Chapter 35: Qinglin

Gazing into the distance, under the setting sun's glow, the outline of the huge city dyed completely red.

Lin Feng brushed off the sand on his body that the wind had blown onto him and that clung to his sweat.

His bitter face instantly showed a hint of a smile.

Because he had never been to the desert before, and moreover it was inconvenient to use Dou Qi gauze clothing on the way.

Thus, during these days of travel in the desert, he felt very uncomfortable.

However, along the way, aside from a few magical beast attacks.

Moreover, the caravan did not turn into bandits and rob him.

Looking at the not-so-distant Stone Desert City, not only did Lin Feng breathe a sigh of relief.

The other caravan members also showed more smiles on their faces.

Throughout the journey, they were engaged in defensive work, both physically and mentally exhausted.

Now that they have reached Stone Desert City, it means they can also take a break to relieve the fatigue of these days.

Amid everyone's anticipation, the caravan slowly moved to the city gate and then surged inside.

After entering the city, Lin Feng paid the balance, then bade farewell to the caravan members and began to stroll leisurely through the city.

While strolling, Lin Feng discovered that this city in the desert.

Compared to cities inside the Empire, it had more simplicity and solemnity.

Moreover, perhaps due to its proximity to the Tagore Desert, its defenses are also much stricter than those inside the Empire.

In the city, fully armed soldiers can be seen patrolling everywhere.

Ouch!

At a corner, a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl darted out suddenly.

Although Lin Feng had noticed it in advance and immediately stopped walking, however, that little girl obviously this ability.

While running, her little head straight hit Lin Feng's abdomen, then bounced back, and she cried out in pain.

The small bag held in her two little hands was also flung out, and its contents scattered all over the ground.

Little sister, are you alright?

Seeing the little girl fallen on the ground, Lin Feng took a few quick steps forward, helped her up, and asked softly.

No... no problem.

The little girl seemed a bit afraid that Lin Feng would get angry, and cautiously glanced at him.

Afterwards, seeing that Lin Feng indeed had no intention of hitting her, she immediately let out a heavy sigh of relief.

However, when she saw the food scattered on the ground, her pretty little face instantly turned bitter like a bitter melon.

It's over, this is the only meal I have today.

The girl exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly ran to the pile of food scattered on the ground.

Knowing full well, the food on the ground inevitably gets dusty.

But still holding a sliver of hope, she picked it up from the ground and took a close look.

Next, the girl's faint green eyes instantly dimmed, her legs went weak, and she sat back down on the ground.

Uh...

Seeing this situation, Lin Feng scratched the back of his head, somewhat at a loss.

If it were an adult, handling it would be much easier, but a crying child, he really has no way.

He looked at the girl's body, her somewhat worn-out clothing.

About the same as before he had advanced to Dou Zhe; presumably her life is also not good.

This time, she even scattered her only meal of today on the ground; then tonight she'll probably have to go hungry.

Thinking this, Lin Feng walked up to the girl, squatted down, and immediately took out a small bag of gold coins from his person.

He took her small hand, placed the gold coins in her palm, and softly said, 'Take it and buy another portion.'

Looking at the heavy little bag in her hand, the girl's head was buzzing.

The amount of gold coins in this bag, I'm afraid even if she sold herself she couldn't afford this much.

But thinking of her own food, she took out one from it, hesitating for a moment.

And then she extended the arm holding the bag, reluctantly.

Big brother, my things, one gold coin is more than enough.

The girl sniffled her little nose and spoke weakly.

Gazing at the girl's actions before him, Lin Feng felt a little surprised.

He didn't expect her to do this; if it were him, he would have probably taken the gold coins and run away long ago.

But then he thought, this girl lives in Stone Desert City, so she should be quite familiar with this place.

He himself is looking for Qinglin here; if he had a familiar person to guide him, it would be much better.

So he stroked the girl's hair, smiled and said, 'Little sister, what's your name? Like this, you help me with a favor, and this bag of gold coins will be your reward, okay?'

Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes scanned up and down Lin Feng, then immediately said, 'My name is Qinglin; if big brother wants to hire me, let me eat my fill first.'

You're called Qinglin?!

Upon hearing the two words Qinglin, Lin Feng's eyes instantly lit up, and he stared fixedly at the girl.

Yes... but, big brother, I... I didn't mean it.

Seeing Lin Feng's expression, Qinglin's heart tightened sharply, thinking Lin Feng knew she had serpent-people bloodline.

Frightened, she directly dropped the gold coins, her hands instinctively hugged her little head, she drew her legs together, waiting for fists and feet to arrive.

And Qinglin's this action instantly exposed the green serpent scales on her arm.

This let Lin Feng be certain that the girl before him was Qinglin.

"Hehe, I just think your name sounds nice."

The imagined punches and kicks never arrived; instead a gentle male voice rang in his ears.

Qing Lin slightly lifted her head, gazing at the smiling Lin Feng before her.

Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of her arm's scales exposed, and in an instant her pretty face turned deathly pale.

"I… I'm sorry… I… I didn't mean to scare you."

Qing Lin hurriedly withdrew her arm, burying her head between her legs.

Her body trembled slightly, and her timid voice carried a hint of pleading.

Seeing Qing Lin's timid demeanor, Lin Feng let out a light sigh.

He truly didn't know how Qing Lin had endured these past ten‑plus years.

He gently pulled Qing Lin's arm out, then, while she wore a fearful expression, carefully lifted her sleeve with his other hand.

Looking at those teal snake scales, he said softly, "What beautiful scales."

Hearing that, Qing Lin's fearful expression froze; since she was born, Lin Feng was the first to actually say those words that even made her scared that the scales were beautiful…

In that almost wholly scarred, weak soul, a strange feeling quietly began to surface.

She opened those eyes that faintly exuded an odd allure, and shyly said, "Big brother, aren't you scared?"

Lin Feng's eyes fixed tightly on Qing Lin's pair of green watery eyes.

After observing carefully for a while, he indeed found three extremely tiny emerald dots hidden deep within the pupils.

Staring intently at those somewhat demonic emerald pupils, Lin Feng suddenly felt his mind become slightly hazy.

In an instant, Lin Feng's heart jolted, he quickly regained composure, and a faint expression of amazement appeared on his face.

These emerald‑snake triple‑flower pupils truly live up to being the continent's number‑one strange eyes; with his own soul's power, he actually became slightly absent‑minded.

Gazing at Qing Lin's cute, delicate face, he again patted her little head.

With a smile at the corner of his mouth he said, "Really beautiful. If you're scared, I wouldn't be talking to you here."

These words, Lin Feng truly did not deceive Qing Lin.

After all, he had never experienced a war against the Snake-People Tribe, so he held no great hatred toward them.

Moreover, he himself did not feel a strong sense of belonging to the Jia Ma Empire.

In his previous life, he had seen these in many entertainment works.

Therefore, he was more curious.