At this moment, Qing Lin pursed her lips, lowered her little head, and looked utterly dejected.
After a long while, Qing Lin slowly raised her head and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Master, back then... back then, I was truly afraid I would never see you again." Her hands unconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes, her fingers trembling slightly, as though the memory still filled her with lingering fear.
"When I saw Master covered in wounds, Qing Lin also wanted to go out and help share some of your burden. But Qing Lin was so weak that not only could I not help Master, I might even have held you back."
"At that time, Qing Lin could only pray silently, hoping Master would return safely..."
As she spoke, tears welled in Qing Lin's eyes. The endless bitterness was like a withered flower, dim and colorless, yet utterly helpless.
Xiao Yao stepped forward and gently placed his hands on Qing Lin's shoulders. His gaze was gentle as he softly said, "Qing Lin, don't think like that. In Master's heart, you have always been someone immensely important—not because of your strength, but because you are you.
"Do you remember what I told you before? You live for yourself, not for others! Even I have no right to dictate your life!"
Xiao Yao paused slightly, raised his hand, and gently wiped away the tear about to fall from Qing Lin's eye. He continued, "Besides, everyone has their own pace of growth. Look at yourself—you've already improved so, so much since the beginning.
"In less than two short years, you went from having no cultivation at all to reaching the Dou Wang realm. With such terrifying, monstrous talent, as long as you maintain this effort and perseverance, your