Seeds

Chen Xiao knew that investing in Qing Lin was very simple: treat her with sincerity, and she would repay it a hundredfold. But for it to be simple to this extent still moved him.

No one could predict what the world would become ten years from now, a hundred years from now, or what he himself would become.

Yet at this moment, Chen Xiao believed that the two questions and two answers just now were enough for him to remember through the long years ahead.

"Pack up your things. We're going to Desert City."

Looking at the girl before him, timid as a little kitten, Chen Xiao raised his right hand, wanting to rub her head to comfort her. But he felt it was too abrupt and might frighten her, so he quietly withdrew it at once.

Qing Lin nodded hard, carrying her expectations for the future as she trotted into the house. Under Chen Xiao's gaze, she swiftly packed up the few belongings she had.

From beginning to end, she did not ask a single extra question.

Her experiences over these years in Stone Desert City had taught her one thing despite her young age.

Talking too much would only make people dislike her more.

"Young Master, I'm done packing."

In less than five minutes, Qing Lin had sorted out everything she needed to take. Even the two remaining steamed buns in the bowl on the table were tucked into her clothes.

"Mm. Give me your things. Desert City isn't far from here, but for you, it isn't close either."

Looking at the two small bundles she had tied up with thin rope, Chen Xiao spoke.

Seeing her hesitate a little, Chen Xiao added another sentence.

"I have a Storage Ring. It'll save trouble."

Only then did Qing Lin hand the things to Chen Xiao.

After locking the small house from the outside, the two of them headed toward the city gate of Stone Desert City, one in front and one behind.

Because he had Qing Lin with him, Chen Xiao did not rush to unfold the Purple Cloud Wings and hurry on his way. Instead, he chose to walk.

As a result, the time needed was greatly extended.

By the time the sun was setting in the west, Chen Xiao estimated that they had only finished half the journey.

Seeing that the sky was growing late and that Qing Lin's face also showed fatigue she could no longer hide, Chen Xiao reached out at the right moment.

"Hold on to me. I'll fly you there. Otherwise, we'll have to travel in the dark later."

In truth, Chen Xiao did not have to be in such a hurry to return to Desert City. He could have set off early the next morning.

However, there was a small selfish thought in his heart. He wanted Qing Lin to open her eyes tomorrow in a brand-new place, seeing the morning sun from a brand-new angle, just as her life, too, ought to turn to a new chapter.

Looking at the hand Chen Xiao extended, Qing Lin hesitated a little.

Because the outfit she usually wore, which was also the only one that fit her, had been changed out of and washed, the robe she had on now was a little too large.

If she reached out, she would inevitably reveal the fine, dense green scales on her arm that resembled snake scales. She did not know whether this person she had met today would be like those mercenaries from before and feel disgust toward her.

Little did she know, her worries were completely unnecessary to Chen Xiao.

"There's no need to worry. Back in the little house, I already saw them."

Qing Lin's heart tightened, but she discovered that Chen Xiao's gaze was the same as when he had first seen her, without the slightest strangeness.

Probably realizing that she had not been disliked, Qing Lin finally gathered the courage to speak.

"Young Master, don't you hate that Qing Lin is not normal?"

A question that did not sound very smooth seemed to have drained all of Qing Lin's courage.

The timid nature she had been forced to develop since childhood was not something that could be changed overnight.

Sensing her nervousness, Chen Xiao shook his head slightly.

"So-called normal is merely a standard set by the majority, used to seek approval and exclude those who are different. In my view, so what if you're not normal? There's no need to care about other people's gazes, including mine."

"And besides, if we really want to be serious about it, I feel uncomfortable when I see something asymmetrical. When I see two trees, one tall and one short, I want to cut them to the same height. Since I have thoughts like that, which ordinary people find hard to understand, wouldn't that make me abnormal too?"

"So, treat other people's doubtful eyes as flickering ghost flames, and boldly walk your own path."

Chen Xiao was not usually someone who talked much, but for the girl beside him, he was willing to say a few more words.

Listening to Chen Xiao's words, a ray of light seemed to rise in Qing Lin's clear eyes.

A seed called "self-confidence and self-reliance" was quietly planted in her heart. One day, it would take root and sprout, until it grew into a towering tree.

"Let's go."

Chen Xiao reached out again.

This time, Qing Lin did not hesitate.

As someone of the Ice Attribute, Chen Xiao's palm was slightly cool, and the girl's hand was the same.

It seemed that they truly were the same kind.

With the help of the Purple Cloud Wings, their speed immediately became much faster.

Even though Chen Xiao was carrying Qing Lin, a weight of less than a hundred pounds posed no hindrance at all.

In less than two hours, the two of them arrived at Desert City.

In a larger city like this, finding lodging was nothing to worry about.

Chen Xiao found an inn fairly close to Hai Bo Dong's Map Store, booked two rooms, and had Qing Lin go upstairs to rest first.

"Innkeeper, prepare some extra food and have it sent to her. Also, may I trouble your wife to make a trip and buy a few sets of new clothes?"

Chen Xiao took out a small pouch of gold coins and handed it to the innkeeper and his wife.

He had already promised that he would no longer let the girl go hungry, so naturally he could not go back on his word.

Earlier, while they were on the road, Chen Xiao had already heard her stomach growling. If he did not prepare some food, with Qing Lin's personality, she would probably take out those two hard buns to fill her stomach.

"No trouble at all. Guest, you may return to your room and rest first. In at most two quarters of an hour, I'll be sure to have the clothes delivered to that young lady."

Chen Xiao nodded and returned to his room alone.

He took an Amplification Pill from his Storage Ring and swallowed it. After cultivating for less than two quarters of an hour, he heard the door to the neighboring room being knocked on.

He paid it no further attention. Chen Xiao gathered his focus and devoted his entire mind and body to cultivation.

The night passed without incident.

When Chen Xiao's door was knocked on, it was already early morning of the next day.

"Come in."

Only after receiving a response was the door gently pushed open.

Immediately after, the girl, now changed into a new set of blue-green clothes, entered his sight carrying a basin of water.

"Young Master, it's time to wash up."

Qing Lin had not slept very well last night, but at this moment her spirit looked excellent. Her smile curved gently, and she seemed to give off a much more confident feeling.

Chen Xiao had never been served like this in his life, and the scene before him left him rather unused to it.

However, he did not speak up to stop her.

After washing up, with nothing else to do, Chen Xiao began cultivating again.

Only when it was nearly noon did he stop meditating.

After having lunch at the inn, Chen Xiao extended the stay for both rooms by a month. Then he brought Qing Lin out of the city.

"Qing Lin, do you want to cultivate?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Xiao was amused by how stupid his own question was.

In this world, who did not want to cultivate?

"I'll teach you how to draw in qi from now on."

As for Qing Lin's age, the original text never directly stated how old she was. There was only a line describing her as looking a little younger than Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan was now over eleven years old, so I set Qing Lin as a little over ten, which should still be reasonable.

I saw some friends mention this matter, so I'll explain it briefly.