Stone Desert City.
It wasn't far from Mo City.
While recalling the areas he lacked in during their earlier spar, Chen Xiao used his Purple Cloud Wings to travel. In less than two hours, he arrived at his destination.
Compared to Mo City, Stone Desert City was smaller, more like a small town built on a desert oasis. Looking down from high altitude, he could take it all in with a single glance.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but feel relieved.
Mo City wasn't large, which undoubtedly made his search easier.
Otherwise, with limited information, finding that girl in the vast sea of people wouldn't be so easy.
Descending from high altitude to an uninhabited area outside the city, Chen Xiao tidied his robes and hair, which had been ruffled by the hot wind, before quickening his pace and entering Stone Desert City.
As soon as he stepped into the city, Chen Xiao noticed that the atmosphere in Stone Desert City was somewhat similar to Green Mountain Town. An estimated eighty to ninety percent of the people active here were mercenaries. The names of the mercenary groups outside the small courtyards, large and small, were dazzling to behold.
"Little brother, are you planning to join a mercenary group? My Storm Mercenary Group is recruiting members, and the benefits are definitely among the top in Stone Desert City."
Just as Chen Xiao was looking at the sides of the street, a shifty-eyed mercenary saw a lone newcomer and immediately approached to inquire.
Chen Xiao glanced at the other party's attire. It was a common mercenary outfit, but the robes were almost worn smooth. It didn't look like the benefits were very good at all.
Chen Xiao didn't question it, nor did he answer directly.
Instead, he asked, "How long has the Storm Mercenary Group been established in Stone Desert City?"
"Heh heh, you've asked the right person. Although our mercenary group is a bit small in scale, it's just bad luck. In terms of establishment time, there are very few in the entire Stone Desert City that are earlier than us. If you count carefully now, it's already been more than ten years."
Thinking Chen Xiao was interested, the mercenary answered very readily.
This wasn't some secret, and it was also the only thing the Storm Mercenary Group could boast about.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and finally stated his purpose.
"I'm looking for a girl named Qing Lin, who looks to be around ten years old. She's relatively timid and self-conscious. She's all alone with no family. Do you know her?"
Chen Xiao was new here. In terms of understanding Stone Desert City, he definitely couldn't compare to a mercenary who had been here for many years.
Therefore, with this person coming to him, it could save Chen Xiao a lot of trouble.
Given the size of Stone Desert City, since the other party had been here for many years, the probability of knowing Qing Lin was quite high.
"Tch, so you're here to find someone."
Understanding that Chen Xiao had no intention of joining a mercenary group, the other party instantly lost interest, and his attitude changed. He didn't even call him "little brother" anymore.
He said something, waved his hand, and prepared to leave, completely without the desire to answer any more questions.
Chen Xiao didn't mind. He smiled and took out a small bag containing a hundred gold coins from his Storage Ring.
He had also taken mercenary missions in Green Mountain Town. A hundred gold coins was equivalent to a high-star Dou Zhe level mercenary's income for a day.
Stone Desert City, he thought, wouldn't be much different.
"Help me find her, and this is yours."
"Oh, so it's a bounty mission. Little brother, you should have said so earlier. I'll take you to see the girl Qing Lin right away!"
Cigarettes build bridges, alcohol paves roads, sex brings pleasure, wealth averts disaster, generous gifts open back doors!
The truth applicable on Blue Star was still applicable on the Dou Qi Continent.
Looking at the bag of gold coins in Chen Xiao's hand, the mercenary immediately changed his expression, smiling extremely fawningly.
At the same time, he extended a hand and led the way.
Finding someone could be worth a day of fighting for one's life. This kind of good thing was simply impossible to refuse.
"Are you very familiar with Qing Lin?" Following behind the mercenary, Chen Xiao asked.
"Not really. Little brother, you may not know this, but about ten years ago, a team from Stone Desert City was attacked by Snake-People, and more than half of them were killed or injured. It was very tragic that day, and we all have a deep impression of it. Qing Lin was born from that attack, a bloodline of humans and Snake-People. After she was born, everyone thought it would be difficult for her to live past two years old, but heaven took pity on her, and she fortunately survived, breaking a convention. Because of this, many mercenaries who have lived in Stone Desert City for a long time know Qing Lin."
Chen Xiao nodded silently.
He knew about Qing Lin's experiences. This girl he hadn't met yet had a childhood that was countless times harder than his.
As a bloodline of humans and Snake-People, she had to endure the strange looks of others from a young age. This was the fundamental reason why Qing Lin's personality was weak since childhood.
"May I ask, little brother, why are you looking for the girl Qing Lin?"
"I'm her distant cousin. I only recently found out about her existence, so I came to take her away."
The mercenary didn't doubt this small lie too much. If there wasn't a relationship, how could he know the name Qing Lin without knowing her?
He nodded in understanding and chuckled, "It seems the girl Qing Lin has finally made it through. These past few years, she's been making a living alone in the city and has suffered a lot. She's young and has little strength, and she can't do heavy work, so she can only run errands for various mercenary groups, serving tea and water. But even so, she's often disliked by some people, and the meager income she earns is barely enough to fill her stomach every day. Although we feel sorry for her in our hearts, we don't even know if we'll live to see tomorrow ourselves, so we can't help her much."
The mercenary chattered on the whole way, turning left and right, and stopped in front of a dilapidated small house after walking for a few minutes.
Through the slightly ajar wooden door, he could see inside the small house. A short girl wearing a large gray robe was burying her head in washing clothes. She wasn't old, but her movements were very quick.
On the wooden table behind her, there was also a small bowl containing two clearly hardened steamed buns.
"Life's necessities have made her more skilled at these things than adults."
The mercenary sighed lightly, making it difficult to tell if he was genuinely pitying her or putting on a show for Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao handed the bag of gold coins in his hand to the mercenary.
The other party immediately took it, beaming with joy, and returned the way they came without the slightest hesitation.
Chen Xiao didn't pay attention. He paused at the door for a while before stepping forward and gently knocking.
"Please wait a moment~"
A girl's soft voice responded from inside. She quickly got up, dried the water from her hands, and then came to fully open the door.
Seeing Chen Xiao standing at the entrance, a hint of surprise flashed in the girl's eyes. This unfamiliar young master was much younger and much better-looking than the mercenaries who usually hired her.
However, being timid by nature, she didn't dare to look too much and was used to others speaking first. She lowered her gaze slightly, waiting for Chen Xiao to speak.
Chen Xiao organized his words and said, "I came to the edge of the desert for training. I usually need someone to help with miscellaneous tasks. Just now, I saw you washing clothes outside; you were very focused and serious, so I had an idea. However, I will be staying in Mo City often from now on. Are you willing to come with me?"
Chen Xiao was prepared to answer the girl's questions and was also mentally prepared to travel back and forth between Mo City and Stone Desert City frequently if she refused.
However, what he never expected was that the girl's question would be so simple.
He saw her cautiously raise her head and timidly ask, "If Qing Lin follows Young Master to Mo City to work, can Qing Lin eat her fill?"
Chen Xiao was stunned for a moment, then a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he nodded affirmatively.
"Yes, absolutely!"
Not only that, as you gradually grow up, you won't lose to the wind, you won't lose to the rain, you won't lose to the winter snow, you won't lose to the summer heat. You will become a top expert admired by ninety-nine percent of the people in this world!
Chen Xiao silently added in his heart.
The girl, however, didn't know what he was thinking. After getting the most anticipated answer, she nodded her small head repeatedly.
"Then Qing Lin is willing to follow Young Master."
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