Chapter 123: Bonding with Qinglin, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li
Qinglin heard this soft voice and thought she was hallucinating. Apart from her mother, no one had ever spoken to her so kindly. Every time she appeared before people, they immediately distanced themselves, looking at her with disdain. Some even insulted her, and no one had ever spoken to her in such a gentle tone before.
Qinglin cautiously lifted her head and didn't see the children who were bothering her. Instead, she saw a young man with a cloak and hat covering his forehead. From her angle, she could see the kind eyes of the young man and a faint friendly smile on his face. At that moment, she felt saved.
The young man, seeing no response from her, asked again gently. "Little one, are you okay?"
The clear voice of the young man awakened Qinglin, who nodded with a flushed face. She realized she had been staring at the young man, which seemed very embarrassing to her. But she thought he was very handsome and didn't look at her with disdain like others.
Xiao Ze, seeing Qinglin nodding and then shaking her head, was somewhat confused. However, the system confirmed to him that the person in front of him was Qinglin, so he decided to bond with her immediately.
"Get up, I see you have some bruises," said Xiao Ze, taking out a jade bottle from his ring. He poured out a light green pill—"This is for healing wounds and relieving pain. Take it, and you'll feel better soon."
Qinglin, with tears in her eyes, murmured with a trembling voice: "Sir, why are you so kind to me?"
"You're a child, there's no reason not to be. Consider me a kind-hearted person," said Xiao Ze, smiling as he stroked her head.
Knowing that Qinglin had suffered a lot since she was little, Xiao Ze understood her disbelief at his sudden kindness. Feeling the warmth of Xiao Ze's hand, Qinglin nodded slightly. Carefully, she took the pill from Xiao Ze's hand, fearing to contaminate it with her own.
It was then that she realized her arm was exposed. Horrified, she hid it behind her back, fearing that her identity as a snake hybrid would disgust Xiao Ze. She looked at Xiao Ze with concern, but he looked back at her with the same warmth.
"Sir, aren't you afraid of me?"
"How could I be afraid of such an adorable girl? Take the pill," said Xiao Ze, a little exasperated, but understanding the environment Qinglin had grown up in.
Feeling the change in Xiao Ze's tone, Qinglin was startled and quickly took the pill, fearing to displease him.
"How amazing! The burning pain has turned cool and comfortable," said Qinglin in amazement after taking the pill.
"Sir, this pill is very valuable. Giving it to a hybrid like me is a waste..."
Xiao Ze remained silent for a moment, knowing that changing Qinglin's mindset wouldn't be easy. He stroked her head again and changed the subject.
"Are you from the Moti mercenaries group? Take me there; I have relatives in that group."
"Ah, so you're here to find your family! Sir, I'll take you there immediately," said Qinglin, finally finding a way to be useful.
At the headquarters of the Moti mercenaries group, two guards saw Qinglin approaching with a hooded person. They frowned, predisposed against Qinglin.
"Who comes? Qinglin, how do you bring someone unidentified to the group?" one of the guards shouted.
Qinglin was scared and was about to explain when Xiao Ze coughed and said, "I am Xiao Ze, a relative of the group leader. Please inform him."
The guards were surprised, but one of them went to inform, while the other stayed, now more polite.
"As a relative of the leader, please wait a moment."
Qinglin sighed with relief and looked gratefully at Xiao Ze, memorizing his name.
"Hahaha! I couldn't believe it when I was informed, but it's you, younger brother!" said a sturdy young man in a mercenary uniform, quickly approaching Xiao Ze.
"Older brother, it's been so long!" Xiao Ze responded, returning the hug.
Xiao Li led Xiao Ze inside, chatting lively about what had happened since his departure.
Soon they arrived at a large hall where a young man with bright and shrewd eyes was waiting for them.
"Xiao Ze, you've grown so much," said the young man, patting Xiao Ze on the shoulder.
"Older brother, long time no see," said Xiao Ze, embracing Xiao Ding.
That night, the Moti mercenaries group organized a banquet to welcome Xiao Ze. During dinner, Xiao Ze learned about the changes in the family and was surprised to learn that Xiao Yan had already left for training.
"Could it be that my intervention prevented the three-year agreement from ever happening?" Xiao Ze wondered, thinking that without Xiao Yan in the family, the agreement with Nalan Yanran would not have been possible.
"Then will no one utter 'Three years to the east of the river, three years to the west, do not underestimate the poor youths'?" murmured Xiao Ze, lost in his thoughts.
Xiao Ding noticed Xiao Ze's expression and decided to talk to him later, worried that something might be wrong.
The banquet continued until midnight, and Xiao Ze helped his brothers to their rooms to rest.