Chapter 41: Qing Lin
The next day, Xiao Tian woke up from his sleep. Shaking his slightly aching head, he muttered, "These mercenaries can really drink. I didn't expect to be knocked out by them."
"Creek!" The door suddenly opened as if someone had heard the noise inside.
A petite figure quietly walked in. Xiao Tian looked up to see a young girl dressed in a light green outfit. Though her body was small, she was quite mature in her development, albeit with a bit of a youthful look. In modern terms, she could be described as having a "baby face with a voluptuous figure."
The girl had a cute and delicate oval face, resembling a beautiful porcelain doll. She had a timid expression, like a frightened little rabbit, invoking a sense of pity and protection in others.
Seeing her, Xiao Tian immediately recognized her as Qing Lin, the possessor of the Blue Snake Three Flower Pupils.
"Young Master Xiao Tian, you're awake?" she asked timidly as she approached his bed. "Let me serve you," she offered, picking up his clothes from the hanger to help him dress.
Xiao Tian didn't refuse, letting her help him. His gaze fell on her slender waist, feeling an unusual temptation, almost as if a beautiful snake was seductively swaying its waist.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Xiao Tian smiled and asked, "What's your name?"
"I... I'm Qing Lin," she answered softly.
"That's a very nice name!" Xiao Tian praised.
"Ah?" Qing Lin was stunned for a moment, then stammered, "Re... really?"
"Of course," Xiao Tian said, reaching down to put on his shoes. Qing Lin quickly picked them up from the floor and helped him put them on.
As she did, her sleeve slipped, revealing a section of her fair arm, which had a few patches of green scales.
Seeing his gaze, Qing Lin immediately noticed her mistake. She looked down and saw her exposed scales. Her pretty face turned pale instantly. She pulled her sleeve down and crouched behind the door, hugging her knees and trembling.
"Sorry, young master. I didn't mean to scare you. Please don't hit me or scold me," she cried, her voice full of fear.
"Hey," Xiao Tian sighed softly, walking over and gently pulling her up. He embraced her, patting her trembling body. "I'm not scared. I actually think those scales are beautiful," he said softly.
"Re... really?" Qing Lin's fragile heart felt a strange warmth for the first time. No one had ever complimented her scales before. People usually reacted with fear and disgust, often throwing rotten vegetables and eggs at her. If not for the Mobei Mercenary Group taking her in, she might not have survived.
Even within the mercenary group, people were repulsed by her and avoided speaking to her.
"Of course," Xiao Tian reassured, rubbing her head gently. "From now on, stay with me. I promise no one will bully you."
"Okay," Qing Lin's eyes sparkled with a hint of fascination as she nodded.
At that moment, Xiao Tian noticed three tiny green dots in her slightly green eyes, causing him to feel momentarily dizzy. Fortunately, his strong soul power quickly brought him back to his senses.
"As expected of the Blue Snake Three Flower Pupils," Xiao Tian thought, planning to teach her soul cultivation methods to see how her powerful soul would enhance her unique eyes.
Soon, Qing Lin helped him wash up and have breakfast.
"Xiao Tian brother!" Qing Tan entered the room while he was still eating.
"Good morning, Qing Tan," Xiao Tian smiled. "Have you had breakfast?"
"Yes," Qing Tan nodded. "When are we going back?"
"Are you homesick?" Xiao Tian asked.
"A little," she admitted. "It's boring here with nothing to do."
"How about I teach you how to cultivate?" Xiao Tian suggested.
"Really? That would be great!" Qing Tan exclaimed excitedly. "Can I really start cultivating now?"
"Yes, but without pure Yin energy, you won't be able to break through to the Yuan Dan stage," Xiao Tian explained.
"Yuan Dan stage is too far for me to think about. Just teach me how to start," Qing Tan replied eagerly.
"Alright, let's begin," Xiao Tian nodded. Although he didn't know the specific cultivation methods from the Wu Dong world, he could rely on the Little Marten's extensive knowledge to guide her.
Thus, Xiao Tian temporarily stayed in Stone Desert City, teaching Qing Tan how to cultivate and preparing foundation-building elixirs for Qing Lin. He also helped Qing Lin start her cultivation journey, planning to teach her soul cultivation methods later once she was stronger.
In addition, Xiao Tian assisted Xiao Ding and Xiao Li in refining their techniques and fighting skills, giving each of them a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill to boost their strength. Being family, it was only right to look out for them.
As for himself, after refining two Earth Fire Lotus Seeds, Xiao Tian's cultivation improved from a six-star to a nine-star Great Fighter. His compatibility with the Green Lotus Core Flame also increased, allowing him better control over its power and temperature.
The Earth Fire Lotus Seeds' miraculous effects didn't surprise Xiao Tian. Though small, they took over a century to form. In the original story, Xiao Yan only used one-third of a seed's energy to heal and advance by one star, demonstrating their immense power. If not for directing the excess energy to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, he might have been injured by the overwhelming energy.
(End of Chapter)