Chapter 609: Xiao Jin – No Way, Sister Qing Lin, How Can You Be Number Three?

Just as Qing Lin had stepped out of the teahouse and onto the main street, Venerable Tianhuo suddenly lifted his head and looked toward a part of the sky, murmuring, “Five-star Dou Zong… this aura feels a bit familiar…”

“Senior Yao, what’s wrong?” Seeing Venerable Tianhuo’s unusual reaction, Qing Lin asked curiously.

“Qing Lin girl, it seems that golden-haired boy from Yunlan Sect has returned!” Venerable Tianhuo replied after hearing her question.

“It’s Xiao Jin!”

As soon as she heard the words “golden-haired boy,” Qing Lin immediately thought of Xiao Jin. In the next moment, she turned to Venerable Tianhuo and said, “Senior Yao, please help me bring Xiao Jin over. After that, we’ll go find eldest senior brother at the Mercenary Guild!”

“Alright! Qing Lin girl, let’s go together!”

Hearing Qing Lin’s request, Venerable Tianhuo nodded. In the next moment, he released a gentle wave of energy to envelop her, and then his figure vanished from the city streets.

…

High in the sky, a golden-haired boy was streaking swiftly through the air. As he passed over the city below, he faintly sensed an extremely powerful presence sweeping through the skies above it.

Just as he stopped and prepared to glance back, he suddenly realized that powerful aura was actually approaching him.

In that instant, Xiao Jin immediately grew alert. As a magical beast, his sensitivity to danger far surpassed that of most humans. He could feel that the owner of that aura was at least someone who had reached the Dou Zun level.

“Who is it?”

Xiao Jin called out warily toward a point in space ahead of him.

“Haha, Xiao Jin, don’t be nervous—it’s me!”

As Xiao Jin shouted in alert, the space in front of him twisted violently, and a cheerful laugh came from within.

Hearing the familiar voice, Xiao Jin’s wariness instantly vanished, replaced by a goofy smile on his face.

The next moment, the figures of Venerable Tianhuo and Qing Lin emerged from the distorted space.

“Sister Qing Lin, it’s really you!”

Seeing Qing Lin appear, Xiao Jin walked up to her with a bright smile. This was his first time meeting Qing Lin outside.

“Hello, senior!”

Though Xiao Jin wasn’t very familiar with Venerable Tianhuo, who stood beside Qing Lin, he still greeted him politely.

“Sister Qing Lin, how come you’re here?” Xiao Jin asked.

“Master agreed to let me go out and gain experience. I’ve been out for nearly a year already,” Qing Lin explained, then asked, “What about you, Xiao Jin?”

“Me? I came here specifically to deal with the issue of the three great empires teaming up to obstruct the expansion of the Mercenary Guild’s branch,” Xiao Jin replied as he scratched his head.

“To handle the joint obstruction from the three empires… wasn’t that supposed to be overseen by the vice president of the Mercenary Guild? Don’t tell me… Xiao Jin, you’ve become the vice president?” Qing Lin thought for a moment, then said with a smile.

“Yep, I’ve always been the vice president! Brother Liu is the boss, and I’m number two!” Xiao Jin nodded, his face showing a hint of pride.

“Xiao Jin, what if I go join the Mercenary Guild as vice president too? That way, you’ll still be number two, and I’ll be number three!” Qing Lin asked tentatively.

“Ah, that won’t do! Sister Qing Lin, if you join the guild, you have to be number two. How could I possibly rank ahead of you!” Hearing her suggestion, Xiao Jin shook his head firmly.

“No worries, Xiao Jin. As vice president, your reputation now is even more renowned than our eldest senior brother’s. Your prestige has even reached the Jia Ma Empire!” Qing Lin said with a smile.

“Ah… that’s because Brother Liu keeps sending me out to fight!” Xiao Jin explained.

“Haha, with eldest senior brother ordering you around like that, did he give you anything in return? If not, your sister here will go get it back for you!” Qing Lin puffed up her cheeks angrily as she spoke.

“Hehe, he did. Every time I come back from a fight, I get a big feast!” Xiao Jin replied with a chuckle.

“Eldest senior brother… just gave you a big meal…” Seeing Xiao Jin’s satisfied expression, Qing Lin couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. In her heart, she thought Liu Ling was going too far. Xiao Jin had practically conquered half the Mercenary Guild’s territory for him, and all he gave in return was a meal.

“If I join the guild, even eldest senior brother will have to settle accounts with me properly!” Qing Lin muttered under her breath.

“This little girl’s really learned a thing or two after being out for so long. She’s already planning to settle scores with her own guild leader senior brother before even joining the Mercenary Guild. Tsk tsk,” Venerable Tianhuo thought to himself after hearing Qing Lin’s quiet remark.

“Xiao Jin, didn’t the matter with the three great empires already get resolved? You’re heading in this direction—are you planning to return to the sect to see Master?” Qing Lin asked as she glanced at the direction Xiao Jin was flying toward.

“Yep!”

Nodding, Xiao Jin responded, “Last time, I had just exited closed-door cultivation when Brother Liu summoned me for training. It’s been about another year now since I last saw Master. I kind of miss him.”

“Xiao Jin, you really are so thoughtful.”

Hearing Xiao Jin speak such words in that innocent voice, Qing Lin’s gaze softened immensely. She reached out and gently ruffled his hair.

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