Maid

"How could I not want you? It's just..."

Qing Lin's words made Xie Tianxiao sigh softly. He reached out again and stroked her silky hair, saying gently, "Fine. Since that is the case, you will only be my maid."

"Mhm, mhm. Qing Lin is willing to be Your Excellency's maid too."

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's words, Qing Lin let out a sigh of relief and nodded happily. Then she raised her head and gave him a sweet smile.

Seeing Qing Lin's smiling face, Xie Tianxiao secretly shook his head.

Qing Lin truly was a simple, kind-hearted girl. But alas... it was precisely because she was too kind that others bullied her.

Xie Tianxiao sighed inwardly before saying, "Now that you are my maid, no one will dare look down on you."

"And you do not need to serve me right now. You are still young and should go where you ought to go."

Hearing this, Qing Lin merely bit her lip, gathered her courage, and said, "But... Qing Lin wants to stay by Your Excellency's side!"

"Stay by my side?"

Xie Tianxiao smiled faintly. His eyes fixed directly on Qing Lin's as he suddenly asked, "Qing Lin, do you want the strength to make others respect you, and to be able to help me in the future?"

"Qing Lin does not want others to fear her. But if Your Excellency needs it, Qing Lin is willing to become strong and protect Your Excellency."

Qing Lin raised her head and answered firmly.

"Hehe... good."

A satisfied look flashed across Xie Tianxiao's face at her answer. He placed a hand on her head and said, "Then stop thinking about anything else. Listen carefully to my arrangements, understand?"

"Mhm... Qing Lin understands."

Qing Lin lowered her head and replied softly.

Seeing Qing Lin agree, Xie Tianxiao's gaze fell upon Xiao Ding. He then said indifferently, "Xiao Ding, now that Qing Lin has agreed to this, do you have any objections?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ding quickly cupped his fist in salute and said respectfully, "Since Your Excellency values Qing Lin so highly and has taken her as a maid, Xiao naturally has no reason to doubt anything."

"Qing Lin is a good child. Being able to follow a strong expert like Your Excellency is her good fortune."

Although Xiao Ding found it strange that someone like Xie Tianxiao had suddenly come for Qing Lin, even giving the impression that he absolutely had to have her.

Still, strange as it was, he did not ask further.

After all, he had no desire to offend Xie Tianxiao, a man whose strength and identity were both a mystery.

Besides, he was happy that Qing Lin had found a good place to go.

In the end, he was merely a small-time Dou Shi, while the man before him was at least a Dou Wang-level expert!

"Big Brother, how can you trust him so easily? Who knows whether he truly treats Qing Lin well, or whether he is merely putting on an act?"

At this moment, Xiao Li muttered quietly to Xiao Ding from the side.

He did not quite believe what Xie Tianxiao had said. He believed the man was merely using Qing Lin to achieve some purpose.

"Second Brother, have you forgotten what I told you before? Shut up."

Hearing Xiao Li's words, Xiao Ding glared at him and barked in a low voice.

"Fine, fine, I won't say anything."

Seeing Xiao Ding get angry, Xiao Li quickly shut his mouth and lowered his head.

Seeing this, Xiao Ding ignored Xiao Li and turned to Xie Tianxiao. "My apologies. My second brother speaks rashly. I hope Your Excellency will not take offense."

"If I had taken offense, your Desert Iron Mercenary Corps would have vanished from Stone Desert City long ago."

Xie Tianxiao swept his gaze over the surrounding people and spoke slowly, his voice calm and unruffled.

As soon as he said this, everyone's hearts trembled once more. They all felt the pressure around them intensify, as though it could crush them flat at any moment.

Even Xiao Li swallowed nervously, fear rising in his heart.

He might be rash, but that did not mean he was stupid.

Earlier, he had been displeased with Xie Tianxiao because he thought the man was at most a Da Dou Shi. But now, it seemed he was far more than that.

"Yes, yes... thank you, Se... Senior, for your magnanimity."

Feeling the faint pressure around him, Xiao Ding's expression changed slightly as he hurriedly forced a smile.

That was close!

The strength of this man called Xie Tianxiao was indeed unfathomable!

Fortunately, he had been farsighted enough not to offend him earlier. Otherwise, his Desert Iron Mercenary Corps might really have vanished from Stone Desert City!

After thinking this through, Xiao Ding looked at Qing Lin and continued, "Qing Lin, after leaving the mercenary corps, remember to follow this Senior properly. Do not cause any unnecessary trouble."

"Mhm, I understand, Commander. Thank you for taking me in."

Hearing Xiao Ding's reminder, Qing Lin nodded and spoke gratefully.

"It's nothing. No need to thank me."

Hearing Qing Lin's words, Xiao Ding merely smiled and said nothing more.

Once Xie Tianxiao saw that everyone had become obedient, he looked at Xiao Ding and asked, "Xiao Ding, are there any unusual places in this region?"

"For example, somewhere the temperature rises and falls unpredictably, unlike other places?"

Unusual places?

Temperature?

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's words, Xiao Ding froze for a moment. Then he came to his senses and looked at Xie Tianxiao in surprise. "Does Senior have some matter to attend to?"

"I need a Heavenly Flame. According to the information I obtained, this Heavenly Flame is hidden somewhere in the nearby desert."

Xie Tianxiao nodded and explained.

A Heavenly Flame!

In the desert!

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's words, Xiao Ding and the others were all stirred.

A Heavenly Flame—the legendary thing alchemists dreamed of obtaining—was actually in the desert surrounding Stone Desert City. It was simply astonishing.

After a long while.

Xiao Ding asked tentatively, "Senior means that you need us to help search for the Heavenly Flame hidden in this desert?"

"Correct. You mercenaries often travel through the surrounding desert, so you must know which places have unusual temperature differences."

"I need you to find those unusual locations and inform me. In return, I will give you enough gold coins."

Xie Tianxiao glanced over Xiao Ding and the others as he spoke indifferently.

He had come to Stone Desert City not only to take Qing Lin away, but also because of the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Xie Tianxiao had read the original novel and knew that this Heavenly Flame was somewhere in this vast desert, but he did not know its exact location.

It was not that he had not considered searching with his soul power, but with his Spirit Realm soul power, he simply could not sustain a search across this desert.

So, he might as well have these mercenaries help him look. Besides, in the original novel, it had been these people who found the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"Haha, Senior, what are you saying?"

"It is our honor to be able to help Senior. There is no need for any reward."

Hearing Xie Tianxiao's words, Xiao Ding shook his head and declined with a smile.

Compared to mere wealth, he valued Xie Tianxiao's attitude toward them more. If he could leave a good impression on the man, that would be best.