Chapter 20

Xiao Yan arrived at the Mo Tie Mercenary Corps around 8 a. m., and was continuously interrogated by Xiao Li until noon, when the servants brought lunch and the questioning finally stopped.

To be honest, this was even more exhausting than fighting the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. Since a few days ago when he went underground to search for the Strange Fire, Xiao Yan hasn't slept at all. Although as a Great Fighter, his physique could endure more than ten days without sleep without issue, mental fatigue still accumulates continuously.

Little Doctor Fairy naturally noticed this as well. After finishing lunch, she claimed she wanted to rest and had the servants take her to Xiao Yan's courtyard. On one hand, she helped Xiao Yan tidy up; on the other, she made space for the three brothers. Little Doctor Fairy also knew that with her around, the brothers always felt a bit inconvenienced when speaking.

As expected, the moment Little Doctor Fairy left, Xiao Li immediately dropped his relentless, sand-pot-breaking interrogation demeanor. Though he had genuinely wanted to ask at first, later he wanted to ask something else but hesitated due to Little Doctor Fairy's presence, so he dragged it out until now.

"Little Yan Zi, I've looked at Little Doctor Fairy—she's quite a good girl and truly likes you. Do you truly like her?"

Xiao Li suddenly turned serious, making Xiao Yan somewhat unaccustomed, but he still immediately replied: "Brother, isn't this just nonsense? If I didn't like her, why would I bring her for you to see? Just to let you know how much of a scoundrel I am?"

"Of course we know that—we're just confirming it." Xiao Ding's expression also turned serious as he said: "But Little Yan Zi, you shouldn't have forgotten that you still have a fiancée from an arranged marriage." Look for books at Heavenly Reading Novels, 𝘁𝘁𝗸𝘀. 𝘁𝘄超全

"Of course, it's the engagement with the Nalan Family, right?" Xiao Yan now understood what his two brothers wanted to say.

"Then have you thought about how to handle this marriage?" Xiao Ding asked seriously: "You should know, the old master of the Nalan Family is a Dou Wang-level powerhouse—not someone the current Xiao Family can provoke."

"Don't worry, Big Brother—I know."

"Then what do you plan to do with Little Doctor Fairy, and with the Nalan Family side?" Xiao Ding continued to ask.

"If the Nalan Family is willing to break off the engagement, I'll give them compensation. I previously obtained a Mysterious Rank Dou Technique called Mad Lion's Roar in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, which I can offer as compensation. If they think I have potential and don't want to break off the engagement, then I want Xian'er to take the lead." Xiao Yan said firmly.

"What if they, relying on their Dou Wang strength, refuse to choose either option?"

"Then they can't do anything to me!" Xiao Yan said confidently. Having already obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Yan can advance to Dou Ling at any time. With the power of two Strange Fires, even if Nalan Jie is at his peak, he can still withstand him head-on—let alone the fact that, unexpectedly, he has already been branded with the Branding Poison, so there's even less to worry about.

"These words are true!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances, somewhat incredulous.

"Of course!" Xiao Yan said decisively.

Only after Xiao Yan affirmed it again did they reluctantly believe it a little.

"I never expected you to have grown this much in just two years." Xiao Ding said with some emotion.

After relaxing, Xiao Li noticed the highlight in Xiao Yan's earlier answer, then mischievously hooked Xiao Yan's neck, squinting and waggling his brows: "Little Yan Zi, you just said if the Nalan Family doesn't break off the engagement, you'll let Little Doctor Fairy take the lead—how so? Did you also take a liking to the Nalan Family's young lady?"

"Big Brother, what are you saying? I've never even met her, so how could I like her? I'm only worried that if I go to break off the engagement, it might affect her reputation, making it hard for her to marry later. I'm just concerned for her, wanting to give her a home—nothing more." Xiao Yan said, face calm, heart steady, as if it were only natural.

I, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stared at Xiao Yan, some of us dumbfounded. Isn't this his little Yan Zi? How, how————

Xiao Ding finally looked at Xiao Yan with a face full of emotion and complexity: "Little Yan Zi has grown up."

Xiao Li only felt his brain short-circuit— isn't it shameless to talk about being lustful and fickle in such a righteous way? Can I learn that too? The sisters from the east side of town————

Seems like he sensed Xiao Li's thoughts drifting toward indescribable directions, Xiao Yan said: "Speaking of which, Second Brother, you're over twenty—haven't you found a few sisters-in-law for your younger brother yet?"

"Ah? Sisters-in-law? What sisters-in-law? I, your brother, am focused on cultivation—where would I find the time for that!" Xiao Li suddenly became somewhat agitated to 0

Something's off—there's something going on here! Xiao Yan doesn't plan to just let him go, but also didn't continue pressing, because————

"Your Second Brother has taken a liking to a pair of twin sisters from a family in the east of town—these past days he's been unable to decide which one to choose, and he's been worrying about it!" Xiao Ding directly exposed the truth.

"Big Brother!" Xiao Li, a grown man, had his face, darkened by the sun in the Tagor Great Desert, suddenly turn red.

"Holy cow, awesome, Second Brother!" Xiao Yan stared wide-eyed at the usually honest and straightforward Second Brother beside him, never expecting him to play so wildly underneath.

"What exactly is the situation? Tell me, Third Brother, so I can give you advice." Xiao Yan's eyes lit up—this is such a juicy gossip, I might not get another chance like this in my lifetime.

Xiao Li hesitated for a long time, wanting to tell Xiao Yan for advice but feeling embarrassed, then suddenly had an idea and shifted the fire onto Xiao Ding: "Big Brother, you don't just talk about me—what about you? You're the eldest of us three brothers! Why don't you find us a big sister-in-law!"

Xiao Yan also turned to look, and compared to the clueless Second Brother's gossip, the Eldest Brother's gossip is clearly more important.

Who would have thought Xiao Ding showed no reaction at all—he reached out, took a cup of tea, sipped it slowly, and said slowly: "This matter————

Secrecy."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Li exchanged glances, then shouted in unison: "Damn it!!!"

While the three Xiao brothers were arguing, in the cave where Xiao Yan fought the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, the Golden Snake Tribe Leader was leading his men in an investigation.

"Chief, we found a piece of old clothing here—it should belong to that human." A Dou Zhe-ranked Snake Person of the Golden Snake Tribe held up the clothes Xiao Yan discarded after the battle and walked to the Golden Snake Tribe Leader.

At this moment, the Golden Snake Tribe Leader was examining the corpse of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. Although Xiao Yan had destroyed most of it, some remnants remained.

Due to their close bloodline, the Golden Snake Tribe Leader quickly noticed something off—there was clearly a flame aura on the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake that did not belong to the Fire Spirit Snake, and it could only remain after long-term contamination.

This flame aura is extremely powerful—even the Golden Snake Tribe Leader, already at the Dou Ling realm, felt a shuddering sensation.

Strange Fire! This must be a Strange Fire!

He turned and took the clothing handed over by his subordinate, examined it closely for two moments, saw nothing remarkable, then put it away, his gaze turning toward the Magma Sea.

He plans to go in and look—if he can find the Strange Fire, then fine; if not, then————

Thinking of this, a glint of cold light flashed in the Golden Snake Tribe Leader's eyes.

His gaze returned to Xiao Yan's side.

After freeing himself from the two brothers, Xiao Yan walked toward his own courtyard. Just as he was about to enter, he bumped head-on into a petite figure coming out from inside.

"Ah!"

The girl clearly hadn't expected to bump into someone, and fell backward unprepared—but fortunately, Xiao Yan had sharp eyes and quick hands, reaching out to wrap his arms around her slender waist and jade hand.

Of course, the scene of male and female leads deeply gazing at each other like in urban romance dramas won't happen here. Besides being cliché, Xiao Yan isn't so beastly as to harbor thoughts toward a girl who looks only eleven or twelve years old.

"Ah, yes, yes, sorry, Young Master Xiao Yan." After steadying the girl in his arms, Xiao Yan released his hand, and the girl quickly recognized him and bowed rapidly.

As a maid assigned to serve in Xiao Yan's courtyard, the girl naturally knew Xiao Yan's appearance at first glance. Furthermore, at this time, the only young male returning could only be Xiao Yan, so she could recognize him.

Xiao Yan felt the girl before him looked somewhat familiar, so he took a few extra looks.

The girl is petite, her skin smooth and tender, almost reflecting sunlight, her greenish hair tied into two ponytails on both sides, hanging down to her thighs—quite long for her age. Moreover, for some reason, though she isn't large or prominent, and her clothing isn't bold, the way her relatively form-fitting clothes outline her figure still gives off a captivating, soul-stirring feeling.

Xiao Yan quickly gave himself a mental slap to snap himself out of it. Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, you've already become petty enough—don't lose even your last bottom line.

At the same time, deep in his heart, Xiao Yan roughly guessed the girl's identity. To be honest, Xiao Yan had originally worried that if the Butterfly Effect occurred and he couldn't find anyone, what would he do—but now he doesn't need to worry anymore.

"Alright, don't be so afraid—I won't eat you." He reached out and helped the girl up. Knowing she's timid, Xiao Yan asked gently: "What's your name?"

"Ah?" The girl was somewhat startled: "Young Master, are you asking—me? I, I am called Qing Lin."

Indeed! Xiao Yan thought to himself, smiling: "Qing Lin? What a pleasant name."

"Yes, yes, thank you, Young Master, for the praise." Qing Lin is a girl who blushes easily—she immediately turned red, her two small hands tangled together in front of her, and I don't know if it's due to the Snake People's bloodline, but Xiao Yan always feels as if the two braids behind Qing Lin's head are swaying, just like a puppy's tail.

"How old are you this year."

"Young Master, Qing Lin is thirteen years old this year."

Thirteen? Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised, because he had thought she was only eleven or twelve, and knowing that a one- or two-year difference at this age is not small, perhaps this is also due to the Snake People bloodline, appearing young.

"You are probably not purely human, are you?" Xiao Yan asked directly, his gaze flicking to the green scales accidentally exposed on Qing Lin's wrist; if not for unexpected circumstances, this should be the origin of Qing Lin's name. To be honest, hearing this name one knows it was casually chosen, after all, with this naming method, Stone Desert City could have dozens of girls called Qing Lin, though most of them do not live to adulthood. After all, children with both Snake People and human bloodlines often face discrimination from both sides, and Qing Lin's survival to this day is likely also supported by the powerful vitality brought by the Bi Serpent Three Flower Eyes.

Qing Lin did not expect to be seen through by Xiao Yan so quickly; the pleasant expression on her little face instantly turned pale. She hurriedly pulled over her clothing to cover the scales on her arm again.

"Yes, yes, sorry, Young Master, I, I did not intentionally expose them to offend your eyes! I, I will go back and pull them out!" Qing Lin was so anxious she was about to cry; she had finally found a place to dwell, and feared being driven out by Xiao Yan's displeasure.

Although Xiao Yan anticipated Qing Lin would have a considerable reaction, directly pulling out the scales was still too extreme, for after pulling them out they would grow back, and to prevent their reappearance, one must pull them out every few days.

I really do not know how this little girl managed to get by before; Xiao Yan looked at the maiden with some pity, but he did not directly say he did not despise her, for that would lack persuasiveness.

He gently took Qing Lin's little hand, softly kneading her boneless jade-like arm; the scales on her wrist not only did not ruin the feel but added a smooth touch, making one reluctant to let go. I truly do not understand how those people think, to not cherish such a lovely little girl is truly blind.

Whoosh!

A small crimson flame appeared on Xiao Yan's fingertip, condensing and rotating, forming a tiny fire-drill, which, under Qing Lin's somewhat fearful gaze, etched a vivid lotus flower onto the scales on her wrist.

"I generally do not like flowers, but if I must name one, it would certainly be the lotus. Rising from the mud unstained, washed in clear ripples not alluring." Seeing Qing Lin's somewhat astonished gaze, Xiao Yan smiled and said: "Perhaps outsiders despise you for your Snake People bloodline, perhaps even your parents do not like you, but I will not discriminate against you for this."

"If you are willing, from now on you shall be called Qing Lian, hoping you will be like the lotus, unpolluted by past mud, and always keep a pure and kind heart. Of course, if you are unwilling, then forget it, I will not force you." Xiao Yan rubbed Qing Lin's head, and under her astonished gaze walked past, only turning back to speak when he was about to leave.

"You should still have things to do? Go ahead first, this matter you need not rush to answer; just tell me when you decide. But no matter whether you want to change your name or not, I hope you can live more happily in the future."

Gazing at Xiao Yan's gradually receding back, Qing Lin's thoughts became increasingly chaotic.

Xiao Yan's elder brother and second brother are both good people, willing to accept her mixed Snake People blood, which gave her for the first time a place to dwell, no longer needing to hide every day. So when she learned she was sent to serve the two benefactors' younger brother, she vowed to serve Xiao Yan well, not to talk back or raise her hand. But she did not expect that the two benefactors' younger brother would treat her even more gently than the two benefactors themselves.

"Qing Lian?" Looking at the pattern on her wrist, Qing Lin did not feel angry that Xiao Yan had arbitrarily drawn it; a child raised in discrimination and oppression from childhood would not have leisure to mind this, on the contrary, Qing Lin's heart was very happy, for this proved Xiao Yan truly did not care about her Snake People mixed birth, otherwise why go to such trouble? Moreover, Xiao Yan not only did not care but gave her such a pleasant and meaningful name.

Although Xiao Yan said to let her go back and consider, but first, not to mention as a maid she has no right to refuse the master's orders, even if she did, Qing Lin would not want to refuse. Because she likes this name very much! She can feel Xiao Yan Young Master's blessing toward her from it.

Gazing at the direction where Xiao Yan had already stepped into the courtyard and disappeared, Qing Lin's eyes became somewhat moist.

"Young Master——"

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