Stopping

Xiao Xun'er did not know that more than twenty zhang behind them, a little girl was slowly following along. The girl looked left and right as if she were out playing, yet her gaze remained fixed on the two of them, her eyes full of resentment. She dearly wanted to go with them, but the moment she remembered her grandfather's warning, she lost her nerve and could only follow closely behind.

As they walked, he brought Xiao Xun'er to the dining hall. High-level cultivators did not need to eat, but for a small clan that did not even have a Dou Ling, a dining hall was essential. Children did not have to pay, of course, and those who cultivated well ate well too. Some people living in their own courtyards cooked for themselves, while those with more money occasionally went out to eat at restaurants.

Fine! He himself was hungry. He had originally planned to go out for a meal, but the task of entertaining the clan's honored guest had fallen onto his shoulders.

"What do you want to eat?" Lin Qing asked.

"..."

The girl stood there blankly, a hint of bewilderment surfacing in her clear eyes.

For someone eating in a public place for the first time, everything was so unfamiliar. Shouldn't meals be delivered to her room by maids?

"I'll order two portions to take away! The clan cafeteria's spicy rabbit heads are pretty good. They're all made from first-rank soft-bone rabbits. We can take them back and eat!"

Seeing the confusion on the girl's face slowly turn into helplessness, Lin Qing hurriedly said.

Lin Qing skillfully ordered four dishes, including two spicy rabbit heads. The other three dishes were all made from ordinary farmed first-rank magical beast meat. They contained some energy, but not too much, so there was no need to worry about being stuffed to bursting. They should be somewhat helpful for a malnourished little girl. Then he had the kitchen helper pack two portions of rice.

Carrying the food boxes, he brought the girl back to the small courtyard where she lived. In a place with fewer people, the girl was clearly less nervous. The two sat beside the stone table in the courtyard, and the girl began eating in small bites. But when she ate the rabbit head, not knowing how to do so, she simply grabbed it and bit into it.

Since someone else was present and they were not familiar with each other, Lin Qing ate cautiously. He did not dare look at Xiao Xun'er, afraid Ling Ying would silence him.

After they finished eating, he casually put away the food boxes and used a tissue to wipe the grease from the little girl's face.

"Do you want to walk around some more?"

Xiao Xun'er shook her head in refusal.

Seeing her refuse, he said nothing more. It was her first time in an unfamiliar environment, so he should let her rest.

Besides, he could tell that she was a little socially anxious, though very intelligent. Given her status, she probably did not have many friends in the Ancient Realm. She did not like talking, her nose had been running the whole time, and her face was pale while her hair was dry and yellow. She truly looked like a little yellow-haired girl.

Thinking of this, Lin Qing could not help criticizing Gu Yuan. His perfectly good daughter had been raised into a malnourished, yellow-haired little girl. If he had a daughter, he would hold her in his palms for fear of dropping her.

He definitely could not bear to send his own child to some remote place to experience childhood and work as a spy.

All he could say was that he could not understand the way top experts thought.

"Xiao Yu, how much longer are you going to follow me?"

When Xiao Yu saw Lin Qing disappear around a corner, she hurried after him, only to discover that he had been waiting in a blind spot outside her line of sight. His voice drifted over leisurely.

Xiao Yu prepared to run, but Lin Qing grabbed her shoulder.

"Ah? I was just passing by!..."

Xiao Yu's face flushed red after Lin Qing grabbed her shoulder. Meeting the boy's clear eyes, she stammered out an explanation. Feeling the warmth from his palm, she could not say another word.

"Ever since I left with Xiao Xun'er to familiarize her with the clan, I noticed someone sneaking around and following behind us the entire time!"

Lin Qing released her, sounding somewhat irritated.

"Ah?"

Xiao Yu looked completely bewildered.

"Sigh! Let's go to the market tomorrow morning!"

Though he did not like playing with children, he had to keep his promises. If he could not do something, he should not casually promise it to someone. Next time, he would not say there would be a next time. He would have to be more careful in the future. Children did not understand empty promises. Either agree or refuse.

After saying that, Lin Qing turned and left, leaving the somewhat excited Xiao Yu standing where she was.

At the same time, in Xiao Xun'er's courtyard.

Xiao Xun'er sat beside the stone table with her chin resting in both hands, quietly surveying the courtyard as she thought of the places she had visited that morning. Was this where she would live from now on?

Buzz~

The shadows in the courtyard stirred, and a black-clothed figure whose face could not be seen emerged from within them. From beginning to end, no one in the entire Xiao Clan had noticed.

"Elder Ling, did you find anything?"

Noticing the old man appear behind her,

"Miss, this old servant searched the Xiao Clan thoroughly but did not find the key. The clan leader does not permit forceful measures, nor does he permit this old servant to reveal himself. I fear finding it will take quite some time!"

After speaking, the man in black sighed. It was not only because of the strange requirements for completing the mission, but also because the young miss had been sent away from the Ancient Clan just after turning four. Still, such matters were not for a servant like him to question.

"Then find it quickly! Father said I can go back early once it's found!"

Xiao Xun'er cared greatly about the jade-slab-shaped key her father had mentioned. She had only just arrived, yet she already missed home and did not want to be separated from her father.

"Yes!"

After saying that, Ling Ying vanished into the shadows again.

That afternoon, the maid Xiao Zhan had arranged finally began work. With someone to deliver food, water, and clothing, the life of the Ancient Clan's young miss could finally return to normal.

Time flowed as swiftly as sand slipping through one's fingers.

Night soon arrived.

The moon hung like a silver plate, and stars filled the sky.

Lin Qing sat meditating in the courtyard, holding his breath and focusing as he quietly waited for Xiao Yan to climb over the wall. At last, after quite some time, faint footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

So it's this kid?

Ling Ying spotted Xiao Yan sneaking around outside the courtyard, but did not take it seriously. He was merely a child under six years old. Ling Ying had also noticed Lin Qing in the neighboring courtyard, just a six-year-old child at the third stage of Dou Qi.

"Miss, the Xiao Clan's third young master is wandering outside the courtyard. His behavior is suspicious. Shall I capture him?"

Ling Ying, who was sitting cross-legged inside the room, was about to rise, but was stopped.

"No need. Elder Ling, hide yourself first. I'll pretend to be asleep and see what he wants to do."

Xiao Xun'er said with a slight frown, kicking off her blanket. The heat of the Heavenly Flame was still somewhat unbearable. It was manageable during the day, but it made sleeping difficult at night.

Ling Ying did not want his young miss to fall into danger, but he could not disobey her orders, so he could only hide himself.

Xiao Xun'er had no idea that the other party possessed an adult soul. Otherwise, she would not have said this, much less tacitly allowed his actions after he used Dou Qi to nourish her, seeing him panting and drenched in sweat, and stopped Ling Ying from acting.

Before long, rustling sounds could be heard. Lin Qing found it strange. Why had he not climbed the wall yet?

With that thought, Lin Qing got up and opened the courtyard gate. At the base of the wall in the neighboring courtyard, he found Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan had his butt raised as he was stuck in a small hole, trying to squeeze inside. Perhaps hearing footsteps behind him, Xiao Yan quickly backed out.

"Miss, it seems we do not need to trouble ourselves. Lin Qing found Xiao Yan and has gone to stop him." Ling Ying smiled, having also spotted Xiao Yan getting blocked while crawling through the dog hole.

Well done! If the clan leader finds out this brat climbed into the young miss's room, I'll be finished!

Thinking this, Ling Ying felt somewhat pleased. Looking at Lin Qing in the darkness, he found the boy much more agreeable.

"I'm going to take a look!"

Xiao Xun'er got out of bed and put on her shoes, wanting to see what Xiao Yan's purpose was. She had not had a particularly good impression of Xiao Yan to begin with. He had said he would help her familiarize herself with the Xiao Clan, yet he handed her over to someone else as soon as they went out. He also talked too much and was a little arrogant.