Qing Lin

In the narrow alley, several grinning faces were reflected in the dim light.

Surrounded by people was a girl with an extremely thin figure and a slightly protruding chest, who looked to be no more than twelve or thirteen years old.

She was leaning against the corner of the wall, the rough surface pressing against her thin back.

Gazing at the demonic face before her, the despair on the girl's face appeared even more tragic under the moonlight.

She bit her lower lip tightly, tears welling up in her emerald green eyes, but stubbornly refusing to fall.

She certainly understood what she was about to face, but she wasn't entirely unprepared for it.

In the past, she hadn't developed her body and was just an annoying child, but some kind-hearted people were willing to give her a bite to eat.

But now that she has begun to develop, the influence of the Snake-Person Bloodline on her is also becoming apparent. Even the unconscious swaying of her waist as she walks is enough to make some lewd people unable to look away.

But she didn't do anything wrong; she just wanted to live a good life as a human being.

Perhaps, her birth itself was a sin...

Just then, a loud explosion, like a thunderclap, drew everyone's attention. A figure in black descended from the sky and stood in front of the girl.

"A bunch of grown men, they wouldn't even spare a child, they're beasts."

Xiao Yan looked at the crowd in front of him and sneered.

Mo Xing was startled by the boy who had fallen from the sky and froze for a moment. When he realized that the boy was just a teenager, he was filled with malice and burst into a tirade of curses:

"Where did this little brat come from, daring to meddle in my business? Are you tired of living?"

He suddenly waved his hand. "Brothers, cripple this blind brat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the two burly men beside him immediately lunged at Xiao Yan with sinister smiles. Although their Dou Qi fluctuations were crude, and it was obvious that they were practicing the most common Low Yellow Tier techniques, they were still genuine Dou Zhe level Dou Zhe, which was considered quite strong among the mercenaries in Shi Mo City.

However, in Xiao Yan's eyes, their movements were as slow as snails.

"Little girl, would you like to close your eyes?"

Xiao Yan ignored them, turned around, squatted down, reached out and rubbed the girl's head, and said with a gentle smile.

Feeling the young master's gentle movements and the soft smile on his face, the girl's heart suddenly felt a peace she had never known before, and she slowly closed her eyes.

At that moment, the attacks of the two mercenaries were about to land on Xiao Yan.

Swish!

A burst of crimson Dou Qi erupted instantly, condensing into a crimson veil on his body.

The two attacks landed on Xiao Yan, but instead of causing any harm, they scorched his hands black by the flames on his blood-red robe.

The smell of barbecue filled the air, and the two men screamed in pain.

"Sorry, I have no interest in wasting any more time on scum like you, so please just die already."

Slowly rising to his feet, Xiao Yan raised his hand amidst the horrified gazes of Mo Xing and the others. Blood-colored Flame rose from his palm.

"Summoning real fire? You're Fourth-Tier Alchemist?"

Still reeling from Xiao Yan's Dou Master strength, Mo Xing and the others were terrified when they saw the Blood-colored Flame in Xiao Yan's hand.

If the fact that this young man was Dou Master was already shocking enough, then his suspected identity as Fourth-Tier Alchemist terrified them even more!

It's important to understand that even a Dou Wang expert) expert wouldn't want to provoke a Fourth-Tier Alchemist without good reason. These few were merely Dou Zhe); how could they dare to provoke someone of such high status?

However, before they could even beg for mercy, Xiao Yan casually tossed something aside, and the flames in his palm surged in the wind, then split into three flames that landed on them.

The terrifying heat instantly set their entire bodies ablaze, and the intense burning pain made it impossible for them to utter even a complete sentence.

Xiao Yan remained silent, only increasing his firepower.

And before they could even cry out, their throats were burned off.

Moments later, under the terrifyingly high temperature of the Heavenly Flames, the three of them were reduced to ashes.

"It's still a bit strenuous. How about you teach me your poison skills too?"

After letting out a long sigh, Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yi Xian slowly walking in from outside the alley and said helplessly.

With his strength, controlling this Heavenly Flames, which is only in its infancy, and trying to burn a person to death would consume as much Dou Qi and soul perception as refining two Third-Grade pills in succession. At most, he can only refine five grade Third-Grade pills in succession before his Dou Qi is exhausted.

"You can't learn that."

Xiao Yi Xian just smiled, then she and Xiao Yan looked at the little girl who had opened her eyes at some point.

The danger was finally over, and intense fear and resentment instantly overwhelmed the girl's frail body.

She felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She slid down the rough wall to the cold ground, and could no longer hold back her sobs, hugging her knees. Her thin shoulders trembled violently, and tears streamed down her face like broken pearls. Her low sobs sounded especially heartbreaking in the quiet alley.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan knelt down in front of the little girl again, and comforted her in a very gentle voice:

"It's okay now, don't be afraid anymore, no one will bully you anymore."

Upon hearing this, the crying gradually subsided, turning into soft sobs.

The girl carefully lifted her tear-stained and dusty face, mustered her courage, and looked at Xiao Yan with her bright green eyes, which contained fear and timidity, yet also a glimmer of hope.

Her voice was weak and nasal. "Thank... thank you, sir... for saving... saving me..."

"Get up first."

Xiao Yan reached out, took her small hand, and prepared to help her up.

The girl's sleeve slipped down as her small hand was pulled up, revealing a section of her snow-white wrist covered with a few bluish snake scales.

Qing Lin noticed Xiao Yan's gaze, and her face turned deathly pale. She quickly withdrew her hand, brushed her sleeve down, and carefully took two steps back, biting her lip, not daring to look Xiao Yan in the eye.

"May I have your name?"

Xiao Yan smiled. In fact, when he first squatted down and saw those emerald green eyes, he had already determined that the girl in front of him was Qing Lin.

"I don't have a name..."

Upon hearing this, a look of sadness appeared on the girl's face.

"Then let's call you Qing Lin from now on, okay? Of course, this isn't meant to discriminate against you, it's just to help you gradually adapt to your new identity and not feel inferior because of it. You haven't done anything wrong, and those people's prejudices don't matter to you. People live for themselves, so don't care too much about what others think."

Xiao Yan extended his hand again, smiling as he spoke.

Looking at the clean, white hand that had just driven away all her nightmares, Qing Lin's emerald green eyes reflected a genuine warmth for the first time.

She hesitated for a few seconds, seemingly worried about getting the other person dirty, but still tremblingly extended her slender, dirty little hand and very carefully placed it on Xiao Yan's hand.

Xiao Yan took her hand in return and said with a gentle smile, "From now on, you'll come with us."

Xiao Yi Xian also reached out and took Qing Lin's other hand, revealing her signature, heartwarming, and gentle smile.

"Really? Is that okay?"

Upon hearing this, Qing Lin's emerald green eyes narrowed sharply, and mist filled them. She had hoped countless times that someone could rescue her from this terrible life, and now, it seemed that the day had finally come!

"Of course, we'll protect you."

Xiao Yi Xian said with a smile.

"Okay, let's go home."

Xiao Yan smiled, took a step forward, and walked ahead.

"Go home..."

Upon hearing this, Qing Lin burst into tears, and a happy smile appeared on her face.

Did she not only get a name, but also a home?