บท 39: MAID
"How could I ever abandon you?" Xie Tianxiao sighed softly in response to Qinglin's words. He gently patted her head once more and said, "Fine, if you wish to be my maid, then so be it."
"Mm-hmm! Qinglin is happy to be your maid!" Qinglin beamed with relief, nodding eagerly. She lifted her head and gave Xie Tianxiao a sweet smile.
Seeing her bright expression, Xie Tianxiao couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. Qinglin was a pure and kind-hearted girl, but… 'Sigh… She's too kind, and that's why she's been taken advantage of' he thought. With a soft sigh, he said, "Now that you're my maid, no one will dare look down on you."
He continued, "And for now, you don't need to serve me. You're still young, and there's a place you need to go."
Upon hearing this, Qinglin bit her lip, gathering her courage as she said, "But… i wants to stay by your side!"
"By my side?" Xie Tianxiao smiled gently, staring directly into her eyes as he asked, "Qinglin, do you want the power to make others respect you and help me in the future?"
Qinglin's eyes lit up with resolve. "i don't want to scare people, but if it's for you, i am willing to become strong and protect you."
"Heh… Good," Xie Tianxiao replied, a pleased look flashing across his face. He gently patted her head again and said, "Then stop worrying about everything else. Just follow my guidance, understood?"
"Yes, i understands," she whispered, lowering her head.
Satisfied with her response, Xie Tianxiao shifted his gaze to Xiao Ding and asked calmly, "Xiao Ding, since Qinglin has agreed, do you have any objections?"
Xiao Ding quickly clasped his hands in respect and replied, "Sir, you hold Qinglin in such high regard and are willing to take her as your maid. I have no reason to doubt your intentions. Qinglin is a good child, and it's a blessing for her to follow someone as powerful as you."
Although Xiao Ding found it strange that someone of Xie Tianxiao's caliber would come specifically for Qinglin, he knew better than to question it. He didn't want to offend someone whose strength and background were a mystery, especially when it was clear that Xie Tianxiao had no ill intentions.
Meanwhile, Xiao Li muttered to Xiao Ding under his breath, "Brother, how can you trust him so easily? What if he's just pretending to be nice to Qinglin, using her for some hidden agenda?"
"Second brother, I told you before—quiet down!" Xiao Ding shot a glare at Xiao Li, scolding him in a low voice.
"Alright, alright. I'll keep quiet," Xiao Li mumbled, lowering his head to avoid further reprimand.
Xiao Ding turned back to Xie Tianxiao and apologized, "Forgive my younger brother's rash words, sir. He means no harm."
"If I had taken offense, your Iron Desert Mercenary Group would no longer exist in rock Desert City," Xie Tianxiao replied coolly, sweeping his gaze across the group. His voice was calm, yet the oppressive aura that accompanied his words sent a chill down everyone's spine, as if the weight of the world was bearing down on them.
Xiao Li swallowed hard, his earlier irritation replaced by fear. Though he was impulsive, he wasn't stupid. He had initially assumed that Xie Tianxiao was only a Dou Master at most, but now he realized that his power far exceeded that level.
"Th-thank you for your mercy, senior," Xiao Ding stammered, his face pale as he wiped cold sweat from his brow. He now fully understood how dangerous Xie Tianxiao was. His foresight in not offending this man earlier had likely saved their mercenary group from obliteration.
Turning to Qinglin, Xiao Ding said, "Qinglin, once you leave the mercenary group, make sure to follow senior closely and avoid causing any unnecessary trouble."
"I will, thank you for taking care of me, leader," Qinglin nodded gratefully.
"Don't mention it," Xiao Ding smiled kindly but said no more.
Xie Tianxiao, now that things had settled down, directed his attention back to Xiao Ding. "Xiao Ding, is there any place in this region that stands out for its unusual temperature fluctuations? Somewhere that's much hotter or colder than the surrounding areas?"
"Temperature fluctuations?" Xiao Ding paused, taken aback by the unexpected question. He looked at Xie Tianxiao in surprise. "Senior, may I ask why you're inquiring about such a place?"
"I'm seeking a Heavenly Flame, and according to my sources, one is hidden somewhere in this desert," Xie Tianxiao explained.
"A Heavenly Flame… in the desert?" Xiao Ding and the others were stunned.
Heavenly Flames were legendary treasures sought by alchemists, and the mere thought that such a powerful flame might be nearby was astonishing.
After a moment, Xiao Ding cautiously asked, "Are you asking us to help find this Heavenly Flame in the desert?"
"Exactly. Since your mercenary group often roams the surrounding desert, you're likely familiar with places that exhibit unusual temperature changes. I need you to locate these areas and report back to me. In return, I'll reward you handsomely with gold," Xie Tianxiao stated, his eyes scanning the group.
He had come to rock Desert City for two reasons: to take Qinglin and to search for the 'Green Lotus Core Flame'. While he knew from the original novel that the flame was in this desert, its exact location eluded him. Although he could use his soul power to search, it wasn't sufficient to cover the entire desert. Hence, enlisting the help of the mercenaries was the most efficient option.
"Haha, senior, you flatter us. It would be our honor to assist you. There's no need for any compensation," Xiao Ding said, shaking his head with a smile. To him, leaving a good impression on someone like Xie Tianxiao was far more valuable than any material reward.
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