In the hall, only the three Xiao brothers and Qing Lin remained.
"Little Yanzi, are you a Dou Wang?"
Xiao Li asked curiously.
"Second Brother, I'm actually an Eight-Star Dou Master. I have Dou Qi wings because I learned a Flying Dou Technique."
Xiao Yan explained with a smile.
"A Flying Dou Technique? There's such a thing?"
Xiao Ding had never heard of one and could not hide his surprise.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, there's something important I'd like your help with."
Xiao Yan had been searching for a Heavenly Flame without success. In the vast desert, one person could only do so much, so he wanted the Desert Iron Mercenary Group to help him look.
"Little Yanzi, we're brothers. Just say the word. Big Brother and I will do everything we can."
Xiao Li thumped his chest and laughed.
Qing Lin brought the three of them cups of tea. Xiao Yan took his and set it on the table, then took Qing Lin's hand and guided her small frame into the chair beside him.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance. Their little brother did not merely want a sworn younger sister—he had taken a fancy to Qing Lin.
"Ahem. Little Yanzi, tell us what you need."
Xiao Ding coughed and smiled.
Qing Lin's delicate, fair face flushed scarlet.
Xiao Yan kept smiling, entirely unmoved by his brothers' odd looks.
He told them about the map he had obtained with information on a Heavenly Flame. He had followed it here, but the desert was too vast to search alone without wasting time. He wanted the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's help.
Xiao Yan took a sheepskin scroll from his Storage Ring, slowly spread it across the table, and pointed to a flame symbol.
"Where this flame is marked seems to be east of Shimo City."
Xiao Li knew the area around Shimo City well. One look at the map was enough for him to place it.
"I've been there a few times. There's nothing unusual about it."
Xiao Ding frowned slightly. Just last month, he had led a team there to hunt magical beasts.
"Either way, I've come all this way. I'll search carefully for a few days. If I still can't find it, I'll have to look elsewhere."
Heavenly Flames were treasures born of the world's spiritual essence. Xiao Yan had expected one to be hard to find.
"Young Master, I once sensed something strange east of Shimo City."
Qing Lin spoke timidly.
All three men looked at her. She grew even more nervous and could not get another word out.
Xiao Yan held her soft little hand and encouraged her with a smile:
"Qing Lin, don't be afraid. Tell us. Even if it doesn't help, I won't blame you."
"Mm."
Qing Lin nodded lightly and said in a small voice, "Half a year ago, I sensed an extremely powerful presence east of Shimo City. It felt similar to something in my blood. It was very strong—stronger than the leader of the Sand Mercenary Group."
The leader of the Sand Mercenary Group was a Da Dou Shi. A presence stronger than his—could it have been a Dou Wang?
And if it resembled Qing Lin's bloodline, that meant it belonged to someone from the Snake-People Tribe.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked at each other and spoke at the same time: "Could it have been Queen Medusa?"
Queen Medusa was infamous throughout the Tagor Desert. Her fearsome name could make a crying child fall silent.
Xiao Yan's heart stirred. Queen Medusa—wasn't she his future wife?
She had searched for the Green Lotus Core Flame too, hadn't she?
As the clues came together, Xiao Yan became certain the Green Lotus Core Flame lay east of Shimo City.
He could not be sure it was still there, but he had to see for himself.
If the Green Lotus Core Flame was gone, his future wife had taken it. He could go straight to her.
"Qing Lin, this clue is so important to me. You're my little lucky star."
Xiao Yan stroked Qing Lin's hair, delight on his face.
The next day, with Qing Lin leading the way, Xiao Yan and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group arrived at a flat stretch of desert.
There was nothing unusual about it. It did not look like a place that held a Heavenly Flame.
"Young Master, this really is where I sensed it half a year ago."
Seeing the doubt on everyone's faces, Qing Lin nearly burst into tears, but she gathered her courage and spoke.
Xiao Yan rubbed her head and comforted her. "I believe you, Qing Lin."
"If it isn't on the ground or in the sky, it must be underground."
Xiao Ding crouched, scooped up a handful of yellow sand, and let it slip through his fingers.
"Even if there was once a passage here, day after day of blowing sand would have buried it."
Who knew how many ancient civilizations lay buried beneath the boundless desert?
"Now that we know where to look, we can find the hidden passage with enough time and people."
Xiao Li spoke from beside them.
"Finding the passage isn't the problem. We're not far from Shimo City. If we search this openly, other factions are bound to notice—especially the Sand Mercenary Group. They're somewhat stronger than our Desert Iron Mercenary Group. I'm worried they'll interfere."
Xiao Ding frowned.
"Don't worry, Big Brother. If they dare come, I can handle them."
Xiao Yan smiled.
Only then did Xiao Ding remember how unfathomably strong his younger brother was. He had worried for nothing.
He immediately assigned people to spread out and comb the area.
"Young Master, I want to help too." Qing Lin tugged at Xiao Yan's sleeve and spoke softly.
Xiao Yan stroked her head and smiled. "You're not afraid of them anymore?"
Qing Lin shook her head. "I want to help you find the passage."
Xiao Ding beckoned. "Xue Lan, take Qing Lin with you."
Xue Lan came over smiling, took Qing Lin's hand, and said, "Come on, little sister."
Xiao Yan gave Qing Lin an encouraging look.
As time passed, the Sand Mercenary Group Xiao Ding had worried about never appeared.
Word of Xiao Yan's formidable display the day before had already reached those keeping watch. None of them dared cause trouble.
With no one interfering, Xiao Yan was glad to have a quiet day.
By sunset, they had found no trace of a passage. Everyone pitched tents in the desert and rested.
At daybreak, more than a dozen search teams set out again.
Near noon, good news finally came.
Qing Lin's team had found traces of a passage.
By the time Xiao Yan arrived, they had dug out its entrance. The tunnel slanted downward into darkness, its depths impossible to see.
"Sand had covered the entrance. Qing Lin sensed an unusual presence here. Otherwise, we might never have found it."
Xue Lan spoke with a smile.
Xiao Yan looked at Qing Lin. Yellow sand clung to her all over. Her face was pale and her lips were cracked, but when she saw him looking, she gave him a happy smile.
Xiao Yan walked over to Qing Lin, took a cup of cool water from his Portable Space, and handed it to her:
"My Qing Lin did wonderfully. You must be thirsty. Have some water."
"I'm happy I could help you, Young Master."
Qing Lin smiled sweetly, accepted the cup, and drank in small sips.
Xiao Ding tossed a Moonlight Stone into the passage. It rolled downward and finally vanished into the dark.
In its fading glow, they had glimpsed several forks farther down the passage.
There might be more forks ahead.
Standing at the entrance, Xiao Yan looked down. He could sense an extraordinarily dense concentration of fire-attributed energy below.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, we don't know what's down there. Don't risk it. I'll go alone."
"We can't let you go down there alone. It's too dangerous."
"Haha. If I can't handle whatever's down there, how could you? Don't worry. I'm confident."
Xiao Yan laughed. He had his Portable Space. Even if he encountered a Dou Zong, he could slip into it before his opponent knew what had happened.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, the members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group worked hard to find this passage for me. Reward them when you get back. I'll cover the rewards when I return."
"Little Yanzi, we're your brothers. How could we take anything from you for helping?"
Xiao Li punched Xiao Yan lightly, sounding a little angry.
Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. Nothing beats your own brothers.
Once he returned from the passage, he planned to give his brothers pills to help them grow stronger.
Xiao Yan nodded and was about to jump down when Qing Lin caught his sleeve.
"Young Master, take me with you. I can sense which passage still holds traces of that person's presence from half a year ago."
"All right."
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. If they encountered danger, he could send Qing Lin into his Portable Space.
He gathered Qing Lin in his arms and leaped into the passage.
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