Xiao Feng walked down the street, holding Qing Lin's hand.
At this moment, the little girl kept her head buried deep, her face flushed with a crimson blush.
Just now, Xiao Feng's tone and demeanor had been too gentle, exactly like the father figure in her dreams, causing her to ask such an embarrassing question that she now felt somewhat unable to face him.
Xiao Feng, naturally, didn't care about that; or rather, compared to that matter, he was more concerned with the current situation.
When pedestrians on the street saw Qing Lin approaching, they all moved out of the way, standing at a distance and pointing while saying infuriating things; almost everyone was like this.
Not only that, whenever the two approached a hotel or restaurant, no matter how the business inside was, the doors and windows were immediately shut tight.
The entire Stone Desert City wanted to starve this little girl to death!
"Young Master, you don't need to worry about me anymore." Qing Lin began to struggle; she realized she was burdening Xiao Feng and became uneasy.
Xiao Feng held on very tightly, and Qing Lin couldn't break free at all.
Seeing Qing Lin struggle even harder, the look of pity and love in Xiao Feng's eyes grew more intense.
With a hint of anger, Xiao Feng smashed the door of a hotel with one punch. Looking at the terrified faces behind the door, he threw out a few gold coins. "Prepare a room and a table of food."
Pausing for a moment, Xiao Feng continued, "Either prepare it now, or die now!"
Qing Lin lowered her head and stopped struggling, letting Xiao Feng lead her along.
Violence isn't the best way to solve a problem, but it is the fastest.
Ten minutes later, Xiao Feng and Qing Lin sat at the table in the room, which was already covered with a full spread of dishes.
Qing Lin lowered her head, her small hands twisting together uneasily.
"Young Master... actually... Qing Lin..."
Xiao Feng patted her head and interrupted her, "Eat your meal first before we talk."
To his surprise, Qing Lin suddenly raised her head, her eyes red as she said, "Young Master, they hate Qing Lin not because they are bad, but because Qing Lin really is the bast— as they say..."
The little girl suddenly began to sob. When others called her a bastard, she had always ignored it; no matter how much they beat her, she would never acknowledge those words.
But this was the first time she admitted to someone else that her Bloodline was impure; her heart felt as if it were bleeding.
Xiao Feng rubbed Qing Lin's head. "There's no need to care about what others think."
"But... but..."
Qing Lin sobbed; she didn't know how to explain. She never cared about others' opinions, but at this moment, she cared immensely about Xiao Feng's. She suddenly tore off the white cloth strips wrapped around her hand, raised her arm, and exposed her "ugliest" side to Xiao Feng.
On her tender arm, green snake scales were exceptionally eye-catching.
"Young Master, I'm not a real human. You don't have to be so good to me..."
After saying that, Qing Lin hugged her arms and shrank into a corner.
Her heart was full of grievances. This was the first time she hated herself so much; she hated that her lowly Bloodline was unworthy of the Young Master's kindness.
Although she was famished, she didn't dare glance at the food on the table even once.
Like an injured kitten seeing food left by someone from afar, yet not daring to approach.
Xiao Feng sighed. Years of living like this had crushed Qing Lin's self-esteem; it was no wonder a sliver of kindness could earn her lifelong devotion.
The scales did look somewhat unsettling, but he was never one to judge by appearances. If he didn't care about Xiao Linger's face, how could he care about this?
He walked over to Qing Lin, sat beside her, and forcibly pulled her arm toward him. Gently stroking the scales, he said softly, "Some people have the appearance of a human but don't do a single humane thing. Some people might have ugly faces but are remembered and praised by everyone. What do a few scales matter?"
Looking at the silent Qing Lin, Xiao Feng added, "Actually, I'm not human either."
"Ah?" Qing Lin suddenly looked up at Xiao Feng, covering her mouth in disbelief. "Young Master... is also not human?"
Xiao Feng laughed. "That's right. Don't be fooled by my human appearance. I'm actually a big pervert. I'm only being so good to you because I'm attracted to Qing Lin's beauty!"
After saying that, he even lunged toward Qing Lin with exaggerated movements.
Seeing Xiao Feng talking nonsense with such a serious face, Qing Lin burst into laughter. Then she lowered her head, her face slightly red, not knowing what to say.
"Come and eat; I'm very hungry too." Xiao Feng pulled Qing Lin back to the table.
"Mhm." Qing Lin nodded slightly.
While eating, the little girl's chopsticks didn't dare reach for the dishes; she only dared to shovel the plain white rice in her bowl.
Xiao Feng glared and pushed the plain rice aside, piling her bowl high with various meats and fish.
Qing Lin was flustered, calling out helplessly, "Young Master..."
"Eat!" Xiao Feng said sternly.
With a red face, Qing Lin picked up her bowl and ate in small bites, her gaze occasionally falling on Xiao Feng before quickly darting away.
After the meal, Xiao Feng asked the Waiter to prepare some hot water, intending to let Qing Lin wash up.
In a place like Stone Desert City, bathing was an absolute luxury. The little girl's body had even started to smell sour.
"Qing Lin, I'm going out to buy you some clothes. Wait for me here," Xiao Feng instructed.
Xiao Feng couldn't bring himself to do something as boring as watching a little girl bathe, so he used this time to get her some clothes.
Unease flashed in Qing Lin's eyes. She took two steps forward, wanting to grab the corner of Xiao Feng's clothes, but suddenly pulled her hand back.
Just now, she noticed that she had left many black handprints on Xiao Feng's clothes.
Xiao Feng comforted her with a smile. "Don't worry, I wouldn't have the heart to leave you. Is there anything you want to eat? I'll bring some back for you."
Qing Lin shook her head, three points of green light flickering in her eyes. "Qing Lin doesn't want to eat anything. As long as the Young Master doesn't leave Qing Lin, it's enough."
Xiao Feng nodded. "Keep the door locked. I'll be back soon."
After leaving the hotel, Xiao Feng began thinking about Qing Lin's situation. In the original story, this girl didn't seem to face any major calamities—at most, the Mo Clan incident, and the time with Lü Man could even be considered an Opportunity.
Picking clothes in this era was simple. Aside from custom orders, the clothes hanging on racks didn't have many sizes to choose from. Xiao Feng picked out a few outfits, tossed them into his storage ring, and returned.
On the way, he happened to see someone selling pastries. He inexplicably thought of the previously shouting Xiao Linger and bought some as well.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Qing Lin, is it convenient to open the door?" Xiao Feng knocked.
"It... it's convenient!" Qing Lin's voice rang out.
Xiao Feng didn't think much of it and pushed the door open. Whoa, she was still in the bathtub and hadn't come out yet.
Just as he was about to turn around, Qing Lin's voice sounded behind him, "Young Master, could you please... not go out?"
"Uh..." Xiao Feng could understand her feelings but couldn't agree with her approach. He set the clothes down. "I'll be right at the door. If you're afraid, I can stay there and talk to you."
Xiao Feng went out and closed the door. Leaning against it, he started talking about the clothes he bought, wondering if she'd like them, and then about the pastries... Before long, the door opened from the inside.
The previous Qing Lin was like a broken doll; now, although she was still thin and small, her delicate features made one like her at first sight.
Qing Lin stood timidly at the door. This was her first time wearing such nice clothes, and she looked completely at a loss, her cheeks flushed. "Young... Young Master, I'm finished washing."
Xiao Feng nodded and called the Waiter to clear the bathwater. He took a towel and dried Qing Lin's hair a bit. "These are the snacks I bought for you. If you're hungry, help yourself."
As he spoke, he took a bag of pastries from his storage ring and placed them on the table.
Qing Lin stared at her toes, her thoughts unknown. She only nodded without responding.
Seeing Qing Lin's dazed look, Xiao Feng couldn't help but laugh again. He pulled her close and helped her tidy up her messily worn clothes.
"Don't think too much. From now on, follow me."
"Mhm."
As the night deepened, Xiao Feng urged Qing Lin to go to bed while he sat cross-legged on a chair and began to Cultivate.
"Young Master... aren't you... going to sleep?" The blush on Qing Lin's face deepened even more.
"You sleep. I need to Cultivate. Don't disturb me."
"Mhm."
...The next day, when Xiao Feng woke up on the chair, Qing Lin was already beside him.
"Young Master, you..."
Her face was full of guilt. She had slept too soundly in bed, while Xiao Feng had actually slept on a chair all night. At this moment, her heart was filled with unease.
Xiao Feng smiled and said nothing. After washing up and eating breakfast, he suddenly became serious.
"Qing Lin, there's something I need to make clear to you first."
Seeing Xiao Feng suddenly become serious, Qing Lin's heart tightened, as if something bad was about to happen, but she still nodded obediently.
Xiao Feng looked into Qing Lin's eyes. "Actually, I'm helping you like this because of your eyes."
"Eyes?" Qing Lin was a bit surprised, but also relieved, fearing Xiao Feng would say he didn't want her anymore.
"Yes. What I want to tell you is that you have a very high talent that will one day undergo an Awakening. Even great powers would hold you in the palm of their hands." Xiao Feng said seriously, "So, I'm also a calculating person, not as kind as you imagine."
Qing Lin panicked. "Young Master, are you saying you don't want Qing Lin anymore?"
Xiao Feng gave a bitter smile; this girl still hadn't understood what he meant.
"Let's put it this way. No one likes a caterpillar when it's young, but once it transforms into a butterfly, many people will chase after it. I'm just holding this caterpillar that can turn into a butterfly in my hand early."
Qing Lin thought for a moment and asked weakly, "Then Young Master... do you like butterflies?"
Xiao Feng nodded. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils would indeed be of some help, but more than that, he couldn't bear to let the little girl suffer any longer.
By the time my two older brothers come to establish the Mercenary Group, who knows how many beatings this girl would have endured.
The two tidied up, and Xiao Feng led Qing Lin to Hai Bodong's place.
"Back so soon?"
Hai Bodong was initially a bit surprised, but when he saw Xiao Feng holding Qing Lin's hand, he immediately understood everything.
He also knew about this girl. Although Hai Bodong wouldn't harbor the same hatred toward Qing Lin because of her Bloodline, he didn't have much pity either.
The few times Qing Lin had passed by his shop, he had only watched with a cold eye.
The Old fellow smiled. "I didn't expect you to be such a busybody, little brother."
Qing Lin didn't know why her Young Master had brought her here. Seeing Hai Bodong's cold smile, she instinctively shrank behind Xiao Feng, only to be pulled out by him.
Seeing Qing Lin's uneasy appearance, Xiao Feng said with a cold face, "Old fellow, give me a more kindly smile!"
Hai Bodong had just smiled casually, but now, being snapped at by Xiao Feng, his face turned dark.
Consequently, Qing Lin became even more afraid.
Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow, and a small sword condensed at the tip of his finger.
"Give Qing Lin a smile!"