

Both knew how terrifying the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were. As long as she was provided with enough snake-type Monster Beasts, breaking through to the Dou Sheng realm would only be a matter of time.

Furthermore, the Young Clan Leader clearly valued her greatly. Coupled with Qing Lin's good looks—she was a natural beauty—she might even become the Young Clan Leader's woman in the future... That made it even more important not to neglect her.

Qing Lin had never received such treatment before and was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

She felt that after following this Young Master, her life had truly undergone earth-shaking changes.

Having gone without a fight for some time, Shi Kang's hands were itching. "Shi Long, come spar with me!"