Little Doctor Immortal looked at Qing Lin standing next to Xiao Yu and asked with a gentle smile, "Little sister, could you help me organize the herbs later? There will be a fragrance pouch for you as well!"
Qing Lin's face showed a moment of surprise. She hesitantly replied, "Isn't that inappropriate?"
Little Doctor Immortal pulled Qing Lin closer and said, "There's nothing wrong with it. After you finish organizing the herbs, you can return to serving Young Master Xiao Yu. Don't worry, it won't delay you!"
"Isn't that right?" Little Doctor Immortal turned to Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu could only smile wryly and said, "If you say so, Qing Lin, just go with Little Doctor Immortal. She's very kind and won't mistreat you!"
Qing Lin nodded with a slightly blushing face. "Understood, Young Master Xiao Yu!"
Earlier, when Little Doctor Immortal had met Qing Lin, she had noticed the strange looks Qing Lin received and asked Xue Lan about it. Xue Lan had explained Qing Lin's background, which made both Little Doctor Immortal and Cai Die very sympathetic, especially Cai Die, who knew well how humans despised snake people.
Cai Die approached Qing Lin and held her hand. Qing Lin sensed a familiar aura from this beautiful woman, although Cai Die had no snake tail or scales like her, which puzzled Qing Lin a bit.
"I'm Cai Die. You can call me Elder Sister Cai Die from now on!" Cai Die's gentle voice immediately made Qing Lin feel affection for her, and her porcelain-like face brightened with joy.
As they were about to leave, Qing Lin glanced back at Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu gently ruffled her head, an action he increasingly enjoyed. Qing Lin didn't mind and even felt a bit contented. Xiao Yu smiled and said, "Go on!"
Qing Lin then followed Little Doctor Immortal and Cai Die out.
After they left, Xiao Lie sighed, "Qing Lin is indeed a pitiful child. Her mother died after giving birth, and her snake father was killed by humans long ago. Typically, children born from a union of snake people and humans don't survive past two years, but she's an exception, having lived to thirteen or fourteen!"
"People from both human and snake backgrounds view her as a curse. Luckily, she encountered me and Big Brother. Otherwise, she would have turned into a pile of bones long ago. Despite this, she's still faced with much disdain and ridicule. We can't change others' prejudices, but I know you won't reject such a person, which is why I made her your maid!" Xiao Lie's words were heavy.
Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Lie with some curiosity. "How do you know I wouldn't reject her?"
Xiao Lie chuckled, "Even as a child, you always treated everyone in the household with respect, never letting your talents make you arrogant. Not even Xiao Yan could do that!"
Xiao Lie sighed and looked at the distant horizon. "You don't know this, but Big Brother and I once discussed how Xiao Yan's talents were once thought to be as people said—arrogance leading to divine retribution. Now that Xiao Yan's talent has returned, we're glad for him. Perhaps it was fate that gave him years of hardship to temper his mind!"
Xiao Yu remained silent, not revealing that it was because of the Elder's ring that Xiao Yan suffered. Fortunately, the ring ended up with Xiao Yan, or Xiao Yu might have faced the same trials and possibly never awakened the system.
Xiao Lie looked at Xiao Yu and said with a smile, "It seems that my second brother's judgment is still quite good, don't you think?"
Xiao Yu didn't respond. Saying his judgment was good would be self-praise, and saying it was bad would be insulting his second brother. So, Xiao Yu chose silence.
After Xiao Lie showed Xiao Yu around the mercenary group, Xiao Yu returned to his room and began his meditation on the bed.
As the Chaos Source Method operated, Xiao Yu absorbed the fire and wind attribute energies from the air. The small amount of wood attribute energy in his body was insufficient to support the Chaotic Source Method, and it seemed that this meager amount of wood attribute energy was not enough.
As night fell, the desert's energy was predominantly fire and earth, making up about eighty percent. Xiao Yu felt the fire attribute energy within him becoming increasingly abundant, forming a layer of fighting spirit around him. This layer was a strange mix of fiery red and pale blue.
Xiao Yu focused on his dantian and discovered that the Life Divine Tree rooted there not only absorbed fire attribute fighting spirit but also wind attribute fighting spirit. The green wood attribute energy scattered in his sea of energy as the tree branches gently swayed.
"Hm? Isn't this the wood attribute energy I need?" Xiao Yu started to eagerly gather the wood attribute energy in his sea of energy, finding that this power was vital for practicing wood attribute fighting spirit.
After a night of cultivation, Xiao Yu managed to stabilize the energies of fire, wood, and wind in his sea of energy.
In the morning, Qing Lin arrived at Xiao Yu's room on time. She helped him dress, her delicate hands providing great comfort. Xiao Yu sighed, "It's truly pleasant to have someone thoughtful by my side. This is how a Young Master's life should be!"
Hearing this, Qing Lin's heart felt sweet. Having spent time with Xiao Yu, Little Doctor Immortal, and others, Qing Lin gradually regained her youthful innocence and liveliness. Her relationships with them had become increasingly close, especially Xiao Yu's kindness, which made her want to stay by his side as his maid.
Qing Lin softly said, "If Young Master is willing, Qing Lin will serve you from now on!"
Xiao Yu smiled and asked, "Oh? Are you truly willing to stay by my side?"
Qing Lin nodded firmly, saying, "As long as Young Master doesn't dismiss me, Qing Lin will definitely stay by your side!"
"You silly girl, why would I dismiss you? Don't worry, I'll take care of this matter. You can stay with me from now on," Xiao Yu said, patting Qing Lin's head.
Qing Lin's green eyes were filled with excitement, and her joy was evident. Xiao Yu looked into her eyes and suddenly felt a strange sensation, quickly looking away, thinking, "These Green Snake Three Flower Eyes are truly frightening!"
When he looked back at Qing Lin, her eyes had returned to normal. Xiao Yu said, "Let's go; the test should be starting soon!"
Realizing that Xiao Yu was about to participate in the test, Qing Lin quickly got up and opened the door, saying, "Young Master, let's hurry!"
"No rush!" Xiao Yu chuckled and reached for his sword Mo Lin, but Qing Lin beat him to it, lifting the sword with surprise. "Isn't this sword heavy?"
Qing Lin shook her head. "No, it's not heavy."
Xiao Yu wondered if the sword recognized its owner. If it did, it should be recognizing him, not Qing Lin!
Unable to figure it out, Xiao Yu could only attribute it to the sword being a bit of a show-off!
Cai Die then smiled and said, "From now on, Qing Lin will take care of Young Master's sword!"
Seeing the hopeful look in Qing Lin's eyes, Xiao Yu didn't say more and walked out of the room with Qing Lin closely following.