Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei (Revised)

Mittel Auction House, VIP room.

Lin Qing was seated upright in the seat of honor.

Beside him sat an elderly man in his fifties or sixties named Mittel Donner. He had been Lin Qing's partner all along. After Lin Qing's alchemy broke through to the second tier, he had approached Mittel directly. At that time, Ya Fei was not yet the person in charge of Wutan City; it was the man before him.

Lin Qing's demands were simple: the Medicinal Pills could not fall into the hands of the other Two Great Clans in Wutan City, and his identity could not be exposed.

Donner agreed at once, and he later handled everything Lin Qing requested quite well. Thus, the two had continued working together to this day.

"Today, Young Master Lin's reputation has spread throughout Wutan City. I believe it won't be long before the entire Jia Ma Empire knows your name!"

That was the downside of a small city. Whenever something happened to a great clan in public, the whole city learned about it immediately. Lin Qing paid it no mind.

"Mr. Donner, this is the final batch of Medicinal Pills we agreed upon. Have you prepared everything I asked for?"

Lin Qing took several bottles of Medicinal Pills from his Storage Ring, all fourth-tier Qi-Gathering Powder and Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills. He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and spoke calmly.

"Young Master Lin, everything has been prepared—all wilderness supplies and rations. Are you planning a long journey?" As he spoke, Donner took out a Storage Ring.

"Yes, I am going on a long journey."

Taking the Storage Ring, Lin Qing inspected it, nodded to Donner, and put it directly into his storage space.

"Then I wish Young Master Lin a smooth journey! Thanks to you, I exceeded my family's assigned task. My term has been shortened, and I will soon be transferred back to headquarters." Donner stroked his beard, his tone exceedingly sincere.

"I also wish Elder Donner ever-greater success in business after you return to the Imperial Capital!"

Lin Qing smiled and cupped his hands in salute.

"Haha! I'll gladly take your kind words!" the old man said with a hearty laugh.

Draping himself in a black robe, Lin Qing quietly left the Mittel Auction House.

As usual, he returned to Xun'er's courtyard and brewed a pot of spirit tea. Then he took out a book on the Magic Beast Mountains and began reading it. Beside him, Xun'er held an ancient-looking book, her slender fingers occasionally turning a page. Steam curled from the teacups, a gentle breeze drifted through from time to time, and the little yellow flowers by the courtyard wall danced in the wind.

Peaceful moments always passed quickly.

Suddenly, Lin Qing sensed someone entering his room, though it was an acquaintance.

"Brother Lin Qing, hurry back! Someone is looking for you!"

Xiao Xun'er's soft voice sounded beside Lin Qing's ear.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow, Xun'er!"

Lin Qing called out to Xun'er, rose to his feet, and left directly.

Xiao Xun'er stared blankly at Lin Qing's departing figure. After a while, she pressed her lips together, turned another page with her slender fingers, then closed the book and returned to her room.

The moment Lin Qing entered the Small Courtyard, he saw that his visitors were standing outside his door.

One was pretty, tall, and voluptuous, with long, smooth, shapely legs. The other was pure yet alluring. Both were exceptionally beautiful girls!

"Cousin Xiao Yu, why are you here? And Cousin Xiao Mei, why are you here too?"

A trace of confusion on his face, Lin Qing asked politely.

"Mhm!" Xiao Yu replied so softly it was nearly inaudible. She did not dare meet Lin Qing's eyes, and a flush colored her lovely cheeks. Xiao Mei beside her was even worse, her pretty face crimson as she lowered her head and stared at her toes, not daring to say a word.

Whenever they recalled what the elders had said earlier, the two felt unbearably embarrassed. Although they truly liked Lin Qing, now that they were facing him, they felt too ashamed to show their faces.

"Did you two do something bad? Or did something happen at home? Just say it if there's a problem. We grew up together, so as long as I can help, I definitely will!"

Seeing how awkward they looked, Lin Qing frowned. They had been perfectly fine when they ate together at noon. What had suddenly happened?

As Lin Qing guessed inwardly, Xiao Yu slowly raised her head and looked at him. His image reflected in her crystalline eyes. She bit her silver teeth lightly, then finally gathered her courage and stated why they had come.

"The clan leader, Grandfather, and several elders want my cousin and me to become your concubines."

"Huh?"

Lin Qing froze, and the warmth left his face. Though he called them cousin and younger cousin, the three barely shared any blood relation and had long since passed beyond the fifth degree of kinship. Still, the utilitarian intentions of his uncle and the elders were truly unpleasant.

Perhaps they wanted to strengthen the family ties, but he genuinely disliked forcing others into things! Today it could be him, but what about tomorrow? Could it be someone else as well?

"Then what have you decided?"

The moment Xiao Yu heard Lin Qing's words, she immediately said fiercely:

"What? Don't tell me you aren't willing!"

Hearing Xiao Yu's delicate rebuke, Lin Qing could not help but fall silent.

"I am willing. I just don't want you to be treated like goods, turned into bargaining chips. I want you to have your own choice! We grew up together, after all. There's no need to make things so ugly! Otherwise, we'll become strangers who never speak to each other again!"

It seemed her earlier words had exhausted all her courage, for Xiao Yu lowered her head once more.

"Cousin, Clan Leader Uncle asked us about it. My cousin and I are willing! We both like you, so we came to find you!"

Xiao Mei looked at Lin Qing pitifully.

Lin Qing stepped forward and pulled both girls into his arms.

As for the request that Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei become his concubines, he naturally would not refuse if they liked him too. In truth, he had some feelings for them. Once he discovered that they liked him, there was no way he could let them go and watch them fall into another man's arms in the future.

Of course, if they did not like him, he would not use his cultivation to force them. At most, he would feel a little bitter when they married someday.

Growing up together carried a different kind of meaning.

"Lin Qing, I like you. I've always liked you. Why? Why was I clearly the one who came first? I was clearly the first one to like you, yet you just didn't like me!"

Xiao Yu wept miserably in Lin Qing's embrace.

No wonder! No wonder Xiao Ning had said his sister was so fierce!

And here he had thought she had always been gentle. It turned out she had been plotting against him all along.

She had only been gentle, shy, and bold because she liked him. Being gentle with the person she truly loved was simply her hope that she would also be treated gently in the future.

"Alright, alright! I actually have feelings for you too!"

Lin Qing comforted her softly while continuously stroking her back. Only then did Xiao Yu slowly stop crying.

Xiao Mei did not cry. Her little face remained flushed. She liked Lin Qing only because he was mature, handsome, and powerful, but now she discovered that Lin Qing smelled so good. She wanted to remain in his arms forever. At the thought, her face turned even redder. She felt something was wrong with her, and soon Xiao Yu felt something similar as well.

Feeling the two girls in his arms, Lin Qing's hands slowly slid downward and gave a squeeze. It had to be said, the feel was indeed quite good.

"Mmm!" ×2

The two girls in his arms let out soft moans, blush spreading across their beautiful faces.