The Xiao Brothers

"Who goes there? State your name." Two guards held their swords out, blocking Jia Lie Jun's path.

"My name is Li Zhan. I'm a merchant. While transporting goods, my caravan was attacked by a group of Snake People. I escaped from the caravan, but in my panic, I lost my way and ended up trespassing into your territory." Jia Lie Jun trembled as a trace of fear appeared on his face.

Hearing this, the guards exchanged a glance, suspicion still in their eyes. "Wait here. I'll report this to the leader." One of the guards ran toward a stone house. Before long, he came back out, followed by a young man in his twenties. The young man wore blue robes and had a broad back and thick waist, appearing rather burly. There was a slight resemblance between his brows and Xiao Yan's.

Jia Lie Jun's heart skipped. It can't be this miserable, can it? I actually ran into the Xiao brothers in this desert. Isn't this just throwing myself right into the enemy's line of fire? Jia Lie Jun wailed inwardly.

The young man arrived before him and stared straight at Jia Lie Jun. Seeing that he was only a youth, the vigilance in his heart lessened a little. "Little brother, my name is Xiao Li. I'm the second leader of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Since we are both humans in this Tagor Desert, we ought to help each other and resist the Snake People together. Since you've fallen on hard times, little brother, I think you should stay with our mercenary group for a few days before leaving."

"Thank you so much." Seeing that Xiao Li had not recognized him, Jia Lie Jun let out a breath of relief. But thinking about it, that made sense. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had left home to wander the world in their early years and had never seen Jia Lie Jun. He really had been worrying for nothing.

A guard then led Jia Lie Jun into a tent. "Keep an eye on him. Report every move he makes to me," Xiao Li instructed the guard beside him in a low voice.

"Yes, Second Leader." The guard nodded.

Over the next few days, Jia Lie Jun walked all around the area surrounding Stone Desert City and even managed to get his hands on a map of the Tagor Desert. The guards' surveillance had not escaped his notice either. With his cultivation as a Three-Seal Rune Master, trying to secretly watch him was no different from a fool's dream. However, what left him somewhat disappointed was that he did not see Qing Lin. He searched throughout the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group, yet still found no trace of Qing Lin.

After figuring out the surrounding terrain, Jia Lie Jun decided to set off in search of the Heavenly Flames and immediately went to bid farewell to Xiao Li. After the two of them exchanged a round of fake politeness, he finally took his leave.

After leaving the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, Jia Lie Jun kept heading east. Suddenly, his steps paused, and a strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Spiritual Power surged out of his Mud Pill Palace, transforming into needles as thin as strands of hair before shooting fiercely behind him. At once, a series of miserable cries rang out from behind. "Trying to follow me? That's a mouse licking a cat's nose—asking to die." Jia Lie Jun snorted coldly and did not even turn his head, as though he had heard nothing at all.

The sun hung high overhead, its blazing rays scorching the desert until smoke seemed to rise from the sand. At this temperature, it could probably cook eggs.

With a flicker of thought, streams of Spiritual Power surged out from within his Mud Pill Palace, then spread in every direction, even delving underground. Instantly, the surrounding scenery was fully reflected in Jia Lie Jun's mind. "Searching like this is really too slow, but there's no better way. I can only carry out a carpet search." Jia Lie Jun sighed. Although he knew that the Green Lotus Core Flame was hidden beneath magma, and that the magma lay east of Stone Desert City, he did not know its exact location. He could only search along the way like this. Fortunately, his Spiritual Power was plentiful; otherwise, he really would not have been able to withstand such continuous consumption.

"Help!" A cry for help entered his ears. Jia Lie Jun hurriedly followed the sound over and saw several Snake People surrounding an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl. The girl was crouched on the ground with her head in her arms, wearing a green robe-dress that wrapped her body tightly from head to toe. Tears glistened in her eyes, making her look quite pitiful and lovable.

Could this girl be Qing Lin? But why would she be here? Forget it, I'll save her first and talk after. With a thought from Jia Lie Jun, a mass of Purple Fire surged out from each of his palms. The temperature of the Purple Fire was extremely high, especially in this scorching desert, as though it could ignite the very air.

The Purple Fire transformed into dozens of arrows that whistled as they shot swiftly toward the Snake People. For some reason, in this blazing desert, a chill abruptly ran from the tailbones of the Snake People all the way to the backs of their heads. They hurriedly turned around and saw dozens of flaming arrows shooting toward them. The Snake People's nature was yin, and they were extremely afraid of fire. If the people of the Jia Ma Empire had not joined forces to drive out their Snake People Tribe, they would never have settled in the desert.

The Snake People hurriedly dodged, but the flaming arrows seemed to have grown eyes, pursuing them relentlessly. Seeing this, several Snake People quickly used the girl as a shield. However, the flaming arrows actually curved around the girl and swung behind her. The Snake People could not dodge in time and were struck by the flaming arrows. With a thought from Jia Lie Jun, the Purple Fire burned more and more fiercely, and waves of miserable howls rang out across the silent desert, sounding especially clear. What was rather astonishing, however, was that no matter how fiercely the Purple Fire burned, it never harmed the girl.

As Jia Lie Jun grew increasingly proficient in using the Purple Fire, he discovered that by injecting Spiritual Power into it, he could not only control the Purple Fire from a distance, but also freely control the intensity of its flames.

Jia Lie Jun snapped his fingers, and the Purple Fire vanished into thin air, leaving behind a few charred remains.

"Little girl, are you all right?" Jia Lie Jun asked gently, revealing a bright smile.

Hearing this, the girl carefully lifted her head and slowly opened her tightly shut eyes. Her features were delicate, with a cherry-like little mouth and eyes that were clear and bright, like a pool of pure spring water. Jia Lie Jun took one look and could not help but sink into them. Fortunately, his Spiritual Power was powerful, and he managed to pull himself free.

The girl said timidly, "I'm fine. Thank you for saving me." A trace of fear lingered in her eyes. Her small face was filled with grievance, and with just one glance, one could not help but feel pity for her.

"Little girl, what's your name? How did you end up in this place?" Jia Lie Jun reached a hand toward the girl. The girl crouching on the ground had only stretched her hand out halfway when, as though she had thought of something, she pulled it back again. Jia Lie Jun smiled and did not mind. He took the girl's hand and pulled her up.

"My name is Qing Lin. I'm a maid of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group." The girl lowered her head, occasionally sneaking glances at Jia Lie Jun.

So it really is Qing Lin. Jia Lie Jun murmured inwardly. Seeing the little girl secretly looking at him, Jia Lie Jun could not help but smile and said gently, "If you want to look at me, then look openly."

When the girl heard this, rosy color instantly flew across her cheeks. She hurriedly raised her head, waving her hands about in confusion as she stammered, "I... I wasn't sneaking looks." Jia Lie Jun could not help but laugh aloud, but he did not expose her.

Over the next few days, the relationship between the two of them advanced by leaps and bounds. Qing Lin's wariness toward Jia Lie Jun completely vanished, and she gradually opened her heart to him. Jia Lie Jun also learned why Qing Lin had appeared here. Qing Lin was a child born from the union of a Snake Person and a human. In the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, she had suffered constant rejection. Everyone looked at her strangely, with hatred and disgust. Qing Lin could no longer endure it, so she fled, and that was how Jia Lie Jun had run into her.