Chen Xiao knew that investing in Qing Lin was simple; treat her with sincerity, and she would repay it a hundredfold. But for it to be this simple still moved him.
No one could predict what the world would look like in ten years, a hundred years, or what they themselves would become.
But at this moment, Chen Xiao believed that the two questions and two answers just now were enough for him to remember for a long time.
"Pack your things, we're going to Mo City."
Looking at the girl in front of him, timid like a kitten, Chen Xiao gently raised his right hand, wanting to rub her head to comfort her, but felt it was too abrupt and might scare her, so he quietly withdrew it.
Qing Lin nodded heavily, her eyes filled with anticipation for the future. She scurried into the house and, under Chen Xiao's gaze, quickly packed her meager belongings.
From beginning to end, she didn't ask a single extra question.
Her experiences in Stone Desert City over the years had taught the young girl one thing.
Talking too much would only make her more disliked.
"Young Master, I'm packed."
In less than five minutes, Qing Lin had packed everything she needed to take. She even tucked the two leftover steamed buns from the bowl on the table into her embrace.
"Okay, give me your things. Mo City isn't far from here, but it's not close for you either."
Looking at the two small bundles she had tied with thin rope, Chen Xiao said.
Seeing her hesitate slightly, Chen Xiao added.
"I have a Storage Ring, it's easier."
Hearing this, Qing Lin finally handed her things to Chen Xiao.
Locking the small house from the outside, the two then walked towards the gate of Stone Desert City, one behind the other.
Because he was with Qing Lin, Chen Xiao didn't rush to use his Purple Cloud Wings to travel, but chose to walk instead.
This greatly extended the time required.
By the time the sun set, Chen Xiao estimated they had only covered half the distance.
Seeing that it was getting late and Qing Lin's face showed unconcealed fatigue, Chen Xiao extended his hand at the right time.
"Hold my hand, I'll fly you over. Otherwise, we'll have to travel in the dark later."
Actually, Chen Xiao didn't need to rush back to Mo City; he could have easily set off the next morning.
However, he had a little bit of selfishness in his heart. He wanted Qing Lin to wake up in a completely new place tomorrow and see the sunrise from a new perspective, just as her life should turn a new page.
Looking at the hand Chen Xiao offered, Qing Lin hesitated.
Because the only suitable clothes she usually wore had been taken off for washing, the robe she was wearing now was slightly too large.
If she reached out, the dense green scales on her arm, like snake scales, would inevitably be exposed. She didn't know if the person she met today would be like the mercenaries from before and feel disgusted by her.
Little did she know, her worries were completely unnecessary for Chen Xiao.
"Don't worry about it, I already saw it when we were in the small house."
Qing Lin's heart trembled, but she found that Chen Xiao's gaze was the same as when he first saw her, without the slightest abnormality.
Perhaps realizing that she wasn't disliked, Qing Lin finally mustered the courage to speak.
"Young Master doesn't dislike Qing Lin's abnormality?"
A question that didn't sound very coherent, as if it had drained all of Qing Lin's courage.
The timid nature she had been forced to develop since childhood would definitely not change overnight.
Sensing her nervousness, Chen Xiao shook his head slightly.
"So-called normalcy is just a standard set by the majority, used to find acceptance and exclude those who are different. In my opinion, what does it matter if you're not normal? You don't need to care about the eyes of others, including mine."
"Moreover, if we're being serious, I feel uncomfortable when I see asymmetrical things. When I see two trees, one tall and one short, I want to cut them to the same height. If I have such thoughts that are difficult for ordinary people to understand, aren't I also not normal?"
"So, just regard the suspicious eyes of others as flickering ghost fires, and boldly walk your own path."
Chen Xiao wasn't usually a talkative person, but for the girl beside him, he was willing to say a few more words.
Listening to Chen Xiao's words, a glimmer of light seemed to appear in Qing Lin's clear eyes.
A seed named 'self-confidence and self-reliance' was quietly planted in her heart. One day, it would take root and sprout, until it grew into a towering tree.
"Let's go."
Chen Xiao extended his hand again.
This time, Qing Lin didn't hesitate.
Chen Xiao's ice-attributed palm was slightly cool, and the girl's hand was the same.
They seemed to truly be of the same kind.
Traveling with the help of the Purple Cloud Wings was much faster.
Even though Chen Xiao was carrying Qing Lin, her weight of less than a hundred jin didn't cause any hindrance at all.
In less than an hour, the two arrived at Mo City.
In this larger city, finding accommodation was not a problem at all.
Chen Xiao found an inn relatively close to Hai Bo Dong's map shop. He booked two rooms and had Qing Lin go up to rest first.
"Innkeeper, please prepare more food and send it up to her. Also, please trouble your wife to make a trip and get a few sets of new clothes."
Chen Xiao took out a small bag of gold coins and handed them to the innkeeper and his wife.
He had already promised that the girl would no longer go hungry, so he naturally couldn't break his word.
On the way here, Chen Xiao had already heard her stomach rumbling. If he didn't prepare some food, with Qing Lin's personality, she would probably take out those two hard steamed buns to fill her stomach.
"No trouble at all, guest. You can go back to your room to rest first. In less than two quarters of an hour, I will definitely send the clothes up to that young lady."
Chen Xiao nodded and returned to his room alone.
He took out an Amplification Pill from his Storage Ring and consumed it. He cultivated for less than two quarters of an hour before hearing a knock on the door of the adjacent room.
Without paying further attention, Chen Xiao withdrew his thoughts and fully immersed himself in cultivation.
...
The night passed without a word.
When Chen Xiao's door was knocked, it was already the early morning of a new day.
"Come in."
Upon receiving the response, the door was gently pushed open.
Following closely behind, the girl, now dressed in a new set of green clothes, entered his sight carrying a basin of water.
"Young Master, it's time to wash up."
Qing Lin hadn't slept very well last night, but her spirit was excellent at this moment. Her smile was bright, and she seemed much more confident.
Chen Xiao had never been served in his life, and this situation made him quite unaccustomed.
However, he didn't say anything to stop her.
After washing up, having nothing else to do, Chen Xiao began cultivating again.
He didn't stop meditating until close to noon.
After having lunch at the inn, Chen Xiao extended the stay for both rooms for a month. Then, he took Qing Lin out of the city.
"Qing Lin, do you want to cultivate?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Xiao chuckled at his own foolish question.
In this world, who wouldn't want to cultivate?
"I'll teach you how to draw in Qi later."
Regarding Qing Lin's age, the original text didn't directly state how old she was, only mentioning that she seemed a little younger than Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan is now over eleven years old. I've set Qing Lin's age to be a little over ten, which should be reasonable.
Seeing that some friends mentioned this, I'll briefly explain.
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