'Master Gu wants to take me as his disciple?'
At this moment, Qing Lin's mind was filled with confusion.
She couldn't understand why Master Gu would suddenly want to accept her as his disciple.
But soon, realization dawned on her.
'This… is an incredible opportunity for me.'
Master Gu held a prestigious status—even the leader of their mercenary group treated him with utmost respect. Becoming his disciple would undoubtedly be a great fortune.
Moreover, Master Gu was different from others. He didn't look at her with disgust because of the snake-blood within her.
In an instant, overwhelming happiness surged in Qing Lin's heart, and a glimmer of excitement flashed in her eyes.
The next moment, her clear voice rang out: "Master Gu, Qing Lin is willing to become your disciple!"
With that, the little girl dropped to her knees, preparing to kowtow in formal acknowledgment of her master.
"No need." However, Gu He raised his hand and gently helped her up.
"I don't adhere to such rigid formalities."
Qing Lin's face flushed with excitement as she called out sweetly:
"Yes, Teacher!"
Gu He looked at the adorable and well-behaved girl before him, his heart brimming with satisfaction. He nodded and said,
"From today onward, you will be my third disciple. You have an elder senior brother and a second senior sister."
"A senior brother and a second senior sister?"
Qing Lin's small face froze momentarily in surprise. She hadn't expected her teacher to already have two other disciples.
Then, a trace of unease crept into her heart.
'What if… my senior brother and senior sister find out about my identity? Will they…'
The excitement on her face quickly faded, replaced by a pallor of worry.
Noticing the shift in her expression, Gu He immediately understood her concerns. He patted her head gently and reassured her:
"Silly child, from now on, you don't need to care about other people's opinions. As long as you have me, no one will dare to bully you."
Feeling the warmth of his hand, Qing Lin blinked in surprise. The fear in her heart gradually melted away, and she nodded softly.
"Teacher… this disciple understands."
Nearby, the Xiao brothers finally snapped out of their daze.
It seemed Master Gu was truly serious.
At first, they had thought he would make an outrageous demand—yet all he wanted was to take an apprentice.
Xiao Li, in particular, never imagined that the maid he had casually purchased would catch the eye of a high-ranking alchemist and even be accepted as a disciple.
'What incredible luck!'
He didn't know whether to praise himself or Qing Lin.
"Congratulations, Master Gu, for gaining such a well-behaved disciple." Once they regained their composure, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
Xiao Li then turned to Qing Lin and said kindly, "Qing Lin, now that you've become Master Gu's disciple, you must be obedient in the future."
Qing Lin nodded timidly. "I understand."
Gu He had more to say to Qing Lin, but the Xiao brothers' interruption soured his mood. His tone cooled slightly as he spoke:
"If you wish to refine the Purple Jade Pill, deliver the required medicinal ingredients to my room as soon as possible. I will depart Stone Desert City in two days."
Xiao Ding's expression shifted. He quickly tried to persuade him: "Master, won't you stay a little longer?"
In a desolate place like Stone Desert City, where even birds refused to linger, a third-tier alchemist was an unimaginable asset. Xiao Ding naturally wanted to keep Gu He for as long as possible.
However, Gu He had already achieved his goal in staying with the Desert Iron Mercenary Regiment. He had no intention of humoring Xiao Ding's request.
"I will remain for two days at most. If the ingredients for the Purple Jade Pill are not prepared by then, I will leave Stone Desert City immediately."
Seeing his firm stance, Xiao Ding could only concede reluctantly.
"Understood. I will ensure the ingredients are delivered to you without delay."
Gu He gave a slight nod before leading Qing Lin out of the hall.
Once they were gone, Xiao Ding turned to Xiao Li and ordered: "Second Brother, make sure no one dares to mistreat Qing Lin from now on."
Xiao Li nodded. "Rest assured, Elder Brother. I'll issue the orders immediately."
Qing Lin was no longer just a lowly maid—she was now a disciple of Master Gu. If anyone in the mercenary group provoked her, they would be offending a high-ranking alchemist.
That was the last thing Xiao Ding wanted.
…
Gu He's Room
"Qing Lin, now that you've entered my sect, it's time I told you my true name." Gu He looked at the young girl before him with a faint smile.
Qing Lin blinked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"This seat's name… is Gu He."
"Gu… He…" Qing Lin murmured the name, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
"Teacher, I think… I've heard this name somewhere before…"
Amused by her puzzled expression, Gu He chuckled.
"Oh? It seems my reputation is quite widespread, if even a little girl like you has heard of me."
Qing Lin's cheeks flushed as she mumbled, "I… I only overheard others talking about it…"
Gu He smiled before his expression turned solemn.
"Qing Lin, do you wish to cultivate?" Earlier, he had examined her and found no traces of Dou Qi within her body. Clearly, no one had ever guided her in cultivation.
Qing Lin's eyes widened briefly before a determined gleam flashed within them.
"Yes!"
Gu He's lips curved slightly.
"Why do you want to cultivate?"
Qing Lin fell silent for a moment, her expression darkening. Then, in a soft voice tinged with sorrow, she answered:
"I want to become stronger… strong enough to stop the war between humans and the Snake-People… so that no one else will suffer like I did—abandoned by their parents, hated by everyone…"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.
Gu He was momentarily stunned before falling into silence.
The conflict between humans and the Snake-People had persisted for thousands of years, with deep-seated hatred embedded in both sides.
At its core, the war stemmed from disputes over land and resources.
The Tagore Desert was scorching and harsh, yet the Snake-People, who thrived in cooler climates, were forced to endure its brutality. This environment fueled their violent and erratic nature.
They despised humans, envying the vast and fertile lands humanity occupied.
If not for their lack of strength, the Snake-People would have long since launched an all-out war against humankind.
Gu He knew that the only way to end this conflict was to allocate suitable territory for the Snake-People—land where they could thrive without encroaching on human domains.
But what human empire would willingly surrender fertile land to a race known for its ferocity?
…
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