NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40: Hatred
“A descendant of humans and snake people?!”
Upon hearing Qing Lin’s origin, Xiao Yan and the others were astonished.
Qing Lin, seemingly frightened by their reactions, blinked and hid behind Xiao Li, not daring to show her head again.
“Ah… Sorry, sorry! We didn’t mean anything by it!”
“Yeah! There’s no need to be scared~”
Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu, seeing Qing Lin’s response, immediately realized something was wrong and quickly approached her to comfort her.
With their earnest reassurances, Qing Lin gradually peeked her head out from behind Xiao Li again, her small eyes revealing the figures of Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu, mixed with deep confusion.
“Aren’t you afraid of me?”
“You’re so cute, little sister. What’s there to be afraid of?” Xiao Yu squatted down beside Qing Lin and gently stroked her head with affection. “I’m Xiao Yu. If you encounter any difficulties here, feel free to come find your big sister, okay?”
Feeling the genuine kindness emanating from Xiao Yu, Qing Lin gradually let go of her guard and smiled, nodding heavily.
“Yes!”
Seeing Qing Lin’s reaction, Xiao Li chuckled softly and looked at Xiao Yu.
“Cousin Xiao Yu, this child… ”
“Is she afraid of people?” Xiao Yu asked softly, her eyes showing a hint of sympathy.
Xiao Li nodded her head and said “Yan’er, do you know where our mercenary group is located?”
“Um, you mentioned it before. It’s in the Tager Desert.”
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, and Xiao Li continued.
“The mercenary group we established is situated near the snake people’s territory.”
“The snake people hold a deep hostility towards humans, and vice versa.”
“Although we belong to the same Jia Ma Empire, the snake people and humans have always been mortal enemies.”
Hearing Xiao Li’s introduction about the snake people, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows slightly.
“Why?”
Any deep-seated enmity between two factions is never without cause.
Xiao Li slowly spoke, continuing his explanation.
“A long time ago, there were slave trades within the Jia Ma Empire, and it wasn’t a secret.”
“The snake people, due to their rare species and the precious organs on their bodies, were often targeted by slave traders. Snake women, in particular, had stunning appearances that captivated those slave traders. Therefore, they were constantly pursued by them.”
“Gradually, the snake people began to develop animosity and hatred towards humans, but due to the vast power of the human race, they couldn’t confront them directly. As a result, they relocated their entire tribe deep into the Tager Desert.”
“However, even so, those slave traders persisted and used various means to infiltrate the snake people’s territory, plundering the snake people they viewed as commodities. The snake people resorted to violence in resistance, but the greed of the slave traders far exceeded their expectations, and even though the snake people restrained their use of force, the slave traders never ceased their intentions.”
“It wasn’t until the Great Purge by the Jia Ma Imperial Family, which completely banned all slave trading, that those slave traders were finally eradicated.”
Pausing here, Xiao Li furrowed his brow slightly.
“However…”
“The snake people believed that it was their own strength that eradicated the slave traders, and since then, they have held a hostile attitude towards humans, am I right?”
Xiao Yan supplemented with a low voice, and Xiao Li nodded in agreement, continuing his explanation.
“Not only that, they embraced the ideology of survival of the fittest, gradually using force to invade human territories to acquire more resources. This, in turn, stirred up more hatred from humans towards them.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan clenched his fist.
What had initially been the actions of a few individuals from both races had eventually entangled the entire tribes.
The snake people, who had once suffered from the atrocities of survival of the fittest, were now persecuting humans with the same ideology.
How tragic it was.
At this moment, Xiao Li began to recount Qing Lin’s origins.
“Qing Lin’s mother was a human, and her father was a snake person. At that time, when your second cousin and I were establishing the mercenary group in the Tager Desert, we encountered them in a wooden house far away from human towns and snake people’s territory.”
“According to their story, Qing Lin’s mother once saved Qing Lin’s father, who was on the brink of death in the desert. Qing Lin’s mother didn’t hold any biases against the snake people and took care of him attentively. During this process, Qing Lin’s father, who had originally despised humans, began to realize that humans might not be the villains they had believed them to be.”
At this point, Xiao Li paused and furrowed her brows slightly.
“Afterward, the two of them naturally fell in love and gave birth to Qing Lin. she should have been only around six or seven years old when I first saw Qing Lin,” Xiao Li said with a soft laugh, looking at Xiao Yan. “Just as cute as you were when you were little.”
“Uh…”
Xiao Yan scratched his face and said, “Isn’t that good? As long as they love each other.”
“Indeed, even though they lived in a house just for the three of them, it seemed that they were blessed. There was a small spring near the house, and an oasis surrounded a small area around the house. They could even grow crops and sustain themselves there,” Xiao Li said, her tone suddenly shifting.
“However, tragedy struck.”
“Just this year, Qing Lin’s mother fell seriously ill due to the harsh living conditions. Qing Lin’s father took her to the nearest human town seeking help, but all they received was endless insults and waving blades. Qing Lin’s father, in order to protect Qing Lin’s mother, suffered severe injuries and returned home barely clinging to life.”
“As soon as I received the news in the mercenary group, I immediately brought a physician and rushed to their small house. But what I saw was Qing Lin’s mother who had already passed away and Qing Lin’s father on the verge of death. Qing Lin was sobbing quietly, huddled over her mother’s body.”
The atmosphere grew heavy as Xiao Li’s words became increasingly solemn, and Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan, as listeners, couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness. Xiao Li took a deep breath and continued.
“And when Qing Lin’s father saw me, relief filled his eyes. With his last breath, he entrusted Qing Lin to my care and then passed away.”
This ending weighed heavily on the hearts of everyone present, and Xiao Yan couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Why… didn’t they seek help from the snake people? Qing Lin’s father was a snake person, right?”
“Yan’er, the snake people’s hatred for humans goes far beyond your imagination,” Xiao Li looked at Xiao Yan and said softly, “When Qing Lin’s parents went to the human town, all the humans did was drive them away. But if it were the snake people, they would have killed Qing Lin’s mother on the spot, and even Qing Lin’s father would have been considered a traitor and executed.”
“…,” Xiao Yan fell silent, and Xiao Li spoke with sadness in her eyes.
“When my sister and I were in danger in the desert, it was Qing Lin’s parents who saved us. That was our first meeting,” Xiao Li clenched his fist tightly, her teeth grinding, “They were so kind, and yet…”
Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan stood still, both silent.
This must have been a devastating blow to Qing Lin…
She couldn’t even find the object of her hatred.
Should she hate the humans who drove away her parents with their words and blades?
But they had suffered at the hands of the snake people, which led to this situation.
At this moment, Xiao Li spoke again.
“After burying Qing Lin’s parents in that oasis, I brought Qing Lin back to the mercenary group and made a firm decision.”
There was a firm determination in Xiao Li’s eyes as she spoke earnestly.
“I must resolve the conflict between humans and snake people! I must eliminate this hatred!”
Xiao Li knew that she didn’t possess great love in her heart, nor did she have the ability to care for everyone.
But Qing Lin’s parents had saved her and her sister’s lives.
Such kind-hearted individuals had met a tragic end due to the hatred between their races.
Xiao Li couldn’t accept it! Their fate should not have been like this!
Even if it was just for the sake of Qing Lin’s deceased parents, she would resolve this matter!
“Sister…”
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Li, who displayed a resolute expression, and then his own expression became serious. He solemnly bowed to Xiao Li.
“I sincerely wish you success in achieving your goals!”
Xiao Li looked at her younger brother, who had grown up before her eyes, and her eyes filled with realization. She then smiled gently.
“Yeah, I will do my best.”