The Disappearance of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li

"It won't be that easy to kill me, Mo Xing!"

Mo Xing rolled away, narrowly escaping Mu Chen's stomp.

A layer of Dou Qi Veil immediately appeared over his body, but the instant he got to his feet, a black-silver flash replaced the world before his eyes.

Mu Chen spun the black sword in his hand and accurately slid it back into the scabbard on his back.

Looking at the decapitated corpse, Mu Chen slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry, but killing you really is that easy."

With a kick of his foot, a longsword on the ground shot through the air.

A sound of flesh being pierced rang out in the distance, followed by a corpse collapsing to the ground.

Turning around, he saw Qing Lin curled up into a ball, her glasslike, watery eyes brimming with tears.

Mu Chen's gaze fell upon her clothes, so filthy that their original color was nearly impossible to discern. Her exposed hands and feet were covered in bruises.

Mu Chen froze for a moment. He first reined in the killing intent around him before walking toward the pitiful little girl.

"Ah!" Qing Lin hurriedly backed away, but a wall stood behind her. With nowhere left to retreat, she fell to the ground. Her tiny body trembled from fear, and tears began flowing from her large watery eyes again.

"Stop crying. If you keep crying, you'll turn into a little tabby cat, and then you won't be cute anymore."

Mu Chen bent over and held out his hand with a smile.

Qing Lin was stunned. Her sobs abruptly stopped as she looked strangely at the boy several years older than herself. Unlike everyone else, he had not cursed or beaten her.

Perhaps Mu Chen's kind smile had affected her. Qing Lin timidly stretched out her dirty little hand.

But when she saw the green scales on her arm, her eyes dimmed again. Just as she was about to pull her hand back, a warm palm caught it and pulled her to her feet.

"Young Master... don't you hate Qing Lin?" Qing Lin asked softly.

Because she carried the bloodline of both humans and Snake People, Qing Lin had always been the target of ridicule in Stone Desert City. This was the first time she had met someone who, even after touching her, showed not the slightest disgust in his eyes.

"How could I? Little Qing Lin is so adorable. You only make people like you; how could anyone dislike you? I like you very much."

"Little Qing Lin, follow me from now on. You don't need to care about the prejudiced gazes of others. People ultimately live for themselves."

After leaving the alley, Mu Chen no longer intended to visit the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. When the people on both sides of the street saw Qing Lin beside him, looks of disgust appeared on their faces.

However, before their insults could leave their mouths, Mu Chen's released aura forced them back.

As they passed a restaurant, the fragrant scent of food drifted out into the street.

Grrr...

Qing Lin lowered her little head embarrassedly and timidly stared at her toes.

She had not eaten a proper meal in three days.

Seeing her embarrassed expression, especially the way she occasionally raised her little face to look at him nervously, Mu Chen could tell she was afraid he might abandon her.

Those pitiful eyes seemed to be saying, Hungry... want food...

Mu Chen could not help rubbing Qing Lin's jade-green hair. Little Qing Lin was simply too adorable.

Mu Chen smiled. "Come on. Since we're already in the Tagor Desert, I might as well try some desert food."

"Don't worry, I couldn't bear to sell you. You can eat as much as you want." Mu Chen spoke boldly.

Leading Qing Lin into the restaurant, Mu Chen waved his hand, and more than a thousand gold coins appeared atop the counter.

"Your restaurant is mine for today. Bring me every dish your place can make."

"Don't repeat anything."

Not long afterward, Mu Chen watched Qing Lin hungrily devour the food while practically lying across the table. It seemed she had truly been starving these past few days.

Shaking his head sympathetically, Mu Chen placed a cup of water before Qing Lin and gently pushed it toward her.

"Eat slowly. No one's taking it from you. Drink some water too. Don't choke."

Mu Chen only sampled the dishes spread across the table. Having reached the Dou Master realm, he could absorb the energy of heaven and earth to replenish his consumption.

He no longer needed to eat frequently to replenish his body's energy.

Half an hour later, Mu Chen looked helplessly at Qing Lin. Her little belly was already round, yet she was still clutching food and trying her best to finish it.

"If you can't eat anymore, then stop. I can guarantee you'll be able to eat these things every day from now on. You don't need to worry about bankrupting me."

"I have money..." Mu Chen squeezed out the last three words through gritted teeth.

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master. Qing Lin finally understands what it feels like to be full."

Such a short sentence contained endless bitterness.

"Young Master, please let Qing Lin follow you. Qing Lin can wash clothes, cook, and work very hard."

But upon seeing the mess covering the table, Qing Lin quickly waved her little hands. "Qing Lin actually eats very little every day. Qing Lin doesn't need wages. As long as Qing Lin has food to eat every day, that's enough."

Looking at Qing Lin twisting her little hands together as she gazed at him expectantly, Mu Chen could not help feeling pity for her. Those glasslike eyes were simply too heart-wrenching.

Mu Chen smiled softly. "Little Qing Lin, didn't I already say it? You'll follow me from now on."

"You don't need to be so restrained around me. It's not as if I'm some magical beast that eats people."

As though remembering something, Mu Chen asked, "By the way, didn't Little Qing Lin used to live with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group? Did they bully you?"

Mu Chen was indeed confused. In the original story, although the Desert Iron Mercenary Group did not particularly like Qing Lin, because of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, they should not have driven her out and left her wandering the streets.

"Qing Lin doesn't know what happened either. Three days ago, First Commander Xiao Ding and Second Commander Xiao Li suddenly disappeared."

"Then the people in the group believed Qing Lin had brought them bad luck, so they drove Qing Lin away."

Qing Lin spoke somewhat despondently. After all, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had been her home. She had lived there for so many years, even if no one liked her.

But Qing Lin's words plunged Mu Chen into deep thought.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li disappeared! That shouldn't have happened. Did the two of them return to the Xiao Clan in Wutan City? But according to the timeline, shouldn't they have been waiting in Stone Desert City for Xiao Yan to arrive?

Could this be another unknown change?

Mu Chen slightly closed his eyes. A pair of violet eyes, shining like stars, surfaced in his mind.

But he immediately forced those eyes from his thoughts.

After leaving the restaurant, Mu Chen used medicinal pills to heal Qing Lin's injuries.

Then he took Qing Lin through the city. Before long, the little beggar-like Qing Lin had been completely transformed.

She wore a fitting, elegant pale-green dress that matched her delicate little oval face. Her slender arms were white and tender like lotus roots, while her bright green eyes darted about.

Her tiny body only reached Mu Chen's chest. Her cute little face was rosy, making her look like a finely carved porcelain doll. Her timid manner resembled a frightened little white rabbit, stirring pity in anyone who saw her.

"I never realized our little Qing Lin was this cute. You're practically a little princess."

"Oh? You're blushing too? That's just too adorable."

Mu Chen teased her and could not help rubbing her soft hair. Focusing carefully, he indeed saw three tiny jade-green dots within Qing Lin's green pupils.

"The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils... Just like Xiao Yi Xian, it's a cheat-level physique."

"However, it hasn't awakened yet. Lv Man and Heiya from Tianxie Mansion probably haven't arrived either. In that case, I only need to watch out for that perverted old freak from the Mo Clan."

Suddenly, a chaotic rush of footsteps interrupted Mu Chen's thoughts. Dozens of mercenaries surged out from around the street corner, each carrying sharp weapons.

Their target was clearly Mu Chen and Qing Lin ahead of them.