Qing Lin

"Mr. Yun, this is the area you asked us to search!"

The Snake-Person in black armor bowed respectfully. Not far away, teams of Snake-People carefully searched every inch of the ground, leaving no detail unchecked.

What was strange was that, not far from the Snake-People, teams of human mercenaries were also searching the desert just as carefully.

The two races, Snake-People and humans, who had once been utterly incompatible, were now working together in this bizarre alliance, searching the desert for something.

"We've also found the mixed-blood little girl you asked us to look for. Those are the two captains of the mercenary group she belongs to..."

Following the Snake-Person's gaze, a timid figure in green was seen hiding behind two tall men, occasionally peeking this way with fear in her eyes.

"Xiao Ding? Xiao Li?"

Looking at the two men before him, who bore some resemblance to Xiao Yan but were clearly more mature and composed, Yun Zimo asked, though his tone made it clear he already knew the answer.

"May I ask who you are, sir...?"

Xiao Ding, refined and gentle, cupped his hands. Beside him, Xiao Li wore a fierce expression and tightened his grip on the silver spear in his hand, ready to strike like a thunderbolt at the slightest sign of trouble.

"The Misty Cloud Sect. Yun Zimo."

Yun Zimo spoke softly.

"The Misty Cloud Sect!"

"Yun Zimo?"

Xiao Li and Xiao Ding reacted in completely different ways. When Xiao Li heard that Yun Zimo was from the Misty Cloud Sect, fury rose across his face. Clearly, he held no love for the sect that had humiliated his father and the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Ding stopped Xiao Li with one hand and spoke softly.

"Are you Yun Zimo, the head of the Misty Cloud Sect's Punishment Hall who dealt with the Mo Clan?"

"If the Misty Cloud Sect doesn't have a second Yun Zimo, then I suppose that's me."

Yun Zimo smiled. The refined and gentle Xiao Ding was certainly easier to talk to.

"Thank you, Hall Master Yun, for what you did for the Xiao Clan."

Xiao Ding clearly understood how difficult things would have been for the Xiao Clan if Yun Zimo hadn't intervened.

"Think nothing of it. I treat Yanran like my own sister. I simply couldn't stand by and watch her be misled by a villain and damage the Misty Cloud Sect's reputation."

Yun Zimo spoke softly. He truly hadn't done it for the Xiao Clan; everything had been for the Misty Cloud Sect.

Though Yun Zimo hadn't intended to, Xiao Ding couldn't disregard the favor. He cupped his hands and said, "May I ask why you're looking for Qing Lin, Hall Master Yun? Our Desert Iron Mercenary Group can help, if you need."

"Qing Lin? What a lovely name..."

Yun Zimo spoke gently, and his words reached Qing Lin differently than they would have anyone else. She could feel the sincerity and warmth in them, unlike the scolding and insults she was used to.

"Desert Iron Mercenary Group, search the terrain with them. Mark the places where the fire element is strongest. You don't need to worry about the rest."

After giving these instructions, Yun Zimo gently drew Qing Lin out from behind Xiao Ding.

Qing Lin felt a little reluctant, yet also a little hopeful. Would this big brother, who meant no harm, be different from the others?

"S-sorry!"

Before Yun Zimo could say anything, Qing Lin suddenly pulled back her snow-white arm, which had been half revealed. She stumbled backward, then crouched on the ground and murmured in a small voice,

"I... I didn't mean to scare you. Please, please don't hit Qing Lin!"

Qing Lin's curled-up figure and whispered words struck Yun Zimo's heart like a heavy hammer. Beneath this bright, boundless sky, how could he, Yun Zimo, ever...

Alas~

A tall shadow fell over Qing Lin's small frame, and she instinctively shrank back.

Yun Zimo crouched down and gently took Qing Lin's slender wrist. He held her little hand, which had tensed and started to pull away, and carefully lifted the green gauze covering her arm.

"How beautiful..."

Yun Zimo's voice was as gentle as jade as he spoke in sincere admiration. He lightly touched the smooth, cool green snake scales on Qing Lin's arm, then rose and helped the petite girl to her feet.

"You... you're not afraid?"

Qing Lin looked up. A faint green light shone in the two snake pupils set in her delicate, oval face, like two sparkling green gems.

"All beings are born of heaven and earth as equals. If something exists in this world, what is there to fear?"

Yun Zimo smiled. Qing Lin gazed at Zi Mo's gentle face and nodded, still a little bewildered.

She had spent a few days studying with the mercenary group, so she could more or less understand what Zi Mo was saying.

This was the first time anyone had told her that she was equal to others—she, the mongrel and wretched half-breed everyone spoke of!

"Come, tell me about your family."

"I... I don't have any family, except for the two captains..."

At the mention of family, Qing Lin's expression darkened. Her mother had been beaten to death in the slums, and she had ended up on the streets until the two captains took her in. In the world she had known, only those two captains had ever truly treated her like a person...

"..."

Yun Zimo fell silent. In the end, all he could do was let out a long sigh...

"Why are you so concerned about that girl?"

Inside the lavish palace tent, Medusa watched Qing Lin carefully eating her food, her eyes filled with curiosity. Her tone was cool as she asked Yun Zimo,

"Have you ever heard of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?"

"The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils? The innate divine eyes said to be the natural nemesis of all snakefolk?"

Queen Medusa's brow furrowed slightly. Her true form was a sixth-rank Purple Nether Flame Snake, after all!

"Mm. But the ability isn't as exaggerated as the rumors claim. At least, if you successfully evolve into a Heaven-Swallowing Python, her pupils won't affect you."

Hearing Yun Zimo say this, the unease and discomfort rising in Medusa slowly faded.

Medusa feared no one in a straightforward fight, but she still disliked underhanded abilities designed specifically to counter her.

"Still no luck finding a Heavenly Flame?"

Medusa suddenly felt an urgent desire to begin her evolution. She didn't want to leave herself with any more weaknesses!

"Your Majesty, Queen Medusa, a Heavenly Flame is a treasure of heaven and earth. If it were easy to find, it wouldn't be so renowned!"

Yun Zimo replied helplessly. They were already incredibly fortunate to be searching with a direction and clues.

"I've sent word to the sect. My teacher and Master Gu He have both set out. With their help, we should be able to speed things up."

"But you should start your retreat now and get yourself into the best possible condition. I'll also ask Master Gu He to refine some pills to aid you, so we can bring the risk of failure as low as possible."

As if remembering something, Yun Zimo took out a list and handed it to Medusa.

"These are all spirit medicines that protect the heart and vital meridians. Have them search the Snake-People's treasury, and take out everything they can find. Don't spare these treasures. As long as you succeed, whatever we spend will be worth it."

"Also, I'll personally go speak with the Jia Ma Imperial Family about moving the Snake-People to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I'll try to add that to the friendly agreement between our two peoples..."

Medusa watched Yun Zimo ramble on, then suddenly broke into a radiant smile. Her brilliant, dazzling expression left Yun Zimo momentarily stunned. He quickly recovered and cleared his throat twice.

"You'd make a better leader than I would!"

Queen Medusa returned to her usual cool demeanor. After offering this brief assessment, she swayed her snake tail and slowly left the palace tent.

"A leader? Actually, I'd rather be the one making the plans..."

Yun Zimo blinked and smiled at Qing Lin, who was sneaking glances at him. As he gazed out at the endless yellow sands beyond the tent, he murmured softly.

The howling gale swept up the yellow sands. Under the "might" of one human, the Snake-People and humans, who had fought for countless years, began their first cooperation in a hundred years...