"If you are willing to follow my will, then take my hand."
With a determined gaze and powerful words, it felt as if an invisible force was encouraging Qinglin.
Qinglin looked at the hand extended by the boy in front of her, as if she saw a brand new future within it—a future free from discrimination, a future where she could stand behind the heavenly boy before her.
The scene of the boy descending like a fallen immortal, along with his compassion and kindness, ignited a fire within Qinglin's heart. The intense emotions urged the girl to reach out her own hand toward the future. Although their time together was short, and she didn't even know the boy's name, her heart told her that she wanted to stand behind him, to embrace the future he spoke of.
Finally, Qinglin mustered her courage and placed her hand into Lin Yuan's palm.
Lin Yuan gently squeezed her small hand and shook it up and down. In response to Qinglin's puzzled gaze, Lin Yuan's clear voice, filled with laughter, reached her ears.
"Then, Qinglin, I am Lin Yuan. Let's walk this path together from now on!"
"Yes, Young Master Lin Yuan!" Upon hearing this, Qinglin's face broke into a genuine, radiant smile, as if she had been infected by his enthusiasm.
"Please, don't call me that. Qinglin, you should know one thing: I don't want you to follow me as a servant. We are companions and comrades on the road ahead, so there's no need to call me 'Young Master.' Just call me Lin Yuan or Brother Lin." Lin Yuan corrected her upon hearing her address.
"That won't do! A Young Master is still a Young Master," Qinglin hurriedly replied.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yuan was unable to convince Qinglin on this matter; she was quite stubborn about how to address him.
"Alright then, but don't call me 'Young Master.' It sounds too old. Just call me 'Young Master' instead! And from now on, I'll call you Qing'er." Lin Yuan said helplessly, giving Qinglin a nickname of her own.
"Yes, Young Master!" Qinglin sweetly called out.
"Hand me the medicine, Qing'er." Lin Yuan smiled at her.
Upon hearing this, Qinglin quickly handed over the jade bottle Lin Yuan had given her earlier. Holding such a precious item made her feel a bit anxious.
Lin Yuan took the jade bottle, waved his hand, and in Qinglin's astonished gaze, blue fighting spirit condensed into a small bed, as if created from thin air. This was a technique that could only be used after reaching the Douling stage, and for Lin Yuan, who had strong control over both soul power and fighting spirit, this move was second nature. He often practiced his control over fighting spirit with it.
In Qinglin's shy gaze, Lin Yuan lifted her and placed her on the small bed. He then sat at her feet, resting her injured foot on his lap, preparing to apply medicine for her.
"Young Master, you can't do this! How can you serve me?" Seeing Lin Yuan preparing to apply medicine to her, Qinglin panicked and tried to pull her foot back.
"Qing'er, just because I let you call me 'Young Master' doesn't mean our relationship is that of master and servant. 'Young Master' and 'Qing'er' are just specific titles between us. I see our relationship as that of friends, and isn't it normal for friends to help each other with medicine? Or do you not want to acknowledge me as a friend?" Lin Yuan stopped Qinglin's struggle.
"No, no! That's not what I meant!" Qinglin hurriedly replied.
"That's good!" With that, Lin Yuan didn't give Qinglin a chance to speak further and directly took out the ointment to apply it to her.
Qinglin blushed as she watched Lin Yuan, who was focused on applying medicine to her. His movements were very skilled, and he didn't cause her any extra pain. The cool ointment applied to her injury felt soothing, significantly reducing the pain.
"Your technique is very skilled, Young Master!" Qinglin murmured softly.
"I got used to helping that girl Ziyan with her medicine. Oh, by the way, Ziyan is my sister who can transform into a magical beast. I'll introduce you to her when the opportunity arises; I believe you two will become good friends." Lin Yuan chuckled upon hearing Qinglin's murmur.
When Ziyan was mentioned, Lin Yuan's gaze softened considerably. Although their acquaintance began with his schemes, and he indeed had some thoughts and plans regarding Ziyan, his feelings for her were undoubtedly genuine. He sincerely regarded Ziyan as a little sister.
"Being able to be Young Master's sister, Miss Ziyan must be very happy." Qinglin murmured, as if sensing the change in Lin Yuan's mood.
"You are the same, Qing'er! I also want a little sister like you." Lin Yuan turned to her, his gaze deepening with meaning, and his words made Qinglin feel a bit dazed with joy.
Indeed, Qinglin felt the same way.
The encounter between the two today was not a coincidence, but rather an inevitable result of Lin Yuan's own scheming, just like with Ziyan.
Long before arriving at Canaan Academy, Lin Yuan had set his sights on winning over Qinglin as one of his primary goals in coming to the Gama Empire.
As the owner of the world's first strange pupil, the Three-Flower Pupil of the Blue Serpent, Qinglin had the potential to reach Douzong. In the original timeline, she indeed broke through to Douzong in just ten years. With high potential, a gentle personality, and unwavering loyalty, Lin Yuan naturally could not miss her.
Lin Yuan had been in Shimo City for several days. Aside from investigating the matter of the strange fire, he was arranging today's script—the script of a hero saving a beauty under the moonlight.
To fulfill the hero-saving-beauty script, he had secretly made many preparations. Qinglin's encounter with the human traffickers was influenced by him. In fact, since Qinglin left her home today, she had been within his perception range, all to perfectly enact this clichéd yet highly effective hero-saving-beauty script. For this, Lin Yuan even deliberately removed his disguise and used a more impressive entrance and combat style, all to win Qinglin's heart and make her willingly become his partner.
Rather than waiting for a fateful encounter, Lin Yuan preferred to take the initiative to create opportunities, seizing control in his own hands. Valuing others and planning accordingly was also a reflection of his respect. As a time traveler, Lin Yuan's foresight gave him a natural high initial favorability towards certain people in this Douqi continent, with Ziyan and Qinglin being at the forefront. Thus, Lin Yuan's schemes expressed his importance and respect for both of them.
The beginnings of Lin Yuan's relationships with Ziyan and Qinglin were not purely innocent, but his feelings were genuine. His fondness for both Ziyan and Qinglin was real, and he was confident that this friendship would blossom beautifully and bear wonderful fruit.
After applying the ointment, it didn't take long for Qinglin's foot injury to heal completely.
"Let's go, Qing'er."
"Yes, Young Master."
Under the night sky, Lin Yuan wrapped his arm around Qinglin's soft waist, spreading his fighting spirit wings, and flew towards Shimo City.
Feeling the support and encouragement from readers, Qingping will continue to work hard. I hope everyone will keep supporting and welcome everyone to discuss and exchange ideas in the comment section. A new author relies on the feedback from readers.
(End of this chapter)