Journey to Stone Desert

"Cough, cough. Just call me Qing Mo."

Being called "young master" really made him uncomfortable, especially when a little girl was calling him that. It just felt strange.

"Mm..."

Qing Lin gave a soft acknowledgment, then lowered her head and fell silent.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

"Come to think of it, I haven't properly looked around Stone Desert City yet. How about you introduce me to it, little Qing Lin?"

"Uh, well, I'm not very familiar with it..." Qing Lin's voice was very soft. She was used to being excluded, so she did not dare stay in crowded places for long.

Usually, she only dared to move around a few less-populated alleys, taking on odd jobs like handicraft work or cleaning up garbage just to barely make a living.

"It's fine. We'll just wander around. Let's go."

"Wait..."

Without giving her a chance to object, Qing Mo grabbed Qing Lin's hand and walked forward.

Her hand was tiny and cold. Qing Lin gently tried to pull away, but when she found she could not free herself, she could only steel herself and follow behind Qing Mo.

Stone Desert City was a city built in the desert.

Although dusk was drawing near, the sun still scorched the earth, and the air was filled with the dry scent of dust.

Most of the buildings lining the roads were built from adobe and rough timber, bearing the traces of erosion from wind and sand.

Most people walking through the streets dressed lightly.

The men went bare-chested, showing off sun-darkened skin and clearly defined muscles full of strength.

The women simply covered their important areas with strips of cloth.

Every now and then, squads from mercenary groups passed through the streets.

As they walked, Qing Mo's gaze was drawn to a tailor shop, and he subconsciously looked at Qing Lin.

Her clothes had been washed until they had faded white, and they were patched in several places. She looked terribly shabby. It was time to get little Qing Lin a new outfit.

"Qing Lin, let's take a look over there and get you some new clothes."

Qing Mo pointed at the tailor shop and said with a smile.

Qing Lin had kept her head lowered the entire way, sticking close behind Qing Mo.

Only when she heard his voice did she raise her head.

Following the direction he pointed, she saw a tailor shop.

She remembered that when her mother was still alive, she had brought her here once and bought a piece of cloth to make her clothes. Even the cheapest fabric in the shop cost six gold coins. It had taken her a long time to save enough for such cloth.

"We shouldn't. It's very, very expensive there." Qing Lin hesitantly said, "You don't need to buy anything for me..."

"Very expensive?" Qing Mo took out the money pouch he had gotten from Zhang Lin and counted it. There were roughly three hundred gold coins inside.

Qing Lin's eyes went wide as she stared fixedly at the gold coins in Qing Mo's hand like a little miser. She had never seen so many gold coins in her life.

"Little Qing Lin, about how many gold coins do you spend in a month?"

"Three gold coins a month is enough."

"Three gold coins!" Qing Mo was astonished. Her monthly expenses were actually so low. By that calculation, more than three hundred gold coins really was quite a lot.

"Come on, let's go take a look." Qing Mo pulled Qing Lin inside.

As soon as they entered the clothing shop, a middle-aged woman approached them.

"Young master, would you like something custom-made, or would you prefer ready-made clothes?"

"Help me see if you have anything suitable for her."

Qing Mo turned around and brought Qing Lin, who had been hiding behind him, into view.

"Th-That won't be necessary, really..."

Qing Lin waved her hands and repeatedly refused. The blush on her cheeks never faded.

"It's fine. Don't be afraid. You deserve this."

Qing Mo pushed Qing Lin forward and said with a serious expression, "No refusing, or I'll be unhappy."

Seeing Qing Mo like this, Qing Lin could only swallow the words that had reached her lips.

"Hehe, what a pretty little girl," the middle-aged woman said with a smile. "Leave her to me. I'll definitely dress her up beautifully."

She took out a soft measuring tape and began measuring Qing Lin.

"The little girl is still growing. I can recommend a few styles that she can wear for longer. Of course, I can also tailor several outfits specifically to her measurements."

"Custom-made clothes fit better and look better when worn."

"No need to go through all that trouble. Help her pick out some things she can wear now." Qing Mo waved his hand. Once Qing Lin grew some more, he could get her better clothes then.

"Alright."

The middle-aged woman nodded. "In that case, I happen to have several styles here that would suit her well. The fabric is comfortable, and the designs are generous too."

As she spoke, she turned and walked toward a pearwood clothes rack at the side, taking down three outfits.

One was a light green one-piece dress, its hem embroidered with several emerald leaves in gold thread. Another was an off-white long dress embroidered with simple patterns.

The last was a light blue short dress. They all cost ten gold coins.

"They all seem pretty good." Qing Mo looked over the outfits the middle-aged woman had recommended. They all seemed well suited for Qing Lin.

"Can she try them on?"

"Of course. Come, little girl, put them on and give them a try." The middle-aged woman led Qing Lin into the back room.

Qing Mo waited in the shop. After a while, a scream suddenly came from the back room.

"Ah! Monster!"

Qing Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately rushed over.

When he reached the back room, he saw Qing Lin crouching on the floor with her arms wrapped around herself, the blue scales on her forearms completely exposed.

The middle-aged woman pointed at Qing Lin with a terrified expression, continually muttering, "Monster, monster."

"Y-You monster!" She pointed at Qing Lin, her face filled with fear. "Y-You have scales on your body! Y-You're a Snakefolk half-blood! D-Don't come any closer! Monster! Monster!"

Qing Lin lowered her head, making her expression impossible to see. But from how violently her body trembled, it was clear that she was suffering.

This was bad!

Qing Mo inwardly cursed. Looking at the middle-aged woman, who was still screaming nonstop, he raised his hand and struck the back of her neck with a chop. She only had time to let out a startled cry before collapsing limply.

Then Qing Mo hurried forward and pulled Qing Lin into his arms.

Seeing Qing Lin still trembling in his embrace, Qing Mo was filled with remorse. He had only thought about getting Qing Lin new clothes and had forgotten about this.

"It's alright. I'm here."

Qing Mo gently patted her back, his movements slow and steady, again and again.

After quite some time, Qing Lin timidly raised her head.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, and her eye sockets were red. In Stone Desert City, as a Snakefolk half-blood, she had always been seen as an outsider, a monster—an error that should not exist, much less be accepted.

"Y-You really don't hate me?"

Qing Mo did not answer immediately. He merely reached out and wiped the tear tracks from her cheeks with his fingertips, then took her little hand and gently stroked those blue scales.

"On the contrary, I like you even more."