Ye Xiu looked back at the girl. They were staring each other for a while before Ye Xiu spoke. "If I can, I will bring you with me. But, I can't."
That was true. If Xiao Jun and he had to killed all of those construction workers to avoid the real war broke between Azura Kingdom and Xinghe Kingdom then his action to take away Senja couldn't be justified.
The aftermath of Elder Dam outburst was something that would ruin years of their plan. It's not about him, it's about thousands of people that would died and thousands of people that would live miserable life if the war broke out. And it was about to find the truth behind a big conspiracy.
Tears like a river streaming down Senja's cheek. Her beautiful eyes show how disappointed she was as she sobbed until her shoulder trembled. She cried just like the first day she woke up after her father had tried to kill her. She was heartbroken knowing that a man before her eyes who she thought would protect her and gave her a shelter would abandon her. She would be abandoned again.
With that thought, fear crept in Senja heart as she ran toward Ye Xiu and buried her face in his chest. Her small hand hugged Ye Xiu tightly.
"Senja promise will be good. Senja will never ask anything. Senja will never burden Uncle Ye Xiu. Senja will obey Uncle Ye Xiu's words. Senja will be an obedient child." Her voice creaked between her sob. Senja wiped her face against Ye Xiu chest to get rid of her tears before she raised her head and looked at Ye Xiu with pleading eyes. "Can't Senja stay with you?"
Ye Xiu felt his heart tighten. He didn't very attach to Senja in her first year of life. It was Riana who took care of her. However, knowing how this little girl struggle in her own house and how she didn't receive the affection that she deserved, Ye Xiu's heart soften. Maybe you could call this as empathy.
This past days Senja show him how lonely she was, how she craved for affection and attention that she didn't get from her family. She was very grateful for every little thing that Su Zhang Li or other people had given to her. She appreciated it all.
Ye Xiu hugged back her skinny body without saying anything.
"Senja promise will be good." Senja words were slightly incoherent between her crackling voices.
"You are good child my dear."
"But, why Uncle Ye Xiu didn't want Senja? Why Uncle Ye Xiu abandon me like all of them?" She sniffled.
Ye Xiu hugged her tighter when he heard her dejected voice. "There was something that you couldn't understand is going on now. But, I won't abandon you. Even so, I can't bring you along with me." Ye Xiu tried his best coaxed the heartbroken child in his arms.
***
Elder Dam ended up only brought 10 shadow guards with him. Along with Xiao Jun, Xiao Tianyao and Wang Yu, they rode horses and headed to L City district 9.
Before they arrived, along the way an agent gave him news about Ye Xiu whereabouts, on the letter they had mentioned about Senja as well. It was true that Senja was with him.
With this revelation, Elder Dam's vein bulging. He led them straight to the lodgment that was written in the report letter.
Nonetheless, before their entourage could reach the lodgment Elder Dam saw the figure that he had not seen for long time.
Ye Xiu.
As worst as it could be seen, he was hugging the crying Senja. His granddaughter was crying pitifully that made Elder Dam's back stiffened. How bad it could be until Senja cried like that? He had never seen Senja cried like there was no tomorrow.
His small shoulder trembled with every sob that escaped from her lips.
On the other hand, the anger that burnt inside Elder Dam's eyes blinded him from discerning wisely an occasion that unfolded before his eyes. Probably, because their distance also quite far that added to the point of Elder Dam's misunderstanding.
"Ye Xiu!!" Elder Dam growled as he dismounted his horse. "Give me back my granddaughter!" Gnashing his teeth, Elder Dam drew his sword.
With that cue, Xiao Jun and Xiao Tianyao followed behind him. There was a complicated feeling that flitted in Xiao Jun eyes that Xiao Tianyao could understand why.
Both Ye Xiu and Elder Dam were Xiao Jun Master. The last thing that his brother wanted must be the two of them killed each other. Even though Xiao Tianyao didn't have a chance to go to Mountain Sui Sword Sect and learnt their martial arts due to the conflict between 2 countries, Xiao Tianyao knew very well how close the two of them.
In the end of the road, Ye Xiu who heard Elder Dam bellowed furiously lower his head to look at the girl in his embrace. "It seems your grandfather here to fetch you." He whispered.
However, instead of released Ye Xiu and ran to her grandfather, Senja tightened her arms around Ye Xiu waist without saying anything. Especially when she caught a glimpse of his father who followed his grandfather in the entourage, fear spread in the girl teary eyes.
She still remembered the scene when her own father threw and stabbed her days ago vividly. Also the killing intent in his eyes that sent chill down to her spine. Even Senja could still feel the pain. Her shoulder would have left a scar for sure.
Senja don't want to come back home.
Looking at the girl reluctant and Elder Dam who was in battle mode, Ye Xiu backed away with Senja still clung in his waist.
His gesture was misinterpreted by Elder Dam. In his outraged, he charged towards Ye Xiu without a second thought. Wang Yu was right behind him followed by Xiao Jun and Xiao Tianyao. Under those circumstances, Ye Xiu leapt high and dashed to the opposite of the street. He vanished from their line of sight in seconds.
Elder Dam definitely wouldn't let him go so easily, he leapt high as well and darted towards where Ye Xiu had disappeared.
The four of them gave a chased with high speed that couldn't possible to matched by the other Shadow Guards.