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**
The desert at night was bitterly cold.
The howling wind swept across the sand, raging wildly. It struck against the face, making one shiver as the chill seeped deep into the bones.
A streak of red-gold light swiftly flashed across the night sky.
Like a shooting star, it flickered for a moment before vanishing into the darkness.
The sound of fierce winds roared past their ears.
But at this moment, Qing Lin didn't feel the slightest bit of cold. On the contrary, she felt incredibly warm.
She clung tightly to Wei Yang's neck, her small body curled up entirely in his warm embrace. A layer of Dou Qi shield enveloped them, isolating the frigid wind outside.
His embrace was so warm!
Qing Lin thought to herself, unable to resist tightening her hold slightly. She greedily took in the faint but pleasant scent from his body, secretly breathing it in through her nose.
"Are you scared? Should I slow down a bit?" Wei Yang suddenly asked in a gentle voice.
Qing Lin was startled. Feeling a little guilty, she peeked up at Wei Yang and quickly shook her head. She softly replied, "Young Master, I'm not afraid."
Young Master—this was how Qing Lin now addressed Wei Yang.
She didn't know exactly when she had started calling him that. At some point, without realizing it, she had switched from Gongzi to Shaoye.
( TN : Gongzi More formal and noble, like "Young Master" or "Childe" (used for sons of noble families).
Shaoye More personal and intimate, often used by servants or close subordinates to address their young master. )
Wei Yang smiled but still slowed down his flying speed slightly.
They were already close to the underground magma world, no more than a hundred miles away.
Looking down at Qing Lin nestled in his arms, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes.
She was so light, almost as if she had no weight at all. Seeing her thin and small frame, he could only imagine the hardships she had suffered.
A tinge of regret surfaced in his heart. If he had known this earlier, he should have searched for her back when he left the Tagore Desert and taken her away with him.
Wei Yang had always been like this—either he didn't care about someone at all, or if he decided to, he would be genuinely devoted to them.
It was difficult for others to enter his heart.
But once someone did, he would cherish them wholeheartedly.
After changing into a brand-new, clean cyan dress and filling her stomach, Qing Lin's complexion looked much better.
She was fourteen this year, nearly two years younger than Xian'er.
The elegant cyan dress draped over her petite figure. Though she appeared small, she had strangely developed rather well. In fact, even compared to Xian'er—who was almost sixteen—she was just as mature.
She only looked a bit more youthful and tender.
Her delicate, exquisitely adorable face resembled that of a beautiful porcelain doll. Her skin was smooth as jade, and deep within her pupils, three tiny emerald green specks faintly flickered, making her look quite mysterious.
With her timid expression, she seemed like a frightened little rabbit, evoking an undeniable sense of pity in others.
Holding her petite body, Wei Yang's arm rested around her slender waist—so thin that it could barely be grasped with one hand.
And whenever Qing Lin shifted slightly, twisting her waist ever so gently, for some reason, Wei Yang felt an odd sense of allure.
It was like he was holding a beautiful snake maiden, seductively twisting her waist in his arms.
This sensation… Was it even more enticing than Xian'er's?
"Damn it!" Wei Yang quickly shook his head to dispel his thoughts, scolding himself internally. "What the hell am I thinking?"
She was only fourteen!
At the same time, he couldn't help feeling a little smug.
His hunch back then had been right all along.
It was confirmed—Qing Lin's slender waist was even more incredible than Xian'er's legendary slim waist!
Damn it, I really am a pervert!
But seriously, he had to roast Xiao Yan for a moment.
In the original story, that guy only married Medusa and Gu Xun'er—what the hell was he thinking?
He had already seen everything he shouldn't have, even held her in his arms.
If you weren't planning to take responsibility, why did you go and mess with her in the first place?
That was ruining a girl's future!
"Qing Lin, when we get to the place we're staying, there will be another sister there. She's older than you, so you can just call her Sister Xian'er," Wei Yang said with a smile.
Hearing this, Qing Lin's small face tensed up slightly, and she timidly replied, "Oh."
"Don't worry, she has a very kind personality. She's gentle and kind-hearted—just like you," Wei Yang reassured her with a laugh.
"She also had a rather… tragic past. So, I think you two will get along well. Don't be scared. After you spend some time with her, you'll understand."
"Oh."
Qing Lin tightened her grip around Wei Yang's neck. Her large eyes, which faintly radiated an unusual allure, glanced at him before she timidly nodded.
Seeing this, Wei Yang didn't say anything more.
It was better to let the two of them bond naturally.
They were close in age, and after spending time together, Xian'er would likely accept Qing Lin.
After all, the two of them had many similar experiences—both were unfortunate girls, both were gentle and obedient by nature.
Wei Yang held Qing Lin in his arms as he flew out of the passageway. He hovered briefly in the air before slowly descending onto the platform.
He still didn't let go of her. A thin Dou Qi shield tightly enveloped her, shielding her from the terrifying heat and toxic gases in this place.
After all, Qing Lin currently had no cultivation at all. Even a Dou Ling would need to be cautious in this harsh environment. Without protection, she wouldn't last long.
However, even though she was being protected by his Dou Qi, there was another strange energy inside her body—an icy-cold energy that was continuously flowing out, helping her resist and gradually adapt to this environment.
This strange energy was predominantly cold, yet it carried a trace of wood attribute vitality.
It was roughly eighty percent cold attribute and twenty percent wood attribute.
(AN : Uh… I don't actually remember if the original novel mentioned whether the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had a wood attribute… Go easy on me, guys…)
Wei Yang sensed the changes in Qing Lin's body and felt slightly reassured. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of amazement.
As expected of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils—what a monstrous physique!
Even without any cultivation, she could survive in such a harsh environment. With time, she might even be able to adapt completely without his protection.
On the platform, a graceful figure dressed in white sat cross-legged.
She had white hair and white robes, exuding an ethereal beauty.
At this moment, she opened her eyes, gazing toward them.
Upon recognizing Wei Yang, the guarded look in her eyes faded, replaced by a gentle smile.
But the moment her gaze landed on Qing Lin in his arms, her eyes narrowed slightly.
Qing Lin also timidly looked toward Xian'er.
The two girls locked eyes across the distance, staring at each other for a full three seconds.
Wei Yang was just about to greet Xian'er, but when he saw the scene, his eyebrows twitched, and he shut his mouth.
Why did this atmosphere feel… a little off?
After three seconds, Qing Lin was the first to avert her gaze. She forced a nervous smile and said,
"You must be Sister Xian'er, right? Hello, I'm Qing Lin."
Xian'er's delicate eyebrows twitched slightly, and the corners of her mouth seemed to curve into a subtle smile as she looked at Wei Yang.
"Ahem." Wei Yang let out a light cough, then moved toward Xian'er with Qing Lin still in his arms. He gently set Qing Lin down beside her but kept a thin Dou Qi shield protecting her.
Wei Yang sat down cross-legged and smiled as he explained,
"I met Qing Lin while I was out purchasing medicinal herbs…"
He then detailed the entire encounter to Xian'er, explaining how he had come across Qing Lin.
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