"Senja… what happened?" Qianru repeated her question when Senja only stared at her with defeated face, it made her anxious. Something must have went wrong if Senja acted like that

Senja closed her eyes and when she opened it, she offered Qianru the best fake smile that she could muster at that moment.

"I am fine, don't worry. I just feel a bit overwhelmed." Senja said, blurted a lie like it was her second nature.

"So, why were you running like that?" Qianru still didn't buy her reason.

In the other hand Senja shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly, trying to make an impression that it was a trivial matter that didn't worth to mention. "Like I said, I feel overwhelmed. I thought Master Ye Xiu was an enemy, thus I was very alert when I saw him, but then you said that he is Xiao Jun's master." Senja blinked her eyes to emphasize her innocence. "The relief that I feel was a bit too much for me to handle. I think I stressed out myself." Senja mumbled her last sentence.

It wasn't convincing excuses and Senja could feel it, her own words didn't hold the water if Qianru decided to find out the truth and urged her to elaborate further, fortunately she didn't.

"I am glad you are fine." She just murmured these words and looked back Yun at the same time he did the same.

"Qianru, I want to talk to you about something." He started and Senja knew what the following conversation would be as she walked away from both of them and approached Yu Long and his wife who was holding Xiao Mugi's small hand.

Senja caressed his head and crouched down in front of him. This gestured sent a sign that she wanted to talk alone with Xiao Mugi and then considerately Yu Long and his wife walked away from the scene, leaving both of them.

"Are you going?" Xiao Mugi's question caught Senja out off guard as she didn't expect this, but she nodded nonetheless.

"How do you know that I am going?"

"Everyone gave me that expression when they wanted to leave."

"Clever." Senja complimented as she tousled his hair. "I don't if you are very observant." Like your father. Senja didn't voice out the last sentence.

Xiao Mugi grinned, accepting her praised at him.

"Will you meet my father?"

With the mentioned of Xiao Tianyao and the expectant eyes of Xiao Mugi, it gave another wave of sadness in her heart. She couldn't believe this would be the last time she talked to this boy.

"Hmm." Senja nodded. "I have to meet him." That was what Yun promised her, at last.

"Will you tell him to comeback before my birthday?" He pleaded timidly. "He had missed my birthday three times." Xiao Mugi said with sorrow engulfed his small body.

"When your birthday?"

"Two months from now I will turn seven."

"Two months." Senja drawled. "Alright, I will tell him. I hope he can make it."

Xiao Mugi nodded, still lowered his head and refused to look at Senja.

Senja glanced at Yun and Qianru, it seemed both of them was in the tight argumentation that Senja assumed would be won by Yun.

She didn't need to think what that argumentation was talking about. Qianru more likely wanted to come, but it was impossible to bring her along. She didn't know martial arts and Xiao Mugi needed someone to look after him, moreover the chance for Senja and Yun to return again was nearly impossible.

Yun was in the same page with Senja in this case and leaving Qianru and Xiao Mugi behind was the most proper decision at this time.

Senja looked at Qianru lowered her head, defeated while Yun squeezed her shoulder to give her some strength and emphasized he wouldn't compromise with this.

As Yun looked over at Senja, he nodded to indicate that it was their time to leave. Senja reciprocated it with gave him a faint smile.

"Alright, I think it is time for me to leave." Senja said to Xiao Mugi as she walked over to Qianru and both of them started to hug each other.

"Please, be safe…" Qianru whispered into Senja's ears, pleading sincerely for her safety.

Qianru was the closes figure of a big sister for Senja, since she never had one and both of them had been inseparable in these past months since Xiao Tianyao and Xiao Jun left to the battlefield.

As the sadness threatened to make an outburst if she talked, Senja nodded.

"And tell Jun…" Qianru stopped for a while to gulp hard, "…I am sorry."

With that Qianru's heart shattered into million pieces when she talked about her lost baby, the only case that she almost lost her sanity.

Qianru was strong and Senja knew that. Behind her beauty and delicate appearance she had a strong heart and despite her sorrow and lost, she knew how to take care of herself through this hardship without losing her gracefulness.

She taught Senja many things when they were together, she would be a great mother for her child. Unfortunately, the circumstances said the other way.

Senja nodded once again before she released her.

Both women stared into each other eyes and smiled in understanding.

"We have to leave." Yun said as he approached Senja and Qianru.

Xiao Mugi, Yu Long and his wife were on the background when Yun and Senja waved them goodbye. But, when Senja was about to turn around and followed Yun into the dense of the forest, Xiao Mugi ran after her and hugged her leg.

Feeling the something bumped on her, Senja lowered her head and looked at Xiao Mugi.

The boy stared back at her with Xiao Tianyao's eyes, he looked expectant when he talked. "I know my father is busy. But, at least you can come back for my birthday right?"

Senja felt her throat sore and her mouth was dried. However, she did the thing that she was proficient at. Lied.

"Alright."