In the afternoon, a guard from the Miteer family came to their door.
"Mr. Han, Supervisor Gaton asked me to inform you that a house has been found."
"Good, please wait a moment."
Han Feng closed his book, packed his things, and called for Lin Xian'er to leave the inn with him.
"Thank you for your trouble."
"It is my honor to serve you."
The guard bowed deeply and then began to lead the way.
Desert City was large. Although most areas were underdeveloped, even barren, there were still places of refined elegance.
With the power of the Miteer family, finding a high-end residence that was pleasing to the mind and spirit was not a difficult task.
Han Feng took a carriage and soon arrived at a simple and elegant small courtyard.
It had to be said that the people nurtured by the Miteer family had extraordinary judgment. This residence was exactly to Han Feng's taste.
Walking through the main gate, the first thing that came into view was a courtyard planted with various green plants.
At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but if one was knowledgeable, they would be able to tell that these green plants were all rare items.
"How thoughtful," Han Feng said with a smile.
The guard immediately responded, "As long as you are satisfied, sir."
"Supervisor Gaton has already gone to contact various parties to find the items you need, sir, so he was unable to come in person. If there is anything else you need, you can tell me."
Han Feng nodded and walked into the main house.
The interior layout was completely different from the simple exterior. Every piece of furniture exuded a sense of luxury; it was completely a noble's residence.
Truly simple on the outside, but gold and jade within.
Lin Xian'er once again wore an expression of someone seeing the world for the first time. After entering the main house, she became very cautious.
"Master, are we going to live here from now on?"
"Yes. Go find a room you like."
After speaking, Han Feng also began to look around the house.
The house was very large. Apart from the regular bedrooms, kitchen, and hall, there was also a secluded chamber for closed-door cultivation, which could be used for training or alchemy.
After inspecting the structure of the house and ensuring there were no hidden mechanisms, Han Feng began to lay down some Dou Qi patterns in the surroundings.
The formation formed by the combination of Dou Qi patterns had protective, isolating, and warning functions.
Only after doing this did Han Feng feel at ease.
Lin Xian'er had already chosen her bedroom and even pulled Han Feng to the largest one.
"Master, this room is the best. It's for you."
Han Feng patted Lin Xian'er's head. "Thank you, Xian'er."
Lin Xian'er smiled shyly. "Master, I'll go back to my room to pack my things then."
She shook her arm, on which was the white jade bracelet Han Feng had given her. It stored some of her daily necessities.
"Go on."
Han Feng watched the little girl's happy figure, feeling a bit gratified in his heart.
After this period of companionship, the girl had finally walked out of the shadows.
Walking into his room, Han Feng arranged it simply.
He actually wouldn't be staying here for long. Most of his time would be spent outside searching for the Green Lotus Core Flame.
In that case, only Xian'er would be living alone.
Although Lin Xian'er had become very independent and sensible due to her previous setbacks, she was still just a five-year-old child.
Someone was still needed to handle daily chores like cleaning and cooking.
Han Feng thought to himself that he would go out later to see if he could find a suitable person.
Walking out of the room and into the courtyard, Han Feng called for Lin Xian'er.
He took out the "Red-Scaled Purple Bamboo" he had won at the auction from his storage ring and stuck it in the soil.
"In a few days, Master will be going out on business. In addition to your daily cultivation lessons, you have another task."
Han Feng pointed to the plants in the courtyard.
"Try to learn how to keep them alive."
"The relevant knowledge is all written in the 'Encyclopedia of Spirit Plants.' I will also give you a list of things to note tomorrow."
Lin Xian'er listened attentively.
"Okay, Master."
After agreeing, Lin Xian'er asked again, "Master, how long will you be out?"
Han Feng thought for a moment.
"About half a month. I will come back for a visit then."
"So don't be lazy, okay?"
Lin Xian'er nodded emphatically. "Don't worry, Master, I won't be lazy!"
Han Feng smiled and took out a token from his robes, handing it to his disciple.
"When I'm not here, you must learn to protect yourself. This is a protective token that can release a protective shield in times of crisis."
Lin Xian'er put the token away, hiding it in a concealed place in her clothes.
"Alright, go back to your room. Master is going out to take care of some things."
Han Feng sent his disciple off and left the courtyard himself.
There was a dedicated servant market in Desert City. Some servants were trained by the officials, while others were self-recommended.
Han Feng arrived at the place. The official facilities were simple, with a large gate marking the trading point. Next to it, in two rows, were some servants waiting to be bought.
With a single glance, Han Feng secretly inferred the character and habits of the different people from their different reactions.
The saying "the face is the index of the mind" was correct, especially under Han Feng's gaze, which was imbued with the intimidating power of his soul. Some people's disguises simply couldn't be hidden.
After looking around, Han Feng did not find a servant he particularly liked.
This was normal. After all, in a small city like Desert City, the quality of servants was often not that high.
The few valuable ones would have been picked away by others. Han Feng was not the only one with a discerning eye.
However, just as Han Feng was preparing to ask the Miteer Auction House to help him find someone, a thin, green-haired woman in ragged clothes, holding a one or two-year-old child, walked into the exchange.
She found an empty spot and held up a sign.
It was the first time he had seen someone bring a child to the servant exchange.
Han Feng walked closer and saw that the sign read, "Can do any work, salary 10 copper coins a day."
Very cheap labor. Looking at the woman's thin and weak body, Han Feng was worried that she might collapse at any moment.
How many days had it been since she had eaten properly?
His gaze shifted to the child next to her. Han Feng found that the child was staring at him with an extremely eager look.
The child's entire body was wrapped in coarse cloth, with only half of their face exposed. This kind of attire was not strange in Desert City.
"Look up," Han Feng said.
The green-haired woman's body trembled violently, and then she timidly raised her head.
A hideous scar was on her right cheek.
The woman quickly averted her gaze after just one look at Han Feng, the self-loathing in her eyes almost overflowing.
Indeed, the handsome and dignified Han Feng and the woman kneeling on the ground in tattered clothes, at a glance, seemed to be from two distinctly different worlds.
A few seconds later, perhaps for the sake of survival, the green-haired woman still raised her head and looked at Han Feng stubbornly.
"Sir, do you need a servant?"
This gaze was very interesting. Han Feng smiled, "You don't look... very capable?"
The green-haired woman immediately said, "I can cook, I can clean, I can mend... I, I can read, I have studied, I..."
Before she could finish, someone next to her interrupted.
"Sir, don't believe her! She used to be a young mistress, but she was captured by the Snake-People. Who knows how dirty she is? She definitely doesn't know how to work!"
The person looked at the green-haired woman with an arrogant and contemptuous gaze.
As if by finding a point of comparison, they could boost their own confidence and pride.
Even though they were all servants for sale.
Han Feng didn't even have the interest to look at that person. He took out a silver coin and placed it in the green-haired woman's hand.
"Come with me. I happen to need a servant."
The green-haired woman's previously dim eyes suddenly lit up. She hurriedly stood up from the ground, but because she was too weak, she staggered and fell back.
The small child next to her worriedly supported their mother. The green-haired woman gritted her teeth and finally stood firm.
"Tch, she doesn't even have the strength to stand up, and she dares to be a servant," someone on the side said jealously.
Anyone with eyes could see that Han Feng must be rich or noble.
If she followed him, even as a servant, it would definitely be a great opportunity.
The green-haired woman held the child's hand and looked at Han Feng cautiously.
Han Feng paid no mind to the words mocking the woman.
Compared to other people's opinions, he trusted what he saw more.
A kind person, even if as humble as dust or as hideous as a demon, the trace of kindness towards the world in their eyes cannot be hidden.
From the words of others, Han Feng could roughly guess what the green-haired woman had been through.
On the Dou Qi Continent, where strength was respected, the weak were just this helpless.
Han Feng walked out of the exchange. The green-haired woman followed closely behind him, as if afraid of getting lost.
The passing pedestrians' gazes intentionally or unintentionally swept towards Han Feng and the woman behind him.
"You're quite famous, huh?" Han Feng said to the green-haired woman with a smile.
A single sentence made the green-haired woman feel utterly ashamed. She lowered her head and said in an apologetic voice, "Master, I'm sorry."
This "master" made Han Feng feel a bit awkward. He replied, "You don't need to apologize. I don't care about these things."
The three of them returned to the small courtyard. After entering, Han Feng had the green-haired woman go wash up first.
Lin Xian'er saw that her master had brought back two people and stood on the side, watching curiously.
"Master, who are they?"
"I found them to clean the rooms."
"Huh?" Lin Xian'er touched her head.
"Master, I can clean too."
"You just focus on your cultivation. Someone else will do these miscellaneous tasks."
"Oh." Lin Xian'er nodded in agreement.
After the green-haired woman finished washing up, she came out of the bathroom with the child.
Seeing that the two were still wearing their previous dirty clothes, Han Feng said, "Sorry, I forgot to buy new clothes for you."
"Master?!"
The green-haired woman was surprised that Han Feng would apologize to them and waved her hands repeatedly.
"Make do with this for now."
Han Feng took out a robe from his storage ring and placed it in the green-haired woman's hand. At the same time, he had Lin Xian'er take out a new set of clothes and put it in the child's hand.
The green-haired woman bowed to Han Feng with a red face, then took the child back to the bathroom, washed again, and came out in the new clothes.
The small child, whose body had been mostly covered before, finally revealed their true face.
It was a little girl who also had green hair.
Compared to her mother's gaunt cheeks, the little girl was very healthy, with rosy cheeks and a natural sense of innocence.
When Lin Xian'er saw her, her eyes instantly lit up.
Children always like to find playmates. The cute green-haired girl seemed to have caught Lin Xian'er's eye.
"Xian'er, take the little girl out to play first."
"Okay, Master!"
Lin Xian'er ran over and took the little girl's hand, walking outside with her.
The little girl looked at her mother. Seeing her nod, she followed Lin Xian'er out.
Only the green-haired woman and Han Feng were left in the room.
Thump!
The green-haired woman suddenly knelt down.
"Master, thank you for being willing to take us in!"
For the woman, there was no longer a place for her in the entire Desert City.
Her family was killed by the Snake-People, she was disfigured and then defiled. After finally making it back to Desert City alive, she found out she was pregnant. In the end, she gave birth to a child with Snake-Person bloodline and became the most hated person in Desert City.
Kind by nature, she still doted on her child, but having lost her foothold and being targeted by everyone, she no longer had the ability to support two people.
The fact that Han Feng was willing to buy them was already a great blessing to the woman.
"I don't care about your past, so you don't have to be so self-deprecating. The reason I bought you is simple: a person who is starved to the bone but still raises their child to be chubby and healthy must be someone who knows how to take care of a child."
Han Feng said, "I will give you enough money. Your duty is to take good care of my disciple, and your daughter."
Tears streamed from the corners of the green-haired woman's eyes. She kowtowed to Han Feng again in gratitude.
"Alright, tell me your name."
Han Feng stepped forward to help her up. He was not used to people kowtowing to him.
"I... your humble servant, my name is Ye Qingyun."
Seeing that the woman was still reserved, Han Feng knew that it would be difficult to change her mentality in a short time.
"Qingyun, let's eat first. We'll talk about other things after we eat."
"Yes, Master, I'll go and make it now!" Ye Qingyun immediately bowed and said.
"No need, I've already bought it."
Han Feng took out the food he had bought from his storage ring.
"I'll try your cooking tomorrow."
On the other side, Lin Xian'er was getting along very well with the little girl.
Under Lin Xian'er's gentle words, the little girl told her everything.
Her name was Qing Lin. She and her mother had depended on each other for these years. The people in the city didn't seem to like them.
Her mother had said that she must cover her arms and not let outsiders see them.
At this point, the little girl hugged her arms, not letting them show.
"Why?"
"I don't know either," Qing Lin replied foolishly.
"Then let me take a look for you."
"But..."
"It's okay. My master will protect you. You don't have to be afraid of what the people in the city say anymore."
"Really?" A look of hope appeared in Qing Lin's eyes.
"Mm-hm!" Lin Xian'er promised proudly.
Her master was the most powerful!
And the best!
"Then, then I'll let you see."
Qing Lin had actually peeked at them herself occasionally. She thought the green scales on her hands were as crystal clear as jade and very beautiful.
Qing Lin lifted the sleeve of her arm, revealing a few small, green scales.
When Lin Xian'er saw them, she said in surprise, "So pretty!"
"You think so too, right?!"
Qing Lin's eyes curved, and she smiled very happily.
"Can I touch them?"
"Of course!"
The two little girls started playing in the room until Han Feng knocked on the door.
"Xian'er, it's time to eat."
"I know!"
Lin Xian'er pulled Qing Lin up and walked out of the room.
"Master, look, Qing Lin has pretty scales on her hands!" Lin Xian'er said, sharing the beautiful thing with Han Feng with a smile.
Ye Qingyun, who was on the side, turned pale with fright when she saw it.