A Female Confidante (Tuesday, Please Keep Reading)

Tempered by the fierce winds and yellow sands, Xiao Feng's skin had become much tougher. Though it was not yet impervious to blades and spears, its defensive power was comparable to that of a first-tier magical beast.

After entering Stone Desert City, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian casually asked a passerby for directions and learned the exact location of the Mo Tie Mercenary Group. The two immediately headed there.

The Mo Tie Mercenary Group was located in the southern part of Stone Desert City. The courtyard housing its headquarters was about the same size as the Xiao Family estate in Wutan City.

At the entrance to the courtyard stood a blood-red banner, bearing the five bold words: "Mo Tie Mercenary Group."

Several burly men in short-sleeved shirts stood guard at the entrance with weapons in hand, their tiger-like eyes sweeping over passersby as an iron-blooded aura radiated from them.

"Are you two here to post a mercenary job, or is there something else you need?"

Seeing Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian approaching, the middle-aged mercenary in the lead hurried forward to greet them.

"My name is Xiao Feng, and I come from the Xiao Family of Wutan City."

Xiao Feng smiled and clasped his hands. "May I ask if the two Captain Xiaos of your group are here?"

"The Xiao Family of Wutan City? Xiao Feng?"

The middle-aged mercenary muttered the words unconsciously. Then his expression changed drastically, and he broke into an exceptionally warm smile. "So it's the Third Young Master of Xiao Family! Please, both of you, come in!"

Led by the middle-aged mercenary, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian entered the courtyard. After passing through several pathways, they arrived before a separate courtyard.

Before they even entered, Xiao Feng heard two familiar voices coming from within.

The middle-aged mercenary leading the way called out loudly, "Captains, the Third Young Master of Xiao Family has arrived!"

Creak~

The voices in the courtyard abruptly stopped. A door opened immediately afterward, and two tall, upright figures stepped outside.

The young man in front wore white robes and looked to be in his early twenties. His features bore a fifty-percent resemblance to Xiao Feng's, and he had an elegant, scholarly air. His eyes held a trace of wisdom, along with a subtle cunning that was difficult to detect.

The other young man wore a mercenary outfit and appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen. He bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Xiao Feng, with a hint of laziness and severity on his face.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, it's been a long time!"

Looking at his two brothers, who seemed more weathered than he remembered, Xiao Feng felt his nose sting and his eyes redden slightly.

Xiao Li, who had the more lively temperament, stepped forward and gave Xiao Feng a huge hug. Only then did he ask curiously, "Little Madman, why did you suddenly come here? Is Father doing well at home? And what about Little Yan?"

"I came to the Tagor Desert to train. Since the mercenary group you established happens to be here, I came by to visit you."

Xiao Feng smiled. "Father and Little Yan are doing very well now. Oh, and Little Yan's cultivation talent has recovered. He was even accepted as a Disciple-in-Name by an alchemist."

"Really?"

Xiao Li's face lit up with excitement. "That's wonderful! Looks like our Xiao Family is going to produce an alchemist too."

Xiao Ding also revealed a gratified smile. Then his gaze fell on Xiao Yi Xian, and he teased, "Little Madman, aren't you going to introduce this beautiful young lady to us?"

"Look at my memory!"

Xiao Feng smacked his forehead and took Xiao Yi Xian's jade-like hand. "Big Brother, Second Brother, let me introduce her. Her name is Xiao Yi Xian, and she's a good friend I met not long ago."

"A good friend?"

Seeing their intimate gesture, Xiao Li could not help teasing, "More like a female confidante, I'd say~"

"You're not wrong."

Faced with Xiao Li's teasing, Xiao Feng nodded quite frankly.

Although Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian had not known each other for very long, they had spent more than half a month alone in the desert, relying on one another through life and death. Their relationship had long surpassed that of ordinary friends.

If not for his fear that someone would tattle and cause Xiao Xun'er to overturn her vinegar jar, Xiao Feng's relationship with Xiao Yi Xian would certainly have gone even further.

"Xiao Yi Xian, let me introduce them to you. This is my eldest brother, Xiao Ding, and the one beside him is my second brother, Xiao Li."

"Hello."

Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face flushed slightly as she obediently greeted them.

Perhaps it was only psychological, but Xiao Yi Xian inexplicably felt the nervous guilt of meeting her boyfriend's family with him.

"Since you're Little Madman's good friend, you can call us Big Brother and Second Brother just like he does from now on."

Xiao Ding looked Xiao Yi Xian up and down, then nodded in satisfaction. "If Little Madman ever dares to bully you, your Second Brother and I will definitely teach him a proper lesson for you."

Because Xiao Yi Xian possessed exceptional beauty and temperament, Xiao Ding's first impression of her was very favorable.

Xiao Ding had originally worried that Xiao Feng would be affected by Nalan Yanran coming to annul the engagement. Now, he could finally rest easy.

"Enough, we can talk about everything else later."

Xiao Feng waved his hand. "Hurry and prepare bathwater and bedrooms for us. Xiao Yi Xian and I have spent more than half a month in the desert. Right now, all we want is a nice, comfortable bath, then a good sleep."

"Alright, alright, I'll have someone arrange it right away."

At Xiao Ding's command, the servants in the residence began bustling about, preparing bathwater and guest rooms as quickly as possible.

Xiao Li had originally planned to hold a welcome banquet that evening to receive Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian, but Xiao Ding stopped him.

After all, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian had only just emerged from the desert. Compared to attending a feast, what they needed more was proper rest.

Therefore, Xiao Ding arranged the welcome banquet for the following evening. It would also be a good opportunity to gather the core members of the Mo Tie Mercenary Group and introduce both sides to one another.

The scorching sunlight poured through the window, spilling across the dry bluestone floor.

Having finally gotten the chance to relax, Xiao Feng had slept in for once and was still hugging his blanket, sleeping soundly.

Creak~

A faint sound of the door opening suddenly rang out. A petite figure in a pale green dress tiptoed into the room from outside.

Just as she was about to quietly set the washbasin in her hands on the wooden table, she discovered that Xiao Feng had already opened his eyes and was looking at her curiously.

If Xiao Feng had guessed correctly, this little girl in the green dress, who looked barely over ten years old and had exquisite features like a porcelain doll, should be Qing Lin.

Seeing that Xiao Feng was already awake, Qing Lin hurriedly set down the washbasin and gave him a timid bow. "S-Sorry, Young Master Xiao Feng. I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's alright."

Xiao Feng gave her a gentle smile. "I usually wake up fairly early anyway. By today's standards, I've already slept in."

Seeing that Xiao Feng did not seem to blame her, Qing Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and asked nervously, "Y-Young Master Xiao Feng, shall I help you wash up?"