"Hmm?"
Queen Medusa's eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared at Qing Lin.
"I didn't say anything wrong." Qing Lin was panicking inside, but she summoned every ounce of courage she possessed. Her lips trembled as she continued, "If… if I hadn't thought you were going to harm Young Master Xiao Ting, I… I wouldn't have talked back to you like that."
She wasn't brave by nature—especially not when facing the infamous Queen Medusa. She was genuinely afraid of being slapped to death with a single palm.
But when it came to Xiao Ting, she feared nothing, not even death. Still, if she could avoid dying, she would prefer that. She wanted to meet the one and only Young Master Xiao Ting and become the greatest personal maid in the entire Great Thousand World for him!
"So, you're saying this Queen is wrong?" Queen Medusa's long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly, radiating overwhelming pressure.
Qing Lin did not answer. She simply widened her eyes in silent protest, clearly indicating that it was indeed the queen's fault.
Queen Medusa smiled charmingly and raised her hand, preparing to teach the girl a lesson.
Before she could act, however, movement came from the Journal.
[Xun Er]: Sister Medusa, have you explained everything clearly to Qing Lin?
[Qing Lin]: Explained what?
[Medusa]: This Queen hasn't had the chance to say it yet.
[Yun Yun]: You're not bullying the little girl, are you?
[Medusa]: She's thirteen or fourteen—old enough to marry and have children. What little girl?
[Yun Yun]: Tsk.
Given Queen Medusa's straightforward personality, not answering directly was basically an admission.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: Qing Lin, little sister, have you awakened the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?
[Qing Lin]: I already have, Sister Little Fairy Doctor. (voice message, cheerful tone)
Medusa subconsciously frowned. In her purple eyes, Qing Lin's happy expression was clearly reflected.
This little girl's attitude toward the Little Fairy Doctor was quite different.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: Xiao Ting will come looking for you soon. Remember not to reveal that you've already awakened the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
[Qing Lin]: Why do I have to hide it?
"This little girl doesn't seem very smart." A trace of amusement flashed in Medusa's eyes.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: Did you awaken it because of the Plane's Blessing?
[Qing Lin]: Yes, Sister Little Fairy Doctor.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: In the original trajectory, you shouldn't have awakened it yet. If Xiao Ting discovers that you've already awakened it, he might sense something unusual and suspect the existence of the Journal.
[Qing Lin]: So that's what you mean. But what's the problem with letting Young Master Xiao Ting know?
[Medusa]: Idiot. I already told you about the Journal's restrictions. If Xiao Ting learns of the Journal's existence, you might die.
[Qing Lin]: If I die, I die. Using my death to remind Young Master Xiao Ting that someone can see the Journal—isn't that pretty good?
The smiles on Xun Er's and the Little Fairy Doctor's faces froze.
Yun Yun, who had just returned to the Misty Cloud Sect, pinched her own wrist.
Medusa looked at the serious expression on Qing Lin's face and felt a surge of shock in her heart.
So this girl wasn't stupid—she was simply pure to the extreme.
"Even sacrificing my life to remind Brother Xiao Ting is okay…" Xun Er murmured softly.
All this time, she had believed no one could match her feelings for Xiao Ting.
But Qing Lin's attitude made her realize how unpredictable the world could be.
[Xun Er]: Qing Lin, if you want to sacrifice yourself for Brother Xiao Ting, no one will stop you. But you cannot make a meaningless sacrifice.
[Qing Lin]: How is this meaningless?
[Xun Er]: If you die the moment Xiao Ting learns about the Journal, do you know how you would die? [Xun Er]: Perhaps you would instantly vanish into thin air. You wouldn't even manage to warn him, and you would have thrown away your life for nothing.
[Xun Er]: Brother Xiao Ting is coming to find you because he wants you to be his maid. I think the best way for you to contribute is to stay by his side as his personal maid, not to sacrifice yourself directly. [Xun Er]: The Journal's restrictions prevent all Journal holders from harming him, so we don't need to worry about Brother Xiao Ting facing danger because of the Journal.
[Xun Er]: With me here, no one can harm Brother Xiao Ting.
[Xun Er]: And if it's a problem even I can't solve, telling Brother Xiao Ting wouldn't help either.
In this moment, Xun Er displayed the confidence and bearing befitting the only daughter of a Nine-Star Dou Saint.
Her words also won considerable approval from Medusa and the other women.
People with the Journal could not harm Xiao Ting. People with the Journal could not reveal Journal information to others. No one would harm Xiao Ting because of the Journal's contents; instead, they would try to benefit him.
Therefore, there was no need to risk one's own life to warn him.
[Qing Lin]: Since Sister Xun Er put it that way, Qing Lin understands.
[Qing Lin]: Instead of making a self-righteous and largely unnecessary sacrifice to warn him, it would be better to be a good personal maid for Young Master Xiao Ting, make him happy, and dedicate more to him.
[Xun Er]: That's the right way to think. In fact, the moment I received the Journal, I wanted to tell Brother Xiao Ting about it, but the Journal warned me.
[Xun Er]: But I think the warning is a good thing. Even though we can all see the Journal, none of us will harm Brother Xiao Ting. Knowing is just knowing.
With the matter settled, all the women breathed a sigh of relief. They had truly been afraid that Qing Lin would stubbornly insist on sacrificing herself to warn Xiao Ting. Such an action would have been completely meaningless. Even if Xiao Ting knew the Journal could be read, he would still write what he wanted to write—he would simply be more reserved. And them seeing the Journal would not harm his interests.
"Remember to hide it well."
Medusa reached out and poked Qing Lin's forehead, then her figure flashed and vanished from sight.
Qing Lin puffed out her cheeks, but she quickly stopped dwelling on it and instead daydreamed happily: "Being a good personal maid for Young Master Xiao Ting is the proper path."
…
At the same time, in the Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City.
Xun Er let out a sigh of relief. "I was actually a little scared."
The Little Fairy Doctor let out a soft laugh. "This little sister Qing Lin really is unexpected."
"For a moment, I even felt ashamed." Xun Er pressed a hand to her forehead and gently shook her head.
"It's not the same."
The Little Fairy Doctor's eyes were gentle, her tone kind. "You simply think more deeply and comprehensively."
"Letting Xiao Ting know that the Journal can be seen is indeed meaningless, because everyone who can see it is unable to harm him and can only think of ways to get closer to him."
"Sacrificing yourself to warn him would be less useful than having a Dou Venerate protect him."
The logic was sound. One could only say that Xun Er was more rational and smarter. But that did not stop her from marveling at the purity Qing Lin had displayed.
…
At the same time, Xiao Ting finished his cultivation and left the secret room.
After a simple wash, he heard the voices of the Little Fairy Doctor and Xun Er coming from outside the courtyard.
"Looks like I'm in for a treat today."
Xiao Ting walked into the courtyard, his gaze landing on the breakfast carried by the maids behind the two women.
"Today is your birthday, Brother Xiao Ting. This is a small token from me and Sister Little Fairy Doctor." Xun Er winked playfully.
"Young Master, happy birthday." The Little Fairy Doctor's eyes were gentle as she offered sincere congratulations. "Tonight, Xun Er and I will cook for you personally."
"Since today is my birthday, I won't be polite with you two." Xiao Ting accepted graciously.
The three of them enjoyed breakfast in a warm atmosphere.
Xun Er then changed the subject. "Brother Xiao Ting, do you plan to cultivate today as well?"
…