Xiao Chen took Qing Lin out of Shimo City and found a secluded valley outside the city. It wasn't very large, and steep cliffs surrounded it on all sides. There was only one narrow entrance, and it was quiet, with no one around to disturb them.
"Young Master, what are we doing here?" Qing Lin asked softly.
"Helping you cultivate," Xiao Chen replied.
He pulled out the six sets of medicinal ingredients, then took a cauldron from his system inventory.
Qing Lin stood to one side, watching Xiao Chen's movements with curiosity in her eyes. Could her young master really refine pills?
Xiao Chen sat cross-legged and circulated the Dou Qi within him. A flame gathered in his palm and shot into the cauldron. Its temperature rose instantly, and the fire danced inside, radiating scorching heat.
Xiao Chen took out a stalk of Foundation Building Grass and tossed it into the cauldron. Under the flames, the medicinal herb slowly melted into a mass of green liquid. Then came a second stalk, followed by a third. One herb after another went into the cauldron, each melting into liquid in turn. The liquids slowly blended together, their color changing from green to dark brown.
After who knew how long, Xiao Chen withdrew the flame. The six portions of Foundation Building Spirit Liquid were ready, giving off a faint medicinal fragrance.
Qing Lin stared at the spirit liquid in the cauldron, her eyes full of surprise.
Xiao Chen nodded. "Rub this on your body, then cultivate."
Qing Lin's face flushed red. Rub it on her body?
"Young Master, I..." Qing Lin lowered her head.
"What is it?" Xiao Chen asked.
Qing Lin bit her lip, not knowing how to say it. If she put it on her body, wouldn't she have to take off her clothes?
Seeing Qing Lin's expression, Xiao Chen understood. "I'll wait outside."
With that, Xiao Chen stood and walked toward the mouth of the valley.
Qing Lin watched him go, feeling relieved, yet with another feeling she couldn't quite put into words. Only after Xiao Chen had gone some distance did she take off her outer clothes and spread the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid over her body. The instant it touched her skin, a cool sensation swept through her. Qing Lin sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and began to cultivate.
The night passed in a flash.
The next morning, Xiao Chen returned to the valley. Qing Lin had already dressed and was standing in the middle of it, her face bright with excitement. The moment she saw Xiao Chen, she hurried over.
"Young Master, I broke through."
Xiao Chen looked Qing Lin over and nodded. Three-Stage Dou Qi. In a single night, she had gone from having no Dou Qi at all to reaching Three-Stage Dou Qi. She was even faster than Xiao Yan had been back then. Xiao Chen marveled inwardly. As expected of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, and the bloodline of the Snake-Person Tribe. Her talent was truly monstrous.
"Thank you, Young Master." Qing Lin's eyes reddened a little. No one had ever treated her so well. He had helped her cultivate and even refined spirit liquid just for her.
"You don't need to thank me," Xiao Chen said.
"Young Master, I want to take you somewhere," Qing Lin said.
"Where?"
"The Desert Iron Mercenary Group," Qing Lin replied. "The two leaders have always been very good to me. I'd like to invite you there."
Xiao Chen thought it over, then nodded. "Let's go."
The Desert Iron Mercenary Group was one of the largest mercenary groups in Shimo City. Its headquarters stood on an open plot of land in the northern part of the city. The leader, Xiao Ding, and his deputy, Xiao Li, were both members of the Xiao Clan. They had left their clan years ago and come to Shimo City to make their way in the world, founding the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. After several years of growth, the group now had hundreds of members and had become a well-known force in Shimo City.
At that moment, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sat together in the leader's tent, their faces filled with worry.
"Qing Lin's been gone all night. Do you think something happened to her?" Xiao Li asked.
Xiao Ding shook his head. "Hard to say."
"That girl never spends the night outside." Xiao Li stood up. "Could members of another mercenary group have taken her?"
"Probably not," Xiao Ding said. "Qing Lin may have scales on her body, but everyone knows she belongs to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Who would dare touch her?"
Xiao Li thought about it and had to admit that made sense. But Qing Lin still hadn't come back, and he couldn't help worrying. She was young and had no strength to speak of. It was too dangerous for her to be alone outside.
"Let's wait a little longer," Xiao Ding said. "If she hasn't returned by noon, I'll send people to look for her."
Xiao Li nodded and sat back down.
As they spoke, footsteps sounded outside the tent.
"Leader, Qing Lin is back." A mercenary lifted the tent flap and poked his head inside.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood up at the same time. They walked out of the tent and saw Qing Lin standing outside, with a handsome young man in a black robe behind her.
"Qing Lin, where have you been?" Xiao Li walked over. "You were gone all night. Do you know how worried we were?"
Qing Lin lowered her head. "I'm sorry for making you both worry."
"As long as you're all right," Xiao Ding said. "And who is this?"
"This is Young Master Xiao Chen," Qing Lin said. "Yesterday, someone was bullying me on the street, and Young Master saved me. He also helped me cultivate. I've already reached Three-Stage Dou Qi."
A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Ding's eyes. Three-Stage Dou Qi? Yesterday, Qing Lin hadn't even had a single stage of Dou Qi, and after one night she had reached Three-Stage Dou Qi? That was far too fast.
"Xiao Chen?" Xiao Li repeated the name, finding it familiar.
Xiao Ding furrowed his brow too. He thought he'd heard the name somewhere before. The two exchanged a glance, then remembered at the same time: Xiao Chen was the Great Elder's grandson. They'd seen him a few times in the clan when he was little, but after they left, they'd never seen him again.
"You're from the Xiao Clan?" Xiao Ding asked.
Xiao Chen nodded.
Xiao Ding stepped forward and looked him over, then broke into a smile. "So you're one of our own."
Xiao Li came over as well and clapped Xiao Chen on the shoulder. "It's been years since we last saw you. Look how much you've grown."
"Cousins," Xiao Chen greeted them.
"Don't call us cousins. Just call me big brother and him second brother," Xiao Li said with a laugh.
Xiao Ding nodded. "Since you're in Shimo City, stay a few days. If you need anything, just ask."
Looking at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, Xiao Chen felt a pang of emotion. Though they were members of the Xiao Clan, life hadn't been easy for them when they left. They'd carved out a place for themselves in Shimo City through their own efforts. Not everyone had that kind of courage.
"Did you come to Shimo City to gain experience?" Xiao Ding asked.
Xiao Chen nodded.
"How strong are you?" Xiao Li asked. "You managed to defeat the mercenaries who bullied Qing Lin, so you can't be weak, right?"
Xiao Chen didn't answer.
Xiao Li laughed and clapped him on the shoulder again. "Come on, let's have a spar. I want to see what you can do."
"Second brother," Xiao Ding said with a frown. "Xiao Chen is our guest."
"It's fine. We're family. What's wrong with a little sparring?" Xiao Li replied. "Besides, it's been a while since I stretched my muscles."
Xiao Chen looked at Xiao Li and nodded. "All right."
Xiao Li was delighted and led Xiao Chen out of the tent.
Xiao Ding shook his head and followed them.
There was an open space outside the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's headquarters, normally used for training the mercenaries. Now, quite a crowd had gathered there. As soon as they heard that the deputy leader was going to spar with someone, they had all come to watch.
"Who's the deputy leader sparring with?"
"Don't know. I heard it's some young man."
"A young man? Isn't that just asking for a beating? The deputy leader is a Dou Shi."
"Exactly. How strong could some kid be?"
The mercenaries chattered among themselves. Not one of them thought Xiao Chen had a chance.
Qing Lin stood to one side, listening to their comments and feeling indignant.
Xiao Li stood in the middle of the open space, rolling his wrists. "Come on. Let me see what you can do."
Xiao Chen walked over and stopped opposite him.
Xiao Li sized Xiao Chen up, thinking about how much strength to use. He couldn't hurt him. Three-tenths, then. That should be enough.
Xiao Li threw a punch at Xiao Chen's shoulder. It was fast and fierce, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
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