First Meeting with Xun'er

A few days later, the Xiao Clan suddenly fell into a strange atmosphere. Lin Qing had just finished cultivating and was about to head out when a knock at the door drew his attention.

When he opened the door, an old man in green robes stood outside.

"Butler Mo, did something happen?"

"Young Master Lin, a distant relative of the Xiao Clan has moved in next door. She is a young lady named Xiao Xun'er. The clan leader sent me to inform you!" the old man said with a kindly smile.

"Oh? All right." Lin Qing nodded.

After delivering the notice, the old man encouraged him to cultivate diligently for a few more words. Then he quietly told Lin Qing that she was an honored guest, personally received by the clan leader. She was only four years old, the Xiao Clan could not afford to offend her, and he should not provoke her lightly. With that, he turned and left.

She truly was an honored guest. Across the entire Northwest Continent, only that Little Dragon Maiden could compare to her. No, the current Gu Xun'er was much better off than Little Dragon Maiden—at the very least, she did not have to scavenge for food in the Magic Beast Forest.

Lin Qing shook his head. So what if Xiao Xun'er had arrived? Right now, the two of them only belonged to the same world for now. There would be few intersections between them in the future. He viewed love lightly. Xiao Xun'er had absolutely nothing to do with him now, though he would see if he could build some connection with her later.

But food came first!

Just as he stepped out of his room, the system's voice rang out in his mind.

[Ding! A new system mission has been issued: When Xiao Yan wishes to conduct a Dou Qi experiment on Gu Xun'er, trigger the following choices:]

[Choice 1: Stop him. Reward: One inheritance of an eighth-tier alchemist.]

[Choice 2: Join in. Reward: Six seventh-tier medicinal pills: Life-Returning Pills.]

[Choice 3: Ignore it. Reward: One Fallen Heart Flame.]

"So it really is her?"

Lin Qing muttered.

What a pity! It would take at least seven or eight years to place the Fallen Heart Flame in the system space and then subdue it. Besides, an eighth-tier alchemist's inheritance would be more than enough for the next decade or so! As for joining in? Are those Life-Returning Pills a reminder that my life might be in danger? I was just thinking about how to build a connection with her, and now this choice appears. Looks like I have to intervene! But Flame Emperor, don't thank me. After all, the Flame Emperor cannot have a stain on his record. Still, Xiao Yan really is bold. He dared to come knocking on her door on the very first day.

Lin Qing could not help grumbling inwardly.

As for the Dou Qi experiment, he did not merely know about it from the original story. Xiao Yan had relied on this, as well as his usual concern, to win Xiao Xun'er's heart.

Lin Qing had nearly experienced it firsthand himself. The other children of the Xiao Clan either lived with their parents until they reached a certain age and received their own residences, while orphaned and adopted children slept in communal dormitories. Within the clan, only he and the three Xiao brothers, four underage boys in total, lived alone with maids attending to their daily needs. Lin Qing lived alone because he was an orphan, while the three Xiao brothers had lived alone ever since their mother fell ill.

Because his soul was mature, Lin Qing had stopped needing maids to attend to his daily life from the age of four.

However, Xiao Zhan and his wife still assigned maids to him, responsible for daytime cleaning and washing his clothes.

Xiao Yan could not make a move against his two brothers, so a few days ago, he had set his sights on Lin Qing. Fortunately, Lin Qing's soul power was strong and he slept lightly. The moment Xiao Yan climbed over the wall, Lin Qing noticed him. The result was that Lin Qing subdued him and spanked him. After all, they were still children, and hitting his palms would have been discovered.

Lin Qing did not tell anyone about it, and Xiao Yan did not dare make a sound either.

Before Lin Qing even left the courtyard gate, knocking came from the neighboring courtyard.

Soon, Xiao Yan's voice drifted over from the small courtyard.

"Cousin Xun'er, I'll show you around the Xiao Clan!"

"All right!" A young girl's tender, slightly babyish voice answered.

Then Lin Qing encountered Xiao Yan at the entrance of the small courtyard, along with the little girl behind him, whose face was pale, nose runny, and hair dry and yellow.

The girl had no beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. At most, she was dressed rather well, though she seemed somewhat malnourished. No wonder she had always placed Xiao Yan first.

After all, she was only four years old. There was no sign at all of the peerless beauty she would become later. As for those other descriptions, would that not land someone in prison?

"Come on! I'll help you get familiar with the place!" Xiao Yan said with a smile.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Cousin Xiao Yan."

The girl's expression was calm, but her tone carried a trace of chilliness.

"All right, then let's go." Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose at the girl's attitude. In the Xiao Clan, who was not scrambling to curry favor with him and treating him with utmost respect? Other than that Lin Qing.

Given his temperament, he had originally wanted to quit on the spot. But then he recalled his father's stern warning not to offend her, so he did not leave directly. He swallowed his irritation, though a bold plan formed in his heart. Last time, he had made too much noise climbing over the wall. This time, surely crawling through a dog hole would work?

This girl is just as annoying as Lin Qing! If I can't handle Lin Qing, I refuse to believe I can't handle you!

Xiao Yan fumed inwardly.

Right! Lin Qing lives next door. I can hand her over to him, then go back to my room and make preparations!

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and then he saw Lin Qing smiling at him.

"Cousin Lin Qing!"

Xiao Yan gave an awkward laugh. After being beaten up, he was somewhat afraid whenever he saw Lin Qing.

Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Lin Qing was a little curious.

"What's wrong, Little Flame?"

"This is an honored guest of our Xiao Clan, the distant-relative kind. Her name is Xiao Xun'er. Could I trouble you to show her around the Xiao Clan?"

After saying that, Xiao Yan immediately ran off, leaving Lin Qing outside the courtyard and Xiao Xun'er inside staring blankly where they stood.

Good grief. She came to the Xiao Clan to steal something, and you are even showing her around. If it had not been hidden well, the Ancient Jade might have disappeared long ago! And now he has handed the job of being her guide to me.

But his uncle was no fool. He definitely wanted to gain some benefits. Even if she could not become his daughter-in-law, if she became Xiao Yan's friend, she could still be of some help to Xiao Yan in the future.

Later facts proved that Xiao Yan had indeed succeeded. By unconventional means, he captured the heart of the Ancient Clan's eldest young lady and enjoyed several bowls of fragrant soft rice.

Of course, Lin Qing could replicate that as well. Gu Xun'er was especially easy to live off, and she was unwaveringly devoted. Once she set her heart on someone, she would never let go.

The idea was feasible, but Lin Qing would not do that. He was not that kind of pervert. That was not something a normal person could do. He only wanted to slowly cultivate their feelings.

Lin Qing gave Xiao Xun'er a polite smile.

"Cousin Xun'er, let me show you around!"

"Mhm."

Xiao Xun'er nodded slightly, her childish voice carrying a faint sense of distance.

"Come on! I'll first show you where we eat, then the place for communal meals, then the main hall for clan gatherings, and the square where Dou Qi strength is tested. The other places are not very important..."

When speaking to the little girl, she rarely responded. Lin Qing glanced at her tightly clenched fists and suddenly understood. So she was a little nervous! It was probably because she had entered a new environment. On top of that, she seemed somewhat socially anxious, so it would be best not to be overly enthusiastic.

Thus, Lin Qing spoke less and only gave simple introductions.

Lin Qing walked ahead while Xiao Xun'er followed close behind him, quietly listening to the boy's introduction. The boy did not try to chat with her, merely speaking to himself without turning back to look at her again.

This gradually made her loosen her clenched hand. For some reason, she felt as though someone was behind her. Thinking of Ling Ying, she stopped paying attention to it.