Picking Someone Up Here

Picking Someone Up Here

Han Feng left Qingshan Town without immediately tearing open space.

He simply took Little Fairy Doctor with him and slowly followed the mountain road outward.

The mountain wind passed through the forest, carrying a trace of moisture.

Little Fairy Doctor followed behind him, always keeping half a step away, not daring to get too close.

She still was not used to it.

Not used to having someone by her side.

Even less used to the fact that this person clearly knew there was something wrong with her body, yet still dared to keep her around.

After leaving the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountains, Han Feng came to a stop.

Ahead lay a high slope, and the view suddenly opened up.

Little Fairy Doctor looked up at his back and finally could not help asking.

"Where... are we going?"

Han Feng glanced back at her.

"Have you ever been to a desert?"

Little Fairy Doctor froze for a moment, then gently shook her head.

"No."

"Then perfect. I'll take you out to see the world."

After saying that, Han Feng swept his sleeve. A gentle force wrapped around Little Fairy Doctor, and they shot into the sky.

Little Fairy Doctor's body stiffened, and she instinctively grabbed Han Feng's sleeve. By the time she came back to her senses, she was already standing high in the air. Mountains and rivers rushed away beneath her feet, while layers of clouds swept past.

She had never flown this high before.

Even Qingshan Town had shrunk into a tiny black dot.

Little Fairy Doctor's face turned a little pale, and her fingers clenched tighter.

Han Feng did not turn around. He merely said casually, "Afraid of heights?"

"A-a little..."

"Then look down at my sleeve. Don't peek below."

Little Fairy Doctor gave a soft acknowledgment and obediently lowered her head.

After a while, she raised it again and asked quietly, "You said earlier that you could solve the problem with my body. Is that true?"

Han Feng did not slow down, his gaze fixed on the distance.

"It's true."

"But you haven't even taken my pulse."

"No need."

Little Fairy Doctor fell silent again.

She actually had many questions.

Who exactly was this Han Feng? Why did he know her secret? Why did he sound as though he understood everything the moment he opened his mouth? And when he spoke of solving it, did he mean suppressing it or curing it?

She held it in for a while, but eventually asked.

"What exactly is wrong with me?"

Han Feng fell silent for a few breaths this time.

"It's not an illness."

Little Fairy Doctor froze.

Han Feng continued, "You have a special constitution: the Calamity Poison Body."

The moment those four words came out, Little Fairy Doctor's entire body tensed.

For the first time, she learned that her body actually had a name.

"The Calamity Poison Body is naturally drawn to poison and grows by consuming poison. Poison kills others, but for you, touching poison is cultivation. The stronger the poison, the faster you grow."

"Then why..."

Little Fairy Doctor's throat tightened.

"Why do I kill people?"

"Because the Poison Dou Qi cultivated by the poison body comes from converting consumed poison. The toxins only continue to accumulate and cannot be metabolized on their own."

Han Feng spoke very directly.

"Once the poison exceeds what the body can bear, all the poisons within break through the flesh and form a Lethal Poison Domain. Every living thing within several miles, even a thousand miles, is corroded by poison. The land is permanently poisoned, leaving not a blade of grass alive. Humans, beasts, plants—none are spared. Once the poisonous gas spreads, anyone who gets near it is doomed."

Little Fairy Doctor's face turned even paler.

His words were blunt.

But they were right.

She lowered her head, her voice very soft.

"So I really am a monster."

Han Feng did not even pause.

"What monster? You just have a special constitution."

"Some people are born close to fire, some are born close to wood, and some can control snakes with their eyes. You just happen to be a little more extreme."

Little Fairy Doctor looked up at him.

Han Feng's tone remained calm.

"If you fell into someone else's hands, it really could become a disaster. But in my hands, it's different."

"I can help you control your poison body. In the future, if you want to save people, save people. If you want to refine poison, refine poison. At the very least, you won't have to worry about waking up one day and poisoning everyone around you to death."

By the end, Little Fairy Doctor's nose suddenly stung.

She hurriedly lowered her head, unwilling to let Han Feng see.

That line—at the very least, you won't have to worry—struck straight into her heart.

What she had feared most all these years was getting close to others.

She feared that one day she would lose control and harm everyone again.

Han Feng did not continue.

No matter how much he said, it would be useless.

She would only believe it once she truly saw the results.

The two headed northwest.

They passed over plains and crossed towns. Eventually, even the air gradually became dry.

The wind began carrying sand.

Standing beside Han Feng, Little Fairy Doctor looked at the endless yellow world in the distance, curiosity appearing in her eyes for the first time.

"Is that the desert?"

"Mm. The Tagor Great Desert."

"We came here to treat my illness?"

Han Feng glanced at her.

"We came here to pick someone up."

Little Fairy Doctor blinked.

"Who?"

"A little girl."

Han Feng smiled.

"Like you. Her life is hard too."

He said it lightly, but Little Fairy Doctor understood.

This man had come all this way not just for her.

He had also come for another pitiful person.

For some reason, she felt a little more at ease. At least, this person was not softhearted toward her alone.

That kind of kindness seemed like a habit. Whoever it fell upon, he never begrudged it.

Before long, the two arrived outside Stone Desert City.

This border city was far larger than Qingshan Town, and the people coming and going were far more varied. Mercenaries, caravans, snakefolk scouts—everything could be found here. The city walls had been worn old by the yellow sand, and the air was filled with dry heat.

Han Feng did not conceal his aura. He brought Little Fairy Doctor directly into the city.

Quite a few people in the city instinctively looked toward him.

Blue robes, a tall figure, an aura too clean.

He did not fit in here at all.

He looked more like a young master from some great power in the Central Plains.

Little Fairy Doctor followed beside him in a plain white dress, her black hair draped over her shoulders, drawing many looks as well. But the moment those gazes met Han Feng, they quickly withdrew.

A person like him was clearly not someone to provoke.

After entering the city, Han Feng did not wander around. He directly spread out his soul power and swept through all of Stone Desert City.

A moment later, his brows lifted slightly.

Nothing.

Qing Lin's aura was not in the city.

That was not surprising.

Given Qing Lin's current circumstances, she might be hiding in some corner outside the city, not even daring to enter.

Seeing him stop, Little Fairy Doctor could not help asking, "You didn't find her?"

"Mm. She's not in the city."

Han Feng turned and left.

"Let's look around the outskirts."

Outside Stone Desert City stood scattered shacks and tattered tents.

Most of those living here were poor people who could not enter the city, or unwanted servants and laborers. When the yellow sand blew, dust covered the ground. Even the well water was murky and bitter.

The farther they went, the fewer people there were.

Finally, Han Feng stopped beside a broken wooden shack that was nearly buried in sand.

Several half-grown children were crouching outside the shack, clutching stones and throwing them at a small, thin figure in the corner.

"Monster!"

"Get lost!"

"Hide your hand! It's disgusting to look at!"

A little girl was curled up in the corner. She was not very old, perhaps around ten. She wore clearly ill-fitting old clothes, her sleeves too long and her pant legs dragging through the sand.

She hugged her knees and curled herself into a ball, her head buried low.

A small patch of pale green snake scales covered her exposed wrist.

The scales were thin, yet especially eye-catching.

Hearing their curses, she did not even dare argue back.

Only her shoulders trembled softly.

A stone struck her forehead, breaking the skin and drawing a little blood.

She still did not move.

She only tucked her wrist deeper into her arms, hiding it more tightly.

Little Fairy Doctor abruptly stopped, her brows knitting together.

She knew those looks too well.

Those disgusted, wary gazes that wished they could drive someone far away—she had seen them directed at herself many times.

Han Feng said nothing.

He merely raised a hand.

The children throwing stones suddenly slipped, tumbling in unison into a pile of sand. They got a mouthful of grit, and after scrambling up without even seeing what had happened, they wailed and ran off.

The surroundings suddenly fell quiet.

Only then did the little girl in the corner slowly raise her head.

Her face was filthy, her small face thin and pointed, her eyes full of fear. Her emerald-green eyes were still ordinary at the moment, merely darker than most people's, without any sign of truly awakening.

Han Feng swept a glance over her, his eyes landing on the patch of pale green snake scales on her wrist.

Qing Lin.

She was despised because mixed snakefolk and human blood ran through her veins, leaving scales on her wrist.

Humans despised her for not being human.

Snakefolk despised her for not being snakefolk.

Caught in between, neither side accepted her.

When the little girl saw Han Feng and Little Fairy Doctor, she instinctively shrank back. But the wooden shack was behind her, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

Her voice was very quiet.

"I-I didn't provoke them..."

"I just wanted to sit here for a while..."

She sounded like she was explaining herself.

She also sounded like she was begging for mercy.

Little Fairy Doctor felt a tightness in her chest. She crouched down and tried to soften her voice.

"Don't be afraid. We're not here to bully you."

Qing Lin looked at her, then at Han Feng, but still did not dare move.

Han Feng simply asked.

"Who threw you out here?"

Qing Lin pursed her lips and said softly, "No one abandoned me... I've always been wandering outside."

She paused, as if afraid she would be beaten for speaking too slowly, then hurriedly added a few more words.

"I lived in villages when I was little, and with merchant caravans too. Later, they found scales on my hands, and none of them wanted me anymore."

"Humans said I was a freak. Snake-People said my bloodline was impure, so they didn't want me either."

"I could only keep wandering around. Eventually, I wandered to Stone Desert City."

Her voice grew lower and lower.

"Sometimes I helped people carry water or move things, and could earn a bite to eat. But if anyone saw my wrist, I'd get beaten again."

Little Fairy Doctor felt her chest tighten.

Ten years old.

Never knowing where her next meal would come from, rejected by both sides.

When she looked at the little girl again, it was as though she saw a smaller version of herself.

Han Feng did not ask any more questions.

There was no point in asking further.

He held out his hand.

"Come with me."

Qing Lin froze.

She looked up at Han Feng, her eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.

"M-Me?"

"Who else?"

Han Feng's tone was casual.

"If you stay here, sooner or later you'll starve to death or be beaten to death."

Qing Lin shrank back at his words.

Because they were too true.

So true that she could not refute them.

Little Fairy Doctor softly added from beside her.

"Go with him."

After a pause, she added, "He's very strong, and he won't hurt you."

Qing Lin looked at Little Fairy Doctor.

This older sister she had just met wore a plain white dress. Her voice was gentle, and there was no disgust in her eyes. Nor did she keep staring at Qing Lin's wrist.

Her nose stung, and her eyes reddened at once.

"I... can I really go with you?"

Han Feng smiled.

"Your legs are attached to you. If you want to go, then go."

Qing Lin stood stunned for a moment, as if she had finally confirmed that she had not misheard.

She hurriedly scrambled up from the ground, moving so quickly that she nearly tripped herself.

Han Feng raised a hand and steadied her.

The little girl's entire body stiffened. It was obvious that this was the first time someone had touched her so naturally. But soon, she realized that nothing happened. No one cursed her, and no one avoided her.

The panic in her eyes finally faded a little.

Han Feng glanced over the shabby shelters and could not be bothered to stay any longer.

He had found the person he came for. There was no need to waste time.

"Let's go."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeve.

A gentle wave of Dou Qi directly enveloped the two women.

Qing Lin let out a soft cry of fright and instinctively grabbed Little Fairy Doctor's hem. Little Fairy Doctor reflexively wrapped an arm around her, and the two were carried into the sky together.

Stone Desert City below swiftly shrank into the distance.

The yellow sands stretched together like a long ribbon.

Qing Lin glanced down, then quickly drew her head back. She pressed tightly against Little Fairy Doctor, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Little Fairy Doctor was calmer than before.

She looked down at the little girl in her arms and gently patted her back.

The gesture was awkward.

But gentle.

Han Feng stood ahead of them, his blue robes fluttering as the space beneath his feet yielded on its own.

He did not turn around, merely speaking indifferently.

"Back to the Black-Corner Region."

Little Fairy Doctor looked at his back, then down at Qing Lin huddled beside her. Suddenly, she felt that this journey to the northwest had been like reaching into the mud and pulling out two people who had suffered so bitterly all their lives.

The wind swept through the high sky.

The two women followed behind that blue-robed figure, one after the other, leaving behind this land of endless yellow sand.