Chapter 295: Qing Lin's Trouble
"Qing Lin?"
Seeing the familiar face from deep in his memory, Mo Yu froze for a moment. He hadn't expected to meet this girl here. What surprised him even more was how the Black Emperor Sect referred to her.
"Young Lord of the Heavenly Snake Mansion?"
Mo Yu's silver eyes flashed as he noticed Qing Lin's current strength. He was once again taken aback—a two-star Dou Huang! In just two or three years, not only had this little girl become the Young Lord of the Heavenly Snake Mansion, but she had also advanced to Dou Huang. Her speed was almost faster than Mo Yu's!
However, remembering the original story where Xiao Yan encountered Qing Lin in Central Plains, her terrifying Dou Zun (Dou Sovereign) strength explained a lot. The bloodline of the Three Flower Green Snake Eyes was truly extraordinary.
As Mo Yu looked at Qing Lin, she seemed to sense something too. Her beautiful green eyes shifted, and when she saw the handsome face she had longed to see, her delicate and stunning face froze in shock. Soon after, her calm and serene green eyes filled with surprise and joy.
Qing Lin's swift change in expression was quickly noticed by the white-haired elder standing beside her. Following her gaze, when he saw Mo Yu and the strong aura of the Yao brothers behind him, the elder's brows furrowed slightly.
"Young Lord, what's wrong?" the white-haired elder asked.
Qing Lin's delicate face stiffened for a moment before she regained her calm demeanor, suppressing the joy in her heart. She replied faintly, "It's nothing. I just thought that person looked like someone I know."
"Oh? Well, Young Lord, don't forget the important task at hand," the white-haired elder reminded her.
Upon hearing this, Qing Lin frowned slightly, clearly displeased. "You needn't concern yourself with that, Great Elder. I know how to handle it."
After saying this, Qing Lin continued walking forward. However, as she passed by Mo Yu, her steps paused briefly, and in an almost unnoticeable moment, a soul message quietly reached Mo Yu's ear. Without breaking stride, Qing Lin walked away as though nothing had happened.
"Master, Qing Lin will come to see you tonight."
Hearing Qing Lin's message, Mo Yu watched her graceful figure as it gradually disappeared into the distance. His face showed a contemplative look. It seemed that Qing Lin wasn't entirely free.
The white-haired elder beside her, who was the Great Elder of the Heavenly Snake Mansion, was no weakling either. Judging by his aura, Mo Yu estimated that the elder was at the level of a two-star Dou Zong (Dou Ancestor).
This kind of power was already at the peak of strength in the Black-Corner Region, indicating the true might of the Heavenly Snake Mansion. No wonder it had such a prominent reputation across the northwest continent.
But even though the white-haired elder seemed calm, his sharp eyes constantly watched Qing Lin, as though she wasn't the Young Lord of the Heavenly Snake Mansion but rather a prisoner under watch.
Mo Yu sighed inwardly, "It seems Qing Lin's time at the Heavenly Snake Mansion hasn't been as easy as one would think."
Rubbing his chin, Mo Yu recalled that in the original story, Qing Lin eventually left the Heavenly Snake Mansion for unknown reasons and traveled alone to Central Plains. Clearly, there was some hidden story behind that.
Shaking his head, Mo Yu stopped speculating. Since Qing Lin would come to him later, he could ask her about it in detail then...
Following the directions given by the Black Emperor Sect servants, Mo Yu and the Yao brothers wandered through the vast Black Emperor Pavilion for a while before they finally found the expansive resting area.
The resting area was quite peaceful, with lush green foliage surrounding several pavilions and courtyards. A faint fragrance lingered in the air, refreshing the spirit. The tranquil surroundings left Mo Yu feeling quite satisfied.
This vast residence was divided into three sections—Heaven, Earth, and Human. The "Human" level rooms were for well-known figures or forces in the Black-Corner Region. Generally, only those who had reached Dou Wang (Dou King) strength could stay there. The "Earth" level rooms were reserved for Dou Huang (Dou Emperor) powerhouses or particularly renowned forces.
The "Heaven" level was the most luxurious. Only the most famous and powerful individuals in the Black-Corner Region or those whose influence could rival that of the Black Emperor Sect could stay there. Such individuals were few and far between.
Given Mo Yu and Yuan Mansion's current prestige, they were naturally given accommodations in the Heaven level area.
As for the Heavenly Snake Mansion, Mo Yu asked a nearby maid, and unsurprisingly, they were also staying in the Heaven level section.
After wandering the residence area for a while, Mo Yu and his group finally reached their designated rooms in the Heaven area.
"You all go rest for now. It's been a long day, and you've worked hard," Mo Yu said with a smile, waving off the Yao brothers.
"Hehe, it's no trouble at all for the Master," Yao Da chuckled. The Yao brothers bowed respectfully. "We will take our leave. If you need anything, just give the word."
Mo Yu nodded, watching as the Yao brothers left. He then opened the door to his room.
The door creaked open as Mo Yu stepped inside and looked around. The room had a living area, a side room, and even a special chamber for training.
Seeing how well-equipped the residence was, even Mo Yu, with his critical eye, couldn't help but murmur in admiration.
"Well then, I'll just wait for Qing Lin to arrive," Mo Yu said to himself as he casually sat down in the living area.
He could sense that Qing Lin seemed to be cautious and didn't want to expose their connection. This made Mo Yu even more curious about the trouble Qing Lin had encountered at the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
With that in mind, Mo Yu, who had been busy all day, decided to rest. He closed his eyes and began to meditate.
Late into the night, as the moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow, the bustling Black Emperor City had quieted down. After a day of activity, most people had already drifted into sleep, and even the Black Emperor Pavilion was silent, save for the occasional sound of crickets.
Amid the stillness, a faint noise reached Mo Yu's ears, causing him to slowly open his eyes.
"Qing Lin, you've come," Mo Yu said softly.
As he opened his eyes, a figure dressed in pale green appeared before him—it was Qing Lin.
"Master Mo Yu, it's me!" Qing Lin's face lit up with joy the moment she saw him. But then, as if remembering something, her tone became apologetic. "I'm sorry for not greeting you properly during the day. It wasn't intentional."
Mo Yu smiled and gently patted her head. "It's okay. I figured you had your reasons. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to see me at night like this."
As he got closer, Mo Yu noticed the deep green of Qing Lin's beautiful eyes. It was clear to him that she was no longer the timid little girl she once was, but a fully grown and mature woman. In terms of beauty, she even rivaled Ya Fei.
After being patted on the head by Mo Yu, Qing Lin's face and eyes turned a rosy shade of red. She remembered well how kind Mo Yu had been to her. Back when she was captured, she thought she would surely die, but it was Mo Yu who saved her from the hands of the Mo family.
Mo Yu was the only person in her life who had never discriminated against her and had shown her warmth. That left an indelible mark on Qing Lin's sensitive heart.
"It's been a long time. You've really grown up," Mo Yu said softly as he gazed at Qing Lin, thinking back to the timid little servant girl she once was.
"You've changed too, Master. You're even more handsome now," Qing Lin said shyly. Though she now had the strength of a top-tier warrior in the Black-Corner Region, she couldn't help but feel nervous in Mo Yu's presence, like a child in front of a strict parent.
"If you don't mind, you can call me 'Brother Mo Yu,'" Mo Yu joked with a smile.
Although Qing Lin was now the Young Lord of the Heavenly Snake Mansion, and with her maturing Three Flower Green Snake Eyes bloodline, no one in the entire northwest could possibly see her as a servant anymore.
"No, no. I prefer calling you 'Master,'" Qing Lin quickly shook her head, twisting her hands nervously. It was hard to believe that this was the Young Lord of the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
Mo Yu chuckled but didn't push further. He looked at her and asked, "When the people from the Heavenly Snake Mansion took you away, I didn't object because I thought it was best for your future. How have they treated you? Have they been making things difficult for you?"
Recalling how the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Great Elder had kept such a close watch on Qing Lin earlier, Mo Yu frowned.
"They've treated me well, even making me the next leader of the Heavenly Snake Mansion. But… the elders want to marry me off to the son of the current leader, especially the Great Elder. He fully supports the idea," Qing Lin said, glancing nervously at Mo Yu.
She disliked the marriage arrangement not just because she had no feelings for the man, but because her heart had already been deeply imprinted with someone else.
Not noticing the complexity in Qing Lin's gaze, Mo Yu asked, "What's the purpose of your trip to the Black Emperor Sect?"
Qing Lin's face flushed slightly as she bit her lip. "The elders of the Heavenly Snake Mansion don't just want me to marry the leader's son—they also want me to pass down the bloodline of the Three Flower Green Snake Eyes. To enhance this, they found an ancient six-tier pill formula that strengthens bloodline inheritance for future generations.
However, the pill is extremely difficult to refine, so the mansion's high-ranking members traveled all the way to the Black-Corner Region to find a high-level alchemist. The Great Elder has a good relationship with the chief alchemist of the Black Emperor Sect, so he took on the task and came here."
Qing Lin's voice lowered, her frustration clear. "I volunteered to come along, hoping to find a chance to escape. But the Great Elder seems to have noticed my intentions, and he's been keeping a close eye on me. I haven't had a good opportunity to slip away."
Hearing Qing Lin's explanation, Mo Yu was stunned. He hadn't expected the Heavenly Snake Mansion to treat her like a tool for producing offspring.
"Hmph, if the Heavenly Snake Mansion is that ruthless, don't blame us for being unkind. Don't worry, Qing Lin. I won't let them force you to marry someone you don't want," Mo Yu said coldly.
"But… won't I bring trouble to you, Master? The Great Elder's strength…" Qing Lin hesitated, worried about the consequences.
Patting her head again, Mo Yu smiled meaningfully. "By the way, I should congratulate you. It seems you've broken through to Dou Huang."
"Yes," Qing Lin nodded. "With the Heavenly Snake Mansion's help, my Three Flower Green Snake Eyes have matured. They can now form their own space within my eyes, and anything I control with the eyes can be stored inside.
I can also drain power from those under my control, absorbing it into my eyes and feeding it back to myself. That's why I've advanced so quickly. Almost no one in the younger generation of the mansion can defeat me."
Mo Yu wasn't surprised and nodded thoughtfully. "There must be some limitations though, right? Otherwise, you'd already be a Dou Di (Dou Emperor)."
"Yes, Master. The absorption process is slow, and with my current strength, I can only control Dou Huang powerhouses who are below two stars, and no more than three at a time.
And I can only control creatures with snake-like bloodlines. It doesn't work on humans or non-snake magical beasts, though it can still offer some minor benefits," Qing Lin explained.
"Impressive. You've really grown strong. But don't worry. Even if I'm not yet at your level, I'm no pushover either. Not long ago, I founded a force called Yuan Mansion in the Black-Corner Region. While it may not yet compare to the Heavenly Snake Mansion, the Heavenly Snake Mansion's influence doesn't extend this far. You have nothing to worry about here."
In the original story, even Blood Sect dared to ambush people from the Heavenly Snake Mansion. This wasn't just due to the Black-Corner Region's lawlessness; it was also because the Heavenly Snake Mansion's base of power lay far from here.
Now that Yuan Mansion had established itself as a prominent force in the Black-Corner Region and was expanding rapidly, there was no need to fear the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
(End of Chapter)
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