Qing Lin

After chatting for a while, Xiao Yun took Little Doctor Fairy and followed Xiao Li toward their base in Stone Desert City. Since Xiao Yun would be staying in the Tagore Desert for some time, he happened to need a place to settle down.

Along the way, Xiao Li kept asking Xiao Yun about matters concerning the clan. Amid their lively conversation, Stone Desert City, located on the eastern outskirts of the Tagore Desert, soon came into view.

As they entered Stone Desert City, Xiao Li and the others let out long sighs of relief. They had spent more than ten days in the desert, leaving them mentally exhausted. Now that they had returned home, they could not help but feel excited.

The Tagore Desert was Snake People territory. As a human city, Stone Desert City was heavily defended, with fully armed soldiers patrolling everywhere.

After entering the city, Xiao Yun followed Xiao Li's group through several streets before a broad courtyard appeared before them.

In the middle of the courtyard, a flag bearing the words Desert Iron Mercenary Group fluttered in the wind.

Seeing Xiao Yun looking at the flag, Xiao Li smiled proudly. "In Stone Desert City, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group my elder brother and I established ranks second in strength. Only the Sand Mercenary Group surpasses us."

"But once my elder brother breaks through to the Great Dou Master realm, our mercenary group will take first place."

Xiao Yun smiled and gave Xiao Li a thumbs-up.

Xiao Li and Xiao Ding had only been away from home for a few years, yet they had built a considerable force in the unfamiliar Stone Desert City. They truly had ability and skill.

With Xiao Li, the second-in-command, handling things personally, accommodations for Xiao Yun and Little Doctor Fairy were quickly arranged.

Once Little Doctor Fairy had a place to stay, she immediately slipped into her room to begin cultivating.

Xiao Yun, meanwhile, followed Xiao Li to the entrance of a spacious hall.

Xiao Li pushed open the door. Inside the hall, a young man who bore some resemblance to Xiao Li sat at a table, flipping through a book in his hands.

Xiao Li's voice rang through the hall. "Big Brother, look who's here!"

Upon hearing Xiao Li, the white-robed young man raised his head. He first saw his second brother, Xiao Li, then noticed Xiao Yun standing beside him.

When Xiao Ding looked at him, Xiao Yun smiled. Their relationship had always been fairly good.

When Xiao Ding was young, Xiao Zhan, as the young clan leader, had already begun dealing with clan affairs and rarely had time to accompany him. As a child, Xiao Ding often followed Xiao Yun, who was eight years his senior.

"Uncle! Why are you here?" Xiao Ding hurriedly stood and walked over to Xiao Yun with a smile.

Xiao Yun looked at Xiao Ding and smiled as well. "Your uncle needed to make a trip to the Tagore Desert for something. Since you two happened to be here, I came to see you. What, am I not welcome?"

"How could that be? Of course you're welcome!" Xiao Ding quickly said.

Even after growing up, Xiao Ding remained close to Xiao Yun. They had not seen each other for nearly a year, and he had missed Xiao Yun greatly.

Seeing his elder brother acting somewhat restrained before Xiao Yun, not even daring to speak too loudly, Xiao Li felt a burst of satisfaction. Xiao Ding usually lectured him plenty.

"Big Brother, Uncle has come all this way. Let's throw him a welcome banquet tonight."

"Of course," Xiao Ding said. "Gather everyone. Tonight, eat and drink to your hearts' content."

That night, the lights of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group remained lit until dawn. Hearing that the two commanders' uncle had arrived, many members of the mercenary group came forward curiously to toast Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun did not wish to embarrass Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. Relying on his formidable cultivation, he drank the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group under the table.

The next day, Xiao Yun lay on his bed with his eyes closed, resting. He suddenly opened his eyes, rose, and looked toward the door.

The door was gently pushed open, and a small head peeked inside.

"Master Xiao Yun, you're awake."

A petite figure walked in. She bowed to Xiao Yun and said timidly, "Master Xiao Yun, pardon the disturbance. I am the maid assigned to serve you."

The petite girl who entered appeared quite young. She wore a light green dress, and though small in stature, her body had already begun to develop, lending her an immature, delicate air.

The girl seemed very afraid of strangers as she timidly walked up to Xiao Yun.

Hearing how she addressed him, Xiao Yun froze for a moment. He nodded kindly, his expression strange. "This is the first time anyone has called me master. It feels odd."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yun asked the girl, "What's your name?"

The girl hesitated before stammering, "I... I'm Qing Lin."

"Qing Lin? That's a nice name." Xiao Yun smiled at Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, don't call me master anymore. It feels strange. Just call me by my name."

Qing Lin was startled by Xiao Yun's words and hurriedly said, "That won't do! I'm only a maid. How could I directly call Master by his name?"

Xiao Yun fell silent for a while. He could sense the fear in the girl's heart. It seemed that calling him by name was truly a terrifying thing for her.

"Fine, but don't call me master either. Just call me Young Master," Xiao Yun said.

"Alright. Then, Young Master Xiao Yun, let me help you wash up." Qing Lin held a wooden basin in her hands. She gently set it aside and looked at Xiao Yun nervously.

"No need. I can do it myself." Xiao Yun smiled and shook his head. He got out of bed and washed his face in a few quick motions.

Once Qing Lin saw that Xiao Yun had finished washing up, she quickly carried the wooden basin out the door.

Before long, Qing Lin returned. When Xiao Yun saw her come back, his gaze fell upon her wrist, where he saw several green scales.

At the sight of the scales, Xiao Yun understood. So it really is this girl.

When Qing Lin saw that Xiao Yun had remained silent and was merely staring at her, she followed his gaze and noticed the scales she had accidentally exposed on her wrist.

At once, Qing Lin's little face turned pale. She yanked down her sleeve and cautiously retreated two steps, her body trembling as she said, "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten Young Master Xiao Yun."

Simply having the snake scales on her hand seen had frightened Qing Lin to the point that she was nearly in tears.

Seeing this, Xiao Yun's heart stirred, and he felt some pity for the girl before him.

In the Tagore Desert, human women were occasionally violated by Snake People, and those women could become pregnant afterward.

However, human infants with Snake People blood usually found it difficult to survive beyond the age of two. Yet there were exceptions—some children born with special traits could grow up like ordinary human infants.

But in this place, the Snake People and humans shared a deep hatred. Human children with Snake People blood were regarded as curses by both humans and Snake People, subjected to mockery and unfair treatment.

Xiao Yun slowly walked to Qing Lin's side and crouched down. He gently stroked her head and, amid her frightened expression, said softly, "Don't be afraid. I wasn't frightened. I just saw some very beautiful scales and was momentarily stunned."

Xiao Yun's words left the little girl stunned. Since the day she was born, this was the first time she had heard anyone call her scales beautiful.

The scales on her hand were something even she herself feared.