Chapter 137: Meeting Qing Lin Again
Tn:
Xiao Li: Xiao Yan eldest sister, the feminine one, the one that can't cook
Xiao Ding: Xiao Yan Second Sister, the masculine looking one
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Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian followed the little kid as they walked along the street when suddenly, a familiar voice called out to Xiao Yan.
"Young Master Xiao Yan?!"
"Hmm?"
Xiao Yan followed the direction of the voice and saw a young girl with emerald green hair running towards him excitedly, carrying a large bag. It was Qing Lin, the girl who Xiao Li and Xiao Ding had brought home during the New Year.
"Qing Lin, long time no see!"
Xiao Yan smiled and reached out to gently pat Qing Lin's head. She looked up at him with joy.
"I thought I was seeing things, but it's really Young Master Xiao Yan!"
Qing Lin stood in front of Xiao Yan, looking up at him happily.
"Why is Young Master Xiao Yan here?"
"It's because I brought him here."
Xiao Yan hadn't even had a chance to speak when the little kid by his side calmly answered. Qing Lin had been completely focused on Xiao Yan earlier and only just noticed the little kid. She nodded in understanding.
"Dear shopkeeper, it's you who brought Young Master Xiao Yan here. Thank you for your hard work."
Then, Qing Lin did something that shocked Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian.
Just like when Xiao Yan had gently patted her head, Qing Lin reached out to gently pat the little kid's head.
Qing Lin was around twelve or thirteen years old, and she was naturally taller than the little kid who appeared to be only six or seven years old. To anyone else, it looked like an older sister affectionately patting the head of a younger brother. However, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian had witnessed the little kid's true age on the carriage. He might look like a child, but he was actually a man in his sixties or seventies!
Moreover, Xiao Yixian had previously commented that he was cute, and the little kid had immediately attacked her. Now, he was being treated like a child by Qing Lin, which must have been causing turmoil in his heart.
"Q-Qing Lin!"
Xiao Yan quickly removed his hand from Qing Lin's patting the little kid's head, and then he apologized to the little kid as Qing Lin looked at them with confusion.
"I'm very sorry! She didn't mean to."
"Heh heh..." The little kid had a dark expression, and his shoulders shook uncontrollably. After a while, he slowly raised his head, wearing an extremely forced smile on his face. "It's fine, she's just a child. I don't mind, I don't mind..."
Honestly, it was quite jarring to hear him say "she's just a child" with his current appearance.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yixian was muttering to herself.
'If you can endure it this much, why did you attack me just for saying you were cute? I'm only four or five years older than you. Compared to your real age, I'm just a child too.'
"Really..." The little kid sighed deeply, and with his hands on his hips, he glared at Qing Lin with discontent. "How many times have I told you not to touch my head every time we meet?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot again."
Facing the little kid's scolding, Qing Lin stuck out her tongue apologetically. On the side, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Do you two know each other?"
"Yeah, I've been to the map store with the team a few times before to make purchases, and I went along, so I've seen him a few times," Qing Lin answered with a nod. Then, she looked at Xiao Yixian and asked, "Young Master Xiao Yan, who is this?"
"This is Xiao Yixian, my friend."
Xiao Yan answered quietly, and Xiao Yixian nodded in agreement.
"Hello."
"Friend?" Qing Lin was puzzled at first, and then her eyes lit up as she approached Xiao Yixian. "Is she Young Master Xiao Yan girlfriend?!"
"Girl-"
Xiao Yixian suddenly choked, a mix of joy and uncertainty in her heart. She didn't know how to respond. On the other hand, Xiao Yan vehemently denied it.
"No, no! She's just a regular friend!"
Qing Lin listened to Xiao Yan's explanation, and her fleeting happiness disappeared, replaced by some annoyance as she glared at Xiao Yan.
Are you really that afraid of others misunderstanding?
"Oh, I see." Upon hearing that she wasn't the Young Master Girlfriend, Qing Lin's expression showed a hint of disappointment. She quickly composed herself and took Xiao Yan's hand.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, Squad Leader Ding is in the camp right now. She'll be very happy to see you!"
Qing Lin led the three of them excitedly to the Desert Metal Mercenary Company. At the entrance, two guards, seeing Qing Lin bringing three people with her, furrowed their brows in suspicion.
They recognized the little kid as the owner of the map store they had seen before. Almost all the squad members had seen him. But who were the man and woman with him?
"Qing Lin, who are these two?"
One of the guards stopped in front of the gate and asked Qing Lin.
It's not that they were looking for trouble, but ever since Xiao Li had taken a series of actions to promote peace between humans and snake-people, the entire Desert Metal Mercenary Company had been under scrutiny.
Xiao Li had stated in advance that anyone who couldn't endure it could leave at any time, and she wouldn't stop them. As the executor of the plan, Xiao Li knew better than anyone how challenging this path was. She had no right to demand that others walk this difficult road with her.
Therefore, the mercenaries who remained in the Desert Metal Mercenary Company were all absolute loyalists to Xiao Li, and they wouldn't let anyone in easily.
"This is Young Master Xiao Yan, the younger brother of Squad Leader Ding and Squad Leader Xiao Li. And this is Xiao Yixian, a friend of Young Master Xiao Yan."
"The younger brother of the Squad Leaders?!"
Hearing Qing Lin's introduction of Xiao Yan, the guard was first surprised, and then he scrutinized Xiao Yan from head to toe.
"Indeed, he does look quite similar to the two Squad Leaders..." The guard stepped aside, respectfully opening the gate of the mercenary camp. "I apologize for the inconvenience. Please come in. Squad Leader Ding is inside!"
"Thank you."
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, following Qing Lin into the mercenary camp. The little kid and Xiao Yixian followed suit.
As the two guards watched Xiao Yan's figure entering the mercenary camp and remembered his smile, they couldn't help but think about Xiao Li's gentle face. They mumbled to themselves.
"Indeed, he's Squad Leader's younger brother."
"That's right, not only does he look like them, he exudes the same warmth."
One of the guards said, but his brow was tightly furrowed, and his eyes revealed deep concern.
"Squad Leader Li... She should be fine, right?"
"Don't overthink it. Just focus on guarding the gate. All we can do now is trust them."
Inside the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, in the commander's office, Xiao Yan's second sister, Xiao Ding, was lying on the couch. She looked nothing like her usual bold and carefree self. She lay there with empty eyes, staring at the ceiling, completely listless.
"It's been... three days, hasn't it?"
Xiao Ding murmured with the continuous echo of the words Xiao Li had left for her three days ago before leaving.
"Wait for me for five days. If I don't return within five days, immediately disband the Desert Metal Mercenary Company and leave this place forever with Qing Lin!"
"Damn it..." Xiao Ding covered her eyes and muttered, "She can't help but blurt out her thoughts. How can there be such an older sister..."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Qing Lin's voice followed, coming from outside.
"Squad Leader Ding."
"Qing Lin, come in."
Xiao Ding responded, and then she heard the door being opened and Qing Lin's slightly excited voice.
"Squad Leader Ding! Guess who's here?"
"Hmm?"
Xiao Ding raised an eyebrow in confusion, and she glanced towards the door. Suddenly, she froze. The worry on her face disappeared in an instant, and she jumped up from the couch, staring at the familiar face.
"Xiao Yan?"
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