The next morning, soft sunlight had only just broken through the thin clouds and spilled gently over the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's base.
Xiao Fan had risen early, ready to leave with Qing Lin.
"Let's go..."
Xiao Fan yawned as he stretched.
"Mm! Xiao Fan, we'll keep your secret!"
Xiao Li gave him a thumbs-up. He figured Xiao Fan must have a reason—or some difficulty forcing him—to hide his strength.
"There's no need to go that far. Let things take their course..."
Xiao Fan smiled. At his current level, it no longer mattered if he revealed some of his strength.
"Goodbye, Captain!"
Qing Lin clutched the hem of her clothes, taking a few steps before turning back each time. Her eyes brimmed with attachment and reluctance as she kept her gaze fixed on Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
In her heart, the two captains had been kind to her and given her shelter.
"Hahahaha! Goodbye! Take care on your journey!"
Xiao Ding laughed heartily, his face glowing with a warm smile.
He was happy Qing Lin had found a good home.
Xiao Fan and Qing Lin walked side by side, their figures growing more distant.
Their silhouettes blurred in the morning light, then vanished from everyone's sight.
"Mm..."
Xiao Fan yawned.
Sure enough... walking was still too much trouble.
Then he turned and called to Qing Lin. "Come here..."
"Oh..."
Qing Lin obediently trotted over and naturally took his large hand.
"..."
The corner of Xiao Fan's eye twitched.
He hadn't even said anything yet, and this little girl already knew the drill.
Forget it...
"Let's go..."
With a casual wave, Xiao Fan tore open space. In an instant, it was as though a sharp blade had sliced through the air, revealing a deep, dark rift.
The two of them flashed and disappeared inside.
When space shimmered again, they had arrived deep in the Tagor Desert.
The blazing sunlight beat down without obstruction. Scalding sand crunched beneath their feet as fierce winds swept past, raising a sky full of dust.
Qing Lin curiously looked around, her eyes full of wonder.
She had clearly recognized where they were.
Then she gazed up at Xiao Fan with adoration, her eyes sparkling like stars. "Wow! Young Master is amazing! No wonder you're an Emperor!"
"Of course..."
Xiao Fan gave a quiet snort.
Then he led Qing Lin in the direction he remembered, to the place where he had once found the Green Lotus Core Flame.
There was a little snake here at the Dou Wang level...
It would make a perfect pet for Qing Lin—her very first little snake.
The two of them continued on until they reached a place filled with magma.
Before them stretched a sea of fire. Rolling magma surged like a boiling river, its scorching heat rushing at them until it was almost suffocating.
Wave after wave of heat distorted the surrounding air, blurring their vision.
Qing Lin wasn't afraid. Instead, she curiously surveyed her surroundings.
Xiao Fan released his perception and instantly located the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.
Without hesitation, he gathered Dou Qi around himself, forming a giant hand that reached beneath the magma.
It didn't take long for him to catch the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.
Sensing the immense threat, the snake let out a desperate hiss and struggled with all its might. But against Xiao Fan's strength, it was all in vain.
Xiao Fan brought the captured snake before Qing Lin and said gently, "Here. Keep your eyes on it..."
"I... I don't dare, Young Master..."
Qing Lin stared at the vicious, terrifying giant snake. Her body trembled slightly, and her weak voice was full of fear.
"It's all right. I'm here."
His words seemed to give Qing Lin courage. Slowly and cautiously, she opened her eyes.
At that instant, something strange happened.
A brilliant light suddenly shone from Qing Lin's eyes. Emerald-green radiance surged out like a tide, filling the giant snake's eyes.
Then a special mark appeared on the snake's forehead, radiating a mysterious aura.
The snake, which had been vicious and savage, thrashing wildly, gradually settled down. The murderous glint faded from its eyes, replaced by docility and submission.
"Hiss~"
It lowered its head and curled up its enormous body to show its submission.
Xiao Fan quietly watched the scene, admiration on his face.
He thought that if Xiao Yan learned about this constitution, that guy might actually cry himself to death.
Qing Lin, only a Dou Zhe, had directly controlled a Dou Wang-level pet. Her talent was truly astonishing.
"Wow! The little snake is my pet now?"
Qing Lin stared in amazement, still unable to quite believe it.
So she was this amazing?
"Come on. We've got somewhere else to go..."
Xiao Fan tore open space again and stepped inside with the giant snake and Qing Lin.
As light flashed, their figures vanished from the Magma Hell.
When they appeared again, they had arrived at the Snake-People Tribe, where Medusa stood before them.
The disturbance in space had put Medusa on high alert.
But when she saw Xiao Fan, her frosty expression softened slightly.
"My Lord..."
Medusa was just about to greet him when her gaze fell on Qing Lin behind him.
Her long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of wariness flashed through them.
For some reason, she genuinely sensed a threat from this seemingly frail little girl.
The threat wasn't strong, but if she let the girl grow...
Medusa glanced again at the Dou Wang-level giant snake docilely following behind Qing Lin and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
A certain rumor about the Snake-People suddenly surfaced in her mind. Was it that curse?
A half-breed born between a Snake-Person and a human, who had lived past the age of two? Could the little girl before her be...
"My Lord, she is...?"
Suppressing her doubts, Medusa asked in a gentle voice.
"She's Qing Lin, my maid."
Xiao Fan introduced her simply, then looked at Qing Lin.
"Qing Lin, this is Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe. She's my subordinate."
"Hello, Sister Medusa! You're so beautiful!"
Medusa was still thinking about how to broach the subject when Qing Lin chirped away like a happy little bird.
She didn't seem the least bit intimidated by the Queen of the Snake-People, calling her "Sister" again and again with warm familiarity.
Perhaps the Qing Lin of the past would have trembled in fear before the high and mighty Queen of the Snake-People. But now, she was full of confidence.
Heh heh... I, Qing Lin, have an Emperor backing me! Who dares bully me?
Just like that, the two quickly became "familiar" with each other.
Afterward, Medusa decided to take Qing Lin around the Snake-People Tribe and introduce her, lest some foolish underling offend her.
Though Medusa felt a faint wariness toward Qing Lin, the girl was, after all, her Lord's maid and held a special status.
But what Medusa never expected was that at every place they passed, Qing Lin would launch into a grand account of Xiao Fan's exploits.
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't you know what kind of existence our Lord is?"
Qing Lin stood with her hands on her hips atop a rise, calling down to a group of Snake-People below.
"He's an Emperor! The kind who can kill you with one slap!"
Her clear, ringing voice echoed across the desert.
"Are you scared now? Heh heh. Treat Lady Qing Lin a little better from now on. Maybe I'll put in a good word for you with our Lord."
Qing Lin looked pleased with herself, as though she had already become an important figure in the tribe.
"You want to know how powerful he is?"
Qing Lin looked at a Snake-Person with a bewildered expression and spoke loudly.
"Back when he fought an enemy, he blew up an entire Star Domain!"
Qing Lin gestured wildly, her expression exaggerated.
"Don't ask me how big a Star Domain is. Anyway, it's really, really big!"
She added that last bit just in case anyone didn't believe her.
And so, one dared to boast, and the others dared to believe.
As the Snake-People listened to Qing Lin's account, looks of shock and reverence appeared on their faces.
So our Lord... was that powerful?
[Beep! Your exploits have convinced the Snake-People Tribe. You have gained 10,000 Bragging Points!]
Xiao Fan was stunned when he received the system notification. He hadn't expected his little maid to have such an astonishing talent for "publicity."
Excellent... At this rate, he'd be able to redeem the Beginningless Scripture very soon...
And so, time slipped by amid Qing Lin's clamor and the tribe's daily routine. Several months passed in the blink of an eye...